New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-11
FOREIGN MISCELLANY.
BICENTENNIAL OF THE BIRTH OF PETER
THE GREAT.

fFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUSEl
ST. PETERSBURG, June 9.-The celebration OF
the bcentennal OF the birth OF Peter the Great rcay
began today though the main ceremony taxes place on
the day after tomorrow The Polytechnic hRpos-
ton at Moscow is also open that day. ana one Oh
its great features r. to DO "The Grandfather OF tue
Russian Fleet" in the shape OF little boat built by
Peters hands This boat is kept with great care IN
the fortress st. Petersburg and therefore neces
sary to carry 1t to Moscow with considerable pomp and
state SO this morning at 800 O'Clock high mass was
held in the Cathedral OF st. Peter and Paul In the
fortress where buried the Emperors aud Expresses
of Russia from Peter DOWN.. in the presence Of the
Cesarewitch and the rest Of the Imperial family and OF
the high officers and dgnitares OF State. When this was
over precisely - o'clock the Grand Duke Constantine
the Admiral OF the Russian feet, left the Marble
Palace and crossed the Neva his launch TO the fort
ress After half an hour the grandfather Of the feet,
az Peter the Great himself called it, was brought out
and placed on the barge prepared Tor IL, glleu ana
decorated for the OCCASION It rested on scarlet ua
and guarded by two pupils OF the Naval school,
grenader and two soldiers Of the semeno and Presbraz
hansky regiments in the uniform worn during the reign
of Peter the Great As the barge began to move, the
cannon OF the fortress and OF all the vessels in the river
Numbered forth salute, and tho yachts and steamers
OF the navy and OF tho yacht club, which
we're anchored both sides OF the river down for more
than mile TO the Nicholas Bridge, were instantly COW
cred with flags and signals all descriptions. The quays
were crowded with spectators, all the houses and build
ings decorated with flags tapestry and garands'
and the general effect fine 1t would have re-
joiced Peters heart could he have witnessed IT, Tho
barge was towed by large man-owars boat and sur
rounded and followed by small steamers and launches
The boats Of the navy manned by sailors all In white Tell
into the pi occasion IL reached them. Amid cheers
salutes, and the ringing Of bells the procession
moved slowly down the Neva, the loveliest river
t~al
pillars past the Winter Palace, which covers nty times
the ground modest mansion where Peter bcathed
his last past the Admiralty with It's golden spre, the
pride OF Peters heart past the Academy OF Sciences he
founded the University, and the palace OF his faYore,
Menshikof. military school, till the Isaac-pace
reached. with the famous statue OF Peter which
was hung with garlands and guarded by troops Here
the procession halted while the clergy OF et. lsaacs,
who were IN waiting, intoned solemn service TO
the memory OF the great deceased A salute
from the fortress again shook the air and the PROCESSION
moved down the river TO the Putilon railway station,
which richly decorated and where guard OF honor
and immense crowd were waiting. The boat was
carried the platform destined for IL, which was
richly hung with red and gold, under the Immediate
guard OF surrounded it, and the train moved or
amid the huzzas OF the multitude. The Grand Duke
station aud accompanied 1t to Moscow
ST. PETERSBURG, June 11.-At o'clock this morning
twentone guns from the fortress announced to us that
the great day had at last for the celebration Of
which much preparation has been made everywhere
IN Russia. Very fortunately nothing happened TO mar
and the provincial government repaired to the little
house which Peter built and where he dwelt. the
Trinity Bridge, and assisted In bringing from there the
image OF the Savior and little yawl which Peter made,
to the fortress. Later. in the fortress In that fine
Cathedral of ST. Peter and st. Paul, whose tall golden
spire is conspicuous landmark in ST. Petersburg
there collected the Ministers the Council of State
and all the high officials Of Church and State. The
tomb OF Peter was surrounded with blooming plants,
and on IL lay an imperial crown Of immorteles.
Above hung chandelier, made by Peters hands, of
walrus-teeth the style Archangel and the
pillars and vaults covered with flags in many
battle against the swedes and Turks in Peters day,
and later by the brave army which he founded in fights
against the French Austrans, and Poles. Disposed
velvet and golden cushions around the tomb the
uniform the cooked hat still showing its buethOle and
the sword worn by Peter on the day of Poltava,
and q golden medal struck In honor of the day.
cathedral disposed the escorts OF troops and
picked carrying the standards Of all the reg
ments service in Peters day. and Of all since in the
army; old. faded and tatered, others and
spendent. At 10 o'clock the Emperor entered accom-
panied by all the members Of the Imperial family now
present in the capitol and magnificent funeral service
was celebrated At its close the Emperor received from
the hands Of the Minister of Finance the gold medal
and fastened 1t to the tomb One other medal Is also
there placed by the first Alexander in 1sc3a gift of tho
city the hundredh anniversary Of its foundation.
sayo OF 81 guns announced this act to the city. The
procession now streamed from the city and took its
place in the barges and steamers lying ready and slowly
noated down the Neya TO the statue of Peter on the
Isaac place. where the main ceremony OF the day was to
No place could be filter for such celebration. In front
was the broad Neva at the back, with its monolith
granite columns and its huge golden DOME was the mag
ncent Cathedral OF st. Isaac, the saint who presdes
over the day. On side were ID Admiralty and the
Ministry OF War, gorgeous with flags, streamers, and
hangings and on the other the Synod and the Senate,
also tapestred and covered with flags, shields and APP
proprae notices connected by their huge arch In
the center stands the colossal bronze statue OF Peter on
an immense granite rock. He is calmly seated on rear
ing horse feet crush huge serpent and his right
hand Is extended the Neva So he might have stood
when he said, Here will found my city" The deco
raons OF this square, well OF the whole city, were
very good as the Russians have great taste for any
thing OF this kind. Those OF the Ministry of War
were particularly noteworthy. The balconies were
hung with crimson cloth, and at tho corner,
under a scarlet badachin, was portrait OF
Peter and marble busts OF his general, showing out
from a background Of green foliage. Beneath was
motto taken from the order Of the day at the battle OF
Potaya GAS for Peter know that he cares not Tor his
life provided Russia lives in glory and prosperity for your
happiness" The whole square was surrounded by rows
OF high seats all neatly painted in diaper pattern, ana
even the Aagstaffs were painted; nothing was rough
The statue was decorated with plants and flowers and
masses OF ivy were traled the rock on which 1t
stands The roofs all black with people, and seats,
covered with scarlet cloth, had been arranged on
the roof Of the cathedral Everywhere was an immense
crowd except in the square itself, the sides
of which were lined with troops, leaving the central
portion clear from the river to the cathedral The Dpo
matte Body, among whom the absence Of the swedes
was much remarked the foreign guests and the CORE
spondents Of Journals were accommodated with bal
cony In the Senate House, commanding the best view OF
the whole What was better STILL they hao' during
the moments OF waiting fine breakfast offered them In
one of the halls. on the part Of the Emperor.