I.—Across Europe and Asia.—Travelling Notes

Extract

Nature has by no means contributed her charms to the adornment of St. Petersburg. In fact, it is built upon a marsh, in a situation so flat that it is not until you have almost landed that you can see anything of this great city. The only object in choosing such a site appears in a sentiment of its founder, who wished to have “a window looking out into Europe.” In some openings made in the streets and public gardens, I saw sections of from 15ft, to 20ft. thick, which gave some idea of the weak foundation on which certainly a large part of this great northern capital has been placed. It was all a bluish-grey sand. Beneath this sand I was told there was a bed of clay. But for this, if I may judge from the weak foundations which I saw, the look-out of the Russian Czar might by this time have entirely sunk from view. The low situation of St. Petersburg, together with its marshy surroundings, at certain seasons gives rise to a mild malaria; and if you visit the city in summertime, you will find that all the wealthy inhabitants have, in consequence, migrated towards the sea.