HE empire of Russia embraces more than half the area of the European continent, and comprehends a still vaster region beyond the limits of Europe. In the direction of north and south European Russia extends over more than 1700 miles, and its dimensions from east to west are nearly the same. Russia, with the exception of the provinces that border on the Caucasus, is nearly a level region. The slight elevations and gentle slopes of the Ural scarcely interrupt the continuity of the vast plain that stretches over nearly half the circumference of the globe. This immense plain is divisible into three belts-a southern, consisting of steppe or prairie land; a middle belt, of alternate forest, morass and arable land; and a northern region, which embraces only the Page 794 795 ice-covered plains that border the Frozen Ocean. The Ural Mountains constitute a long and narrow mountain system, extending in the directionof the meridian through nearly 18 degrees of latitude. The main crest of the Ural has an average height of from 2000 to 2500 feet. Mount Yaman, which appears to be the highest measured summit, is 5400 feet in height; but in the more northerly portion of the mountains, the height does not exceed 3000 feet, and sinks to less than 1400 feet in the latitude of 57 degrees. On the south-east of the great plain is the lofty region of the Caucasus, crossed by the Pass of Derbend, and the so-called Military Georgian Road. The districts in the south-west of Russia, between the Vistula and the Pruth, are covered by hilly ranges from the Carpathian mountains, which in Poland are known as the Sandomir Mountains. The rivers of European Russia are among the largest that belong to this division of the globe. The entire course of the Volga is within the limits of Russia; the Ural forms part of the border-line between Europe and Asia; the Pruth, which joins the Danube, forms the boundary line of the empire on the side of Turkey; the middle and lower course of the Dniester is through Russian territory, and the Don and the Dnieper are wholly Russian. Upon the side of the Baltic, Russia is watered by the Niemen, the Dvina, and the Neva, upon the last of which the capital is situated; while to the northward the plain is watered by the northern Dvina, the Mezen, and the Petchora. The natural wealth of Russia is considerable, both in the mineral and vegetable kingdoms. The Ural Mountains, which contain almost all the mineral riches of the country, are the principal seat of mining and metallurgic industry. They produce gold, platinum, copper, and iron of excellent quality. Gold, silver, copper, plumbago, &c., are also obtained from the Altai and Nerchinsk mines in Siberia. The general absence of coal in Russia is in some measure compensated for by the immense forests which are found in most parts of the country. Russia is throughout characterised by greater extremes of heat and cold than belong to similar latitudes of western Europe. In general, however, the climates of all the regions are not unfavourable to health, and except in particular districts, where the insalubrity can easily be traced to local causes disease is by no means prevalent. The total area of the provinces in Europe is 1,992,574 English square miles; and the grand total of Russian possessions in 1870 amounted to 7,210,374 English square miles. According to a census taken in 1871, the population of Russia in Europe amounted to 89 millions, including Siberia and Central Asia, 98 millions. MONEY.-100 copecks (1 silver rouble), equal 3s. 2d., or say 78 cents. Paper money is almost the sole currency. The paper rouble is worth 2s., English money. Travellers to Russia must have their passports visèd by the Russian Consul-General in London or New York. See passports. ROUTE 194. WIERZBOLOW (RUSSIAN FRONTIER) TO ST PETERSBURG, BY WILNA. 523 miles; first class, 31 r. 90 c.; second, 23 r. 54 c.; third, 12 r. 3 c. W IERZBOLOW is only three quarters of a mile from Eydtkuhnen (see Route 136). It is the first station on the Russian frontier, and passports and luggage are examined there. (There is a buffet at the station.) After leaving Wierzbolow we pass four stations no of importance, and reach KOWNO (53 miles), population 25,000, situated at the confluence of the Vilia and Niemen. It was near this place that the French army crossed the Niemen in 1812, on the march to Moscow. In the market-place is a monument bearing the following inscription :— "In 1812 Russia was invaded by an army of 700,000 men! only 70,000 re-crossed the frontier." The environs are hilly and clothed with wood. (There is a buffet here.) At Landwarow (106 miles) the line from Warsaw falls in. WILNA (118 miles), (Hotel: de l'Europe), (Buffet), is a town of 70,000 inhabitants, the ancient capital of Lithuania. It is situated in a valley flanked by ranges of hills, on the banks of the Vilia, and above it rise the ruins of an old castle, with a singular octagonal tower of red brick. This town was totally destroyed by fire in 1715. It contains some handsome churches. The University, founded in 1803, was suppressed in 1832. Swentsiany (1661 miles), (Buffet), is a town of 4000 inhabitants, on the Western Dwina. Dunaburg (227 miles), (Buffet), population 27,500, is situated in the province of Witebsk; it possesses a fortress of the first class, constructed in 1825. A branch goes to Witebsk and Riga. There is a buffet at Antonopol (268 miles), at Korsovka (305 miles), and at Ostroff (3481 miles). PSKOFF (392 miles), (Buffet) is a very ancient town of 16,000 inhabitants, situated on the Vielika near its entrance into the lake of Pskoff, which forms the southern extremity of Lake Peipus. This lake, subject to frequent storms, is about 40 miles long, and about 15 miles broad at the widest point. The Kremlin, built in 1322, contains the Cathedral, founded in 1682, and since restored; this church is of the Russo-Byzantine style, and possesses numerous ancient and curious statues of saints. There are buffets at Belaia (428 miles), Luga (461 miles), and Divenskaia (493 miles). Passports are demanded at GATCHINA (519 miles). Here is the palace presented by Catherine II. to Prince Orloff, and greatly enlarged and beautified by his successors. It is a fine building, flanked by towers. The gardens and park are extensive and beautifully laid out. About 14 miles before reaching St Petersburg we pass Tsarskoe-Selo, near which is one of the Imperial palaces, surrounded by woods. The Empresses Elizabeth and Catharine spent large sums on its embellishment. The facade, upwards of 1200 feet long, is richly adorned. Formerly the statues, the pedestals, the capitals of the columns and all the mouldings were gilded. They suffered from the severity of many successive winters, and the remainder of the gold was valued, by the contractors who tendered for it, at 2,000,000 roubles (£30,000). The apartments are profusely embellished; they comprise the hall of lapis-lazuli, that of ivory and mother-of-pearl, that of amber; the beautiful Chinese apartment, with walls inlaid and adorned with lacquer; and the magnificent picture gallery. These apartments are reached by staircases of marble. The chapel splendidly decorated, and covered with gildings. The Arsenal, a Gothic edifice, contains a collection of arms, costumes, and curiosities of every kind, among which may be particularly mentioned a saddle, enriched with gold and diamonds, presented to the Emperor Nicholas by the Sultan after the peace of Adrianople. The Alexander palace, adjoining the arsenal, has its facade adorned with a fine colonnade. The palace gardens are magnificent, and admirably kept. About 500 persons are employed constantly in removing weeds and fallen leaves, and this part of the establishment alone involves a cost of 100,000 roubles annually. Among other objects of interest to be seen in these gardens are the Temple, containing a number of valuable statues; the Swiss Cottage, where the Swiss and Tyrolese cows are kept; the Chinese Village; the Turkish Kiosk, with hanging gardens; and the miniature Admiralty Buildings, with a miniature fleet stationed on an artificial lake. The gardens are open to the public. ST PETERSBURG (556 miles), (Hotels: see HOTEL LIST), population 876,575. CABS, called Droschis. For one horse, per course in the city, 15 copecks; two horses, 2 copecks; per hour, 25 copecks. A bargain should be made beforehand. ENGLISH CHURCH SERVICE in the Embassy Church. This is the modern capital of the Russian Empire, and Owes its creation entirely to the genius of Peter the Great, by whom it was founded, in the year 1702, amidst the marshes through which the River Neva discharges its waters into the sea. The Neva divides into several arms, and it is upon the islands enclosed by these channels that the greater part of the city is built. The admiralty quarter, however, which contains the principal public buildings, is on the mainland, and lies along the southern bank of the Great Neva. St Petersburg is a well-built, and magnificent city. In the number and vast size of its public edifices, it will compare favourably with any city in Europe. The city is about six miles long by five miles wide, and is divided into 13 quarters, of which the ADMIRALTY is the chief; from this point three great streets diverge the Vosnessensky Prospect, leading to the Zagorodnoi Canal; the Gorokhovaia, terminating in the Champ de Mars; and the Nevsky Prospect, a beauti ful promenade, bordered with handsome shops, and abounding with churches, palaces, and other public buildings, amongst others the Kazan Cathedral, the Great Bazaar, and the Alexander Theatre. It terminates at the rich convent of St Alexander Nevsky. The CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF KAZAN, situated in the Nevsky Prospect, was commenced under the Emperor Alexander I., and consecrated in 1811, as the metropolitan church of St Petersburg. It derives its name from an image of the Virgin, brought from Kazan to Moscow in 1579, and thence to St Petersburg in 1821. This church is a copy of St Peter's at Rome. It is adorned by a semicircular colonnade of the Corinthian order, consisting of 56 monolithic columns of Finland granite, upwards of 30 ft. high. In the centre rises the dome. The interior is magnificent. The ikonostas, before the sanctuary, is of chased silver, the gift of the Cossacks who served in the wars of 1813-14. It is decorated by four jasper columns, and aureole of silver, having the name of God inscribed in precious stones. The images, before which lamps are always kept burning, are covered with diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. A number of arms and standards, including some eagles taken from the French, are ranged along the walls, and give a martial appearance to the building; the keys of several captured fortresses are hung round the pillars. In front of the Cathedral are bronze statues of Barclay de Tolly, and Kutusoff. an The Fortress and CATHEDRAL OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL-the tall gilded spire of which is visible from a long distance, the cross on its summit being supported by the colossal figure of |