The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-13 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET•

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OFF CRONSTADZ' /1"11
We are MOW 11* six miles from Cronstas:.t.* and
We draws aline of ships from the Ingsrmsnlcad
lamb Shit etWiborg, covering near If idles in
hog* sea ship being two cables' length apart.
It Is a bdiutiful sight, and nothing can pass in or
out. About 1 mile from us is the Tol-boukin light-
house, and the forts, as well as the fleet, are pliunly
visible from our deck. I have twice been within
3,000 yards of the place. It is highly animating and
exciting to be so near the enemy's gnus. Pity it is
that we have u yet only seven gunboats out here,
and but a small prospect of more for some time ; no,
mention even of a floating battery. This is too bad,
as wears losing much precious time and fine months
for operations, and the tepee of a few week' more
may bring on infectious diseases like last summer. I
am convinced that if we had the requisite gunboats
we should still surprise the world in this quarter,
and inflict a severe loss on the enemy.
Small-pox still in the ship. We have sixty to se-
venty cases—six officers. We have destroyed 40026
twenty different coasting vessels within the last
three weeks.

(FROM Tull

OFF CRONSTADT, Jaws 4.
After the last Dantzig mail started, the different
ships of the fleet supplied themselves with wood
from the wood vessels that were captured, and after-
wards burnt them, which illumined the surrounding
senstry ; the more valuable prizes taken by the Magi-
Girona in Biorkasund, laden with flour, were sup-
plied with prize crews from the fleet and towed by flu
vulture to Faro Band.
May 30. The Merlin and Magicienne recalled from
IBiorka ; Cossack and Esk arrived from their cruising
ground between Hango and Dsgo under canvas, but
only anchored for a short time, when they again
started for their old ground.
May 31, 10 a.m.—Fleet weighed, and at 2 p.m.
anchored across the gulf, about a mile outside the
Tol-boakin lighthouse, in regular distance, making a
most formidable line of both defence and defiance.
The admiral lost no time in proceeding to reoon-
noitre, and the Merlin conveyed the admiral,
accompanied by the frigate., to Tol-boukin
lighthouse, the famous spot where Admiral
Chads descried the actual granite block' of
the Risbank only a distance of six miles. What-
ever notions the present admirals come to, in their
sight-seeing, their conclusions are kept within them-
selves. They then proceeded to the Risbank, and
remained pretty close till dusk.
June I.—The admirals again visited the north side
of Croustadt, accompanied only by Dragon, an-
choring for a short time some two miles from the
Man-of-War Harbour, and taking a carefal view of
the northern side. Numerous new batteries had been
erected, and they appeared to be alive with troops. A
line of six frigates and four line-of-battle ships, un-
rigged, extended in line from the Man-of-War
Harbour to the Nisi-Nose Tower on the main
land side. Four ships of the line are o taunt o' in
the harbour, and all the others with only their lower
mots. Returned at 3 p.m. to the fleet, when the
French admiral was just arriving with three screw
ships of the line and one corvette. The usual cour-
tesies immediately took place, and the French admi-
ral called upon the English commander in chief, and
was saluted on reception and departure. The Bul-
Jog arrived late in the evening with two colliers in
tow.
June 2.—Admiral Dundee returned the visit this
morning of the French admiral, and was saluted. They
then, at 11 a.m., all embarked, together with several
captains of the fleet, in the Merlin, accompanied
as yesterday by the Dragon as a guard. The north
side was the place reviewed, and both ships anchored
in a similar position to yesterday, and boats were
despatched surveying, and continued at it for several
home, being quite near enough, both to the line of
ships and the batteries on shore, to have been molested,
had the Reagens been that way inclined, who, how-
ever, in large groups, viewed the cool way in
which we were informing ourselves of their
sacred harbour. Their ships were all co-
vered with flags, indicating some gala day,
or perhaps some one—maybe the Emperor himself—
had come down to have a look at the British fleet in
his waters. Risbank was again visited ; they west
three miles from it by dusk, and the day's recon-
noitering was finished. Now, under all the circum-
stances, when daylight continues for nearly 24 hours
and the weather is fine, that the gun-boats should
make their appearance in such a dribbling manner, and
that the batteries that have cost so much should not
have as yet entered the Baltic, when so much stress
was laid upon their want last year—and no doubt they
are the very thing—is very odd. When they do
come, very green in every thing, and like all
other new ships and new crews requiring to!
be subjected to drill and exercise, the season will
be far advanced, days shortening, and dirty wen
Cher upon us; and the gunboats and the batteries'
will have to return. The country might have been
spared so much money. Our third admiral has not
arrived, nor is there indeed any news of him. The Oulf
of Bothnia appears forgotten. However, this is the
spot to deal with—eo near to their capital, and aer-i
tainly more accessible than gumbo% ' • and while
every shot would tell its tale on their batteries, in
silencing their guns, its effect would reverberate,
through the council chamber of St. Petersburg, and
do good by shaking their firmness of purpose tkere.l
We &reedit in hopes of something being dem Wel
have made a straight course, with a few stoppages,
to this locality, and it is to be hoped shall not quit it
without leaving our mark. This morning the fleet
shifted position, more in-shore traffic having been
discovered going on. Four vessels pseud yesterday.
The Dantzio mail has not arrived. The Pylades and
three gunboats have just arrived, 10 p.m.