monds and 1,220 jewels and many pearls.

Besides these numerous thrones, there are saddles, bridles, and reins
and saddle cloths covered most lavishly with diamonds, amethysts and
large turquoises--a large boss, adorning the horse's chest, in the
centre of which is an immense diamond, and round this a circle of pink
topazes, enclosed in pearls, and these again by diamonds, the whole
encircled by a broad gold band.

But perhaps the greatest curiosity is a pair of old wooden chairs, used
at the coronation of the Emperors. Though made of coarse wood they are
said to contain 1,000 precious stones.

The whole extent of one wall is occupied by an array of boots, from the
iron jack boots of Peter to the delicate beaver skin of the Emperor
Alexander.

On the other side are suspended some Damascus scimitars, and very
curious Chinese sabres.

The Arsenal contains nearly 900 cannon, weighing about 400 tons, a great
number French, taken during the disastrous retreat in 1812. Among all
these warlike trophies you will be proud to learn very few are English.

Close to the tower of Ivan Veliki is placed on a massive pedestal the
mighty bell. It was cast by the command of the Empress Ann in 1730, and
bears her figure in flowing robes on its surface, beneath which is a
deep border of flowers. It is said the tower on which it was originally
hung was burnt in 1737, and its fall buried the enormous mass deep in
the earth, and broke a huge fragment from it.

In the spring of 1837, exactly a century after it fell, the Emperor
Nicholas caused it to be removed and placed on its present pedestal,
with the broken fragment beside it. The fragment is about 6 feet high
and 3 feet thick.

The height of the whole bell is 21 feet 3 inches and 25 feet 5 inches in
diameter, and weighs 443,722 lbs., or more than 153 tons, and is
supposed to have cost L350,000, as in addition to the copper, many
persons, during the process of casting, threw large quantities of gold
and silver into each of the four furnaces.

The tower of John the Great is more than 200 feet high, surmounted by a
gilded dome, of which there are about 60 in the Kremlin.

In the first storey hangs a bell, which but for its mightier neighbour
below would appear stupendous, being 60 tons.

To ring it is impossible; even to toll it requires the united strength
of three men pulling with separate ropes the vast clapper; above this
are 40 or 50 more.

The cathedral of St. Basil, situ