The fleet is formidable. The number of their line of-battle ships, in the Baltic, at Archangel, built, building, and repairing, were about forty; of which, however, not above twenty-five are actually fit for service. Altogether it is proposed to keep up fifty sail of the line in the northern seas; of which eight sail are to mount 100 guns each; a very absurd plan, considering how difficult it is to get such vessels down the Baltic, and particularly past the Sound. The number of seamen for the Baltic.alone, according to the establishment signed by the Grand Duke, as Lord High Admiral, for the year 1786, was as follows: They employ some English builders, but are training up Russians to that profession; one in particular, who follows the footsteps of the most experienced of the English builders, attempting one week to perform what the other executed the preceding. They have got, from the indulgence given to the Russians, as our allies and friends, every naval machine invented by us; a favour which they shamefully abuse, as they give to every other nation the same advantage; and even the French officers who were at Cronstadt, anno 1786, obtained, without difficulty, the English mode of making blocks, which they had often endeavoured in vain to procure from Great Britain. They build cheap; but some of their ships are only fir; and even their oak, which comes from Casan, does not last above ten years*; consequently nothing but perpetual attention can There are three kinds of oak in Russia. The best oak, in the opinion of Admiral Knowles, was little, if at all inferior to the English. keep up their navy. The gradation of oak, in point of endurance, is as follows: The Russian and American may last about The best Danish and Swedish, about 10 years. 15 20 25 The common English, about But the best English will hold out 40 or 50 years. In the course of the year 1787, they proposed to have in the Black Sea the following fleet: One 74 gun ship, two 64, and fifteen 50 gun ships, besides frigates; and when they were ready, they proposed sending some of their best sailors from Petersburgh to man them. Their naval officers, for want of experience, are very indifferent practical seamen. But they know more of the theory of their profession than even the English; and, as hardly any of the British officers, who go into their service, can stand the test of a Russian examination, and the questions usually put to those who stand candidates for promotion, it has been found necessary to submit the justice of their pretensions entirely to Admiral Greig's judgment and discretion. Both the army and navy are much injured, by a regulation which permits such as have the rank of major to retire from the service. The Russians are so fond of a country life, particularly as it gives them an opportunity of acting the despot, and tyrannizing over their peasants, that almost all of them who have estates, quit the army and navy as soon as they can, and retire into the country. In regard to the common sailors, they are mostly inland people. But, so docile are the Russian peasantry, that, as Admiral Greig assured me, in twelve months he could make a Russian, who had never seen the sea, a very tolerable sailor. Their courage and intrepidity, both by sea and land, cannot be doubted, and, were they properly officered, they have spirit enough for any thing. According to the Princess Daschkow, Scotch officers and Russian soldiers would conquer the universe. Their armies would then unite the qualities by which British troops are distinguished, namely, the active spirit of the French, and the cold intrepid firmness of a German battalion. The Public Revenue amounted, in 1786, to 42 millions of rubles, or seven millions sterling. If peace continues, it is likely to increase, particularly the customs, and the farm, or monopoly of brandy. It is calculated that the latter branch alone might be brought to 24 millions of rubles, or four millions sterling, without including foreign brandies. I was assured that the revenue might be raised, by proper management, and in times of peace, to about eight millions sterling per annum a sum which it would be very difficult for Russia to expend, without the utmost extravagance. * The Public Debt of Russia, in 1786, did not much exceed three millions of rubles, or £.500,000. It was all due to the De Smitts of Amsterdam, and their friends; who, receiving 5 per cent. for their money, (interest so much better than that of Holland), were not very anxious about the repayment of the principal +. It is said that a treasure of silver is deposited in the citadel, arising from a certain portion of the produce of the mines of Nerzinski, which has been annually laid up since the middle of the reign of Elizabeth, and never touched. But I doubt it much. Among other public resources, there are two of considerable advantage in point of profit, though attended with many public disadvantages: 1. The power assumed by government of adulterating the coin; and 2. Of issuing paper money to any amount, without check or limitation, and without any risk of competition from private banks. The number of bank-notes issued since the commencement * It actually reached that amount in 1800. †The public debt of Russia, exclusive of the paper money in circulation, amounted, in 1793, to about eight millions sterling, chiefly owing to the Russian Government having undertaken to pay all the existing mortgages due to foreigners, on the districts of Poland which fell to the share of Russia, on the final partition of that kingdom. of paper currency in Russia, anno 1768, to the year 1786, was enormous, above 130 millions of rubles; but it was reduced that year to 83,750,000 rubles, or about fourteen millions sterling. To answer or realize this sum, there may be twenty millions of rubles, in copper, in the citadel of Petersburgh, enough to keep these notes in credit in times of peace, but which the first appearance of war would injure, and perhaps destroy*. Various projects for establishing banks were attempted, both in the reign of the Empress Catherine, and of the Emperor Paul, but none of them succeeded. The resources of Russia, in the event of another war, might be very considerable, were economy at all attended to. In the public works carried on at present, perhaps one half of the money, said to be laid out, is embezzled, a large proportion of which, in case of a war, might be devoted to warlike purposes. Very considerable savings might likewise be made in the article of favourites, and other expenses about the Court. The political state of the Russian empire, in 1786, was, however, truly respectable. SECT. 4.—Of the Political System of Russia, and its Views of farther Aggrandizement. It is not without reason that many politicians dread the farther aggrandizement of the Russian empire. No power, within this century past, has made such important acquisitions. It has also adopted those very principles which rendered Rome the mistress of the world; the first of which was, to borrow from its neighbours every useful institution; and the second, to embrace every opportunity, whether fair or otherwise, of adding to its territory and its power. Its lust of acquisition is far, however, from being satisfied. * The credit of the state paper of Russia became so low, that the value of the ruble fell from 48d. to 10d. Some measures were afterwards adopted to check this evil, by which the course of exchange was raised, in 1803, to 16d. per ruble. From its northern neighbours, Sweden and Prussia, it can look for nothing of any consequence; though Swedish Finland is a province which the Swedes would probably resign, were they assisted in conquering Norway from Denmark *. In regard to Poland, it certainly intends to keep that country in a state of dependance, until it is able either to seize the whole, or the greater part of it. Its views of conquest extend to the farthest extremities of the east, and perhaps still more so to the south; though its acquisitions on the side of Persia are not likely to be very great, having many fierce and warlike nations to contend with, at the foot of Mount Caucasus. Some Russians assert, that it would be an easy matter for the Empress to conquer all China. Her object at present, however, is only to secure one side of the river Amour, for which she has taken a great attachment, and troops had marched for that purpose prior to the year 1786. Both sides of that river, it is said, belong to China; but without some possessions there, no successful attempt, either for trade or conquest, can be made towards the Continent of America. On the banks of the Amour there is, I understand, a fertile country, a tolerable climate, and wood for building ships in abundance. An expedition to those countries, under the command of Captain Billings, an Englishman, has been for some time past going on. He set out from Petersburgh in June 1785. His ships were, a brig of 200 tons burden, and a tender. He was to carry with him 220 people. He was a young, active, and enterprising officer, but had hardly experience enough to prosecute so extensive and so tedious a plan, as that which he was directed to execute, with sufficient steadiness and ability †. It is singular that this arrangement, which was communicated to me in 1786, should have since taken place. † He returned to Petersburgh in 1795, and his papers were given into the Admiralty there. Souer, who acted as his secretary, has, since his return, published a quarto volume, giving a very fair and faithful account of the expedition, as far as it goes, and containing some very curious matter. |