The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-20 00:00:00

7

T FORTIFICATIONS I:ODESSA.

4--gif A setter from Odessa, of the 6th, gives the fol•
lowing particulars as to the defensive works lately
erected in that city, as well as in those of Oczakoff,
Kinburn, and the environs :
"Our merchants have observed with some uneasiness
that, since the Ist of this month, two of the six war
steamers uf the allies, which maintained so strict a blockade
here all the summer, have weighed anchor and stood out
to sea. Tee departure of those vessels was attributed-
to an extraordinary motive. It was generally believed
that they were going to meet a formidable naval force,
about-to aptlear before our city, and expose it a second
7:11r4 %4:). the horrors of a -bombardment. The greatest
alarm is visible on. every countenance, notwithstand- .
ing the air of confidence assumed by the military
authorities. If this second misfortune should occur to
complete the ruin of our commerce, the magnificent
palace of Prince Wnronzoff would be the first build'
ing knocked to-pieces by the fire of the Allies. -Our
military engineers have done their utmost to save it
' from destruction. They have planted six howitzers
on a height close to the wall which separates the Prince's
garden from the Boulevard. The thickness of the wedi
has been doubled, and embrasures bare teen opened in it •
to enable a battery of field artillery plac'ed in the Palace
'Gust to play on the assailants. Besides the large
battery of St pieces erected last. April, a second bat-
tery, !of semicircular form, containing 12 guns, and com-
manding the roadstead, has been also erected. Iris hoped
that the ;atter will be, sufficient to prevent_any hos-
tile vessel from entering the military pert. Since sum-
mer the military engineers have constructed a new bat-
tery
of 12 pieces of the largest calibro on the ground
to the west of the colonnade, which will sweep all the
apPrciaches in the direction of the Peresip. There
are hesideS,' at intervals along the garden _terrace;
. piece/ of heavy calibre, which may at a moment's
policy be brought 'forward and farm a second flying
battery of sixteen guns. I have been informed by per-
sons ,in the rolomiss.triat at Nicelaieff and Kheison
that passage between Kinburn and Oczakoff has
been 'rendered quite impracticable. Upwards of 50
boats', laden with large stones and fragments of rocks
have been sunk along the channel over a space of at
'neat two versts, a narrow canal only having been left,
for navigation. Thus vessels wishing to enter the Li-
man ' ill have to pass quite close to the fortifications, •
unde the very guns of Kinburn. The latter is re-
gard d as a fortress of the first class, owing; to the im-
mens Works thrown up around since the landing of
thu Hies in the Crim-ea, The same process has
bden igone through at the entrance of the Bug, which
is flunked by two _ large_ batteries on either
__side,
All the vessels the Russians could procure have been
4unkithere, and no boat, however light its draught of
water may he, eaal 'enter the river. Only one eery nar-
row passage now remains open fOr the Russian.. boats ._
which proceed from Nicolaiaff to Eherson, Ki'aaburo,. .
Oczakoff, and sometimes even .to Odessa, on ntilitary
service ; but on the first appearance of danger, am im-
men+ mass of stones, rocks, &c., heaped up slot tg the
shore, will be thrown into the passage in order to ;stock
it up completely."