Naturally, his policy impregnated Russia with a strong anti-British feeling, and it was said that her activity in running up earthworks and apparently impregnable fortifications was in anticipation of Disraeli declaring war and ordering the fleet to bombard the Crimean ports; hence, too, in addition to the strong fortifications, torpedo mines were laid for miles along the seaboard, and every possible means and opportunity were taken to make it widely known that the Black Sea was one deadly mine-field.  The Press on all sides was, as usual, brimful of reports of the most alarmist nature—­these, of course, for the most part extravagant and inaccurate rumours.  Nor did the Russian Press minimize accounts of the terrible devastation that was wrought on unarmed trespassers who came within the zone of terror.  I read twice of my own rapid and complete destruction.  There is no doubt that mines were laid, though both their capacity for destruction and the number of them was very much exaggerated.

From the end of ——­ outer breakwater to beyond the ——­ there was a line of mines which left between the land and them a channel less than half a mile wide.  A gunboat with torpedo pilots aboard was moored at the south end, and vessels prior to the war and during the armistice were compelled to take a pilot in and out; but no vessel was allowed to pass in or out from sunset to sunrise.  A gunboat was also stationed outside the inner breakwater.  A large fleet of steamers had been attracted by the high freights, inflated by the war fever that permeated Europe at that time, and also because the season was far advanced, and merchants were anxious to get their stuff shipped in case hostilities broke out.  The heavy snowstorms had made the roads almost impassable, but in spite of great difficulties the loading was carried on; slowly, it is true, but with dogged perseverance.  The frost had become keen, and large floes of ice were rushed down the reaches by the swift current.  Booms were moored outside the vessels to protect them, but these were constantly being carried away, and not a little damage was done.  A consultation amongst the captains was held as to the advisability of leaving with what cargoes they had aboard, but only two decided to start on the following morning.  Some of the others said they could force their way through six inches of ice, and would risk waiting to receive their whole cargo.  Accordingly, as soon as it was daylight one of the captains who had made all arrangements to leave gave orders to unmoor.  The other had changed his mind, and fell in with the views of the majority.  The captain of the Claverhouse, however, got underweigh, but before getting very far his engineer reported that the hot-well cover had broken in two.  It was temporarily repaired, and she got along famously until they came to a bend in the river where there was much packed ice.  For two hours manoeuvring continued without any appreciable result.  At last the big mass began to move, and a navigable channel was opened, which enabled the vessel to make slow though risky progress through a field of moving ice.