The Press. — London, England, 1854-10-28 00:00:00

Wm" OCTOBER 28, 1854. Sultans to immediate death; and when at last she found that the child had been strangled, she died herself from the shock very soon afterwards ; this tragedy has happily put an end to the practice. Into that dwelling the sister of the late Sultan, Ismeh Sultana, used to entice or force any handsome passerby, and they were never heard of again. That very long facade is the house of Fnad Effendi, whom Prince 'hlentichikoff found the other day prime Minister, and refused to visit. Radiant and lovely as is the whole scene, I fear that, through all the successive dynasties and races, a heavy consciousness of crime ought to brood over these sensual shores. The Baltic, its Gates, Shores, and Cities. With a Notice of the White Sea. By the Rev. Thomas Milner, M.A., F.R.G.S. London Longmans. Tua most remarkable inland seas on the globe are the Baltic and Mediterranean. Cu riously indented in their outlines, landlocked from the great ocean, rolling in parallel direc tions from west to east, and approached only by narrow straits, they present a certain re semblance. On examination, however, their points of contrast are still more striking. Thus the Mediterranean may be described as a prodigiously-deep cleft between the conti nents of Europe and Africa. Outside the strait of Gibraltar the soundings are from fifty to sixty fathoms; but they rapidly increase after passing the rock to 1,000 fathoms, and with that length of line no bottom is struck further east. Even amongst the islands of the Greek Archipelago that depth is not at all uncommon. On the other hand, the common depth of the North Sea is from 120 to 150 fathoms, and in no part of the Western Baltic, or from Copenhagen to Bornholm, is there a depth of thirty fathoms. The maximum of 140 fathoms is to be found between the island of Gothland and the Russian shore. Chemically considered, the waters of these two seas present striking differences. The Mediterranean is more saline than the ocean, owing to the mineral nature of its bed and to the excessive evaporation to which it is sub ject. In common sea water the saline matter is, on the average, of one-twenty-seventh of its own weight: while Von Buch found that at Copenhagen the proportion was considerably less than the one-hundredth, and in more re mote parts of the Baltic the saline element would scarcely affect the palate. All the coast towns on the northern gulfs of the Baltic de pend on importation for their salt, being unable to manufacture it from the adjoining waters. Hence they have been grievously distressed during the present blockade. In climate the contrast between the two seas is so obvious as not to need illustration. But many of our readers can, from their own experience, testify as to the existence of a "vulgar error" in society as to the nature of the coasts of the Baltic. In general, land locked seas are, to some extent, enclosed by high mountains, as in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf. But (unlike what is popularly supposed) the shores of the Bal tic have no where any great elevation, and bold, beetling cliffs are the exceptions to the gene ral character of the coast-line. Though cliffs and walls of rock form the Russian and Swe dish seaboard, they have no altitude of any importance. The coast from the Gulf of Riga to the Little Belt is a flat, diversified only with sandhills. What a contrast to the varied out lines of the Mediterranean shores! In geological interest the variety of pheno mena may be admitted as belonging to the borders of the Mediterranean. But in sterling singularity, and in remarkable contrast to what is seen in other places, the geology of the Baltic shores yields to none. The changes in the relative level of sea and land in gradual process at the present time are very wonder ful. It is nearly a century and a half since Celsius, a Swedish naturalist, affirmed that the Baltic waters were slowly subsiding at the rate of from three to four feet in the course of a century. Linnaeus examined the facts, and admitted their existence ; while Playfair, in 1802, suggested the true solution of the pheno- mena, referring it to the upward movement of the land, and not to the subsidence of the water. Still there was amongst scientific men strong doubt as to whether the facts had been accurately observed. Subsequent observation verified the case. Von Buch who traversed THE PRESS. Scandinavia in every direction, and was a most competent observer in geology, placed the matter beyond any reasonable doubt. In 1820 the Swedish Academy investigated the facts, and authenticated the existence of the phenomenon. But even then we had some philosophical " sceptics " who would not believe except on their own personal informa tion ! Sir Charles Lyell was one of these sceptics, but he changed his mind after per sonal examination in 1834. We need not here discuss the grave lesson taught by this change of opinion. We recollect the unsatisfactory and unpleasant way in which Sir C. Lyell wrote upon religion in his work on America, but here we find hint in 1834 doubting as to facts observed by competent naturalists and philosophically explained by Playfair. In moral associations the Mediterranean is superior to the Baltic. The great empires of antiquity have risen, prospered, and decayed around its shores. Yet, what the Baltic loses in such memories it gains in the freshness and rude energy of the human life that exists in its confines. There is a strongly-marked originality in social inspiration of its adjacent countries ; its languages and races have a rude original power in striking contrast to the ' richly modulated dialects and refined natures of the romance-lands of the south ; it must continue to be a leading object of European interest ; and a mighty future is perhaps re served for some of the nations that are advanc ing to civilisation along its waters. The volume before us is compiled with ability and diligence by its author, who is practised in literary treatment of scientific subjects. Within a small octavo Mr. Milner has compressed a variety of facts on the prominent features of the kingdoms by which the Baltic is environed. Without making any pretensions to philosophic depth, his volume will be found both useful and entertaining, and it may be fairly praised as a neatly executed and most seasonable publication. The following passage reminds us that there is an old friendship of much longer standing than is generally supposed between the Ro manoffs and Gordons:— The end of the seventeenth century witnessed Russia preparing to become a great power on the Baltic and in urope, under the auspices of the extraordinary semi barbarian, Peter the Great, an event to which his intercourse with natives of Great Britain in no slight degree contri buted. A Scotchman called Menesius, probably a cor ruption of Menzies, was his governor in boyhood. Patrick Gordon, who rose to the rank of general, was one of the social companions and chief advisers of the youthful Czar, as he had been of his father, Alexis. He was present when Peter made his first experiment in navigation after the European fashion, embarked with him on board the same vessel, on the. Lake Peipus, and kept a log of the proceedings. A namesake, Alexander Gordon, probably a youthful relative, likewise attained the rank of general, and obtained his commission in a very characteristic manner. "Alexander" and "Patrick " are both family names in the pedigree of our present Prime Minister. But it is probable that he is not related to the parties mentioned here, for the passage continues in a style that would not please the approver of the treaty of Adrianople : It wan about the year 1693 that he arrived at Moscow ; and, having been introduced to the Czar, he was invited to a festive party at which several young Russian nobles were present. Hearing disrespectful language applied to foreigners, especially to his own countrymen, the blood of the Scot warmed, and, with a blow of his fist, one of the most impertinent was laid sprawling on the floor. Five others were capsised in the same manner in the general row that ensued. The affair was soon carried to the ears of Peter, who ordered the combative Scot to appear before him. He expected nothing short of the knout or Siberia, but acknowledged his indiscretion, apologised for it, an& so conciliated the Czar that he responded, " Well, sir, your accusers have done you justice by admitting that y beat six of them. I will also do you justice." Having retired for a few minutes, he returned with a major's com mission and handed it to the astonished foreigner. Both the Gordons were actively employed in organising a stand ing army for the Czar, and were present at the capture of Azof, in his first campaign, an important fortress then belonging to the Turks, on the Black Sea. The younger Gordon was also in the battle of Nana, and • prisoner for some time in the hands of the Swedes. He finally left the Russian service, and spent his last days in his native country, Scotland. " The History of Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, by Alexander Gordon, of Aehintonl, Several Years a Major-General in the Tzar's Service," is one of this authorities for the early part of his career. Of the perils of the Baltic, which have up to the present time been so skilfully surmounted 102$ by the unrivalled seamanship of our officers and crews, we read the following account : Of all seas the Baltic is one of the most dangerous to shipping and harrassing to crews. Sudden and frequent changes of the wind, shallow waters off shore, innumerable shoals and insulated rocks, with currents divided by these obstacles, branching off in different directions to be re divided by the same cause, till, meeting from opposite quarters, the waters aro embroiled in the hurlyharly of a sturdy conflict ; these are almost constant sources of anxiety to the mariner, for the navigation is most beset with such impediments precisely in those parts which are emi nently the highways of commerce. Hence the proportion of maritime casualties is much greater in the case of vessels sailing to the Baltic ports than in the instance of merchantmen passing between Great Britain and America. In the month of May, when the navigation opens in the Gulf of Finland, flags are planted, by order of the Russian Goverment, at the extremities of most of the shoals, which are ted when placed on the north side of the channel, white when they are to be left on the south, and half red half white when they may be passed on either side. The hydrographical officers of the Csar have not performed this duty, for obvious lea-sons, in the present season. Nowhere have the waves the magnitude and grandeur which belong to those of the ocean ; but they are not less furious, and far more difficult to manage, breaking abruptly, owing to the inconsiderable depths, and succeeding each other with greater rapidity. The long•rolling billows common to the Atlantic are seldom seen, except is the more open parts of the sea ; but sandbanks soon terminate their unbroken sweep; when, rent into &thousand antagonist columns, the fragments of the shattered wave are thrown together in unimaginable confusion. A " chopping sea," or one with out any definite right•onward movement, but tossing up and down, to and fro, hither and thither—a chopping per formed in a moat vigorous style—is emiuently character. lade of the waters. When Nelson arrived at the fleet off Yarmouth, about to sail for the Baltic in the first week of March, he found his superior in command, Sir Hyde Parker, somewhat nervous upon the subject of long nights and fields of ice. Both are features of the region in winter. Our blockade of the Russian forts has been a perfect godsend to Russian commerce. Mr. Milner is a creditable witness on this point. Much Russian produce reaches Memel by a shorter and more convenient route than it previously reached St. Petersburg, and hence the chief sufferers from the blockade are British merchants, who formerly carried on great part of the direct trade, and British consumers, who now pay an enhanced price for the com modities for the benefit of German traders :--- Prussia, neutral in the present war, is reaping a rich harvest from it at her eastern ports, Davitzk, Elbing, Konigsberg, and Memel ; especially at the latter, trivial; to the liberal concessions of the British and French Go vernments to neutral powers. The effect of the blockade of the Russian ports has not been the stoppage of the foreign commerce of the country, but the transference of it to the adjoining state as the medium ; except in the instance of the export of timber and the import of coals, which are far too heavy and cumbrous for overland trans. port. From St. Petersburg and Riga to Memel and Konigsburg a caravan system has been organised, and is carried on with considerable regularity. Goods for Rnssia, as cotton, sugar, wines, spices, and other colonial produce, are landed at the Prussian ports,'and forwarded to their desti- nation ; the same waggons returning with Russian produce, as hemp, flax, tallow, bristles, linseed, and grain, for export to Great Britain, France, Holland, or Belgium. Thus the Prussian merchants gain by the commission on this traffic, and the Government profits by the increase of the customs' duties. One of the custom-houses on the frontier has taken as much as 1,000 thalers a day for import duties ; and as many as 500 cartloads of hemp and flax have frequently arrived per day at Memel. Throughout the summer the town has presented an extraordinary spectacle. Every warehouse, coach-house, stable, and out house has been literally crammed with merchandise ; the streets and open spaces have been piled with it; while upwards of 100 ships have been kept lying in the harbour, unable to discharge their cargoes on account of all the landing-places being occupied. Landlords have realised rents, tavern and shopkeepers have obtained prices, com parable to those which resulted from the rush of emigre. tion to Melbourne. - - It is not often that we find so much instruc tive matter rendered so popularly readable as is the case with this agreeable volume. We recommend it to book clubs for perusal, but those who desire research must, of course, look to works of a larger form. A History of India Under the Two First Sove reigns of the House of Taimour. By William Erskine, Esq. London : Longmans. Tats is a posthumous work of the late William Erskine, a name not perhaps very extensively known in general circles, but than which none is more familiar to and more respected by the cultivators of Oriental literature. Endowed with a warm love of study, considerable in dustry, and a very et:titivated taste, he was at an early period led to tuni his special atten tion to the works of the authors of that coun try in which it was for many years his lot to