The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-08 00:00:00

THE DOBRUDSCHA.

THIS desolate district, which has suddenly risen into in-
terest and importance, is thus described in the forthcoming
new edition of Murray's Turkish Guide :—" At Tchertaavoda
the Danube approaches to within 3,1 miles of the
Black Sea, but is separated from it by a peninsula or
tongue of high land, extending north, nearly opposite to
Galatz, called Pobrudschn. From Tchernavoda a road
runs to Kostendje, on the Black Sea, partly parallel with
a stream, or rather a chain of lakes, called harasou. At
Bottrlack (four hours) the stream ceases, and the valley
is shut in by hills crowned with downs, from which the sea
is visible. Kostendje (Constantine), a small village on a
height above the shore, has a little port, with remains of a
Roman mole, now destroyed. From a point a little south
of this to Rassova, on the Danube, runs a rampart of
earth called Trajoas Wall. It is certain that nu branch
of the Danube ever flowed into the sea across this tongue
of land, which presents on the side of the sea an uninter-
rupted range of low hills and cliffs. The district of the
Dobrudseha is at most seasons a wilderness, partly owing
to its having been deprived of its Tartar inhabi-
tants, after 1829, by the Russians, but chiefly owing
to its subsoil, which, excepting to the north extremity,
where rise the hills of Matschin (granite?), consists of
porous limestone, which retains no water, and furnishes
no springs on the surface. Population is scanty, and the
villages wide•scattered, and drinking water is obtained
only through a few deep wells. Corn is scarcely cultivated
at all, hay and fodder are very scarce, the scanty herbage
dries up early in the summer, and the flocks of sheep and
herds of buffaloes repair to the borders of the Danube for
pasture. This desert extends south of the Wall of Trajsn
nearly as far as Buarjik and Varna. It is not tenable by
troops, unless they carry food, forage, and water with them.
A canal was at one time projected between the Danube at
Tchemavoda and the Black Sea at Kostendje, but a survey
made by a Prussian engineer proved that the head of the
valley of Karasou was 164 feet above the sea, and that not
a drop of water was to be obtained on the summit•level
(limestone hills) to feed a canal if it were made. "

Tnz RussiANs are said to be choking up the nar-
row channels leading into Cronstadt harbour by
sinking masses of stone, for the purpose of keeping
the British ships out. A suggestion has been thrown
out that our seamen should resort to the same plan,
with the object of keeping the Russian fleet in.
Half a dozen merchant craft, well loaded with bal-
last, sunk in judiciously and carefully watched, might
prevent Cronstadt from
wile
out its mischievous
cruisers for a long wile to come. The process
being repeated in other Russian port* where the
channels are narrow might result, it is said, in de-
stroying their whole navy by rot quite as completely
as by the most successful series of battles, and with
far less cost or loss to our gallant countrymen.
THE PRAYER PRESCRIBED FOR TIME OF WAR was
offered on Sunday last in the various churches of the me-
tropolis ; and in most of the nonconformist places of
worship supplications were made for the triumph of
truth and justice, and a speedy return of peace.

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