ion, as
it may be supposed to rise from the waters. His hand is stretched
forth for the protection of the city. This work, like many other
proud achievements in the empire, unfortunately is not Russian.
The design is due to the Frenchman Falconet; Marie Callot is said
to have modelled the head, and the casting was done by Martelli,
an Italian. Falconet, in order to be true to the life, carefully
studied again and again a fine Arab horse, mounted by a Russian
general who was famous as a rider; the general day by day made a
rush up a mound, artificially constructed for the purpose, and when
just short of the precipice the horse was reined in and thrown on
its hind legs. The artist watched the action and made his studies;
the work accordingly has nature, movement, vigour. I may here mention
that I have nowhere found such large masses of stone conveyed from
place to place as here in St. Petersburg. It is true I have seen
marble fresh from the mountains of Carrara tugged along by teams
of bullocks, but I have nowhere witnessed so much power brought to
bear as in the transit of the granite used in the immense memorial
to the Empress Catherine.

The art collections in St. Petersburg may give the traveller pleasant
occupation for several weeks; indeed if the tourist be an art student
he will find work for months. The Winter Palace, adjoining the
Hermitage, on the Neva, is like the palace at Versailles, conspicuous
for rooms or galleries commemorative of military exploits. Here
are well-painted battle-pieces by Willewalde and Kotzbue, also
naval engagements by Aivasovsky, highly coloured as a matter of
course. Likewise are hung the best battle-pieces I have ever seen,
by Peter Hess, the renowned Bavarian painter, who appears to less
credit in Munich than in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg. Also
may be noted the portrait of Alexander I. by Dawe, the Englishman,
who worked much in Russia. Here likewise is the imperial gallery
of portraits of all the sovereigns of the reigning Russian house.
I pass over these multitudinous works thus briefly, because, though
the collection is of importance in the history of the empire, it
has little value in art.

"The Crown Jewels" I shall not attempt to describe; no description
of jewels can be worth much. I may venture to say, however, that
after seeing all the royal jewellery in Europe, I found these Russian
crowns, sceptres, etc., richer in diamonds than any other. Also
pearls, rubies, S