with great grandeur of conception, forms the pedestal of the statue. The horse, in the act of ascending its acclivity, is intended to illustrate the difficulties which Peter had to encounter in civilizing his unenlightened people. Had this rock retained the size and shape which it bore when, as if propelled by some vast convulsion of nature, it first occupied its present place, with only a few of its asperities removed, it would have encreased the dignity and expression of the horse and his rider; and would have astonished every beholder with a stupendous evidence of toil and enterprize, which since the subversion of the Roman empire has no parallel. A gentleman, who saw this rock in Carelia, before its removal, describes it to have been forty feet long, twenty-two broad, and twenty-two high. It is of granite and onyx, and has a mixture of white, black, and grey colouring; if I may judge of it by a seal, which the learned Dr. Guthrie presented to me, it is susceptible of a very fine polish. In six months the rock was removed from its native bed to the spot where it now stands, partly by land and water, a distance of eleven versts, or 41,250 English feet, and cost four hundred and twenty-four thousand six hundred and ten rubles. So indefatigable has been the labour of the chisel upon its enormous magnitude and rugged coating, that its history is its greatest wonder. The genius of Falconet was evidently jealous of the rude but stupendous powers of nature, and was fearful that her rock might engage more attention than his statue; hence he reduced the former, until he rendered it disproportioned to the colossal figures which it supports; but he has thereby succeded in bringing his work nearer to the eye of the beholder. Had he been content to have divided the homage with nature, he would not have been a loser. The head of Peter, which is very fine, was modelled by Madame Collot, the mistress of Falconet. The figure and the drapery are admirable; and the horse is worthy of being ranked next to his Venetian brethren, those matchless works of art which now adorn the gates of the Thuilleries. The spot where this statue is raised is always very much thronged, on account of its being central, and leading to one of the bridges.' p. 220, 221, 222.

Upon our return * from the fortress, I took a view of the celebrated street called the Grand or Nevski Perspective: it runs in a direct line from the church of the admiralty, from which the principal streets of the admiralty-quarter branch like radii, to the monastery of St. Alexander Nevski: its length is about four miles, and its breadth not quite equal to that of our Oxford-street: it is lined with very noble houses, and what will afford the most delight to the liberal and reflecting observer, with elegant churches, in which the devout, without restraint, may worship his God after the dictates of his own habits or persuasion. Here sectarian fury never disfigures the temple of the Almighty the Greek and the Protestant, the Armenian and the Catholic,, here quietly pass to their respective places of devotion; and unite in sending up to the throne of heaven the hallowed, though varying, sounds of their grateful adoration; which, blending as they ascend, charm the Di-, vine ear, with the most acceptable homage, the harmony of religion.'

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* Of this a very elegant plate is annexed.

pp. 235, 236,

The

The flowing beard forms a very conspicuous object in Mr. C.'s portrait of a Russian. We are informed that a Russian manmilliner still retains this

"If a smooth chin is one of the characteristics of high civilization, I believe the Russian will implore his saint to let him live and die a barbarian. The Russian beard struck terror into the soul of Peter the Great: he durst not attack it." (p. 237.) Our author does not seem to have been aware, that both Eastern and Western savages were beardless, while the courtiers of Europe were sedulously cherishing this appendage of the human face.

Mr. C. gives an instructive account of the unhappy end of Paul; who is said to have been unfitted for empire, and then intentionally excluded from the succession, by his mother. The gentle reprimand which his murderers received, is attributed to a conviction that the salvation of the empire was their motive!

The praises of the reigning Emperor, with which all Europe resounds, are loudly echoed by Mr. C. and when we reflect on the vast portion of the globe, over which Alexander stretches his absolute sceptre; it must afford every friend of humanity satisfaction, to observe the numerous evidences of his wisdom and benevolence.

The present Emperor Alexander is about twenty-nine years of age; his face is full, very fair, and his complexion pale; his eyes blue, and expressive of that beneficent mildness which is one of the prominent features of his character. His person is tall, lusty, and well proportioned; but, being a little deaf, to facilitate his hearing, he stoops: his deportment is condescending, yet dignified. In the discharge of his august duties he displays great activity and acuteness; but without show and bustle: the leading features of his mind are sound discretion and humanity, qualities which cannot fail to render an empire flourishing and a people happy! He is so much an enemy to parade, that he is frequently seen wrapped up in his regimental cloak, riding about the capital alone, upon a little common droshka: in this manner he has been known to administer to the wants of the poor. It is his wish, if he should be recognized in this state of privacy, that no one will take off their hats; but the graciousness of his desire only puts the heart in the hand as it uncovers the head. I have many times seen him in a chariot, perfectly plain, of a dark olive, drawn by four horses, driven by a bearded coachman, a common little postillion, and attended by a single footman. Soldiers are always upon the look out for him, to give timely notice to the guard of his approach; without this precaution it would be impossible, amidst the crowd of carriages which is to be seen in the residence, to pay him the honours due to his rank. The Emperor is very much attached to the English, numbers of whom have settled in the empire, and have formed under the auspices of the government, a sort of colony. The emperor has often been heard to say that " The man within whose

reach

reach heaven has placed the greatest materials for making life happy, was, in his opinion, an English Country Gentleman."' 258, 259.

We are sorry that our limits deny us the opportunity of indulging our readers with an account of the nuptials of the Grand Duchess, and of Mr. C.'s introduction to the Emperor, on the same day. For a description of the Taurida palace, of Prince Potemkin's sumptuous fete, of the grand national provision for the education of the Russian ladies, and for several other articles of superior interest, we must refer to the volume.

The following passage forms an exception to the pleasure we have usually received.

<In another part of the gardens, deep embosomed in wood, we were shewn to a little retired palace, consisting of a suite of rooms upon a ground floor, built by the late Empress; the taste and elegance of which surpassed every thing of the kind I ever beheld. One apartment was lined with small paintings of female heads, in pannels, representing, in the most exquisite manner, the progress of love, from hope to ecstacy. All the statues, pictures, and decorations, were calculated to kindle and cherish the noble and generous flame.' p.392.

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From such love we turn with mingled indignation and dis gust. That which deserves to be called a noble and generous flame," recoils at incitements; and finds its extacies in that retired delicacy, in those chaste, mental attachments, which sen suality can neither rival nor conceive.

The picture of Berlin is heightened by a view which Mr. C.'s pencil has supplied of the celebrated Brandenbourg gate.

'Having refreshed myself, I sallied into the Linden Walk, which is very broad, is formed of triple rows of the graceful and umbrageous tree from which it receives its name, and is situated in the centre of the street, having carriage roads on each side, from which it is protected by a handsome line of granite posts connected by bars of iron, and illuminated at night with large reflecting lamps, suspended over the centre by cords, stretched from corresponding supporters of wrought iron. Its length is about an English mile, and presents at one end the rich portico of the marble opera-house and the palace, and at the other the celebrated Brandenbourg gate, designed by Monsieur Langhans from the Propylium of Athens, and raised in 1780. This superb monument of tasteful architecture is a stone colonnade, of a light reddish yellow colour, composed of twelve grand fluted Corinthian columns, forty-four feet high, and five feet seven inches in diameter, six on each side, leaving a space for the gates to fold between, presenting five colossal portals, through which the park is seen in fine perspective. The wings composing the custom and guard houses are adorned with eighteen lesser columns, twentynine feet high and three feet in diameter: the whole is crowned by colossal figures of the Angel of Peace driving four horses abreast in a triumphal car, below which are rich basso relievos. This most elegant strućture, and the Walk of Lindens, are unique, and would abundantly repay any traveller for the fatigues of an eight days' journey to behold them." PP. 458, 459. ! VOL. II.

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The laws of each country through which our travellers passed, receive a share of that attention which we might expect in a work dated from the Temple."

At length we welcome Mr. C. to our beloved isle, glad to see him return in perfect good humour with us, importing no travelled airs of preference for outlandish modes.

We crossed the North Seas in forty-six hours, and landed upon the shores of that beloved country which, uneclipsed by any superior in arms, in arts, or in sciences; and without a rival in commerce, in agriculture, or in riches; possesses more religion and morality, more humanity and munificence, more public and private integrity, is more blest with freedom, more enlightened by eloquence, more adorned with beauty, more graced with chastity, richer in all the requisites to form that least assuming, but first of earthly blessings, domestic comfort, than any nation upon the globe. p. 479.

Mr. C.'s admiration for the religious character of Englishmen, should, however, have inspired him with emulation to diminish the reproach, under which we too justly lie, for a neglect of the positive institutions of religion. He should not only have told us how much he venerated the Sabbath; but have induced us to believe him, by abstaining from the violation of the laws of God and of Denmark in his Sunday's excursion.*

This very splendid volume, in which beautiful paper vies with elegant typography, is rendered still more attractive, by eleven plates in aquatinta, from drawings by Mr. Carr, which possess considerable merit. Should this intelligent traveller again instruct and entertain the public by his peregrina. tions, of which some hint is given, we recommend to him a more sparing use of the lively, novel-style, which, while it saves us from the ennui of travelling, excites a suspicion that we must make liberal allowances for colouring.

Art. V. European Commerce; shewing new and secure Channels of Trade, with the Continent of Europe: detailing the Produce, Manufactures, and Commerce, of Russia, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany; as well as the Trades of the Rivers, Elbe, Weser, and E us; with a general View of the Trade, Navigation, Produce, and Manufactures of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and its unexplored and improvable Resources and interior Wealth. Illus trated with a Canal and River Map of Europe. By J. Jepson Oddy; Member of the Russia and Turkey or Levant Companies. Richardson, &c. London: H. Perthes, Hamburg. 4to. pp. 654. price 21. 12s. 6d. 1805.

THE very intimate connexion which subsists between our

commercial and political prosperity is universally known. Experience, derived from past and present times, has fully disco

* He is not the only continental tourist, who, while professing a respect for the religion of his country, has seemed to act on a supposition that the God of England was not the Judge of all the Earth.

vered to us the true source of our power; and has proved that by Commerce the springs, not only of our national glory, but even of our independence, are to be nourished and maintained. Hence, among the various qualifications of a statesman, who shall successfully direct the affairs of our country, one must be a knowledge of commerce and its relations, which, it might be supposed, could only be acquired by actual experience; and hence it is that the confidence of the commercial interest is now so necessary to give facility and promptitude to the financial operations of government.

Those, therefore, whom a thorough knowledge, derived from patient and accurate investigation, qualifies to throw new light upon such subjects, cannot more essentially serve the community than by publishing the result of their enquiries. They form an important connecting link between the subject actively engaged in the pursuits of trade, and the Minister who is to call forth and direct the energies thereby created. The evils attending mal-administration are likely to be avoided, and the "laissez nous faire" of the French merchants, as a general maxim, most effectually inculcated. In the fluctuating course of human affairs, however, circumstances will occur, in which the interference of government is not merely desirable, but necessary; and at such a crisis, in the opinion of Mr. O. are we now arrived. "The prosperity of this empire is attacked altogether in a new way. Our enemy, the most bitter one we ever had, aims at increasing our expences, and diminishing our means of supporting them, as the surest way of bringing on our ruin." How far this plan has succeeded, we need not state. The prominent design of the present work is, consequently, to point out new channels by which our commerce with the interior, and even the 'southern and eastern parts of Europe, may be revigorated, and carried on with security and success, notwithstanding the obstructions raised by our implacable foe. This Mr. O. proposes to effect by means of the Northern States of Europe; and strongly calls upon Government to instruct its ambassadors to employ their utmost influence in "procuring facilities," and in removing some prejudices supposed to exist among the Northern Powers, by shewing them that it is their true interest to promote "The Northern Powers treat us, in our commercial intercourse, as if we were dependant upon them; when, in fact, theirs are the only branches of trade, the balance of which is considerably against us."

the measure.

Mr. O.'s qualifications for the task he has undertaken, have been derived, he informs us, from "peculiar advantages in point of local information, during a long residence abroad;" and from a visit expressly made to the "Continent to procure authentic, more recent and accurate information, on various points of importance."

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