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 Sulina, 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 brought 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.

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