As usual, the churches were greatly ornamented with pictures and gilding, but the most attractive part of the Russian service is the singing, particularly at the Vespers, when the boys taking the soprano parts, accompanied by some most extraordinary deep bass tones of the men, swelling and filling the entire cathedral; all this, with occasional recitations from their sacred books, without any knowledge of their contents, excited in us the most serious and delightful sensations. There were about a dozen priests engaged in the various ceremonies, and the service was continued nearly three hours for the benefit of five or six worshippers. In this country are two immense foundling hospitals. The one we visited at Moscow is said to receive annually upwards of 25,000 children. The upper part of this immense building is appropriated to the infants and nurses, of each of which there are always 600, besides about 5,000 sent out to nurse in the adjoining villages. They were all in uniform--dark cotton gowns and white aprons. All bowed as we went down the line. The next suite of rooms was occupied by children from four to seven years of age. The elder ones were in the schoolrooms. Having seen various parts of the establishment, we were shown into the office where the infants are first received. The books were kept in excellent order, and the number of clerks proved that there was a good deal of business to be done. When a child is brought the first question is, is it baptized? If not, the chaplain is called, and the child is taken into an adjoining room, where there is a small oratory and font. It is then taken back to the officer, and his name and number, with date of admission, entered in the books. A corresponding ticket was tied round its neck, and a duplicate given to the woman who had brought him. By the presentation of this ticket the child might be claimed at any future time. It is then carried into another room, well washed, dressed in his little uniform, and fetched by a nurse from the upper storey. Though called a foundling hospital, it is in reality a general receptacle for all children, who are received up to a certain age, without exception, it being left entirely to the option of the parent to state their names and condition, and to contribute or not, to the future support of the child. Parents paying L4 or L5 have the right to see that their child is brought up in the house and not sent out to nurse. If a boy, and left by his parent without any deposit, he is brought up for the army as a common soldier, but if 250 roubles or L40 sterling be left with him, he will become an officer. All who show ability become engineers or are sent to the University.