PROUD FLOTILLA GRACED THE ARAL,
upreared as if by magic hands. This was the initiative in Russia’s grandest Dream of Empire. These vessels had crossed the Aral barrier, and swooped down like things of life on the insulated sea, the inhabitants of whose shores fondly dreamed they dwelt secure in Nature’s fastness. Impossible would it have been to transport vessels in their entirety over the rugged heights, and deadly impracticable would it have been to attempt their construction on the Aral seaboard, in full view of an alert and suspicious people.
Here it may be well to introduce three letters, the originals of which are in possession of the writer, and which are fully corroborative of the preceding statements.
“To His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine:
“I beg leave to present to Your Imperial Highness lithographs of the two corrugated galvanized iron steamers, built at Liverpool for the Syr Dariah River, under the supervision of Captain A. Boutakoff, of the Russian Imperial Navy.
“The two steamers, together with one barge and a lifting dock, are finished, ready for shipment. Captain Boutakoff left Liverpool March 25 (13th).
“Your Imperial Highness’ humble servant,
(Signed.)“JOSEPH FRANCIS.”
“Marine Ministry of the Shipbuilding Dep’t. } March 31, 1861—No. 189. “To Mr. Joseph Francis:
“The letter which you addressed to His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke, General Admiral, on the 25th March, with which you presented to His Imperial Highness two drawings of corrugated iron steamers, has been sent to this committee, with a resolution from the Ministry of Marine, stating that His Imperial Highness desired his thanks to you. The committee has the honor to inform you thereof.
“Manager, Bellarmsky“THE PRESIDENT.
(Signed.)“Major-General CHERNOFSKY.”
| “Marine Ministry of the Shipbuilding Dep’t. | } |
| March 31, 1861—No. 189. |
(Letter from Admiral Boutakoff to Mr. Francis.)
“Fort No. 1, Syr Dariah, July 2, 1862.
“Dear Mr. Francis—The new steamers of my flotilla, built at your works at Liverpool, are not yet launched, but I hope to accomplish it in about a month. The boilers, on account of the great difficulty of transporting them across the Desert, will not arrive before the middle of August, so that I shall not have sufficient time to employ the new steamers this year, but will give them a trial upon the Syr Dariah. The parts of the pontoon dock will be here about the end of August, giving us time to put them together next winter.
“With a hearty shake hands, and my sincere sympathies with your northern countrymen, of whose victories I congratulate you.
“I remain, yours most truly,
(Signed.)“A. BOUTAKOFF.”
On the launching of the steamers, the Emperor congratulated Mr. Francis on the success of the invention by which the first obstacle that barred the way to the conquest of a vast territory was removed, opening an avenue to increased Empire.
After the survey of the Aral, only rendered possible by the construction of these vessels, fortifications were constructed on the shores of that sea, and the long-deferred conquest of that section of Asia was, to all intents and purposes, accomplished.