the thaw commences, on the one bank throws up masses of ice, and on the other, which is far more dangerous, the equinoctial tides drive back the river's current, causing it to overflow its banks, notwithstanding its powerful granite piers. Indeed, St. Petersburgh is threatened at least twice during the year with a catastrophe, any day possible. On the slightest appearance of danger from the river, cannon are fired to alarm and apprise the inhabitants that danger is at hand.

Having passed the Neva, two of the most interesting objects present themselves on the right bank-of a city of too modern a date to present any object for the antiquarian. The one is the small wood hut inhabited by Peter the Great during the year 1703, when he laid the foundation-stone of that maritime city which was intended to eclipse Moscow. This hut, small and lower than the most simple abode of a peasant, contains only three rooms-if such they can be termed-on the ground-floor: a bed-room on the right, a diningroom on the left, with a hall or reception-room in the centre; that is to say-a square apartment filled with some rough furniture, made by the hand of the industrious Czar, who instructed his subjects in the use of the saw and the gauge.

It was there, in a coarse flannel jacket, he received the commander of his army and the ambassadors of foreign states. And from thence one looks on the vast and sumptuous Winter Palace which faces it on the opposite bank of the river. Truly, it is a striking feature of Russia past and present; or, I might more justly say, Russia as it was, and as it would now desire to be. Beneath a shed is also to be seen a small decked boat constructed by Peter himself, which subsequently became the model for his ship-builders. To this hour it is termed the "Grandfather of the Russian fleet." Surely, it ought to be placed in mourning for the loss of so many of its grandchildren. A Byzantium image of our Saviour, which it is said he always carried with him, and which accompanied him to Pultawa, is carefully placed on a sort of altar in his dining-room, before which lamps and waxlights burn day and night. The hut, in fact, is filled with relics of bigotry and idolatry, and leads the beholder to fancy himself in a chapel dedicated to all the saints-Peter himself being the greatest. In fact, it is not admiration that inspires the Russians to respect his memory, but devotion: to them he was and is a saint.

The abode to which I have alluded is on the right of the great bridge on leaving the city, which, contrary to the original intention of the founder, is, for the most part, on the opposite bank of the Neva. On the left is the citadel, which he built to protect his native land against the Swedes, who could have destroyed it by approaching from the river's mouth. This citadel, placed on a small island in front of the larger island of Vaseti-Askoff, which contains the Mint, as the academies, in the present day, from the constant increase of the city, finds itself in the centre of the aristocratic quarter. It is in consequence no longer a position of defence. Within this fortress is a small church, from whose summit or rather minaret, which is terminated by a golden arrow, the most complete panorama of St. Petersburgh, its port and islands, is seen. In this church, beneath

the banners of his enemies, for the most part Turkish,* behold the imperial sepulchre! Simple sarcophagi, arranged side by side, contain the bones of the Czars and Czarinas and Grand Dukes. In the first are those of Peter the Great, who is the beginning and end of everything at St. Petersburgh-new and old-dead and alive. Next in the line is his wife Catherine, Ann, Elizabeth, Peter II., Catherine, Paul, Alexander, and Constantine. There is still a corner for many others-a position having recently been occupied by the remains of him who has brought desolation on the land of his forefathers, and broken the hearts, as saddened the hearths, of many an English home.

Hard by the monuments of these Autocrats is the first privilege, as the first attribute, of their sovereign power-an edifice of smokedried brick, wherein is deposited all the gold, silver, and platina produced by mines of Aural, Altae, as of the whole of Siberia-richer than even were those of Potosi-gradually developing immense productions. These mines give to Russia a power equal to its millions of men and millions of acres, and support an empire, the head of which is despotismn, the body slavery.

Proceeding beyond the boundary of the city, "the islands" are past-that is, the fashionable summer suburbs; inasmuch as from their town to their country residences the rich inhabitants of St. Petersburgh content themselves by passing from the left to the right bank of the Neva.

These villas are mere rustic wooden summer residences, by no means pleasing to the eye or elegant in structure, particularly where uninhabited. It is said, however, that during the summer the society of the islands is alike animated and agrecable. From thence is gained the high road; if such term can be applied to a horrid, rutty, and illmended carriage-way. Several villages are passed, with their chateaus and churches. The cottage of the peasant is invariably built of wood, and that of the autocrat of the same material. The only apparent difference between the two is, that the former is constructed simply by the placing together trunks of trees in their natural state; whereas, the latter is planked without, painted, and decorated. Anything in the form of enclosure, either as regards park or garden, is out of the question-the sole division of property appears to be demarked by the slightest of palings.

With regard to the house of God, however, more care is displayed. There are few villages, however poor, but have their church-built either of brick or wood plastered without, adorned also with columns, Eastern domes, and minarets, which, generally speaking, are painted a delicate light green colour. On beholding these churches, it is at once apparent that the religion of Russia, as the language, is of Byzantium origin.

(To be continued.)

* Will that of the unfortunate Tiger add to their number?

ENGRAVED BY J. H. ENGLEHEART, FROM A PAINTING BY A. COOPER, r.a.

Walk

"Snipe-shooting," says Stonehenge, in his new book of Rural Sports, "is the most important and interesting of the various kinds of marsh and fen shooting.' The same excellent authority also offers us the following hints:-"When starting in search of snipe, choose, if possible, a mild day after rain, but with the surface just becoming dry; for, if very wet, the snipe refuse to lie, as do most birds in fact. up wind to the end of your beat, with your dog, or dogs, at your heel, and you will pick up a few shots, but not many. When arrived at the end, cast off your dog, and let him steadily beat every inch of ground, taking it in a zigzag direction, but always keeping your face more or less down wind. This will give your dog the chance of using his nose, and yet enable you to get between the snipe and the wind, which they always try to face, and in doing so are very apt to make a circle round you, thereby offering a very favourable shot. When your dog stands, keep well to windward of him, always going up to him on that side. Be very careful not to hurry yourself or your dog; and do not shoot until the snipe has done his twistings, unless he first rises at more than twenty yards from you, when you have him down at once. If your dog finds a snipe to windward of him, and you are behind, your only chance, unless you are a crack shot, is to head your dog well, and prevent the snipe going off in the wind's eye away from you, in which case his vagaries are so eccentric as to baffle most eyes and hands. But as snipe generally lie well, you need not make so great a circle as for partridge or grouse under similar circumstances.'

And so on. If any of our friends like the taste we have here given them, they had better get the book. It will not break them to buy it,

while it may "make them to read it. We must defer our own

opinion of its many other recommendations until next month.

SADDLES

AND SADDLER S.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Believing that it is not your wish to disseminate error, we beg to correct a letter to you from Mr. B. Wilkinson, wherein it is stated that the firm of Wilkinson and Kidd is now carried on under the title of Wilkinson and Ride, which is wholly incorrect. That the man who was lately in our employ, whom he calls chef for 20 years, was foreman only a little more than two years, and that the premises are now occupied by farming gentlemen; which statements are also without the slightest foundation.

We are, sir, your

obedient servants,

257, Oxford-street, corner of Park-street, December 13th, 1855.

WILKINSON AND KIDD,