The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-11-18
ss. Petersburg, ns Seen by naynrd
Taylor,

Taylor.
A brilliant letter from Bayord Taylor about
81. Pe,ersburg written in that city in July last
sppeared in the Tribune Of "Wednesday.
ST. PETERSBURG.
uore the Neya, a broad, full, rapid stream
.,,esd. itself out among swanpy Islands, com.
,Is,eIv aooJiur them when the spring ireshets
~ bur,, The ice. and where n strong southwest
,v;nd drives the waters Of the Gulf high over the
highest land the city stands upon, have arlScn g'
usntic ed6ces, mountains Of masonry, III their nu'
rability bidding defiance 10 the unstable solI. lno
rnarshy shores Of the river are hidden under league
long auays Of massive grnnito millions OF P'les
hear nloft the tremendous weight OF palaces,
churches. obeslss aud bridges, and four grand
canals nnssing through aud around the city, so
IAN the Neya OF his menacing strength that the
F,arIui inunCations Of former years cannot be re-
nented One hundred aud fifty years have passed
away erce Pctes built his cottage IN the midst OF
AN uninbabted wilderness, aud now there stands
ON the spot one OF the FIRST European capitalism
a population Of more than half million.
rHE GRAND oEsrER or TIE CRY.
The buildings on either hand became more lof
" and imposing the throng in the street greater,
and soon after crossing the last canal, the Moi
kn. we entered the famous Admiralty Squarc--tho
graud center of ST. Petersburg, around which are
GROUPED its most important buildings and monu-
ments Here every thing IL on such grand scale,
that tho magnitude Of the different objects is not
apparent to tho eye. The Square is about mile
in length by quarter of n mile in breadth, In
front OF US is the Admiralty building, with front
of 1 500 feet and wings resting on the Neva. $50
feet in length. To the right of it is the Winter
Palace, with 700 feet front, and still farther the
Hermitage, nearly as large. Opposite these two
Ia the Hotel de- lEtat Major of corresponding
nronortions while the Alexander Column mo-
nolth of red granite 100 feet in height, including
pedestal aud capital--rises from tho center OF the
square between. Turning to the left we see tho
huge golden dome of the lzaaks Cathedral, lifted
b,tween three aud four hundred feet into the air,
aud cleaning like ia'Ieh sun OH 'no suhut OF
granite mountain.
II is pne OF the very finest specimens oGmolcrn
architecture in exiajctce. 1t stands IN the center
OF q small square OF its own, opening into that
of the Admiralty at the western end; and here is
decidedly the most striking view of ST. Petersburg
On one side is the Cathedral, on the other the Ne
VA. sGAinst whose sparkling current and the lon!y
line Of buildings on his northern bank gR,lops Pc
ter OH his huge block OF granite; while Far IN front
OF the Alexander Column, soaring hjgl, above the
surrounding buildings, it is seen in its true pro-
portions
THE NEvA
The river hero is more than u third Of u mile il
breadth, orN cloar, pale green color aud rapid
current On the southern bank on which we
stand row ofpalaces stretch away on our right
10 Trinity Bridge, beyond which we see the grccu
linden trees of the summer gardens. From either
shore OF the river, or from the bridges which span
IL the pictures are always broad bright and chcorJ
full Splendid granite stairways lead down TO the
river. gaily.panted boats Dart TO and FRO little
steamers keep up a communication with the fur.
ther Isands aud the miles .! massive quay on eth
er side are thronged with busy papu'ace. Here
the mid summer heat is always tempered ny do
lghtful breeze, and the very sight OF the dancing
water is cooling under this pale, hot, quiet sky
do not wonder at the enthusiasm Of the st. Pc
tersburgers for the Neva Its waters are 80 re.
mArkaby soft and sweet that they prefer il to all
other water in the world The Emperor Alexan-
der always carried it with him. bottled. when he
was absent from the capital. The stranger, how.
ever cannot drink it with impunly, Ms its effects
on an unaccustomed body arc medicinal in tho
highest degree
ruE WINTER rALAcE-rHE PICTURES
To describe minutely all ! saw in the Winter
Palace would take up several chapters We weru
between two aud three hours in walking slowly
through the principal halls aud chambers. A
large number of these devoted 10 pictures
principally portraits and battle scenes, large
room contains several hundred portraits ot the OF
iicou who served against Napoleon in 1873 Ia
Then follows the Hall Of the Marshalls with few
and full-lengh figures, so of which are OF grea,
historical interest. Potempkin is here rcpreSent ted
in full armor. a tall, Apollonian figure, over six
feet in height with fine, oval head, regular and
handsome features soft blue eyes, and curlcy gold
en- hair Suwarrow is a small man, with a large
benevolent head, very broad in the temples; whsr,
phrenoogists place the organ oi conStructlVoueSS
lie wears plain leather jacket and breechcS, aud
resembles nothing so much MS an old QuaN''
preacher Barely dc rolly is tall, slender, seen
and thoughtful, with a prcmaturcly bald head
KutuSolfiS short, thick coarse and heavy featured
In striking contrast with these perSouagos is Wei
lnglon, with his cold prim ENglsh face aud sma,
head.
The battle pieces represent all the noted field,
in which Russian arms have been engaged, tron
Narva TO lnkermann--not merely an o,lontatiom
display of victories but important defeats us well
that the series presents true historical interest
Narva receives aS prominent place rs Putaya
Borolno as Leipzig, Sllistria ms lSmal, Many q
The later pictures are fine works OF art; the Illus
trations OF tue Persian aud CrCaSSiWn wars eSpec
tally, uro iull of rich, dramatic effect, Ahogethc
this gallery will compare very well with that 0
Versailles.
THE CORONATION GIFTS.
One OF the most interesting halls is thit deyo
tel To the coronation gifts received by AleXan
der Nicholas and the present Emperor The an
oient custom is still preserved OF each province
throughout the Empire sending bread and salt a
"A token OF welcome But the loalis carried on
massive salyer Of gold and silver OF the rarc>
workmanship, and the salt in n box or cup of tn
same material. studded with jewels. The Silve
presented to the two former Empsrors rises il
dazzling pyramids from the Haor nearly to tn
ceiling, but they are far outShone by AeNanlc
IL, who received just as much rs his father an,
uncle together. II the wealth lavshei upon thcs
offerings is an index of the popular feeling. il i
u happy omen for his reign The taste, richucs
and variety of the ornaments bestowed upon th
mighty golden salvtrS exceeds anything of tn,
kind | ever saw Their value can only be cStima
A ~, - ,,srIa.,e IA,