MOSCOW. 
chap. am l stores. A fire took place in the Kremlin ; 
\ IL , and the flames catching the building erected 
over the pit where the bell yet remained, it 
became hot ; when some water, thrown to extin- 
guish the fire, fell upon the heated metal, and 
caused the fracture that has taken place in the 
lower part of it. The bell reaches from the 
bottom of the pit to the roof. The entrance to 
the place where it lies, is by a trap door, placed 
even with the surface of the earth ; and beneath 
the entrance are ladders. We found the steps 
of the ladders very dangerous ; some being 
wanted, and others broken. In consequence of 
this the author encountered a very severe fall 
down the whole extent of the first flight ; and 
narrowly escaped losing his life, in not frac- 
turing his scull upon the bell. After this acci- 
dent, a sentinel was stationed at the trap-door, to 
prevent people from becoming victims to their 
curiosity. The same person, it is true, might 
have been as well employed in mending the 
ladders, as in waiting all day to say that they 
were broken. The bell is truly a mountain of 
metal. It is said to contain a very large pro- 
portion of gold and silver. While it was in 
fusion, the nobles and the people cast in, as 
votive offerings, their plate and their money. 
We endeavoured, in vain, to assay a small part : 
but the natives regarded it with superstitious 
