of St. Petersburgh. The building which at present contains the Imperial Imperial Library Library at St. Petersburgh was designed by the Architect Sotokof, employed by the Empress Catherine, in 1795, but was not completed until the reign of Alexander I., long after the death of the designer, whose plans were partially carried out by his successor Rusco. They appear originally to have embraced covered galleries and winter gardens-a sort of 'Crystal Palace,' indeed,-in which the fortunate readers were to luxuriate at will in the intervals of their labours, sheltered from the severity of Russian winters, and enabled, if so disposed, to alternate the study of books with the observation of plants, and even with "gymnastic exercises." A Museum and an Observatory were also to form part of the projected range of buildings. But the death of Catherine and other obstacles led to the abridgement of the plans. What has been realized, however, is certainly deserving of study, and BOOK II. is of a character eminently to facilitate future ex Libraries built. tension. Chapter 1. The general features of the building will be seen at a glance over the subjoined plans and views. The principal rooms on the ground floor marked L, M and N are appropriated to the reception of Duplicates, Works in progress, and special collections of various kinds,and these marked O and P, to the Library of MSS. On the principal floor, the great oval hall into which the visitor enters from the antichamber is devoted to the classes, Natural History, Physics, Medicine, Chemistry and Mathematics. The large room to the right, marked C, contains works on the liberal and mechanical arts, and that beyond it-F-those which form the class "Literature." The room to the left-marked I on the plan-is devoted to History, and that marked K to Philosophy and Jurisprudence. The entire suite of rooms on the upper floor-from A to E-is allotted to the class "Theology." |