The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-23

burned Turkish transports the mouth OF the
b spnorus and afterwards escaped through the wnoe
s,ea nee. to Odessawere so much talked Oh curing Tue
According last report Of Minister OF Marine,
the Russian navy consisted 1862 OF the following yes
selsScrews une ships the-ne nine rigates, twenty
one corvettes, ten clippers, twenty-five scnooners
seventy eight gunboats padde-wheea irigates, nine
eight line OF battle, three frgates two corvetes, ten
schooners. thirty FIVE TRANSPORTS and smaller craft Inc
vessels had all So 681 horse power aud carried
20S guns Of which the Baltic squadron bad 20 100 horse
and $40 guns the Black Sea horse power and
ITO gums This force might be sufficient to cope with the
French feet though Of course not with tho English Il
unfortunately we not very inadequatey supplied
with iron clads At present their number is confined 70
the iron sheathed rraes sebastopo and
the floating batteries Ne Iron Mena No me an0ere and
Pervenez the iron transport and gun vessel
Opt and although the Czar0vch the Snepe and some
others be provided with this season. they will
scarcely be servceabe hostes should break out at an
early date in America iron feet was mprovised IN row
months but cannot attempt 70 emulate you IN TINS ro
spect. II appears, however, by the b0mbardment OF
Charleston that stone has still good chance even
iron remains be whether the Warriors, the
G0res and the Black Princes would DO more successiu
against the granite walls Of Cronstadt than were the Keo
kuks and the Ironsides against Fort Sumter
the increasing the numerical strength
Of the army which has dwndled away sadly since 1855
to out Of
100 male Inhabitants This carried into enect wouio
give total Of at least 45o 900 but they would hardly
DO available Tor this years. campaign seeing that many
months must eapse before the conscrption IL finished
and the recruits properly drilled and organized In
greatest source Of weakness, and the railways
lately constructed yet not sufficient to obvate
this dnculty. 1t Is also whispered that the militia will
be called out-a step for which there are only three
precedeutsl807, 1872 and Is55-and which would be an
proof that the dangers that beset Russia arc
such require the exetion OF her utmost strength TO
make head against them.
The Emperors birthday has not brought constitution;
but has brought something which, for the lower orders
least will be beneficial than constitution on the
French English plan from which the aristocracy and
,yeosie derive tho chief advantage An imperial ukase
the restriction and gradual abolition OF corpo-
real punishment, which has 80 long disgraced Russian
legislation, though It was unknown to the Old sia
v0nians. The knout, relic OF the tartar
yoke had been done away with by Nichoas but other
barbarous chstsements still In full force such "a
running the gauntlet which was borrowed by Peter the
Great from the Germans and for which the Russian Ian
guage has word, 1t still passing BY the Ger
appeation Of sp6tahem the cat and nine TAILS tor
which we indebted to the English, &c All these
modes Of sgeation to from the day on which
the ukase is published, and the less terrible, though still
odous punishment Of the whip s only TO be continued
till public ails have been erected throughout the empire,
after which will be COMMITTED TO simple Imprisonment
with hard labor This reform, which does honor to the
humanity Of Alexander H. will doubtless have salutary
upon the morals Of the people, and contrasts
ably with the spirit displayed In countries which boast
superior civization-in England for instnnce-where
extending the operation of the lash has just been
passed the houses Of Parliament and is loudly ap
proved of BY the