Bier, covered with cloth-of-gold trimmed with silver lace, was raised upon steps.

A rich Crown was on the head of the dead Czarina.

Beside the bier stood Four Ladies, two on each hand, in grand mourning; immense crape training on the ground behind them.

Two Officers of the Life-Guard occupied the lowest steps: on the topmost, at the foot of the bier, was an Archimandrite (superior kind of ABBOT), who had a Bible before him, from which he read aloud,--continuously till relieved by another.

This went on day and night without interruption.
All round the bier, on stools (TABOURETS), were placed different Crowns, and the insignia of various Orders,--those of Prussia, among others.