The local Dutch
newspaper published a small item dealing with the strength of the Russian
navy in 1839. There were 50 ships of the line (5 of more as 100 guns, 18 of
80-100 guns, 20 of 70-80 guns, 7 ships of the line were on stocks and 25
frigates (4-60, the others with 36-50 guns). In the Baltic (called Oostzee)
were 30.800 men available and at the stations in the Baltic (called Baltische
zee) totally 50.600 men with in the Black Sea
another 19.500 men. In the Black Sea were around 15 steamships, all in England built,
some with 240-260 hp. The same newspaper published 3 February 1845 a news item that Jewish
children with the age of 7-8 years were forced to take service with the navy.
