there is in the Kremlin an immense pile of buildings called the Senate.

In the upper storey are collected and arranged the crowns of the early Tzars, also a throne covered with crimson velvet and blazing with diamonds. The two long galleries which open out of this room contain innumerable treasures, the captured crowns of the various countries now forming provinces of this vast empire, as well as those of the Moscovite Tzars, one containing 881 diamonds, another 847, and that of Catherine, the first widow of Peter the Great, 2,536 fine diamonds, to which the Empress added a ruby of enormous size. In addition to these crowns are several rich diadems similarly ornamented.

Many thrones are to be seen in these rooms, one adorned with 2,760 turquoises and other precious stones—that of Michael Romanoff, the first of the reigning families, is enriched with 8,824 diamonds, and the throne of Alexis contains 876 diamonds and 1,220 jewels and many pearls.

Besides these numerous thrones, there are saddles, bridles, and reins and saddle cloths covered most lavishly with diamonds, amethysts and large turquoises—a large boss, adorning the horse's chest, in the centre of which is an immense diamond, and round this a circle of pink topazes, enclosed in pearls, and these again by diamonds, the whole encircled by a broad gold band.

But perhaps the greatest curiosity is a pair of old wooden chairs, used at the coronation of the Emperors. Though made of coarse wood they are said to contain 1,000 precious stones.

The whole extent of one wall is occupied by an array of boots, from the iron jack boots of Peter to the delicate beaver skin of the Emperor Alexander.

On the other side are suspended some Damascus scimitars, and very curious Chinese sabres.

The Arsenal contains nearly 900 cannon, weighing about 400 tons, a great number French, taken during the disastrous retreat in 1812. Among all these warlike trophies you will be proud to learn very few are English.

Close to the tower of Ivan Veliki is placed on a massive pedestal the mighty bell. It was cast by the command of the Empress Ann in 1730, and bears her figure in flowing robes on its surface, beneath which is a deep border of flowers. It is said the tower on which it was originally hung was burnt in 1737, and its fall buried the enormous mass deep in the earth, and broke a huge fragment from it.

In the spring of 1837, exactly a century after it fell, the Emperor Nicholas caused it to be removed and placed on its present pedestal, with the broken fragment beside it. The fragment is about 6 feet high and 3 feet thick.

The height of the whole bell is 21 feet 3 inches and 25 feet 5 inches in diameter, and weighs 443,722 lbs., or more than 153 tons, and is supposed to have cost £350,000, as in addition to the copper, many persons, during the process of casting, threw large quantities of gold and silver into each of the four furnaces.

The tower of John the Great is more than 200 feet high, surmounted by a gilded dome, of which there are about 60 in the Kremlin.

In the first storey hangs a bell, which but for its mightier neighbour below would appear stupendous, being 60 tons.

To ring it is impossible; even to toll it requires the united strength of three men pulling with separate ropes the vast clapper; above this are 40 or 50 more.

The cathedral of St. Basil, situated outside the Kremlin, is a truly grotesque building, having no less than 20 towers and domes, all of different shapes and sizes, and painted in every possible colour. Some are crowned with a network of green over a surface of yellow; another dome is bright red, with broad white stripes, and a third is gilded.

It is said to be a whim of the Tzar Ivan the Terrible to see how many distinct chapels could be erected under one roof in a given space of ground, so that services could be performed at one time without interrupting each other.

It is further related that the Tzar was so delighted with the architect that when the edifice was finished he sent for him, pronounced a high eulogium on his work, and then ordered his eyes to be put out so that he could never build such another.

The chapel of the Iberian Mother of God is situated in an archway; and at the further end is the saint herself in a kind of sanctuary.

Her complexion, like most of the Russian saints, is a dark brown, not to say black.

Round her head is a net of pearls, on one shoulder a large jewel is fastened, and another of equal brilliancy rests on her brow, above which, the whole being lighted up by thirteen silver lamps, glitters a splendid crown.

Pass whenever he pleases, the traveller will find the chapel beset by worshippers.

Her hand and the foot of the child are covered with dirt from the abundant kissing, and have almost disappeared.

None ever pass, however urgent their business, without bowing and crossing themselves; the greater part actually enter, kneel devoutly before the Mother, and pray with fervent sighs. Fashionable ladies leave their equipages and prostrate themselves in the dust along with the meanest beggars.

It is frequently visited by the Tzars, and it is said that Alexander the First never omitted to do so, and more than once in the middle of the night he wakened the monks that he might perform his devotions.

In addition to all these places of worship, there is an immense cathedral dedicated to Jesus, erected on rising ground a little out of the city.

It has taken 21 years in building, and will require as many more to complete it; the interior presenting only a forest of props placed in all directions.

The dome is very large, resembling that of St. Isaac, and equally splendidly gilt.

Besides the churches, there are numerous convents and monasteries. Two of the principal we visited, and found them to consist of several churches, surrounded by a high wall, with many towers and a few pieces of ordnance, having all the appearance of a fortress.

As usual, the churches were greatly ornamented with pictures and gilding, but the most attractive part of the Russian service is the singing, particularly at the Vespers, when the boys taking the soprano parts, accompanied by some most extraordinary deep bass tones of the men, swelling and filling the entire cathedral; all this, with occasional recitations from their sacred books, without any knowledge of their contents, excited in us the most serious and delightful sensations. There were about a dozen priests engaged in the various ceremonies, and the service was continued nearly three hours for the benefit of five or six worshippers.

In this country are two immense foundling hospitals. The one we visited at Moscow is said to receive annually upwards of 25,000 children.

The upper part of this immense building is appropriated to the infants and nurses, of each of which there are always 600, besides about 5,000 sent out to nurse in the adjoining villages.

They were all in uniform—dark cotton gowns and white aprons. All bowed as we went down the line. The next suite of rooms was occupied by children from four to seven years of age. The elder ones were in the schoolrooms.

Having seen various parts of the establishment, we were shown into the office where the infants are first received. The books were kept in excellent order, and the number of clerks proved that there was a good deal of business to be done.

When a child is brought the first question is, is it baptized? If not, the chaplain is called, and the child is taken into an adjoining room, where there is a small oratory and font. It is then taken back to the officer, and his name and number, with date of admission, entered in the books. A