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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIAs 831
die was corrected by Peter the Great on his return from his travels; and that fince his
time it has gradually degenerated *.
The cabinet is rich in Eaftern coins ; containing, among others, thofe of the Caliphs
of Arabia and Samarcand ; of the Khans of Bulgaria, Crim Tartary, and Afof, and of
the Mongol tribe called by the Ruffians the Golden Horde. Among the Indian pieces
are the twelve roupees, reprefenting the twelve figns of the Zodiac, of Queen Naurma-
hall, whofe hiltory, related in the travels of Tavernier ¢, has more the air of an Eaftern
tale than of a true narrative f.
In an adjoining apartment, I was ftruck with a waxen figure of Peter the Great, as
large as life, fitting in an armed chair. The features bear an exact refemblance to the
original, being taken from a mould applied to his face when dead, and coloured in
imitation of his complexion. ‘The eye-brows and hair are black, the eyes dark, the
complexion fwarthy, the afpeé ferocious, and the head inclined to one fide, according
to his ufual habit. He was very tall ; and on meafuring the figure, as well as the pof-
ture would permit, the height exceeded fix feet. It is clothed in the only full drefs
which that Emperor ever wore, the fame which. he had on, when he placed the crown
upon the head of his beloved Catherine.. This drefs is of blue filk richly embroidered
with filver; the ftockings of flefh coloured filk, with filver clocks. But I fhould have
received more fatisfa€tion in contemplating this great monarch’s image, dreffed in the
plain green uniform, and brafs-hilted fword and hat, which are preferved in the fame
room, and were worn by him at the battle of Pultava; the hat is pierced near the
crown by a mufket ball. This apartment contains alfo the trowfers, .worlted {tockings,
fhoes, and cap, which he wore at Sardam, when he worked as.a fhipwright in the cha-
racter of Matter Peter.
The Academy of Sciences have paid the greateft refpeét to the memory of their il-
luftrious founder, by preferving in their mufeum the horfe which he rode at the battle
of Pultava, two favourite dogs, his turning-lathe and tools, feveral fpecimens of his
workmanfhip ; aniron bar, with the following infcription: ‘ 1724, Thurfday, Feb. 21,
His Majefty Peter I. being at Olonetz, forged this bar with his own hand.’* I muft
not omit three goblets of filver, prefented to the fame monarch on launching three fhips.
of the line, conftructed under his immediate dire€tion. One of thefe goblets, con-
taining fixty-five medals of the French Kings, was the gift of the Emprefs Catherine,
who equally availed herfelf of her hufband’s virtues and foibles to win his affections.
Another article which engaged my attention, was the model of aveffel of one hundred
and twenty guns, given by William III. to Peter during his refidence in England.
The Emperor, who had received many marks of the King’s friendfhip, prefented him
with a diamond of great value, wrapped in a piece of common brown paper; an em-
blem of himfelf and his nation, whofe virtues and abilities were yet under a coarfe
cover.
This account of the Academy of Sciences fhould not be clofed without mentioning
the Celeftial Sphere, or Globe of Gottorp, placed in a detached building, to preferve
it from fire. It is a large hollow fphere, eleven feet in diameter, containing a
table, and feats for twelve perfons.. The infide reprefents the vifible furface of the
heavens: the ftars are diftinguifhed, according to their refpective magnitudes, by gilded
nails. Itis fet to the meridian of Peterfburgh; and, being turned by a.curious piece
* See Effai fur la Bib. p, 245. Verfuch ueber die alten Ruffichen Muentzen, Journ. St. Pet. 1781.
+ Tavernier’s’Travelsj Part IL. p. 10, $ Bachmeifter, Effai fur la Bibl. p. 254.
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