236 
ON THE NATURAL HISTORY, CLIMATE, AND SCENERY OF THE 
VICINITY OF ST. PETERSBURGH. 
By Charles Drosier. 
Before proceeding to the pleasing task I have imposed upon myself, it will be 
necessary to make a few remarks, by way of introduction, that the reader may 
form a just estimate of the nature of my undertaking, and be acquainted with 
the method I intend to pursue in treating my subject. It must not be supposed 
that I pretend to give a comprehensive and digested account of all the things 
which it naturally embraces; to do that efficiently, would require a longer 
residence in the country than fell to my share ; a life more exclusively devoted 
to the investigation of Natural History than mine has been; and, then, the pro¬ 
duction of a large book; but as I have ever been delighted with the beauties and 
marvels of “ Nature’s volume broad displayed,” it is possible that I may add a 
few items to the amount of facts so industriously collected by the many talented 
perusers of the above-mentioned “ broad volume,” as Thomson has called it; a 
volume indeed so broad, that no single person has an opportunity of thoroughly 
reading it; and even Gulliver’s ingenious device, to read the books at Brobdignag 
in the King’s library, if applied here, would prove a signal failure. That such 
items may become useful, and even important, in advancing the study of Natural 
History, amongst others, we have the opinion of no less a man than Sir J. E. 
Smith, so happily quoted in your elegant memoir of Dr. Latham. Emboldened 
by such authority, I proceed strong in a good cause. My intention is to write a 
series of papers, if my health and leisure permit, which will strictly be essays, 
confined to no regular plan, but, as the months will figure consecutively at their 
head, all that I have considered curious, or worthy of notice, will be detailed in 
its proper season. To begin, then, with— 
January. 
Alexandroskey is a village situated on the high Siberian road, bordering the 
West bank of the Neva, about six miles from St. Petersburgh, between the 
villages Furfur, Zavoda, and Moursinka; though indeed its appearance would 
not convey the idea which that appellation brings to the ears of an Englishman, 
as, in the first place, it forms a continuation of the city, being connected to it by 
a chain of buildings, which follows the bank of the river, some of which are large 
and worthy of attention; in the next, it is composed of a motley group of 
gentlemen’s Summer and Winter residences, cottages, shops, and lodging-houses, 
occupied by those who wish to ruralize, an inn, government offices, churches, &c., 
but its principal feature is an enormous manufactory belonging to the crown, and 
