The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-16 00:00:00

SWEABORO.

The fortress of Sweaborg, which has just been
bombarded by the allied fleet, is built on granite isles,
about a mile in advance of Helsingfors, the Russian capital
of Finland, as Abo was formerly its Swedish capital. The
isles in question, eight in number, are mere mks connected
together by a strong fortification, and in the centre is situated
the port where the Russian flotilla is placed. The largest
of the rock., is that called Gustavus' Sword, on which is
built the residence of the governor, with a sort or gardea
formed of mould brought from the main land, and a vast
cistern, in which is heaped together a lugs quantity of
snow in winter to furnish water to the garrison. Sweaborg
has been called the Gibraltar of the North ; it would seem,
however, not with as mach justice as was formerly thought,
CM the late bombardment shows it to be anything but
impregnable. The islands fl Ink each other, and all have
the granite cut perpendicularly to a height of from 30 to
40 feet. The only passage by which the roadstead of liel-
singfon, which is one of the great war ports of Russia, can
be reached winds along thsse formidable isles, which an
armed with 600 guns of large calibre. As Sweaborg only
present, an unapproachable ceinture of granite, a 'kegs
of it could not be made by land, and the plan
amid only be reduced by famine. But it might
be attacked and demolished from the as by the
means of a bombardment, and this is what hie
just been executed with full esteem by the Anglo-French
fleet—a bombardment which must have caused immense
material leases to the Russian government by destroying the
barracks, the different maritime establishments, and the
arsenal of the fort. Sweaborg was constructed in the 18th
century by the King of Sweden, Gustavus 111. In the re-
volution which dethroned Gustavus IV. in 1803, and which
afforded Russ:a the opportunity long sought for of invading
Finland, the impregnable fortress was given up without com-
bat to the Russian General Barclay de Tolly by a " traitor
who forgot what was due to his country to satisfy his politi-
cal passions." Soreaborg has a population of about 3,400
persons. Its barracks can contain more than 12,000 men;
and, besides its fins port, it bas two Maine to repair ships.

MISSION TO THE KING OF DURM.4E.

(From the Bengal Ilterkaru.)

We understand that in addition to the presents
already sent to Rangoon intended for the King of Burnish,
there are some splendid carriages by Dykes and Co., which
will be taken round hence by tl.e Zenobis. She will be at
Rangoon in the first week in July, and the musion to Ara
wilt immediately set out. We learn that Major Philp./ has
been formally appointed as chief of the mission lino rem-
, @entail's of the Governor-General, and that all arrange-
ments Dave been finally made for the departure and pro-
gress of the mission. We have not beard the names of
all the offi.crs who are to go up to Asa, but Captain
Rennie, I.N.' is to be of the number. There is, how-
ever, a still more remarkable aleachd appointed to
this projected Ava mission, in the person of Mr. Golds-
wortoy Grant, the well-known Calcura artist. Mr. Grant
will receive a salary of Its. 500 per mensem, and it will be
his part to make skeichcs of the river and the r:ads which
the mission may have to pass throu.4h in its progress, with
the forests and cultivated lands, and houses and gardens that
may be met with. Of course Mr. Grant will make graphic
pictures.sr the landing of the musion; or its rutty into the
royal palace at Ave; of the meetirg of the British envoy
with the L:ird ef all the White Elephants; and in short
everything useful and grand, picturesque, Leautitul, or
rare, wi.l afford subjects for the employment of the artist's
pencil. Ws are told that ft is not improbable that Mr.
Newland's skill in photography may also be engaged in the
same service, if indeed be has not already been appointed.
We are likewise Worried that two mercantile gentlemen,
or gentlemen possessing mercantile knowledge and expe-
rience are likely to accompany the MiSli4D, for the purpose
of gathering all the information possible regarding the
internal and external commerce of the country. As Pro-
fessor Oldham is, we believe, in the province of Pep, we
prestress his scientific knowledge will also be turned to
account in sending him with the mission to take notes in
his department of ob ion.

TELE ATTACK ON SWEABORO. MANCIIESTEE,
A1:111 :ST lb.—The news of the attack on Sweaborg by the
allied fleets, with its results, has produced greet satirise-
tion here, and we have had flags flying, with other demon-
strations of joy. Seeing how little our magnificent fleets
had accomplished in the present war heretofore, this proof
of its power wu as necessary, perhaps, to reassure us at
home that our ancient renown on the ocean could yet be
upheld, as it was to teach a lesson to the enemy.;
BEIGIITON,WEDN ESDAY EVENING.—The news from
before Sweaborg was hailed this morning with unbounded
satisfaction, as a proof that the disturber of Europe is not
altogether beyond the reach of punishment behind his owt
batteries. Later in the day:the (Acid despatches were closely
scanned, and thought not to bear out the earlier report of the
" destruction " of Sweaborg. It was remarked that the
admirals do not state the effect of their fire on the to:toga
batteries which, after all, constitute Sweaborg a forums.
The language of Admiral Dundee, representkg the affair
as a mortar and gun-boat attack, seems to prove that the
forts ►ave not been battered, and gives to the operation the
same character as the bombardment of Odessa last year.
The St. Petersburg Journal announces that the
reigning Cur has assumid the title of Chief of the Rifle
Regiment of the Imperial Family. The colonels of the
several battalions of this corps, it appears, are the Grand
Dukes Constantine, Nicolas, and Michael, brothers of the
ign, while the following personages are borne on the
muster•rolls of the regiment: Their Imperial Iligliaemis
the Hereditary Grand Duke Nicolas Alexandrovitelt, the
Grand Dukes Alexandre Alexacdtovitcb, Vladimir Ala/-
min:vita, Alexis Alexandrovitcb, and Nicolas Coaster
tinovitch ; and the Princes Romanovsky, vie., Moo"
Maximilianovite Eugene Maximilianovitch, Sergio Ham-
milianovitob, and George Maximilianovitch.
A man at Swansea, named Lewis, has been the
mesas of saving no less than eighteen of his fellow•cmturM
from drowning. The other day, while engaged in liss
ordinary business, and the weather being comparatively
fine, he was himself drowned off Port Talbot, taking a oft
of timber to the works of the Messrs. Vivian, at Tsibsd•
A widow and nine orphans are loft.

R. LINDSAY, MP., AND THR ADMIRALTY.

Mr. Lindoey's pamphlet in reply to the late spook
of Sir Charles Wood, is addressed to 8. Kerley, Esq., Ghat/-
man of the Administrative Reform Association. Kr. Lind-
say 'maps his MIS under a variety of heading sash as
"Ur. Drammen& and Admiral Berkeley," "The Police
Court Case," "Sir C. Wood, the Swarthmore, and other
Australis& ships." " Coal Contrasts," ae., the whole re-
lating to the waded of his business in eonnexion with or
independent of the Admiralty. " Whether," he says, " I
have en the w►ole blundered or moaned well in liminess is
bust slimmed by the simple fact of my position. Dangling may
she a Pint Lord of the Admiralty of a man been ameaget
the favoured circles and a baronet and a whip, and well
allianeed amongst whip lards. bet it can never make either
• considerable shipowner or a member of parliament of •
cabin. boy."
The bon. umber eosoludes his pamphlet by an allusion
apparently to eirenmetaisess hitherto nententioned in pulls.
4. The government," he says, " U they are content to stoop
to means, may threaten satires again* me upon mitten
which they overlook in others ; they may daisy to pass
amounts of ships own my property, or deduct from these
merants somata justly due; they may, eve. long before
there is any definite prospect of a dissolution, invite seine
Motive of a Grey to issue an address to my stemninionta—
but they will , by these or any other seams, be able to
drive me from a consistent and persevering reform of abuses,
and adheresee to the question of administrative reform until
it is thoroughly triumphant." It will be seen, by • report
elsewhere, that Mr. Lindsay has been assured of the non-
somplieity of the Government la the electoral opposition re-
hunt to.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND ADMINISTRA-
TIVE REFORM.

The Administrative Reform Association his jest
sent to its subscribers a pamphlet entitled " Parliaminstary
laeocgr•ities sad Electoral Anomalies, u Affecting the
Dopresentetion of the People in House of Commons' divi-
sions, shown by an Analysis of the Division upon Mr.
Via-
mat Bcully's Motion for Open and Competitive exasaina-
um" This pamphlet is patronised by the emaciation solely
se a sollretien of important facts for the eensideration of the
amines. Tho assosistioa "is not to be considered pledged
Is its °Makes or political tondos cies "
Mr. Leland, the compiler of the pamphlet, dads that of
the 269 members who voted 30 were 'Kola* sad that of
the aereSsial members, 127 voted for the motion and 112
Nasal it. " The aces ',ileitis having thus," he says, " •
majority of 15, the Premier and his 29 callearees, 1a as
seek geed taste as good sense, insist upon the conversion of
this represoutative majority of 15 into ea official majority of
13, by the addition of t►eir 30 vote. to the 112 of choir sup-
paten ! They have • nisj 'city of 16' honourable sew
ben' is a minority of 1,375,813 tar-payers !—a majority of
16 sagest representatives in a minority of 69,952 ngie-
tared electors l " Mr. As land winnows the votes In every
asesibk way, sad is very emphatic in his animadversions

ism Istvan:no 111111ben of the legiektare 'ad in his tresa.
mei $ the eosetttnessies of the kingdom.