The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-24 00:00:00

SWEABORG AND HELSINGFORS.

Sketched by E. T. DOLBY.
Published by Colnaghi and Co.
A companion-plate to those already mentioned
in terms of deserved eulogium by ourselves, repro.
senting the fortifications and towns of Cronstadt
and Sebastopol—this cleverly-sketched and bril-
liantly-coloured lithograph presents to the English
public at one view the batteries of Sweaborg and
the city of Helsingfors. It is a continuation of the
series of authentic engravings illustrative of the
events of the war with Russia, issued from time to
time (as those events transpire) from the Messrs.
Pauljand Domini° Colnaghi's enterprising and popu-
lar establishment. It will be remembered that
while the lithograph of Sebastopol (or, as it was
there spelt, Sevastopol) was taken from original
drawings by Lieut. Montague O'Reilly, R.N., of
H.M.S. Retribution. The lithograph of Cronstadt
(or, as it was there, by a somewhat stranger freak
of orthography, spelt Krondstadt) was taken from
sketches by Mr. E. T. Dolby, the artist sent out
for the very purpose of making these sketches by
the eminent publishers already mentioned, with
the sanction of the Admiralty, and we believe, iri-
deed, if we are not much mistaken, under the ex-
press
patronage of Sir James Graham and the
Lords Commissioners. However this latter cir-
cumstance may be, the lithograph now before us,
representing, as we have said, Sweaborg and Hel-
singfors—an engraving executed in double-tinted
lithography, by Mr. W. Simpson, from sketches
taken in the Baltic by Mr. E. T. Dolby, a work
printed by Messrs. Day and Son, and published by
Messrs. Paul and. D. Colnaghi—is formally dedicated
(by permission) to Sir James and his Admiralty
colleagues. It forms a picture not unworthy of
being inscribed to the Lords Commissioners, and
of being placed side by side in the portfolio with
the previously issued views of Cronstadt and Se-
bastopol. Authenticated in many particulars by
reference to various official documents, the present
representation of the batteries of Sweaborg and
of the city of Helsingfors has been produced from
the actual drawings taken on the spot by Mr. Dolby
—drawings now, we learn, in her Majesty's posses-
sion. The view being a bird's-eye view, enables us
to observe in detail the nature of the islands form-
ing the renowned Sweaborg fortifications, together
with the construction of the batteries, and the num-
ber of the guns mounted upon them, and includes
besides all this the whole of the picturesque city of
Helsingfors. Helsingfors is in the background—
the front of the picture being occupied by the grand
defence of Sweaborg and its insular fortifications.
It is impossible to examine the engraving without
being struck by the peculiar resemblance in the
situation of these insular batteries of Sweaborg in
reference to Helsingfors, and that of the insular
batteries of Cronstadt in reference to St. Peters-
burg. Remarkable ability has been shown in the
skilful rapidity' with- which the lithograph has been
produced, and no less remarkable enterprise mani-
fested in the speed with which one engraving of the
kind after another is supplied by the publishers for
the gratification of the curiosity naturally enough
felt by the people who remain at home in reprd to
the scenes of the exploits of their gallant fellow-coun-
trymen, whether by land or by sea, in the Baltic
or in the Euxine, along the shores of the Crimea
or on those of the. Gulf of Finland,