In the upper storey are collected and arranged the crowns of the early Tzars, also a throne covered with crimson velvet and blazing with diamonds. The two long galleries which open out of this room contain innumerable treasures, the captured crowns of the various countries now forming provinces of this vast empire, as well as those of the Moscovite Tzars, one containing 881 diamonds, another 847, and that of Catherine, the first widow of Peter the Great, 2,536 fine diamonds, to which the Empress added a ruby of enormous size. In addition to these crowns are several rich diadems similarly ornamented. Many thrones are to be seen in these rooms, one adorned with 2,760 turquoises and other precious stones--that of Michael Romanoff, the first of the reigning families, is enriched with 8,824 diamonds, and the throne of Alexis contains 876 diamonds and 1,220 jewels and many pearls. Besides these numerous thrones, there are saddles, bridles, and reins and saddle cloths covered most lavishly with diamonds, amethysts and large turquoises--a large boss, adorning the horse's chest, in the centre of which is an immense diamond, and round this a circle of pink topazes, enclosed in pearls, and these again by diamonds, the whole encircled by a broad gold band. But perhaps the greatest curiosity is a pair of old wooden chairs, used at the coronation of the Emperors. Though made of coarse wood they are said to contain 1,000 precious stones. The whole extent of one wall is occupied by an array of boots, from the iron jack boots of Peter to the delicate beaver skin of the Emperor Alexander. On the other side are suspended some Damascus scimitars, and very curious Chinese sabres. The Arsenal contains nearly 900 cannon, weighing about 400 tons, a great number French, taken during the disastrous retreat in 1812. Among all these warlike trophies you will be proud to learn very few are English. Close to the tower of Ivan Veliki is placed on a massive pedestal the mighty bell. It was cast by the command of the Empress Ann in 1730, and bears her figure in flowing robes on its surface, beneath which is a deep border of flowers. It is said the tower on which it was originally hung was burnt in 1737, and its fall buried the enormous mass deep in the earth, and broke a huge fragment from it. In the spring of 1837, exactly a century after it fell, the Emperor Nicholas caused it to be removed and placed on its present pedestal, with the broken fragment beside it. The fragment is about 6 feet high and 3 feet thick. The height of the whole bell is 21 feet 3 inches and 25 feet 5 inches in diameter, and weighs 443,722 lbs., or more than 153 tons, and is supposed to have cost L350,000, as in addition to the copper, many persons, during the process of casting, threw large quantities of gold and silver into each of the four furnaces. The tower of John the Great is more than 200 feet high, surmounted by a gilded dome, of which there are about 60 in the Kremlin.