St., a city in Russia, and capital of a province of the same name, and of the whole empire. It is situated in N. Lat. 59. 26. 23. and E. Long. It was founded in the year 1703 by Czar Peter the Great, whose ambition it was to have a fleet on the Baltic; for which reason he determined to found a city which might become the centre of trade throughout all his dominions. The spot he pitched upon was a low, fenny, uncultivated island, formed by the branches of the river Neva, before they fall into the gulf of Finland. In the summer this island was covered with mud; and in winter became a frozen pool, rendered almost inaccessible by dreary forests and deep morasses, the haunts of bears, wolves, and other savage animals. Having taken the fort of Nattebourg, and the town of Neischanz, in the year 1703, this mighty conqueror assembled in Ingria above 300,000 men, Russians, Tartars, Cossacks, Livonians, and others, even from the most distant parts of his empire, and laid the foundation of the citadel and fortifications, which were finished in four months, almost in despite of nature. He was obliged to open ways through forests, drain bogs, raise dykes, and lay causeways, before he could pretend to found the new city. The workmen were ill provided with necessary tools and implements, such as spades, pick-axes, shovels, planks, and wheel-barrows: they were even obliged to fetch the earth from a great distance in the skirts of their garments, or in little bags made of old mats and rags sewed together. They had neither huts or houses to shelter them from the severity of the weather: the country, which had been desolated by war, could not accommodate such a multitude with provisions; and the supplies by the lake Ladoga were often retarded by contrary winds. In consequence of these hardships, above 100,000 men are said to have perished: nevertheless the work proceeded with incredible vigour and expedition; while Peter, for the security of his workmen, formed a great camp, in such a manner, that his infantry continued in Finland, and his cavalry were quartered in Ingria. Some Swedish cruisers being descried in the neighbourhood, the czar posted a body of troops in the isle of Rutzari, by whom the Swedes were repulsed, and the work met with no farther interruption. The buildings of the city kept pace with the fortress, which is the centre of the town, surrounded on all sides by the Neva; and in little more than a year, above 30,000 houses were erected. At present there may be about double that number in Petersburg, though many of them are paupery and inconsiderable. In order to people this city, Peter invited hither merchants, artificers, mechanics, and seamen, from all the different countries of Europe: he demolished the town of Nieuschants, and brought hither not only the materials of the houses, but the inhabitants themselves. A thousand families were drawn from Moscow; he obliged his nobility to quit their palaces and their villas in and about Moscow, and take up their residence at Petersburg, in a much more cold and comfortless climate. Finally, resolving to remove hither the trade of Archangel, he issued an ordinance, importing, that all such merchandise as had been conveyed to Archangel, in order to be sold to foreigners, should now be sent to Petersburg, where they should pay no more than the usual duties. These endeavours and regulations have rendered this one of the greatest and most flourishing cities in Europe. The Russian boyars and nobility have built magnificent palaces, and Petersburg is now reconciled to their situation. At first many houses were built of timber; but these being subject to sudden conflagrations in spite of all the precautions that could be taken, the czar, in the year 1714, issued an order, that all new houses should be walled with brick and covered with tiles. The fort is an irregular hexagon, with opposite bastions. This, together with all the rest of the fortifications, was in the beginning formed of earth only; but in the sequel they were faced with strong walls, and provided with casemates, which are bomb-proof. In the curtain of the fort, on the right hand side, is a noble dispensary, well supplied with excellent medicines, and enriched with a great number of porcelain vases from China and Japan. From one of the gates of the fort a draw-bridge is thrown over an arm of the river, in which the czar's galleys and other small vessels are sheltered in the winter. The most remarkable building within the fort is the cathedral, built by the direction of an Italian architect. Petersburg is partly built on little islands, some of which are connected by draw-bridges; and partly on the continent. In the highest part, on the bank of the Neva, the czar fixed his habitation, or ordinary residence, built of freestone, and situated so as to command a prospect of the greater part of the city. Here likewise is a royal foundry; together with the superb houses of many noblemen. The marshy ground on which the city is built, being found extremely slippery, dirty, and inconvenient, the czar ordered every inhabitant to pave a certain space before his own door. In the year 1716, Peter, taking a fancy to the island Wasili-Osterno, which he had given as a present to Prince Menzikoff, resumed the grant, and ordered the city to be extended into this quarter. He even obliged the boyars, or nobles, to build stone houses on this spot, though they were already in possession of others on the side of Ingria: accordingly this is now the most magnificent part of the city. On the other side of a branch of the Neva stands the czar's country or summer palace, provided with a fine garden and orangery. On the bank of the same river is the slaboda, or suburbs, in which the Germans generally choose their habitation. Petersburg is very much subject to dangerous inundations. In the year 1715, all the bastions and draw-bridges were either overwhelmed or carried away. The breadth, depth, and rapidity of the Neva, have rendered it extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to join the islands and the continent by bridges. Besides, Peter was averse to this expedient for another reason; resolved to accustom his subjects to navigation, he not only rejected the project of a bridge, but also ordered that no boat should pass between the islands and continent, except by the help of sails only. In consequence of this strange regulation, many lives were lost: but at length he gained his point; and by habituating his sluggish Muscovites to the dangers of the sea, in a little time produced a breed of hardy sailors. The adjacent country is so barren, that the town must be supplied with provisions from a great distance; consequently they are extremely dear. Here are woods in plenty, consisting of pine, fir, alder, birch, poplar, and elm; but the oak and the beech are generally brought from Casan. In winter the weather is extremely cold, and hot in the summer. In June the length of Petersburg, the night does not exceed three hours, during which the natives enjoy a continued twilight; but in December the sun is not visible more than three hours above the horizon.

The czar Peter, who was indefatigable in his endeavours to improve and civilize his subjects, neglected nothing which he thought could contribute to these purposes. He condescended even to institute and regulate assemblies at Petersburg: these were opened at five in the afternoon, and the house was shut at ten: between these hours the fashionable people of both sexes met without ceremony, danced, conversed, or played either at cards or at chess, this last being a favourite diversion among the Russians. There was likewise an apartment appointed for drinking brandy, and smoking tobacco. Plays and operas were likewise introduced for the same purposes; but as Peter had little relish, and less taste, for those entertainments, they were performed in a very awkward manner in his lifetime: however, since his death these performances have been brought to a greater degree of art and decorum.

This great northern legislator established, in the neighbourhood of Petersburg, manufactures of linen, paper, saltpetre, sulphur, gunpowder, and bricks, together with water-mills for sawing timber. He instituted a marine academy, and obliged every considerable family in Russia, to send at least one son or kinsman, between the ages of ten and eighteen, to this seminary, where he was instructed in navigation, learned the languages, was taught to perform his exercises, and to live under the severest discipline. To crown his other plans of reformation, he granted letters patent for founding an academy, upon a very liberal endowment; and though he did not live to execute this scheme, his empress, who survived him, brought it to perfection.

Peter the great has been much censured for transferring the seat of the empire from Moscow to St Petersburg; the former of which lay nearer to the centre of his dominions. But these objections will have but little weight with those who consider the consequences of the removal. The new city is nearer than Moscow was to the more civilized parts of Europe; and from an intercourse with them the manners of the Russians have been improved, and the nobility in particular have lost much of their feudal importance. Above all, the grand object of Peter, that of having a formidable navy in the Baltic has certainly been obtained, and the empress of Russia is now the arbitress of the north, and in some degree the mediatrix of all Europe. In short, the erection of St Petersburg was perhaps one of the best acts of Peter's reign, and has in its consequences been the most beneficial. Indeed it is at least probable, that if through any revolution the seat of government should be again transferred to Moscow, we should nowhere see the traces of these memorable improvements, which the passing century has given birth to, but in the annals of history; and Russia would again, in all probability, relapse into her original barbarism.

The erection of such a city as Petersburg in so short a time is truly wonderful. Mr Coxe says his mind was filled with astonishment, when he reflected that so late as the beginning of the 18th century, the ground on which it stands was one vast morass, occupied by a very few fishermen's huts. The present divisions of the town, some of which we have already mentioned, are called, 1. The Admiralty quarter; 2. The Vassili Ostrof Petersburg or Island; 3. The Fortress; 4. The island of St Petersburg; and, 5. The various suburbs of Livonia, of Moscow, of Alexander Nevski, and of Wiburg.

The late empress has done so much for this city, that she may not improperly be called its second foundress. It is nevertheless, still an infant place, and, as Mr Wraxall observes, "only an immense outline which will require future empresses, and almost future ages, to complete."

"The streets in general, says a late traveller, are broad and spacious; and three of the principal ones, etc., which meet in a point at the admiralty, and reach to the extremities of the suburbs, are at least two miles in length. Most of them are paved; but a few are still suffered to remain floored with flanks. In several parts of the metropolis, particularly in the Vassili Ostrof, wooden houses and habitations, scarcely superior to common cottages, are blended with the public buildings; but this motley mixture is far less common than at Moscow, where alone can be formed any idea of an ancient Russian city. The brick houses are ornamented with a white stucco, which has led several travellers to say that they are built with stone; whereas, unless I am greatly mistaken, there are only two stone structures in all Petersburg. The one is a palace, building by the empress upon the banks of the Neva, called the marble palace; it is of hewn granite, with marble columns and ornaments; the other is the church of St Isaac, constructed with the same materials, but not yet finished.

"The mansions of the nobility are many of them vast piles of building, but are not in general upon so large and magnificent a scale as several I observed at Moscow: they are furnished with great cost, and in the same elegant style as at Paris or London. They are situated chiefly on the south side of the Neva, either in the Admiralty quarter, or in the suburbs of Livonia and Moscow, which are the finest parts of the city." See Neva.

"Petersburg, although it is more compact than the other Russian cities, and has the houses in many streets contiguous to each other, yet still bears a resemblance to the towns of this country, and is built in a very straggling manner. By an order issued many years ago by the government, the city was inclosed within a rampart, the circumference whereof is 21 versts, or 14 English miles."

The public hospital is under an admirable system of management, both with regard to the cleanliness and comfort of the inmates. The revenues arise from the surplus profit of the Lombard bank, and amount to about 120,000 roubles per annum; by which provision is made for upwards of 200 people in the house, and assistance given to 15,000 out patients.

The Foundling Hospital, though inferior in magnitude to that of Moscow, had 6000 children on its lists in 1813, of whom 600 were kept within the house. The expense incurred for the whole is 40,000 roubles per annum. The children upon being sent here are immediately vaccinated, and when recovered, placed out with different families to nurse, till the period of their education commences. They are next selected, according to their natural talent, for the several employments, liberal or mechanical, to which they seem most inclined, and are brought up accordingly under excellent The fashionable promenade of the boulevards consists of three avenues of trees carried round three sides of the admiralty, a building which exhibits perhaps the longest regular façade in Europe: it is upwards of a quarter of an English mile in extent, adorned at intervals with six several porticoes, and surmounted rather fantastically, with a thin taper dome and spire.

The academy of arts is zealously patronised by the government; and from the revenues allotted to it, is well furnished with models from the antique, as well as other matters suited to the institution. The labours of the students exhibit some of the highest specimens of imitative excellence. Their designs in architecture are of great merit, and their pictures possess a free style of execution, combined with chasteness and harmony of colouring, seldom equalled in any modern school.

The mint is a pretty large establishment, furnished with a very complete coining apparatus, exactly similar to that employed in London, and made in England by Messrs Watt and Bolton. The labourers are all peasants, and receive merely soldiers pay. They are daily stript to the skin, and so narrowly searched, that even the cunning of a Russian cannot find a secure mode of peculation. From excessive issues the paper money has long been very low in value. In 1814, according to Mr James, the paper rouble was worth only 10½d. instead of 3s. 4d.

Of the edifices lately erected in Petersburg, the cathedral church of the virgin of Casan is the most magnificent. It was opened in 1814, having been 15 years in building, and cost no less than 1,000,000 of roubles. The plan was furnished by Worowitchki, a Russian slave, educated at the imperial academy under the patronage of his master Count Sirogonov. He displayed an extraordinary genius for architecture, and not only planned the cathedral, but superintended the execution of the work. He just lived to see it finished. The building is in the form of a cross with a cupola in the centre; each arm of the cross terminates with a Corinthian portico; and that in the front is received into a grand semicircular colonnade four columns in depth. The arc of this colonnade was intended to have been ornamented with the statues of St Peter and St Paul, raised on gigantic blocks of solid granite ten or twelve feet high, but this has not yet been accomplished. The design is thought to be wanting in harmony; but the decorations are chaste, and the effect of the whole is noble and imposing in a very high degree.

Education among the higher classes of the male sex is very much neglected. The tutorage of a French abbé at home, and a short residence at one of the universities, is the only chance given to the son of a man of consequence for pursuing the belles lettres, or for acquiring any other knowledge than such as may be picked up in society. But the professional education of those who are destined for the civil, military or commercial line is much better. Girls are brought up with a degree of attention proportionate to the neglect with which the other sex is treated. The Couvent de Demoiselles, and the Institute of Catherine, both flourishing under the patronage and perpetual inspection of the empress dowager, are the chief seminaries for females at Petersburg. Notwithstanding the timidity of the female character, a public examination is held every three years, and rewards are bestowed on those who have made the greatest progress. The convent contains two separate establishments, one for the education of 260 girls, the daughters of the burgeoise, the other for those of the class of nobility. The period of education is about nine years, during which they receive instruction in the French, German, and Russian languages, in the Russian history, in natural philosophy, music, dancing, embroidery, writing, arithmetic, and geometry.

There are various manufactures in the city or neighbourhood conducted by the government. There is a cotton manufactory on the Neva, for which 600 boys and girls are furnished from the Foundling hospital. There is an imperial plate glass manufactory worked by the emperors slaves; an extensive cloth manufactory; a porcelain manufactory, and several others. It is believed that the government loses considerably by these establishments, but they are supported with the view of naturalizing these species of industry.

The trade of Petersburg is extensive. The number of ships entered at the port in 1813, was 690, of which 343 were British.

We have already said that Petersburg is very liable to be inundated. An inundation of a very alarming nature took place when Mr Coxe was there in September 1777, of which the following account was given in Journal St Petersburg, September 1777: "In the evening of the 9th, a violent storm of wind blowing at first S. W. and afterwards W. raised the Neva, and its various branches to so great a height, that at five in the morning the waters poured over their banks, and suddenly overflowed the town, but more particularly the Vassili Ostrof and the island of St Petersburg. The torrent rose in several streets to the depth of four feet and a half, and overturned, by its rapidity, various buildings and bridges. About seven, the wind shifting to N. W. the flood fell as suddenly; and at midday most of the streets, which in the morning could only be passed in boats, became dry. For a short time, the river rose 10 feet 7 inches above its ordinary level."

All our readers have unquestionably heard of the equestrian statue of Peter I. in bronze. We shall give an account of that extraordinary monument in Mr Coxe's own words. "It is (says he) of a colossal size, and is the work of Monsieur Falconet, the celebrated French statuary, cast at the expense of Catherine II. in honour of her great predecessor, whom she reveres and imitates. It represents that monarch in the attitude of mounting a precipice, the summit of which he has nearly attained. He appears crowned with laurel, in a loose Asiatic vest, and sitting on a housing of bear-skin; his right hand is stretched out as in the act of giving benediction to his people; and his left holds the reins. The design is masterly, and the attitude is bold and spirited. If there be any defect in the figure, it consists in the flat position of the right hand; and for this reason, the view of the left side is the most striking, where the whole appearance is graceful and animated. The horse is rearing upon its hind legs; and its tail, which is full and flowing, slightly touches a bronze serpent, artfully contrived to assist in supporting the vast weight." Petersburg, weight of the statue in due equilibrium. The artist has, in this noble essay of his genius, represented Peter as the legislator of his country, without any allusion to conquest and bloodshed; wisely preferring his civil qualities to his military exploits. The contrast between the composed tranquillity of Peter (though perhaps not absolutely characteristic) and the fire of the horse, eager to press forwards, is very striking. The simplicity of the inscription corresponds to the sublimity of the design, and is far preferable to a pompous detail of exalted virtues, which the voice of flattery applies to every sovereign without distinction. It is elegantly finished in brass characters, on one side in Latin, and on the opposite in Russian. *Petro primo Catharina secunda*, 1782; i.e. Catherine II. to Peter I.

"The statue, when I was at Petersburg, was not erected, but stood under a large wooden shed near the Neva, within a few yards of its enormous pedestal. When Falconet had conceived the design of his statue, the base of which was to be formed by a huge rock, he carefully examined the environs of Petersburg, if, among the detached pieces of granite which are scattered about these parts, one could be found of magnitude correspondent to the dimensions of the equestrian figure. After considerable research, he discovered a stupendous mass half buried in the midst of a morass. The expense and difficulty of transporting it were no obstacles to Catherine II. By her order the morass was immediately drained, a road was cut through a forest, and carried over the marshy ground; and the stone which, after it had been somewhat reduced, weighed at least 1500 tons, was removed to Petersburg. This more than Roman work was, in less than six months from the time of its first discovery, accomplished by a windlass, and by means of large friction balls alternately placed and removed in grooves fixed on each side of the road. In this manner it was drawn, with 40 men seated upon its top, about four miles, to the banks of the Neva; there it was embarked in a vessel constructed on purpose to receive it, and thus conveyed about the same distance by water to the spot where it now stands. When landed at Petersburg, it was 42 feet long at the base, 36 at the top, 21 thick, and 17 high; a bulk greatly surpassing in weight the most boasted monuments of Roman grandeur, which, according to the fond admirers of antiquity, would have baffled the skill of modern mechanics, and were alone sufficient to render conspicuous the reign of the most degenerate emperors.

"The pedestal, however, though still of prodigious magnitude, is far from retaining its original dimensions, as, in order to form a proper station for the statue, and to represent an ascent, the summit whereof the horse is endeavouring to attain, its bulk has been necessarily diminished. But I could not observe, without regret, that the artist has been desirous to improve upon nature: and, in order to produce a resemblance of an abrupt broken precipice, has been too lavish of the chisel.

"The statue was erected on the pedestal on the 27th of August 1782. The ceremony was performed with great solemnity, and was accompanied with a solemn inauguration. At the same time the empress issued a proclamation, in which, among other instances of her clemency, she pardons all criminals under sentence of death; all deserters who should return to their respective corps within a limited time; and releases all criminals condemned to hard labour, provided they had not been guilty of murder."

Mr Coxe informs us, that the weather is extremely changeable in this capital, and the cold is at times extreme; against which the inhabitants take care to provide (see Peasant), though some of them nevertheless unfortunately fall victims to it. "As I traversed the city, (says Mr Coxe), on the morning of 12th January, I observed several persons whose faces had been bitten by the frost: their cheeks had large scars, and appeared as if they had been singed with an hot iron. As I was walking with an English gentleman, who, instead of a fur cap, had put on a common hat, his ears were suddenly frozen: he felt no pain, and would not have perceived it for some time, if a Russian, in passing by, had not informed him of it, and assisted him in rubbing the part affected with snow, by which means it was instantly recovered. This, or friction with flannels, is the usual remedy; but should the person in that state approach the fire, or dip the part in warm water, it immediately mortifies and drops off.—The common people continued at their work as usual, and the drivers plied in the streets with their sledges, seemingly unaffected by the frost; their beards were incrusted with clotted ice, and the horses were covered with icicles.

"It sometimes happens that coachmen or servants, while they are waiting for their masters, are frozen to death. In order to prevent as much as possible these dreadful accidents, great fires of whole trees, piled one upon another, are kindled in the court-yard of the palace and the most frequented parts of the town. As the flames blazed above the tops of the houses, and cast a glare to a considerable distance, I was frequently much amused by contemplating the picturesque groups of Russians, with their Asiatic dress and long beards, assembled round the fire. The centinels upon duty, having no beards, which are of great use to protect the glands of the throat, generally tie handkerchiefs under their chins, and cover their ears with small cases of flannel."

The police of this city has been much admired. This establishment consists of a police master, two presidents, the one for criminal, the other for civil cases, and two consulters, chosen from the burgher class. To this is committed the care to maintain decorum, good order and morals; the attainment of which is thus accomplished.

The residence is divided into ten departments, each of which has a president who must possess a correct knowledge of the inhabitants in his own department, of which he is regarded as the censor morum. His house must be a refuge both night and day for all in distress; and he must not leave the city for two hours under any pretext whatever, without appointing a substitute to act in his absence. The constables and watchmen of his department are subject to his orders; and in the discharge of his duty, he has two sergeants to attend him.

The night watchmen have stations assigned them, and are to be aided in the seizing of offenders, or in any service their commanders may require. There is also a command of 120 men, who are supported by a regiment. This piece of political mechanism is so harmoniously connected in all its parts, that it becomes the admiration of every foreigner.

So extraordinary is the vigilance observed by every part of this admirable whole, that all secret inquisitions are totally superfluous. The police has a knowledge of every person in the residence; travellers are subject to certain formalities, in consequence of which to hide the place of their abode, or the time of their departure, are alike impracticable. Every householder must declare to the police who lodges with him, or what strangers have put up at his house. When travellers leave the town, they must publish in the newspapers their name, quality, and place of abode, three different times, and produce the papers containing such advertisement.

America, is a sea-port town in Virginia, 25 miles southward of Richmond, seated on both sides of the Appamatox river, about 12 miles above its junction with James river, and contained 3668 inhabitants in 1810. There is no regularity, and very little elegance in Petersburgh. It is merely a place of business. The Free Masons have a hall tolerably elegant; and the seat of the Bowling family is pleasant and well built. It is rather unhealthy. Like Richmond, Williamsburgh, Alexandria, and Norfolk, it is a corporation; and what is singular, Petersburgh city comprehends part of three counties. The celebrated Indian queen, Pocahontas, from whom descended the Randolph and Bowling families, formerly resided at this place. It is a place of considerable trade. Tobacco is the staple produce, of which above 20,000 hogsheads are annually received at the warehouses.