Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 579
Cuap. I.—Mofcow.—Hifory.—Removal of the Seat of Empire to Peterfburgh.—Po-
pulation and Defcription of Mofcow.—Divifions.— Kremlin.—Khitaigorod.—Bielgorod.
—Semlainigorod.—Sloboda, or Suburbs—New Palace-gardens.—Old Style. —Hoppi-
tality of the. Ruffian Nobles. —Account of Muller, the celebrated Hiftorian.—Anniverfary
of St. Alexander Nevfki.—Entertainments at Count Alexey Orlof’s—bhis Stud.—Boxing
Matches. —Vauxhall.
AUGUST 30. The approach to Mofcow was firft announced at the diftance of
fix miles, by es {pires over-topping an eminence at the extremity of the broad ave-
nue cut through the foreft; about two or three miles further we afcended a height,
from whence a fuperb profpect of the vaft city burft upon our fight. It ftretched in the
form of a crefcent, to a prodigious extent : while innumerable churches, towers, gilded
{fpires and domes, white, red, and green buildings, glittering in the fun, formed a
fplendid appearance, yet ftrangely contrafted by an intermixture of wooden hovels.
The neighbouring country was undulating ; the foreft reached to within a mile of the
ramparts, and was fucceeded by a range of open paltures. We crofled the river
Mofkva on a long fpecies of raft floating, faftened to each bank, which the Ruffians
call a diving-bridge, becaufe it bends under the carriage. After a {trict examination of
our paflport we drove through the fuburbs along a wooden road, entered one of the
interior circles of the town, called Bielgorod, and took up our quarters at an inn kept
byaFrenchman, at which fome of the nobility hold affemblies. Our apartments were
convenient and fpacious; we alfo found every accommodation in abundance, except
bed and fheets ; for as no one, who is experienced in the cuftoms of this country, tra-
vels without thofe articles, inns are feldom provided with them. With much trouble
however, we obtained from our landlord two bed{teads with bedding, and one mattrefs
to place upon the floor: we could not procure more than three fheets, one of which
fell to my fhare; but we had been fo long accuftomed to fleep on ftraw, that we fancied
ourfelves ina {tate of unheard-of luxury, and blefled our good fortune.
Antiquaries differ confiderably concerning the foundation of Mofcow; but the fol-
lowing account is moft probable * :
Mofcow owes its foundation to George, fon of Vladimir Monomaka, who, in 1154,
afcended the throne of Ruflia. Being infulted by Stephen Kutchko, Prince of Sufdal,
_he confifcated his domains, of which the lands now occupied by the city formed a part,
and laid the foundation of a new town, which he called Mofkva, from the river of that
name. But the town fell into fuch decay under his fucceflors, that when Daniel, fon of
Alexander Newfki, received, in the divifion of the empire, the duchy of Mofcovy as his
perees and. fixed his refidence at this place, he may be faid to have new founded the
town. ‘The fpot now occupied by the Kremlin, was at that time a morafs overfpread
with < a thick wood, containing a {mall ifland with only a fingle hut. On this part Da-
niel conftru€ted numerous buildings, and enclofed it with wooden fortifications. He
firft aflumed the title of Duke of Mofcow, and was fo attached to this fituation, that on
fucceeding his brother Andrew Alexandrovitch in the great duchy of Vladimer, he
continued his refidence at Mofcow, which became the capital of the Rufhian dominions.
His fon Ivan confiderably enlarged the new metropolis, and in 1367 his grandfon, De-
* See Sumorokof’s Kleine Chronik Von Mofcau in St. Pet. journal for 1776; and Scherebatof’s
Rul. Gef. p. 736.
4E2 metrius
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
