tains the Hall where, after their coronation, the Emperors dined with the nobles.

The Little Palace (Maloi-Dvoretz), was built by Nicholas I. who resided in it for a few years after his marriage.

The CATHEDRAL OF THE AsSUMPTION is upon the Cathedral Place. It was founded in 1325 and rebuilt in 1472. It presents a curious assemblage of ornaments, arabesques and pictures of saints. The architecture of the interior is Greco-Italian. Among its treasures are a Mount Sinai in pure gold; a Bible, the gift of the mother of Peter the Great, so heavy with gold and precious stones that two men are required to carry it; a picture, said to be by St. Luke; and 2,000 or more portraits of saints and celebrated personages. The Emperors of Russia are crowned in this church.

The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, contains the portraits of the sovereigns of Russia up to Peter the Great, and their tombs.

The Church of the Annunciation, where the Czars are baptized, is rich in relics. Its pavement is of jasper, cornelian and agate.

The House of the Synod was once the house of the Patriarchs of Moscow. It contains the treasury and library of the Patriarchs. The sacerdotal robes, church vessels and plate of the Patriarchs are deposited here. Here, in silver vessels, is kept the holy oil, made only by the Holy Synod of Moscow, with which all Russian children are baptized.

The TREASURY (open Mondays and Thursdays, and to see which a permit must be had at the Chamberlain's office in the Senate, within the Kremlin) contains a collection of objects of great value and interest. In one of the apartments are the old state carriages of the

Court of Moscow; among them is a miniature carriage which belonged to Peter the Great when a child. The crowns are exceedingly rich in precious stones, that of Catherine 1. containing no less than 2,536 and that of Michael Romanoff 9,000. The Arsenal, near the Treasury, contains a great number of cannon taken from the Turks, Swedes, Poles, French and Prussians.

The Tower of Ivan Veliki, or John the Great, is the most remarkable in Moscow. It was built in 1600. It is five stories high, four being octagonal and the last cylindrical. It is 320 feet high to the top of the cross. The basement is a chapel. In the stories above are 34 bells, the largest of which weighs 64 tons. These bells are all rung at Easter, producing a wonderful effect. The view from the summit of this tower is one of the most striking in the world.

The TSAR KOLOKOL, or Monarch of Bells, is at the foot of the tower of Ivan. The tower in which it was suspended was burned in 1737. In 1837 the Emperor Nicholas placed it in its present position. Its weight is 444,000 pounds. Its height is 19 feet, its circumference 60 feet. The figures in relief are those of Alexis and the Empress Ann, and on the scroll are represented the Saviour, the Virgin and the Evangelists surrounded by cherubims. The value of the metal in this bell is estimated at £350,000.

Edifices outside the Kremlin. The Katai Gorod, or Chinese town, founded by Helena, the mother of John the Terrible, is under the walls of the Kremlin. It contains many important edifices, among others the Cathedral of St. Basil, the bazaars, the Romanoff Palace, &c.

vitchei are well worth visiting, as is the Foundling Hospital, which admits 12,000 children every year.

The University, founded in 1775, numbers 900 students. The Great Riding School is said to be the largest room in the world unsupported by pillars. Its length is 560 ft., its breadth 158 ft. and its height 42 ft.

The Great Theatre contains an elegant hall.

The Gostinnoi Dvor, or bazaar, is an enormous building of three stories, filled with shops. It is the largest bazaar in Russia, except that at Nijni Novgorod. It contains more than 1,000 shops, in which is exposed for sale merchandise from all parts of the world.

The Villa of the Empress is a little way to the south-east of the city, close by the Moskova. It is a beautiful villa, surrounded by magnificent gardens. Near by are the Sparrow hills, from which Napoleon obtained his first view of Moscow.

ROUTE 154.

MOSCOW TO NIJNI NOVGOROD.

(The traveller is recommended to go by the night train, and, passing the day at Nijni Novgorod, to return to Moscow by the night train.)

271 miles; 1st class, 12 r. 3c.; 2nd, 9 r. 22 c.; 3rd, 5 r. 12 c.

EAVING Moscow we reach PAVLOFSK (40 miles), (Buffet), population 3,500. Passing several unimportant places we ar

rive at VLADIMIR (117 miles), (Buffet), a town of 15,000 inhabitants, the capital of the province of that name, and the seat of a celebrated ecclesiastical seminary, within the precincts of which the remains of St. Alexander Nevsky were for a long time entombed. Built on the wooded heights above the Kliazma, and adorned with a fine cathedral, it has a very imposing appearance. The inhabitants depend for subsistence chiefly on their orchards and on the traffic they carry on at the great fair of Nijni Novgorod. This province is one of the most fertile and industrious in the Empire. It exports large quantities of grain, and possesses many flourishing manufactories. The next place of importance is Kovref (163 miles), (Buffet), population 4,000, on the right bank of the Kliazma. Here are some cotton factories, &c. Viazniki (194 miles), (Buffet), population 5,000. Linen manufactures are carried on here. The country is rich in corn, great quantities of which are exported.

Nijni Novgorod (2713 miles), (Hotels: de Russie, Nikita Egoroff's), population 40,000, is situated at the confluence of the Oka with the Volga. It is divided into two parts, the high town and the low town. The high town is chiefly composed of three handsome streets, which converge towards an irregular open space. Beyond this space rises the Kremlin, or citadel, finely situated on the highest point of the triangle, and immediately overhanging the bed of the Volga. It is surrounded by a wall 30 ft. in height, flanked with 13 towers, and contains the principal edifices of the town. Among those deserving of mention are the Cathedrals of the Archangel and of the Transfiguration, and the Governor's

The town is noted for its great annual fair, which takes place in July and August, and which is attended by upwards of 200,000 persons. It is held on a spacious plain between the two rivers Oka and Volga. In the midst of this space, towards the end of July, an immense township suddenly starts into existence, having churches, hospitals, barracks and theatres. A handsome building is erected in the centre of the bazaar, in which, during the continuance of the fair, the governor of the town, with a numerous train of officials resides.

Round the public offices are ranged the European wares. Next follow the Armenians. Nearly a whole side of the bazaar is occupied by the Chinese market, in which tea is the chief article of trade. Here are merchants from Europe; Bokharians, Khivans, Kirghizes, Tartars, Armenians, Persians, and Chinese, all engaged in buying and selling, and surrounded by a motley group of visitors, not less amusing, in their individual characteristics, than the fair itself.

Merchandise, to the amount of £16,000,000, often changes hands during the short time the fair lasts.

ROUTE 155.

ST. PETERSBURG TO BERLIN, BY WARSAW.

(The route from St. Petersburg to Wilna, is described in Route 152; that between Bromberg and Berlin, in Route 104.

From Wilna to Warsaw, 256 miles; 1st class, 11 r. 63 c.; 2nd, 8 r. 73 c.; 3rd, 4r. 86 c.

men.

EAVING Wilna, we pass several stations, including Poreche (77 miles), (Buffet), and reach Grodno, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, situated on the NieIt was the ancient capital of Lithuania, and subsequently the residence of the kings of Poland. Here are some handsome churches, a palace, and a fine bridge across the river. Passing Bialystok, population 16,000, and several other places, we reach Lapy (1633 miles), (Buffet), and about four hours afterwards.

WARSAW (256) miles), (Hotels: de l'Europe, d'Angleterre, de Paris), population, 181,000. This was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Poland; it is situated on the left bank of the Vistula, and is connected by a bridge of boats with the suburb of Fraga, on the opposite side of the river. It is enclosed by a rampart and fosse, entered by ten gates, and defended by a vast citadel, recently erected.

It has several large public squares, among which that of Sigismund, adorned with a bronze colossal statue of Sigismund III., is particularly deserving of notice. Among the principal public buildings, are, the Cathedral of

St. John, a Gothic building of great beauty, containing statuettes and many interesting monuments, including one by Thorwaldsen; the Church of the Holy Cross; Carmelite and Lutheran churches, the latter a fine structure; the Zamek, or ancient palace of the Polish kings; the Palace of Casimir, adorned in front with a statue of Copernicus; the Saxon palace, with fine gardens and a promenade; the Krasinsky palace; the arsenal, mint, exchange, and national theatre.

Warsaw is an extensive commercial emporium, and has two large annual fairs, each of which lasts three weeks.

Of the castles in the vicinity, the residence of Sobieski is still remarked for its beautiful gardens, and for an equestrian statue of John Sobieski.

Since 1815, Warsaw has been the residence of a viceroy, representing the Emperor of Russia.

Leaving Warsaw, we pass Ruda Guzovska, (28 miles), and reach SKIERNIEWITZ (42 miles), population, 3,000. Here a branch goes to Vienna. Lovitsh, population, 6,000, situated on the Bzur, is a commercial town, celebrated for its horse fairs. Kutno, situated on the Okhna, has 5,600 inhabitants. Vlotslavek, population, 8,500, situated on the Vistula. A considerable trade is done here in corn. Alexandrov is the last Russian station. The first Prussian station is Otloczyn. We presently reach THORN, (Hotel: Sans Souci),

a

town of 15,500 inhabitants, situated on the right bank of the Vistula, opposite Podgurcze, with which it is connected by a bridge about 900 yards long. This was the birthplace of the great astronomer, Copernicus, whose tomb is in the church of St. John. The Hótel-de-Ville is partly of the

fourteenth, partly of the sixteenth century. The Krumme Thurm is a leaning tower, about 50 ft. high. We observe a curious old gateway, called Kulmer Thor, the ruins of a castle dating from the thirteenth century, and a fortified tower called Katzenschwanz. BROMBERG. (For the remainder of the Route, see Route 104.)

ROUTE 156.

ST. PETERSBURG TO
STOCKHOLM, BY SEA.

HE distance run by the steamers is about 540 miles. Steamers leave St. Petersburg and Stockholm every Tuesday and Friday morning. Time occupied, usually 3 days. The steamers run only by day, the great number of islands and shoals rendering night navigation dangerous. The first night is spent at Wyborg, the second at Helsingfors, the third at Abo, and Stockholm is reached on the fourth.

Leaving St. Petersburg we pass the powerful fortress of Cronstadt, and passing the night at WYBORG, reach

REVEL (200 miles), (Hotels: Wittestrand, Goldene Lowe), a seaport town of about 28,000 inhabitants, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. It was founded in 1218 by Waldemar II. of Denmark, and annexed to Russia in 1710. It is now the capital of the province of Esthonia, and is much frequentéd in the bathing season. In the environs is the Imperial garden of Catherinenthal. We now cross the gulf and proceed to

HELSINGFORS (252 miles), (Hotels: Society's House, Kleinch), on