MOSCOW. 
153 
£.66,565. 165 . lying unemployed, and of no use CG ^ r - 
to any one 1 . ^ ' — • — ' 
The Great Gun , also among the wonders of Great Gun - 
the Kremlin, we measured with less facility ; 
being always interrupted by the sentinels, one 
of whom pointed his bayonet at us, and threat- 
ened to stab us if we persisted in our intention : 
yet, by walking its length, we found it to be 
about eighteen feet and a half; and its diameter 
may be guessed, because it will admit a man of 
middle stature sitting upright within its mouth. 
Its lip, moreover, is ten inches thick. This gun 
is kept merely for ostentation, and is never 
(l) The Great Bell of Moscow has long been a theme of 
wonder, and it is mentioned by almost every traveller. The sub- 
ject is of no importance ; but it may be well to add, that the accounts 
given of it do not apply to the same thing. Olearies describes that 
which he saw in 1636. It is the same mentioned in p. 147 of this 
Volume, founded by Boris Gudenof. (See Olear. tom. I. p. 107.' 
Augustine, ambassador from Germany in 1661, describes that which 
here engaged our attention. Jonas Hanway, and thosewho succeeded 
him, bear reference to the same. It was founded, according to Augustine, 
in 1653, during the reign of Alexis. (See Voyage de Moscou, p. 117-1 
The Russians and people of Moscow maintain that it was cast during 
the reign of their Empress Anne, probably from the female 
figure represented ; which may have been intended for the Virgin. 
Augustine's account of the weight, and his measurement of the bell, arc 
too near the truth to suppose any other was described by him. They 
employed, says he, in casting it, a weight of metal equal to 440,000/ta. 
He moreover states its thickness equal to two feet, which is within an 
inch of what has been here said. He also proves that it is larger than 
the famous bell of Erford, and even than that of Pekin. 
