book b u i l d i n g s is o f f to n e , b u t of fo f o f t a n a t u r e , t h a t i t feemed
— | i fcarcely adequate to the fupport of the fuperftrufture ; the
bricks ufed for the remainder of the fabric were fo indifferently
prepared, that they crumbled at the touch : nor did
the workmanfhip exceed the materials; for it was obvious
to the moft carelefs obferver, that the walls were in many
places out of the perpendicular line.
I was aftonifhed upon obferving, that the greateft part of
the timber, ufed in the conftrudtion of thefe vaft piles of
building, no lefs than ordinary cottages, was fafhioned with
the axe. Though I often faw the carpenters at work, I
never once perceived a faw in their hands : they cut the trees
through with the axe; they hewed planks with the axe;
they formed the beams, and fitted them together with the
axe. With this fimple engine they mortailed and tenanted
the fmalleft as well as the largeft pieces o f wood ; and
fmoothed the boards for the floor with the niceft exactnefs.
The dexterity, indeed, and juftnefs with which they managed
this inftrument was wonderful; but its tedious mode of
operation muft evidently , occafion a prodigious wafte of labour
and wood.
The gardens, which belonged to the old palace, built by
Elizabeth near the fpot where the prefent ftrudture was
eredting, are ftill retained : they are of confiderable extent,
and contained fome of the beft gravel-walks I have feen fince
my departure from England. In fome parts the grounds
were laid out in a pleafing and natural manner; but in general
the old ftyle of gardening prevailed, and continually
prefented us with rows of chipped yew-trees, long ftraight
canals, and a profufion of prepofterous ftatues. Hercules
was prefiding at a fountain, with a retinue of gilded Cupids,
■dolphins, and lamias; every little ftrudture was a pantheon;
and every grove was haunted by its Apollos and Dianas; C^AP-
but the principal deity in the place feemed to be a female <— .— <
figure holding a cornucopia reverfed, which, inftead of distributing,
as ufual, all kinds of fruit, grain, and flowers,
poured out crowns, coronets, and mitres. But the reign
of all thefe deities was doomed to be very ihort: under the
aufpices of her prefent majeity all thefe inftances of grotefque
tafte were to be removed, and give place to more natural
ornaments. This palace and gardens are at the extremity
of the fuburbs, within the compafs of the exterior rampart
which encircles the whole town.
We foon ceafed to be furprized that our carriage was pro<-
vided with: four horfes, nothing being more common than
to meet the equipages of the nobility with complete fets,
driving merely about the ftreets of Mofcow. As the city is
of fo large a compafs, a great number of hackney-carriages
are ftationed in the ftreets for the convenience of carrying
paffengers to the different quarters. Thefe vehicles are
without tops, have moftly four wheels, and are provided
either with a long bench, or one, two,or three feparate feats,
like arm-chairs, placed fide-ways : their fares are fo reafom-
able, that' fervants oecafionally ufe them upon errands to
diftant parts of the Gity. The coachman generally drives,
a full trot at the rate of eight or nine miles in an hour.
September 1. This morning we received a card of in<-
vitation from Count Olterman, governor o f Mofcow, to
dinner for the 23d of Auguft; but, as it was the ift of
September, our fervant, who took the meffage, came
laughing into the room, and informed us, that we were in*-
vited to an entertainment which was p a f t h e added, that he
had endeavoured to .convince the perfon who brought the
card of the miftake ; but the man.infilled that the enfuing
day