68 NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



ging down, in the navy dock, and looking by no means 

 imposing. 



The confusion for more than an hour at Cronstadt, 

 after we were moored near the wharf, and before we got 

 ourselves and our baggage transferred to the small 

 steamer which conveyed us to St. Petersburg, cannot 

 be described. The grey-coated and large -booted men who 

 came on board from the custom-house, seemed portraits 

 from the Illustrated News of the Crimean Russian soldiers 

 come alive. 



Once they were on board, there arose such a medley of 

 sounds from the roar of steam ; the Babel of Russian ; the 

 rushing to and fro with papers ; the meeting of friends ; 

 the searching for luggage ; the affectionate kisses between 

 Russian men and old friends among our passengers ; the 

 roaring out questions and answers by everybody; and 

 everybody apparently frantic with haste, or some mys- 

 terious burthen, that it was an immense relief when the 

 steam of our small vessel was choked in the boiler, and 

 with rapid paddle we skimmed through the shipping, and 

 between long poles which marked the passage, and were 

 off for the capital. To the right, along the wooded bank 

 we could discern white houses thickly scattered, and we 

 heard that this was the fashionable summer retreat of the 

 citizens who could afford a country cottage. The left- 

 hand shore is low, wooded, and without the slightest 

 interest. 



As we rapidly approached St. Petersburg, one of the 

 most magnificent rainbows I eve" beheld spanned the sky 



