The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-13 00:00:00

GLAMORGANSHIRE.-THE "GNOLL ESTATE."

TO BE SOLD by Private Treaty, the CASTLE,
with either 600 or 6,000 acres of Land, or separately, about
Forty Farms, varying in size from 20 to 500 acres, nearly all let to
yearly tenants.

.‘ppllcations to treat for any portion of the above mast be made to
W. Bullo-k Webster, Esq the Gnoll, Neath. Rentals and full par-
ticulars may lie obtained either from him, or of Messrs. Osborne,
Ward, and Co., Solicitors, Bristol.
N. B —A great portion of the Neath House Property and off-lying
Farms have been sold

THE BALTIC FLEET.

CRONSTADT, MAT 29 to JUNE 4.

Since the arrival of the fleet within two hours' steam-
ing of Cronstadt the paddle steamers employed in cruis-
ing off the mainland have daily fallen in with and cap-
tured several of the enemy's coasters. These vessels are,
for the most part of a small class, cutter-rigged, and
laden with firewood. Some few of them are of a large
description freighted with hay. With one or two excep-
tions, the crews belonging to them, on finding they were
closely pnrsued, have run their vessels on shore, and
thereby escaped being taken prisoners. The seizure of
these small vessels, although the hulls are of no particu-
lar value, bas afforded the fleet a Supply of wood, which
for all ordinary purposes, is used instead of coal, where-
by there is a considerable saving in that important
article.
- An important feature, which 'affords a strong contrast
to that adopted in 1854, is to be observed during the
present campaign. The too deferential respect hitherto
paid to everything that could by possibility be considered
as private property of the enemy is no longer to be con-
tinued, and no opportunity is to be lost of seizing every-
thing that can benefit the subjects of Russia either
directly or indirectly. The coasting vessels to which I
have alluded, on removal of their cargoes, are burnt to
to the water's edge, and scuttled in order to sink the
remains of the hulls. Among the incidents connected
with the captures made by the paddle steamers during
the last few days one of an interesting nature occurred
on the evening of the 28th. The Magicienne, Capt. N.
Vansittart, while cruising off Wyborg, descried close
under the land three small craft, and speedily took pos-
session of them, placing on board a sufficient number of
hands to take charge of them. From same unavoidable
cause one of them got on shore, and, while the Magici-
enne was adopting the requisite measures for securing
the prize, in which she 'succeeded, one of the enemy's
steam-tug vessels hove in sight with three merchantmen
in tow. The Magicienne immediately hoisterl Russian
colours, with the view of inducing her adversary to come
within range of shot. The ruse for a short time appeared
likely to effect the object intended. The Russian steamer
continued on her course for awhile, making signals to
her supposed consort. No response being made to them,
for obvious reasons, she put her helm up, cut adrift the
vessels in tow, leaving them to their fate, and, although
the Magicienne went in chase at full speed, effected her
escape. The Magicienne, however, captured the three
vessels, which were large transports laden with stone,
and sunk them with their cargoes.
The gun-boats of the fleet are filled with fuel and pro-
visions, have been supplied with chain cables seven-
eighths of an inch in diameter, and are ready at a mo-
ment's notice for active service.
According to accounts received from Revel, the garri-
son of that port consists of 20,000 infanrry, one portion
lodged in barracks, and the other in the opsn country.
The light cavalry, employed as scouts, are distributed in
small bodies along the whole range of coast. Consider-
able forces, under the command of Aide-de-Camp Gen.
Siewers, are also stationed throughout the provinces of
Esthonia.

The Vulture paddle-steamer, Captain F. H. Glasse,
sailed to the northward and westward on the morning of
the 29th. At sunset she was seen steering S.W., with
four prizes in tow, two of which were topsail schooners.
The Magicienne was at anchor under the land, with a
prize bark rigged. The Euryalus and Majestic were
ordered to prepare two captured vessels for burning.
In the afternoon of the 30th, the Cossack and Esk
screw steam-corvettes rejoined the fleet, having returned
from cruising off the mouth of the Gulf of Finland. The
Merlin came in with a schooner in tow, which she had
captured the previous evening. The prize was laden
with flour and rye, of about 100 tons burden, and is to
he sent to Memel to be sold for the benefit of the cap-
tors. At sunset six of the enemy's ships were seen at
anchor in the harbour of Cronstadt, and a small steamer
outside of Tolboukiae Point. Another of the captured
vessels was set fire to by a boat's crew of the James
Watt.

At 9 a.m. of the Slat, the destruction by firs of the
two remaining vessels seized by the paddle steamers,
one of which was a fine schooner of about 150 tons,
commenced. A fresh breeze blowing at the time their
timbers burnt with great rapidity, and in a few hours
their hulls were scarcely above water. In the forenoon
a general signal was made to get up steam and shorten
in cable. By 11 o'clock the fleet was under way (the
Euryalus, Amphion, Magicienne, and Merlin, being
sent ahead as a squadron of observation), and proceeded
in an easterly direction. They anchored at 4 p.m. in
line abreast eight miles W. by N. of Tolboukine Point,
from which position an excellent view of the forts on the
south side of Cronstadt is afforded, the Risbank Battery,
formed of solid granite, and mounting 100 guns of large
calibre, being very conspicuous. Of the Russian men-
of-war at anchor in the harbour, six line-of-battle ship.,
(four of them three-deckers) all ataunt, and 13 others (ix
of which are three-deckers) with merely their lower
masts standing, together with two frigates and seven
steamers, are visible to the naked eye. By aid of a tele-
scope, the gilded spires of the churches of St. Petersburg
can be distinguished, and during sunshine have a very
brilliant appearance.
Shortly after the ships had anchored, Rear-Admirals
R. S. Dundas and Seymour, with their respective flag
captains, and Commodore the Hon. F. T. Pelham, cap-
tain of the fleet, embarked in the Merlin, accompanied
by the Euryalus, the Amphion, the Magicienne, and the
Dragon, and proceeded off Tolboukine Point, at which
they landed, and ascended the lighthouse, from which
elevated spot a panoramic view of the whole of the forts
of Cronstadt and of the ships in harbour is afforded. Hay.
ing passed some time in the lighthouse they re-embarked
in the Merlin, and steamed along the southern shore to
make a closer observation of the forts, and returned on
board their respective flag-ships at sunset. The Magi-
cienne was ordered to be ready for service during the
night, the ships to bank their fires and to prepare for
sailing
At 9 a.m.. of the Ist of June the Dragon and Merlin
were again under weigh, for the purpose of conveying
the two flag officers and their suite along the north coast
of Cronstadt, in order to enable them to make a recon-
naissance of the large batteries on that side of it, in
which they were engaged for several hours. About 2
p.m., the French squadron, under the command of Rear-
Admiral Penaud, and consisting of the Tourville, 90 ;
Austerlitz, 100 ; Duquesne, 90 ; and D'Assas, 16, al,
screw-ships, hove in sight. By 5 p.m. they had anchored
ahead of the English division of the fleet. The Tour-
ville, flag-ship of the French Admiral, hoisted English
colours, and fired. a salute of 15 guns. The Duke of
Wellington hoisted the French ensign, and saluted it
with 21 grins. Soon afterwards the French Commander-
in-Chief embarked in his barge, and paid a visit to Rear-
Admiral Dundas, with whom he had a long interview.
On his departure salutes were exchanged by the respec-
tive flagships. In the evening the Bulldog paddle-
steamer arrived from the westward with two colliers in
tow—the Red Rose, of Dundee, barque, and Paragon,
brig. The Magicienne was ordered to complete coaling
with all possible despatch. After an interchange of visits
between Rear-Admirals Penaud and Seymour on the
morning of the 3d, they, with the English Commander-
in-Chief, embarked in the Merlin. The Dragon having
come up with the Admiral, both steamers proceeded
on a cruise off the north side of Cronstadt, standing
in for the shore until almost within range of the
forts, where they hove-to for four hours, minutely
surveying the enemy's means of defence. Their
movements were closely watched by the Rus-
sians, who stationed themselves at their guns, which
were laid at the greatest elevation. At 5 p.m. the
steamers were observed steering back to the anchorage ;
Rear-Admiral Dundas having returned to his flag-ship,
the French Admiral was conveyed in the Merlin, the
Dragon being in company, towards the south front of the
island. Having landed at the Lighthouse, and from its
summit having made a reconnaissance of the fortifica-
tions, the Russian men-of-war, &c., in the harbour, the
Admiral returned at 9 p.m.
The position of the submarine piles outside the en-
trance to the harbour on the north side is said to have
been ascertained. Three line-of-battle ships and two
frigates are moored across the harbour'S mouth. Along
the line of coast leading to it several additional earth-
works have been thrown up, and the defences generally
have been materially strengthened since the fleet was at
anchor off Cronstadt in 1854. In addition to the line-of-

battle ships lying under shelter of the forts, there is a
large flotilla of gumboots ; the harbour is so thickly
studded with them that it is impossible to count them ac-

curately, but their number is estimated at little short of
200. And now that the flag officers of the allied naval
forces have satisfied themselves of the strong position of
the enemy, it remains for them to devise measures for
wresting it from his grasp. It is not easy even to gusss
the conclusion at which they will arrive ; but the im-
pression of other officers whose opinions are worthy of
respect is that Cronstadt cannot be successfully assailed,
and that its fall will not take place during the present
campaign.
On the first occasion, before referred to, on which the
two British rear-admirals made a reconnaissance on the
northern side of Cronstadt, the Merlin having stood in
shore as far as practicable, they embarked in their re-
spective gigs and proceeded within 1,400 yards of the
spot where the enemy's vessels blockading the channel
leading to the harbour are at anchor. The Russians,
however, did not fire on them, their object being to make
them prisoners, which they attempted, but fortunately
were prevented in accomplishing by the officers on board
the Merlin, who, observing the enemy's intention,
promptly made signal " that two Russian boats were in
chase," ' hoisted the " recall" for all boats, and fired a
gun to enforce immediate obedience to the signal, as is
the custom in the service on important occasions. This
circumstance was sufficient to convince the Admirals
that their opponents were making some important move-
ment, and induced them to return to the Merlin, where
they were apprised of their narrow escape.
Acbzitting that A is necessary for the allied fleeto to