Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/80

54 between our ship and that of the Admiral 3 decker and were well satisfied that she could have been no match for us. Most of the guns were of small calibre & in comparison with the weight of metal our broadside guns & the state of the weather and smoothness of the water, that we could have demolished the whole fleet of some 18 vessels. I had not been able to form any idea of the power we had in our single ship, and how effectively our single frigate would have been in such a Contest. I had a full view of all the vessels as we passed through the fleet my station being in the Main top. The Russian fleet were bound to Cronstadt for their winter quarters, thus we had the opportunity of inspecting during our stay.

The dock is a high one of large dimensions in the form of an immense cross, capable of containing all the large vessels of their Navy, and were all docked for the winter, but it is not a little singular that this form should have been chosen as no one vessel could be docked and repaired singly—it may be that it was the most economical plan of construction as the whole fleet was unusually late laid up, and the crews discharged. It was said that the officers received their pay from the sale of the tackle and apparel of the ships, and that it was done to avoid greater evils, that if this was not done the apparel would all be stolen or made away with, and the government thereby gained by paying its officers off with it, involving, of course, a new outfit every season. Whether this was done with a view of economy or to keep the manufacture of the articles all of which is furnished by the country, I have never heard or seen it stated. But I believe there is no doubt that it is the case; the Men's pay was of small amount and little funds were required to pay them off. It seems however extraordinary that any Government should be unable to control its officers and employees without resorting to such Manner which must, of course, lead to more or less peculation. The comparison we were enable[d] to make between the rigging, spars, and equipment of our own ship with that of a Russian fleet should have been so vastly superior; the rigging and sails were twice if not three times as large, and I will add as effective for war purposes. In fact, the Russian fleet was so apparently deficient in all aspects that it gave us a very contemptible idea of its order and discipline. The vessels we saw in the dock were of the most antiquated forms, small and very roughly put together, and probably had not undergone much change since the great Peter first established this dockyard and this Navy. It is not probable that the Navy of Russia will ever become very formidable or proven of any weight in battle—the crews are for the most part recruits from the Army and drafted as wanted on the opening of Navigation.

The town of Cronstadt is almost entirely occupied by the Government employ as extensive stone Quays have been built and the forts well placed to guard it and the fleet when afloat, but this is with reference to the former mode of attack and defense; under the larger ordnance and effective implements of war they would be of little account. [In] the shallowness of the water in what may be called the harbour, or rather,