The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-26 00:00:00

SCREW-STEAMERS FOR AUSTRIA.

Two war screw-steamers are now fitting up at the manu-
factory of Messrs. Mare and Co., Blackwall, for the Aus-
trian Government. One is laid out for 50 guns, and the
other will carry a smaller number. These vessels were
originally designed and ordered for the Sultan of Turkey,
but subsequenty they were transferred to the Austrian
Government.

' THE AFFAIR OF THE PENELOPE.
The Portsmouth Guardian publishes the following letter
from an officer of her Majesty's ship Blenheim, dated off
Bomarsund, August 13, 1834 :—" We muster altogether,
with the French, ten sail of the line, and a proportionate
number of small fry. On Tuesday the boats of the fleets
were ordered out, and the troops were all landed, together
with 500 marines. On Wednesday all the seamen were
employed transporting guns from ships to the shore, and
they succeeded in dragging six 32-pounders eight thousand
yards from the shore, and within five or six hundred yards
of the left hand round tower. On Thursday last, about
noon, the Penelope steamer was ordered to pass on the
starboard or right-hand side of the large fort of Bomarsund,
for the purpose of ascertaining how many guns the enemy
could bring to bear on her from that quarter. The move-
ments of the Penelope were watched with intense interest
by all the squadron ; the semen lined the gangways, and
the officers the quarter-deck, waiting to see the result.
The Penelope boldly stood on the course she was directed,
when, unfortunately, she took the ground—runningon the
top of a reek. The Hecla, commanded by the celebrated
Captain Hall, happened by good luck to be cozning.into
the harbour at the time, and a signal was made to her to '
go to the assistance of ship ashore. Strange to say, the
surgeon of our vessel at the time said to me, ' How woul i
you like to go into action with your friend C iptain Hall ?
I made some careless reply, and said `I would not
mind it in the least.' I had scarcely uttered these words
when the admiral's galley came pulling alongside like
mad, with a message dirt ct from Admiral Chads, that he
had sent his boat. to take me on board the Heels, to pilot
her and assist in getting the Penelope off. To make a long
story short, we succeeded, after nearly two hours and 20
minutes, in getting the ship afloat, and towed her out stern
foremost in safety. During the whole of the time the Pene-
lope was on shore, the Russians were firing shot and shell
at us, and latterly they commenced red-hot shot. Several
struck the Penelope and ourselves. I saw two Frenchmen
shot in a boat close to me. One of them, I believe, was a
French midshipman—the shot cut him right in two. I was
standing on the forecastle when a shot whizzed past within,
I think, two feet of my head. Another one at the same
instant came right through the ship's side, close to where I
was standing, and covered me with,splinterg. Fancy being
under fire of so large a fort for so long a time without be-
ing injured. Is it not a miracle ? There were some killed
and wounded, but how many I cannot tell. We hail none
killed on boar .l the Hecla, although the shot was plumping
about us right and left. You will see that the little Heels
had the honour of getting the Penelope out of a serious
scrape. The breaching batteries opened fire on the left-
hand tower at 4 o'clock this morning,,and have been en-
gaged up to this moment. I can see them blazing away
this moment from my port. I fear there will be a good
many lives lost. One of our marines lost his leg yesterday.
Now for this day, Sunday. I was quietly writing this let-
ter about one o'clock this afternoon, when an order came
on board for us to launch one of our large 81-pounders im-
mediately. We soon hoisted ' Mr. Gun' into the launch,
when Capt. Pelham sent for me. I had just time to get my
sword and a revolver, when I found myself seated along-
side the captain, who wanted me to accompany him to
assist in getting the gun ashore. We landed, and got shot,
shell, and gun slide, and were getting the gun out, when
one of the forts, observing our movements, opened fire on
us, the first shot coming right amongst us, knocking the
dust in our eyes. The admiral then ordered us to leave the
shore immediately. French and English got out of the way
as soon as we could, but not until we had several shells
burst amongst us. I can't tell if there was any one hurt;
we looked too much to our own safety to think much about
any one else. The captain and I were walking together, i
thinking we were quite out of danger, when a round shot :
passed so close to us that the skipper made such a duck
with his head that I thought it was off altogether; we went
up to the French camp, looking after the commander-in-
chief. I saw the French and English generals, two fine-
looking old men."

MILITARY.