The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-29 00:00:00

THE FLEETS.

According to latest news from the Baltic fleet, Ad-
miral Napier had formed his fleet into three divisions,
disposed in such a way that he can, in case of need,
reunite them for battle. The first of these divi-
sions takes up its station near the Gulf of Livonia,
not far from the ports of Polandgen, Libau, and Win-
dau ; the second in the same gulf, in sight of Riga
harbour, so that it can prevent all communication by
sea ; and the third is placed at the entrance of the
Gulf of Finland, for the sake of observation, not far
from Sweaborg (Helsingfors), where the Russian
Baltic squadron still keeps close.
Many prizes have been taken both in the Baltic
and the English Channel. Some days since the
total value of the captured vessels was estimated at
70,0001. or 80,0001.
The Admiralty have decided that all prizes sent
home from the Baltic shall proceed direct for
London, and not (except under peculiar circum-
stances) be brought into the Medway in future.
The French fleet, under the command of Vice-
Admiral Parseval Deschenes, passed Dover on Thurs-
day morning, on its way to the Baltic. This squad •
ron is composed of the following vessels :—Tage,
100 guns; Austerlitz (screw), 100; Hercule, 100;
Jemmappes, 100 ; Breslaw, 90 ; Duguescin, 00 ;
Inflexible, 90; Duperre, 80 ; Trident, 80; Semil-
lante, 60 ' • Andromaque, 70 ; Vengeance, 60 ; Pour-
suivante, 50 ; Virginie, 50; Zenobie, 50; Psyche, 40;
Darien, steam-frigate, 14; Phlegeton, steam-corvette,
10 ; Soujieur, ditto, 6 ; and Milan, Lucifer, Aigle,
and Daim, small steamers. A body of infantry and
marine artillery is on board this squadron.
From the Black Sea our latest advices are of the
14th, at which date they were lying distributed
between Varna, Kavarna Bay, and Baljick. La
Furieuse had been sent to Odessa to bring away the
British consul and subjeets. Notwithstanding she
displayed a flag of truce, she was fired on from the
fortress. The excitement was very great on board
Übe allied fleets. There was a general illumination
of the fleets on the 10th, when the Banshee brought
he order to commence the war.
The following narration of a "plucky" action bythe
little Fury, a 6-gun steamer sent out to reconnoitre
Sebastopol, is given in a letter from Baltschitsch, m
Kavarna Bay, under date of the 14th instant:—
"On the 10th April, H.M.S. Fury left the fleet on a
cruise, unaccompanied by any French steamer. On the
afternoon of the 11th the western coast of the Crimea
was distantly visible, and, in order not to be discovered
too soon, she stood off from it. During the night
and in the early part of the morning she gradually edged
in to the shore, but the brilliancy of the moon was a great
drawback to her plans On the 12th, at half-past 3 a.m.,
she steamed ahead at full speed, and at halfpast 5 came
in sight of Sebastopol. By this time the sun had risen,
and the morning was unclouded, so that objects at a long
distance were visible. Two merchant-vessels were seen
coming out of port with the Russian ensign flying, one of
which rapidly approached, carrying a splendid breeze with
her. The Fury passed her, and took a survey of the har-
bour at a distance of 21 miles. Two brigs of war were
under way, and the two frigates stationed at the mouth of
the harbour were crossing gallant and royal yards. The
Fury, at 6 a.m., changed her course, hoisted Austrian
colours, and bore down on the merchant•ships. An hour
after, having taken the crew on board, six in number, and
made one of the ships fast by a hawser, she towed off her i
prize at full speed. The two bngs, followed by two frigates,
were then seen to leave the harbour under all plain sail,
and a steamer getting up steam. Wind, W. by S , force
five to six knots—the most favourable that could blow for
them—at 7 35. It was now clear that the frigates were
rapidly nearing, the Fury being three miles or more to
leeward. Immediately the fore and aft sails were set, the
prize cut adrift, and the steam brought to its highest pres•
sure, so that she absolutely flew to windward. Still the
frigates seemed to be gaining ground, and the position of
the Fury became highly dangerous, as now two miles were
the most that separated the enemies. Tons of water were
started, all except two days' requirements, which was a
considerable assistance. At K 30b onestill of
he the
other ke
in the wind's eye. At 854 the windward frigate and the
Fury came so close as to be almost in range of the long
guns of the latter, when the order ' Open tire' was given.
Immediately steady aim was taken, the sternmost gun
fired, and down dropped the shell a yard distant from her
lee bow. The enemy replied by firing two, but the shot
did not reach half way, and hoisted the Russian ensign at
her main, which was responded to by reloadin
shorthandwit t idity
and again firing. The shot still fell a little more
to leeward. Again she fired four guns at the Fury, and