The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-28 00:00:00

THE _RUSSIANS IN CAUCASIA.

We take the following letter from the Russian
gazette, Le Caucase
DETtISENT, Oct. 15.—1 t is curious to observe the pro-
gressive improvements effected in our district,
even in the midst of war. The signs and tokens of
strength and security already exhibited in the north are
yet more remarkable when shown at the extremities of
the empire, and especially in the Caucasus itself, a very
centre of battles and military movements. When the
battles of Alexandropol, Akhaltsykh, Ozourghety, and
Kars were fought, at the time when Schamyi was me-
ditating, so fondly and dangerously for himself, an inva-
sion of Kakhetie and the plain of Koumykh, what was
going on in the neighbourhood of Derbent, this town so
close to the mountaineers, and so exposed to their in•
cursions ? A commercial and industrial movement
was very peacefully taking place here, which
seemed to become more brisk the .nearer hostilities
actually were. Thus, for example, the communal lands
of the town of Kouba, which four years ago fetched
in the market between 60 and 80 copecks only per
square sagene, fetched last September 10 and even 13
roubles. Several houses of two storeys have been built
in this little town. Large orders for bricks have been
given, which must be ready next year. The suburbs are
following the example of the town, and the Jews are
building their neat, strong, stone houses. The same ac-
tivity is observable at Derbent. No sooner have they
finished their cathedral, one of the finest architectural
monuments of the Caucasus, than we now see stone
houses springing up on all sides, most of them having two
spires. The buildings sanctioned and promoted by the
directors of the public hospitals at Tiflis are rising every-
where with surprising rapidity. The streets of Derbent
are beginning to form regular lines, the great square is
getting defined; they are constructing a magnificent hos-
pital that is to contain 900 beds, and the barracks are very
nearly finished. At the same time a number of barques,
laden with madder, have entered the port. We may con-
ceive the commercial activity in the harbour of Derbent,
when we find that the exportation of this dyer's drug
alone down to Oct. 1 amounted to 139,000 poods, which
we set down at 150,000 by adding the quantity exported
from Koulba, whereas in 1853 the whole quantity ex-
ported of this produce was not more than 131,000 poods.
In the neighbourhood of Derbent, and in the distr►cts of
the Government, where nearly all the inhabitants are
Mussultnen, there is the greatest security and perfect
tranquillity. It is no uncommon thing to meet here Beks
quite willing and ready to make pious offerings for the
present war, or to raise and equip from among them
selves a militia force destined to take a patriotic part in
it. Several chiefs of the free tribes of the Tabassarane
have made the Governor of Derbent arbiter in their dis-
putes. Such symptoms of general tranquillity and gene-
ral confidence are the evident result of the enlightened
efforts made by the local administration. The authori
ties, both civil and judicial, have a simple line of duties
laid down for them ; the action of the local government is
therefore rapid and regular, having constantly for its object
that of preserving the security of the country whilst en-
couraging its industrial and commercial movement.
The lighthouses, the breakwater along the coast, render
navigation easy ; the high roads are carefully patrolled,
so that robberies, so common a short time back, have
now ceased. Since 1852 fortifications have been con-
structed along our mail roads, and serve as station, for
travellers. Nothing can be more perfect than those
edifices with respect both to their construction, and the
comfort reigning within. The traveller is always sure
to find there good board, a clean sleeping room, well
lighted, and warm. All the rooms are very decently
furnished. At each of these stations there is also a
barrack for fifty Cossacks, lodgings for the func-
tionaries of the place itself, and stabling. All this is
arranged, with the Cossack post included, within a
square, the sides of which measure sixty sagenes, and
the whole is defended by two bastions and four curtains.
All these edifices are built with hewn blocks of stone,
and their existence shows the solicitude of the Russia❑
Government. The stations fortified in this way are
already quite finished at Kaya-Kent and at Kouliassi ;
the others will also soon be ready. Not only does the
commercial and industrial movement experience no ob-
stacle, but it is on the contrary being very sensibly de-
veloped, as has been already observed. Madder is
extensively grown in all directions, and since
1852, more particularly in the Khanat of Kurinsk.
Even merchants come here from St. Peters-
burgh and give orders. The inhabitants grow
also large quantities of the teasle, 60,000 of them having
been very lately sent from the Crown Garden to Mos-
cow, ta here the specimens previously sent had been
highly esteemed. The Derbent wines will soon take an
honourable place among those of the Caucasus. Seve-
ral hundred bottles, made entirely from the vines of the
Crown Garden, can already vie with the wines of the
Crimea, not only in quality but in variety. All this
pacific progress shows the natives how good it is for them
to be under the care of a powerful and enlightened Go-
vernment, which during so tremendous a war can carry
out in this country its great work of developing what-
ever may contribute to its Peaceful prosperity.

Tnt MAILS.--SouniamPToN, Wednesday, Dec. 27.
The Peninsular And Ociential Steam Navigation Com-
pany's steamer Madrid, Captain Cook, sailed this after-
noon with the usual mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon,
Cadiz, and (-;ibraltar, 44 passengers, a full general cargo,
and specie, value 71,000/. sterling. The Tagus is to
take out the East India, China, and Mediterranean
mails of the 4th proximo. The Royal Mail steam-ship
Atrato, Captain Woolley, with the homeward West
India, Pacific, and Guif of Mexico mails, is due here on
31st The United States mail steam-ship Union,
Captain Adams, with dates from New York to the 16th
instant, is expected off Cowes about Saturday next, on
her way to Havre.