The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-13 00:00:00

THE FLEET AT HELSINGFORS.

OFF HELSINGFORS, June s.—The screw line-of-
battle ships, consisting of the Duke of Wellington,
131, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles
Napier, Commander-in-Chief ; Edinburgh, 58,
flag-ship of Rear Admiral Chads ; St. Jean d'Acre,
101, Captain the Hon. H. Keppel ; Austerlitz,
100 ; Princess Royal, 91, Captain Lord C. Paget ;
Cesar, 91, Captain John Robb; Cressy, 80, Cap-
tain R. L. Warren ; Blenheim, 60, Captain Pel-
ham ; Hogue, 60, Captain W. Ramsay ; paddle
steam frigate Penelope, 16, Captain Caflin, and a
few smaller steamers, re,,ained at anchor in Hango
Roads, Finland, for a longer period than was in-
tended, in consequence of the prevalence of dense
fogs at frequent intervals. The navigation of the
Gulf of Finland under the most favourable state
of the weather is attended with difficulty, espe-
cially for ships of great draught of water. At the
present time it is rendered more hazardous, from
the fact of the Russians having removed- the vari-
ous buoys and beacons which denoted the usual
channels. As an instance of one of the impedi-
ments which the enemy has thrown in the way of.
the safe progres of the fleet up the Gulf of Finland
it may be cited that the lighthouse on the island of
Hango, which is situate at the north-western en-
trance of the gulf, has been pulled down, and the
usual marks for vessels entering the roadsteads have
been. removed. Throughout the whole length of
the gulf similar proceedings have been adopted by
the enemy, but which, however, will not have the
effect intended. By sending in advance two or
three small steamers to take soundings and bear-
ings the large ships will be able to shape a safe
course to Sweaborg, and thence to the vicinity of
Qronstadt. No further bombardment of the forts
commanding Hango Udd has taken place. Their
speedy destruction would have been easily effected,
but attended with no advantage. The fortresses of
Sweaborg mount 800 guns of large oalibre, one-half
of which, it is stated, could be brought to bear on
any ships attempting to pass through the narrow
channel to the harbour of Helsingfors. In the gar-
rison are several thousand artillerymen, and it
appears to be the opinion of those who
have given the subject much serious con-
sideration, that our ships, notwithstanding
their powerful armament, would make but little
impression on batteries of solid granite. It is not,
therefore, probable that any attack on Sweaborg
will be made. But admitting that the fleet suc-
ceeded in demolishing these fortresses, the posses-
sion of the locality could not be retained without a
large body of troops, a supply of whom is not pro-
vided.

While at anchor in Hango Roads, the crews of
the various ships were exercised aloft in reefing
and furling sails, shifting topsail yards, and similar
evolutions. A squadron of observation, consist-
ing of the Imperieuse, 50, Captain Watson ; Ar-
rogant, 46, Captain Yelverton ; Dauntless, 33,
Captain Ryder ; and Basilisk, 6, Captain the
Hon. F. Egerton, have been cruising in the vi-
cinity of Sweaborg, Rear-Admiral Corry, with
the sailing ships and a few steamers, is reconnoiter.
ing between the island of Gottska gaud() and Port
Baltic. The paddle and screw steamers, under the
orders of Rear. Admiral Plumridge, are off the
Aland Isles. The Amphion, 36, aptain A. C.
Key, has captured several of the enemy's merchant
vessels. The Desperate, Capt. E. T. C. D'Eyncourt,
anchored in Hango-roads on the 27th ult., and
the Hecla, Captain W. K. Hall, was despatched to
Stockholm, to procure fresh provisions for the fleet.
The Driver, Commander the Hon. A. A. Cochrane,
arrived from Copenhagen, having on board Lieu-
tenant Naylor, R.M., the bearer of despatches for
the Commander-in-Chief. On the 28th the Driver
was sent to look after a Russian steamer re-
ported cruising outside, and the Lightning,
Captain Sulivan, to the Gulf of Bothnia. The
Alban, paddle steamer, Commander, Otter, joined
company on the 29th; and the Cruiser, Commander
the Hon. G. H. Douglas, proceeded to Gottska
Sando. During the 31st, paid greater portion of
the subsequent day, a dense fog prevailed, whereby
all communications between the ships was pre-
vented. Two Dutch galliotts came into Hango
Roads bound up the Gulf of Finland, but were not
allowed to proceed on their voyage. Early in the
morning Of the 2d inst., the Gorgon, Dragon, and
Desperate (the latter with the English yacht Myrtle
Colonel Corfield, in tow), steamed out of the road-
stead to examine the shoals, &c., in Baro Sound.
The Alban brought a Russian gunboat and a
merchant brig, and the Porcupine a brigantine, as
prizes: At noon the fleet weighed under steam.
After clearing Hango Roads the fires were banked
and all necessary sail made to a fine breeze from
the N.W. In the evening the ships anchored in
Baro Sound, about eight miles off the shore of
Elgso, the Penelope, remaining off Hango to watch
the movements of the enemy on that part of the
coast, and to wait the arrival at that anchorage
of the squadron in company with Rear-Admiral
Corry. The Lightning, Captain Sullivan, while in
the Gulf of Bothnia, will reconnoitre Bomar-
sund, the principal of the Aland Isles, for the
purpose of ascertaining the strength of its for-
tifications. Mr. Nugent, one of the officers of
engineers attached to the fleet, accompanies Cap-
tain Sulivan to assist him in this important service.
The Hecla, Captain W. K. Hall, arrived in Baro
Sound on the 3d from Stockholm, with a large
number of live bullocks and vegetables for the
fleet. The Imperieuse, 50, Captain Watson, and
Arrogant, 46, Captain Yelverton, hove in sight
in the forenoon, and were ordered to cruise in the
offing, to intercept all merchant vessels bound
up the Gulf .of Finland with supplies for the
enemy. The Pigmy, steam gun-boat, Lieutenant-
Commander C. Otter, joined company on the 4th,
14 days from the Cowns • and the Gorgon steamer
was despatched to Stockholm. The French squad-

roil of eight sail of the lino have united with the
division of the English fleet cruising off Gottska
Sando. On leaving Baro Sound the allied KlWl-
rons will proceed further up the Gulf of Finland,
near to Sweaborg, and thence to the island of
Hogland.