C H A P . p
Arrival at Mofcow.— Hiftory o f its origin and progrefs.—-
Removal of the feat o f empire to Peteriburgh.— General
and particular defcription of Mofcow.— Its divijions.—
Kremlin.— Khitaigorod. — Bielgorod. —- Semlainigorod.
— The Sloboda, or fuburbs.— New palace-gardens.— Old
Jlyle.-— Hofpitality o f the Ruffian nobles.— Polite attentions
o f Prince Volkoniki.— Account of Mr. Muller the celebrated
bijlorian.— Anniverfary o f St. Alexander Nevfki.— Ceremonies
o f tbe day.— Entertainments at Count Alexey Orlof’s.
— bisjlud.— Boxing Matches.— Vauxhall, & c .
book UGUST 30. Our approach to Mofcow was firft an-
I1L . •*- nounced about the diftance of fix miles by fome fpires,
which over-topped an eminence at the end of the broad
avenue cut through the foreft: about two or three miles
further we afcended an height, from whence a mod; fuperb
profpedl of the vaft city burft upon our fight. It lay in the
form of a crefcent, and ftretched to a prodigious extent,
while innumerable churches, towers, gilded fpires and domes,
white, red, and green buildings glittering in the fun, formed
a moil fplendid appearance, yet itrangely contrafted by an
intermixture o f numberlefs wooden hovels. The neighbouring
country was undulating ; the foreft reached to within a
mile of the ramparts, when it was fucceeded by an open
range of paftures without enclofures. We crofted the river
Moikva over a raft floating upon the water, and faftened to
each
each bank, which the Ruffians call a living-bridge, from its chap.
bending under the carriage. After a ftridt examination of « w 1
our pafsport, being permitted to enter the gates, we drove
through the fuburbs for a confiderable way along a. wooden
road, entered one of the interior circles of the town, called
Bielgorod, and took up our quarters, at an inn kept by a
Frenchman, at which fome of the nobility hold aftem-
blies. Our apartments were convenient and fpacious; we
alfo found every accommodation in abundance, except beds
and Iheets; for as no one thinks of travelling in this country
without thofe articles, inns are feldom provided with them.
With much trouble, however, we were able to obtain from
our landlord two bedfteads with bedding, and one matrafs to
place upon the floor ; but we could not. procure more than
three iheets, one whereof fell to my ihare : we had been fo
long accuftomed to ileep in our clothes upon ftraw, that we
thought ourfelves in a ftate of unheard-of luxury, and blefied
ourfelves for our good fortune.
Mofcow, called by the natives Moikva, is not fo antient as
Novogorod, Kiof, Volodimir, and Tver, which towns had
been the refidence of the Ruffian fovereigns before this city
exifted.. The antiquarians of this country differ confiderably
in their opinions concerning the firft foundation of Mofcow ;
the following relation is generally efteemed by the. beft authors
the moft probable account #. : t
Kiof was the metropolis, when George fon of Volodimir
Monomaka afcended in 11 54 the Ruffian throne. That monarch,
being infulted in a progrefs through his dominions
by a rich and powerful nobleman named Stephen . Kutchko,
put him to death, and confifcated his domains, which con-
* See Sumorokof’ s Kleine Chronik Von Mofcau in St. Pet. Journal for 17 7 6 ; and
Scherebatof’ s Rulf, Gef. p. 736,
fifted