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COxk’s TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. . 867
hemp; the mafts are procured from the vatt tracts of foreft between Novogorod and
the Gulf of Finland, or furnifhed by the provinces difmembered from Poland. Pitch
and tar are obtained from Wiburgh. Manufattories of cordage and fail-cloths are efta-
blifhed in different parts of the empire; and the magazines of Peterfburgh and Arch-
angel are always plentifully ftored with large quantities of both thofe articles.
The navy of Rufiia in the ports * of the Baltic and Archangel, confifted, in 1778, of
thirty-eight {hips of the line, fifteen frigates, four prames, and one hundred and nine
allies t.
. Of this number about twenty-eight fhips of the line and ten frigates, including thofe
built with larch-wood, were fit for immediate fervice. In cafe however of neceflity or
danger, Ruflia producing all the neceflary materials, her navy might foon be confidera-
bly increafed, of which I have given a remarkable inftance on a former occafion f.
But though Ruflia, fince the beginning of this century, has made furprifing exertions in
the marine, and rapidly become more powerful at fea than the neighbouring kingdoms
in the North; yet, in naval affairs, fhe muft be confidered ftill in her infancy, being
principally indebted to the Englifh, as well for the conitruction of her fhips, as for ma-
neeuvring and dilciplining her fleet. Many circumftances indeed concur in retarding
the progrefs of her maritime ftrength: 1. The want of ports in the Ocean; 2. The
{mall extent of her fea-coa{t, and that obftructed by ice; 3. A deficiency of experi-
enced feamen.
1. It isobvious that Ruffia does not poflefs a fingle port on the Ocean, excepting
that of Archangel, which is of no ufe but in acommercial light; as well on account of
its great diftance from the other European feas, as becaufe the navigation round the
North Cape of Lapland, fituated in the 72d degree of latitude, is only open in the
midft of fummer.
2. It has been juftly remarked, that few nations have attained a great height of na-
val power, which did not poffefs a confiderable tract of fea-coaft ; and Ruflia, excepting
the late acquifitions on the Black Sea, the defolate fhores round Archangel and of the
Frozen Ocean, and the inhofpitable regions of Kamtchatka, can boaft no greater por-
tion of maritime country than what lies between Wiburgh and Riga§ ; a mere point
for fo large an empire, and rendered lefs valuable by bordering on the Gulf of Finland
and the Baltic; inland feas without tides, when compared with the Ocean, fearcely fue
perior to the lakes, and inacceffible || for at leaft five months in the year.
* AsTI could not obtain an exaé account of the Ruffian fhips in the Black Sea, I have chofen to be
filent on that head; I fhall only obferve, that feveral men of war and frigates were building at St. Demetri,
Taurof, and Kherfon. According to Mr. Tooke, in 1796 the Ruffian fleet at Sebaftapol, the principal
harbour of Taurida, or Crim Tartary, confifted of eleven fhips of the line, and eight, frigates. View of
the Ruffian Empire, Book 6. fe&t. z. The reader will find in the Voyages de deux Francois, &c. Vol.
iv. ch. rt. lifts of the Ruffian fleet int779, 1786, and 1791. The number of the firft differs little from
that which 1 have given, and which is inferted inthe Appendix. In 1786 the fhips of the line amounted
to forty-one, and twenty-fix frigates. In 1791 the whole navy, including fhips on the ftocks, amounted
to eight of one hundred and ten guns, twenty-two of feventy-four, and twenty of fixty-fix ; twenty-feven
frigates, four bomb veffels, two prames, feventeen cutters, and four firefhips, befides gallies, and numerous
veflels of war, principally intended for making defcents, Of thefe, however, not more than thirty fhips of
the line could be confidered as fit for immediate fervice. t,
+ Seea lift of the Ruffian navy inthe Appendix. } See vol. ii. book 4. chap. 5.
§ The acquifition of Courland has fince added a {mall tra& of maritime coaft.
| ‘The ports in the Baltic being frozen during that period, no veflels can take their departure before April
or May, and muft return at lateft in October.
5°53 3. The
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