Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-06
THE GAZETTE.
foNpAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1858.
BAYARD TAYLOR Al MOSCOW.

BAYARD TAYLOR AT MOSCOW.
In a lste number of the N. Y. Tribune, ap-
pesred q brilliant letter from Baysrd Taylor,
dated at Moscow. In it is contained this de-
scription Of the city:
It was Madame de Stael, / believe. who on
fret seeing Moscow. exclaimed: "Toita Rome
Tartare" This may have been true before
the destruction Of the ancient city, but it
would hardly apply to the present day. 10
it, immensesextent Moscow may we'll rival
Rome, a. 10 this respect it is surpassed by
NO modern capital except London; but, al
though i.s Asiatic character is quite as strong
" marked as that Of ConstantiDople, il is BY no
means Tartar. No other city in the world
presents 90 cosmopolitan an aspect. The
Rilded domes of L~uckpow--the pagodas OF
China-Byssntine churches-Grecian ten
p~les-palaces 10 the style Of Versailles-beaVy
inexpensive German buildings--wooden
country cottages-glsring American signs-
b~oulsvsrds, gardens, silent lanes, roaring
streets, open markets, Turkish bazaars,
French cafes, German beer cellars, and Chi
nsse tea houses-all are found here not
grouped exclusively into separate %cantoos,
DuG mi36V duo Ju"uiC SVsoS "
rome and Asia, the Past and Present, the Oid
World and the New are so blended and con-
founded, that it is impossible to say which
predominates. Another city 80 bizarre and
90 picturesque as Moscow does not exist. 10
call it Russian would be too narrow o dis
tinction-it suggests the world.
The diameter Of the city, from North to
South cannot be less than eight miles. while
it's circumference will fall little short OF TWEEN.
ty five. Its low houses, broad, rambling
streets, large interior courts. market places
and gardens, account for this extent. The
race who founded it came from the South
East, and brought with them the mlnaret
and swelling Orient dome, the love OF gliding
and glaring color; its religion came from
ConstantiDople, with the Byzantine pillar
and the Greek cross; and the founder OF
Russian power learned bis trade 10 the Wet.
On every one of its thousand spires and domes
sIitters the crescent, surmounted by the TIL
umphant cross. At the southern end the
Tartar maezzin calls to prayer from the root
Of bis mosque, while at the northern, the
whistle Of the locomotive announces the de-
parture Of the train for St. Petersburg.
When you overlook the city from an eleva-
ted point, it loses nothing of its originality
in the broader compass Of your vision. Do
the contrary, many slashing impressions
naturally arising from the i%ncongrui,y of Its
features, are forgotten, and the vast, dazzling
panorama assumes q grand dramatic charac-
ter. 1t is an immense chow, gotten up tor a
temporary effect, aud you can scarcely be-
lieve that it may not be taken to pieces and
removed ss soon as it's purpose has been al
tanned. Whence this array of grass green
roofs, out of which rise by hundreds spires
and towers, stranger and more fantastic than
ever were builded in a mad architects dream?
Whence these gilded and ~silsered domes,
which blind your eyes With reflected suns
and seem to dance and totter 10 their own
,plendor, as you move? 1t can be no city ct
trade and government, OF pleasure and scan
dsl, of crime and religion, which you look
upon; it was built when the Arabian Nights
were true, and the Prince Of the Hundred Is
lands reigned in its central palace.
The population also exhibits q correspond
ipgdiversity. The European gentlemen With
cylinder hats and tight kid gloves do not sp-
pear more out of place under those crescent
tipped domes of gold, than the sallow Persians
and silkeu ROBBED Armenisns, beside yonder
French palace. The Russian peasant, with
his thick brown beard, red shirt and wide
tsowsers stuck into bis boots, elbows you on
The narrow sidewalk. After him comes q
lady, With the smallest bonnet and the larg-
ct crinoline, respectfully followed BY q
msn-servant, whose presence attests her res
psetsbility. Alone, she would be SUBJECT
Of suspicion. A fair Circassian, with blue
eyes and the build of an Adonis. next meets
you; then perhaps, q Tartar in his round
cap Of black wool, or a Chinese, resembling
Q faulty image Of yellow clay, cast aside be-
fore the true Adam was made; then, European
bsgmsn, sinking and impairment; a Russian
nurse, with o head-dress like the spread tail
OF . red peacock; . priest, in flowing hair and
black cassock; Q money changer, whose
bsardless face proclaims bis neuter gender;
. company Of istpOsichiks (hackmaDi 10 SQUAT
black hats and long blue oaftans; officers in
the Imperial uniform; firemen IN giided hel.
NETS, ssintly old beggsrs, children in national
costume, fallen women, gipsics, Cossacks--al
succeed each other in endless and ever.cbang-
ing procession.
The view from the Sparrow Hills is still
more beautiful. You are inclosed with a
belt Of birch and Pine woods. Under you
The river reflects the sky, and beyond it sweep
blossoming meadows up to the suburban gar
dsus, over which rises the long line Of the
Gilded city. whose nearest domes seem t. flash
10 your very face, and whose farshest towers
fade against the sky. Their long array fills
one.third of the horizon. ] counted between
five and six hundred, one-third OF which were
sither gilded or silvered. The dome ct the
new cathedral, as large as that of St. Pauls,
London, burned in tho centre ike a globe Of
asme-hke the sun itself, with stars and
consultations sparkling around it far and
wide. From this point the advanced guard
q Napoleon's army first saw Moscow q
vsst, silent, glitteriug CITY, fred by the sunset,
and With the seeds OF q more awful splendor
IN ito heart. No wonder that the soldiers
stood still by spontaneous impulse, grounded
their arms, and exclaimed, as one man, "Mos-
Gov! Moscow"
4 LEXANDRIA LIBRARY COMPANY
"A Library kept in the south .oom, first-story,
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u