The   Nevski   Perspective  is  in  front   of  the    Admiralty
and  close  to  the   Imperial   Palace,    which,    after   being


EXILE  LIFE  IN  SIBERIA.  123

burnt  down  in  1837,  was  rebuilt  in  six  months  in  the
middle  of  winter  by  order  of  the  Emperor  Nicho-
las. Each  story  was  dried  with  immense  fires  as  soon  as
erected,  and  several  thousand  workmen  met  with  their
death  during  the  rebuilding,  in  consequence  of  the  alter-
nate exposure  to  the  excessive  heat  while  at  work  in  the
apartments,  and  the  rigorous  temperature  outside.  The
palace,  which  ts  painted  a  brick  red,  is  four  stories
high,  or  about  eighty  feet.  The  frontage  is  445  feet  in
length,  and  the  breadth  350  feel:.  The  principal  en-
trance is  from  the  Neva,  and  "leads  by  a  magnificent
flight  of  marble  steps  to  the  State  Apartments  of  the
palace.  A  gateway  in  the  centre  of  the  building,  facing
Alexander's  Column,  opens  into  a  large  court.  The  in-
terior is  most  gorgeous,  suites  of  splendid  halls  being
filled  with  marble,  malachite  vases,  and  pictures  ;  whilst
the  Crown  and  other  jewels  are  of  almost  inestimable
value.  The  Czar  has  his  apartments  on  the  first  floor
and  in  the  corner  of  the  Winter  Palace  that  overlooks  the
Neva  and  the  Admiralty.  The  Empress  inhabits  the
other  corner,  and  between  the  two  is  the  family  dining-
rcK)m.  At  one  and  six  o'clock  the  Czar,  the  Czarina,
and  the  Grand  Dukes  Alexis,  Sergius,  and  Paul  formerly
met  for  breakfast  and  dinner.  The  Czarevitch  and  the
Grand  Duke  Vladimir,  who  are  both  married,  have
also  general  invitations  to  join  the  Imperial  circle ;  but
the  other  members  of  the  family  wait  until  they  are
bidden.  Six  covers  are  always  laid,  and  the  service
is  performed  by  three  French  maitres  d'hotel^  who
relieve  each  other  every  fortnight.  The  arrangement
of  the  apartments  is  similar  to  that  of  Yersailles,
there  being  a  multitude  of  small  rooms,  and  an  im-
mense number  of  civil  and  military  officials  having
their  abode   here    in    separate    suites    of   rooms.     The


124  RUSSIAN  NIHILISM  ANB

guards'  room,  beneath  which  the  charge  of  dynamite  waa
deposited,  is  on  the  ground  floor,  and  was  formerly  the
sleeping  apartment  of  the  Grand  Duke  Nicholas  Avhen  r
child.
