FROM THE CAPITAL OF THE CRIMEA, 
The port of Balaclava is certainly one of the 
most remarkable in the Crimea. From the town 
it appears like one of the smallest of our northern 
lakes, land-locked by high precipitous moun- 
tains. Although its entrance is so narrow, that 
ships can barely obtain a passage, yet it affords 
excellent anchorage, and security in all weather 
from the dreadful storms of the Black Sea. 
Ships of war find sufficient depth of water, and 
a safe asylum here. The heights around it are 
the first objects descried by vessels sailing 
from Constantinople. But if any ill-fated ma- 
riner, driven by tempests, sought shelter in the 
port of Balaclava during the reign of Paul, his 
vessel was speedily repulsed, or sunk, by an 
enemy as inhospitable as the wind or the waves. 
The inhabitants had small pieces of artillery 
stationed upon the heights, with the most po- 
sitive orders, from that insensate tyrant, to fire 
at any vessel presuming to take refuge there. 
The town is colonized by Greeks from the Morea; 
a set of daring pirates, to whom the place was 
assigned by the late Empress, for the services 
they rendered to Russia in her last war with the 
Turks. We found the inhabitants of Misilra, 
of Corinth, of the isles Cephalonia, Zante, ike. 
living, without any intermixture of Tahlars or 
of Russians, according to the manners and the 
customs of their own country. We were treated 
