4 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



good many barges, coasting ships, and steamers, which 

 partly conceal, but do not do so altogether, the Mining 

 Corps and some other like commanding buildings. A-head 

 of the steamer a little way is the Alexander Bridge. 



Passing underneath one of the arches a new and 

 magnificent view bursts upon us. On the left or larboard 

 bow are seen the Academy, the University, the Exchange ; 

 a-head of these is the Fortress, with the lofty, beautiful 

 spire of the Church dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, in 

 the crypt of which are the tombs of the Emperors who 

 have reigned since the founding of the city ; and not far 

 off, but not seen from the steamer, is the hut inhabited by 

 Peter, while the palace afterwards inhabited by him and 

 his successors, and the city which bears his name, were 

 a-building. 



Beyond the Exchange and the Fortress flows one of the 

 numerous embouchures of the river designated the Little 

 Neva, in contradistinction to the main stream, the Great 

 Neva, separating Vasilli Ostrof from the city or the main- 

 land, or what may be reckoned such. Beyond the Fortress 

 is another embouchure, the Nevka, which afterwards 

 bifurcates into the Great Nevka and the Little Nevka. 

 A little above the branching off of the Nevka on what 

 may be described as a continuation of the right bank of 

 the Nevka trending towards the middle of the main stream, 

 the Neva is a long stretch of white buildings, the School 

 of Medicine with hospitals and other adjuncts; and in 

 apparent continuation to these, but at an obtuse angle 

 with the "line of their frontage, is Nicholai Bridge, con- 

 cealed from sight by the somewhat concave opposite bank 

 of the Neva. The breadth of the river throughout the 

 stretch from the Exchange, at which the Little Neva 

 takes its departure, to the School of Medicine on the 

 inclination of the bank of the Neva, the prolongation of 

 which is the right bank of the Nevka, is magnificent. 

 There are, besides the permanent bridges mentioned, 

 two Pontoon Bridges, which serve to vary the scene. 



In keeping with all that is to be seen on the larboard 



