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 from 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 )Sl4ndlt 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 fellow
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. Tho
1)41 !T4p 1.4.1. P P 4! lc YOl9 ccift }