Excerpt from Alexandra Feodorowna, Empress of Russia, Vol. 2

That he enters new treasures of art, or splendour, or some sacred obj ect. A spacious hall is here dedicated to the memory of field-marshals another to the valiant Generals of the years 1812-14. The portraits of the Romanow family decorate the Hermitage, which forms the second portion of the Winter Palace, con taining all the art-treasures of the realm, -pictures, antiques, gems, engravings, forming one of the richest galleries in the world. In less than fifty years were deposited here seven or eight collections, from Paris, Genoa, England, Holland, Dresden, Warsaw, and Cassel; and to the European schools of the last four hundred years Alexander the First added that of Russia, thus arousing both the talents and the emulation of the nation. In such a display of riches a Court theatre was indispensable, which, indeed, closes the long suite of rooms. This collection of objects of art is certainly accessible to the people, but not with the ease of other great cities, where they do not form part of the princely mansion. This zeal for art was but slowly developed in the public at large, and in the course of a year the Hermitage could not boast of more visitors than Dres den during the Whitsuntide holidays alone. In mot, these precious objects are rather the property of the Imperial family than of the State. The exterior, how ever, of this palace does not make that impression on the eye that its circumference would lead us to expect. It is in the form of a long quadrangle, with a flat roof, and round its ledge are placed statues; the outer walls are decorated with columns, and a variety of sculpture, which impart a heavy appearance rather than an im.

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