ers and deposited in sockets of a silver
frame work placed near the altar, amounting altogether to not fewer than
1,500 lights.

St. Petersburg can boast of several large monuments, the Ramanzof
erected to the field-marshal of that name, and Suwaroff, one of their
most distinguished heroes; also the column of Alexander, a single shaft
of red granite, upwards of 80 feet in height. The base and pedestal is
composed of one enormous block, above 25 feet square, and to secure the
base there were no fewer than six successive rows of piles, the shaft of
the column alone weighing nearly 400 tons.

On the pedestal is the following short and well-chosen inscription:

"To Alexander the Great; Grateful Russia."

But the most wonderful of all is the well-known equestrian statue of
Peter the Great, representing the Emperor riding up a rock and subduing
a serpent.

The huge block of granite which forms the pedestal, and weighs 1,500
tons, was brought from Lacte, a village four miles from St. Petersburg,
at a cost of 70,000 roubles, or L11,000 sterling. It was originally 45
feet long, 30 feet high, and 25 feet in width, but broke into two
pieces, which were subsequently patched together, the whole cost
amounting to 424,610 roubles, or upwards of L70,000.

After surveying the palaces and public buildings in the city, we turned
our attention to those in the environs, and proceeded in a steamer to
Peterhof, about fifteen miles down the river.

Nothing can be finer than the situation of this palace, commanding an
extensive view of the Neva from Cronstadt to St. Petersburg, with
beautiful waterworks, considered little inferior to those at Versailles,
with a magnificent jet called the Sampson, a colossal bronze figure,
tearing open the jaws of a lion, whence rushes the water from a height
of 80 feet.

Besides numerous other jets sending the water in all directions, there
is a broad flight of steps, and on each side a range of marble slabs to
the top of the hill, over which the water pours down, so far apart, as
to allow on fete nights, variegated lamps to be arranged behind the
water, forming the most beautiful cascade.

Passing through the palace, containing numerous pictures, marbles and
vases that we had not time to inspect, we came to the gardens, kept in
the strictest order. In the varied walks and borders of flowers are
numerous seats to accommodate a large assemblage of people, and two
bands of music playing alternately.