The Sun.
London, England, 1836-06-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

REPORT OF THE ---'O3fiI7ERCE OF THE
PORTS OF NEW RUSSIA, MOLDAVIA,
AND WALLACHIA.
London : Effingham and Wilson, 1836.

The Russian Government, in 1834, being desirous
of ascertaining the commercial advantages of the seve-
ral ports established on the Northern side of the
Black Sea, and the Sea of Azof, the Governor-
General of New Russia, Count Woranzow, ordered
M. Julius De Hagemeister, an intelligent German, to
Ina';c a survey of all ports lying between the Danube
and the Don, and to report the actual commercial
condition thereof to the Imperial Government. At
the same time an ukaze was directed to all the autho-
rities throughout this extent of territory, enjoining
them under heavy penalties to afford the Imperial
functionary all the information which he might think
proper to demand of them, and which it was in their
power to communicate. Under circumstances so fa-
vourable to a strict investigation, M. Julius De
Hagemeister had no difficulty in making out a faith-
ful report. He had only to point in the direction in
which he believed knowledge to be concealed, and
every door was either thrown or forced open for his
inspection. Merchants allowed him all the privileges
of a confidential clerk, and the Governors of towns
were too happy in having such an opportunity of
showing how much they reverenced the will of the
Emperor, or more correctly how much they dreaded
the knout and abhorred the climate of Siberia.
In 1835 the report—a very able and very lucid docu-
ment—was drawn up, and presented to the Imperial
Government. It was subsequently printed at Odessa,
and is now translated into English by F. F. Triebner,
himself an author of considerable repute, by whom it
is dedicated to our Noble Foreign Secretary, Lord
Palmerston. Such is the outline of the causes which
co-operated to place this publication—to England at
least interesting as well from political as commercial
considerations—before the " proud islanders of the
West."

There is one thing to be considered with respect to
this work, which induces us to desire for it the widest
circulation, and that is—its authenticity. The Rus-
sian Government succeeded long in concealing from all
foreigners a correct knowledge of what occurred within
its territory. By it alone was understood the drift of
every movement, the cause of every change, and the
exact extent of the benefit which it derived from the
trade of it maritime stations. Up to the time when
Napoleon kicked their crazy thrones from under half
the Sovereigns of Europe, Russia was tolerably suc-
cessful in preventing the knowledge of its affairs from
travelling westward ; but since that period there has
been an occasional raising of the veil which concealed
the political and commercial policy of the Czars, so
that we are no longer left to grope our way by the
dim glimmering of conjecture—the political will-o-
the-wisp which guided our wise ancestors. The se-
cret treaty of Unkiar Skelessi put us in possession of
the political designs of Russia with respect to the
Porte ; an:l the report of M. Julius Hagemeister
will enable our merchants to judge of the immense ad-
vantages which Russia is likely to derive from the
naviZation of the Black Sea, which was only opened
to her by the treaty of Kainardji, in 1774—being then
surrounded by the undisputed territory of the Porte.
The policy recommended by the author of this
Report to the Russian Government is as enlightened as
that which forms the basis of the British Commercial
System. The author would subdue by luxury, hu-
manize
by the extension of liberal arts and sciences,
and govern the people rather through their interests
than their fears. He states that one of the great
causes which deter the Armenians, the Calmucs, the
Persians, and a great portion of the Russians, from
succeeding as traders is—their dislike of water car-
riage on account of the risk attending it. On no
account will they hazard their property, when the
contrary is optiOnal with them. They all abide by
_the maxim, that a "bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush ;" and the consequence is, that they cannot
'be persuaded to relinquish oxen and bad roads for
canals and steam-boats. This evil he thinks would be
remedied were the Government to set the example to
traders of employing improved machinery, and more
expeditious modes of locomotion. He does not appear
to place much value on the trade with Persia, unless
as an engine of state policy. The Schah's subjects will
make no purchases unless they can obtain long credit
—somttimes so long as eighteen months. This accom-
modation, for which they are willing enough to pay,
can only be give►► by merchants having very large ca-
pital, without which he is of opinion, that an oriental
trade cannot be carried on with profit.
Annexed to the Report are official tables of the
exports and imports of all the commercial stations on
the Black Sea, and the sea of Azof, for periods va-
rying from seven to twenty years, and ending with the
year 1833 inclusive. British merchants trading with
Russia will find these documents deserving of their
especial attention. We can say of this work that we
know of none so important to our foreign merchants ;
and few so interesting to all whose duty it is to watch
every movement of Russia.

Mr. Kean has been playing with the greatest suc-
cess at "Vaterford, where his Othello is spoken of as being
second only to that of his father.
A blacksmith of Milan, named Ponti, has dis-
covered that by suspending a length of chain to one of the
corners of the anvil by means of a ring, the noise of the ham-
mer may be almost entirely deadened. This discovery would
be of great importance in large towns, where the noise of the
hammer is so serious a nuisance.
The bans of marriage were proclaimed for no less
se..enty-five couples, on Sunday last, at St. George's,
HaEnver ,iguare. Miss Harriet Martineau is still in America.
The St,:ndard has been hoaxed most egregiously by
an elal,orato quiz, which was perpetrated last year by a clever
Yankee, under the pretence of being a history of certain dis-
eo7eries in the moon by Stir John Herschel, and purporting to
be taken from a "supplement" to the Edinburgh,Journal of
Science. The account was first furnished to a New York
paper, and we have lying before us numerous proofs that its
adthenticity was for a time firmly credited by many of our
transatlantic contemporaries. The joke was kept up for a
considerable while, but it was too good to endure for ever,
and its falsehood was ultimately blazoned, to the great morti-
fication of its dupes. It would seem, however, that it is des-
tined to run a new course of deceit in this country.—Greenock
Advertiser.
Eighty-Six is a number likely to be celebrated in
story ; Wood it should be set to music, and we dare say it
Will be as renowned in song as " the Battle of the Nile."
IS INGUL A R CASE.—Considerable excitement pre-
vailed in this city yesterday in consequence of a discovery
Whicfr had about it all the appearance of romance. The cir-
cumm.uces of this singular case were these :—Captain D., a
gentleman of considerable property in the county of Edin-
burgh, lib.d become insolvent, executed a trust-deed for behoof
of his creditors, left this place, and occasionally resided in
France and England. In the month of August 1834, having
Tut up at a hotel at Herne Bay, he went out one morning
About sever o'clock to bathe, but never returned; and his
clothes having been found on the beach, it was naturally
eno,igh concluded that the Captain had been drowned. A
proot of the circumstances under which he disappeared having
been ,:aid before the Sheriff of this county, the fact of his
'demise a -er.:ed no longer doubtful. His son was duly served
heir to th. • entailed estate of —, and has since
exeroi,ed tl.e functions of superior in granting new
titles„ &e. e4c., to feuars on the estate. Besides this,
various
.;nburaru.es had been effected on the life of Cap.
tam D. I,01,:• by hie creditors as a body and by individual cre-
ditors for thee.' separate interests, all of which have been paid !
It new, I oweve,-, turns out that all these doings have been
premature. Captain D. is, it seems, still in the body, it being
ascertained that i e was in this city for several weeks in the
Inonti, of November last, and it is rumoured that he was here
inuch more it..ollov, and sailed in a vessel from Leith for Van
Zienien's Land. This piece of information savours strongly
4,:)f c)mance ; but to the creditors and Insurance Companies it
• 1$ tea.-e than rout:lnce. One of the creditors in particular bad
Orecte,' air imiurance to the extent of 4001., and had recovered
the' meet ; tire creditors, as a body, bad effected and reco-
vered lei; .;mes that sum, and divided the amount, all of which
Will ;new of "curse have to be refunded to the respective in-
. stiranta.„Compan;,ns. —Edinburgh Advertiser.