b o o k though I hazard it with great diffidence. What a noble
. R'~ would be produced by a bridge ftriking acrofs the
Neva, with an arch 980 feet wide, and towering 168 feet
from the furface of the water. The defcription of fuch a
bridge feems almoft chimerical; and yet, upon infpeftion of
the model, we become reconciled to the idea. But whether
the execution of this ftupendous work may be deemed poffi-
ble or not, the model itfelf is worthy of attention, and reflefts
the higheft honour on the inventive faculties of that unimproved
genius : it is fo compactly conftruited, and of fuch
.uniform folidity, that it has fupported 3540 pood, or
137,440 pounds, without having in the leaft fwerved from
its direction, which I am told is far more, in proportion to its
iize, than the bridge i f completed would have oceafion
to fuftain from the preffure of the carriages added to its own
weight.
The perion who projefted this plan is a common Ruffian
peafant; and, like the Swifs carpenter who built the bridge
of Schaffhaufen*, poflefied of but little knowledge in the theory
of mechanicks; This extraordinary genius was apprentice
to a ihopkeeper at Niihnei Novogorod : oppoiite to his
dwelling was a wooden clock, which excited his curiofity.
By repeated examinations he comprehended the internal
ftrufture, and, without any affiftance, formed one exactly
limilar in its proportion and materials. His fuccefs in this
firft effay urged him to undertake the conft'rudlion of metal
clocks and watches. The emprefs, hearing of thefe wonderful
exertions of his native genius, took him under her
protection, and fent him to England ; from whence, on ac-
* For the account o f the Bridge o f Schaffhaufen, fee the Sketches on the State of
¡Swiflerland. Letter 11,
7 count
P E T ' E R S B Ù R G recount
of the difficulties attending his ignorance of the lan- CHAP-
guage, he loon returned to Ruffia. I faw a repeating watch'—
of his workmanihip at the Academy of Sciences : it is about
the bignefs of an egg ; in the infide is reprefented the tomb
of our Saviour, with the itone at the entrance, and the cen-
tinelsupon duty; fuddenly the itone is removed, thexenti-
nels fall down, the angels appear, the women enter the fe-
pulchre, and the fame chant is heard which is performed on
Eaiter-eve. Thefe are trifling, although curious performances
; but the very planning of the bridge was a moft fub-
lime conception. This perfon, whofe name is Kulibin,
bears the appearance of a Ruffian peafant ; he has a long
beard, and wears the common drefs of the country. He receives
a penfion from the emprefs, and is encouraged to follow
the bent « f his mechanical genius.
One of thè nobleit monuments, as my ingenious friend
Mr. Wraxall obferves, of the gratitude and veneration paid
to Peter I. *, is the equellrian ftatue of that monarch in
bronze : it is of a Coloflal lize, and is the work of Monfieur
Falconet, the celebrated French ftatuary, caft at the expence
of Catharine II. in honour of her great predeceffor, whom
fhe reveres and imitates. It reprefents that monarch in the
attitude of mounting a precipice, the fummit of which he
has nearly attained. He appears crowned with laurel, in a
loofe Afiatick veil, and fitting on a houfing of bear-ikin :
his right hand is ilretched out as in the aft of giving bene-
diflion to his people ; and his left holds the reins. The de-
fign is maiterly, and the attitude is bold and fpirited. I f there
he any defefl in the figure, it confifts in the flat poiition of
the right hand ; and, for this reafon, the view of the left fide
* Wraxall’s Tou r, p. 224;
p p p