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

HIGH AT ?MON Er.roor,.

Tim DA' —Horning 3 min. aft 1 Evening 17 min. aft.. 5
T - Koitß.ow Morninp 34 min. after 5 1 Evening 52 ruin. aft. :i

fEEE ViEkTHER.—Smq Ortici, Aug. 21,
Duazdo:.4aTza, 13 THIC SILLDAI.
69 ii ghest since noon yesterday.
Cl— owest this morning and during the night.
72—this day, at noon.
BAROMETILit, 30—rising.
WIND, W.N.W.—Light, with mild cloudy weather.

(7,14 ix-%

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LONDON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1855.

The Despatches from Admiral DUNDAS, eou-
taining *hat may be received as the authentic
detail of the attack on Sweaborg, have at length
come to hand. It seems difficult to understand
the causes of the tardy publication of " the cor-
rect card" respecting this important and interest-
ing transaction. The -Gallant Admiral certainly
seems to have taken it rather easily, and all per-
sons in any degree connected with the transmis-
sion of the intelligence appear to have followed
his example. The bombardment commenced early
on the 9th and concluded at half-past 4 a.m. on
the 11th. There was certainly ample time to
have prepared and forwarded a tolerably accurate
account of the great event during the same day.
The Gallant Admiral, however, rested on his oars
for nearly 60 hours before he set pen to paper,
or adopted any means to satisfy the very natural
anxiety that prevailed in every quarter, respecting
the nature and „extent of our success. We can
conceive that there might be circumstances to jus-
tify .such apathy. If there had been very serious
damage to the ships, or loss of life among the
crews, it might in some degree explain the delay.
But, fortunately, there was no such excuse ; and
an accurate version might easily have been trans-
mitted before noon on Saturday, the 11th. The
French Admiral lost no time. Be wrote the
same day, and his accounts were published in
Paris on Saturday morning ; while the full Rus-
sian account of the, affair was contained in The
Sim, of Saturday ! Nothing, however, is heard
from Admiral Dusnas until Tuesday—eleven days
after the event !—and this although the chic
features might without any extraordinary exertion
have been known a week since. This will be
readily perceived from the fact, that communica-
tions despatched from the fleet might have been
received at Dantzic on Monday, and almost in-
stantaneously transmitted by telegraph on Mon-
day, so that a full abstract of the despatches
might have been given on Tuesday, in place of
the ridiculously meagre sta,tenseuts that were
suffered to .appear. Without wishing to cast un-
necessary blame on Admiral DUNDAS, we must
complain' of this very serious fault, and seriously
ask—What is the use of the electric telegraph if
it is not to be resorted to largely under such
k
exciting circumstances T The sane apathy wa
long perceptible respecting intelligence from
Sebastopol and the Crimea.. There are, however,
no longer any just grounds of complaint in that
quarter, :and surely Admiral DUNDAS might
ceive a salutary lesson from the improvement*
there effected.
We regret to say that the success has been by
no means so complete or decisive as, in the ab-
sence of authentic official intelligence, we were led
to believe.. That much damage has been inflicted
on the enemy, and with comparatively i
jury to ourselves, is certain. -trivial n-
But, although a
vast quantity of buildings and, stores of various
descriptions connected with the arsenal were de-
stroyed, we are told by the English. Admiral him-
self that " the sea defences, in general, were little
injured." Indeed it "formed no part. of
plan to attempt a general attack by the ships ou
the defences, and the operations contemplated b 1,7,
the. (Frencl) Rear-Admiral and himself were
limited to such destruction of the fortress and
arsenal as could be accomplished by means of
mortars." This moderate conception was so
thoioughly kept in view that the "-three-decked
ship, which had been.- moored by the enemy in
No and defend the channel between Glistafirvard
suffered to be "withdrawn
and Bak- Efol.rnen,'! was'
d,iring the '_night to a more secure position !"
There was no attempt to diminish by so much
the 'Baltic- fleet of-the. AUTOCRAT. This may be,
artti doubtless is, in direct accordance with the ,
instructions from the Admiralty ; but We do not
tl4uk we were 4o_fortnuata
to have such an officer now in command, would
b quit-e contented where there had been suck
escape. But it -is scarcely probable that even
NELSON himself, if now living, would, under the
existing system, be placed at the- head of the
Balticiket. So good a thing would not la,"
to the atanbi a country clergyman.
•
But,- ilithiangh we must acknowledge cusselie:;
greatly ..disappointed, there •has :been, aonsetbing-
ay.,so2plished. The Russians have had the resulti;
of the TEr brovgh± 11:ma-to thei, .7.ar3„. tiares,•