Aroimd the sarcophagi, on the pillars, and in the corners, flags and other trophies are suspended as in the Kasan church. Those of Persia and Turkey are particularly numerous. They lie here as in a museum ; batons of Turkish commanders and grand viziers, generally made of brass or silver, beautifully wrought, something like the small battle-axes in use in the middle ages ; the triple horse-tails of the pachas, many insignia of the Janizaries, and a collection of most singularly -formed keys of Tiu'kish and Persian fortresses. All the Persian flags have the outstretched silver hand at their extremities. The flag itself is an excessively long triangular piece of double silk stuff trimmed with lace, having in the middle a panther, over whose back radiates the broad disk of a sun. They are all in as good condition as the Turkish ; in one or two a ball has passed through the sun, and on one only can be traced five bloody finger-marks of the Turkish standard-bearer who died defending it. Three hundred of these Persian suns and Turkish crescents bend here before the cross of the Christians.
Among the sacred vessels we were shown some turned in wood and ivory, the work of Peter the Great. It is incomprehensible how this unwearied man could govern a great empire in all its details, establish manufactures, build cities, dig canals, organize an army, a fleet, a host of public offices, found schools, academies, univirsities, theatres, and withal find time to make these crosses, candelabras, and cups of ebony and ivory, and so to finish and polish every minute part, that any German guild would have pronounced it a masterpiece. To show with what extreme art these productions are finished, we may mention that the centre of one of these crosses is ornamented with a circular slide of ivory on which the crucifixion, with the mourning women below, are carved in bas-relief. A multitude of rays issue from this slide as from a sun, every ray is turned in ebony, in the ornamenting of which, with all manner of carving, an enormous degree of labour must have been expended. It is impossible to withhold oiu" astonishment at this gifted and enthroned Proteus, and lie who stands by his grave, be he who he may, will wish peace to hi3 ashes, and blessing and prosperity to all the good that has proceeded from him. Great God ! who would not wish that Peter could, from his tomb, cast one glance upon the flourishing city, that with such unspeakable toil and difficulty he founded amidst the swamps of the Neva. But life is so short that a man can rarely enjoy the fruits of what he has discovered, planted, or created. Perhaps Peter's prophetic spirit foresaw what here would be ; yet here, if ever, the reality must have surpassed all expectation.