The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-19 00:00:00

THE ALAND GROUP.

Or this group of islands, which came into the possession of
Russia in 1809, the largest is named Aland, whose total
surface, including lake and morass, may be estimated at
about forty-live square miles. It is upon one of , the
southern inlets of this island that the fortress of Bomarsund

close to Skarpniis, is constructed. The whole group con •
sista of about 190 islands, of which little more than one-
fourth are inhabited, or habitable, by a population
of from 12,000 to 13,0 10 souls, who live by breeding cattle
and fishing. The character of the surface is nearly similar
throughout. The rocky bottom is but thinly covered with
vegetable soil. This, however, the inhabitants cultivate in
such a manner as to be enabled to supply themselves with
sufficient grain for their own consumption. Timber also
grows with luxuriance, and the marshes supply abundant
summer and winter forage for stock. The general group is
separated from Sweden by the so-called Aland Channel, and
from Finland by that of Skifet, which latter, in case of a
serious attack by the combined fleets on Homarsund, will

o: course be watched by our steamers, in order to cut off
retreat either to Nystad or Abo. The principal islands
contiguous to Aland are Lemband, on the south ; Simper-
land and Fiigle, south-east; Wardii, Kumplinge, Braude,
and Euklinge, east ; and Signilskar and Ekerii, west. The
largest towns on the main cluster are Saltwick, Ekerd, and
Skarpens, which have markets. Winter sets in generally
towards the end of October, and lasts for seven months
with unabated rigour ; but from the middle of September
the weather is variable, subject to sudden and violent
storms, and the atmosphere loaded with dense fogs.
Although the rocky sea-bottom is notoriously unequal,
varying suddenly from twenty to two or three fathoms, ex-
cellent and safe anchorage is to be found in almost all the
inlets, and especially in that running up to Skarpena. Much
has been said of these islands not being tenable byWestern
garrisons during long winters. Tins is absurd. Where an
ill-fed Russian soldier can exist, a well•cared-for English
or French man will not perish. Nor is the cold greater
than that to which our troops are exposed in Canada. If
navigation be interrupted, it is clear the Russians cannot
make use of their vessels ; and as for marching a body of
troops across the straits, over the fields of ice, such attempt
falls into the domain of romance. Besides, if they
could so move, it is to be supposed that the garrison would
not be so much benumbed as to be incapacitated from re.•
sistance.

The Paris nautical journal the Monileer de la Melte,
after giving a topographical description of this group,
and detailing the forces which compose the expedition
against Bomarsund, appends the following remarks re-
specting the defensibility of the islands throughout the
winter against attacks from the Russians
" The most strategic point is, without contradiction,
Bomarsund ; but neither the small extent of the roadstead
commanded by that fortress, and in which it is said only
six or eight vessels can bring their guns to bear ill broad-
side, nor its one hundred pieces of heavy artillery, nor its
garrison of 5,01.10 men in ordinary times, and which at
present must be doubled, will prevent Bomarsund from
falling into the power of our admirals after a vigorous
attack. Six vessels moored with their broadsides to the
farts would present nut fewer than three hundred cannon,
which would throw enormous masses of iron with precision
and rapidity. When the forts shall have been dismantled,
all, or nearly all, their pieces dismounted, and the breach ,
swept and rendered inoffensive, our companies of disem-
barkation, sailors, artillery, and marines, ►ided by the
expeditionary corps, cannot meet with any serious obstacle ;
the colours of France and England will float in the place
of the humiliated standard of the Emperor of all the
Russia'. We must not, it is true, flatter ourselves on
a victory without fatigue and without peril; but neither
our army nor our fleet will require, in order to make
sure of the triumph, to disguise or forget the energy
of the resistance. If the laurels of Aland are certain,
they will cost sufficiently dear in the gathering to deserve
to be called glorious. Our expeditionary army, destined
probably to winter in our new conquest, will easily
find abundant provisions. Without speaking of the sup-
plies which will be left by the fleets, the country itself
will afford some. Our troops will not have to fear either
famine or scarcity. Can they be exposed to a danger of
another kind? Will the Russians, attempting an in-
vasion across the frozen sea, endeavour to dislodge them?
No doubt, when the winter is very severe the straits which
separate the archipelago from the continental coasts are
covered during tevcral months with thick ice, and it is
easy to go on foot from St. Petersburg to Stockholm. No
doubt, armies have crossed the Baltic drawing the heaviest
artillery ; have encamped on the ice ; and have also lighted
their bivouack fires with as muck security as on land. We
have not forgotten the exploits of the intrepid Charles
Gustavus, who, at the head of his army, with artillery and
cavalry, crossed the sound in 165$ to make war on
Denmark. We can also quote a more recent fact : in
February, ISO 9, the Russians went front Abo, across the
ice, to seize the Aland isles. All that is certain. lint the
cold of all the winters is not of equal intensity. Besides,
on the other hand, if the ice creates for us a danger on the
part of Russia, it will have the advantage of facilitating
for us, on the part of Sweden, the arrival of supplies, and
of the means of defence. Finally, fallen into our power,
the fortifications of the archipelago of Aland will soon be
placed in such a state of defence by our engineer officers
that they will easily resist any attack whatsoever. More-
over, if some of our vessels could winter, as is possible, in
the ice, they will constitute around our camp a cordon of
impregnable fortresses."

A HUGE BOA CONSTRICTOR was brought to England
by the Brazilian steamer Thames a few days ago. It
was as thick round as a man's leg, and about 14 feet
long. It was remarkably savage. It is the property
of Count Lavratlio, the Portuguese ambassador in
this country.