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COXE’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 705
him to his houfe, where we found a collation, confifting of an eel-pye, a fterlet, red and ¢
pickled herrings, and various forts of /igueurs and wines. After enjoying for fome time
the intelligent and entertaining converfation of the Archbifhop, who {poke fluently the
French tongue, we made our acknowledgments, and retired.
Before our departure from the metropolis, we had an opportunity of being prefent
at another religious rite of a more public nature, the bleffing of the Waters ; which
was performed on the 6th of January, O.S. January 17th, N.S. though not with
its ancient pomp and magnificence. ‘This ceremony ufed to be held upon the Neva; on
which occafion the Sovereign attended in perfon upon the ice, and all the regiments of
guards were drawn out in great folemnity. Its pomp, though ftill fplendid, is now much
diminifhed.
On the frozen furface of a fmall canal, between the admiralty and the palace, was
ere€ted an oftagon pavilion of wood, painted green, and ornamented with boughs of fir :
it was open at the fides, and crowned by a dome, fupported by. eight pillars. On the
top was the figure of St. John with the crofs, and four paintings, reprefenting fome mi-
racles of our Saviour; in the infide a carved image of the Holy Spirit, under the em-
blem of a dove, was fufpended, as is ufual in the fanctuaries of the Greek churches.
The floor of this edifice was carpeted, excepting a fquare vacancy in the middle, in which
an opening was cut in theice, anda ladder let down into the water. The pavilion was
enclofed by pallifadoes, adorned with boughs of fir, and the intermediate {pace alfo co-
vered with carpets. From ong of the windows of the palace a fcaffolding was erected,
ormamented with red cloth, which reached to the extremity of the canal.
At the time appointed, the Emprefs appeared at the window of the palace, and the
Archbifhop, who was to perform the benediction, pafled at the head of a numerous pro-
ceffion. along the feaffolding into the o¢tagon, round which were drawn up a few foldiere
of each regiment quartered at Peterfburgh. After having pronounced a few prayers *,
he defcended the ladder, plunged a crofs into the water, and then fprinkled the colours
ofeach regiment. At the conclufion of this ceremony the Archbifhop retired, and the
people rufhed in crowds into the ofagon{, drank with eagernefs the water,
iprinkled it upon their clothes, and carried fome of it away for the purpofe of purifying
their houfes.
On the 6th of December we were witnefs to a very fingular entertainment given to
the public by a Ruffian, who had acquired a large fortune by farming, during four
years only, the right cf vending fpirituous liquors. On furrendering his contra&t, he
gave, as a proof of his gratitude to the lower clafs of people, by whom he had enriched
himéelf, a feaft near the garden of the fummer-palace, which was announced by hand-
bills diftributed throughout the city. As f{trangers, defirous of obferving the national
manners, we did not fail to be prefent at this caroufal, which commenced at two o’clock
in the afternoon. A large femi-circular table was covered with all kinds of provifion,
piled in different fhapes, and in the greateft profufion. Large flices of bread and ca-
viare, dried fturgeon, carp, and other fifh, were ranged a great height, in the form of
pent-houfes and pyramids, and garnifhed with craw-fifh, onions, and pickles. In dif-
ferent parts of the grounds were rows of cafks full of fpirituous liquors, and ftill larger
veflels of wine, beer, and quafs. Among the decorations I obferved the reprefentation
* ‘The reader will find the ceremonies and prayers ufed on this occafion, in Dr. King’s Rites of the Greek
Church, p. 386.
+ Iwas informed that fome of the populace plunged into the water, and that others dipped their children
into it ; but as I was not myfelf witnefs to thefe circumitances, l-cannot vouch for their truth,
vol. Vi. 4X of
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