"The Great Bell of Moscow, known to be the largest ever founded, (its weight being upwards of four hundred and thirty thousand pounds,) is in a deep pit in the midst of the palace of the Kremlin, (the central and highest part of the city). It is said to have fallen, in consequence of a fire, from a beam to which it was fastened. But this is not the fact. The bell remains in the same place where it was originally cast. It never was suspended; the Russians might as well attempt to suspend a first-rate line-of-battle ship with all her guns and stores. A fire took place in the Kremlin, the flames caught the building erected over the pit where the bell yet remains, in consequence of which the metal became hot; and water thrown to extinguish the fire fell upon the bell, causing the fracture which has taken place. The engraving will give an accurate view of its present appearance, and also of the descent into the cave by means of a double ladder. The entrance is by a trap-door, placed even with the surface of the earth." Dr. Clarke then describes his falling into the pit down the stairs, by which he narrowly escaped with his life. "The bell," he continues, "is truly a mountain of metal. It is said to contain a very large proportion of gold and silver. While it was in fusion, the nobles and the people cast in, as votive offerings, their plate and money. I endeavoured, in vain, to assay a small part: the natives regard it with superstitious veneration, and would not allow even a grain to be filed off. The compound has a white shining appearance, unlike bell-metal in general, and perhaps its silvery aspect has strengthened if not excited the conjecture respecting the costliness of its ingredients. On festival days, peasants visit the bell as they would resort to a church; considering it an act of devotion, and crossing themselves as they descend and ascend the steps. The bottom of the pit is covered with water and large pieces of timber; these, added to the darkness, render it always an unpleasant and unwholesome place, in addition to the danger arising from the ladders leading to the bottom."--(_Travels in Russia, by the late_ DR. CLARKE.)