*;S JOURNEY THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE CRIMEA,

011 thefe batteries. Throughout the fummer, a frigate isftationed here for guarding the Bofphorus ; but, on the ap-proach of winter, it returns to Akhtiar, as the ftreight isufually covered with ice. At a fmall diftance from this guard-ihip, the quarantine of Kertfh has been eftabüfhed on (höre;though it has hitherto afforded but very few conveniencesfor mariners; there being only fome indifferent houfes, and avineyard originally planted by flaves imported from Georgia.

It has frequently been propofed to appoint at Kertfh ageneral quarantine for all veffels frequenting the fea of Azof:by this regulation, the Ruffian empire would derive manyadvantages. The firfl and moft eflential would certainly bethat of infuring, to the interior provinces, perfed fafety fromepidemic infecYion, which can with difficulty be preventedon the very extenfive, and on every fide acceffible, coafts ofthe fea laft mentioned: in the next place, the expences ofquarantine and centinels, which muft neceffarily be fupportedat Taganrog and other places, might be eaiily faved; laftly,fuch meafure would greatly facilitate both the export andthe coafting trade, which are at prefent extremely defective.Thus the town of Kertfh would fpeedily receive an additionalnumber of inhabitants ; become a kind of emporium for Rufhancommodities; and fhips of confiderable burthen (which cannotpafs through the Bofphorus, on account of its waters beingonly from fifteen to fixteen feet deep) could here be ladenat a reduced freight, as they might in one fummer performtwo voyages. Farther, the barges navigating the river Don,and fupplying the port of Taganrog with grain, iron, hemp,fail-cloth, and mafts, would doubtlefs give the preference to that

of