NOBTHEBN EUSSIA. 



CHAPTER IV. 



MOSCOW. 



I LONGED to see the real old capital of Russia. Yet I 

 had no preconceived idea of it in my mind, except 

 that of an undefined picture of a mysterious old Kremlin, 

 with flames and smoke surrounding it, and Napoleon 

 beginning his terrible march from the unexpected cold. 

 I was happy, therefore, to find myself in the train, which 

 was snorting along its iron path en route to the Kremlin. 



I have little to say about the journey. It occupies 

 about eighteen hours, the distance being 400 miles. 

 The line is as straight as an arrow, and quite as unin- 

 teresting. It passes through a forest as prosaic as a few 

 brooms stuck in a marsh. No tunnel darkens it ; no 

 cutting flanks it. Not a town is seen, along its course ; 

 for though a few are stations, yet the station-house alone 



