The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

1,500 yards of the batteries. Some of the channels
twelve fathoms of water and the other six fathoms,
were found as far as the above distance without any
obstruction. The Russians imagined it impossible
for us to enter, for they never laid any infernal
machines. However, the main forts and innumerable
batteries and earthworks were upon us, and the
broadside of a three-decker faced us. Our boats re-
turned from sounding at about one in the morning.
Tuesday.

Beautiful morning—the afternoon warm. At ten
a.m. our gun-boats got under weigh, and, tackling
their respective mortar-boats, moved them in their
position. Each mortar-boat had about 150 fathoms
of hawser to haul it in or out, according to circum-
tances. The Russians appeared in great activity.
Great numbers of troops crowned the heights—pro-
bably not less than 10,000 men are exercising and
practising near the Cathedral of Helsingfors. At
Sweaborg great numbers of men are working at
earthworks. The fact is, we have come in on a side
they little expected we should have dared to enter.
The enemy did not fire a gun while the mortar-
boats were taking up their position.
I will now try and give you an account of the bom-
bardment of this place, but I don't think it will be a
very good one; you will have a much better one from
the papers.
We commenced with the gun and mortar boats on
the 9th—the firing made a dreadful noise—the
enemy replied feebly. Three block-ships, the Hastings,
Cornwallis, and Russell, liners, engaged the batteries
at Sandhamn : the bombardment at this time was
very violent, and the firing tremendous.
Half-past Nine—Shells bursting right and left of
the Government buildings.
Quarter to Ten—A dense black smoke arose from
the town, the effects of our fire. Quarter-past ten,
a tremendous explosion took place. The sailors were
cheering away all the time we were filing red hot shot,
and the Russians likewise. The liners at Sandhamn
were obliged to haul out about this time ou account
of the Russian fire being too hot for them. The Rus-
sian fort where the explosion took place is a heap of
ruins. The Cossack, Arrogant, and Cruiser opened
fire upon come troops about Helsingfors.
Five minutes to Twelve—A very large magazine
blew up.
Twenty minutes past Twelve—A series of terrific
explosions occurred in the main fortress :
rockets, shot, &c., must have been hurled a tremen-
dous height into the air, and I don't doubt but that
hundreds must have lost their lives in that explosion.
It continued about four minutes. Though it was
splendid to behold, thers was something dreadful in
the thought that such numbers of human beings
must be hurled to destruction.
Half past Twelve—The whole town on fire. It is
a beautiful sight. The last explosion must have been
of some mines under the fort, for that is the only
thing we think that could account for it.
Quarter past Two—Our fire is terrible and doing
great mischief to the enemy. Sweaborg is flaming
away in four places.
Half-past Three—The Russian flagstaff and stan-
dard are carried away.
Quarter to Six—Another fire breaks out in the di-
rection of the citadel—the citadel is in flames—the
town on fire in all directions—the flames from the
burning citadel burst forth with amazing brilliancy.
Cannonade not iu the least abated. A gentle breeze
springing up about this time is fanning the flames
into a general conflagration. The Admiralty is a
heap of ruins.
Half-past Nine—Rocket-boats departed from this
ship to fire the town more completely, under the com-
mand of Captain Caldwell of this ship. There were
about forty boats. At ten o'clock they opened fire, and
a beautiful sight it was.
Wednesday.

Seven, a.m.—Sweaborg is still burning. A rocket
burst in one of the Vulture's boats last night. All
the men jumped into the water. Luckily, only two
were hurt.

Eight—Our shell telling with its usual effect.
Nine—Two of our boats went close in shore. The
enemy fired a storm of shot and shell at them, but
they returned safe.

Half-past Ten—A number of new fires appearing
in the town, we were looking earnestly for some more
explosions. There were a numbet of spectators and
soldiers on the heights at Ilelsingfors, looking on.
I should like to tire a shell or two among the latter,
but our guns do not range so far.
Quarter to One—The sides of the great sheds in
the dockyard fell in . the flames mounted to a great
height.
Half-put Four—The whole town completely en-
veloped in smoke. Many of the gun-boats having
expended their shot, have returned for more.
Quarter-past Six—The fire on both sides more
terrific than since the bombardment began. Fires
breaking out everywhere.
Twelve, midnight—All the fires seem in one, and
the grandeur of the scene surpasses all description.
At ten o'clock a tremendous explosiPn in the firlieWtla

SATURDAY,

The damage done mac be immense, for the stores
and Government buildings are completely destroyed.
The sight during the bombardment was beautiful.
The shells at night seemed like small stars running
across the heavens. There were not above twelve
men wounded during the whole affair; whilst the
Russians, if they bad one killed, had two thousand
or more. I have done my best to give you an ac-
count of it. We left off on Saturday—had a quiet
day on Sunday—but thought I should have liked to
have kuocked down all the forts.