Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

2 94AN ENGLISH HOTEL.

Tartar khans. It* signifies, in Persic, a throne, or supreme authority ; and it is to be traced in the termination of the names of the Assyrian and Babylonish kings, as Phalassar, ]N¡"abonassar, &c." He adds, in a note, " In our translation of the Holy Scriptures, Kessar is written for Cæsar; but tzar, or czar, is altogether a different word."

On first entering the city of Moscow, I forgot poetry, and even history; I thought only of what I saw, which was not very striking, for I found myself in streets similar to those in the outskirts of all great cities: I crossed a boulevard which resembled other boulevards, and then, after driving down a gentle descent, found myself among straight and handsome lines of houses biiilt of stone. At last I reached the Dmitriskoï-street, where a handsome and comfortable chamber had been engaged for me in an excellent English hotel. I had, at Petersburg, been commended to Madame Howard, who without this introduction would not have received me into her hotise. I took care not to reproach her for being so scrupulous, for it is owing to this precaution that one can sleep comfortably in her establishment. The means by which she has succeeded in maintaining in it a cleanliness rarely seen any where, and which is an absolute miracle in Russia, is the having had erected, in her court-yard, a separate building, in which the Russian servants are obliged to sleep. These men never enter the principal edifice except to wait upon their masters. In her judicious precautions, Madame Howard goes yet further. She will scarcely admit any Russian guest: consequently, neither my feld-jäger nor coachman knew her house, and Ave had some