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The Great Bell of Moscow

THE largest bell in the world, is called in Russia the "Tzar Kolokol," or king of bells; from the metal of which at least thirty-six bells might be cast, each as large as the great bell of St. Paul's, which has been itself called an "enormous mass of metal." The "King of Bells" weighs 400,000 pounds, or nearly 200 tons; is 20 feet high, and 204 in diameter. This enormous bell is now lying in a cavity close by Ivan Velikii, or Great Ivan, which is a tower belonging to the cathedral at Moscow. The tongue, which is 14 feet long, and 6 at its greatest circumference, lies exposed at the foot of the tower; it weighs as much as some of our largest bells. Russian authors state the bell to weigh 12,000 poods, or 432,000 pounds. Much metal was brought by persons from all parts of Russia, and thrown into furnaces while the bell was preparing; and the nobles vied with each other in casting in gold and silver plate, rings, trinkets, and ornaments of all kinds during the operation.