book gun by Peter L and finiihed by Elizabeth. It is feated upon
. 'y* . an eminence, and commands a fuperb view of Cronftadt,
Peteriburgh, the intervening gulf, and the oppofite coaft of
Carelia: it is magnificently furniihed; and the fuite of
apartments princely. The prefence-chamber is ornamented
with the portraits of the fovereigns of the houfe of Romanof,
who have reigned over Ruffia fince the year 16 13 . The
rnoft confpicuous amongtt them was a whole length of the
prefent emprefs, as ilie made her triumphant entry into Peteriburgh
the evening of the revolution w'hich placed her
upon the throne. She' is reprefented drefled like a man in
the uniform of the guards, with a branch of oak in her hat,
a drawn fword in her hand, and mounted upon a white fteed.
The gardens of Peterhof have been celebrated for their
tafte and elegance, and from the number o f jet d’eaus, fountains,
bafons, cafcades, parterres, &c. they have been compared
tothofe of Verfailles ; and indeed in one refpett they
are far fuperior; for the water-works of the latter only play
upon particular occafions, while thofe of Peterhof are perennial.
Thefe gardens, which, at the time of their formation,
were greatly admired in this country, though not congenial
to the tafte of the emprefs, are fuffered to remain in their
prefent ftate; as during fummer her majefty principally re-
fides at Sariko-Selo, where the grounds are difpofed in a
more modern and pleafing manner. I ihall not detain the
reader with a defcription of the filver dolphins and gilded
ftatues, which are fcattered in great profufion ; but I cannot
omit mentioning thofe of two gladiators placed in a bafon of
water ; they are reprefented, not with the antient weapons,
the fword and buckler, but with the more modern inftrn-
ments of war, a brace of piftols, which as they point to each
other
other in threatening attitudes, the water daihes impetuoufly
from the barrels.
Part of the garden lies between the palace and the gulf,
and contains, among other buildings, one fituated clofe to the
water, which is worthy of particular obfervation, becaufe it was
the favourite retreat of Peter I. As the houfe and furniture
have been preferved with a kind of religious veneration exactly
in their original ftate, we can form fome idea of the'
plain and frugal fimplicity in which that monarch was ac-
cuftomed to live. This houfe was built foon after his return
from Holland, and fitted up in the tafte of that country, for-
which reafon it was known by the appellation of the Dutch,
houfe : He ufed alfo to call it Monplaijiry. the name hy which
it is now diftinguifhed.
Being fubjeft to fevers, he was prepoflèfièd that the air *-
from the water was the moft wholefome, for his conftitution ;,
and for that reafon conftruiled this fmall houfe clofe to the
Gulf of Finland. It is of brick* of one ftory, and roofed
with iron : the windows reach from the ground to the top;,
which, added, to the length andlownefs of the building,
give it the appearance of a green-houfe. The habitable
part coafifts of an hall and fix. fmall rooms, which are alL
furniihed in the.neateft and plaineft manner. The mantle
pieces are ornamented with curious old porcelaine, which he
greatly prized as being brought into Ruffia when the com-
* if! Le czar p r it il Riga .une forte atta- “ naît en été à Peterfhoff, .Kair des va ilea
“ que de fièvre chaude. Pour s’cn rémettre, “ jardins de ce palais lui femblait étouffé,
“ il fe logea une huitaine de jours dans un “ et il'couchait I Pîmifiai/Tr, riiaiion dont
“ vai fléau1. A, fou, avis, l’air des eaux.ie- •Mes.flots de la. mer lavent intenté, et donfc
“ flaurait la fin té. Peu de journées paffées “ l ’autre confine au grand parc de Peter-
“ fans le refpirer. ■ S i 1 levant ail point -drf “ fiioff. C ’était fa rétraite favorite. Il"
“ jour, et dînant à onze heures du matin, il “ l ’avait meublée de tableaux fiaiiians r é ,
“ avait continue de faire un fomme il après “ préfentant des fcènes champêtres et'ma.
“ le i - é p a S i Un lit de répos pour, cet ufage “ ritihiés, plaifantes pour b> plupart.” B a fi
“ était dvcfié dans la frégatte, et il y allait feyitz, in.B. H. M, IX . p. 339.
“ en toute -faifon. Même lorfqu’il fejourmunicatloa