Some times unexpected books give us some naval information, for instance the biography of Reginald Heber, written by his widow. In Heber’s’ letter (p. 358-359), while staying at Moreton, 1812 he wrote to the esquire R.W. Hay: “I am sorry that I can send you no satisfactory answer respecting the Russian navy at Cherson and Nicolaef. I had taken some memoranda respecting both these places, but since Dr. Clarke has selected from my journals whatever he thought most curious, my papers have been so much dispersed, that I am altogether at a loss to know how to recur to any part of them. The last time since I received your letter had been spent in endeavouring to recover some facts, but there are none on which I can rely. At Cherson they were building two ships, one of 60, the other of 36 or 38 guns, which were them very little advanced beyond the keels. I think, but am not positive, that there were no vessels in a sea-worthy state, except some of the small craft used in the Black Sea, of four or six guns, and a large lateen sail. At Nicolaef there was little appearance of activity in the dock-yards, as far as building was concerned; but a great show of stores, great at last to an inexperienced eye; three sails of the line, I think, were in the harbour, but apparently as well stricken in years as those in Sebastopol. Next to being able to give information oneself is telling where it can be got; and I recollect an intelligent young Englishman whom I met at Cherson, with the consul Yeames, who was very well-informed as to the sea-ports in the south of Russia. … From him you may obtain more satisfactory intelligence as to the two arsenals which are the objects of your inquiry”.
Source
The life of Reginald Heber, D.D. Lord bishop of Calcutta with selections from the correspondence, unpublished poems, and private papers; together with his tour in Norway, Sweden, Russia, Hungary and Germany, and a history of the Cossaks. Vol. I, New York, 1830. Digitized by Google.
Source
The life of Reginald Heber, D.D. Lord bishop of Calcutta with selections from the correspondence, unpublished poems, and private papers; together with his tour in Norway, Sweden, Russia, Hungary and Germany, and a history of the Cossaks. Vol. I, New York, 1830. Digitized by Google.
