The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-14 00:00:00

THE DANUBE.

According to advices from Vienna communica-
tions by the Danube between Vienna and Giurgevo
have been re-established. Great commercial orders
have been sent from Bucharest to Vienna.

THE BALTIC.
THE ATTACK UPON BOIVIARSUND.

A telegraphic despatch dated Stockholm, Friday,
says the Russians at Bornarsund burnt everything
outside the fortress when the French landed.
Bomarsund is closely invested by the troops and
fleets.

An official messenger has arrived at the British
Legation at Stockholm, bringing a letter to his
Swedish Majesty.
The following reached Dantzic, on Saturday :
" BOMARSIIND, Aug. B.—Three thousand French
troops were landed to-day and occupied Aland.
The enemy retired. The fleet suffered no loss."

We extract the following from a letter, dated
Stockholm, Aug. 5 :—" Something will be done at
last," is the expression, half exclamatory and half
interrogatory, not unfrequently heard at present in
this capital. The arrival in the Gulf of Finland of
French troops, provided with winter clothing, cer-
tainly raises the impression that something serious
is intended. On the other hand, the comparative
paucity of those troops, the certainty that a large
army, composed of the Czar's best soldiers, will be
opposed to them, and the near approach of winter,
create both doubt and apprehension. That the
Bomarsund forts will be attacked, unless, as is not
altogether improbable, they be evacuated and de-
stroyed by the Russians themseLves, may be set
down as certain, as well as the occupation of the
Aland Isles. Wtat are the French troops and our
marines then to do ? Will they quietly remain on
those islands till next May, or push on soon to Hel-
singfors and S weaborg without w-aiting to destroy
the strong fortress of Abo, on the Finnish mainland?
The mere possession of Aland is .not of paramount
importance, and as an advanced post it cannot be
turned to account in winter. In that season of the
year, too, the troops would be .exposed to many
and great privations, and sickness. would to a cer-
tainty extensively prevail. Were the channel be-
tween the Aland Isles and the Swedish coast
entirely frozen over during winter, the difficulty of
procuring provisions would be dkotinished, but such
is seldom the case. There is ple my of ice, but it
is often drifting, boats have to be drawn here and
there, launched at times into open water, and ex-
tricated from the ice-blocks and they are not un-
frequently wedged in for entire days. Cases have
occurred in which parties proceeding from the
Swedish coast to the nearest of the Aland Isles
have been ten, twelve, and even sixteen days, in
accomplishing that feat ; and those travellers who
in the depth of winter have effected the compara-
tively small passage of the Moerdyk, in Holland,
will have an idea of the many obstacles in the way
of crossing over some twenty 'Mies of broken ice.
Should the approaching winter be a, very severe one,
the entire channel between Sweden and Aland
would be, no doubt, completely bridged across ; but
such would be the case, also, between Finland and
the above group of islands, and how could the Rus-
sians be prevented coming over to the Anglo-French
winter quarters in overwhelming numbers, whilst
the combined fleet is necessarily at a distance ?
The mere occupation of Aland by the allies would
not be sufficient to inspire Sweden with full confi-
dence, for that occupation would not be per se, a
guarantee against the patching up of a peace.
Moreover, the chapter of accidents would be taken
into consideration, and the possibility of a winter
attack by the Russians, and of that attack being
successful would not, of course, be overlooked,
particularly as the same Russians who should cross
the ice between Abo and Aland might venture on
the passage between the latter and. Sweden. Under
all those circumstances, it is difficult to believe
that the French landing troops and the British
marines will remain quietly in Aland during the
winter season, or even until the winter is about to
set in ; short as the time for a campaign now
is, there is time enough for an attack on Swea-
borg. But is the number of the allied troops
sufficient ? The impression in experienced mi-
litary circles is, that such is not the case, how-
ever high their opinion of British and French
courage and daring. The moral certainty is, that
the allies will have to deal, not only with the
numerous garrison at Sweaborg, but with an army
corps outside which, in case of disaster, can. fall
back on Abo, or retreat into the interior of Finland,
ready to appear again in presence of the besiegers
of the above-named fortress. It is true that, in case
England sends out in good time a numerous flotilla
of gun-boats bearing heavy cannon, that fortress
may be attacked both by water and land, but the
landing troops will be also, for a certainty, placed
between two fires—one from Sweaborg and the
other from the Russians in the field. As observed
before, time i 3 short, but it is yet ample enough
for making one grand effort at least at Sweaborg,
leaving Cronstadt for next year. It is also ample
enough for sending out more land troops, and
England should supply them, but not scantily.
The allied land force ought to be at least 50,000,
aided until winter by . very numerous gun-boats ;
and Sweaborg duce fallen, not only Aland, but
Finland might be occupied, provided, however,
that Sweden embrace the cause of the Western
Powers. That proviso is not an unreasonable
one, for there are few persons who would re-
commend even 50,000 troops to carry on a winter
campaign in Finland without being sure of the in-
tentions of the kingdom in their rear, and without
knowing what kind of reception they would meet
with in the event of disasters and a retreat—a re-
treat, too, uncovered and unaided by a fleet.
This leads to the question, What will Sweden do ?
or rather, perhaps, what is to be done with Sweden ?
The Western Powers if desirous, as they no doubt
are, to bring Sweden into their alliance, must look
chiefly to its Sovereign, and bring their influence
to bear principally, if not exclusively, on him.
What his personal sympathies, hopes, and wishes
may be is a profound secret, unknown in all pro-
bability even to the two members of the Council of
State, whom he is bound to consult on foreign
affairs, but whose advice he is free to follow or reject.
There are good grounds for believing, or rather it is
certain, the Imperial Court of France has of late been
indirect and frequent comm un i cation with the Swe-
dish one, and that that communication isnot yet con-
cluded. There are not a few grounds of sympathy
between the two. His present Majesty of Sweden
is the son of an illustrious French general and of a
distinguished French lady, who still lives, and who
makes no secret of her warm attachment to her
native country. The present King's father always
remained a Frenchman at heart, as well as in lan-
guage, and through that father he is indebted for
his throne to that dynasty, which is now ably re-
presented by Louis Napoleon. All this will, no
doubt, have some weight with King Oscar, parti-
cularly as his son, the Crown Prince, appears to
have arrived at the conviction that a war with
Russia would be popular, not only with the well-
disciplined army, but with the great majority of
the people of Sweden. Meanwhile the Swedes
themselves, through their most influential journals,
are zealously discussing the question of Swedish
neutrality, and are as zealously denouncing it.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE TAKING OF
BOMARSUND.
We find the following in a letter dated before the
forts of Bomarsund, August 7 : .
The uncertainty and delay that have appeared
to exist in regard to the landing of the French
troops and their operations against this place may

be accounted for by the non-arrival of the troop-
ships
carrying the seige batteries, so essentially
necessary to the success of those operations ; and it
may be considered fortunate that, notwithstanding
10,000 troops have been cooped up in our men-of-
war for an extra week, very little sickness has
prevailed, indeed only one case of small-pox has
been reported. Much to the joy of every one, 12
French troop men-of-war were reported on Satur-
day, the sth instant, and they were most cordially
welcomed, as bearing the necessary field-pieces.
The events in Ledsund have been the following
since my last letter :
On the 3d inst. the Holyrood and Rajah left for
England, and a French frigate, Le Vengeance,
came in.

4th.—Her Majesty's steamer Bulldog arrived
with oxen and sheep, having been sent to the
Sound to assist in towing the troop-ships.
The Locust, Commander Day, arrived with
Admiral Plumridge on board. He informed Sir
Charles that a well-protected spot had been dis-
covered for the disembarkation of the soldiers
about three miles to the north-west of the forts at
Bomarsund.

At 7 p.m. the Locust returned, towing the Julia
transport, and at the same time the Driver took
up the Belleisle hospital ship. The Sappers and
Miners, to the number of 20, had been inspected
on board the Duke of Wellington, and then sent
to the latter ship, under the command of Lieute-
nant Nugent. i

At dusk the Vulture made her number for Eng,
land.

The carpenters of all the ships have for some days
been actively employed in constructing platforms
to carry 32-pounders. 18 of these are to be landed
from the flag-ship, and others, and they are to b•
independent of the field guns.
Lieutenant Poore, R.M.A., takes the command
of four 121 b. howitzers, and will be employed in
advance in clearing the bush of riflemen, Cossacks,
&c. Captain Elliott will be the Brigade-Major of
Marines.

On the 4th inst. I again arrived off these forts,
aed beheld the most entire transformation in the
locality surrounding it. What had before been a
picturesque landscape now looked a withered scene
of desolation. Volumes of smoke and flame were
bursting forth from tho houses and huts in the
villages ; and as the fire swept along, nothing was
left to point out the spot but the tall brick chim-
nies or the bare walls of the better class of resi-
dionces and the smouldering remains of the peasants'
huts. Night and day the flames poured out and illu-
minated the heavens with a red glare, and it was
not until Sunday, the 6th inst., that the work of
demolition was completed. The Russian Com-
mandant had been the instrument of firing the
villages, and whether the policy was in minute
imitation of Moscow, or to lay bare the place, and
prevent shelter and defence in the advance of the
allied armies is at present a mystery.

The fleet now before Bomarsund consists of the
following, namely, Edinburgh, Hogue, Ajax, and
Blenheim (block ships), and Amphion, Termagant,
and Belleisle. The French have the Admiral's
ship l'lnflexible, Duperre, Sage, and Trident
(line-of-battle ships), that must be towed into
action ; and five or six troop ships are now here.
Admiral Chads has been most indefatigable since
he has been here. Every night at dusk, boats with
their oars muffled, may be seen quietly departing
from the Edinburgh, and approaching the large
fort to within 100 yards. The most precise
soundings have thus been taken, and the channel
that exists within 500 or 600 yards of the battery
is well buoyed. The mud battery to the east is
enabled to enfilade this anchorage, but the Arro-
gant has the honourable duty of being ordered to
destroy them by a few broadsides, and then to
land and spike the guns. A formidable pivot gun
has arrived in the Vulture, and has been placed
on board the Edinburgh. It throws a conical ball,
14 inches in length, to the distance of four miles,
as I am informed.

On the sth instant the Termagant brought her
troops up here, followed by the Souftleur towing the
Tage. The Vulture came in at five, and in picking
out her moorings went upon a rock, not before dis-
covered. The Columba transport, being in tow,
ran into the stern of the Vulture with a crash,
carrying away jib-boom and topsail yard, and
smashing the quarter boats of the man-of-war The
Vulture got off again in half an hour. The 121 h
Regiment of Chasseurs were then landea from the
Termagant and Columba, and bivouacked in a most
romantic place.
At dusk I proceeded there, and rowing through
narrow passages, between the rocky islands, soon
came upon the French encampment. They had
selected the shores of a large inlet, and pitched
' their tents upon a strip of land where the corn
and rye were still standing in leaf. This beau-
tiful piece of water was dotted with innumerable
islands and rocks thrown about in wild disorder.
Indeed, the scenery reminded me much of
Loch Katrine, with the pine and the silver
birch covering the low land and eminences in pro-
fusion. The Frenoh troops had pitched their tents
between the shrubs and in secluded spots, and they
seemed in the highest state of enjoyment. The
men were employed in various ways, some scram-
bling over the rocks in search of wood and water,
fixing- tents, digging intrenchments, placing furze
and earth around the base of their tents to main-
tain the warmth, fixing tripods for their swing-
ing kettles, burnishing their arms, and making
all snug for the night ; and others had gathered
round them a knot of 40 or 50 men, and singing
with much enthusiasm of the glories of the Em-
pire. The burden of another song was "France
and England combined will lead their sons to glory
and victory "—pointing to the forts. The men
pressed about the singers, and energetically joined
in the chorous. There was not a doubt that these
musical effusions tended to keep alive in the men
the fire of military ardour so essential to success
in warfare.

The vivandieres, in their pretty double-breasted
coats and large trousers, were seated on a mound
serving ou: to ide men glasses of eau de vie and
schnaps at two sous a-piece.
It was quite dark when I left them, but the
numerous watch-fires blazing forth from the rock ;
lit us along the lake, and cast a wild and brigand
character over the scene.
On the 6th inst. the Ste. Louise and Tilsit joined
us. The Foam yacht came in under canvass, and
moored about two miles from the fort.
The large pontoons for landing the heavy guns
were lowered from the troop-ships, and prepared
all ready for service.
At 1 p.m. Sir Charles Napier came in the Light-
ning. He was attended by Admiral Seymour and
Colonel Jones. He proceeded on board the Ellen-
burgh, and the final arrangements were made.
The French are desirous to send in four of their
line-of-battle ships with our block ships, and for
that purpose they have prepared their stern chain
cable for mooring fore and aft in line with the forts.
In the tortuous and exceedingly difficult naviga-
tion of this group of islands, too much credit
cannot be bestowed. upon Captain Sullivan,
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Sullivan brought the block ships through passages
to spare, was the theme of admiration. Five of
English in coming here.

AUGUST 7, 4 Pil.--General Baraguay d'Hilliers
is just anchored in the Imperial yacht. To-night
the whole of the troops will move up, and it is
surmised they will immediately land. The en-
campment of the 12th Chasseurs is now being
broken up, and the men again placed on board the
Termagant, previous to crossing to the other side
of the bay. The attack by land will commence
to-morrow.

The troops in the Termagant are now being
lustily cheered as she is crossing the bay.

MALTA.

A letter received from Malta, dated August '7,
states that two return steam transports, the Em-
peror and the Cambria, had arrived at Valetta on
the 6th from the Bosphorus, having made the voy-
age in four days. They bring, says a correspondent,
no letters, and apparently no news, save the return
to Baltschik of the combined fleets from a recon-
noitring expedition in the offing of Sebastopol,
where three ships of the line have been left, in
hopes that the enemy may be enticed out. The
Himalaya, with the Scots Greys, arrived on the 3d,
and went on to Varna, on the following evening.
We have had no new cases of cholera here since the
Ist inst.