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664 COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
between thefe two fums, we have one hundred and twenty-fix thoufand fix hundred
and ninety-feven for the number of inhabitants *.
Peterfburgh, from its low and marfhy fituation, is fubje& to inundations, which
fometimes threaten the town with a total fubmerfion. Thefe floods are chiefly occa-
fioned by a weft or fouth-weft wind, which, blowing direétly from the gulf, obftructs
the current of the Neva, and caufes an accumulation of the waters. On the 16th of
November we had nearly perfonal experience of this dreadful calamity. Being in-
vited to a mafquerade at the Cadet’s in the Vaffili Oftrof, on our approach to the
bridge we perceived that a ftormy welt wind had {welled the river fo confiderably as to
elevate the pontoons; and the bridge was in danger of being carried away. Inftead,
therefore, of repairing to the mafqnerade, we returned home, and waited for fome
hours in awful expectation of an immediate deluge. Providentially a fudden change
of wind preferved Peterfburgh from the impending cataftrophe, and the inhabitants
from analmoft univerfal con{ternation, which recent fufferings impreffed upon their
minds. I allude to the flood in the month of September,1777, whole effects are thus
defcribed: ‘ ¢ In the evening of the gth a violent {torm of wind blowing at S.W. and
afterwards W. raifed the Neva and its various branches to fo great a height, that at
five in the morning the waters poured over their bank, and fuddenly overflowed the
town, but more particularly the Vaffili Oftrof and the ifland of St. Peterfourgh. The
torrent rofe in feveral ftreets to the depth of four feet and an half; and overturned,
by its rapidity, various buildings and bridges. About feven, the wind fhifting to N.W.
the flood fell fuddenly ; and at mid-day moft of the ftreets, which in the morning could
only be paffed in boats, became dry. For a fhort time the river rofe ten feet feven
inches above its ordinary level.”
The divifions of Peterfburgh, on each fide of the Neva, are connected by a bridge
on pontoons, which was ufually removed when the large maffes of ice driven down the
ftream from the lake Ladoga, firft made their appearance, and for a few days, until
the river was frozen fufficiently hard to bear carriages, there was no communication
between the oppofite parts of the town. The depth of the river renders it extremely
difficult to build a ftone bridge: and if one fhould be conitruéted, it would probably be
deftroyed by thefe vaft fhoals of ice. To remedy this incovenience, a Ruffian peafant
projected the fublime plan of throwing a wooden bridge of a fingle arch acrofs the
river, which in its narroweft part is nine hundred and eighty feet in breadth. The
artift has executed a model ninety-eight feet in length, which I examined with great
attention, as he explained the proportion and mechanifm.
* Sufslick eftimates the population of Peterfburgh at one hundred and thirty-three thoufand one
hundred and ninety fix, by multiplying the births by twenty eight ; and one hundred and thirty-two
thoufand nine hundred and ninety, by multiplying the deaths by twenty fix; neither of which numbers
differs <ffentially from the average number in the text: he adds, that Peterfburgh is the only large town
in which there are more births than deaths. The population of Peterfburgh is continually increafing, as
well from the excefs of the births above the deaths, as from the influx of natives and foreigners. According
to a cenfus taken in 1784, it contained one hundred and twenty-fix thoufand eight hundred and twenty-
feven males, and fixty five thoufand fix hundred and nineteen females, including about twenty-feven
thoufand eight hundred and ninety foreigners ; in all one hundred and ninety-two thoufand four hundred
and forty-fix perfons.
According to Profeflor Heym (Encyclopedie des Ruffifchen Reichy) Peterfburgh was twenty-four
verfts in circumference in 1784, and contained feventy-one churches, and three thoufand four hundred and
thirty-one houfes, of which one thoufand two hundred and ninety-one were of brick, aad two thoufand
ene hundred and forty of wood. + Journ: St. Pet. Sept. 1777.
+ This bridge was, in December 1779, replaced for the firft time, and continued during the winter,
a practife which has been fince renewed, and renders the communication more convenient.
5 The
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