With the assistance of six Russian officers, Dr. Clarke took the dimensions. He was unable to measure the base, that being buried in the earth, but within two feet of its lower extremity, the circumference was found to be sixty-seven feet four inches. The perpendicular height, from the top, measures twenty-one feet four inches and a half. In the stoutest part, that in which it should have received the blow of the hammer, its thickness is twenty-three inches. They were able to ascertain this, by placing their hands under water where the rent had taken place; this, is above seven feet high from the lip of the bell. This bell is supposed by Dr. Clarke to have been founded in 1653, during the reign of Alexis, although the Russians for the most part maintain, probably on account of the female figure with which it is ornamented, that it was cast during the reign of their Empress Anne. This great and powerful princess succeeded Peter the Great on the throne in 1725. [Illustration: THE GREAT BELL OF MOSCOW.] * * * * * ANECDOTE OF THE LATE BENJAMIN WEST, PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY. In the month of June, 1745, one of his sisters, who had been married some time before, and who had a daughter, came with her infant to spend a few days at her father's. When the child was asleep in the cradle, Mrs. West invited her daughter to gather flowers in the garden, and committed the infant to the care of Benjamin during their absence, giving him a fan to flap away the flies from molesting his little charge. After some time, the child happened to smile in its sleep, and its beauty attracted his attention. He looked at it with a pleasure which he had never before experienced, and observing some paper on a table, together with pens and red and black ink, he seized them with agitation, and endeavoured to delineate a portrait; although at this period he had never seen an engraving or a picture, and was only in the seventh year of his age. Hearing the approach of his mother and sister, he endeavoured to conceal what he had been doing; but the old lady observing his confusion, inquired what he was about, and requested him to show her the paper. He obeyed, entreating her not to be angry. Mrs. West, after looking some time at the drawing with evident pleasure, said to her daughter, "I declare, he has made a likeness of little Sally;" and kissed him with much fondness and satisfaction. This encouraged him to say, that _if it would give her any pleasure, he would make pictures of the flowers which she held in her hand;_ for the instinct of his genius was now awakened, and he felt that he could imitate the forms of those things which pleased her sight. This happened in America, near Springfield in Pennsylvania, where West was born.----GALT'S _Life of West_. * * * * *