Don and Occa. The fecond Communication is by a Canal near the Ivan Ozero, between a Branch of the River Don and the Tula, which falls into the Occa; this Work is above eight Englife Miles long, and has feveral Stone Sluices, though not quite brought to Perfection, and is only defigned for a Paffage for large Boats. Wolga and The third Communication is between the Wolga and the Wolchow, a River which runs by Novogrod and falls into the LadogaSea: This Canal is cut near Wifnei Woloczok, I think not above an English Mile long, and quite finished; a Mathematician was fent down this. Spring to take an exact Survey of it and the upper Parts of the two Rivers; and another Engineer was at the fame time difpatched to view the Rivers about the Biel Ozora, and other Lakes, to fee whether he cannot find a more convenient Passage into the Ladoga Sea; the River Wolchow below Novogrod having two or three dangerous Falls. This Communication feems to be more for Curiofity than Ufe, for the Frigates now bringing from Cafan, have been three Years in their Paffage; they are frozen up the fix Winter Months; during the Spring Floods for five or fix Weeks it is fcarce poffible for them to mount the Wolga against the Current; towards the Autumn the Waters are very low, and they are often forced to warp round the Points of Land and Sand Banks: This laft Winter a Carpenter was fent fent to cut down Oak for fix Fifty-gun Ships at Cafan, the Timbers were to be rough hewn there, and transported in flat-bottom Boats to Petersburgh; by the Time these will be on the Road,, it will be certainly known whether this Communication can be of any Use to Commerce. Conclufion. These Observations on the State of Ruffia are all that occur to me as neceffary, till the Influence of this Nation in the present War, and its Share in the general Affairs of Europe, makes this Country better known to Strangers. |