Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-06-30
Jflisrfllanrnus.
The Dardanelles.

The old gates of Janus were open
ed when Rome was AT war, and their
modern prototypes, the Dardanclles
straits, are open only when state Of
war make treaty slipulaiions void,
and the Porte deems il necessary TO
admit his allies through them to pro-
tect his capital. The accounts we
have are that they are now omen for
the passage OF the British aud French
/ fleets.
The Dardanellcs, from which the
STRAIT Of Hellesponl derives its name,
are tour strong castles built opposite
to each other on the European and
AsialIc coasts, and are The keys Of
Conslaninople. Two Of these cas-
Ties (the old casiles) were raised by
Mahommed H. soon after the con-
quest Of Constantinople, IN 1853 /;
the other two (lhe new caslles) were
built in the middle of the 18th CEN
fury TO protect the Turks against the
Venetians. The latter commanded
the entrance to the Hellespont, and
the distance from each is about two
miles and a quarter. In four hours
sail up the stral, are the old castles,
which are about three quarters of
mile apart. These are well mounted
with formidable batteries. All along
the European shore to the Marmora,
the aspect Of nature IN It's rugged
ness corresponds with the frowa Of
the guns; but the scenery on the A.
static shore is beautiful The region
abouuds, too, in places famous in
classic history. Here 1t was Lean
der paid his nightly visits 10 Hero;
here the Inflated hosts of Xerxes
crossed on a bridge Of boats here
Solymau crossed on bare raft, and
in modern times here Byron swan
from the Seslos to Abydo'.
These famous straits have been
more than once passed. In l710 the
Russian squadron, under Elphlne-
stone, appeared before the lower cas-
ties, and the admiral went without
damage. But the othel ships did not
follow, and he returned with drums
and Irumaels sounding. A British
fleet, under Admiral Duckwcrth, in
lis despatch TO hls Government, Civ
ing an account Of this fact, acknowl-
edges that he ran narrow chance.
He set sail on the morning OF tie
10th February. AZ quarter before
] nine, The whole squadron, under a
tremendous FIRE, had passed the out
er castles at half past nine, the lea
ding ship, the Campus, entered the
: narrow passage OF Seslos aud Ably
dos under heavy cannonade from
both castles, receiving sione-shut Oi
500 pounds weight. Each ship II
passed had to endure tins cannonade.
The admiral iemaccd before Con-
stautinoplc until the Bird Of March
when his squadron OF ten ships re-
. turned In this interval the Turk.
had been so busy that the castle.
. were made doubly formidable" ~
The admiral weighed anchor in the
/. morning of tins day, and "eyer,
ship was in safety outside the passage
about noon" The vahan, admra
in his dispatch expresses his "mos
lively sense" Of his good fortune
/ and admits tina, had The Turks beer
! allowed a week longer, ait would
have been very doubtful POM
whether a return would lay oper
at ALL" lie lost az killed, and 23s
wounded The Turks were so ia
$ dignaut al the escape Ct the British
fleet that they believed The Governor
- of the Dardanelles was bribed BY
= Duckworth, and beheaded him.
The Dardanelles are SAID TO be il
4 such condition as 10 be imprrgna
bIe.- Boston Post.