176 By Stream and Sea. 



his island workshop. He is taught to bow to and cross him- 

 self in presence of the miraculous image of the Saviour, 

 which was said to have accompanied the Emperor in his 

 battles. He is bidden to notice and admire the sturdy little 

 boat which Peter built, the tattered sails black with age, and 

 the stool upon which he would sit at his cottage door, look- 

 ing upon the broad Neva as it hurried out to Cronstadt. 

 The Naval Museum contains innumerable relics of equal 

 interest and of much more educational importance. The 

 history of naval architecture finds a 'practical embodiment 

 there in the models and designs so carefully arranged and 

 docketed. The golden spire outside is surmounted by a 

 ship under full sail, and that is an indication of what the 

 museum contains. Nothing is wanting, from keel to truck, 

 to illustrate the science and history of shipbuilding. There 

 is a complete model of the Russian iron-clad fleet. In a 

 hall beyond that which displays the models, etc., there is an 

 apartment devoted to objects of curiosity, including dummy 

 sailors as they appeared in Peter the Great's period; por- 

 traits, sea views, and carvings, and specimens collected by 

 Russian ships from every sea ; while ships of small burden 

 are built at the dockyard of the Admiralty, the frigates are 

 constructed on slips lower down the river. 



A pleasant memory is that of a skating festival given by 

 one of the Neva yacht-clubs, in their grounds. I can 

 scarcely trust myself to describe the fairy spectacle those 

 gardens presented. Entering the outer gates, and passing 

 through the ante-rooms where furs were left and skates 

 adjusted, you suddenly found yourself before thousands of 

 dazzling lights. When the first bewilderment had gone, 

 and things began to shape themselves clearly, the full beauty 



