52 
MOSCOW. 
HAP. 
III. 
Palace of 
Petrovsky. 
Arrival at 
Moscow- 
The rising towers and spires of Moscow 
greeted our eyes six versts before we reached 
the city. The country around it is flat and 
open ; and the town, spreading over an immense 
district, equals, by its majestic appearance, that 
of Rome, when viewed at an equal distance. As 
we approached the barrier of Moscow, we 
beheld, on the left, the large palace of Petrovsky, 
built of brick. It wears an appearance of great 
magnificence, though the style of architecture 
is cumbrous and heavy. It was erected for 
the accommodation of the Russian Sovereigns, 
during their visits to Moscow ; the inhabitants 
of which city pretend that none of them durst 
take up a lodging within its walls, being kept 
much more in awe of their subjects than they 
are at Petersburg. It is said the Empress 
Catherine used to call Moscow her little 
haughty republic 1 . This palace is about four 
Versts from the city. 
Arriving at the barrier, we were some time 
detained during the examination of our pass- 
ports. This entrance to the city, like most of 
the others, is a gate with two columns, one on 
(l) “ Ils ne m’aiment pas beaucoup, (dit ellc ;)— je ne suis point 
& la mode t Moscou.” 
Lett, et Pens, du Prince de Ligne, tome i. p. 146. 
