The Times of Monday publishes an interesting despatch from Sir
Robert Morier in regard to our commercial relations with Siberia. It has been known for some years that it was possible for a ship during the summer months to pass through the Iron Gates of the Kara Sea, and enter the Arctic gulf into which drain the great Siberian rivers, the Yenisei and the Obi,—rivers to be compared with the St. Lawrence or the Mississippi, and navigable for nearly two thousand miles for vessels of large draught. Now, however, the original dis- coverer of the passage, Captain Wiggins, has returned to the venture first undertaken by him forty years ago. He last year succeeded in navigating an iron steamer of four hundred tons, the Phcenix,' from Newcastle-on-Tyne, through the Iron Gates, and two thousand miles up the Yenisei to Yeniseisk, the first large town on that river. There at this moment lies the 'Phcenix of Newcastle, in the heart of Asia, and only a few hundred versts from the Chinese frontier. In navigating his vessel up the unknown river, Captain Wiggins was helped by the blind chief of a Samoyede tribe, "whose accurate descriptions from memory of the landmarks enabled the Phcenix ' to ascend in safety." The chief had known Captain Wiggins eleven years before, and recognised him by his voice. The Russian Govern- ment have wisely and generously acknowledged the service done them by Captain Wiggins, and have granted a five years' concession for the free entry of certain classes of goods up the Yenisei, and a similar concession for one year up the Obi. lf this trade route can be regularly kept open, it is difficult to overestimate its importance in the development of Siberia.
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