b o o k cordant architecture. It is diftributed into the following
nL , Hivifinns. i . Kremlin. 2. Khitaigorod. 3. Bielgorod.
4. Semlainogorod. 5. Sloboda; which, for want of a more
precife term, I ihall call the fuburbs. ‘
1 . The Kremlin was probably thus denominated by the
Tartars when they were in pofleflion of Mofcow, from the
word Krem, or Krim, which fignifies a fortrefs : it ftands
in the central and higheft part of the city, near the conflux
o f the Moikva and Neglkia, which wafh two of its fides, is
of a triangular form, and about two miles in circumference.
It is furrounded by high walls of ftone and brick, which
were conftructed by Peter Solarius, a celebrated architect of
Milan, in the year 14 9 1 , under the reign of Ivan Vaffilie-
vitch I. as appears from the following curious infcription
over one of the gates.
“ Joannes Vaiilii Dei Gracia Magnus Dux Volodimeri®
“ Mofcovias Novogardie Tiferiae Plefcoviae Veticie
“ Ongarie Permiie Buolgarie et Aliar. Totius Q.
“ Raxiae Dominus Anno Tertio Imperii Sui Has
“ Turres Condere Fet. Statuit Petrus Antonides Sola-
“ rius Mediolanenfis annoNat.Domini. 14 9 i.K.Julii,”
The reader will doubtlefs be as much furprized as I
was to find that the Tzars employed foreign architedls at
fa early a period of their hiftory, before their country
was fcarcely known to the reft o f Europe. The Kremlinj
is not disfigured by wooden houfes*, and contains the antient
palace of the Tzars, feveral churches, two convents, the patriarchal
palace, the arfenal now in ruins, and one private
houfe, which belonged to Boris Godunof before he was
raifed to the throne.
See the next Chapter, where fome o f thefe buildings are dcfcribed,
2. The