Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1854-05-09
RuSsia-.The Baltic PrOviMces--St.
Petersburg. TX KrOnStadt.

The Baltic Provinces, so called, which
con,uin Kronstad,, the goal of Sir Charles
Napier's expedition, are lngrin, Es,hia ana
Livona, conquered from Sweden in the
"Norhern War;" (l7O0, 1917 and Cur.
land, which was annexed 10 the Russian
Empire about 1875. The majority of the
people are Of German origin, and but few
Russians proper are there 10 be met with.
Their population is about three millions.
ea These provinces contain The leading com.
mercialiowns OF Russia, and are exposed 10
the naval operations Of the Western powers.
lngria, with q population Of ! $50, 900 in
habitants, is the leading province, and is now
an object Of special interest, |. is situated
ut the head Of the Gulf Of Finland, and on
the Ladoga lake. The river Newa issues
from The lake and empties into the Gulf of
Finland--only ihiry.nine miles from its
source. AT lis mouth is ST. Petersburg, the
finest built city in the world, the second cap.
isal OF Russia, and the great commercial EN-.
.pOrium Of the empire. The annual traffic
of the three commercial houses Of Stieglits
81 Co., i. Thomas & Co, and G. Loder &
Co., respectively, was, in 1850, estimated a,
thirty, twenty five and twenty Millions of
rubles-a ruble being 81 cents.
Twenty eigh. miles below 81. Petersburg,
is Kronslad., the chief naval station of Russia
in The Baltic, and hekey 10 The capital.
Krons.adi is situated upon Kettle island.
This island is about seven miles in length,
inden,ed by three capacious harbors Of suf-
fcienl depth ol water for the heaviest ships
and thoroughly protected by extensive for
sifca,ions. 4i.I. s.e... s..t'. s....,..,-
The ou,sr harbor is also faced BY heavy
brcakawaier In The form Of reclangle, which
compels oil external shipping 10 remain be.
yond gun shot OF the docks. The works
commanding The channel Jean noun, three
thousand guns and al present are in complete
order. Thirteen ships OF the line and Twelve
heavy lrigoles, besides some forty steamers,
corveues and brigs constitute The naval force
anchored under The guns Of the land batter.
= les, and TWO hundred heavy gun boats are
now in hasly equipment for the occupation
of .he shadows bordering the southern chan
mel, The entire number Of armed vessels
designed for the protection Of this impouan,
station, according 10 the 81. Petersburg Ga
ze,.e (oficial) is 42o. The greater par
mount but Two guns 10 hull, but these are
of heavy calibre and we'll adap.ed TO harbol
defences. In the aggregate, they present Q
formidable barrier 10 the landing Of an en-
emy.a rrl if,sn mas
The Notifications nrs built Of granite, and
haye been in process Of perfection and en-
jargemeni since the reign Of Peter |, ,hei
original protector. We have before alluded
40 the works at Helsingiors, The occupa
aion Of The latter does not necessarily com
mnnd the gulf; SO great is It's width. Bu, ,h'
control Of KronsIadl would place The capita
within reach Of an enemy.
The river Newa, is however, not naviga
hIe lor vessels Of heavy tonnage, and nl
Enough a, 81. Petersburg il is from 1900 Il
1900 feet in width, all the burdens Of arg
ships must be transferred 10 vessels Of ligh
dTall q. Kronsladl, in order 10 be Delivers
by wafer al the quays Of The capital.
Narva, the ancient capital Of this province
and hing near the gulf, Is also we'll fortified
and noted for the victory Of Charles XII, o
Sweden, obtained over ihe Russians, N oy
3Olh, 100. ~ysIl wv ,.
Eshia, on the south side Of The gulf, an,
also bordering The Baltic, was in 1917 con
qpered by the Knighis of Me Order o
Stcord,, .(insliluled in The latter half Of IN
I2ih century, and merged in the Teu,oni
Order in 1887 annexed TO Sweden in III
18Th century, and conquered by. Russia i
tbe beginning Of Ihe 18Th century. Its poE
uialion.is $50, 900. 4., ,sd, = ,-g'
Reyal, iis ancien, capital, Isl q point Of col