The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-21 00:00:00

DESPATCHES FROM ADMIRAL LYONS.

ADMIRALTY, AUGUST 18, 1866.
Despatches, of which the following are copies, have
been received from Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.8., Commander•in•Chief of her Majesty's
ships and vessels in the Mediterranean and Black
Sea.

Royal Albert, off Sebutopol, Anoint 4, 11355.
Sir,—ln continuation of the proceedings of the
squadron in the Sea of Azoff since those which were
reported in my letter of the 30th ultimo
(No. 613), I have the honour to enclose, for
the :information of the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, a copy of a letter from
Commander Sherard Osborn, of the Vesuvius, the
senior officer in that sea, reporting to me the steps he
had taken to harass the enemy as much as possible,
and to punish him at Berdiansk for having fired at
some of our pimple, although the town had been
previously
spared on the plea of its being defence-
_

Commander Osborn does not fail to point out and
to do justice to the merits of the officers by whom
he has -been so ably seconded, and he particularly
mentions Commander Rowley Lambert, of the Cur-
lew, the officer next in seniority to himself, who has
on all occasions been conspicuous for his activity and
gallantry.
Commander Osborn has also on several occasions
borne the highest testimony to the merits of those
gallant officers, Lieutenant William Horton, com-
manding the Ardent, and Lieutenant John E. Com-
merell, commanding the Weser. I am, &o.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-ChieL
The Secretary of the Admiralty, &c.

Her Majesty's ship Vesuvius, Arabs! Spit,
July 26, 1866.
Sir,—Since my lut letter I have folly succeeded
in destroying, by means of submarine explosions, the
four Russian steamers sunk in Berdiansk Bay; and
as the enemy had, from the houses of the western
suburb of Berdiansk, twice fired upon our people,
whilst peaceably and unguardedly employed, I con-
sidered it right that such a dishonourable course,
from a town which had been spared under plea of
being defenceless, should be severely punished, and
the more so as Berdiansk had been treated with un-
usual leniency upon the occasion of oar former
visits. _ _ _

I therefore, on the 22nd of July, caused to be de-
stroyed the western suburb, which had screened their
riflemen, and succeeded in discovering and setting
fire to no leis than ten large granaries, filled with
wheat, each averaging about 200 tons in capacity,
and several floor mills, which have been employed
night and day grinding for the use of the ROllllllll4.
The church and major portion of the town I spaed,
although nearly every hones we marched contained
grain in large quantities, and the whole place might
be considered little else than a general granary.
The dangerous service of landing in so large a
town, with bodies of Coniseks threatening, was en-
trusted to Commander Rowley Lambert, Lieutenant
Hubert Campion (senior of this ship), Lieutenant
Hewett, her Majesty's steam-vessel Beagle, and
Lieutenant Marge. her Majesty's steam-vessel
Cracker' and the skill with which it was executed
reflects the highest credit upon their seal and judg-
ment.
The operations were admirably covered by the
Torininumadeboats unmade LhiLutemsnanjoetatygerylls,shir,Covinissmeyiusell, anda