682 COXE’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA .
their time. After what manner we will have thofe affemblies kept, may be learned fromwhat follows:
“ i. The perfon at whofe houfe the affembly is to be in the evening, is to hang out abill or other fign, to give notice to all perfons of either fex. — 2. The alfembly fhall notbegin fooner than four or five in the afternoon, nor continue later than ten at night.—3. The mafter of the houfe is not obliged to go and meet his guefts, to conduct themout, or to entertain them ; but though himielf is exempt from waiting on them, heought to find chairs, candles, drink, and all the neceffaries afked for, as alfo to providefor all forts of gaming, and what belongs thereto. — 4. No certain hour is fixed for anybody’s coming or going ; it is fufficient if one makes his appearance in the affembly.—•5. It is left to every one’s liberty to fit, walk, or play, juft as he likes; nor fhall anybody hinder him, or take exception at what he does, on pain of emptying the GreatEagle (a bowl filled with wine or brandy). As for the reft, it is enough to falute atcoming and going. — 6. Perfons of rank, as for inftance, noblemen, fuperior officers,likewife merchants of note, and head-mafters, (by which are underftood fhip-builders,)perfons employed in the Chancery, and their wives and children, fhall have liberty offrequenting the affemblies. — 7. A particular place fhall be affigned to the footmen,(thofe of the houfe excepted,) that there may be fufficient room in the apartments de-signed for the affembly.”
The Englifh merchants live in a focial and even fplendid manner. Befides conftantmeetings at their refpedlive houfes, they have once a fortnight a regular affembly towhich they obligingly invite all their countrymen who happen to be at Peterfburgh, andoccafionally fome Ruffian ladies. There is a ball, cards, and fupper ; twelve or four-teen couple ufually dance at thefe meetings, which are perfeftly cheerful and agreeable.
A traveller who frequents the houfes of the Ruffian nobility will be ftruck with thevariety of complexions and faces which are obfervable among the retainers and fervants;Ruffians, Fins, Laplanders, Georgians, Circaffians, Poles, Tartars , and Calmucs. Hewill be no lefs furprifed on being informed, that many of the fervants, who belong tothe Englifh and other foreigners, are Mahometans, of whom numerous colonies are ftillrefident in this vafl empire.
Fortrefs of Peterfburgh.—Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.—Tomb of Peter the Great ,and thefucceeding Sovereigns. — Mint.—Hiflory of the Boat calledThe Little Grandftre ,which gave rife to the Riff an Navy on the Black Sea .
THE origin of the fortrefs, which occafioned the foundation of this capital, has beenrelated in the general defcription of Peterfburgh. Maffive walls of brick, faced withhewn granite, and ftrengthened with five baflions, encircle a fmall ifland not more thanhalf a mile in circumference, formed by the Great and Little Neva. Within the Go-vernor’s houfe are barracks for a fmall garrifon, feveral wards ufed as a common jail,and dungeons for the confinement of ftate prifoners.
In the centre Hands the cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, in a different ftyle of archi*tefture from that ufually employed in the conftru&ion of churches for the fervice of theGreek religion. Inftead of domes, it is furmounted with a fpire of copper gilt, twohundred and forty feet in height. The interior decorations are more elegant and lefsgaudy than thofe in the churches of Novogorod and Mofcow, and the paintings areexecuted in the modern ftyle of the Italian fchool.
Ia