The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-05 00:00:00

THE BALTIC BLOCKADE.

MEMEL, June 29.—The blockade of the Baltic is this
year a reality, so far as strictly enforcing it on the Rus-
sian coast can make it so. That it is not complete is not
the fault of our cruisers, which, while keeping guard at
the front door of the enemy, cannot prevent him from
carrying on a pretty extensive business through the side
entrance that opens on his neighbour's premises. All that
our fleet can do in this respect is being done well. Along
the coast of Courland, in the Gulf of Finland, and in the
Gulf of Bothnia the direct commerce of Russia is de-
stroyed, Since the war steamers fairly took up their
stations nothing has escaped them, and the supplies which
Russia last year continued to draw from Sweden, and
even Denmark, have been cut off. Then but little notice
was taken of thesmaller vessels that during the e.ummer can
easily cross from the Swedish coast ; and, in ordinary
times, the trade usually carried on by them might be of
little importance. But commerce is fertile of expe-
dients ; being driven from the use of ships, it took to its
boats, and a large commercial flotilla had been created
by which a traffic was successfully maintained, a few
small cargoes soon mounting up to a large one. It there
was to be a blockade at all, therefore, it was necessary
to stop these small coasting craft, however insignificant
they appeared ; so the meshes of the net were drawn
closer, and the sea is now swept clear of everything with
merchandise on board, or capable of carrying it.
The Courland station begins at the Russian frontier,
a little to the north of Memel, and terminates at
the Filsand Light, off the island of Oseel, at the en-
trance of the Gulf of Riga the shore of the gulf itself
is also included in it. It was at the mouth of the
Duna, below Riga, that the first and most importent
capture of Russian ships was made this year—at the
beginning of the blockade. Between the limits of this
station, four steamers—the Archer, the Basilisk, the
Conflict, and the Desperate—keep watch and ward.
The few points of interest to a landsman in a run up
and down the coast may be given in a brief deeeription.
Having had the opportunity of making it, we will begin,
like the opening scene of The Tempest, `• On a Ship, at
Sea," off Polangen, the first Russian town past the fro],
tier. For the greater part of a bright summer day we
have a good view of the Russian coast ; it is level and
sandy, but tolerably well wooded. Beyond Polangen the
land rims into the slight elevations called the Seven
Hills—hills have a tendency everywhere to run in sevens
—and then resumes its generally level outline. The low
sand cliffs, or rather sandbanks. are topped by cultivated
fielde and green pastures, with red-roofed houses—
farms apparently scattered at long intervals. The few
villages in the district lie back from the shore, and there
are only two towns of any importance en the whole line
of coast, Libau and Windau. The harbour of the first-
named place has been visited by the boats of the Archer
in search of Russian vessels, under an engagement with
the civil authorities thatthe town should not be molested
unless the boats were fired on. A strong force of infan-
try, it is understood, is now stationed in and around
the place, probably in consequence of this visit.
cung close in to Sackenbaum, a few cavalry can
be seen, keeping a discreet distance from the
shore. On a former occasion a detachment came
down to the edge of the cliff, shaking their lances,
and galloping about in a flourishing arid defiant manner;
a shell being fired over them, they disappeared i+ land
with "some degree of swiftness," and have since been
less rash in their approaches. But they are still vigilant,
and it is evident the movements of our cruisers are at
all times closely observed. As we proceed up the coast
columns of smoke rise slowly into the air. as signals
either to some military station in the interior, or to the
places further north. On the sea not a sail is visible ; in
vain the glass sweeps the horizon ; to all appearance we
have the Baltic to ourselves. Only once, just after leaving
Memel, a ship was seen that drew a little attention by
being suspiciously out of her course if she meant to enter
that port. She was a Norwegian, trying perhaps to make
for the Russian coast not withstanding our augnstpresence,
so we altered our course a little also, quietly turning, as it
were, one eye upon her ; but she had her eyes open too,
for the movement was marked, and seemingly under
stood ; her sails shook for a moment in the wind, and
her bead now pointed direct to the Prussian harbour.
No—there is nothing to be done ; she is going to Memel ;
and a constant grief and vexation those neutral port'
are—mere loopholes of escape for what, in nine cases
out of ten, are enemy's goods and lawful prizes.
From Lyserart to the Filsand light we lose the land ;
it is between these two points most of the small vessels
taken this year have been captured, in trying to run
into the Gulf of Riga. With the crews of these boats
some curious scenes have occurred ; most of the lower
class of Russians have a rooted belief that our prison-
ers are instantly banged, or sent to England and disposed
of in some dreadful manner. Many of them are taken
on board in a state of excessive terror, others are
stolid and indifferent. When they find they are well
treated and well fed, and that our sailors, as they take
pleasure in doing, behave kindly to them, the revulsion
of feeling is equally great, and they are most profuse in
their display of gratitude ; they fall on their knees,
seems down. the seams of the urneers' trousers, kiss their
hands, their coatskirts, 'and their boots, thinking per-
haps a special exception from our general rule has been
made in their favour. They are then willing to help in
the work of the ship, "lend a hand" to the rapes, and
get on very well till they are landed again on the soil of
" orthodox and holy " Russia, with the chance of being
shot down by their own countrymen as soon as they sot
foot on it.

Off Eyserart we meet a sister ship of the squadron
which had been more successful than ourselves ; she
has sent a little fleet of boats down to Memel, and
now has in tow a small Danish coaster, caught much
too far from the Danish shore, the Gulf of Riga not
leading in the direction of Copenhagen. The captain's
papers are for the Danish territory only, and are, more-
over, backed by two separate warnings given him last
year— one by a French, the other by an English com-
mander. It looks like a case of "pertinacity," and,
with these fatal endorsements, it will probably go hard
with our Danish friend and the Marie Margarita in the
High
_Court of Admiralty. For part of the cruise he
was a fellow passenger, and he certainly told a grievous
tale. He was a ruined man with the best intentimintentions.His only purpose was to sell his stores to the English
fleet, but, unluckily, he had no proof of the fact.
It is remarkable that all these vessels are taken on
their way to the English fleet ; of the existence of
Russian armies and high prices on the mainland
they are perfectly ignorant. It may be imagined
our officers do not find this service a pleasant one ; it is
necessary, and a duty, and it is done, but it is a very
dim image of war indeed. There is nothing in it to com-
pensate the harassing disputes it involves, and the per-
sonal, often piteous supplications they have to listen to
and refuse. From such captures the amount of prize
money is scarcely worth consideration, and the payment
of that is so long delayed by the tedious legal process of
condemnation and the subsequent official forms, that it
is possible the present junior officers will be 'receiving
their shares when they are grey-headed men.
There is a feeling of disappointment at the fleet hav-
ing done so little—its achievements have certainly not
been striking or brilliant ; but the importance of its
service should not be calculated merely by the amount
of the enemy's Commerce it has suspendei or destroyed.
It should also be estimated by what it compels Lim to
do and prevents him from doing. Had Russia the full
command of the Baltic it would almost double her mili-
tary power on the continent. The presence of the allied
fleet in this sea is an immense diverson of her strength
kpin the mere active seat of war in the South. It cow.

pets the Russian Government to keep an army 6f
90.000 men in the provinces of the coast south of St.
Petersburg, t) maintain garrisons equal to an army
the capital and Gronstadv, and a third large milder,'
force in Finland. These masses of men cannot be drawn
upon for reinforcements to any other quarter.
is the great result gained by the allied naval forces. It
has not done what it was more especially expected to do,
because too much of our " Armada " is too colossal for
the work, too vast to operate in creeks and over sba,'
lows. We are hunting, with mastiffs, a prey that call,
only be reached by weasles ; the relative proportions °I
gun-boats and line-of-battle ships are something
The best protection of the Russian forts are 'the shal•
lows that keep our grand floating castles at a harmll
distance. Let any one sit down and study a chart °
these seas, with their many islands, banks, and shoals,
and the multitude of cautious soundings that must be
observed by ships of ordinary burden, and he will cel'
tamly rise with an impression that the Baltic is scarcely
large enough for such leviathans as the Duke of ti, el.
lington.

..~-~►•'

f
nny - n
of St.
array ill
le draw'

TtiS
•cerg. it
34:1 to de,
ossal for
ver sbal°
that can
along of
similar
the sha,'•
barmleß
chart of
shoals'
must be
will cer•
scarcely
of Wel.

. nod
Brovah

ret author"I
5 _bleu.
110
anle
seeds 9
to
went. in
ins ava
ce ; a'.'
h p reel
)
,amentto
elllO
ed.
onceiv°

:ord afld
re Dal)*
On e
)e vaiti
the ta°
ad cre0
0,
Tpersofe;
) trans,l
qn to uird
be reefhe
it of "t",l
the 15°'.f
3 trans"
,4176
vagnlrov;
oar
le Ile
:es vo2"

'bt is d"
and -be:
Le muct,9
batlYto
acilito
eheil,ge
extreP'e
iflueocA
ialyee"'

the ,t
le buY,.
aritho"

a d t° 0,
trans Poi
wag

nt ,0
too

Consols

Prom the Onicial Lid.)

MONEY MARKS T

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.
The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday
closed heavily, with a downward tendency in prices.
The sales were estimated at 6,000 bales (1,000 of
Which were taken for export, and 500 on specula-
tion),
comprising 200 Egyptian at 64d. to 91d.,
and 700 Surat at 3ld. to 51d. per lb. The Railway.
Share Market opened quietly, but closed subse-
quently at an advance.
According to a letter from Mr. Joseph Whitaker,
of Liverpool, a moderate number of vessels is up
at that port for Australia. The number sailed last
month was nine, of 10,336 tons, with 1,601 passen-
gers. The rate of freight is 455. to 50s. to Sydney,
40s. to 455. to Melbourne Bay, and 50s. to 60s. to
the wharf. Geelong wharf 555. to 605., and Ade-
laide 453. to 50s.
The mails by the Queen from St. Helena were
delivered this morning.
The Gladiator has arrived in the Downes from
New South Wales, and the Sarah Ann from Laun-
ceston is at Gravesend. The Devonshire brings
8,0561.

A. copy has been received of the provisions in
the Moniteur regulating the new French loan.
The Minister of Finance is authorised to inscribe
in the great book of the debt the sum of rentes ne-
cessar to
produce, at the contract prices, a capital
of 750 millions of francs.
The supply (supplement) necessary to facilitate,
if it takes place, the liquidation of the subscrip-
!icals, and the expenses of the discount resulting
froth the anicipation of payments, must not ex-
ceed the capital sum of 30 millions of francs.
It is by some inferred from this that only 30
Millions of the total loan will be allowed to be
paid up at one time, although at what intervals is
involved in doubt. If this sum were taken monthly
it, Would spread the payments of the loan over more
than
two years, a longer date, we apprehend, than
the French Government, with all its war expenses
nPon it, could possibly give.
The Money Market is fully supplied to-day,
1,86417351. being returned to the South Sea Com-
ta„lirs proprietors. The remainder of the assets
be distributed next January. With the di-
"'tends payable next Monday, and the weather
go
favourable for the crops, it is natural that the
feeling in the City should to-day be more hopeful
as to the future.
China
Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and
Ina has issued its proposals for receiving the sub-
7iPtions to the additional capital. The deposit is
ZThere is great buoyancy again in the English Stock
arket, and Consols have been pushed up to 91i
This may perhaps be accounted for mainly by
theal extraordinary fineness of the weather, but it is
t:°,4l part due to the large sum this day refunded
phe
roprietors of South Sea Stock. We are
sCir,approaching towards the settling day, and
p„,11,d. there be a demand on the part of the
for investment the speculators for a
43, .be emboldened, while the Bears
to,' naturally be anxious to close accounts.
fiki3/44.,%01s opened at 01g but have since been rather
99,7" rat 911 The New 3 per Cents. are 921 to
at 7;.; and the Reduced 92k Bank Stock has
22,'"Ileed to 2124. Exchequer Bills are steady at
Tcl„,3remium, and India Bonds at 325. to 355.
New Annuity is 16 15.16.
a,,,,11 Foreign Stocks there has been no large
'pupa of business done, and Turkish Bonds are
Russian Bonds are 99 to 100, and the
95
Per Cents. 881 to 894, being firm. Dutchat 4
‘-;ents• are dull at 632, and the 4 per Cents.
at
The following are the nominal prices of foreign
stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 to 7 ;
21i to 21:1 ; Peruvian, 69 to 71; ditto Three
Per Cents., 49 to 51 ; Portuguese Four per Cents.,
42 to 44 ; Russian Five per Cents., 98 to 100 ;
Spanish
Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 88 to 90 ;
zpanisb. New Deferred, 18 to 181 ; ditto 3 per
Cents., 361 to 37i ; ditto Certificates, 4 to 4/ ;
ditto Passive, 4 to
_4l.

A company called the Departmental Railway
Company of France is in course of formation, the
objects of which are to execute the various sections
'which are necessary to complete the network of
railways in France. The project is well spoken of,
and the capital, 1,000,0001., it is thought, will soon
be obtained, one-half being offered to English sub-
scribers.

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as follow :

1855. 1854.
Great Western
iNorth-Westernlsmorjui dgtilibat::dvil
e.a ter li £27,583 £24,156
58,569 57,833
17,737 18,508
17,678 16,134
south.Ea2t.
21,067 18,688
Caledonian ern
12,206 11,521
Great Northern
Naonrteha
.Dth iarset
earnnd Yorkshire 22,306 20,361
35,524 32,188
, Railway Shares have been benefitted by the
tlasticity of the English Stock market, but the
ifaallsaetions are not important. The Foreign lines
e: been quiet generally. Great Western of
th 'ada have not improved upon the meeting, but
heavier
are held firmly. Since the funds became
'4vler shares also have been flatter, and do not
Ei
111)Port the opening prices.
at,'lle Mining, Baiing, and Miscellaneous Shares
'e very quiet. Canada Land are lower.
It.

titITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE 0'4.114 =

Bminess done

si ink Stock ,• '
Vw er Cent. Reduced Annuities.
O- 3 per Cent. Annuities
,g Annuities, Expire sth Jan., Isen 3 15-16
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth April, 1883 16 15.16
India Ronda, £l000
,„ bitto, under t 1000 ... 35 32
‘;ousols ?or Account, 10th July 9la i i
4lelaeqner Bills, 21d. 2d.
81000 .
.t5OO —
E !'Araall .26 ,
=Chequer Bonds 1858, 3i per Cent. lOO5 1
tntICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONLO (?K.
it...,si.an Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St 99 100
Assian Bonds, 4i per Cent BBi 9?., x d
b Dividends on the above payable in London.
ilfth Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Gull
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates .—. 95

HALF-PAST TTVo.
Oli g

LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.)

QUARANTINE NOTICE.
pLIgtO Jane 29.—The Board of Health has declared
"ice infected with cholera from Ist inst., and suspected
411 the other ports of the Venetian States.

LONDON, July s.—Wind this day at noon, N.W. ;
light,
Pleasant breeze, and fine clear weather.
i'ORTSUOUTII, July 4. —Wind, N. W. Arrived—Andrew,
from,, Callao ; Lord Raglan (transport 89), from Scutari.
b FALMOUTH, July 4.—Wind, variable. Arrived—Alert,
i;',4l)goou ; Ingeburg, Rio Janeira • Freia, Buenos Ayres.
'Port—Christiana, from Buenos Ayres.
A NVES, July 4.—Wind, variable. Arrived—Nepaulese
i'anbassador, from Ceylon, and sailed for London e;
Mon-
r°c,se, Mauritius.
'WANBEA, June 4.—Wind, E.N.E. Sailed—Sumatra,
for River Gambia; Augusta Setmeider, Cuba.
A N.EWPORT, June 4.—Wind, N. Arrived—Adele, from
"xosterdam, for St. Thomas; Hampden, London, for Val-
itarais° ; Chase, Havre, for New York ; Inca, London, for
-en. Sailed— Sophia Elizabeth, for St. Thomas.
Gibr
OUTHA MPTON July 4.—Arrived—Tagus (s.), from
altar, &c.
I)°vER, July 4.—The Helene, of and for Aalsund, has
in leaky, having struck on the ground between Bou-
°gne and Cape Grinez.
,Stritrops July 4 1 W.nd N E Sailed—Amelia, for
Janeiro.
iallAvicii, July 2.—A vessel waterlogged, with bul-
.trallcs and stanchions carried away, was fallen in with 120
miles 5. E. from the Shetlands, but there being a heavy
'ea could not be boarded.

(PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LIVERPooL, Thursday Morning.

Wind, S.W.
for Newfoundland ; Idun, Amsterdam
Neptune, New York; David G. Fleming, Melbourne; Har
1111°nY, Alexandria.

Wind, S.
itArrivecl—Marchioness of Douglas, from Malta ; Delicia,
.LaZagall •, Timandria, Constantinople ; Stamboul, Alex•
ah,,
iria • Gnlielmo New York ; Prospero, Delitti, Mira
ee
elrli. and Enriechetta, Leghorn ; Mystery, Smyrna ; Prin
ss Victoria, Alexandria ; Jane, Tail.
Sailed—Cheviot, for Amsterdam.
KINGSTOWN, July 4.

QUEENSTOWN, July 3.

Wind,
N.W.Arrived—Queen Victoria and Trial, from Barbadoes.

(BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Thursday, 10.28 a.m.
rued
tide, four hours' ebb ; fine.
Sydney,
iyed July4.—Mary Ann, from Hamburg ; Gladiator,
AnAtr.riyed, July 5. Dolphin,Pfrom St. Kitt's; Palestine
; Sir J. Raed Reid, St. Kitt's ; Gem, Guernsey;
prudent,' Caen • Burlington, Sagua. le Grande • James
iPePlierd, from'Jamaica ; Cumberland, Calloa ;
Philip delaide ; Moultan, Barbadoes ; Windermere, Port
Sailed .I`l-Empress,
Co ---'-‘ngget for Port Philip; Tildea, Nykoping ;
ntest Naplec

DEAL, Thursday, 9.43 a.m.
mind DEAL,
•; moderate.
nehored- M from Callao, for Loudon ;
teor, _ Eliza Moore, e
Pool, ik,''°ll(ton, Cape of Good Hope , Ann Milne, Hartle.
Govern,s'rt Wakefield ; Chaucer, Demerara, London;
don , Kitt'., London ; Alison, Barbadoes,
,aneY, Porto Rico London.
"`4"-Atonsoon, from East, for Westward ; William
and Aram r•
Calontta-: —c",l.on, Constantinople. ; British Lion, London,
lipid°, Austrian brig, North, W.
sestwfartdhe;
kucePlialua, liartl 1 Port Wakefield ; Bride o ea, Ludo, c 04,. oep o ,

;)i

SqIARE MARKETS

(THIS LAY.)

RAILWAYS.

St. li
1214

it0rd0en......„
8: kmbg. Nottng. Bost

10 Itl
13i al

and Eastn.
Xll Bel fast Ballymena
ail liirming,

Stour sValley .....
29 Birk.,and. Lancal—
, Chealtire Junet

.11 Do. Chesh. & Birk..
£5O and £25 Cons.
9 Do., £20...—........
11 i tlyth & Tyns origins
£25 (issd. £4:i._ .

e 2 1
25 a

St. 110
St. I'lo
10 61

Bristol sand Exeter..

)O cal edonian
Ls. Carmarthen and Ca,
digan
ii.iCheater dz Holyhea•;
►i I Cork and Bandon

Ll Cork, Black, & Pas.
16 Cornwall
1} Cl ,ff Junction
45 Du olin&BelfastJunc
all Dundee Perth dab, .r
Been Junction
all Do. N -^? ......
00 East Al:glian
all Eastern Counties.....
St, 1100 Eastern Union, A

St. I I,

St. li

Stock ..
.00 De., B. Sthe2
8 Do., New A. .....
10 East Lancashire
1G Edinburgh Glasgov

St. 1
St. 11

St. IF

dl Edinb. and Peebles..
10 Edin.Pril Z.; Dundee
9 Forth & Clyde Ju'
Xll Furness
II 1)o. Extension
10 Glasgow &S. Wester',
10 treat Northern

50 a:
20 a]
St. 101
St. 101
St. 101
St. 1(
St. 1)
St. 101

Do., A. Stock

Do.; B. Stock
qt. Sth. 4kWest.(lre. )
Ireat Wdttern

D. Stour Val Rai'
Gua. Stk
1 Irish South-Easterr
I rAneaster & Carlisle
4, Do., Thirds
7 Do. New Thirds
)0 I.l.sneash.andVorks'
01. Wst. Riding Un
it Liv. Crsby. & Southpt
.11 London & Blaekwal

12 I al

t6i 1
St. 10

rand. Bright & S.Csi

Loud, and N. West.,
.6 Do. Fifths
5i 00.10/. 5h.,14&8 0
2s Do. Eighths
.00 London and% Westn
,7i Do., .£5O
8 Do., £4O.
Lndndrrydi Coleraine
ai Lndndrry. & Ennlsk.

anch.Shef.& Limb.;
611 Do. Shares, No.
2s. Do.,Man. & Lin. Un
K) Midland
00

bo. Birmng.SZlDerb
11 liidld, Gl. West.(lra.)
Il i)o. Half Shares
.11 Newcastle & Carlisle
3 Nwpt.Aberg.&Hrffi
8 Newry & Enniskillen
11 Newry Warrenpoint

and Rostrevor

z.t. It(

)0 Norfolk
36 gorthn.Connties Un
fO North British
11 North Devon, No. 1

it. RI

)0., No. 2
1) i so., A Deferred
al Do., B Gut rants,ed
10 N. Eastern—Berwick
5120

8 I NI

9t.

25 1:
50 3.1
St. 101
50 Ai

)o. do. Extension
3 Do.do. Purch
31 Do. Lee&
10 Do. York

!North London ~
n Do. Now £lO
. &S. Wstrn.,fiamT.

ID 13

0 al
10 al

stead, and City Jn.
or th Staffordshire.

(North Western
\T. ST, S. Westrn. June

INnueaton, Hinckley

Ii laaci Leicester
Oxford, Worcester,Sz

Wolverhampton
8 oortsmonth
-3,...615h Central,.
.3eottishMidland
00

St. 1,
Ij,
St. U
'JO a
qt. It.
al
1;0

:0 11
15 a

it. It:

❑ropshire Union
ioutli Devon
;loath Eastern

11 south Wales
Yrksh. dt Riv. Dur,

qaines, Wok. &Wolz
Stockton Darlin
L;-; A(.,•!kton &II rtlepl

St. pll
2'

20 I ..
.;0 I al

l'aff Vale ..
9 'Th. £lO shares

7 -
11) 10. Pref., No. 1
riv-tracs Haven Dock

And TLailway

iTlverstone & Lanes
,11 Vale of Neath
11 Waterfd. & Kilkenny

It ,vaterford&Limor
11 I West Cornwall.

5 Vest End of Londoi
And Crystal Palace..

0 West London
Ls. Wimbledn &Croydon