ODESSA, a seaport town in the government of Cherson in southern Russia. It is situated on the Black sea, between the embouchures of the Dneiper and the Dneister, and has increased with wonderful rapidity. In 1795 there were but a few houses. In 1804, the number of inhabitants was 15,000, and in 1816 they have been stated to be 35,000. It is now the great entreport for the commerce of southern Russia. In the first six months of 1816, 498 vessels entered the port, and 246 departed, the latter carrying away Russian produce to the amount of 15,220,000 roubles. The port was naturally only an open road, but has been improved by works at a great expence, and rendered capable of holding 600 vessels. The principal exports consist of corn, salt beef, timber, &c. This port promises to become as important for the southern provinces as Petersburg for the northern. The improvements made in the navigation of the Dneister, have induced the Poles to send a considerable portion of their produce down that river, whence it is conveyed by lighters to Odessa, and then shipped for the various markets in the Levant and the south of Europe.