The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-21 00:00:00

EV.E.NTIga, AUGUST' 21, 1R55;

The enemy returned our fire very briskly with red-hot
allot and shell, but, although their range was good,
the damage inflicted was comparatively trifling, owing
principally, to the excellent handling of the
gun-boats and mortar vessels, the former being con•
tinually on the move, and the latter hauling and
veering on their 400 fathom cable, as soon as they found
the Russian shot falling too close to be pleasant. At
10.20 the first Russian mrgazine exploded, and a fire
I broke out in the Arsenal. About noon a second maga-
zine exploded ; and at 12.15 a most terrific explosion
took place, followed by a succession of minor ones.
The force of this was so immense that a battery of guns
en barbette was literally blown to pieces by it. At
12.40 more magazines exploded ; at this time, the dock-
yards, arsenal, barracks, all the Government buildings,
storehouses, &c., were burning furiously. The sight
was most grandly imposing. The yards and poops of
the line•of-battle ships were crowded with the ex-
cited "tars," who cheered vociferously after every
explosion, as only British sailors know how to cheer.
To add to this frightful din, the liners Cornwallis and
Hastings, and steam frigate Amphion, opened their
broadsides at the same moment ; and, as if to crown
the whole, the Arrogant, Cossack, and Cruiser chimed
in with this bloody chorus, by commencing a heavy fire,
with good effect, on a-large body of troops which they
chanced to espy on a small island to the eastward of the
fortress. The cannonade continued with little abate-
ment up to 8 o'clock p.m., when the gun-boat recall
was hoisted. Several of the mortar vessels were
also found to be injured from the quick and inces-
sant firing, and bad t,-) be brought out to undergo
repairs ; those, however, which were not damaged still
kept up their fire, in conjunction with the French
mortar battery, until 10 30 p.m., at which hour the
rocket boats from the fleet went in and kept up their
part of the performance until daylight. The scene
during the night was grand beyond description ; the
whole of Sweaborg appeared one mass of flame, the
rockets and shells adding not a little to the awful spleh-
dour of the fiery landscape.
At 5 30 a.m., on the 10th, the fire again opened from
our whole line, and continued throughout the day, at
the end of which little appeared left to be done ; all the
mortars, French and English, were more or less injured.
Some idea, however, of the services rendered by these
vessels may be gathered from the fact that during the
two days' bombardment not less than 1,000 tons of iron
were thrown int') a space of about half a mile in diameter,
and that upwards of 100 tons of powder were expended.
This, incredible as it may appear, applies only to the
English mortar vessels, and does not include the
quantity (which was equally large in proportion) used
by our gallant allies on that occasion.
On Friday night, the 10th inst., the rocket boats again
went in and played with great effeot. On Saturday DO
firing took place, and Sunday was a day of rest. On
that clay everything was quiet and in repose ; even the
mighty deep bowed in reverence to a holy influence,
and was still. The tolling of the bells at Helsingfors
was distinctly to be heard ; the dull and plaintive sounds,
mingled with the strains of sacred music from our men-
of-war, came floating over the calm waters, and offered
a strange but soothing contrast to the noise, turmoil,
and excitement of the two preceding days.
On Monday morning, the 13th instant, the two fleets
got under way, and returned the same day to Nargen,
having performed in an incredibly short space of time,
with comparatively no loss, one of the most glorious ex-
ploits recorded in modern times, and proving, that with
the judicious application of the great maritime power
and means at our disposal, how mistaken those are who
imagine that great deeds can only be achieved at enor-
►nous sacrifice of human life. This expedition also proves
beyond a doubt that the proper and only arm of attack
which can be brought to bear effectually against the
strongholds of Russia is the mortar and gun vessel,
provided, however, that these are always supported
by a due proportion of large ships. The unparalleled
success which has attended the arms of the Allies on
this occasion, is mainly to be attributed to the excellent
arrangements and great foresight of the Allied Com-
manders, and to the skill and unwearied exertions of
those under them ; too much praise cannot be bestowed
on the officers in command of the gun-boats and mortar
vessels. Our Marine Artillery has also shown that, in
skill and knowledge they are second to none.

The subjoined order of the day, issued by Admiral
Dundm, immediately after the bombardment of Swea-
borg, will sufficiently establish the truth of the foregoing
remarks :

" GENERAL MEMORANDUM'.
" Duke of Wellington, off Sweaborg, Aug. 12.

" The Commander-in-Chief is anxious, on the present
occssion, to convey to Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour,
K.C.8.,.t0 the Captain of the Fleet, and to all the cap-
tains, officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron, espe-
cially to the Royal Marine Artillery and those employed
in the gut, boats, mortar-boats of the squadron, his sense
of the zealous and creditable manner in which they have
executed the various services allotted to them, by which a
very important success has been obtained, and se/ere in-
jury inflicted upon the naval resources of the enemy.
" The Commander-in-Chief congratulates all upon the
success of their efforts, and will not fail to represent to the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the services which
have been rendered.
" R. S.CUNDAS, Commander-in-Chief."

When the Allied fleets left Sweaborg on the morning
of Monday, the 13th, what little remained of that for-
tress, once so renowned and formidable, was still on fire,
having burnt, almost without interruption, during the
space of three days and a half.