Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-23

The San Francisco Herald, 9Th inst, an.
nounces the arrival in that city of Mr.. P.
Med. Collins, on his return from one of tho
most Interesting expeditions of modern times
over land, through Northern Russia, from St
Petersburg to the Amoor river. The Journey
occupied exactly one year.
Twelve months ago Mr.. Collins left St. Pc
tersburg, travelled from thence TO Moscow, by
railroad, and from thence through Siberia in
sledges and telegas to Chetah, the capital of
the Trans-Baiksl province, situated on the
river Ingodsl, one of The main sources of the
AMOR, where he waited for the breaking up
OF the ice in the river, and then, accompanied
by four Cossack soldiers and By Mr.. Fuhelm,
the Governor of the Russian American Com
pany at Ayan, proceeded down to the Amoor,
and along the river TO the Pacific.
From Mr.. Collins we have obtained much
Interesting Information in relation to the vast
region through which he travelled, and about
which so little is known. He speaks in the
highest terms of the Russian officials with
whom he had intercourse. Americans are
everywhere highly regarded by the Russians,
and are always treated with every courtesy
and respect. The party of which Mr.. Collins
formed one were not molested by the Noma-
die tribes who inlabit a great portion of the
region through which they Travelled. They
found it necessary, however, to be cautious in
their intercourse with them. During his
journey, Mr.. Collins stopped for some time at
Kysckta and Miamattsclin. These towns are
located side by side. The former is inhabited
By the Russians, and the latter by the Chinese.
Tie boundary line of the two nations runs be-
tween. 1t is marked only by board fence.
They are both walled in aud fortified At
this point all the legitimate trade OF the two
countries is carried on.
TO Miamattashin, the Chinese convey from
the interior their teas and other goods on bull
locks and camels, and to Kyackla the Russians
bring their commodities, and in this way the
exchange is made The trade which centres
at this point is estimated TO amount to over
100000 of roubles per annum. While at
Kyackts, Mr.. Collins essRyed 10 enter the
Chinese doniuions, and proceed to Pekin,
which is about $50 miles to the south. He
Joined an ambassador, sent out by the Russian
Government to treat with the Emperor for
the purchase of the country lying along the
AmOOr river.
The whole of this region, according to q
treaty made in the regn Of the Empress Oath
arine, belongs to the Chinese; but the Russians
are now in possession of several portions of it.
They are willing to acquire it by purchase,
but if an overture TO that effect is rejected,
they are prepared TO take it, Neither the
Russian ambassador nor Mr.. Collins could OBJ
tain permission to proceed to Pekin, and they
were both obliged to return. The Russians
have greater facilities Of obtaining correct
views in relation to matters in China than
any other nation in the world. There il in
Pekin what is termed the Russian College. 1t
consists of ten missionaries of the Greek
Church. These ten missionaries remain for
ten years, and are then replaced by ten more.
During the decade OF their sojourD, they
are not permitted TO fill any vacancies that
may be caused by death or any other casuali-
ty. They are treated in tie Chinese capital
with great respect, and are allowed guard of
honor. Through the agency of the college,
the Russian Government obtains reliable infor-
NATION of everything that transpires at the
court OF bis Celestial Majesty. After his IN,
successful attempt to penetrate through the
Chinese terIiloIy to Pekin, MIR. Collins pro-
ceeded to Chetah, situated at the headwaters
OF the AMOR river. The province of which
1t is the capital is rich in mineral resources. 1t
abounds in mines of gold, silver and copper.
The gold is found in the river bed and gulches.
There are no quartz mines. The annual yield
is estimated at fifty millions of roubles. The
silver mines are very rich.
They are both worked by the convicts
transported to Siberia by the Russian govern
ment, under tie supervision of military OFF,
GERS. Private parties are not permitted TO take
out the precious metals in this section of the
country. In other places they are allowed to
mine under certain restrictions and are obliS-
cd TO pay the Government q certain per centage
upon all they take ont.