SCENES ON THE NEVA. 435 



We suddenly emerged from the grounds near a broad branch of 

 the Neva, on the banks of which, and among the trees, a drive 

 extended along the boundaries of the grounds we had just quitted, 

 on which several gay parties were taking their airing ; others were 

 grouped in elegant little temples, open at all sides, and fitted with 

 sofas on which they were lounging ; taking their ice, cool beverages, 

 and refreshments. From this pavilion, shaded by a luxuriant foliage, 

 and looking upon the river, the scene was strikingly picturesque and 

 animating. On both sides of the water were scattered numerous gay 

 looking villas surrounded with their beautiful grounds and gardens. 

 A handsome bridge here crosses the river, on the opposite side of 

 which, from out a thickly planted grove of trees, peeps the elegant 

 portico of the summer theatre, called the Kammenoi Ostrow, not 

 unlike that of our Haymarket. This theatre is open in summer only, 

 and is quite the fashionable resort, though distant five versts from 

 town. A wide open space in front was filled with droskies and 

 officers' horses in waiting. It is attached to the Yelagin summer 

 palace, situated on the banks of the river to the left of our position, 

 and the gardens and grounds only separated from us by the road 

 leading to the bridge, which we next crossed, and from whence we 

 had a full view of the palace, an elegant Italian villa, not very large, 

 with a sloping lawn to the water, and very beautiful and extensive 

 grounds. We continued our walks along the opposite bank of the 

 river, under avenues of trees, following an excellent well watered 

 carriage drive, and passing several villas, built (although of wood) 

 in the best style of Italian architecture, and almost hidden by a 

 profusion of flowers. We again crossed the stream by the Vasselei 

 Ostrow bridge, near which is the summer Imperial Palace, then occu- 

 pied by the Grand Duke Michael ; a large and apparently handsome 

 building, facing the river, but nearly imbedded in trees. Near it, 

 and forming an entrance to the palace, at the foot of the bridge, is 

 an extremely pretty small old red brick Gothic gateway and belfry 

 or tower, peeping from a cluster of dark high trees, which forms 

 its back ground. The view from the Vassilei Ostrow and Kammenoi 

 Ostrow bridges is, I think, perfect. The river here is very wide, 

 perfectly clear and glassy, and the banks on both sides present a 

 series of wood, lawn, gardens, villas, villages, the two palaces, and 

 the portico of the theatre. Having crossed the bridge we again 

 entered upon well laid out grounds, and passed close under the 

 windows of one or two chateaux, occasionally stumbling upon a 

 statue, temple, or fountain. Issuing from a grotto or subterranean 

 pathway we found ourselves on the elevated bank of a narrow 

 thickly wooded stream, on the opposite side of which, from between 

 the trees and thick underwood of which the high bank was com- 

 posed, glimpses were caught of a romantic little Russian village of 

 the better class. We crossed the stream by a flying bridge, or square 

 floating rafts with seats and railings round it, and entered the village 

 which consisted chiefly of log houses and wooden cottages or boxes, 

 highly ornamented, and gaily painted, which are generally let by the 

 season. In one of these our friend's family was residing, a pretty 

 low built cottage of rough fir, something in the style of the Swiss 



