ODESSA, is one of the most famous com mercial cities of the Russian empire. It is on the borders of the Black Sea; and in the year 1817 it was declared a free port for third years. Though not situated at the mouth of any great river, Odessa, in consequence of its excellent harbour and convenient situation, is the emporium where the surplus produce of southern Russia is collected for exportation, and where foreign products required for the interior are imported. The products brought down the Dniester, the Bug, and the Dnieper, are all exported from Odessa; but because of the difficulties of the river navigation, a vast quantity of the corn brought to the town from the neighbouring provinces is conveyed on carts drawn by oxen. The trade of Odessa extends to all parts of the Mediterranean and western Europe. The chief exports are— corn, tallow, linseed, wool, iron, hides, copper, wax, caviar, potash, beef, furs, cordage, sail cloth, tar, butter, isinglass, dec. The imports consist of coffee, sugar, and other colonial products; cotton, silk, and woollen goods ; oil, wine, brandy, spices, dyestuffs, tobacco, fruits, raw cotton, tin, cutlery, timber, dec. In ordi
nary years about 800 foreign ships enter and leave the harbour ; th8 value of the imports is close upon a million sterling, that of the exports is nearly two millions annually. The trade of Odessa has increased greatly within the last few years—a circumstance which is no doubt in a great measure, but not alto gether, owing to the failure of the crops in western Europe, and the consequent demand for foreign supplies. In the first six months of 1817, 709 foreign ships arrived with im ports worth 893,9171.; and 731 sailed with 1,056,493 quarthrs of corn, and a total value of exports amounting to 2,716,9691. The ex ports are usually more important during the last six months of the year. The privileges of a free harbour are continued to Odessa till 1854, by an imperial ukase issued in 1849 ; this freedom of the port has an immense in fluence on the nature and extent of the trade. Odessa has considerable breweries, distilleries, and manufactories of woollens, silks, tobacco, soap, and candles.