The Press. — London, England, 1853-08-27 00:00:00

AUGUST 27, 1853. THE COMMERCE OF THE DANUBE, AND ITS RUSSIAN OBSTRUCTORS. THE Danube in its course from Ulm to the Euxine consti tutes one of the chief arteries fur the commerce of central Europe. But this artery, at its mouth, is now, and has been for twenty-three years, under the sole control of Russia. What the natural result has been can be easily guessed by those who know so well as we have lately had ample means of knowing the occasional conduct of Russia, whenever her real or supposed interests run counter to the observance of international treaties or the recognition of international tights. For the varied products which the mighty river brings down upon its waters from the Hun garian provinces of Austria, or those Danubian princi palities still nominally appertaining to Turkey, and of which we have heard so much, to the Black Sea, and thence to the Mediterranean, come into direct competition with the Russian commodities sent into the world's market from Odessa, and other ports on the Euxine. Hence there exists a direct motive—in addition to the strong im pulses of that jealousy which Russia has always shown at the prosperity of her neighbours—to induce her by all possible means to impede the navigation of the Danube, especially at the important point just above its embouchure, and of which she happens to hold the key. How this is done, in the face of treaties, and against the united interests of so many powerful countries—that of England by no means being least—may be learnt from a voluminous correspondence between the British and Rus sian Governments, extending over several years, and just issued in a Parliamentary Blue Book. Russia has, it seems, very cleverly availed herself of certain natural agencies. Among the various channels through which the Danubian waters at last find their way to the sea, that known as the " Sulina mouth " is the only one navigable for vessels of any considerable burden. Even here the difficulties of exit and entrance are sufficiently serious under the best circumstances. A bar, such as accumulates from the alluvial deposits brought down by the current of all rapid rivers, has formed across the mouth, where the waters lose their velocity, and constitutes a perpetually-growing obstacle to the navigation. Whenever the wind blows front the east—i. e., against the stream—it doubtless keeps back the waters, and thus occasions a greater depth over the bar; but, at the same time, by arresting their flow, it accelerates the deposition of sand, elevating the bottom, according to the report of Vice-Consul Lloyd, almost in the same ratio as the surface of the stream. What is even of more im• portance to the navigator, the same wind raises a heavy sea along the bar which effectually stops the passage of vessels. When, on the other hand, a west wind is blowing, the current is favoured, and the water calm; but, the out fall being at the same time facilitated, the general level of the stream is so much reduced that barely six feet of water, as we are assured, have, during the present summer, been left even in the deepest channels. No ships could then pass, except their cargoes were unloaded into► lighters, and many not at all. The Austrian weekly steamer from Con stantinople has been frequently unable to ascend the Danube, but discharged its passengers on the lower side of Suli n a, to their manifold inconvenience ; and, as we learn from a recent number of the Journal of Cunstanti staple, nearly 160 cargoes of wheat, principally designed for the British market, had been detained in the river : many ships have run ashore, some have been wrecked, and freights risen from 10s. to 2':s. per ton. As the average number of English vessels seeking entrance into the Danube is now over 150 per annum, besides an amount of freightage in foreign bottoms on English account of, perhaps, 85,000 tons more, the resulting loss to our commerce on this account cannot be less than 100,0001. per annum, if the present obstacles are allowed to etet tinue. France also, who has drawn for some years past a considerable supply of wheat from the banks of the Danube, and will, in the ensuing year, probably require even more than the usual quantity, is interested in no small degree in their removal. That Russia is practically answerable for the existence or the continuance of these difficulties is proved by the ease and regularity with which under Turkish rule they were effectually obviated. The simple regulation that every sailing vessel passing Sulina should drag a heavy rake through the loose sand lying on the bar sufficed to maintain an average depth of sixteen feet in all states of the wind. Mr. Cunningham, English Vice-Consul at Galati, reported, as long since as 1850, that a small steamer engaged to traverse the channel with a similar rake might keep sixteen or even eighteen feet of water perpetually on the bar. The cost of such a service would be barely s,tes If. per annum. Twenty years ago Russia became custodian of the Saila channel. For the general corn• mem of other nations she then undertook to maintain the THE PRESS. waterway of that channel unimpeded. With Austria, in 11440, a special treaty for ten years was entered into, by which the Russians promised, in consideration of a certain toll, to keep deep water on the bar. With no party, how• ever, was faith kept. The toll was levi►d, but the mud on the bar allowed to accumulate. The raking system was discontinued, being replaced by a moat inefficient imbed. tute, iu the shape of a dredging-machine, that was always getting out of order. And the result is what we now ex perieuce. On the bar the water has gradually shoaled until it has become almost impassable ; and above the bar the stream thus diminished iu depth has expanded in width, and in seasons of inundation spreads over the banks some times as far as the eye can reach on either side, so as to utterly bewilder the crews of vessels in their search for the ordinary channel of the river. _ _ _ Repeated rechamations from the merchants, hacked by indignant reports from our consuls on the spot, induced Lord Palmerston, in 11451, to transmit an official memorandum to St. Petersburg, calling attention to the circumstances we have detailed so far as they then existed. This missive elicited from Count Nesselnt& a reply whose transparent absurdity amounted to impertinence. The Sulina bar, he remarked, was a necessary consequence of the laws of nature and civilisation. "In all countries where cultivation was increasing the body of water in the great rivers had a tendency to diminish. The Rhine, the Elbe, and with us the lineister and the lineiper, have undergone this law." Then for the remedy which the Russians had substituted Count Nesselnt& absolutely claimed credit, because his Government had gone to the expense of obtaining an English dredging-machine for the purpose. He adds, in a tone of insolent banter, "We imagined that a machine constructed in England must necessarily inspire confidence and hold out a greater prospect of succeas." " Notwithstanding the remarks con tained in the memorandum in regard to the advantages of the Turkish system, we persist in granting a preference to the improvements which the mechanical skill of England has introduced." The actual performances of this dredging machine amounted in 11452 to nine days' work of four hours each. A tenth time it was br o ught over the bar, but the buckets were not even put down ; and then, according to Mr. Lloyd, it was sent to Nicolaieff, under pretence of wanting repair, and not brought hack up to the day when his report was written, namely, the 4th of last June. Things, it is clear, cannot be allowed to remain in their present condition. Mr. Cunningham, three years since, suggested four different ways by which the necessary work could be done, and the Sulina channel kept free from impediment " 1. That the Russian Government undertake to do it. "2. That the Russian Government give it over to con. tractors. " 3. That the different nations intereateil in the navigation of the Danube should name commissioners (as seems to be done on the Rhine), and the commission to attend to the duties of clestring the "I. A commission being 111{11INI, that the commissioners give to contractors the charge of keeping the Sane clear." _ _ Money would no doubt be required for the work, but ample funds could be obtained by a light toll on the passing vessels. British—and we believe all other— merchants would gladly compromise, by such a payment, for the various vexations and heavy costs which they now incur through delay and risk, the expense of lighterage, and the enhancement in the rate of insurance. The co operation of Russia is, however, previously to be secured ; and there are in addition many local interests arrayed against any attempt to clear the channel. A large popu lation has gathered at Sulina, who live upon the distresses occasioned by the present obstacles, exacting high pay for lighterage, levying tribute upon delayed crews and passengers, or plundering the wrecks. These fictitious hindrances are far more really formidable than the loose alluvium deposited by the. Danubian waters. It remains to be seen whether the Ministry have tact and vigour enough to conquer them, or whether they will have once more to confess themselves outmataeuvred by the arts and foiled by the persistency of Russian diplomatists. CRIMINAL STATISTICS OF MANCHESTER. THE report of Captain Willis, chief constable, con taining criminal and other statistics for the year 1852, has just been printed by order of the watch committee, to whom it was presented on the 12th of May last. The following is an abridgment of the introductory summary to the numerous tables com- ' prising the report : The returns, relating to the state of crime, which I have the honour to present for the year 1852, ex hibit, as compared with the returns of the previous year, an increase of 276 prisoners; the gross number of persons apprehended, and taken before the mag►strates, being 5,166, as against 4,890 in the year Its3l. In the committals for trial, however, there is only an increase of nine prisoners; but, in the summary of committals by justice'. there has been an increase of 318 convictions; and as the proportion of the summary convictions h increased in each year, whilst the number of di"eharges has diminished, it may be assumed that the police are careful in the exercise of their powers, and have not taken persons into custody on unnecessary or frivolous charges. Whilst the population, since the years 1840 and 1851, has increased from about 235,000 to 310,000 persons, the apprehensions for offences committed within the city have decreased from between 12,000 and 13,000 to 3,100 persons per annum, being the ►utml.er taken into custody in the year 1852. Of the prisoners committed for trial, 132 received sentences of transportation for various periods, of these only two are reported to have been able to read and write well; but as regards the prisoner' generally who were taken _ into custody, the state of education appears to have been very in - different ; 4 only being reported as having had superior education, 213 as being able to read and write well, 3,007 to read and write only imperfectly, and I,$N2 as being unable either to read or write. There appears to have been a slight increase, as compared with the returns of the previous year, in the proportion of persons who were at work when taken into custody ; the numbers being respectively the proportion of three -fifths out of work, to two-fifths in work. In the classification of the trades of the prisoners, thieves, prostitutes, and no trade, form together a large pr►port.ion ; and the next largest proportion come under the head of labourers, weavers and piecers, and hawkers. The value of the property reported to have been stolen during the year is less by about I,INN►I. than the sum reported to have been stolen in the previous year, the amount being 11,5741., as against 13,2051. in the year 1851 ; of which amount 3,10011. was reco vered, as well as the sum of 4001. arising from rob beries committed out of the city ; and also the sum of 2,0971. of property which had been lost within the city. ♦s respects the miscellaneous returns, the tables Mating to the conduct of public-houses and beer houses show, I am sorry to say, a considerable in crease of offences, as also of penalties, as compared with the return of the previous year. The number of reports against publicans is 108, and the penalties, including costs, 70/. M., as against forty-nine re ports, and 231. 17s. ild. for penalties imposed, in the year 11451 ; and the number of reports against beer houses 094, and the penalties, including costs, 442/. 19s. (a, as against 413 reports and 19(1!. Isa. for penalties in the previous year. The increase in the number of offences, as compared with the num ber of houses in the case of the public-houses, is equal to 12 per cent.; and, as regards beer-houses, to 10 per cent. The number of premises found insecure by the police at night has amounted to 1,955, of which 996 consisted of warehouses, shops, and other buildings containing property, in which no persons resided; and 543 of premises also containing property, in which persons did reside. 4,191 children have been reported at the stations as having been lost, and of this number 2,220 were found and restored to the parents or guardians by the police ; and the remainder were found by their own friends. The pollee have also taken for safet, from drunken persons, the sum of 14101. Is. 10d., which was restored to them when so'sir. The number of persons reported by the police for offences against the local acts has amounted to 5,528, of whom 4,312 were summoned, and 4,117 fined in penalties amounting to 401/. 17s. The number of fires which were attended by the brigade during the year has been 117, of which 31 were extinguished by water from the street mains, without the aid of the engines. The value of pro perty destroyed is stated to have been 46,500/., and the value of property saved 243,071/. In the sanitary department care has been taken to carry into effect the regulations for enforcing cleanli ness and order whithout insuring expense, and during the year 4,305 low lodgings and dwellings of the poor have been cleansed and whitewashed, under the in spection of the sanitary ()Meer, at the cost. of the owners and inhabitants; and it is reported by the officer that the general state of the city in regard to health is satisfactory. The number of dwellings erected during the year is reported to have been 2,026, being a considerable increase on the number stated to have been erected in any previous year; and of this number, 1,925 were inhabited in I►ecember last, as well as IUI additional new shops. As regards the general conduct of the police force, I am happy to be able to speak favoura bly. The inhabitants have rarely had occasion to prefer any complaint, and the reports made by the officers against the constables, for misconduct and offences against the police regulations, are fewer than in former years.