The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-29 00:00:00

TURKEY AND ASIA.

Advices from Constantinople, of the 18th May,
state that the Ottoman corps at Kars almost en-
tirely dispersed on the approach of the Russians
on the sth of May. A part formed into guerilla
bands, the rest were sent to Erzeroum.
Mr. Brandt, the English consul, has quitted
Erzeroum for Batoum.

Selim Pacha's corps is in a satisfactory position
at Batoum.

CONSTERNATION IN RUSSIA.

The Patrie says :—" The last letters from dif-
ferent Russian provinces announce that marked
agitation prevailed both in St. Petersburg and se-
veral of the neighbouring towns. Trade was suf-
fering intensely, and misery was on the increase.
A recent fact strikingly illustrates both the fears of
the Russian Government and its method of pro-
Feeding. A tradesman of the capital having failed,
closed his shop, situated in one of the most fre-
quented quarters of the city. This circumstance,
apparently so ordinary, excited a sensation, and
the Government arrested the tradesman and trans-
ported him at once to Siberia for having failed at
such a' time, and thus betrayed the uneasy state of
trade. The police found upon inquiry that the
immediate cause of the failure was a claim made
by a nobleman for a sum of money due to him.
This nobleman was fined 15,000 roubles, and or-
dered to leave St. Petersburg and reside on his
property."
The following is from Bremen of the 13th :
" News received from the Baltic, and which we
consider authentic, says that the vast merchant
quarter of the city of Riga has just been levelled
to the ground by order of the military authorities,
who fear a landing of the Anglo-French forces. It
adds that all the working part of the citizens, even
women, children, and old men, were set to work
and made to dig trenches, and throw up mounds.
of earth at the gates of the city. As the workmen
were not able to make gunboats, they have pressed
those of Revel and Libau. Our readers will not
be surprised when we add that the same letter
describes the inhabitants of Riga, as struck with
consternation."

THE BALTIC.
BOMBARDMENT OF MANGO.

The illoniteur of this day (Monday) says:—
" Advices from Copenhagen of the 28th state—
Three steam-frigates have destroyed the detached
forts 'at Hango Point. The English had three
killed and some wounded.

"The loss of the Russians is considerable.
• "The Magicienne, which brings this news, left
Admiral Napier on the 23d before Hango. It was
said that he was going to attack the principal
forts."

A letter from Narva (Russia) of the 16th, in the
Boersenhalle of Hamburg, says :—" We have not
as yet seen the English fleet. The ice has not as
yet completely disappeared from the Gulf."
We extract the subjoined from a letter from the
Baltic fleet of May 16 :

"The introduction of steam into the service has done
another great thing besides giving us a power of moving
at will—l mean placing a fleet like this completely inde-
pendent of the shore for water. This is done, not by
means of Grant's galley, but by connecting one of the
boilers with Grant's condenser, which turns into pure
water the surplus steam. When using one boiler for the
purpose of distilling alone, such a ship as the Duke
of Wellington can distil 62 tons in 24 hours, and
she has 'id-verat Ilines-supplied other ships. We are
very much surprised in reading some newspapers from
home, to find there is something like dissatisfaction at
our supposed tardy movements. Do the writers think
that we are not as anxious to commence as they are
only to hear of active work ? Or would they like us
to rush madly about like a bull at a gate, doing more
damage to ourselves than the enemy ? or, like the same
animal committing devastation in a crockery-shop, pour
down upon the poor defenceless Finns and Esthonians,
death, misery, and ruin ? for up to the present time
they, if enemy at all, would be the only parties we could
have got at, all the securely-fortified places being pro-
tected by old winter ; but in less than six days after
you receive this you will hear that the sound of our
cannon has rattled over the waters of the Gulf of Fin-
land, from Dago to Hango."
A correspondent, who writes from Gottske Sando
says :
" I expect in a few days we • shall commence opera-
tions against Hango Shad, at the entrance of the Gulf
of Finland. The battery there is not heavy ; it com-
mands the entire of the Gulf."
Another letter, dated May 15, 56 miles west of
Dager Orst, says :--
" tire are now exercising manosuvres, and awaiting
the arrival of the St. George and Nile, also the French
fleet, after which, I believe, we go into the Gulf of
Finland to commence operations."

THE FRENCH AT KIEL.-FRENCH TROOPS

FOR FINLAND.

KIEL, May 24.—The presence of the French fleet
in Kiel Bay attracts great numbers of visitors from
all parts. Each day one particular ship is open to
the public, while all the rest are inaccessible.
' Yesterday was the turn of the Dugeusclin of 90
guns. Lieut.-General von Krogh, commanding
1
the Danish garrison at Kiel, paid a visit to the
French Admiral Parseval-Desche'snes, and was
saluted with 15 guns from the flag-ship, which
was duly returned by the Danish paddle-wheel
I *rigate Holzer Danske. Presently after, a signal
v ras made to the Duguesclin, " prepare to receive
elle Danish General en petite tenue, and he came
ati.ongside in the Danish frigate's eight-oared cut-
te r.• The officers of the flag-ship, I'lnflexible,
gave a ball last night to the inhabitants of
Kiel. Colonel Hodges, the British Consul-
Ge.tieral here, went over to Kiel yesterday, but did
not ;stay for the ball, and returned by the evening
trai zi . The French officers labour und.er the impression
that' they will eventually have to contend with
PruSs ia, and indeed the Prussians appear to be
rath.er • afraid of losing their dearly-bought infant
navy, if one- may judge from the nervous anxiety
they EY vince ' to • ensure their safety. Their ships
have be en all rocalled'from their foreign stations,
and tho frigate Gefion has been dismantled at
Danzig , and is to be laid up undei the pretence of
examin.ing her thorougly after her cruise in the
Mediteri 'anean. It has caused great astonishment
that' the .t.'4'rench fleet, instead of anchoring in the
outer roads at Buelk (as Sir Charles Napier did)
has come it Ito the inner harbour of Kiel, particu-
larly as thit I was attended with great trouble and
expense, for all the liners being sailing ships, each
had to be toi red in by a steamer. This has given
rise to the rui sour that they intend retaining pos-
session of Kiel as a station, which, with the force
at their command (1,100 guns and 12,000 men)
would be by n o means difficult. Of this how-
ever you may be pretty certain that they will remain
at Kiel for the present. Negotiations have been
opened with the railroad company for carrying the
French troops acrss the Isthmus en route for the
Gulf of Finland. - It is now proposed to forward
them by steam from Clierbourg to Gluckstadt, at
the mouth of the Elbe, az td, thence by railroad to
Kiel, where they would r e-embark for the north.
Amongst the Ships of the French squadron in Kiel
Bay is a heavy frigate, p .ainted quite black, with-
out the usual white strew{ : along the battery of the
main deck. This has giv en rise to the report that
she is the Belle Poule, wi ta i c h , it will be remem-
bered, brought home from a St. Helena the remains
of Napoleon, under the cc nnrnand of the Prince de
Joinville, and that she :is therefore doomed to be
perpetuall--;
y in mourning . Such, however, is not
the case, though it has fot and its way into several
German papers. The ho ix originated amongst tile
sailors of the Jemappet ;, who for fun thus hum-
bugged some of their Ger; nan. visitors. She is the

Poursuivante. Only " land-lubbers" could allow
themselves to be hoaxed in this manner.
The writer of another letter from Kiel of the
same date, says :—" Availing myself yesterday of a
kind invitation given me by some French officers
to visit their ships, I proceeded on board the Je-
mappes, of 92 guns, and must confess that, after
having gone through the whole of this splendid
vessel, having a crew of 930, men, besides its usual
complement of Marines, and one company of
127 officers and men belonging to the Austerlitz,
my impression is very strong in favour of the
French navy making itself a glorious name
during the present conflict against Russia. I
managed to be on board during the crew's dinner
hour, and witnessed the most perfect state of dis-
cipline and comfort among the men generally.
Their fare consisted of well-cooked beef, soup, and
vegetables, with a ration of wine (Bordeaux) after-
wards, instead of our men's grog. In the morning
the crew have coffee, with a ration of brandy,
and a couple of large biscuits, in a square form,
and of very excellent quality. In the evening.
they have another ration of brandy or wine,
instead of tea or coffee. I visited also the sick
ward, in which were a few patients suffering
principally from colds and trifling accidents. The
greatest care and attention appeared to be bestowed
upon them, and they all viewed the surgeon who
accompanied me with kindly recognition. The crews
of all the shipsappear in excellent spirits, and ready
for anything. Both ships of the line and frigates are
for sailing, there not being one screw among them.
The Marines comprise 2,200 men with the Marine
Artillery ; the whole force of the fleet consists of
938 guns with (crews and Marines inclusive) 11,640
men, and by the time the other vessels join this
force will include about 1,200 guns and 14,100 men.
I have been informed by the English pi:ots onboard
the Inflexible that the reason of the long delay of
the French squadron has been contrary and light
winds, besides the anxiety of the Admiral to con-
vey his ships through the narrow. passages of the
Belt without running any risk of getting on shore.
Some time has also been lost in obtaining effi-
cient pilots for the Belt, as the British pilots
are not accustomed to the navigation, having
been always in the habit of passing through
the Sound. The most efficient of the French ships
is the Duguescelin, under Contre-Amiral Tenant,
in which the crew has served upwards of fifteen
months ; on board most of the other ships the men
are of a more mixed description, and the majority
of them very young in the service. The men are
daily exercised with muskets and small arms, and
are drilled by the Marine officers ; they are also
exercised regularly at the guns when at sea, and
are becoming very proficient in handling them.
The wind has been for some time contrary, as much
as there has been of it, and there is every appear-
ance of its remaining so. Last evening and this
morning the trains from Altona have been crammed
with visitors to see the fleet, the weather being so
fine, and holyday-time into the bargain.