The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-27 00:00:00

THE ADMIRALTY

i'orms three sides of a square, and in the space
thus partially inclosed is a small dock-yard,
where three ships are now on the stocks; one
of them, the " Peter the Great," is in a state of
great forwardness, and will be launched in May ;
she is the largest vessel ever built in Russia,
and will mount, I understand, 130 guns. A
74 was launched in the Autumn from this yard,-
and has remained frozen up in the Neva the
whole winter. There are two other dock-yards
at St. Petersburg"' but both aie on a small scale.
Great exertions have been made to increase the
navy since the accession of the present Emperor;
who, like Bonaparte, is crying out for " Ships,
Colonies, and Commerce." As far as ships are
concerned, the navy will soon be in a most effi-
cient state ; sailors and seaports will then only
be wanting to make Russia a maritime power of
the first-rate importance ; but notwithstanding
these mighty preparations, some shrewd judges
are of opinion that Russia is still in her infancy
in this respect, and the fact, that two squadrons,
destined for the Mediterranean have recently been
compelled to put into English ports, and that too
in the season most favourable for navigation, is a
convincing proof of great inexperience in naval
tactics; indeed, bow can it be otherwise, for during
peace the practice of the fleet is confined to a
short summer cruize in the Baltic. There are
about 10 sail of the line at Cronstadt, but I un-
derstand that most are in a state of decay ; in-
deed, from the materials of which they- arc con-
structed, it is not calculated that they can last
more than ten years. The ships recently built
are on the most improved principle ; several have
round sterns, and all remarkably high bulwarks.
There is no tide in the Baltic, and as there is a
bar at the mouth of the Neva, over which there
is only eight feet water, ships built at St.
Petersburgh or Ochta, must be floated over the
bar, on a machine called a " camel," but acci-
dents frequently occur, and one ship of the line,
recently launched, has been, I hear, considerably
damaged.
The Admiralty report for the year 1828 has
not yet been published ; the ships launched in
1827 were—

Guns.
1 110 1 year and five months
84 1 ditto ditto.
1 74 11 months.
2 sloops of war, 20 guns each.
It may be worthy of remark, that two ships of
the line were coppered in two7days. At Arch-
angel were launched, three frigates, 44 guns ; at
Astrachan, five brigs of war.
Having spoken of the steeple of tho Admi-
ralty, we now come to the Church or Chapel,
the only part of the interior I had an opportunity
of inspecting ; there is here a fine collection of
paintings, indecd I should have imagined that I
was in a picture gallery or exhibition room, had
I not previously ascertained it to be a place of
worship, of which it has not the slightest ap-
pearance. I observed one short-sighted old
gentleman with the air of a' connoisseur, put on
his spectacles and scrutinize them, most particu-
larly ; from some he retreated with the most per-
fect indifference, before others he would cross
himself and make the usual pros rations ; these
were the representations of his favourite saints,
and in his way he was certainly a perfect devotee.
Amongst the few trophies in this church, I oh-
served a stand of British colours, the capture of
which however does not materially increase the
glory
of . the Russian arms. The colours be-
longed to a sloop of war; which was unfortunately
driven on the coast, and surrendered as a matter
of course. The Admiralty is surrounded by a
young and thriving plantation, which is a favourite
promenade at all seasons of the year. Immedi-
ately:opposite the Admiralty, is the a Labanoff-
house" or rather palace. This is the largest
private residence in St. Petersburgh ; some idea
may be formed of the extent of this edifice, from
its capability of accommodating 3,000 indivi-
duals; the form of the building is triangular,
and the proportion elegant. Labanoff-house
was originally intended as a family residence for
the founder, but as the scale is by far too 'vast
for the accommodation of even a Russian esta-
blishment, the greater part is let.'out; the present
occupants amount, I understand, to more than
2,000.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.

(From the Gazette de France, dated July 25.)
PAnts, JULY 24.—TheNurenzburg Correspondent
announces, in an article from Berlin, that the Rus-
sians have resolved to undertake the siege of
Shumla, and that 30 battalions of infantry and five
regiments of cavalry were to be employed in it.
The garrison is at present reduced to 15,000 men.
It is supposed that the place may be taken before
the end of the year. -
The Marquis of Barbacena arrived yesterday
morning at Paris from London : he will set out to-
morrow for Munich, being commissioned by the
Emperor of Brazil to fetch the new Empress,
daughter of the Duke of Leuchtenberg. The
Princess is to go from Munich to Ostend, where
she will embark for Brazil : during her voyage she
will take the title of Duchess of sSanta Cruz.
MODON, JUNE 21.--The National Congress
opened here on the 27th of June (the Bth of July).
The session will be remarkable.
There will soon be a change in the garrisons of
the French troops in the Morea. The regiment
Which occupies Patras and the Castle of Lepanto
tvill leave those places and come to Coron. This
ttleasure suits the Greeks, who will thus be masters
of both sides of the Gulf of Lepanto, and also the
French, who will thus be concentrated in three
places, near to each other,—Modon, Coron, and
Navarin. The weather is as fine as possible, and
bit for some fevers which are by no means malignant,
the health of the French troops would be peifect
'j'rom the Journal du Commerce of July 21.)
PARIS, JULY 23.—We yesterday mentioned t

t courier on his way from Madrid to London had
passed through Paris. It is sail to-day, that this
courier is the hearer of great complaints from the
Spanish Government respecting the delay of the
English Government in recognizing- Don Miguel,
now that he has promised to marry his niece. Mr.
;tea Bermudez, it is said, declares, in consequence,
Co Lord Aberdeen, that the Spanish Government
iirJ longer answers for the conduct that Don Miguel
may pursue Portugal. It may easily be supposed
that we do not answer far the truth of this news:
we only give the reports which are in circulation.
We will add, that it is also affirmed that news has
been received by the telegraph, that the Duke de
Cadaval and the Minister of Justice have been dis-
missed from the councils of Don Miguel. The Mi-
nister of Justice was less violent than his predeces-
sor in his opinion. 'I hi change must therefore be
considered as a new triumph of the influence of the
Queen Dowager, and a signal for new persecutions.

(From the Quotidienne.)

In consequence of confessions made by Simon
And Cabouat since their condemnation, the father
tg the latter, and the widow Psaume, were arrcs'ed,
attxt on the 20th of this month put into prison at
Saint Mihiel.

We learn by the Diario, published at Rome, on
the 11th of July, that—" On the afternoon cf the
turrent month, the Jesuit Establishment elected the
Rev. Father Jean Roothaan, native of Amsterdam,
:Superior-General of the Society of Jesus." The
choice which the Jesuit Society has just made, is at
the present moment of great importance. For some
years past the government of this society, in conse-
quence of the great age of Father Fortis, has
wanted energy and unity. It is very fortunate fur
the Society and for religion, that so clever and dis-
tinguished a person as Father Roothaan should have
been elected to the eminent honour of Superior-
General. No one is more capable to give to this
distinguished body a strong decided impulse, and at
the same time a new direction, perfectly in harmony
with the present wants of Europe.

(From the Constitutionnel.)
An extraordinary courier from Madrid arrived
recently at the Spanish embassy at Paris, and a few
hours after proceeded on his route to London, carry-
ing despatches to M. Zea-Bermudez, the Spanish
Envoy to the English Court. It appears that some
misunderstandings exist between the Cabinet of
Madrid and that of St. James's. The formerly
complains, that after Don Miguel's consent to the
marriage with his niece Donna Maria Gloria had
been obtained, he is not yet recognized King of
Portugal, as had been expected.
It is said that the Portuguese refugees are about
to address to the Marquis of Barbacena, at present
in Paris, a supplication requesting him to authorize
the creation of a Portuguese Regency, to be com-
posed of three members and a secretary, and nomi-
nated by the peers of the kingdom, the deputies of
the last legislation, the councillors of state, the des-
embargadors, the magistrates, and the superior
officers, who, forced to emigrate, have found refuge
in different countries of Europe. It is proposed
that the regency should reside at Terceira, there to
enter into negociations, not only with the subjects
of Portugal, but also with foreign governments.
The petitioners found their application on the de-
termination of the Emperor Don Pedro to make no
alteration in his abdication, and upon the necessity
of legally representing in Europe the rights of the
Queen Donna Maria 11.

FRENCH FUNDS. —PA RIS, JULY 24.—Five per Cents.,
109f.,65c. ; Three per Cents., 81f. 50c. ; Bank Stock,
1,860 f. ; Neapolitan Rentes, S7f. 25c. ; Royal Spanish
Loan, 74if. ; Spanish Rentes Perpetuelles, 4Si. ;—Ex-
change ou London, one month, 25f. 55c. ; three
months, 25f. 40c.— Cours Authentique.

.r.
1131.
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