The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-19 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET.

The following is an extract from a private letter :
" Her Majesty's ship Imperieuse,
Great Belt, April 12, 1852.
" Will you be kind enough to send us a Navy List for
this half-year, as soon as it becomes due We are now
on our way to Kiel, where we stop only a few hours, and
then proceed up the Baltic as far as the ice will permit.
We left Nyborg this morning, where we had lain three
days coaling and waiting until the ice had broken up,
and cleared out of the Belt to enable us to proceed.
After leaving Nyborg, and getting about six or seven
miles off, it came' on so foggy that we were obliged to
anchor (the Euryalus in company ; Conflict we left. at
Nyborg, and to join us to-morrow ; the rest of the
squadron were at. Landscrona, jest below Elsineur). At
12.30 to-day the fog cleared away, so we wehihed anchor
and proceeded through the Great Belt, passing a great
quantity of ice. We shall get to Kiel to-night, if not
stopped again by the ice or fog. We received one paper
only at Nyborg—the Evening Mail, of the 21st March,
which was old news to us. However, I hope we
shalt receive the rest when we arrive at Kiel. We
are now cutting our way through a large field of ice
about five or six inches thick ; it grinds just as if the
ship were running on shore.

"Kiel, April 13.
"We arrived here this morning at eight a.m. After
passing through that field of ice yesterday afternoon we
kept pretty clear of others we saw until eight o'clock
last night., when an immense field of ice was reported
ahead, and a few minutes afterwards crash she went
right into it, when she became firmly fixed ; the Euryalu'.
being astern of u', of course kept clear of it. We tried
every means to get her off, and at last, by sending
hawsers to the Euryalus, we were towed off. The ire
was as firm as a rock ; it was about, 18 feet thick. We
go'l off about 11 15 that. night, and steamed cle.,r of the
ice, where we anchored till daylight. At 4.15
morning we weighed and priceeded under, st,!ant f r
Kiel, where we arr-ved as I have told you. On our arrival
here we got our propeller up, when we found that oni-
curl er of one of the blades had struck the ice. and aa
rent very much. We were also told that the ice up the
Baltic'wss now 30 feet thick, nod it was impossible for
us to g.•t up there. This Wale has been clear of ic-
only two day", so had we come earlier we could not
have got in. Ido not know how long we remain here.
I have not any more news to telt you at present."

SARDINIAN CONTINGENT.
ALEXANDRIA. APRIL l4.—This morning the re-
view and benediction of colours tool .place ou the
Pla4l of Marenwo, about a mile to the eastward of
Alexandria. Some of the troops had been camped
on th ground for several days before, and all were
formed by 10 o'clock this morning. Ahout 11 his
Maj-sty arrived by special train from Turin, at-
tended by a nAmerons staff and the representatyt s
o France and Englmid. He immediately mounted
amid repaired to the field, where he was received
with the mm al honours. and, after passing up and
down the line, he took his station facing the chapel,
which was placed in a pavilion, decorated with
military trophies, on a slightly elevated mound,
and round which the troops were grouped at a dis-
tance of 100 or' 200 yards. The mass was per-
f Tined by the senior chaplain of the division, and
after the colours had been blessed by hint they
were brought up to the King by the officers to whom
they were confided, and the Minister of War read
the following speech in the name of his Majesty:—
" Officers, Sub-officers, and S.,ldiers,—A war, founie't
on justice, on which depends the tranquillity of Eur ape
and the fate of our country, calls you to the East. You
will mice far lands, where the Cross of Savoy is not un-
known. You will see brave peoples and armies whose
fame fills the world. Their example will be a stimulus
to you to show to all that you have no less valour than
our fathers.
" On other occasions I have led you on the 11,4 d of
honour, and I remember with pride sharing dangers and
faiguEs with you. I now grieve to separate myself
from you for a time. My wishes will follow you every-
where, and it will be a happy day for me when I shall
be reuni.,ed to yin.
" Soldiers,—There are your colours. Generously un-
furled by the magnanimous Carlo Alberto, they record
a distant country and eight centuries of noble traditions.
You know how to defend them. Bring them back
crowned with fresh glory, and your sacrifices will be
blessed by the present and future generations."
At the conclusion there were several rounds of
hearty cheers given for the King, in which the ci-
vilians present joined with as much enthusiasm as
the military. The spectacle concluded by the troops
defiling before his Majesty, and their appearance in
so doing elicited the admiration of all who saw
them. There were present portions of each divi-
sion and regiment of the expedition for the East,
amounting to about 7,000 men, in complete march-
ing order, so complete that a part, in fact, marched
off the ground to Novi, en route for Genoa. In the
afternoon the King gave a dinner at the Palace
here to the chiefs of the expedition, the Ministers
of France and Eirland, Count Cavour, Sze., and
returned by rail to Turin in the evening.
We read in the Opinione of Turin of the 15th
that after the solemn distribution of the colours to
the troops of the Piedmonte,e expedition, the King
of Sardinia wave a grand banquet to the chief com-
manders. The French and British ambassadors,
the ministers, and other persons of distinction
were present.

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