The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

THE ALAND ISLANDS.

A letter from Stockholm, of August 29, in the
Universal German Gazette, says A deputation
of peasants arrived here a few days back from the
Aland Islands to obtain the occupation of these
islands by Sweden and t' eir incorporation with
that State. Their petition was duly presented to
the Diet, and this day a large deputation of the
members of the Diet laid the prayer of the petition
before the King."

RUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE
OF BOMARSTJND.
The following are the terms in which the Inver'
lade Kusse, as copied from the St. Peterburg Journal,
of the 21st August (September 2), announces the
capture of Bomarsund by the allied troops :
"NEWS FROI'd THE BALTIC SEA. .
"The last news from the isles of Aland stops at
the 27th of July, the date of the arrival' of the
French troops, which were intended to land. From that
time the complete investment commenced, both by
land and sea, of the fortifications of those islands,
and all means of procuring direct and certain informa-
tion from them ceased to exist. We only know that
it was through the hearsaystatements of the inhabitants,
brought to the knowledge of the Governor of Abo, that
the enemy, after having landed as many as 10,000 men
upon the principal isle, had begun to erect batteries, and
was assailing our fortifications with numerous artillery.
After the 31st of July there was heard at Abo a heavy
cannonade on the isle of Aland, which did not cease
from morning to night ; but all the accounts agree in
saying that our fortifications held out vigorously, and
that they destroyed a battery constructed by the French
near the village of Finsby. From the 2d of August the
cannonade was obviously redoubled in intensity ; but it
suddenly ceased on the 4th, and the bad news soon spread
that the enemy had taken the fort of Aland.
"Although up to this moment we have not received
any positive news from Aland beyond the reports of
private persons, the unhappy fate of our fortifications
cannot be doubted. Alt the accounts, though differing
in certain details, correspond as to the principal points.
" The fortifications of Aland were composed of a for-
tified barracks occupying the eastern extremity of the
principle isle, upon the strait of Bomarsund, and of
three towers respectively designated by the letters C, U,
and Z. 'these works, separated from each other, alone
were finished ; the greatest part of the fortress was only
rough-cast, and it existed merely in project. The garri-
son was composed of the battalion of the line of Finland
No. 10, to which were added two companies of the bat-
talion of grenadiers, tirailleurs, under the command of
Colonel Furubjelm, who, up to the commencement of the
siege, had occupied a coast battery temporarily raised at
the south of the fort. The first efforts of the enemy
were directed, as it appears, against the tower C, situ-
ated at the west of the fort, and they rendered them-
selves masters of it on the d of August, after a bom-
bardment without intermission. According to the re-
port of some persons, the brave defenders of this tower,
at last deprived of all possibility of continuing their re-
sistance, decided upon making a desperate sortie, which
threw the ranks of the enemy into disorder, and they
blew up the tower after the French had effected an entry
into it.
"On the 3d August, the enemy attacked the other
tower, U, situate on Cape Nordwick, to the north of
the principal fort, and they rendered themselves
masters of that also, but not without experiencing
a sensible loss. On the 4th, at the break of
day, the enemy directed ali his efforts, both by
land and sea, against the fortified barracks, which was
inundated with a perfect hailstorm of bombs and bullets.
At last, about one o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy
occupied this last fortific ttion. The report runs that
the commandant of the place, Major-General Bodisco,
and Colonel Furubjelm, as well as a part of the garri-
son, are still alive, and prisoners of war. It is said that
the enemy was astonished at the energy and the dura-
tion of their resistance, and that in testimony of their
esteem for the gallant defenders of the fort they have
returned the officers their swords.
" This is all that is known respecting this sad event
—an 'event which there is no possibility of hindering.
However lamentable may be the fate of the fortifications
of Aland, isolated as they were in some manner of an
advanced post, we have still here, also, the consolation
that the Russian troops remained faithful to their duty,
and to military honour. In defending for a period of
eight days, against fifty-eight ships and a land force of
10,000 men, a secondary and unfinished fort, the garri-
son of Aland ha's won the applause even of the enemy,
and has heroically sustained the glory of the Russian
arms.
"On the 10th of August five of the enemy's steam-
ships entered the Archipelago of Abo, and directed
themselves against 17 gun-boats of the second battalion
of the flotilla of the west, which, with some small
steam-tugs, were anchored near the isle of Rousal,
barring the channel leading to Abo. The enemy opened
a violent cannonade at a distance of 2,000 sageres. His
shot, shell, and bombs fell for the greatest part beyond
the gun-boats, which quietly waited till the enemy
should approach within range, and only then opened fire
from their pieces. The cannonade lasted-more than two
hours and a-half, during which we had three men killed
and eight wounded. Among the number of the latter
were three men of the naval militia of Finland.
"The enemy then retired, one of his steamers having
to be towed, by reason of the injuries it had received.
"In his report of this affair, the captain of the vessel
of the first rank, Akouloff, commander of the western
brigade of the paddle flotilla, bears testimony with par-
ticular praise to the coolness and the excellent disposi-
tion of the Corvette, Captain Atryganieff, commander
of the 2d battalion, and eulogises the zeal of all the offi-
cers, as well as the crews.
" His Majesty the Emperor has been pleased to ex-
press his satisfaction of the conduet of the officers, and
to confer twelve marks of honour of the military order
among the crews."

THE BRITISH EXPEDITION.

COUNCIL OF WAR.

VARNA, August 28.—The Council of War held
at Marshal St. Arnaud's quarters on Saturday last,
August 26, was no doubt one of the most im-
portant which has yet taken place.
M. St. Arnaud has issued the following order of
the day :

"ARMEE D'ORIENT.
" ETAT MAJOR-GENERAL.—ORDRIS GENERAL. (NO. 100.)
"Soldats,—Vous venez de donner de beaux examples
de pers6vdrance, de calme, et d'6nergie. au milieu de
circonstances douleureusses qu'il faut oublier. L'heure
est venue de combattre, et de vaincre.

out the paddle-box boats to carry seven horses
each, is due to Lieutenant Roberts, command-
ing her Majesty's steamer Cyclops, who has also
worked very hard both here and at Constan-
tinople in fitting up boats and pontoons. The
Highlanders and Guards seemed nearly as well
as when they landed. They marched down to the
pier and were taken off a thousand a time by the
steam-boats purchased byour Government from the,
Austrian Lloyds', which were built for the naviga-
tion of the Danube, and have been found-very use-
ful owing to their speed, power, and light draught of
water. In the course of the day the 28th and 44th
Regiments embarked, and the Ist Brigade of the
Light Division is just moving down to the water's
edge. The engineer staff is getting on board also. Se-
veral transports have already started, laden, for Balt-
chi k. The cholera still hangs around us. On Sunday
night, Mr. Shegog, surgeon of the 88th Regiment,
was seized with it, and expired in a few hours, to
the profound regret of every, man in the regiment.
His exertions when 'the epidemic had been raging
were of the most extraordinary kind. He was by
the beds of his patients night and day, and by his
care, and skill, and kindness, he saved many a life.
Mild, unassuming, indefatigable, and amiable, he
added, to nobleness of heart, gAat decision and
energy. His remains were interred yesterday;
they were followed to the grave by the regiment—
officers, men, and women.

The troops remain for the present in Varna Bay;
on board the ships. It is expected that the expe.
dition will sail on Saturday next.
The weather isltne, though the sky is somewha
overcast.

THE MACK SEX.
THE- EXPEDITION TO THE CRIMEA.
The spectacle at Varna is described as.astonish-
ing, for fascines and gabions by thousands, sacks
of provisions heap upon heap, timbdr, bales of hay,
and barrels of stores, are accumulating upon a scale
such as the present generation has not known.
The superintendent of transports has guaranteed
to embark 2,000 infantry in 18 minutes.
The expeditionary force will be composed of
British, French, and Ottoman troops, who will be
sent in two divisions of transports upon the coast
of the Crimea. The first division will convey
14,000 men belonging to the French army, and
between 400 and 500 horses, with seven batteries,
mounting 36 guns. The other will convey the
Ottoman army, of about 10,000 men and 800
horses. The British army, a part of which is
already on board the steamers which have ccme
direct from England, will also be thrown upon the
coasts of the Crimea, to the numbez of 21,000 men
and 1,000 horses, with 36 guns. Thus, the first
expeditionary army will land about 50,000 troops,
who, six or eight days afterwards, will be reinforced
by an additional number of from 25,000 to 30,000
French troops, and from 4,000 to 5,000 English
troops.

. A- private letter from Varna of the 24th ult.
states that a council of war had been held there,
which was composed of Marshal St. Arnaud, Lord
Raglan, Admiral Dundas, and Hamelin. It was
called for the purpose of considering the expediency
of proceeding with the grand expedition. After a
long discussion, during which Admiral Hamelin re-
commended an adjournment in consequence of the
sickly state of the French navy from. cholera and
the probability of stormy weather in the Black Sea
during the mouth of December, it was finally re-
solved that the expedition should proceed. Ad-
miral Hamelin then requested that a note she uld
be made of his objections.