Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-21
cRoNsTADT.
The Place or Meeting or the Em
pcrors.
New York World.1


New York world.l
Cronstadti Is the chief station Of the Russian
Baltic fleet, which, like the place itself and
the capital on the Neva. was the creation OF
the great Peter. The fleet originated on the
little river YsusA near Moscow, where
Peter, with his Dutch friend Brand, used to
sail up and down In m English sioop which
the Dutchmsn had repaired aud equipped.
When the river used TO run almost dry IN
summer Peter had the sloop carried 70 the
little lake OF Pcreyiaslavi, where De
cruised about with Brand and learned
TO set the sails and navigate. The
Car was so pleased with the first
vessel that be ordered Brand TO build
two more small Yachts. Brand was admiral
OF the feet, the Gar was the pilot, and the
navy consisted then of about dozen men.
Each yacht WAS provided with cannon, so
small, however. that ''they were scarcely
heard on the other side Of the wood that
surrounded the lake." But Peters play
things developed. In 1894 he bad decided
that there should be Russian fleet and lie
Fort was created admiral OF It before the
first keel was laid. From the small lake oil
Pcreyiaslayi the fleet passed to the great lake
of Peipus. Tho Swedes were beaten and IN
1902 flag was taken from swedish vessel
on Lake Ladoga. This was the first trophy
OF the fleet and was carried in triumph TO
Moscow aud there deposited in the kremlin.
The Swedes were then masters OF the Bal
tic coasts. but Peters feet, which was soon
strong enough TO venture out, changed mat
ters. A series OF naval battles at last secured
the Baltic provinces TO Russia, and by de-
grees the SHedes were driven from every bay
and corner Of the Cult OF Finland. In
twenty years Peters fleet sailed back IN
triumph to st. Petersburg.
Cronstadt IL the water gate OF st. Peters
burg, and Is situated on q bsy OF the Gulf OF
Finland. The bay was originally shallow,
but It's channels have been deepeued, and
with the completion OF the st. Petersburg
Cronstadt canal the largest war vessels can
pass up to the capital. The Notifications
are magnificent. and were begun by Peter
the Great I'm 1908. when he dispossessed the
Swedes. The first fort that he erected was
Kronschlott, opposite the entrance to
the present harbor. Prince Menshikoh,
who built the palace OF 0ranienbaum,
conducted the works under the direc-
tion of Peter. and one OF the forts still bears
his name. At point where the sea proper
ly begins. marking the limits Of the bay, the
coast OF Kettle island rises above the level oil
the sea. The island received its name in
1903. When the Swedes were driven away
they left nothing but large camp kettle,
which the Russian conquerors reared Ia tri-
umph on pole as a trophy OF victory. Pc
ter soon became aware that kotllno1 Ostron
must be the key and outwork for the
defence OF his new capital and be be-
gan himself to fOrtify 1t. The mouths OF
the Neva are many and multltude
OF ramparts was necessary to put all In
state OF defence. The fortificatons had TO
be built on the swampy shores cost enor-
nous sums. Cronstadt itself, now city OF
80, 900 inhabitants, IL victory from, the sea.
1t was built on promont0ry OF Kettle island,
called Tolbukma- Kessa, and formerly con-
tanned no dwellings but few Finnish fish
ing hutS. To-day il contains Russia's Baltic
feet and the visiting squadron OF Germany
with her young Emperor, and must present
n mag nificent spectacle.
The Castle of Peterhoi. where the festiyi-
ties took place last night. was begun by
Peter the Great about the year lI2O, and
though Il has been added to and built out
by all subsequent empcrors and empresses,
its general character is the same rs that OF
all the houses built by the founder OF st.
Petersburg. Even its yellow color Is always
renewed. II has been thought strange
that though the castle commands
splendid view OF the sea and the
navy, to which Peter paid special atten~
ton, its main front should have been turned
landwards. Between the palace aud the sea,
however, there is beautiful garden which
descends In terraces, adorned with fountains
and waterfalls. The oaks and lime-trces
standing in the garden were planted by
Peter himself. Under these trees are the
smaller buildings OF Vary and Honplaisir,
being wings OF the larger edihce. IL was
from Marty that the great Peter loved TO con-
template his infant fleet moored beneath the
batteries OF Cronstadt.
The furniture Is OF the date oi Peter and
was used by him. His bed also remains, as
we'll as a table and a small box made by the
Car carpenter and In the castle are the
works OF watch which he once took to
pieces 10 find out chow the wheels went
round" There IL also pond In the garden
which Peter caused to be dug and afterwards
stocked with Prussian carp. which were
taueht 70 answer the summons OF o bell to be
fed with rye -four.
In Monplaisir there is low Dutch-bullt
summer-hOuse. dating from Peters reign.
wherein the Empress Elizabeth used to
amuse herself by cooking her own dinner.
Il contains many paintings OF celebrated
Dutch masters. In another room Peters
dressing.gown, nightcap, and slippers are
preserved and exhibited. The, water-works
in the garden are generally considered Is but
little inferior to those OF Versailles.
The Hermitage Palace is close to Peterhof,
and also dates from the time OF Peter the
Great. IL Is chiefly remarkable for It's Chi
nese pictures and for a contrivance by which
the dishes and plates descend from the table
through grooves cut in the floor, and are re-
placed byoihess without any servant being
seen, The English Park Is on the right
hand side OF the road coming from Orsnlen-
haum. Around II are many cottages,
the most interesting being the Bere-
zovy Domik or Bird Cottage,
thatched with straw and built by Catha-
rine III. A fine road leads through the park
10 the Beyedere, finished by Nicholas in
1856. Adjoining the lower garden OF the
old palace OF Peterhof Is Alexandria, the
private grounds Of the Emperor, where he
resides when at Peterhoi. Among the i'm
perial cottages around il is a small house
from the roof OF which Nicolas L., with a
telescope, used TO watch the movements OF
the AngIo-Frence squadron In front OF
Cronstadt during the Crimean war. Beauti-
ful views OF the gull are obtained from the
gardens.
The palaca OF Oranlenbaum was built in
1724 by Menshittod aud contiscated on his
attainder. 1t subsequently became the
fayorite residence OF Peter III. Between
all these palaces and 81. Petersburg are the
islands. They are to the Russian capital
what Central Park Is to New York-only in
summer perhaps more charming.