the silver cross became the property of the invader, but which was recovered before his flight from the city.

6. The spire is divided into three apartments, which contain the bells; in the lower division are eight large bells, nine in the second, and thirteen in the third. The largest of these bells fell to the ground at the destruction of the church, but fortunately without any injury. This is the largest bell in Moscow, except what is called the Great Bell, now buried under the ruins of the church. From the upper division of this spire, the most commanding view of the city is taken. The whole town, suburbs, and surrounding country, are distinctly seen spreading around in every direction, like a vast map, studded with the most grotesque buildings; while the Moskwa, in all its windings, appears as a flat, muddy stream, meandering and struggling through the endless avenues of the city. Perhaps no sight can equal the diversity and grandeur of this. No smoky atmosphere clouds the transparency of the azure canopy of heaven -all is bright and resplendent.

7. Near to the belfry of St. Ivans, is seen the top of the great bell, which was cast in the reign of the empress Anne. Many descriptions have been given of this extraordinary bell; only the top can now be seen, the pit in which it lay being completely filled up with the ruins of the church. This is the largest bell ever founded, and it remains in the place where it was originally cast. Its weight is computed to be (44,377 pounds its circumference is sixty-seven feet and four inches and its height is twenty-one feet and four inches. The Russians relate, that while this bell was in fusion, the nobles and the people cast in, as votive offerings, their plate and money; and consequently that it contains a large quantity of gold and silver.

8. Besides these churches, there are the convent of Ischudof, and the church of the Holy Trinity and some small chapels. The church of the Holy Trinity forms the principal gateway, or entry to the Kremlin from the fourth division of the city. In this church the body of a distinguished saint is placed; and in respect to his remains, every individual passing under the portal is

compelled to uncover his head. Besides the churches, convents and monasteries, the Kremlin contains the palaces of the czars and of the patriarchs, with the arsenal and some other modern buildings. None of them are particularly grand. Within the walls of the Kremlin there are not less than one hundred and eight spires and cupolas of these, forty-five are richly gilded, the rest are painted either green, red, or white.

9. The house in which Napoleon lodged is the most modern and elegant building in the Kremlin. The view from it is most extensive. In front of the house are ranged the guns taken from the French army during their retreat from Moscow. They are placed on the ground parallel to each other, with tickets affixed to each division, marking the time and place where they were taken. The first line, comprehends sixty beautiful pieces of light artillery, with Napoleon's initials on each; the other divisions contain the guns of all the kingdoms and states of Europe, of various dimensions. Altogether, there are eight hundred guns, the glorious trophy of the Russian conquest!

10. It is impossible to give any particular description of the palaces or riches of the Kremlin; it is only the bare walls, ruinous and deserted, that now invite the stranger's curiosity. When all hopes were banished

from the ambitious and discontented mind of the French ruler, and when he found that he could no longer maintain his usurpation of the seat of the czars, he determined on destroying what he had not the courage nor strength to defend. The beautiful church of St. Ivan fell as the first sacrifice to his revenge. The walls of the Kremlin were next mined-the explosion took place; but from its immense thickness, only a part of it was destroyed. The north-west angle, with two fine spires, was completely destroyed, occupying nearly one hundred yards in extent. On the east side next to the river, are two considerable breaches. The rest of the wall is perfectly entire.

11. Many parts of the wall are nearly forty feet in thickness, and in general from twenty to thirty feet in height. The top of the wall is divided into a number

of gothic loop-holes, and at regular distances by gothic spires. There are six gates by which the Kremlin is entered, though only two of them are used. A new and elegant promenade was lately finished between the east wall and the river, which adds greatly to the beauty of the Kremlin, from what is represented in old drawings. The Kremlin has long been considered, by those who have not beheld it, as a spot of uncommon magnificence and extent. It certainly does not answer that high description which the traveller is led to expect. The buildings are numerous, but they are heavily constructed, and grouped together without order or design-every thing is sacrificed to mere shew of gildings and useless cupolas.

QUESTIONS.

1. Into how many parts is Moscow divided?-2. What is the central one called?-3. When was it built?-4. What is the extent of the wall that surrounds the Kremlin ?-5. What are the most prominent buildings of the Kremlin?-6. What is the height of the spire of St. Ivan?-7. What is the weight of the Great Bell of Moscow?-8. How many spires and cupolas are there in the Kremlin?-9. How many pieces of artillery are there in the Kremlin captured by the Russians?-10. What is the thickness of the walls of the Kremlin ?

BATTLE OF NEW-ORLEANS.

1. On the morning of the first of January, 1815, sir Edward Packenham was discovered to have constructed batteries near the American works, and at day-light commenced a heavy fire from them, which was well returned by Jackson. A bold attempt was, at the same time, made to turn the left of the Americans; but in this the enemy was completely repulsed. The British retired in the evening, from their batteries, having spiked their guns, and leaving behind a quantity of ammunition. The loss of the Americans on this occasion, was eleven killed and twenty-three wounded. On the fourth, general Jackson was joined by two thousand five hundred Kentuckians, under general Adair; and

on the sixth, the British were joined by general Lambert, at the head of four thousand men. The British force now amounted to little short of fifteen thousand

of the finest troops; that of the Americans (to about six thousand, chiefly raw militia, a considerable portion unarmed, and from the haste of their departure, badly supplied with clothing. All the private arms which the inhabitants possessed were collected, and the ladies of New-Orleans occupied themselves continually in making different articles of clothing. The mayor of the city, Mr. Girod, was particularly active at this trying moment.

2. The British general now prepared for a serious attempt on the American works. With great labour he had completed, by the seventh, a canal from the swamp to the Mississippi, by which he was enabled to transport a number of his boats to the river; it was his intention to make a simultaneous attack on the main force of general Jackson on the left bank, and, crossing the river, to attack the batteries on the right. The works of the American general were by this time completed; his front was a straight line of one thousand yards, defended by upwards of three thousand infantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet water; and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees and frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all, twelve guns of different calibres. On the opposite side of the river, there was a strong battery of fifteen guns, and the entrenchments were occupied by general Morgan, with the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops.

3. On the memorable morning of the eighth of January, general Packenham, having detached colonel Thornton with a considerable force, to attack the works on the right bank of the river, moved with his whole force, exceeding twelve thousand men, in two divisions, under major-generals Gibbs and Kean; and a reserve under general Lambert. The first of these officers was to make the principal attack; the two

columns were supplied with scaling-ladders, and fascines. Thus prepared, the Americans patiently waited the attack, which would decide the fate of NewOrleans, and perhaps of Louisiana. The British deliberately advanced in solid columns, over an even plain, in front of the American intrenchments, the men carrying, besides their muskets, fascines, and some of them ladders. A dead silence prevailed, until they approached within reach of the batteries, which commenced an incessant and destructive cannonade; they, notwithstanding, continued to advance in tolerable order, closing up their ranks, as fast as they were opened by the fire of the Americans.

4. When they came within reach, however, of the musketry and rifles, these joined with the artillery, and produced such dreadful havoc, that they were instantly thrown into confusion. Never was there so tremendous a fire, as that kept up from the American lines; it was a continued stream; those behind loading for the men in front, enabled them to fire with scarcely an intermission. The British columns were literally swept away; hundreds fell at every discharge. The British officers were now making an effort to rally their men; and in this attempt, their commander, a gallant officer, general Packenham, was killed. The two generals, Gibbs and Kean, succeeded in pushing forward their columns a second time; but the second approach was more fatal than the first; the continued rolling fire of the Americans resembled peals of thunder; it was such as no troops could withstand; the advancing columns broke, and no effort to rally them could avail; a few platoons only, advanced to the edge of the ditch, to meet a more certain destruction.

5. An unavailing attempt was made to bring them up a third time by their officers, whose gallantry, on this occasion, deserved a better fate, in a better cause. Generals Gibbs and Kean were carried away, severely wounded; the former mortally. The plain between the front of the British, and the American lines, was strewed with dead; so dreadful a carnage, considering the length of time, and the numbers engaged, was per