Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-10
PICTURES OF ST. PETERSBURG.

IeresIlllg, as his SKETCHES always are. oI. re
tersburg and the Russian Empire and people
are becoming more and more interesting to tn,
rest of mankind, as the country is more aeces
sib'e, and its powerful forces begin to operate
in western direction. TAYLoR's description.
Of the great city of PETER,-built upon the
banks of the Neva, upon fiat site, and in the
face of serious natural difficulties,-and of it.
palaces, are lively and interesting. We quote
a portion of one of the letters:
The streets are alike broad and regular; the
houses high, massive and plain. But there is
not the samenesS and tameness of the Prussian
capital. Even now. when the Court is absent
the fashionable world off on its travels, and no
body at home, it is as lively city as one could
well wish to see. Five thousand droshkies and
as many carriages rattle hither and thither from
morning till night-or rather, continuously, for
you can see to read in the streets at midnight,
and they are then by no means deserted. Where
the summer is SO fieeting it is doubly enjoyed,
and during these long, delicious twilights,
especially, no one remains indoors who can get
out
Here the midsummer heat is always tempered
by delightful breeze, and the very sight of the
NAlCA 10 COOlAllB1 AiuucI blllS pllC, uOl,
quiet sky. l do not wonder at the enthu-
siasm OF the st. Petersburgers for the Neva.
It's water Is so remarkably soft and sweet
that they prefer it to all other waters in the
world. The Emperor Alexander always car
ried a supply with him, bottled, when he was
absent from the capital The stranger, how
ever, cannot drink it with impunity, as its effect
on an unaccustOmed body is medical in the
highest degree.
The Winser Palace stands upon the site OF
the old ne,which was destroyed by fire in 1887
Kohl's account of this latter structure is worth
quoting:
"The suites of apartments were perfect laby-
rinths, and even the chief of the Imperial house
| hold, who had filled that post for twelve years
was not perfectly acquainted with all the hooks
and corners of the building. As in the forests Of
great landholders, many colonies are settled OF
which the owner takes no notice, so there nestled
many one in this palace not included amolg
the regular inhabitants. For example, the
watchmen on the roof placed there for different
purposes, among others to keep the water in the
tanks from freezing during the winter, by cast.
ing in red hot balls, built themselves huts be-
tween the chimneys took their wives and chill
dren there, and even kept poultry and goats
which fed on the grass of the roof; it is saiG
llldt last oOllc COWS hGTt BuL Juls
abuse had been corrected before the palace wa:
burnt" Fortunately, the new palace is not 81
| labyrinthne, though of equal extent. During
the residence of Nicholas there, 5000 person.
| frequently lived in it at one time. Stranger,
are freely allowed to visit all plEfsof it, on pre-
senting a ticket, which the md ~ -domo gives
on application. Formerly, the visitor was obi
ged to appear in full dress, but in the genera
relaxation of laws and customs which has fol
| lowed the accession of Alexander H., this rult
has also been given up. Our Minister, Mr.
| Seymour, also informed me that the Empero
receives American citizens in ordinary civi
dress, not requiring them to appear in Cour
costume.
There is no other Court in Europe which
| with such immense means and such magnihcen
appointments, preserves SO great a simplicity
The freedom from ostentation or parade in tn
Imperial family of Russia, except upon state,
occasions, is very agreeable feature. No
where else does the monarch walk about hi
capital, unattended. The Empress, even, MAJ
take stroll if she likes We met one day th,
Czarcvitcb, or Crown Prince, with two of hi
younger brothers in plain two-horse carriag,
with single soldier as footman. These fine
fresh, handsome boys were quite alone, an,
looked as if they were competent 10 take car
4
ing Empress was Master of the Horse in Darn
stadt, and she is probably indebted to him 70
her prudent amiable, sensible character Mich
olas was aware of her descent, bu5 he wisel,
gave his sons perfect freedom to choose thei
own wives and welcomed her as cordially as i
her ancestry dated from Julius Caesar In Wis
iting the palace, was particularly struck witt
the cheerful plainness OF the private apartment
which cOntrasted remarkably with the pom
and dazzle of those for state occasions.
The ancient custom is still preserved, of eacl
province throughout the Empire sending brea
and salt as token of welcome But the loaf /
carried upon massive salver of gold and silver
OF the rarest Workmanship, and the salt in DO.
or cup of the same material, studded with jew
els. The salveTs presented to the two fome
Emperors rise in dazzling pyramids from tn
floor nearly to the ceiling, but they are far out
shone by those of Alexander II, who receives
Just as much as his father and uncle together
If the wealth layished upon these offerings
an index to the popular feeling, If is hapP
omen for his reign. The taste, richness an
variety of the ornaments bestowed upon tn
mighty golden salvers exceeds anything of tn
kind ever saw Their value can only Ce est
mated by millions 1t is significant, perhaps
that the largest and most superb, which occu
|
glorious pile, is the offering of the serfs of tn
Imperial domains
We were admitted into the room contaiDin
the crown Jewels, which are arranged in glas
cases, according to their character and value
In the centre is the crown of Alexander, hem
isphere of the purest diamonds beside is tn
scepter, containing the famous brilliant pun
chased by Catharine ii, from Greek slave, an
for a time supposed to be the largest in tn
world. 1t turns out to be smaller than the Koh
i-nor, though Ito my eye, at least0 Of pure
water. There is not quarter so many jewel
here as in the Treasury at Moscow, yet thei
value far exceeds that of the latter. The stone
are of the largest and rarest kind, and the spen
dor of their tints is delicious intoxication t.
the eye The soul of all the fiery roses of Per
sa lives in these rubies; the freshness of all vel
vet sward whether in Alpine valley or Englisl
lawn, in these emeralds, the bloom Of southern
seas in these saPphires, and the essence of
thousand harvest moons in these necklaces o
pearl.
Before leaving the Palace we were conduct
ed to small room in the first story, in tn
northwestern corner. Two Imperial guards
men stood at the door, and two old servants il
livery were in little ante-room, one of whom
accompanied us into the narrow chamber wher
Nicholas lived and died. Nothing has beer
changed since his body was carried out it
The hard camp bed $50 small and narrow that
should not wish to sleep upon i) stands there
beside his writing table. On stool at the foo
lies his dressing-gown. His combs, brushes
gloves, pocket-6andkerchief, knife and pencil
are carelessly laid upon a small tOilet-table, un
der very moderate-sized looking glass; 4
plain, green carpet covers the floor, and the half
dozen chairs are lined with green leather. Th'