NEW TCHERKASK. 
29 
the Don and the Axai, and a variety of minor streams. From 
hence, I could just distinguish the lofty spires of Old Tcherkask, 
and a black line of forest, stretching along the horizon. 
The new city owes its existence to Count Platoff, the present 
truly glorious Attaman, who laid its foundation-stone about ten 
years ago. All Europe has heard of him as a hero ; but we must 
visit his country to know him as he is, — the father of his people, 
as well as their general. He fixed the site of his new city on 
high ground, that it might escape the immediate inconvenience 
of the old inundations during the spring. The progress in build¬ 
ing has been so great, that even in the city’s present infant state, 
it covers nearly four miles of ground. A natural ravine runs 
almost completely round it, beginning and terminating to the 
south-east; which side of the town rests on the acclivity of a 
hill, abruptly sloping to the great plain. Many of the rich, and 
military in high rank, have already built themselves splendid 
houses ; and this passion for architectural magnificence is daily 
emulated by other persons of the same stations in society. Two 
lofty gates, in the style of triumphal arches, (though not quite 
in the old Roman taste,) mark the entrances of the city from the 
Moscow and Rostow roads. An Italian artist was the architect 
of these structures. He is at present employed on more im¬ 
portant works; the grand cathedral, and a palace for the Atta¬ 
man. The former is to be of hewn stone, and has already risen 
considerably above the foundations. On walking through the 
town, and calculating the magnitude and number of buildings, 
astonishment equals admiration, when we recollect that for more 
than four years out of ten employed in their erection, three 
parts of the population were absent from the country, defending 
the empire. The streets are wide and long. In the centre of 
