T R A V E L S
I N T O
R U S A,
B O O K XI.
C H A P . I.
Addition to the former Defcription of St. Peterjburgh— ColleBion of
PiBures in the Imperial Palace— Plan for the public Schools.
Found St. Peteriburgh confiderably improved fince my former
tour, and feveral of the public works, which, as they
were carrying on, made many parts of the town appear like a
quarry of ftones, completed, and adding to the ornament and
beauty of the capital.
The walls of the citadel were facing with hewn granite; the
canal of Catharine was embanked with a wall and parapet of the
fame materials; and the canal of Fontanka, which is near two
miles in length, were alfo embanked in the fame manner, and
Hill further ornamented on each fide with an iron railing.
i The
The marble palace, which Hands on the banks of the Neva,
facing the citadel, was completed. Her majefty gave this fuperb
edifice to prince Orlof; and at his death purchafed it from his
executors for £ . 250,000. The ft-yle of architecture is magnificent
but heavy. The "front is compofed of polilhed granite
and marble, and finiihed with fuch nicety, and in a ftyle fo fu-
perior to the contiguous buildings, that it has the appearance of
having been tranfported to its prefent fpot, like the palace in
the Arabian Tales, raifed by the enchantment of Aladdin’s lamp.
It contains forty rooms on each floor, and is fitted up in a ftyle
of fuch profufion and fplendour, that the expence of the furniture
has exceeded f . 200,000.
A magnificent range of buildings has been added to the imperial
palace. It joins, to the Hermitage, and is fo extenfive,,
that it may be called another palace. A fuperh. fuite of apartments,
chiefly occupied by the emprefs herfelf, contains the cabinet
of pictures, which I found much finer than I had reafon to
expeCt.
This cabinet is principally compofed of the following collections:
1.. The celebrated collection of Crozat, at Paris, which vied
with that in the palais royal belonging to the duke of Orleans.,
It confifted of more than 370 pieces, including various fketches. .
2. The fmall but well chofen collection of Counfellor Tron-
chin, of Geneva; in which may be particularly noticed feveral
bJt