a sea-port town of Russia, where the greatest part of the navy is stationed. It stands upon the island of Retufari in the gulf of Finland; and was founded by Peter I. as being provided with the safest harbour in these parts, and as forming a strong bulwark by sea for the defence of the new metropolis. The only passage by which ships of burden can approach Peterburgh lies on the south side of Retufari, through a narrow channel; one side whereof is commanded by Cronstadt, and the opposite by Cronslot and the citadel. Cronslot, which stands upon a small island of sand, is a circular wooden building, and surrounded with fortifications of wood that jut into the water. It contains a garrison of 100 men. The citadel is another small wooden fortress, constructed also upon an adjacent sand-bank, and capable of holding about 30 soldiers. All large vessels must sail between Cronstadt and these two fortresses, exposed to the fire of the opposite batteries; for the other parts of the gulf are only from one to eleven feet in depth. All these fortifications were, at the time of their construction, esteemed places of considerable strength; but now they derive their consequence more from their past importance than from any resistance they could make against the attack of a powerful fleet.

Cronstadt is built upon the south-eastern extremity of the island, and is defended towards the sea by wooden piers projecting into the water, and towards the land by ramparts and bastions. It is a very straggling place; and occupies, like all the Russian towns, a larger space of ground than the number of habitations seems to require; the houses are mostly of wood, excepting a few fronting the harbour, which are of brick stuccoed white. Among the latter are the imperial hospital for sailors, the barracks, and the academy for marines and officers of the navy. That seminary usually contains between three and four hundred cadets, who are clothed, maintained, and taught at the expense of the crown. They are admitted at the age of five, and are suffered to remain until they reach their seventeenth year. They learn accounts, mathematics, drawing, fortification, and navigation; and have masters in the French, German, English, and Swedish languages. They are trained to naval affairs, and make an annual cruise in the Baltic as far as Revel. Cronstadt has a separate haven appropriated to the men of war, and another to merchant ships. Close to the haven for merchant ships is a canal and several dry docks, begun in 1719 by Peter I., for the purpose of refitting the men of war. This useful work was neglected under his successor, and was not completed until the reign of his daughter Elizabeth. It has been still further beautified and improved by the present emperors; and is now applied for building as well as careening ships of the line. At the extremity of these docks is a great reservoir 568 feet in length, which contains water sufficient, and half the quantity over, to supply all the docks; which is pumped into it by means of a fire engine, the diameter of whose cylinder is six feet.

The length of this work, from the beginning of the canal to the end of the last dock, is 4221 feet. The sides of the docks are faced with stone, and the bottom is paved with granite. They are 40 feet deep and 150 broad; and are capable of containing nine men of war upon the stocks.