for example, the standards of the StreHtz, huge things made of pieces of silk sewed together, and adorned with many highly original pictures characteristic of that fanatical Russian praetorian band, who may be justly called the Janizaries of Christianity. They are greatly deserving of the attention of historians, although, as far as I know, they have not yet been noticed by any. In the middle of the flag sits God the Father, holding the last judgment ; over his head is the azure sky of Paradise, beneath him blaze the flames of the infernal gulf ; at his right hand stand the just, that is, a chorus of Russian priests, a division of Strelitzes, and a number of bearded Russians ; to his left the imbelievers and the wicked, that is, a tribe of Jews, Turks, and Tartars, negroes, and another crowd in the dresses of Nyemtzi, or German West Europeans. Under each group the national name is inscribed ; and so, also, by those tormented in the flames of hell. " A Turban, a German, a Miser, a Murderer," &c. Many angels, armed with iron rods, are busied in delivering the rest of the unbelievers, the shrieking Jews, Mahomedans, and other infidels, to the custody of the devils. Such unnoticed pictures as these often speak more plainly than any thing else what is passing in the secret soul. Near the flags lie a number of the accoutrements of the StreHtzes, and the images of their patron saints ; each saint has its own little case, of which a whole row, fastened to straps, were worn on the breast, in a fasliion similar to the Circassians. Some Russian cannon of the period are also placed here ; they are very large, cast in iron, and ornamented with silver and gold.
To every emperor and empress since Peter the Great a separate apartment is devoted, containing the clothes, weapons, and utensils belonging to them, with the instruments of war in use at that time, uniforms, &c. &c. The imifonns of distinguished generals, with all their orders, crosses, and ribbons, are here deposited in glass cases ; many thousand ells of historica;lly interesting ribbons figure among them. With the help of this cabinet a very good history of the Russian army might be composed. We may here learn that the Semeonoff and Preobrashanski regiments of the guards, the most important and celebrated legions, the core of the Russian pretorian bands, during their century of existence have changed their uniform five-and-twenty times ; and that it does not now in the least resemble what it was a hundred years ago. The changes of the Russian soldier from white to black, from red to green, from long to short, and from wide to narrow, are more manifold than those from caterpillar to chrysalis — from chrysalis to butterfly. In the chamber of Alexander there are not less than sixty orders that he wore ; the broad ribbon of the order of St. George, however, is not among them ; the emperor would not accept it, although it was decreed him several times by the chapter of the order and the senate. This order is only given for a great battle won, for the preservation of the empire, or the restoration of peace by a series of military exploits ; and the emperor, who could not ascribe one of these deeds to himself personally, refused the honour, in order to maintain the credit of the order and its laws.
Ever since Peter the Great, the Russian emperors have voluntarily subjected themselves to their own laws and ordinances, and thereby given their subjects a great example. The pike which Peter carried as a volunteer in his own army, the uniforms he wore as sergeant, captain, and colonel, the leatlicrn shirt he wore as a carpenter, all of which are preserved in the arsenal, constantly warn his successors to follow his example.
In Peter's apartmeDt there is still kept the cabriolet he made use of to measure the roads ; the number of revolutions made by the wheels are sliown by the machinery contained in the box beliind. On the lid of this box is a curious old picture representing Peter's method of travelling. It is a portrait of the cabriolet itself, dra^vn by one horse, and driven by Peter. Behind him are newly-built houses, and gardens laid out ; before him a forest and a Avilderness, to the anniliilation of which he is boldly proceeding ; behind him the heavens are serene, before him the clouds are heaped up like rocks. As this picture was probably designed by Peter himself, it shows what he thought of himself.