The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-01 00:00:00

ARCTIC APPOINTMENTS.

The following promotions and appointments were
made last week from the crews recently serving in the
Arctic Regions :
Boatswain.—George Kennedy, to the Scout, 20, screw
steam corvette, building at Woolwich.
Acting-Boatswains.—Henry Bailey (a), James Cor-
nelius, James Intell, aad Richard Bayley, to the Scout,
20, screw steam-corvette, building at Woolwich.

ARRIVAL OF THE HECL.A. FROM THE
BALTIC.

The Hecla, 6, paddle• wheel steam-sloop, Captain W.
H. Hall, arrived at Spithead yesterday morning from
the Baltic. She reports the near approach to this port
of the sailing ships of the fleet with Rear-Admiral Plum-
ridge, with which she parted company on Saturday last
about 180 miles from the Downs. They consist of the
Neptune, 120 (bearing Rear-Admiral Plumridge's flag),
Captain F. Hutton ; St. George, 120, Captain H.
Eyres, C.B. ; Prince Regent, 90, Captain H. Smith ;
and Monarch, 84, Captain J. E. Erskine. These vessels
left Elsinore with the Hecla ou the 14th inst., the last-
named vessel towing the St. George out to sea, and the
Driver, 6, paddle, the Neptune. The other two vessels
got away under sail. The Driver accompanied the
squadron to Scor lighthouse, off the Norwegian coast,
and then returned. The Hecla, prior to leaving Elsinore,
had put a supply of bullocks on board the sailing ships.
When she left them at the above-named distance from
the Downs, the wind was blowing fresh, but was con-
trary for them.
The Hecla possesses numerous and important evi-
dences of the prominent part she played at Bomarsund
and in almost every other fray with the enemy in the
Baltic. She has several shots in her sides, which are
tightly embedded there, whilst she has numerous, shot-
holes through which the shots have entered the vessel,
and it is only wonderful that numbers of her men were
not killed by them. Some of,these shots, after break-
ing through the sides of the ship, passed through as
many as four or five cabins, knocking down doors, bulk-
heads, &c., in their course. Her mainmast was struck
below by a shot that entering the side of the vessel passed
through a party of seamen, who were sitting down to
thelr dinner. The funnel and steam pipe have a num-
ber of shot holes in them. In all these cases the shot
fired by the enemy were 32-pounder shots. But with
marks of rifle shots the Hecla is covered, and these
appear to have been most deadly missiles. A
vast number of these marks are in the neighbour-
hood of the paddle-boxes and paddle-box bridge as
though the enemy had a particular design against the
captain of the ship, who was invariably stationed on the
paddle-boxes whilst the ship was in action. One spot is
particularly pointed out with satisfaction. This is where
a shell fell among a number of men, but which, it will
be recollected, a young officer, Mr. Lucas, had the pre-
sence of mind and courage to pick up and throw over-
board before it bad done any injury. On the whole, the
Hecla was engaged with the enemy more than any other
vessel of the fleet. She was seven times under fire, and
on an average three hours each time. Her exploit at
Ekness is well remembered. In addition to the dangers
she ran from the enemy's fire, the Hecla encountered
others arising from the shallow waters, in which she ven-
tured in her collisions with the enemy, or in executing
the important duty of piloting the heavier vessels through
difficult passages. It is said she has been on shore at
least thirty times ; she has, however, been, reported offi-
cially as on shore seventeen times. Her false keel is
knocked away, and she leaks very seriously. She will
come into harboar to make good her defects. It is ex-
pected that Captain,Hall will bo appointed to the Blen-
heim, 60, screw.