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

SWEABORG AND OTBER .RUSSIAN
FORTRESSES IN THE BALTIC.

The fortress of Sweaborg is the most formidable
obstacle in the Gulf of Finland, and does the out-
post duty, as it were, for the great military entre-
poti of St. Petersburg. On the east this fortress
also partially commands the most navigable chan-
nel for vessels of a large draught of water, on the
voyage to Cronstadt, which is distant 163 miles on
the St. Petersburg side.
Sweaborg is composed of seven rocky islands, and
is situated about three miles and a half front
Helsingfors. It fell into the possession of Russia
with the grand duchy of Finland ; but, unlike
Helsingfors, which was first regularly fortified by
the late Emperors Alexander and Nicholas,
Sweaborg had been a place of considerable
strength under the Swedes. General Ehrenfwald,
an able Swedish officer, considering that these
islands might be rendered a formidable strong-
hold, and might enable Sweden to maintain.
her power in the Baltic, in spite of the ambi-
tious designs of Russia, projected the plan of
their fortification. Previously, however, ships
were built and repaired there for the Swedish
navy. The works were commenced in 1748,
but were not completely finished when ac-
quired by the Russians, who have continued making
improvements, and devising every means of render-
ing the place impregnable. They say " the Swedes
began, but we finished the Gibraltar of the North."
These works are stupendous. The walls are chiefly
hewn granite, covered with earth, rising in some
places to a height of 48 feet. The batteries, which
commence on a level with the water, and ris•
in tiers one above another, are mounted, it it
alleged, with nearly a thousand guns.
In Wolfs
Island, the principal of the group, there is a
dry dock, capable of containing 11 or 12 frigates,
which has been completely hollowed out of solid
rock, the length being 300 feet, breadth 200, and
depth 14 feet. At one extremity of this dock is a.
basin 200 feet square, closed at each end with sluice;
gates, which serves for the entrance and exit of
frigates, and for repairing and building ships. The
stores and ammunition for the batteries are de-
posited in magazines, on the edge of the water.
The harbour can contain seven ships of the line
and a few frigates.
The three fortresses—Cronstadt, Sweaborg, and
Helsingfors—could not have been intended for the
defence alone of St. Petersburg. They tell their
own tale. The magnitude of their works, and the
incessant activity in the arsenals during the last
half century, should have clearly warned Europe
that these huge fortresses were intended as a basis
of operations against its liberties and the rights- of
its rulers.

Cronstadt, which commands the passages at the
mouth of the Neva, was taken from the Swedes by
Peter the Great, and first converted by him from a
desert island into a harbour for his navy in 1710.
The most invulnerable portion of the stronghold,
a rampart of granite, built in the sea for the pro-
tection of the shipping, was begun and finished
under the superintendence of Admiral Greig, who
is styled the father of the Russian navy. Doubts
are entertained whether the guns of Cronstadt com-
pletely command the northern passage ; the Mar-
quis de Custine, a keen inquirer, declares that
although he put himself to some trouble to learn
as much, he could not find the Russian who would
inform him of the fact.

The population of Cronstadt is about 45,000, of
Helsingfors, which is the capital of the district,
10,000, and of Sweaborg about 4,000, the greater
➢art of whom are tradesmen and merchants, who
depend on supplying the garrison and fleet, and
who, as if the Russians anticipated on this occa-
sion a serious attack from the Allies, have been
removing to Helsingfors during the last few weeks.

RUSSIAN NEWS FROM TEE SEA 0.?
AZOFF.

LOSS OF A SCREW GUN BOAT IN THE SEA

OF AZOFF.
The Journal dc St. Petersbourg of August 7 contains
the following news from the Sea of Azoff :
Lieut.-General Khomoutoff, Ataman locum, tenene
of the Don Cossacks, sends the following details, in a
report dated July 31 :
"On the evening of July 23, a screw gun-boat, be
longing to the enemy, approached Taganrog, and fired
upon the city. While vespers were being chanted in the
cathedral, a large-sized ball struck the wall, but occa-
sioned no further damage than causing a piece of stucco
in the interior to fall on and bruise the Archpriest
Saoff. The Divine service was not interrupted, and not
one of the faithful left the building. . . _

"At nightfall the gun-boat went in the direction of
the point called Krivaia-Kossa, and on approaching ran
aground within 40 sagenes of the shore.
"On learning this, Major Afanassieff went immediately
to the spot with a sotnia of the regiment, No. 70, of Don
Cossacks, made his men dismount, and sheltering them
by means of the ruggedness of the ground, opened a
fusillade against the gun-boat, in order to prevent its
' crew from pushing it off. The enemy directed a can-
nonade against our Cossacks, but his fire was not of long
duration. Owing to a violent east wind lowering the
level of the water, the boat got more and more aground,
and completely settled on its side. One of the enemy's
large steamers then drew near to lend assistance,
and approaching very near to the coast, opened a violent
cannonade against the Cossacks, and made every possi-
ble effort to save the stranded bbat.

In the meantime Lieutenant-Colonel Demianoff, com-
mander of the No. 70 Regiment of Cossacks, had
brought two more of his sotnias to Krivaia-Kossa, and,
making them dismount, opened such a fire of musketry
that the enemy could not keep at work on the deck of
the gunboat. After a long fusillade, the crew, despair-
ing of saving the boat, got into their small boats, with-
out even being able to carry away their flags. Twenty
Don Cossacks then threw themselves into the water, and
fighting against the billows, and in spite of a redoubled
cannonade from the steamer, gained the boat, and after
taking from it the flag and Union Jack, and two 24.
pounder brass cannons, set it on fire, and it burnt to the
water's edge.
"This gunboat had three masts, and was nearly
feet long. When the Cossacks reached it the enemy's
steamer left.
" That portion of the boat, which escaped fire was
soon covered with sand. The Cossacks tried to.briz!g
off the machinery, but there were great difficulties is
the way. I have ordered that the two cannon be sent
to Novotch, rkask. Thanks to God we had only three
Cossacks wounded during the affair.
" I have this moment received notice that seven of
the enemy's steamers have shown themselves before
Krivaia-Kossa, probably with the object of saving the
remains of their boat.

" I Fend with the present report the flag and the
Union Jack taken by our Cossacks."

THE QUERN'S VISIT TO FRANCE.

The following is the programme for the week :---
SATURDAY, 18.
Progress through Paris and arrival at St. Cloud, u
already announced in the Moniteur.
SUNDAY, 19.

Rest.
At 6—Dinner en. fantillc.
At half•past 9—Concert of the Conservatoire islusique
(sacred music).

MONDAY, 20.
At 9—Breakfast at St. Cloud.
At -past 10—Start in carriages for Paris:
At 11—Visit to the Exposition of Fine Arts.
At 2—Lunch at the Elysee.
At 1-past 2—Reception of the Corps DiPlematique.
At 3—Visit to the Sainte Chapelle and drive to the
Boulevards.
At :1-past s—Return to St. Cloud.
At 6—Rest.

At B—Dinner of 60 covers.
At 9—Theatricals at St. Cloud. Representatives 0,
the Th6atre Francais.
TUESDAY, 21.
At 9—Breakfast at St. Cloud.
At 1-past 10—Start for Versailles.
At 2—Lunch at Trianon.
At A-past 3—Return to St. Cloud.
At 4-past 4—Rest.
At 4-past 6—Dinner en fsatin.icilleo.ad.
At-past 7—Start from
At B—Visit to the Grand Opera.
NESDAY, 22.
Breakfast at St. Cloud.
At
tqc?tathre ITfonrivearrissal'
At I—v
Exhibition.
11—Visit
At 2—Lunch at the Tuileries.
At 2-past 4—Return to St. Cloud.
At s_Rest.
At B—Dinner of 60 covers at St. Cloud.
At 2—Theatricals at
St. Cloud by the Artistes of the
Theatre du Gymuase
(Le fils famille).
ille)
THURSDAY, 23 •
At 9—Breakfast at St. Cloud. *
At 4-past 10—Visit of Prince Albert (alone) to the
Exhibition.
At 4-past I—TheQueen to start for Park
At 2—Lunch at the
At 1.
Tuileries.
Louvre
t•past 2—Visit to the riot= Galleries of the
At B—Rest.
At 7- - Dinner en families at the Tuileries,
At 9—Grand ball at the Hotel de Ville.
FRIDAY, 24.
At 9—Breakfast at St Cloud.
At 11—Start for Paris.
At 4-past 11—Grand review in the Champ do Mare.
At 2—Lunch at the Ecole Militaire.
At 4-past 2—Visit to the Hotel des Invalidea.
At 4-past 3—Visit to the Universal Exhibition.
At 4-past s—Rest.
At 7—Dinner en famille at the Tuileries.
At 4-past B—Visit to the Opera Comique (Auber's
" Haidee").

SATURDAY, 25,
At 9—Breakfast at St. Cloud.
At 11—Start for St. Gertnains and drive in the fo yes
At 3—Return to St. Cloud.
At 4—Reat.
At 7—Dinner en, famine.
SUNDAY, 26.
Rest.

MONDAY,_ 27.
Itipieure for ragand.