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

THE BALTIC FLEET.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.
The departure of the fleet, which was announced to
take place at 3 o'clock to-day from Spithead, has been
put off, and for a few hours more the giant ships rest
quietly at their anchors in the Solent. In London and
elsewhere the belief that they would start at the time
stated was so generally entertained that from an early
hour in the morning numbers of people flocked down
here to witness the event. Steamers were in readiness
on their arrival, and they were soon at Spithead gazing
with all their,might at the proud lines of floating for-
tresses—silent, stern, and cold, as seen through the thick
atmosphere of a raw disagreeable day. Though not the
sort of weather for a brilliant spectacle, one could
hardly fail to trace a kind of fitness fur the occasion in
the murky, leaden sky, the south-west wind, that came
down in gust 3, accompanied by spattering showers of
rain, and the fretful surface of the water, broken up
into a short and angry jumble of waves, through which
open boats with difficulty cleft their way. The scene
bad a severe, earnest, serious look about it., which at
a glance conveyed the impression of grave work at
hand for those mighty and complex engines of war, close
up to their anchors, and with a list forward by the bow,
as if impatient to be gone upon their fatal mission. Very
different indeed was the impression produced to that of
last year, when the sun shone out I rightly, and the placid
waters of the Solent were alive with sightseers, and the
popular expectation triumphed too hastily over the anti-
cipation of victories which have yet to be achieved, and
the Queen herself was present to see her gallant sail rs
off,,and to wish them a hearty farewell, If the fleet sailed
to-day, as was announced, it would put to sea quietly,
with few 1-sible manifestations of sympathy, in no exult-
ing spirit, but with the fixed and high resolve of doing
something worthy to be talked of before it returned.
Such were the impressions with which the visitors from
town gazed at those colossal ships formed in double
line at Spithead, with the gun-boats and smaller
steamers also in line on their right, yet at a re-
spectful distance, and dwarfed into mere pigmies by
contrast. The fleet lay in more compact order
than last year, and each, as you scanned her, appeared
to be in better and more perfect sea-going con-
dition. Even to inexperienced landsmen it was evident
that here were no shorthanded or untrained crews, but
men accustomed to the service, and confident in them-
selves. The sightseers passed up and down the lines in
their excursion steamers, now taking the centre of the
watery avenue formed by the men-of-war, and wondering
at the long array of checkered broadsides ; now going
close alongside, and
,looking curiously into every port-
hole. By and by, they would run past the smaller pad-
dle-wheels, speculating sagely upon their number and
efficiency for the narrow channels and granite fortresses
of the North. All this time the signal ships kept sig-
nalling, and Admiralty yachts and tenders were dashing
rapidly about, and bumboats and smaller craft clung
precariously to the huge sides of the mighty ships, but
people watched in vain for the evidences of an intention
to weigh anchor and put to sea. No puffs of white
vapour ascended from the steam-pipes ; and the fun-
nels, telescopic or otherwise, were smokeless. It
was evident that the sailing of the fleet was post-
poned, and that the sightseers, ashore and afloat,
were doomed to disappointment. Still, strong in faith
and in the immutability of preconcerted arrange-
ments, thousands refused to believe that at three o'clock
each man-of war would not weigh anchor and quit the
Spit in grand procession with that mysterious air of
movement without causation peculiar to them. Three,
half-past three, and four o'clock came and went, and,
though the wind had moderated, and the sky in some
degree cleared up, not a ship stirred. No one knew or
could tell why the intention to sail had been altered, bu
so it was.

It is uncertain now when the fleet sails, whether to-
morrow or next day, or at what hour, but whenever it
goes it takes with it the best wishes and prayers of the
nation for its safety and success. A maritime people
like this does not send forth such armaments without a
degree of emotion corresponding to the incalculable in-
terests committed to their safeguard and protection.
While we entertain no shadow of doubt that ogr brave
sailors will do all that can be done upon the sea to up-
hold the honour of their flag, we have no reason to be
dissatisfied with the amplitude of the means placed at
their command by the Government and the country.
The extent of these means may be best judged of by
comparing the following statistics connected with the
Baltic fleets of this year and last :
THE BALTIC FLEET OF 1854.

Ships and Commanders' Names. Guns. Men. Horse-
Duke of Wellington, Captain Gordon, Power.
flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Chas. Napier,
K.C.B. ; Michael Seymour, Captain of
the Fleet in
Neptune, Captain Mutton, Flag of Rear-
Admiral J. H. Plumridge l2O
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett, Flag of
Rear-Admiral Chads, C.B 53
Nile, Commodore Martin, C.B 9l
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B l2O
St. Jean d'Acre, Captain the Hon. H
Keppel, lOl
James Watt, Captain George Elliott 9l
Caesar, Captain Robb 9l
Princess Royal, Captain Lord Clarence
Paget 9l.
Majestic, Captain James Hope, C.B Si
Cressy, Captain Warren Bl
Prince Regent, Captain H. Smith 9O
Monarch, Captain Erskine , B4
Cumberland, Captain Seymour 7O
Hogue, Captain W. Ramsay 63
Blenheim, Captain the Hon. F, Pelham CO
Ajax, Captain Warden CO
Imperiouse, Captain Watson, C.B. ..
Euryalus, Captain Ramsey 5l
Arrogant, Captain Yelverton 46
Amphion, Captain A. C. Key
Leopard, Captain George Giffard ..
Odin, Captain Francis Scott
Valorous, Captain Buckle
Desperate, Captain D'Eyncourt S
Penelope, Captain Giffin 1;
Magicienno, Captain Fisher
16

1100

850 400
750 400
750 400
820 -
750 -
650 -
600 450
6 0 450
600 450
5.0 360
530 400
450 360
330 300
300 560
270 560
220 4uo
173 400
803 650
220 400
970 -
175 202
200 470
200 560
175 400
160 60
160 500

St. George,, Captain Eyres, C.B.
120
Archer, Captain Heathcote l5
Vulture, Captain Glasse
Dragon, Captain 'Willcox
Conflict, Captain Cumming......
Cruizer, Commander the don. G. Douglas 14
Bulldog, Captain W. K. Hall ...... 6
Driver, Commander the Hon. A Coch•

_ - --
rave
Rosamond, Commander Wodehouse
Gorgon, COM:13411(1er Cracoft . ..... 6
Basilisk,Commander the Hon. F. Egerton 6
Heels, Captain W. H. Ha 11........ ......... 6
Lightning, Captain B. J. Sullivan 2
Locust, Lieutenant-Commander Day 3
Alban, Commander Otter
Porcupine, Lieutenant G. M. Jackson 3
Volcano, Second Master Gilpin
Otter, Lieutenant W. A. J. Heath .... 3
Pigmy, Lieutenant Hunt 3
Cuckoo, Lieutenant, A. G. E. Murray 3
Belleisle, Commander Hosken 24
Zephyr, Commander Crawley... 3

160 280
160 280
160 320
160 400
135 240
52 100
55 100
52 100
60 132
37 140
36 120
36 100
36 100
240 -
36 100

THE BALTIC FLEET FOR 1855.

Horse
• Duke of Wellington, Captain Caldwell, flag of Guns. Power.
Rear-Admiral the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8.;
Captain of the Feet, the Hon. F. T. Pelham 131
Exmouth, Captain W. K. Hall, flag of Rear-
Admiral Michael Seymour 9l
Retribution, Captain Fisher, flag of Rear-Ad-
miral It. L. Baynes '2B
Royal George, Captain Codrington, C.B.
James Watt, Captain George Elliot
Orion, Captain Erskine .
Caesar, Captain Robb. 9l
Nile, Captain Mundy 9l
Majestic, Captain Hope Bl
Cressy, Captain Warren Bl
Colossus, Captain Robinson
Sanspareil, Captain Williams
Blenheim, Captain W. H. Hall
Hogue, Captain W. Ramsay 6O
Ajax, Captain Warden
Hastings; Captain Caffin
Pembroke, Captain Seymour 6O
Cornwallis, Captain Wellesley 6O
Hawke, Captain Ommanney 6O
Russell, Captain F. Scott
60
Edinburgh, Captain Hewlett
Imporiense, Captain Watson, C.B 5l
Euryalus, Captain Ramsey
Arrogant, Captain Yelvorton
Amphion, Captain A. C. Key
Horatio, Captain the Hon. A. Cochrane ...
Malacca, Captain Farquhar
Cossack, Captain Faushawe
Tartar, Captain Dunlop
Pylades, Captain D'Eynceuxt
Esk, Captain Birch
Archer, Captain Heathcote
Magicienne, Captain Vansittart
Odin, Captain Willcox
Vulture, Captain Glasse
Centaur, Captain Clifford
Dragon, Captain H. Stewart
Bulldog, Commander A. Gordon
Lightning, Lieutenant Campbell
Desperate, Commander White
Conflict, Commander Brown 8
Cruiser, Commander the Hon. Geo. Douglas 15
Harrier, Commander Story
Falcon, Commander Pullen . 15
Ariel, Commander Luce
Basilisk, Commander Jenner
Rosamond, Commander Crofton
Driver, Commander A. 11. Gardner
Geyser, Commander Dew
Gorgon, Commander Crawford
&c., &c

46
31
24

20
20
20
20
15
16

FLOATING BATTERIES, TO BE ADDED.
Guns.
16 Thunder
16 Trusty .
16
MORTAR VESSELS.
1 Hardy .... 1 Manly ..... 1 Porcupine. 1
I
. 1 Havoc ... 1 Mastiff ... 1 Surly .... . 1
GUN-BOATS.
Gleaner 3 I Biter
Pelter 3 I
Boxer 2 I Jackdaw .. 2 Starling ... 2
Ruby
Pincher ... 3 Cracker ... '2 Jack
I Teazer .... 3 Dapper ... 2 Magpie
Badger .... 3 I Fancy 2 Redwing.. 2
..
Snapper ... 3 I Grinder
kl'in's ... 2
Belleisle—Hospital ship, Commander Hos o
/Eolus—Shell magazine. •
Volage—Powder magazine.
In looking over these lists it
was comp( sed
eebte observed thaf,
whereas one division of last Y a
sailing lino in this year's fleet
chiefly of
all are steamers. did or
-harks Napier possess
Nbaotrteriosaomremortar vessels, nor even
any steam floating
ncomp.rising Sir Charles Wood,
a gun-boat worthyd iorfaittlyle,
A. Board of A
Beinar-Admiral Berkeley, Rear-Admiral
Lord in and Sir Baldwin Walker, arrived
First
at
Eden, Captauith Milne,
0 last night, and the majority of them
°rtBbtuoard their yacht, the Black Eagle, in which
went wew tho fleet before pailing. Sir Cioctrge
they - -

Glutton
'Etna ..,
Meteor

Guns.
, 16

Blazer,

Firm

Grey and other members of the Government also arrived
in the port, and, together with large parties of the
nobility and friends of the- Admiralty and Treasury,
went out in the Vivid, Pigmy, Sprightly, and other
steamere. The Port-Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane,
also went out in the Fire Queen. The fleet was aug-
mented to-day by the arrival of the Orion, 91, from
Chatham, a noble-looking ship.