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being left to him, occasioned formerly an extrava-gant expense ; and still this article runs high. Thisvaluable advantage of good sailing is of the lessservice to the Tsar, through an unreasonable pre-possession in favour of his officers and people,arising from a long series of success, and inducinghim to send out every year more ships to sea thanhe is in a condition to man with sailors of anyexperience; and if pursuing or pursued by anenemy, they will never be able to manage their sails,nor work their ships so quick as is necessary in achase; much less be prepared for all winds andweather. And, though the season there for shipsbeing at sea is comparatively short, and storms lessfrequent in summer; yet they must take theirchance, and will many times meet with variablewinds and changeable weather. However, theTsar’s eager thirst after fame will not permit him tobe convinced of his error. If a Russian offers toundeceive him, he apparently runs the risk of beingbranded with the odious name of ‘ Old Russian,’ onedisaffected to his Majesty’s glorious administration.Nor will this Prince suffer a native of his dominionsto enter the lists of comparison in point of maritimeskill. If a foreigner presumes, his courage orcapacity is called in question; or at least he isthought to entertain too mean an opinion of theRussian improvement; though any man that hasseen the condition their ships are in at sea, in astrong gale of wind, must readily allow a muchinferior force might easily attack and destroy them ;provided there was sea room sufficient to preventtheir escaping into their harbours. For at such ajuncture, though under no extraordinary apprehen-sions, and consequently in free exercise of thought,they never could manage their ships as they ought.And how much less will they be able to do it, after