The Express.
London, England, 1855-12-19 00:00:00

DESPATCHES FROM SIR EDMUND LYONS.

ADMIRALTY, Dzo. 14.
Despatches, of which the following are copies,
have been received from Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., 0.C.8., Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's
ships and vessels in the Mediterranean and Black
Sea :
Royal Albert. }Watch Bay. Dee. 1.
Sir,—l request that you will lay before the Lords
Commiseioners of the Admiralty the enclosed copy of
a letter front Captain Sherard Osborn, of the Yaw
vius, dated the 24th ultimo, informing me that as the
formation of ice had commenced in the Sea of Azoff,
and se he had been informed by both M. (lope/Mush,
the Austrian merchant, charged with the shipment
of wen in Austrian vessels, and by the Iturdaa
as-
thorkis at Mariaupol, that all chance of neutral yew
eels obtaining cargoes this year was at an end, he
had withdrawn to Kertoh with the squadron under
his orders, after assuring himself that no merchant
vessels remained in that sea.
I have so frequently had occasion to bring the
merits of Captain Osborn under their Lordships' Do-
dos, that it is perhaps unnecessary, on the present
occasion, that I should say more than that he hes
maintained his high character up to the close of the i
service upon which he was employed for six months.
and he brings under my favourable nodes the gal-
lent and zealous support he has received, from first
to last, from the officers and men under his orders.—
I am, &A,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
The Secretary of the Admiralty, London.

Vooaviso. off ICorteb, Nov. M.
Bir,—Being now, in accordance with your instroo-
dons. on my road to rejoin your flag, I have the
honour to report the close of operations in the Sea of
Asoff, and the proceedings of the squadron In that sea
subsequent to my last letter, dated off Oheisk, 7th
November, 1856. On the 7th, I received your in-
structions, with notices relative to neutrals quitting
the Bea of Areff on the 20th November, 1866.
The weather became most severe, and I mild only
succeed in serviog the notices upon the authorities,
on shore at MarianpoL Bat on the Bth November,
1865, the shipping anchored off Marisupol were duly
warned, and on the 9th those off Taganrog likewise.
A gale et extreme violence from the eastward blew
continually from that date until the 18th November.
I then immediately served a notice upon the neutral
shipping in Berdiansk.
Mere, from Mr. Gopcevitch, as well as previously
at Taganrog and Marianpol, we learnt that the
Russian authorities had kept the neutrals in quaran-
tine ever since their arrival, and that the likelihood

et aercee belag presarfd was almost at an end. A
Enesian eager at Martaupol laughed at the idea ofl
the neutrals believing they would get wheat this year,
and told Commander Kennedy, whom I sent in
there with a flag of truce, that the neutrals mast
stay the winter.
Under these circumstances, looking to your wishes
and instructions upon the subject, it became a cause
of great anxiety. for me lest, by the sudden oom-
meseetnent of winter, or intentionally, the neutral
verge should fail to quit the sea on the 20th No-
vember, 1863. I, therefore, as the ice had begun to
make and the temperature to fall rapidly alter the
13th, despatched all the squadron to Bench
except the Ardent, Snake, and Clinker, and with
them proceeded up the Gulf of Loll. We
arrived off Mariaspol on the 19th and found
all the neutrals had sailed for Kertch, and on
the 20th I sighted Taganrog and found the roads 1
empty, all the vessels that were there having
likewise left. The ice already extended on either
hand some miles from the shore, the Don appeared
to be frown, and every indication of winter having
set in, in that neighbourhood, was apparent. At
Mariaupol the river or harbour was froses,and mush
ice lined the coast as far down as Bielosarai Light-
house; the temperature at mid-day as low as 29
degrees Fahrenheit. From thence I separated the
squadron so as to examine the whole coast from
Genitchi to Yenikale Lighthouse, most minutely, and
not a single boat of the smallest description was to
be seen.
In surrendering into your hands the prominent I
poeltioe in which you have been pleased to employ
me far the last five months, that of senior officer of
a detached squadron, allow me, air, to wpm's. most
respectfully, my deep sense of the honour you con-
ferred upon me, and the grateful recollection of the
unvarying kindness, confidence and consideration I
have experienced at your hands; without it I feel I
never should, as I trust I have, succeeded in carrying
out your views and instructions. Next to that let me
again remind you that my anxiety to execute your
plans has ever been an easy task, supported as I have
ever been by the gallant and zealous exertions of every
officer and man eerviog in the squadron; I know not,
how nfilegently to express my approbation of their
conduct.
And it is sot the leas pleasing part of my duty to
assure you of the kindly co-operation I have ever
received from the officers of the French navy serving
is the sea of Asa. Among those more especially
knows to me. I feel justified in emendating Lieute-
nant Clout, commanding the Brandon; Liestesaut
La 'whetter Fulton ; and Lieutenant Vidal, et the
Catos.—l have, &a,
((Signed) 8. Ossout.
RearAdairal Bir Edmund Lyons,
Bart, &a, G.C.B.