The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

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can afford to laugh at our human enemies. Were the
Russian fleet to venture out of from its skulking place,
it would only be to be captured. But there are such
things as winds, and waves, and rocks ; and the larger
the naval force we keep at sea, and the longer we keep
it there, the more we are exposed to casualties from the
elements. Notwithstanding the gallantry of the English
mariners who fought with Drake, the destruction of
the Spanish Armada was more the work of tempests
than of human skill and daring. The dilatory manner
in which the war is now waged in the Baltic almost looks
like a wanton tempting of Providence to disperse and
scatter our armada by the same means. If any disaster
should happen to our ships from storms, the Russian
men of war are ready in their harbour to take advantage
of it and pounce upon the dispersed and dismantled ves
sels. Common prudence would seem to dictate the strik-
ing of some decisive blow without loss of time in order
to avert the possibility of such a httmiliating disaster.
It is to be hoped that Parliament will not be allowed
to separate without some explanation being demanded
of Ministers on this head. We are well aware what will
be the stereotyped answer to any, such question. Minis-
ters will say that to reveal their intentions beforehand
would be to give the enemy warning and place him on
his guard. Even if this were true we have only a choice
of difficulties. By letting the enemy know what he
has to expect, we may better his means of defence ; but
by allowing Ministers to remain in their unaccountable
state of inaction without any explanatiOn, we run the
risk of seeing this year's armament return as ingloriowly
as its predecessor. One great source of the superiority
of a free over an enslaved nation in war, is the power
which exists in the former of bringingpublic opinion to
bear upon an inert and incapable government. It
true that this cannot be done without letting the enemy
at the same time, in some measure, into our councils ;
but if our opportunities of striking unforeseen blows are
thus abridged, the disadvantage is more than compen-
sated for by the greater weight and energy that is im-
parted to our open assaults. When we speak of demand-
ing an explanation from Ministers, we do not mean that
they should be called upon to reveal when, where, of
how they intend to assail the foe. We merely point to
the expediency of extorting from them some reasonable
assurance that they are not neglecting the great busi-
ness they have in hand ; of reminding them that the
eyes of the nation are upon them, and that a strict ac-
count will hereafter be exacted for all their shortcomings.

ACTUAL STRENGTH OF THE COMBINED
BALTIC FLEET, JULY 23, 1855.
A.—THE BRITISH FLEET.
I.—LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIPS.
Name of Vessel. Commander. No. of Grins,
Ajax Captain Frederick Warden 6O
Blenheim Captain W. H. Hall 6O
*Calcutta Captain J. J. Stopford B4
Caesar Captain John Robb
Colossus Captain R. S. Robinson
Cornwallis ..... ....... Captain G. C. Wellesley
Cressy Captain Richard L. Warren ... 81
Duke of Wellington* Captain Henry Caldwell
Edinburgh Captain Richard S. Hewlett ... 60
4114.

Exmou.
Hastings Captain Jas. C. Caffin CO
Hawke Captain Erasmus Ommanney ... 60
Hogue Captain William Ramsay
James Watt Captain George Elliott 9l
Majestic Captain J. Hope, C.B Bl
Nile .. Captain G. R. andy ' 9l
Orion . Captain John E. Erskine 9l
Pembroke Captain G. H. Seymour
Itoyal George Captain H. J. Codrington
Ruzsell..... .......... ... Captain F. Scott

Twenty ships with 1,573
* Flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Dundas, Commander-in-,
Chief of the Baltic Fleet. _ •

1 Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,
K.C.8., Second in command.

2.-FRIGATES AND CORVETTES.

No. of Gunk.
Amphion Captain A. Cooper Key -1
Archer Captain Edm. Heathcote l4
Arrogant Captain H: R. Yelverton 47
Basilisk Commander Robert Jenner 6
Bulldog Captain A. C. Gordon
Centaur Captain W. J. C. Clifford
Conflict Commander W. C. Chamberlain .8
Cossack Captain Edward G. Fanshawe... 21
Cruiser Commander Hon. G. S. Douglas 17
Desperate Captain White
Dragon Captain Stewart
Driver Commander William Gardiner..
Euryalus Captain George Ramsay
yak Captain T. F. Birch
Falcon Commander W. J. S. Pullen ...
Firefly Captain H. C. Otter
Geyser Commander Roderick Dew
Harrier Comthander Hemy Storey
Imperieuse Captain Rundle B. Watson, C.B.
Magicienne Captain Edward Tatham ...
Merlin Captain.B. Sulivan
Pylades Captain Edwin Inyncourt
Retributio4 Captain Fisher
Tartar Captain H. Dunlop
Vulture Captain F. H. H. Glasse

Alban
Biter .

berg, and belonging to Messrs. C
place ; she is laden with a cargo
roads, from Dantzic, and bound to'Cardiff.
The Trusty, 16, screw floating battery, is still in the
basin. Yesterday her steam was got up. She is to be
brought forward with all despatch.
The Glatton, 16, screw floating battery, Captain A.
Cumming, is in harbour, readyfor sea, and waiting orders.
The Meteor, 16, screw floating battery, Captain Sey-
mour, is in harbour, waiting orders.
The Thunder, 16, screw floating battery (non-committ-
sinned), is in harbour.
The Horatio, 24, screw (and fitted to carry two of
Nasmyth's patent guns), Hon. A. Cochrane, is in har-
bour. She has coaled, and waiting orders.
The Jackal', paddle, is in harbour refitting.
The Alban, 4, paddle, is in harbour. She has coaled,
&c.

Cnckoo

The Waterloo, 120, guard ship, Capt. Lord Frederick
Kerr, is daily receiving and drilling hands for the navy.
The Melbourne (No. 73), steam transport; arrived at
Spithead last night from the Black Sea, with 195 inva-
lids, various, four Russian officers, and four privates.
She is expected to come into harbour to-day to land the
invalids, after which she proceeds to Deptford for re-
pairs.
The Virago, 6, paddle, Commandtr Marshall, which
arrived at Devonport on Saturday last from the Pacific,
last from Portsmouth, was inspected by Captain Wise,
of the Impregnable, flag-ship, and her crew mustered at
quarters ; and in the evening she came into harbour,
and is now being stripped alongside the jetty, preparatory
to her beirg paid off into ordinary on Saturday next.
The Virago has been three years and a half in commis-
sion, and has in that time accomplished a distance of
more than 58,000 miles. Her boilers are very defective,
and she will be removed to Keyham fdr repairs.
In the Sound—Nautilus, tender.
In. Harbour—lmpregnable, Royal William, Sans-
pareil, Implacable, Alarm, Virago, Sylph, Avon, Con-
fiance, Falmouth, Devon, and Hamoaze lighters.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.— CAPT. M'CLURIL
Nye believe that the committee on the North-west
Passage have resolved upon their report, and have
awarded, the sum of 10,0001. to Captain M'Clure and his
crew, 5,0001. of which will fall to Captain WOlure him-
self,. the remainder to be divided between the officers
and crew. We hear also that medals have been pro-
posed for all who have served in the Arctic regions.:--a
proposition which will doubtless give general satisfac-
tion, and be as appropriate wind-up to the expeditions
in this our generation.

Surgeons Peter Suther (180), James HenderAon
(1805), Thomas E. Jones (1809), James WTernan (1813),
and James Wilson (1814), have been promoted to be
deputy, inspectors of hospitals, and pla3:-.:d on the re-
tired list.

Twenty-five ships with
Flagship of Rear-Admiral Baynes.
3.—SMALLER STEAMERS AND GUN-BOATS. -
No. of Gunis.
;4
••

Lieut. W. E. Fisher
Lieut. W. H. Anderson

Lieut. Murray,

Gleaner Mate A. G. Bogle
Hind Lieut. Lord E. H. Cecil
Jackdaw Lieut. L. A. Whimper
Lightning Lieut. J. C. Campbell
Magpie Lieut. C. T. Pim
Princess Alice Lieut. Underwood
Pelter Mate W. F. Lee
Pincher Lieut. C. A. E. De Crespigny...
Porcupine Lieut. Jackson ....
Redwing Lieut. C. S. Forbes
Ruby ..
Skylark
Snap
Snapper
Starling
Stork
Swinger
Thistle .
Weasel .

Lieut. F. W. Pym
Lieut. C. A. Wise
Mate Arthur C. Villiers
Lieut. S. B. Piers
. Lieut. J. G. Malcolm
. Lieut. Hon. C. J. Nelson
. Lieut. David Spain
. Lieut. Robert C. Craigie

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