reign of the Empress Anne. The tower in which it hung having been burned seven years later, it fell, and remained buried in the earth for 100 years, when it was placed upon the present pedestal. It is now used as a chapel. It is almost impossible to give an idea of its immense size, and must be seen to be appreciated. Its height is over 21 feet, and circumference 67 feet; its weight 400,000 pounds; and, at the present price of the material, it must be worth nearly $2,000,000! Its weight is eleven times greater than the largest bell in France, that at the Cathedral of Rouen. One of the bells in the tower weighs 64 tons, but looks like an ordinary steam-boat bell when compared to the Tzar Rolokol, "King of Bells." Close to the Kremlin walls, on the outside, stands the cathedral church of St. Basil. Russian churches are, as a general thing, very much alike, but this one is entirely different from all we have ever yet seen. It stands on a very conspicuous point, and possesses no fewer than twenty domes and towers, which are not only of different shapes and sizes, but are gilded and painted in all possible variety of colors. There is no main chapel or church in the whole building, each dome containing a separate place of worship, where services can be carried on in each without disturbing the worshipers in any other. It was erected by Ivan the Terrible, who, it is said, was so well pleased with the work of the Italian architect that, after eulogizing his skill, he ordered his eyes put out, that he might never erect another! The Chapel of the Iberian Mother of God, the Monastery of Douskoi, and the Foundling Hospital, are all well worth a visit. There are but three Theatres in Moscow -the Alexander theatre, for Russian operas and dramas; the French theatre, for the performance of French pieces; and a small theatre for pantomimes. The University of Moscow is one of the finest in the empire. It contains at present about 1000 pupils. There is a remarkable collection of minerals; also of human skeletons and human hearts, with magnificent microscopic illustrations by Lieberkuhn. The palace and gardens of Peterskoi were founded by the Empress Elizabeth; they are a short distance beyond the walls of the city. The gardens are the great resort of the middling classes on summer evenings, and are filled with booths, restaurants, cafés, and tea-gardens, with a pretty little summer theatre. Whole families come from the city, and bring their tea-urns with them, make it in the presence of thousands, and sit and drink it, a tea-cup in one hand, and a piece of sugar in the other; they never put their sugar into the tea. The palace, which is small, has very little to recommend it historically or otherwise. It was here Napoleon retired from the plains of Moscow, and here, in sight of the blazing city, he dietated the intelligence to France. Before the traveler leaves Moscow he must make an excursion to the Empress's Villa at the Sparrow hills, from whence there is a magnificent view of the city. The villa was presented to the empress dowager by Count Orloff. It will be necessary to procure a ticket of admission before you leave the city; this your valet de place will procure for you. The Riadi and market-places, of course, you will visit, and that, too, with infinite amusement. All the shops for the sale of any particular kind of goods will be found in the same locality. Inquire for Matthew Birke, an English guide. Visit Troitss Monastery without fail. Take first train; go to the service at 9 in the chapel; have your breakfast in the hotel outside, near the monastery; return and visit the other churches, not omitting from half an hour to an hour in the ateliers of the church paintings; return in the 1 or 3 o'clock train to Moscow. The traveler, on his return from Russia, may take any of the numerous routes and different lines of ships, touching at Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Elsinore; or he may, if he wishes to save time and shorten his sea voyage, go by Lubeck or Kiel, and by railway to Paris. This last will be the most expeditious, except returning direct by rail. SWEDEN, DENMARK, AND NORWAY. HELSINGFORS. [SWEDEN, DENMARK, AND NORWAY.] ROUTE No. 17. From St. Petersburg to London, via Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Hamburg. In steamer from St. Petersburg to Stockholm, secure staterooms in the deck cabin in preference to the one below. The Grefne Berg is one of the best steamers. Fare about 20 rubles-accommodations good, and the trip very desirable. It occupies from 2 to 4 days, according to stoppages. At Before leaving St. Petersburg disencumber yourself of any surplus paper money, as it can not be sold out of Russia. the Bank, if you present your passport vised to leave, gold is furnished you at 3 per cent. premium; and, if you receive any too much of it, you can readily sell it in the streets at an advance of 5 per cent. ABO. with plastered and yellow-washed houses, giving it the appearance of a town built to order. The town-hall is quite a fine building. Continuing W.N.W. along the coast, we enter an archipelago of islands which reaches almost to our journey's end. After 100 miles we arrive at Abo (pronounced Obo), the ancient capital of Finland. The Societats Haus is very fair, and is perhaps the most northwardly hotel in the world-latitude 6010. Abo stands on the Aurajoke, about 3 miles from the gulf. Population 14,000. It is the seat of an archbishop. The cathedral was the first Christian temple in this northern land, but its saints have been destroyed, altars demolished, walls whitewashed, and columns pewed. Its treasures are a few old monuments, and the bodies of various dignitaries, which, after the lapse of a few centuries, have been converted into adipocere. In consequence of the hatred of Russia entertained by the Finns, the seat of government was removed from Abo in 1819. There is an observatory here. The It houses are mostly of one story, with wide streets and no visible business, though there are some manufactories. As you steam down the Gulf of Finland, the last of St. Petersburg visible is the golden dome of the Isaac Church, surmounting the horizon after every thing else has disappeared. Two hundred miles W.S.W. is Revel, the capital of Esthonia, a pleasant city of 25,000 inhabitants. consists of the city proper, which is small, and the surrounding suburbs. The ordinary language of business and intercourse is the German. Revel was taken from the Swedes in 1710, since which it has remained an integral part of Russia. It is much resorted to by the Russians as a wateringplace, and has many striking buildings. It carries on an extensive commerce with all parts of the world. Crossing the Gulf of Finland we arrive at Helsingfors, the present political capital of Finland. Population 16,000. Hotel, Societats Haus. It is defended by the great citadel of Sveaborg, 3 miles below, at the entrance of the harbor. This citadel, in August, 1855, was attacked by the combined British and French fleets, but not taken, though some damage was sustained. The harbor is very good-suitable for the heaviest line-of-battle ships. The University of Helsingfors has a library of 40,000 volumes. The town was nearly destroyed by fire some 40 years ago, since which time it has been rebuilt We now stand out into the Gulf of Bothnia, but still environed by our maze of islands. These cease at length for a few hours, when again we enter another archipelago, the Aland [Oland] Islands. About 80 of these are inhabited by some 15,000 people. The fortress of Bomarsund, on the principal island, was taken by the combined British and French fleets in August, 1854. Those only who have sailed through the Manitoulines of Lake Huron, or explored the Thousand Isles of the St. Lawrence, can imagine the beauty of this whole voyage, from the time we left Helsingfors until our arrival at Stockholm. The multitudinous islets accompany us the entire passage, with two small intermissions-between those that line the coast of Finland and the Alands, and between the latter and those that line the coast of Sweden-the eternal granite ever lifting itself out of the water, and ever crowned with luxuriant forests of firs and birches. Four hundred and forty miles W.S.W. of St. Petersburg we arrive at the city of Stockholm. STOCKHOLM. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is built partly upon some small islands that lie at the entrance of the Maelar Lake, and partly on the main land, and occupies one of the most striking and remarkable situations in the world. The view of the city when approached from the Baltic is extremely grand and imposing. It contains a population of 102,000 inhabitants. Principal hotels are H. Rydberg and H. Kungcarl. Stockholm is the residence of the royal family. The present reigning king of Sweden and Norway is Charles XV., who is great-grandson of the Empress Josephine, and cousin of the present emperor Napoleon III., his father having married Josephine Maximilienne Eugenie, daughter of Eugène Beauharnais, son of Josephine and uncle of Napoleon III. The king was born in 1826. The three islands upon which the older portion of the city stands are the Gustavsholm (Gustavus Island), Riddarsholm (Knight's Island), and Helge Antsholm (Holy Ghost's Island). On the first-named of the three stands the royal palace, together with many of the principal public edifices. These islands are connected by long bridges with the main land. The ever point it is viewed, is the principal object of attraction at Stockholm. It contains the Picture - Gallery, Sculpture - Gallery, Royal Museum, Royal Library, Cabinet of National Antiquities, and private apartments of the king and queen. The Picture-Gallery is very indifferent, and, with the exception of a few pieces by Claude, Rubens, Teniers, Paul Potter, and Paul Veronese, are not worth describing. The Sculpture-Gallery, however, contains some perfect gems, among which are the Sleeping Endymion, found at the villa of Hadrian, near Tivoli; also a beautiful Fawn, and a Love and Psyche. The collection of drawings has some gems by Rsphael and Guido. In the Royal Library, which contains about 85,000 volumes, there is a Bible, printed in 1521, with marginal notes by Martin Luther, and one in manuscript, written in gold on leaves of vellum, supposed to have been executed in the 7th century. The Cabinet of Medallions and Northern Antiquities will well repay an examination. The private apartments contain some very fine works of art, but can not be seen at all times. The cathedral church of St. Nicholas adjoins the palace: it is imposing from its magnitude. It contains some fine paintings, monuments, and sculptures of merit; among the latter is an altar-piece representing the Birth, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, carved in ebony, and adorned with gold and silver, and a remarkable piece of carving representing St. George and the Dragon. The kings of Sweden and Norway are crowned in the Cathedral. larger portion of the private houses are built on the main land, which on the north side is called Nörnmalm (north suburb), and slopes gradually backward from the shore, but on the south side, or the Södermalm, rises in precipitous cliffs, where the handsome white houses sparkle in the midst of the most luxuriant foliage. The streets of Stockholm are mostly unpaved, excepting with round pebbles, and are generally narrow and crooked, but some of the pub-stroyed by lightning. In addition to the lic buildings are very fine. Although Stockholm is the principal place in the kingdom for foreign commerce, its manufactures are inconsiderable. These are principally woolen, silk, cotton, and glassware. There are also a number of refineries and breweries. The King's Palace, which is an immense quadrangular granite and brick edifice, and has a majestic appearance from what The most interesting church in Stockholm is the Ridderholm, which is now used as a mausoleum for the royal family. The building is erected in the Gothic style, and is surmounted with a beautiful cast-iron steeple, the former one having been de equestrian statues, covered with exquisite ly-finished armor, which adorn the entrance to the church, it contains the remains of the great Gustavus Adolphus, who died on the battle-field of Lutzen: his sarcophagus is surrounded with trophies and relics of different victories, consisting of flags, swords, drums, and keys, also the bloodstained clothes in which he died. The chapel immediately in front of this con |