RUSSIA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume I, Issue 3, 1 March 1855, Page 51

RUSSIA.

[Continued from our last.] In the evening of the same day the streets are illuminated. At eight o'clock the dignitaries of the Empire, and the gentry of the court assemble again in the ball-room of the palace, and crowd up about the doors through which their majesties are to enter. As scon as they are thrown opei; the orchestra strike up, 'God save the Emperor,' and the imperial family appear, and greet the assembly with bows and courtesies. The Czar in a scarlet coat, a steel cuirass, white buckskin breeches and military boots, displays his fine tall person to the best advantage. The Czarina is in white satin and diamonds. She is followed bv the Grand Duke Alexander, —the heir to the throne, —a large stout person, with a very amiable expression of countenance, and much gentleness of manner, and all the other members of this remarkably good-looking family. The giant Orloff, the constant companion of the Emperor; the Prince of Georgia, a Russian pensionary; the Hetman of the Cossacks : the various petty czar* of the tribes tributary to the Empire ; the accomplished Nesselrode, with his weasel face and small gray peering eyes; the pompous TchernicliefF, the minister of war ; the Woronzows, the Narichkens. the Demidoffs, the Wolkonskies and Dolgourouskis: the Potoskis, Lubermertkis, and other «reat Polish nobles, who do homage to the Czar; & the foreign princes of various degrees; Knights of Malta, and gentlemen of every order; painters and poets of , reputation, and many distinguished characters all are there, and all in the gay colours and rich costumes of their rank and country. The defects of paint, even the something of flummery, so apparent in every court and every; palace in the daytime; have disappeared. Every thing is remoulded,softened,and beautified beneath the influence of wax light. The Emperor and Empress, and some of the more important characters open the ball with a polonaise, a measure suited to the dignity of monarchs, inasmuch as they may move fast or slow, as may appear convenient. The dancing of their majesties is usually confined to a stately march. After the polonaise, the company are at liberty to move about at pleasure. Some dance quadrilles; some go to the card-tables in the hall of St. George; some stroll into the gallery containing many hundred portraits of Russian officers, painted by an Englishman, who made a job of it and made a fortune; and others find amusement and refreshment in the anti-rooms. Piles of grenadiers of the guard are stationed at every door-way. They are tafl fellows, in snowwhite uniforms, and golden breast-plates, helmets.

and immense jack-boots, and stand motionless like statues. At midnight precisely, supper is announced with a flourish of trumpets and the firing of cannon, and his majesty leads his imperial consort and his guests into the marble chamber. Here is a scene magnificent beyond description. The banquet hall, of immense extent, is set with tables loaded with vessels of j silver and of gold. Beneath the boughs of the orange-trees, bending with fruit, each one takes his appointed seat. Negroes, in Moorish costume, Eerve every delicacy in the world. The imperial tokay, and the wine of every country, are poured from golden tankards, while most delicious music and the sound of falling waters, come floating upon perfumes, from the groves of the winter garden Belshazzar the king made not so great a feast. It rivals the enchantment of eastern story.