of plate was
melted down to provide for the payment of the troops. The fire
of 1737 caused a further and greater loss and destroyed also a
large part of the armoury. At the time of the French invasion in
1812 the whole of the treasure, together with the regalia, was
removed to Novgorod, and thus escaped destruction of seizure. On
its return to Moscow in 1814, systematic arrangements were made
for its preservation, and for the formation and arrangement of
the museum in which it is now exhibited. In the year 1850 the new
building of the Orujenaia Palata which forms part of the modern
palace of the Kremlin was completed, and to this the entire collection
was transferred.

The treasury of Moscow has been almost from the time of the
establishment of the Russian Empire the place where the riches
of the Tsars have been kept; consisting of the regalia, of the
state costumes, of the plate and vases used in the service of their
table, of their most magnificent armour and horse-trappings, of
their state carriages and sledges and of the presents which from
time to time the sovereigns of other countries sent through their
ambassadors, of whose embassies so many interesting accounts have
come down to us.

The collection of plate is exposed on open stands arranged in tiers
round the pillars, or otherwise displayed in a vast hall of the
new building of the Orujenaia Palata.

The riches thus brought together have suffered many changes. The
court was frequently moved, the state of the empire was continually
disturbed, fires were of frequent occurrence, and necessity at times
caused much treasure to be melted down. The Tsar's favourites received
no doubt from time to time acceptable marks of his approbation in
the shape of rich presents, and many specimens of plate found their
way probably in a similar manner to the churches and monasteries. But
notwithstanding all this, there still remains permanently installed
and carefully guarded in the treasury of the Kremlin a collection
of plate which, for extent, variety, and interest, may rival that
in any other palace in the world.

It appears to have been customary during the last two centuries
at least to make a grand display of this treasure on the occasion
of the visit of the sovereign, and especially during the ceremonies
of the coronation. Then, in the centre of the hall in the ancient
_Terem_, known as the gold room, where the Tsar dines in solitary
state, a kind of buffet is arran