" The numerous domes and pinnacles, which peep out over the trees as we approach, indicate a palace oriental in its style and magnitude; while the glittering cupola and tapering minarets of the elegant mosque, which almost adjoins it, lead us to imagine that the noble owner of all this magnificence is Hadjy-Selim-Ghiri-Khan, at least. A few moments more, however, and we find to our perplexity, that we are driving under the lofty walls and frowning battlements of a. feudal chieftain's fortress; and as we pass through the solid gateways into the spacious court-yard, and look up at the massive square tower and belfry to correspond, we find it difficult to decide whether the building before us bears most resemblance to the stronghold of the Black Douglas or the palace of the Great Mogul.
" Notwithstanding the mixture of such incongruous styles of architecture, the general effect of this splendid chateau is charming. The Prince has spent an almost fabulous amount of silver roubles upon the house and
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grounds, and has succeeded in rearing an edifice worthy of the scenery amid which it stands. The taste displayed is unexceptionable. Placed almost upon the borders of Europe and Asia, the Eastern character so strongly developed throughout the structure is most appropriate; while the dash of feudalism, as suggestive of the former uncivilised condition of the West, is a graceful allusion to the present state of that country in which it is situated."
It is only necessary to add to this felicitous little sketch, that the ships in the foreground of the drawing are a three-decker, bearing the English Admiral's flag, and a steam despatch gun-boat.
THE MONASTERY OF SAINT GEORGE AND CAPE FIOLENTE,
LOOKINa WEST.
Cape Fiolente, called by the Tartars " Ai B6r6m," or " the Holy Promontory," is believed by antiquaries to be identical with the Parthenium, or Virgin's Promontory, of the ancients. Nearly on the spot now occupied by the Monastery the temple of Diana, of which Iphigenia was the priestess, is supposed to have stood. The monastery consists of a small green-domed church, a large refectory, and some moderate-sized cells, and is ornamented by terraces and gardens constructed by the monks on the face of the cliff. This romantic spot is thus graphically described by a recent traveller in the Crimea: —
" Here stood that Temple, dedicated to Diana, in which the lovely daughter of Agamemnon, the fair Iphigenia, officiated as priestess; herself a victim offered up for immolation to the Goddess, but spared to exercise on others the cruel rites which she had fortunately escaped. Hence then were thrown the remains of those Greeks, sacrificed upon the marble altar of the Virgin, whose worship required, and whose wrath could alone be appeased by, streams of human blood. Perhaps the very spot on which we rested had oft been stained with the gore of the mangled corpses of the wretched shipwrecked mariners. We descended by a narrow zigzag path cut in the face of the mountain, on every nook or ledge of which the monks have planted trees and flowers, making little terraced gardens in the midst of the
THE black charred cliffs. From the shore we looked up and perceived the Monastery, some hundreds of feet above us, and fifty feet beneath the summit of the precipice. Near to us on the right, as we faced the sea, was a great isolated basaltic rock, rising above its neighbours.
" The Monastery of St. Greorge hangs as it were to the face of the cliff, and the only entrance to it is by a door and flight of steps cut in the rock at its summit.
" From a little terrace in front a magnificent view over the Black Sea is obtained."
THE LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE CHERSONESE,
LOOKING SOUTH.
Cape Chersonese is situated at the extreme western point of the Chersonesus Heracleotica, and as this point forms also the south-western extremity of the Crimea, from which the coast trends constantly to the northward, it naturally presented a most suitable spot for the erection of the handsome stone lighthouse which is the subject of this drawing. The terrific storms which sweep over the surface of the Euxine at certain periods of the year, as well as the thick and foggy weather for which it is proverbial in winter, joined to the stern and precipitous character of great portion of the coast, render such beacons as this an indispensable necessity. Soon after the flank march from Balaklava, the lighthouse fell into the hands of a party of our sailors, who, finding it in darkness, to their great glee compelled the lighthouse-keeper to illuminate it.