792 
THE PORT OF GALATZ. 
provinces possess, are great; but at present can only be mentioned 
with regret that such advantages from nature should in a manner 
be blocked up at their spring-head, or drawn only into one 
thankless channel, by a power too proudly ignorant ever to 
understand even the selfish benefit of reigning upon liberal prin¬ 
ciples. In fact there are very few articles of traffic the Porte 
allow to be freely exported from either of these principalities; 
and in this scanty list we find as follows, sheep’s wool and hare- 
skins. The fine timbers of the country are completely monopo¬ 
lized by the Grand Seignior. That of Moldavia is of the best 
oak, and well calculated for the construction of vessels. The 
chief objects of importation are, coffee, rum, Greek wines, sugar, 
and spices ; and the great port of their entrance is that at Galatz, 
a town situated on the Danube, about sixty miles from the 
Black Sea. Our judicious Consul describes it so well, I need 
hardly do more than repeat his words, while all who throw their 
eyes on its relative situation, must see the consequence of such 
a port in the hands of a power capable of appreciating its 
advantages. 
“ Galatz is in Moldavia, but nearly touches the frontier of 
Valachia. It is situated at the beginning of the broadest and 
deepest part of the Danube. The river is so far navigable for 
ships not exceeding 300 tons burthen. Its principal entrance 
from the sea is not very easy to make, owing to the islands which 
divide it into three channels, two of which are shallow and dan¬ 
gerous. But ships bound hither take pilots on board, and with 
this precaution few accidents occur, particularly in the fine 
season. The navigation of the Danube closes in the month of 
November; and in very severe winters even this part of the 
river is completely frozen over for five or six weeks. In the 
