this great city to be erected, he built a large
navy, he taught people to navigate it who had scarcely before seen a
vessel bigger than a Finnish schooner, and he contributed to imbue a
population sunk in barbarism with a desire to assimilate to the
civilised nations of Europe, while he introduced many arts and sciences
before unknown into his country. Considering his powers and the little
support he could obtain from his countrymen, I must say I think he
worked wonders. He was, therefore, certainly what the world calls a
great man, though he had great faults, and many littlenesses and
contemptibilities. I acknowledge, also, that many far greater men have
lived, and are at present alive, and that there will be many more."

"You have defended Peter, and I think on the only grounds on which he
can be defended," said Mr Henshaw; "his private character will not for
a moment bear discussion."

"Certainly not," answered Cousin Giles; "remember, Fred, and Harry also,
that I do not say that he ought properly to be called great, if he is to
be judged by the law of Scripture, nor do I wish you to consider him so.
Who is there, indeed, who can be so called? But he was great according
to the received maxims of the world, by which maxims other men with as
little desert have received the same title."

"Before we return, I must take you to the Summer Gardens, where you see
the trees beyond the Marble Palace," said Mr Henshaw. "I wish to show
you the statue of Kryloff, the Russian Aesop, as he is called."

The Summer Gardens are surrounded by an iron railing, and contain long
rows of fine trees, and gravel walks, and seats, and statues, generally
of a very antique form and taste, happily now exploded, with heathen
deities' hideous faces, such as are to be seen in old prints. In the
centre of a small open space, surrounded by trees, stands the statue of
Kryloff, a fine, bronze, Johnsonian-looking, sitting figure, much larger
than life, with a book and pencil in his hand. The pedestal on which he
is placed has on each side figures of animals, in deep relief,
illustrating his fables. There is the stork and the wolf, and there are
bears and apes, and cats and dogs playing violins and violoncellos and
other musical instruments. Several mujicks (peasants) were gazing at
the figures with intense interest, apparently entering fully into the
spirit of the artist.

On their return along the quays, they stopped to look at the long