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 humiliating 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 lave 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 resnain in their unaccountable
state of inaction without any explanation, we run the
risk of seeing this year's armament 'return as ingloriosnly
as its predecessor. One great source of the superiority
of a free over on enslaved nation in war, is the power
which exists in the former of bringing public. opinion to
bear upon an inert and incapable government. It is
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 pompep.
sated for by the greater weight and energy ,that is im-
parted to our open assaults. When wiipeak.of dithanit.
ing an explanation from Ministers, we do not'naean the*
they should be called upon to reveal when, .where, or
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 DF THE COMBINED
BALTIC FLEE 11, JULY 23, .1856.
A.—THE BRITISH FLEET.
1.-LINE-OF-BOTTLE SHIPS.
Name of Vessel. Commander. No. of Guns.
Ajax Captain Frederick Warden 6O
Blenheim Captain W. H. Hall 6O
*Calcutta Captain .1. J. Stopford B4
Caesar Captain John Robb . 91
Colossus Captain R. S. Robinson ....
Cornwallis Captain 0. C. Wellesley ....
Cressy Captain Richard L. Warren
Duke of Wellington* Captain Henry Caldwell ....
Edinburgh Captain Richard S. Hewlett ...
Exmoutht Captain W. R. Hall
Hastings Captain Jas. C. Caffin
Hawke Captain Erasmus Ommanney ...
Hogue Captain William Ramsay
James Watt Captain George Elliott....
Majestic Captain J. Hope, C.B
Nile Captain G. R. Mundy ....
Orion Captain John E. Erskine.
Pembroke Captain G. H. Seymour .
Royal George Captain H. J. Codrington
Ruzsell Captain F. Scott

. 81
60
81
131
60
91

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

+ Flagship of Rear-Admiral Sr Michael Seymour,
K.C.8., Second in command.

2.-FRIGATES AND CORVETTES,

No. of Guns.
Am pion Captain A. Cooper Key . 34
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 Et. Fanshawe... 21
Cruiser Commander Hon. G. S. Douglas 17
Desperate Captain 'White t 8
Dragon Captain Stewart 6
Driver Commander William Gardiner.. 6
Enryalus Captain George Ramsay
Eek Captain T. F. Birch
F aeon Commander W. J. S. Pullen ... 17
Firefly Captain H. C. Otter
Geyser Commander Roderick Dew 7
Harrier Commander Henry Storey
Imp€rieuse Captain Rundle B. Watson, C.B. bl.
Magi cienne Captain Edward Tatham l6
Captain B. Sulivan
6
Merlin
vlade s Captain Edwin D'Eyncourt 2l
Rotribution:r. Captain Fisher
Tartar Captain H. Dunlop
Vulture Captain t'. H. H. Glasse (

Twenty-fives ship,. with - 447
Flagship of Rear-Admiral Baynes.
3.—SMALLER STEAMERS AND GUN-BOATS.
No. of Guns.

Alban
Biter.

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

Cuckoo 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
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
M•
tte Arthur C. Villiers
. Lieut. S. B. Piers
L• ieut. J. G. Malcolm
~ Lieut. Hon. C. J. Nelson
~ Lieut. David Spain
.. Lieut. Robert C. Craigie