The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-13 00:00:00

naval camp, and by this means a great crowd was
easily accommodated, and had all a capital view
of the stage. The scenery—which was painted, I
believe, on board H.M. ship London—vms of a
most creditable description. The drop-scene was
a masterpiece and would disgrace no theatre ; the
device was not allegorical, representing a ship toss-
ing on the ocean. The union jack and the trico-
lour were most tastefully arranged, and Captain
Keppel's charming band was in itself a treat to
lis en to. The performances commenced with a
piece called " The Silent Woman," and to detail
the variety that followed would be indeed difficult
—dancing, singing, applause, and good humour,
for a considerable time, until the whole company,
at least 30, appeared on the stage and sung a cho-
rus, when the band finished the proceedings by
" Partant pour la Syrie" and " God save. the
Queen." All appearances of rain vanished as the
moon rose, and the night is now very fine, al-
though chilly.

THE SEA OF AZOV.-GRAPHIC LETTER
FROM A FIGHTING SAILOR.

The following letter from Denis Ryan, of her
Majesty's ship Curlew, gives a graphic description
of his own doings in the Sea of Azov. He candidly,
confesses himself a desperate enemy to the Rus-
sians. "In fact," says he, "anything that would
catch fire I committed to the flames." Here's
Ryan's letter :
" EI.M.S. Curlew, Sea of Azov, July, 1855.
"It being now a long time since I wrote to you,
I Swill endeavour to give you a short account of our
proceedings since we have been up here.
" We left Sebastopol on the 22d of May, with
orders from the admiral to sink, burn, and destroy
aIL voinels found in the sea. , We accordingly
reached Kertch on the 24th, and whilst we were
pouring shot and shell into the town, our trans-
ports were busily engaged in landing 25,000 troops.
As soon as the enemy saw eur movements they
immediately set fire to their magazines, and the
explosion was most awful, but the sight was grand
in the extreme. When our troops landed, they
commenced to seek at once for what they could get.
Some got drunk ; others were holding up parasols;
some put on women's dresses, and altogether the
sight resembled a fair more than anything else.
The enemy, being afraid of our shipping, left the
place altog ether : and we here took 30 guns, and
burned two Russian gun-boats. It is supposed
that 1,000,0001. worth of property was here de-
stroyed, besides storehouses full of grain and public
-buildings were all destroyed. At night the sight
was very grand—to see the place all in flames, and
the reflection showed for miles around.

" We next proceeded, on the 25th, to Berdianski.
We sent in boats manned and armed, our ships
covering us with their fire. We here destroyed
large stores of corn, besides burning the dockyard
and other public buildings, which were very
valuable to the Rbssian Government, and the loss
must have been very great indeed.
" Our next place of visit was Marianople. We
here sent in boats manned and armed, and destroyed
storehouses, shipping, dockyard, corn-houses, fur-
niture, and everything that came in our way. We
spared nothing at all.
" We went from Marianople to Taganrog, and
whilst going there our ship got aground on the
Dolga sandbank. However, alter a few hours'
hard work, we got the ship all right again.
" When we arrived at Taganrog we vented our
spite upon the Russians. As for my part I burned
everything I could—in fact, anything that would
catch fire I committed to the flames.

"From that we went to Ghiesk, a place of much
importance to the Russians. There was a contrac-
tor here, who had engaged to supply the soldiers
in Sebastopol with food for two years. However,
we burned all his stock, consisting of 574 large
stacks of coin, besides his granaries, and every-
thing that belonged to hidi. His corn alone was
valued at 30,0001. I expect many a Russian will
go to his roost hungry-gutted this winter. We are
still cruising about the sea, burning and destroying
everything besides what we take away. We live
like fighting cocks. I take my cutlass on shore
with me, and kill pigs, sheep, ducks, geese, fowls,
and every mortal thing that I can put my hands
upon. I might have as many pictures as would
make a 74-gun ship ; but I have no place to put
them away. They require great care. You may
depend, when I come across any money, I know I
can find a place for it ; but it is very scarce. Ido
not think the Russians are very flush in that arti-
cle. However, I have done a little business.
" I will now let you know of what we did in
particular. On the 2 6th4May we burned two Rus-
sian vessels, one laden with meal, and the other
with salt and fish ; on the 27th burned two Rus-
sian vessels ; on the 28th took a Greek schooner as
a prize, and burned a Russian schooner ; on the
29th burned two Russian vessels; on the 30th took
a Greek brig as a prize, and burned a Russian
schooner. We have in all takeu 15 vessels, burned
12, sent two to be sold at Constantinople, and sent
on e away with the Russian prisoners on board, 57
in number, without compass or anything to steer
by, to find the best of their way wherever chance
would let them (ro. I assure you I have been up
night and day fore a week sometimes together ; so
a sailor's life is not the most easy. I hear that the
prizes were sold for 2,5001. I shall, therefore,
come in for some of it. Well, lam very well and
hearty. I can sing, dance, smoke, eat, drink, and
work. There is no want of that in this ship, how-
ever. I comfort myself that it may be for years,
but not for ever, and whilst I think of that the
time passes on ; but every day seems to me a
month. No more man-of-war life for me after this
touch. It will be better bait than a biscuit that
will catch me again. We shall get some prize
money for the Sea of Azov.
" I remain, yours very affectionately,
" DENIS RYAN.
" Please to write as soon as you can and often.
It is seldom that I get the chance. Good bye.
" Direct for Denis Ryan, seaman, on board her
Majesty's ship Curlew, Sea of Azov."