NICOLAIEFF. 
13 
for Cronstadt. Those effected, its naval utilities would have 
equalled its military strength ; and the expense and danger of 
launching vessels from the heart of the capital, being spared, 
Cronstadt might indeed have been the proudest boast of the 
Russian empire. 
The town of Nicolaieff is rapidly extending itself in size, and 
population, under the good government of Admiral Greig ; who, 
besides holding the post of its governor, is commander-in-chief 
of the fleet in the Black Sea. A judicious choice of men, so 
widely trusted, is not less honourable to the head that selects 
them, than happy for the people committed to their charge. 
Nicolaieff is one proof out of many, of this considerate delegated 
trust being worthily executed. But, without judgment in go¬ 
vernment, and ability in agents, empires cannot be built up ; 
and, when up, without the same system they cannot long be 
maintained. 
Amongst other excellent establishments at Nicolaieff, for the 
benefit of the public, and instituted by its successive governors, 
the Marquis de Traversy, a few years ago, founded a museum. 
On entering it, we found a good library, astronomical, and other 
scientific instruments, maps, charts, a few specimens of mi¬ 
neralogy, natural history, &c. And, considering the compa¬ 
ratively confined means of the liberal donor, the whole wears 
an appearance honourable to his science and his spirit. The 
collection of antiquities possesses some interesting remains; 
particularly the capitals of columns, parts of pilasters of white 
marble, and mutilated altars, which had been dug out of the 
ground where once stood Olvio, a city founded by the Greeks. 
Olvio was situated at some distance from the north-west bank 
of the Boug, near its junction with the lyman of the Dnieper. 
