The Press. — London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

85 TUE BALTIC FLEET. (Frost our Own Correspondent.) NsiwsN, August 28. NOTHING of interest has occurred during the last week, a heavy gale having been blowing all the time, which has caused some little anxiety as to the safety of the mortar boats which have been under the escort of several steamers as far as Elsinore, whence they are to find their own way home. Ad. miral Seymour has taken command of the fleet off Cronstadt, and has found it necessary to change their anchorage, which he has done by placing them more to the northward. In a few days they will be moved to Seskar Island, and I imagine this will be the first start towards finishing the campaign. A flag of truce was sent by Amphion to Sweaborg a few days since. The weather was exceedingly rough, which made the gay aide-de camp of the disgusted Governor of Sweaborg look excessively unwell. Smouldering fires still exist, and the whole place has a most miserable appearance, literally nothing but the atone batteries—many of which are cut out of the rock—remaining ; and we have re ceived information that five hulks lying at the back of the Island of Svartoe were burnt, and that five hundred Russian soldiers were killed, and more than 100 wounded. This report comes from a Russian who was present during the affair, and I think may he relied on. Nothing can be more ridiculous, or more contrary to common sense, than the Russian report, which states that 10,000 shells were thrown into the town of Sweaborg, and that, by the blessing of the Almighty, no damage was done. Such an audacious and sacrilegious untruth one does not often meet with. It may not be generally known that a thirteen-inch shell falls with a weight of sixty-fire tons. This projectile is loaded with combustibles of various descriptions, the most destructive of which are small pieces of Valencienne composition, which being thrown to some distance from the shell on its bursting, burn with a bright flame eight or nine inches in length for six minutes. That 10,000 of these shells (or perhaps less may be allowed of that large calibre) can fall into a town filled with store houses, magazines, barracks, and other public buildings, and do no harts—however, argument is thrown sway in this case. Europe will know how to appreciate the different reports ; and we at least have no reason to fear their verdict. Admiral Baynes has gone to the Gulf of Bothnia, where there is now a respectable force ; and rumour says that something (the old story) is to be attempted there. I am inclined to doubt the truth of the report. It is strange to remark that since the born• bardment of Sweaborg there has not been one day on which the weather would have admitted of such an operation, constant breezes, heavy swells, and rain having been prevalent. Pembroke, Hastings, and Edinburgh are gone, with their attendant gunboats, to different parts of the Gulf of Finland, to intercept the Russian trade which, in spite of the vigilance of our cruisers, is there carried on in a small way by fishing vessels, which creep along the shore amongst the rocks and shoals, where we find it very difficult to get at them. The Calcutta started on Saturday for home. The French mortar and gun boats are still here. As I before mentioned, there is a rumour that they are to strike another blow. The Cotteuham transport has become a perfect wreck during the last bad weather. The gun-boats are going to start home in about three weeks. The commander-in-chief, it is said, will pay a visit to Stockholm shortly. He probably will take one of the steam-frigates for that purpose, as the Duke cannot approach nearer than twenty miles to the town. The Dragon has been on shore, and had a narrow escape of being lost. She has arrived in Ledsund, having lost her anchors and being other. wise damaged. I can assure you it is no child's play cruising in the Gulf of Finland at this time of the year. Two or three line of battle ships dragged their anchors at Cronstadt ; and, what with currents, fogs, the want of lighthouses, &c., it is a matter of anxiety moving about. I hope we shall have no accidents. Vulture has just arrived, with the loss of both anchors, having been on shore. It is feared she has considerably damaged her forefoot. Geyser goes with the mail. All hands are looking out with great anxiety for such promotions as their Lordships may think some of our fellows who were actively employed deserving of. It appears that the Vulture is more damaged than was at first supposed. She mates seventeen inches of water an hour, and ap- Few t 9 Imo 4AI an uncommonly narrow escape. THE PRESS. THE WHITE SEA. Some account of exploring and experimental operations on the shores of the White Sea are . corn. municated by the writer of a letter printed in the Times. Subjoined are extracts from this narrative Her Majesty's Ship—, Cross Island,July 31. We started a few weeks since on a cruise to the Gulf of Migen. Our trip lasted four days. We went to the bottom of the gulf without meeting anything except two fishing boats. Leaving the ship about six miles from the mouth of the river, we took three boats and about thirty men, and proceeded on a reconnoitring expedition up the river. The flood tide carried us at the rate of five miles an hour, and by 1.30 p.m. we had run thirty miles, and were within two miles of the town of Niger'. The river is fro m half a mile to a mile wide all the way up. The water is gene rally deep, but there are numbers of sandbanks, which are nearly dry at low water. The laud on each side is covered with wood, the left bank nearly flat, but on the right side is a ridge, generally from thirty to sixty feet high. Inside the mouth of the river, on the left bank, we observed a village containing a pretty church and about thirty houses. Thence to Migen we saw nothing but a few log huts, except at one place on the left bank, where. there were a great number of horses feeding, which was evidently a breeding station. When we got about a mile and a half from Migen we landed on the opposite aide of the river, and, from a high bank, had a good view of the place. It is a large town of at least 20() houses, with three churches and about 1,500 inhabitants. We were satisfied that no vessels of any description were stowed away up the river, and, this being the object of our visit, we waited the turn of the tide, and then returned down the river again. During the half-hour we were on shore the sun shone out quite fiercely, and the cloud of mosquitoes that attacked us was past all experience or bearing. We got down near the mouth of the river by eight p.m., when we decided on examining the village we had passed in the morning, and so, leaving the boats at anchor as near as they could get, we went ashore in the gig, but hail to struggle through near a quarter of a mile of mud knee-deep before reaching hard ground. Here a lot of the men of the place met us without arms. There were a few piles of deals and a couple of saw-mills. going on, we presently came to a narrow but deep little river, and there we found hauled up on the bank three vessels ready for sea and one nearly ready for launching, the tonnage amounting altogether to 300 tons. Their lower masts were in, but the rigging and sails could not be found. All that could be made out from the natives was that they belonged to Migen. It was de termined to burn them, and after rejoining the boats, and waiting till the tide rose high enough to reland with suffi cient force, ten men were placed as a guard, and the rest soon had them all alight, and a good bonfire they made. The natives were quiet enough. All the women and children had gone into the woods, and the men sat down at some distance from ua, looking on. We did no harm to the village, the houses of which were clean and comfort able. The lower storey was generally used for a stable, and the family lived upstairs. They had plenty of glass windows, but not much ftirniture. Having done what we landed for, an order was given for each man to catch a sheep and carry it down to the boat ; and an amusing scene it was to see the fellows using their cutlasses, pistols, and muskets, among a flock to secure them. We also got a few fowls, and, had there been room in the boats, we might have captured a bullock or two. We shoved off, and reached the ship, after being away twenty-four hours. All hands were glad to get a little rest, but, except for the mosquitoes, we all enjoyed the trip excessively. On the 11th we were sent to relieve the Ph,rnix, with a sort of roving commission to cruise for ten days. We picked up the Phenix on the 12th. The Phenix started for Arch angel the same evening, and the next morning we left our snug anchorage (with the intention of visiting the island of Kio, which is the spot whence all the Onega trade is carried on. The navigation of this part of the world is decidedly intricate and unpleasant. One is always either on the top of a shoal, nearing, a reef, or looking out for broken water. After having twice nearly got ashore, we anchored about four miles off Kio at 3.80 a.m. on the 14th. We left the ship with three boats armed, fully expecting to find a military force on the island ; in fact, the other ships had not visited the place, and had heard there was a battery there. We found the island in the sole possession of a few monks and about twenty inhabitants. More than halt the island, which is a mile long, is covered with an enor mous quantity of deals. Enough are stored here to fill from sixty to eighty vessels, but before we left England directions had been given not to destroy these, as they are the property of English merchants ; but it seems deuced strange that the merchants don't send for them, cape cially as the island is unprotected. However, there stand the planks, and they are daily adding to them, as there were then several large flat-bottomed craft alongside the island discharging cargoes. There is also on the island a strongly-built massive monastery. When we landed the monks were down on the beach ready to receive us, which they did with profound respect. The monastery has lately suffered by an accidental lire. The church stands in the centre, and had a narrow escape. It was really worth seeing, the inside being covered with pictures of saints. with no end of relics and other holy articles. Our friend the abbot showed, by every wrinkle in his face, that he dreaded every moment our taking a fancy to some of his gear. After visiting the church, we came across a garden of radishes, which was a temptation not to be resisted. We made free with a few handfuls of them, and, after a most ceremonious parting with the brotherhood, we took our departure. We contrived, however, to take off a boat load of the planks. which were wanted fire the use of the slop. By noon we were on board, and immediately weighed, and returned up the gulf, keeping this time as close on the west side as the innumerable islands and shoals would allow. We anchored about three next morn ; ins iq the middle pf # fiVal ) atilig ) Sl4ndl t films SATURDAY, twenty miles westward of Solovetskoi ; we had been told some reindeer were to be found here ; so, after the men had dined, leave was given to nearly all hands to laud and have a chase; a few had muskets, and potted away at everything they saw. They managed to kill one reindeer, and some of us, keeping rather out of their way, got a couple more. All returned in the evening delighted with their run. On the 16th we steamed across to have a look at the celebrated monastery of Solovetskoi, which is really a fine and imposing building. They have about 00 Bob. diets, and a three-gun battery on each side of it. The soldiers were drawn up and the guns manned as we ap proached the place, but we did not anchor, and drifted quietly past. We took a sketch of it, and, having satisfied our curiosity, steamed away for the Gulf of Kandalak. The next day was foggy, with rain, so we went to have look at the Bay of Sosnovia, which is on the northern shore, and at the entrance of the inner gulf. This is the beat,—in tact, almost the only harbour we have seen in the White Sea where sailing vessels could resort with perfect safety. Leaving Sosnovia, wo examined some deep creeks to the westward, and, sweeping the shore with our glasses, a flock of sheep were discovered on an island separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. As nothing was to be bought here, anti our men were too well oared for to lose such an opportunity of giving them rope fresh mutton, two boats were sent off, winch returned, after a hard chase, with twenty five dead and fifteen live sheep. While thus innocently employed, three stupid Russians placed themselves under cover of a rock and fired away at the ship; but, as they were too far off to do any harm, they were not interrupted in their amusement. After hoisting the boats up we looked in at a small town called Umba,up a creek a little to the westward, but, there being no vessels of any sort to be seen, we pushed on up the Gulf of Kandalak. After passing divers shoals we arrived within eight miles of the head of the gulf by three a.m. Here the navigation became very intricate. As we approached the place we could see the inhabitants de parting with their moveables, and when we anchored not a living thing was to be seen anywhere. Feeling assured that every one had left the town, as they did when visited by Captain °mummify last year, orders were given to the first lieutenant that as soon as the men had breakfasted heves to land with two boats' crews, and see what was to be found, and whether there was anything like Govern. ment stores in the place. While the boats were being manned the officer of the watch observed several fello w with muskets in their bands dodging about among the houses; so three boats were ordered instead of two. They shoved off, but when about half way to the shore twenty or thirty soldiers ran out from the town, and at the same time a great lot of fellows with muskets ran out of the wood near the point; the first lieutenant was told to pull to, and all there, to the number of seventy or eighty, placed themselves under oover of a hill, and, as soon as the boats were within 400 yards, opened a sharp fire upon them. The boats were recalled, and sent to the opposite side of the river, where were about thirty houses, and where we could cover the landing from the boats with our muskets front the ship, which was anchored close in. As they approached another party just showed their heads on this side, and opened fire on both the boats and the ship. Our fellows soon landed, and ran up the bank, and the Russians cut back among the thick wood which covered the bill at their rear. A store and the houses on that aide of the river were set on fire, and, as the fellows on both sides were now blazing sway at us, keeping all the time too much under cover for us to do them any harm. the boats were again recalled. When they had returned the ship was weighed, and edged over to the other side of the river, nearer the town itself, into which a few shells and rockets were thrown to set it on fire ; but, as that did not answer, and our friends behind the hill were potting at us, and their balls often striking the ship, the big boat was got out with sisty•five officers and men, and sent ashore, and a broadside blazed into the town as they drew near. A heavy fire was now opened on the boats by a lot of blackguards from the windows of a large house and round the corners of Borne other houses. However, our fellows soon got ashore, and, running towards the house the llossians had fired from, killed or drove them out of the place. As 0 e number of soldiers now ender cover would have rendered a charge into the woods uncertain and dangerous, the signal was given to set tire to the town. This was soon done, and the whole place was in a tremendous blaze, the heat of which was felt on board the ship. Our men behaved very steadily, and kept well together, and, when the whole place was in flames, they all returned on board. But few Russians showed themselves from the woods after the town was on fire. By one p.m. the whole was destroyed except the principal church, which we were glad had tscaped. Having nothing more to do, and the tide serving, we steamed out, and, after a couple of hours of very anxious navigation, we found ourselves in deep water again. We had three men badly wounded in this little affair, and felt lucky at losing no lives. The Russians evidently expected that the ship would not be able to reach the town, and were fully prepared to give a boat attack a most warm reception. Had they lett us alone we should not have done them the least injury —as it is, they have to thank themselves for a pretty town, consisting of about a hundred houses, being reduced to ashes; besides, no doubt, the killing or wounding of sonic of our assailants, though we don't know to what extent. We could see no sign of any vessels up the gulf, but there are such innumerable deep creeks in all directions, that many may still lie concealed where we could not find them. We have the satisfaction, at any rate, of knowing that our presence in the White Sea puts an entire stop to all trade, except such as may be carried on by land or in little boats that pull close to the shore. We rejoined the Meander at Archangel on the 21st. THE cost of the lighting of Versailles during the splendid fete given to her Majesty was 11,1520 i. 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