The Sun.
London, England, 1826-11-21 00:00:00

THE CASPIAN SEA.

The' Caspian is of all inland seas that which has been the sub-
ject of the most suppositions and conjectures. Strain) was per-
suaded that it communicated with the Northern Ocean by a nar-
row'arm ; and this opinion was still entertained in the time of •
Justinian. This is the more extraordinary, as five hundred years
beforit'Strabo, Herndon* bad given a tolerably correct &scrip,
tine of it.
Tin for year 1508, when the, t05,1411-trikvuuor JelikiWPWWll4%.
vompanyillg a caravan of Russian merchants, went along the coast
of the Caspian Sea, Its length was counnoidy supposed to be from
east to west, and not from north to south, as it really is. Stritys,
who visited it at a later period, gave in his map far too great a
length to this sea,
It has been supposed that the Caspian had long communicated
with the Sea of Aroff; and it must be confessed, that an attentive
examination of the intervening countries gives some probability to
this opinion. Lastly, it has been pretended, and is still asserted,
that there exists a subterraiwous communication between the Cas-
pian and the Persian Gulf ;• and in confirmation of this assertion,
'it is alleged, that every year, at the r commencement of winter,
leaves and branches of trees unknown iu southern Purina, and
which gtow only in (Milan and Maianderan, float on the shores
of the Persian Gulf, at the part which is nearest to the Caspian.'
Whatever truth there racy be in these conjectures, there is a
feet equally curious and more certain. The Caspian Sea, which
receives the waters of the Oural, 'of the Volga, and some other lass
considerable rivers, not only experiences, like those rivers, an
annual rise, but it is also subject to variations of depth which may
be culled secular. _ .

-
At this time the Caspian Sea is subsiding, and the decrease of
its waters is the more remarkable within these few years, as ves-
sels drawing IS feet of water could then navigate this sea; and
new 'it will admit of none that draw above 15 feet at the most.---
A few years ago, the waves of the Caspian washed the walls of
Baku ; at present they are at a considerable distance from it, and
the consequence is, that the ships of war of the Russian Imperial
Navy are no linger stationed in the Gulf of Baku, but in a tole-
rably convenient port of the isle Of Sara, which is 15 vents (It)
miles) distant from it.
' This subsiding of the waters has uncovered first the top, and
then the lower parts, of a vast Caravanserary, which is situated in
the sea, at be distance of above two vents from the coast. Thus
it appears, that al 'tome period, snore or less remote, the Caspian
Sea Was. much lower 'towards the western coast than it is at the
present moment, when it is observed to he subsiding.
In support of this singular fact, I will add, that, according to
the unanimous tradition of the country, people formerly went
along the chore of the Ciapien from Lanklutra to Salian; and
that the road, now partly covered by the waters of the sea, is no
longer passable.
The fall of the waters. has also left exposed tome new islands.
One of these is several vents in extent. The soil of it is very
firm ; 'and it is probable that in a few years it will be inhabited
by fishermen, like all the other isles in the Caspian.
During soy stay at Baku, my son awl my intepreter were so
seriously attacked by a fever, that, to my great regret, I was un-
able to visit, in a fishing-boat of the Isle of Sara, the Caravan
serary,left barchy, the waves, the new islands, and that where this
stal4shing is carried On.—Literary Gazette.

It 1,5 under/4041d that the election for an Alderman
for Vintry Ward,: wii,:b was contested by Mr. Sheriff
Winchester and Mt. Wilde, and which- terminated in
favopr of ,the former, is this week' to undergo a scru-
tiny.,
- Mr. Wilde .is the brother of Mr. Sergeant
Wilde,, Am; Mr; .John Wilde, a barrister, 00 for
.
some time acteJ as Chief .Justtce at Sydney, New
, ,
South Wales.
ALL. HALLOW FArn.—.This great annual : fair
commenced on Tuesday, in a field to'ilie westward of the city, at
'initehouse Toll. The show of stock watt fully as large, but in
better condition than that of . last year. There were upwards of
9,000 cattle, chiefly winterers. The prices were much ipwer, on
an atierage of the sates effected, which were comparatively f.ew ;
and 'it may be stated that there was a reduction from $O to 40
per emit. on last 'year's prices. Prices 'were fully as good as at
last Falkirk or Doutie markets. West Highlanders sold from
h
Rwaa:::
el: ia: rs
v::::1ir
obrought:ih:tl
ie i
vt:ls.4a, higher pricey.
31. 3s. to 3/. 6s. ; Fite and Angus, from 11. to W. 10s. ; a few
YI. . butt the demand In the GrilloMilrilei there
?.tub
number of horses, but sales %veto very dulls
gwriamlit
venuriyubleinriofit;dt:attlie)rii(tivtihefi
fear
rmargootkett
ithla:se(tniigixrileitierEittlyli
liiiii7s4:l
tfil,:ytis,taatt eold:roautglito.thtebaatve amount
Hi:
ae
Hallow
loto:betlyfau'eitt:: reduction°lno
__2aftilil ino
of
:
isitoirlitliez
(t)hfescoturottairizriiiirit'thel. IT.ttiattlist, is somewhat
eawnjdutgtenhitnsrgailliary isniltri;
9,14 HerwicksliiENN should %sive failed, the same crop in Roxburgh
in
t,ie more than usually abundant. . The
*maw! for tarnips
glad
ti,
learn
that
is, of course, unusually
_ihat there arts on numerous farms
ggrrestaist,iiit:lalitit‘it'iei:rsetill unto,— C./ mori , --?.
"` 11 eit Prtio. : •