| Citation |
PG-P.736.050
30 Sep-7 Oct 1736:21 (408)
Extract of a letter from an English Officer, in the Service
of the Empress of Russia, to his Friend in London, Dated
Jan. 11. N.S.
I landed at Cronstadt on the 8th of June 1735. . . [to
Petersburg, beautiful town, like Venice.] I could not help
fancying my self in Italy; the ringing of bells, the vast
number of gilded barges and yatchs belonging to the nobility
and people in office (they each being obliged to keep one,)
rowing and sailing on the river, the excessive pride and
richness of the better sort, and the poverty and slavery of
the lower sort, all contributed to this thought. All take
place here according to the rank and posts granted them in
the Army, and not by birth.
I should not neglect giving you some account of the city
of Petersburg: We had one Italian opera, and a comedy every
week, in the Theatre of the Summer Palace, where the court
then was. I assure you the voices are very good, tho' they
are not Farinelli's or Strada's. There is an orchestra of
40 excellent hands, and the best set of serious and comic
dancers I ever yet saw on the stage together. One woman
pleases me as much as ever Madam Salle did, or rather more,
being far handsomer; and the men equal to any you have in
England.
The winters are long and sharp; but warm furs, warm
rooms, plays, balls, and masquerades, give me hopes of
spending them as agreeably as ever I did in any other
country . . .
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