DO«PAT AND POULKOVA. 381 



"We .sliall supplement our rude Listorical sketch by a few ^vo^ds upon its inner 

 organization and present scientific activity, but would recommend to all the 

 interesting work of Sir Charles Piazzi Smyth, prompted by the hospitality 

 extended to him during his visit to Ilussia in 1859. 



Among the marshes at the head of the Gulf of Finland, and on the islands 

 in the mouth of the river Neva, under the GOth° of north latitude, Peter the Great 

 founded the city of St. Petersburg. A plain surrounds the city on all sides, but 

 at various distances to the east and south this is bounded by ridges that were 

 once the shores of the gulf, when its waters covered the site of the northern 

 capital; beyond these the elevated table lands of the rolling steppes begin. 

 Directly south of the city the plain is limited by a moderate elevation, "the 

 mountain Poulkova," a hill laid out by Catherine far a pleasure garden, but chosen 

 long before her time by Peter as a favorite resort whilst fighting the Swedes 

 and building up St. Petersburg. Tlie great military road southward from St. 

 Petersburg to Warsaw, bending as its course strikes the steep northern face of 

 the ridge^ sends a branch off tu the southeastward to Tsarskoe-Selo, but itself 

 half encircHng the hill Poulkova, continues onward nntil lost to the sight behind 

 other ridges far to the southward. A village of peasants, formerly imperial 

 serfs, sheltered from the violent westerly gales, has clustered along the roadside, 

 and has given its name to the hill. On the northeast outskirts of the village, and 

 not a mile distant from the observatory, the centre of attraction, we find a 

 favorite spot, whence we behold at once the full beaut}' of the observatory hill. 

 Looking to the southwest, we see at first only the log-houses and fruit gardens 

 of the villagers, whilst beyond a wild forest covers the mountain. But a more 

 careful scrutiny converts the forest into a semi-artificial grove, ''the little Switzer- 

 land" of the Poulkovites covering the abrupt northern slope of the declivity. 

 The curving and ascending Warsaw road bounds our diminutive forest on the 

 side nearer to us ; on the roadside nestling amidst the green trees of the observa- 

 tory park is a white-arched porch, covering a far-famed spring. A little further 

 np, and to the left is the dwelling of the former observatory mechanician, whilst 

 very far behind it ono sees a tall geodetic signal. Behind the grove peeps out the 

 tasteful little observatory of the ofiicers of the military academy; then the green 

 lawn spreads out in front of the imperial establishment, whose three tiuTetted 

 domes crown the hill. 



Those three domes even from a great distance are noticeable features in the 

 landscape. Let us leave St. Petersburg by the broad "Tsarskoe-Selo avenue," 

 and long before entering upon the Warsaw road, even before passing under the 

 triumphal arch, if we look directly south we may see between its pillars the long 

 straight road, the Poulkova hill and the domes ten miles distant. The middle 

 and largest dome appears connected with the macadamized road liy a nan'ow 

 line, but our swift troika soon brings us near enough to perceive that the line 

 is a footpath leading straight up the hill dividing the green forest of our little 

 Switzerland into equal portions on the right hand and on the left. Only the 

 monotony of the surrounding plains can justify our comparison with Alpine 

 scenery, as we readily acknowledge when having ascended to the topmost step 

 of the footpath, we learn that the village behind is scarcely 100 feet below us. 

 Behind us is the long road, with its double row of lindens, and St. Petersburg 

 in the distance; before us is a grassy lawn of ten acres, and beyond that the 

 observatory. Our path leads without turning straight through an avenue of 

 lindens, and between fi'agrant flower beds up to the dor4c colunms of the ves- 

 tibule. A shaded path to the left takes us behind ancient elms to the obser- 

 vatory of the military academy; one to the right brings us through a chaiming 

 grove of evergreens to flie "Peter's stone" and the tall signal. The llussian 

 ai'chitects well understand the use of colors in relieving the monotony of a wintry 

 snow-covered landscape ; we have before us on either hand the deej) red-brick 

 dwellings, flanked by evergreens and bhches, and enclosing the observatory, 



