an unlimited absence. This measure produced the most beneficial results. According to the regulation of the 30th of August, 1804, the soldiers having the right to unlimited leave, and who, in consequence of their irreproachable conduct, had acquired the right to a retreat, went to their homes, and, still having the advantage of belonging to the military rank, employed themselves in the different branches of industry. The efforts directed to an end so praiseworthy contributed, at the same time, to improve their individual condition and the resources of the State. The two manifestoes above alluded to, in improving the condition of the troops, had the inevitable consequence of diminishing, to some extent, the number of active troops. On one hand, the annual levies were not raised; at least, if not in all the governments, in a large portion of the empire: and, on the other, the time of the after-service being reduced, has tended considerably to reduce the skeletons of the army. This falling off is particularly felt at this moment, when the soldiers who have entered the service in consequence of the levies of 1812, 1813, and 1814, have obtained unlimited leave. Under these circumstances, we judge it necessary

to establish the staff of the army upon a footing corresponding with the necessities of the State, and with the end of completing our army and our fleet to proceed actually by acception to a general levy throughout the whole extent of the empire. There will be this year a general levy of recruits in all the empire, with the exception of Georgia and Bessarabia-namely, five recruits in one thousand male individuals; secondly, all the laws actually existing for the forwarding of recruits are maintained in their full vigour at the approaching levy; thirdly, there shall not be the least change in the regulations established for the enlistment of recruits among the Cossacks of Little Russia, and among the peasants belonging to the districts

of the military colonies for the cavalry.

From the "Morning Herald."

Extract of a letter from Odessa, dated August 15 :--"The Emperor Nicholas is expected here in the course of next month. He will remain some days, as he will go to inspect the building yards of Nicolaiew and Sebastopol, from which two ships of the

* The Press has been puzzled at the word Grusia, and therefore left it a blank. Grusia is the Russian for Georgia.

This refers to a tax on the nobility of 33 roubles per head, for the equipment of the recruits.

line and four frigates will be launched in his presence. The fleet in the Black Sea was never so powerful, and is ready for an expedition, of which the Grand Duke Constantine, Grand-Admiral of Russia, is to take the command, having Vice-Admiral Bellinghausen, a distinguished officer, as his second. On the 13th, fourteen vessels laden with corn sailed for Tchoupout-Kali, a port in Georgia, where magazines are being formed. All the Cossacks of the Black Sea, with ten regiments of Cossacks from the Don, are to march immediately to reinforce the army of the Caucasus. The Tcherkesses are constantly harassing the Russian cavalry. It is said that a Pole, named Pietrowski, a deserter from the Russian army, directs the movements of the tribes of Tchetchenzes, the bravest of the Caucasus and the most inveterate against Russia. General Count Witt is gone to Voznessensk, where he will wait for the Emperor, who will review the military colony of the 2d division of Cuirassiers, the 3d of the Lancers, and the 4th of the Hussars. General Rozniecki will precede the Emperor, as Inspector of Cavalry, in order to execute the plan of General Jomini for arming the Cuirassiers and Hussars with lances."

OBSERVATIONS

ON

THE PRESENT ARMAMENTS THROUGHOUT

THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.

Hardly nine months have elapsed since, in consequence of the hostile preparations of Russia in the Black Sea, England was under the necessity of increasing her naval establishment. by the addition of five thousand men. It was stated at the time, that this force was necessary for the protection of our commerce, and the maintenance of our maritime ascendency, in a ratio corresponding with the increase in the navies of other Powers. France, Holland, Sweden, and Sardinia, imitated our example; and thus the aggressive projects of Russia have imposed on the maritime States the burdensome maintenance of defensive armaments, at a period when every European Government, and England in particular, have repeated to satiety

their unabated desire, nay, their utmost anxiety, for the preservation of peace.

Under what circumstances, then, does Russia call, at this moment, for an army of one hundred and fifty thousand men, and assume a warlike attitude, which, considering the present amount of her fleets in the Baltic and in the Black Sea, is even more imposing than that which she displayed in 1812, when forced to contend for independence against Napoleon, supported by half the Continent? Are the gallant Circassians the sole object of preparations which extend throughout the entire Russian empire, or is it that Poland, the Don Cossacks, the Crimea, Georgia, Mingrelia, Immeritia, Persia, Moldavia, Wallachia, Servia, each and all sigh for the hour of retribution, and feel that their hopes, their sympathies, and their national existence, are inseparably attached to the success of those hardy mountaineers, the mere mention of whose name drew down upon us, eight months ago, from men of education, the charge of imposture?

If such be the grounds of the alarm which agitates the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, why is she not earnestly invited by those of her allies,