OR, THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN THE LAND OF THE CZAR. BY W. H. G. KINGSTON, Esq. AUTHOR OF "SALT WATER," "PETER THE WHALER," With Illustrations by R. T. Landells. LONDON: GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, LATE GRANT & GRIFFITH, SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY & HARRIS, CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. MDCCCLVIII. 203. d. 94. PREFACE. WHEN all the world was flocking last year to Russia, I went there also, and purposed to have written a book descriptive of my travels. On second thoughts, however, remembering that many erudite works have already appeared about the Empire of the Czar, I came to the conclusion that my young friends, whom it is my ambition to please, would prefer an account of the adventures of Cousin Giles and the Markhams, and I have therefore undertaken this publication. With few exceptions, I can corroborate all their descriptions from my own personal observations, and it will give me much satisfaction to find that the book is as welcome as the "Adventures of Neil D'Arcy," "Peter the Whaler," and other acquaintances who have entrusted their journals to my care. CONTENTS. A Trip to Russia proposed-Cousin Giles and his History— Preparations for the Voyage-Journey to Hull - The Cousin Giles finds an old Shipmate-Tom Pulling's Account of the Wreck of the Victoria-Miraculous Escape of part of the Crew-God's merciful Providence displayed-Cousin Giles converses with the Crew-First sight of Denmark, Elsinore, and its Castle-View of Copenhagen-Description of the Battle and its Cause-Sunday Service on board Ship Voyage up the Baltic-The Gulf of Finland - Cronstadt and its Batteries-Why the British did not take them-The Czar's mode of manning a Ship in a hurry— |