, 1859-02-03
The Yankees at Bevastspol.

.eHFAsfoPo1- Dec. l3. le54.
As many reports haye been circulated relative
| to the American enterprise Of clearing the hsr
bor Of 9eyastopol, the most Of them beng IN.
correct, / beg to state the facts relative to The
position Of the Marine Exploring Company,
their SUCCESS and prospects.
entered into q contract with the Imperial
Russian Government in October, 1856. to clear
the harbor OF Ssvastopol from the ships, steam
ers and vessel9 that we're aunk duii1g The late
war, and waa to receive a. compensation, one
hail Of the property recovered. On my return
to the United States, company wss formed in
PennBylyania to carry out the enterprise under
the title Of the Marine Exploring Company,
duly chartered by the Legislature. PoFerfnl
machinery was constructed and men employ I'd,
Who embarked from the United States under ny
direction, aud arrived here in June, 1857. il
required much time to construct powerful eaia-
Sons to assist IN lifting the eunken ships. Our
machinery was not completed until June, 1858.
On the 81 Of June the first vessel Was raised to
the surface Of the Water-the schooner ot war
snelel Of eixteen guns Since that tune have
raised the steamer TURK, wur steamer Grozuoi,
iron steamer Danube, eighteen guns; brig
4EneAs, yacht porisienus and cutter Stretla.
These yessela are in excellent condition, and
comparatively sound. The tertdo has only pene-
trated the upper works Of the vessels, leaving
The euglnea OF the steamers are in nearly a.
good condition as though the vessels had been
on tha surface Of the water. sold tho steamer
Turk to the Imperial Government for 80, 900 sill
yer roubles, and she will be running again in
the course Of four months. The commission
who examined the steamer reported that five
per cent of her v&lue would pay the cost of
putting five per cent Of her value would pay the
cost OF putting her in perfect running order.
aud she ia now undergoing repairs at Nlcolaif.
l have also sold the steamer Gto3noi for "a. 900
silver roubles, at public auction.
In addition to the above, have removed to
the la0gun ship Catherine, the line Of. battle
81 gun ship, the Chesms, used formerly ns a
prison.ship; the frigate KsTarns; the transport
Bere1an; and the 16gun schooner Lashtooha,
and over one.haf Of the 120.gun ship Constan.
tine.
have recently had important concessions
granted BY the Government, having just COM
p!eted the contract, BY which they give all the
property, instaad Of one half a. heretofore--the
above arrangement to commence from the Goth
Of last June. Therefore, all the vessels and
property recovered since that date belong to
the company
branches Of the work We have s,1tY carpen-
ters engaged on tvo immense eaissons. under
the superintendence Of ao old Bostonisn-C Capt
Samuel F. Holbrook. They will be completed
early in the spring, when We shall raise some of
the 1argeat ships, which are estimated to be
"olta 1uv,0Vt 6llFer lo0ple& each ana OF the
raising Of them there is no possible question.
We have recently purchased from Constansl.
nople ine steam tug boat Of tifty horse power,
which We fnd very useful. The new csissous
Will cost about 5000 silver roubles, aud are
paid for. Our stesmer cost 10, 900, and il also
paid for, and not one cent hsa been drawn from
the company at home. We have lsrge amount
of property on hand, beside the vessels, such
as copper, brass, $50 tons Of pig iron, 900 tons
OF wrought iron, 200 tons Of rope, large quanti.
ties Of lead, chains and anchors Of ali sizes and
dimensions. Thus it will be perceived that the
Company Is in adouriahinR condition. I wish
had tew more good engineers to run steam
engines. Of which haTo eight in constant use.
hare contracted to entirely cleas the hs7hor
in two years from this time, and the work shall
be promptly done. If the Russian Government
should not purchase the feet recovered, shall
b. in good condition to enter into contract
With any respectable government to bombard,
conquer or destroy either OF ths minor powers.
would not mind Turkey, Spain, or even India
The question il, how much is offered! My fleet
will be quite as numerous Is that Of the United
StAtes, If not ~ effective
There are also tve 6ne war steamers, with
copper boilers, that shall take up in the spring
The boilers alone weigh 42 tons each, and are
worth e., 900 each for old conper.