MOSCOW. 
• 149 
gate without taking off his hat\ The author C y, A j P ' 
wished to see if this absurd rule was rigorously 
enforced, and, feigning ignorance, entered be- 
neath the arch with his hat on. A sentinel 
challenged him ; but, without taking any notice 
of the sentinel, he walked forward. Next, a 
bare-headed peasant met him, and, seeing his 
head covered, summoned the sentinels and peo- 
ple with very loud expressions of anger ; who, 
seizing him by the arms, very soon taught him 
in what manner to pass the Holy Gate for the 
future. 
The Great Bell of Moscow, known to be the Great Beil, 
largest ever found, is in a deep pit in the midst 
of the Kremlin. The history of its fall is a fable; 
and as writers have been induced to copy each 
other, the story continues to be propagated. 
The fact is, the bell remains in the place where 
it was originally cast. It never was suspended ; 
the Russians might as well attempt to suspend 
a first-rate line-of-battle ship, with all her guns 
(2) In this description of the Kremlin (the antient residence of the 
Tsars of Russia ), with its Holly Gate , the classical reader will recognise the 
old Grecian custom of the Acropolis , answering to the iSp* Tltkevitev 
of SornocLES (Electro, v. 10.) ; and the Obrazc, or Image, placed over the 
Entrance, before which a Russian crosses himself, will remind him of the 
homage rendered by Orestes to the tutelary Gods of Mycenae, stationed over 
the consecrated Propylcea ; otroi<ri^ <r^otv>.a vnlovmv Ibid, v* 1391. 
