The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-25 00:00:00

TliT SCREW' STEAM-SHIP AHPILION.

The Amphion remains waiting orders. A suorey on
Ler boilers and machinery was held at Sheerness on
Saturday, her last voyage, has been underway for 200
days. This ship, left the Downs on the 13th of March
last, and proceeded to Wingo Sound, arriving there on
the 18th. On her leaving Copenhagen on the let of

April her first employment was cruising off the coast of
Courland, to intercept Russian vessels on their way
home. She was employed on that duty up to the 28th

of April, on which day she entered the ice in the Gulf of
Riga, cutting her way through it, in company with the
Cruizer, and there captured the Russian bark Carolina,
and the Gebroders ; the ice was very thick at that time.
A number of paddle-wheel steam-tugs were sent out
from Riga to tow the merchant vessels then in the ice
into safety. In consequence of the thickness of the ice

neither the Amphion nor the Cruizer could get near to
them. The Amphion was repeatedly fired on from the

forts. All the shots from them felt short. The Am-
phion then left Riga Bay and proceeded to Faro Sound
to coal, and immediately returned to the coast of
Courland, for the purpose of intercepting neutral
vessels with contraband of war and destroying Rus-
sian property. On the 15th of May the Amphion's
boats proceeded into Libau, and succeeded in get-
ting eight Russian vessels. The Ainphion, was
afterwards present at the operations before Bo-
marsund. Her boats, under the command of her
gallant commander, her first and fourth lieutenants, and
Mr. A. G. Bogle, mate, were the first to land on the
Russian soil, or rather mud, close under the Russian
batteries, and the last-named gentleman had the honour
of hoisting the first English Jack on the Russian soil at
Bornarsund. On destroying the forts she returned to
her former station, her commander being senior officer
on the coast of Courland. On the large screw-ships
being recalled to Kiel this ship formed one of the flying
squadron under Captain Watson, of the Imperieuse,
cruising at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland, until
late in November, at which time considerable bodies of
ice had formed, nearly closing the Gulf. She then re-
turned to Faro Sound with the flying squadron, on the
Ist of December, the ice having then set in throughout
the Gulf. She left Faro for Elsinore on the 3d of De-
cember, and arrived at Elsinore on the 7th, where they
found eight ships belonging to the flying squadron. All
the officers of the flying squadron were invited to par-
take of the hospitality of Messrs. Deacon and Reynolds,
the English Admiralty agents there, who gave a magni-
ficent ball, which was numerously attended by all the
elite of the surrounding country for many miles round:
In return, on the following evening, a ball was given
by all the officers of the squadron, to which all the
youth and beauty of Elsinore, Copenhagen, and the sur-
rounding neighbourhood were invited. More than 250
met in the Assembly-rooms. Dancing commenced at
9 p.m., and was kept up with the greatest spirit until
five a.m. next day, when the officers left to proceed on
board their respective ships, preparatory to proceeding
home. The Ampbion weighed the same day at 10 a.m.,
passed the Scaw on the 14th, arrived off Orfordness on
the 18th, and at Sheerness on the 21st. Mr. Powess,
midshipman on board this ship, had a most miraculous
escape from being killed or drowned. As be was
ascending the futtock shrouds to go into the foretop, the
ratline he bad hold of broke, and he rolled down thefore
rigging, fallipg overboard. The leadsman at the time
was taking a cast of the lead, the ship going through
the water at least six knots. Fortunately, the lead line
got entangled with one arm, taking two or three turns
round the arm, and the poor young fellow was towed,
sometimes under water and sometimes above, until the
aycouldbe stop
onped board. h
boatAewas
was quickly
as
very
much
h uresdt we. On being broughtd, (but recovered in a few days. During the
period this ship was cruising off the coast of Courland
ship'sleoxwae
she captured .a small Russian vessel and took her in
tow, but she fortunately sprung a leak, and her crew,
consisting of two men and a female passenger, were
taken on board. The woman appeared to have the
greatest confidence in the security of her position, and,
as far as it was possible to understand her, she ex-
pressed her heartfelt thanks fur all the kindness shown.
She continued to be their messmate for 10 days, and
became quite domesticated. She was at length taken ott
board her Majesty's ship Archer, bound for Memel,
previous to which a very liberal subscription was got up
among the officers, and presented to her in the uame of
the mess.

TWO PERSONS IOUND DilOWNED.—Yeaterday infor-
mation was received that a man of respectable appear-
ance had been found drownedin the London Docks. A
bunch of keys and some articles marked H. Freeman
were found on the body, whiph was removed to the
dead-house to be owned and for an inqnest. Also
that of another man apparently about 35 yearset in the
Thames, off the Bishop's walk, Lambeth:- 'lt now lies
,at the beth dead-house.