"To Alexander the Great; Grateful Russia."
But the most wonderful of all is the well-known equestrian statue of Peter the Great, representing the Emperor riding up a rock and subduing a serpent.
The huge block of granite which forms the pedestal, and weighs 1,500 tons, was brought from Lacte, a village four miles from St. Petersburg, at a cost of 70,000 roubles, or £11,000 sterling. It was originally 45 feet long, 30 feet high, and 25 feet in width, but broke into two pieces, which were subsequently patched together, the whole cost amounting to 424,610 roubles, or upwards of £70,000.
After surveying the palaces and public buildings in the city, we turned our attention to those in the environs, and proceeded in a steamer to Peterhof, about fifteen miles down the river.
Nothing can be finer than the situation of this palace, commanding an extensive view of the Neva from Cronstadt to St. Petersburg, with beautiful waterworks, considered little inferior to those at Versailles, with a magnificent jet called the Sampson, a colossal bronze figure, tearing open the jaws of a lion, whence rushes the water from a height of 80 feet.
Besides numerous other jets sending the water in all directions, there is a broad flight of steps, and on each side a range of marble slabs to the top of the hill, over which the water pours down, so far apart, as to allow on fête nights, variegated lamps to be arranged behind the water, forming the most beautiful cascade.
Passing through the palace, containing numerous pictures, marbles and vases that we had not time to inspect, we came to the gardens, kept in the strictest order. In the varied walks and borders of flowers are numerous seats to accommodate a large assemblage of people, and two bands of music playing alternately.
Descending from the palace to the seashore, the garden is laid out in terraces, and adorned with fountains, waterfalls, and statuary. Here are the oak and lime trees, planted by Peter himself, and at the end of one of the walks is situated Monplaisir, a low Dutch-built summer house, where the Great Peter breathed his last, and his bed remains untouched since his death, but is now fast crumbling to decay.