re
reckoned in round numbers as follows:

In Military
Heads. service.
On the Black Sea............................ 125,000 18,000
Great Russian Cossacks on the Caucasian Line 150,000 18,000
Don Cossacks................................ 440,000 66,000
Ural Cossacks............................... 50,000 8,000
Orenburg Cossacks........................... 60,000 10,000
Siberian Cossacks........................... 50,000 9,000
------- -------
Total..................................... 875,000 129,000

The Russian navy consists of two great divisions--the fleet of the
Baltic and that of the Black Sea. Each of these two fleets is again
subdivided into sections, of which three are in or near the Baltic and
three in or near the Black Sea, to which must be added the small
squadrons of galleys, gunboats, and similar vessels.

According to an official report, the Russian fleet consisted last year
of 290 steamers, having 38,000 horse power, with 2,205 guns, besides
29 sailing vessels, with 65 guns. The greater and more formidable part
of this navy was stationed in the Baltic. The Black Sea fleet numbered
43; the Caspian, 39; the Siberian or Pacific, 30; and the Lake Aral or
Turkistan squadron, 11 vessels. The rest of the ships were either
stationed at Kronstadt and Sweaborg or engaged in cruising in European
waters.

The iron-clad fleet of war consisted, at the commencement of 1868, of
24 vessels, with an aggregate of 149 guns, as follows:

2 Frigates, one of 18, and one of 24 guns.... 42 guns.
3 Floating Batteries of 14, 16, and 27 guns.. 57 guns.
2 Corvettes of 8 guns........................ 16 guns.
6 Monitors of 2 guns each.................... 12 guns.
11 Turret ships of 2 guns each................ 22 guns.
-- ---
Total, 24 iron-clads with............................ 149 guns.

The Imperial navy was manned at the beginning of 1868 by 60,230
sailors and marines, under the command of 3,791 officers, among whom
are 119 admirals and generals.]

I had a letter to Colonel Molostoff, the brother of a Siberian friend
and _compagnon du voyage_. I knew the colonel would not be at home on
the first day of the year,