P. 11: “Shortly after leaving Odessa, on our way to Crim Tartary, we passed by Nickolaef, a place of some importance, since line-of-battle ships are built there. The Russians construct their ships as well, or nearly so, as any other nation : almost every department is directed by Englishmen. The admiral of the Black Sea, and governor of that country, is an Englishman, (Admiral Greig) who takes great interest in this particular department, and indeed in every other. The engineer superintending the construction of some dry docks, also the director of the cable manufactory, are English; and two of the senior officers commanding the squadron in the Mediterranean were educated in England, and have had all the benefit of our best colleges. There is, however, a serious defect in their ship-timber; an indigenous insect destroys it very quickly, and the vessels are soon rendered unfit for service: neither are they so strong, for at Navarino the Turkish balls went through the Russian vessels, but did not penetrate British sides.”
Source
Thomas Alcock. Travels Russia, Persia, Turkey and Greece 1828-1829. London, printed 1831. Digitized by Google.
Source
Thomas Alcock. Travels Russia, Persia, Turkey and Greece 1828-1829. London, printed 1831. Digitized by Google.
