at all times pass the bar at the mouth of the harbour. Heavy gales of south-west wind will sometimes accumulate the sand on it, which is again taken away by the current, arising from the springs in the lake and the small rivulet which runs into it. The harbour of Liebau, though it may now be called a lake, was formerly an arm of the sea; it was only in the year 1680 that its formation was begun by sinking prams filled with stones: an annual revenue was raised to complete this work by the then dukes of Courland, sometimes amounting to near 40,000 dollars, but afterwards it was chiefly applied to other purposes, leaving but sufficient to keep the harbour in repair, which is still attended with some expense. Vessels which cannot run into the harbour must lay in the roads, one to two English miles below it, where they are loaded or unloaded by craft. These roads are much exposed to winds in nearly all directions: the road has good anchoring ground, yet the bottom is stony, from which ships' cables will suffer in boisterous weather. The city of Liebau has drawn its articles of exportation from all the adjacent provinces under the Russian dominions since 1795, when it became subject to it; since then it appears not to have had so much trade: indeed the facilities given to the other Russian ports, by inland navigation, makes it unfavourable to Liebau, which cannot avail of water communication to other places, but carries on its trade by land carriage, or in winter by sledge-way, as far as from 150 to 200 English miles distance. The lake, or harbour, serves only to convey wood for building, firing, and other domestic purposes, having no exportation in that branch, which is chiefly at Windau. It will appear that the trade of Liebau was formerly more considerable, before it came under the Russian government, both in imports and exports; indeed, its situation at that time betwixt Russia and Prussia was found prejudicial to both Memel and Riga, as well to the commerce of the two governments, from the clandestine trade carried on. The conveniences of warehouses, both for foreign and their own trade, and the reasonable charges were a great encouragement. The common rate of storage of corn is about 10 ferdings per last; and hemp, flax, and other articles, which pass through the scale, are 4 ferdings per shippound. There is some shipping belonging to the native merchants of this place, from 50, 80, to 100 corn lasts each, which are well adapted for the harbour, and chiefly employed to Lubec and other Baltic ports. We shall give an account of the general exportation in 1803, and also the importation of that year into and from Liebau, which will be found to consist of such articles as are chiefly from Riga, with the excep tion of wood. The sowing linseed is reckoned good, and the crushing seed productive in oil. The flax, however, from that place is not so much esteemed in England, but is better adapted for the Portugal and Spanish markets. Hemp is chiefly what is called Pass, which has a strong staple, but not so well cleaned as that from Riga, although they are now improving in both respects. Holland has the principal share of the corntrade of this place; the quality of its rye is considered particularly productive in their distilleries. It is only in scarce and dear years that any grain is exported from thence to England: a good deal of grain is exported from hence to the southern markets, on account of its being prepared to bear the voyage better than that from Dantzic, and many other ports. They have sworn brackers here, under nearly the same regulations as at Riga, for the hemp, flax, some other articles exported, and for herrings imported; and all bargains are made through the medium of sworn brokers, who are recommended by the merchants, and afterwards, if they are approved, confirmed in the appointment by the magistrates. The Dutch formerly engrossed the greatest share of the trade of this place, but now the English have lately embarked more in it: perhaps this was first occasioned by the war, in which the Dutch commerce has suffered so much, and by the interruption of their communication with the Mediterranean. This latter cause has induced them to import considerable quantities of salt from Liverpool, which they used to have from Terrevegia, Ivica, Trappani, Caglaiari, Allematte, and St. Ubes, which they reckon the best; the next, Lisbon, Cadiz, St. Lucar, Ivica, and Alicant. Fishery-salt fetches six and seven rixdollars more than fine white salt. All duties or customs are now the same here as throughout the other ports of Russia, and are paid in bank-notes at a fixed, value; but the charges, &c. of less consequence, are paid in Alberts rixdollars, and smaller silver. All merchandize, on which the duties have been duly paid at the custom-house here, are afterwards free throughout the whole empire. Their books and accounts are kept the same way as at Riga, in Al berts rixdollars, and ferdings, or grosh; four orts (or quarts) make one Alberts dollar, and eighty ferdings the same value. All bargains for merchandize are made in Alberts dollars; no other coin is here in circulation, except Dutch specie dollars, passing by the name of Alberts dollars; these are imported either immediately from Holland or Konigsburg. The old style is here continued, and they draw on London, at three months date, in pounds sterling. Amsterdam, at forty-one or seventy-two days date, in Hollands currency. Hamburg, at thirty, forty-five, and sixty-five days date, in Hamburg Banco, in much the same way as Riga. Their bills are sent for negotiation principally to Konigsburg, receiving specie in return; sometimes to Riga, for which generally 1 per cent. is allowed for commission, brokerage, postage, &c. For the fluctuations of exchange, the merchants of this place naturally are governed in fixing a sufficient high rate to cover all risks, although it will sometimes be against them. Here the same weights and measures are used as those at Riga; the only difference is, that one last of rye, Liebau measure, contains 48. loops, that of Riga only 45; other kinds of grain are the same. Salt 2 to 3 tons, or 115,to 120 bushels from Liverpool, makes 1 last here.. ACCOUNT of the Exportation of the principal Produce from Liebau, in 1803. 741 lasts of the inferior kind. 730Hempseed. In the Autumn, 180 lasts 9 ps. 14488 . 678 994 last -lps. second do. 190 Soap, Russia Beef, salted. Linseed for sowing Exported in the spring to To Bremen 5257 Barrels Total 1993 The value of the whole 2,319,697 rubles 247 15 Total 262 Sail-cloth Total 5411 Of the Russian Frontier Trade, betwixt the Baltic and Black Seas. To form a more accurate idea of the general trade of European Russia, we shall shew its commerce by land, and the rivers on the frontiers of Prussia, Austria, and Turkey; giving the particulars of each, to form a complete chain from the White Sea to the Baltic, and from thence to that of the Black Sea; a description of which will likewise follow. In the year 1797, the trade of Russia, on the frontiers of Prussia and Austria, was as follows: In the year 1802, the amount of the inland trade, at the frontier places on the side of Prussia and Austria together, has increased to amount in value in imports to ro. 10,572,345, exports 4,487,995. The inland trade, at the frontiers on the side of Turkey in 1797 and 1802, was as follows, |