bo o k h o r fe s , w h i c h h e h a d p rom ife d w e ih o u ld find in th is place,.
■ 1IL ■ and to a c c om p a n y u s d u r in g th e r em a in d e r o f o u r jo u r n e y :
th e e x p e r ie n c e o f th e p r e c e d in g d a y h a d ta u g h t us th e v alu e
e f th is m ilita r y a tten d an t.
At Bretofihina we viewed a palace built by Alexey Mi-
chaelovitch, in which he frequently refided : it is a long
wooden building, painted yellow, only one ftory in height,
containing a flute of fmall and low rooms. This palace (if it
deferves that name) has long been uninhabited. The em-
preik, pleafed with the beauty of the fituation, and refpeit-
ing a place which had once been the favourite refidence of
Peter the Great’s father, purpofed to build a large brick palace
near the fite of the old manfion; and part of the materials
were already collected for that purpofe. Upon our return
to the village we ordered the horfes, and were pleafed
to- find our order obeyed almoft as foon as it was rffhed :. we
had, indeed* a very fuccefsful agent in our friend the ferjeant;
for the peafants, who were beginning to wrangle arrfong
themfelves, and to make their ufual altercations, were inftan-
taneoufly difperfed by his eudgel, whofe eloquence was more
perfuafive than the moft pathetic remonftrances. The peafants
were certainly accuftomed to this fpecies of rhetorick;.
for they bore-it patiently, and with perfe£t good humour;
and, the moment they were feated upon the box, began
whiffling and finging their national fongs. as ufual. We
now continued our route, and arrived at the convent, though
diftant from Bretofihina about: twenty miles, without once
flopping to change horfes.
Troitfkoi Sergief Klofter, or the Monaftery o f the Holy
Trinity, is fo large as at a little diftance to have the appearance
of a fmall town; and, like many coqvents in this
country, is ftrongly fortified, according to the antient mode
3 o f
o f defence, being furrounded with high brick walls, CHAPftrengthened
with battlements and towers. The parapet is <__
roofed with wood, and the walls and towers are provided with
holes for muikets and cannon : the whole is furrounded
by a deep ditch. This place flood feveral lieges; and particularly
baffled all the efforts of Ladiilaus prince of Poland,,
who attacked ft with a large army.
Befide the convent or habitation for the monks, the walls
enclofe an imperial palace, and nine large churches con-
ftrudted by different lovereigns.. The convent is a large
range of building encircling^ a court, and is. far too fpacious
for the prefent inhabitants:. it formerly contained 300'
monks, and a proportionate number o f ftudents; and was-
the richeff ecclefiaftical foundation in Ruflia. The fraternity
poffeffed confiderable eiiates which, contained at leafl:
.100,000 peafants: thefe effates, as well as all- the: other
cburch-lands,.being now annexed to the crown, the members
receive fmall penfions.. With their revenues their
number, has been greatly diminifhed, and they fcarcely
amount at prefent to 100 monks. Their habit is black,,
with a veil of the fame colour ; they eat no meat, and the
difcipline of the order is very ftridt. Within the convent is
a- feminary for the education of perfons intended for the
clergy ; which contained,, as we were informed, about. 200.
ftudents.
The imperial palace, which was much frequented when:
the fover.eign refided at Mofcow, is lmall; one of the apartments
is ornamented: with reprefentations in. ftucco of the
principal actions of Peter the Great. The churches are like
all the. churches which, fell under my obfervation, fuperb
and fplendid, and extremely rich in gold and filver ornaments,,
and coffly veftments. The principal church has a
cupola*