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The projector of this plan was apprenticed to a (hop-keeper at Niflmei Novogorod ;and, like the Swifs carpenter who built the bridge of Schaffhaufen*, unacquaintedwith the theory of mechanics. Oppofite to his dwelling was a wooden clock, whichexcited his curiofity-, by repeated examinations he comprehended the internal llrue-ture, and, without affiltance, formed one exactly fimihtr. His fuccefs in this effayurged him to undertake the conllruftion of metal clocks and watches. The Emprefs,acquainted with thefe wonderful exertions of native genius, took him under her pro-tection, and fent him to England ; from whence, on account of his ignorance of thelanguage, he foon returned to Ruflia. I faw a repeating watch of his workmanlhip atthe Academy of Sciences : it is about the bignefs of an egg ; in the infide is reprefentedthe tomb of our Saviour, with the Hone at the entrance, and the centinels upon duty ;fuddenly the done is removed, the centinels fall down, the angels appear, the womenenter the fepulchre, and the chant performed on Eafter eve is heard. Thefe aretrilling, although curious performances ; but the plan of the bridge was a fublimeconception. This perfon, whofe name is Kulibin , bears the appearance of a Ruffianpeafant ; he has a long beard, and wears the common drefs of the country ; he re-ceives a penfion from the Emprefs, and is encouraged to follow the bent of his me-chanical genius.
The nobleft monument of the gratitude and veneration paid to Peter I. is his equef-trian ftatue in bronze, of cololfal fize; it is the work of Falconet, the celebratedFrench flatuary, call at the expence of Catharine II. in honour of her great prede-celfor, whom ffie reveres and imitates. The monarch is reprefented in the attitude ofmounting a precipice, the lurnmit of which he has nearly attained. His head is un-covered, and crowned with a laurel; he wears a loofe veil in the Afiatic dyle, with,half-boots, and fits on a houfing of bear-lkin : the right hand is llretched out, as inthe aft of giving benediftion to his people, and the left holds the reins. The defignis mallerly, and the attitude bold and fpirited. The fiat pofition of the right hand isdeficient in dignity, and has an unpleafing elFeft ; for which reafon, the view of theleft fide is moll ftriking, where the figure is graceful and animated. The horfe isfpringing upon the hind legs and the tail, which is full and flowing, appears fiight-ly to touch a ferpent, artfully contrived to affill in fupporting the vail weight f. Theartift has, in this noble eifay of genius, reprefented Peter as the legiflator of his coun-try, without allufion to conquell and bloodffied ; wifely preferring his civil qualitiesto his military exploits J, The contrail between the compofure of Peter (thoughperhaps not charafteriftic) and the fire of the horfe, eager to prefs forwards, is verylinking. The fimplicity of the infeription correfponds to the fublimity of the defign.
PETRO PRIMO §,CATHARINA SECUNDA1782.
PETRU PERVOMUEKATHERENA VTORAIYA1782.
* For the account of the bridge of Schaffhaufen, fee Travels in Switzerland , Letter II.
•}• The height of the hero is eleven feet; of the horfe feventeen ; the bronze in the thinneft part Isonly three lines, but increafes gradually towards the hind feet of the horfe to one inch ; the weight of thewhole (exclufive of the counterpoife'of ten thoufand pounds) is forty-four thoufand and forty-one Ruffian,Or thirty-fix thoufand fix hundred and thirty-fix Engliffi pounds.
| Falconet has ably refuted the cenfures urged againft his ftatue on this account. See his Letter toDiderot , in “ Pieces written by Monf. Falconet,” tranflated by Mr. Tooke, p 47. Where the readerwill alfo find an engraving of the ftatue. $ Catherine II. to Peter I.
Falconet