Star.
London, England, 1828-04-15 00:00:00

THE RUSSIANS AND TURKS.

EXTRACTS FROM a VOYAGE DR MOSCAI A VIRNER.r
Count de la Garde, in the description of his jour-
ney from Moscow to Vienna, in 1824, has given a
rapid but interesting sketch of the. manners and
present policy of the Russians; the tyranny of the
Turkish Government, and the absurdity of their cus-
toms. The author. who is a member of several
learned Institutions, states in his preface, that he
had long studied the characters of the Emperor Alex.
acid. r and the Sultan Mahmoud, and endeavoured to do
justice to both. The Russian Censors prescribed his
book, not &Om any real fault, but because he had ha-
zarded a few sentences in favour of the unfortunate
Prince Alexander Ipsrlanti, whose long imprisonment
in the fortress of Montgatz, called forth his sym-
pathy. That imprisonment he 'considered unjust :-
4' 1 have dared in my work," says the author,. "to
weep over a soldier, who, in the flower of age, sacri-
ficed his repose, his fortune, and future prospects, to a
religious and patriotic enthusiasm, which obtained for
him the admiration of une half of the world, and the
pity of the other ! May these pages penetrate into the'
subterranean cells where he languishes, and, prove to -
the prisoner of Montgatz, that although he is torn from
his friends, he will never be forgotten I"
The following are extracts from M. La Garde's de-
set ip:ion of Odessa :
The frontiers of the *avian Empire being, by the
peace of 1792, limited to the Dniester, a plan was
formed for their defence. For that purpose they costa-
=need the construction of threafortresses. One oppla-
site Bender ; the other in front of Akermann ; and the
third upon an open sea coast, where the Tusks had a
port called Hadji.lley.
Thyras being the ancient name of the Dniester' they
called the first fortress Thyras.polis the second Ovi-•
diopol ; and the third Odessa, from the name of a Greek
city but little known, and which must not be con.,
founded with the Odessus that stood upon the Danube.
The first design was to make a seaport and harbour for
Russian ships of the line, transports, &c. This plan
was conceived by Admiral De Ribas, and General
Volant undertook the direction of the works ; but com-
merce, which always knows where to establish her, quar-
ters, saw the great advantages in the position of Odessa.
The grains and other productions of the Dniester and
the Bog came by easy carriage conveyance, and at
little expense could be embarked upon an open coast.
The Empress Catherine died, and Odessa ceased to
be a warlike port. Those who from narrow-minded
jealousy dreaded the establishment of Odessa, took
advantage of the event, and proposed the demolition of
the mole which had been partly built, and urged the
Government to use as combustibles the millions of piles
intended for its construction. Three Bommissioners were
sent to examine and report the state of things. Their'
reports were favourable to Odessa, and the works were
continued. Commerce was tolerated, but not then
encouraged. The reign of Alexander was a time of pros-
perity for Odessa. fhe projects of the preceding reign
were carried into execuuons and Odessa became a place