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CHAP.
X.

Checks to

Early marriages are encouraged by the Seigneurs, The principal checks to population Population. are, the recruiting service-the numbers lost before they join the army-the debauchery of the large villages-the custom of drinking great quantities of brandy'-the small-pox, and other epidemic diseases. Scarcities do not often occur, though there have been partial ones. The price of labour was between eighty copeeks and a rouble a-day. Brandy was so cheap, that a man could completely intoxicate himself for eight copeeks. The price of labour had been trebled during the last twenty or thirty years; and that of brandy had not been raised more than a third. The population of the city, according to a recent census, amounted to 200,000 persons, including the strangers; a calculation

(1) The result of the inquiries made relating to marriages, births, and deaths, is published occasionally by the Academicians, in their Memoirs. According to the observations of Professor Kraft, the mortality between the ages of twenty and twenty-five is very great. From 1764 to 1780, out of 47,538 males, and 26,899 females, there died, between the ages of fifteen and twenty, 364 males, and 670 females; but between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five, 14,752 men, and 975 women.-Storch states the mortality between the ages of twenty and sixty to be very great: "Neither by the bodily frame, nor the climate, is this to be explained; since both are favourable to life, as the periods till the fifteenth year suf. ficiently prove. Nothing, therefore, but the mode of living can account for this political calamity." He then mentions the cause, which was stated to us, among other circumstances, as affecting the population. "No other cause remains that we can accuse of this terrible effect, than brandy." p. 94.-See also Tooke's Russian Empire, vol. II. p. 156.

X.

which places Petersburg after London, Paris, CHAP. Vienna, and Naples. It was difficult, however, to obtain an accurate estimate; as some thousand workmen-bricklayers, masons, and labourers of various classes-come to the city in spring and summer, and quit it in autumn. Of the foreigners resident here, the Germans are the most numerous. The trades which contribute to luxury, ornament, and fashion, as well as those of general use, are carried on by them. Next to these, we may place the French; who follow, among other employments, those of cooks, hair-dressers, watch-makers, and milli

ners.

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Benediction of the Waters of the Neva-Monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky-Religious Festival in honour of that Saint-Tombs-Church of St. Nicholas-Glass-house established by Potemkin-nature of the works carried on there-Foundling Hospital-description of it-state of the Children-mortality which prevails amongst themencouragement given to licentiousness by the Institution -Character, temper, and disposition of PAUL, before his accession to the throne-Disrespect and insult shewn by him to the memory of CATHARINE, on his becoming Emperor Anecdotes illustrating his extraordinary conduct-Remarks on the character of the Empress

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CATHARINE

CATHARINE-Deposition and murder of PETER THE CHAP.

THIRD,

XI.

tion of the

waters of

the Neva.

So much has been said in other works respecting the religious rites and usages of the Greek Church, that little need be introduced in this place on the subject. We shall only mention those objects worthy of attention, noticed by us in the course of our visits to some of the churches ; and the annual ceremony of the Benediction of Benedicthe waters of the Neva. The last takes place on the sixth of January (O.S.), and was formerly celebrated, with great splendour and magnificence, on the river. At present, a small Temple, of an octagon form, made of wood, painted and adorned with crosses and pictures representing parts of the history of John the Baptist, is erected on the Admiralty Canal: an inclosure is formed around it, and within is a hole cut in the ice. A platform, covered with scarlet cloth, leads from the Palace to the Temple; along which the procession advances, consisting of the Archbishop, accompanied by Bishops and Dignitaries of the Church, the Imperial Family, and persons attached to the Court. Having arrived at the Temple, different prayers are recited' after which, the Archbishop descends

(1) The prayers used on this occasion are given by Dr. King, in his account of the Greek Church, p. 384.

CHAP.
XI.

Monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky.

a ladder placed within the octagon building, and dips the cross thrice in the water; the benediction being pronounced at the same time. Some of the water is then taken up in a vessel, and sprinkled on the surrounding spectators. The military, with their standards, the religious orders in their different dresses, the presence of the Imperial Family, and the crowds of people assembled together, form a very striking scene. The last occasion on which Peter the Great appeared in public, was at the celebration of this ceremony. He was previously indisposed: a severe cold attacked him on the day of the Benediction of the waters, increased his disorder, and in a short time brought on his death. At the celebration of a ceremony of the same kind, which was instituted in the early period of the empire, at Moscow, an image of the Holy Virgin was plunged into the river; the water was blessed by the Patriarch; and the Tsar, and the persons of the Court who were present, were sprinkled' with it.

The Monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky is situate on the left bank of the Neva, at the dis

(2) "Toute la journée on se rendait alors sur la glace on y faisait des trous: le Patriarche bénissait l'eau pour toute l'année, y enfonçait l'image de la Sainte Vierge, et aspergeait le Tsar et les Courtisans."Histoire de Russie, par Levesque, tom. IV. Note par Depping, p. 150.

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