1808. ] 
fined to the mere traffic with Conftanti- 
nople, foon funk into a {tate of almoft ab- 
folute inactivity. 
The Turks obtained from the maritime 
provinces of the Black Sea moft of the 
commodities neceffary for the confumption 
of Corftantinople, fuch as wheat, barley, 
honey, .wax, leather, caviar, have-fkins, 
wool, peliry, tallow, hemp, mafts, pitch, 
copper: they fent back in return other 
productions of the Ottoman empire, but 
principally Indian merchandize, ftuffs, 
and manufadlured goods brought to Con. 
ftantinople by the Europeans, from France, 
England, Holland, and Germany. 
But the aggrandizement of the Ruffian 
empwe, the progrefs which the arts and 
civilization were daily making in thefe 
countries, together withthe glory and the 
fplendour of the reign of Catherine IL., 
ded to the treaty of Kainargi, in 1774, by 
which the narrow circle of commerce was 
extended, and the Black Sea opened to 
Ruffian vefiels. 
From this period to 1781, when the au- 
thor of the Hiftorical Effay fet out from 
Conftantinople to inveftigate on the fpot 
what means might be devifed for elta- 
blifhing a ufeful reciprocity of commerce 
between Ruffia and France, the Ottoman 
flag appeared almoft exclufively in. the 
Black Sea, and the relations of trade were 
not extended beyond their fcrmer Jimits. 
It was however eafy for a man accufiomed 
to form found judgments on the great ope- 
rations of commerce to perceive, that 
with perfeverance and encouragement this 
order of things might be ameliorated, and 
a coinmerce with the South of Europe 
might be eftablithed. In this defign the 
author was feconded by the Count de St. 
Prieft, at that time Ambaflador.from the 
Court of France at Conftantinople. hat 
Minilter availed himfelf of his intelligence 
and his zeal to accompiith {uch an impor- 
tant objeét, which he himfelf had long~ 
had at heart. 
He embarked for Ruffia, and Janded in 
the Crimea in the month of April 1781. 
This province was not thenin the number 
of thofe which now compofe the valt em. 
pire of the Czars.. The Chan who ftill 
reigned there was under the protect:on of 
the Court of Peterfburg, and dicading 
the perf-cution of that of Conftantinovle, 
he fixed his refidence at Theodotia. This 
prisce, named Shahin Gueray, neither knew 
how to govern nor to defend himfcif. He 
was acculed of cruelty towards fuch of the 
Tartars, his fubjeéts, as appeared diflitis- 
fied with his government ; he was defirous 
4& making innovations ufelefs or prema- 
On the Commerce and Navigation of the Black Sea, 
‘from the Porte. 
Im it. 
3G 
ture; he alienated all hearts, and flattered 
him‘elf with the falfe hope of being able 
to overawe them by violence. He deter. 
mined, at an uafcafonable period, to re- 
form his nation, without pofleffing the 
fhining qualities which authorize the trial 
of fuch experiments. His table, {ays the 
author of the Hiftorica] Effay, was fkrved 
in the European ftyle; he feldom rede on 
horfeback ; contrary to the cuftom of the 
Eat, he went abroad almottcevery day, 
and appeared in public in an open car- 
riage, and concealed his beard with a 
black filk-handkerchief tied behind. 
The end of this prince is well known. 
Afier ceding his deminions, in 1784, to 
the Emprefs, he went to Ruffia, where he 
remained till 1786. Being defirous of re- 
turning to Turkey, he received permiffion 
But the ancieat animo- 
fity ftill fubfifted agaioft him at that 
Court. He was exiled: to Rhodes, and 
there {trangled in 1737. 
The Crimea furnifhes for the purpofes 
of commerce ox and cow-hides, wax, ca- 
viar, butter, tallow, hare-fkins, wheat, 
and great quantities of wool ; articles 
which inay be exported from it by means 
of the ports of the Mediterranean. 
Continuing his journey, or rather his 
courfe of obfervations, the author proceed- 
ed to Cherfon, (pronounced Kerfon,) a 
cenfiderable port on the Nieper, five 
leagues from the place where that river 
difcharges itfelf in'o the Black Sea. The 
traveller was there received with great dit 
tinction by the governor, M. Hannibal, 
from whom he obtained information tend- 
ing to facilitate the execution of the object 
he bad tn view.., 
_ Cherfon is fituated in the latitude of 
46° 38/29!’ north, end io the longitude 
of 30° 36'15” eat, reckoning from the 
meridian of Paris. This town is defended 
by a fortrefs and a citadel. It may be 
eonfidered as a place of great ftrength, 
and a numerous garrifon is conftantly kepe 
General Honnibal had collected a 
great qu-niity of naval ftores in the arfc- 
nal, at the period of the euthor’s vifit; 
and feveral fhips and frigates were on the 
frocks, As the navigable branch of the 
Nieper is only Ox or ieven fcet deep, itis 
found neceflary to employ camels to get 
the fhips of war down to Gloubok, and 
thence to Kulbouronn 3 but at prefent they 
are carried to Oczakow. Tre Ceurt of 
Roffia expended great foms in the evta- 
blifiment ef Cherion, and fought to draw 
inhabitants to the town, and cultivarors 
to the neignbouring country, by gratui- 
tous conceffionsof land. Thefe mealures 
have 
“ 
