The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-16 00:00:00

THE BALTIC.

At length, in the Journal de la Marine of Rus-
sia, we find professional candour rising above pre-
judice, and justice done to the skill and intrepidity
of British sailors. Here is the passage. After
describing the position taken up in Baro Sound,
the reporter says :—" As regards the handling of
the ships there obtains with the English a most
admirable skill. When Admiral Napier led his
ships into the waters of Baro Sound, the Welling-
ton took the lead in this momentous movement,
and the enemy's fleet anchored in the most splendid
order. Admiral Napier always keeps his steamers
separate from his fleet, that they may explore the
creeks and bays. The English ships make very
little use of our buoys, for they do not navigate the
channels marked out by our pilots. When they
take a new channel, they lay down new buoys for
themselves, and they have had numbers of rocks,
that indicate reefs and sand banks, painted. One
may affirm positively that no pilot of ours would
ever venture, on his own responsibility, to take
deep-going ships along the courses that have been
passed in the Sheeren by large English steamers,
though it must be admitted that they many a time
grounded a little."
The following is a verbatim translation of the
despatch in th Moniteur, of which we gave a
summary yesterday by telegraph :—" bespatches
to the Bth inst. have been received from Adinftal
Parseval, commander-in chief of the French squa-
dron in the Baltic. The lauding of the expedi-
tionary corps was effected on the Bth, at three in
the morning, without resistance, on two points of
the island of Lumpar, situated to the north of the
Archipelago of the Aland Islands. A battery of
five pieces of cannon of large calibre was rapidly
destroyed by the Phlegeton steam-corvette of the
Imperial navy, and the Amphion, belonging to the
English squadron. The pieceswhich had been buried
under the ruins were spiked by the seamen of the
two vessels. The corps d'armee were marching
along the heights commanding the fortifications.
Admiral Parseval was making arrangements to es-
tablish communications with the General-in-Chief
for the purpose of, at once, providing him with the

materiel of which be might have need. The troops
were animated by the very best spirit. 3,000 French
and English marines have landed without obstacle
in the north of the island. Two or three vessels
were attacking, with cannons of large calibr© the
towers commanding Bomarsund."
The following interesting communications from
an officer of her Majesty's ship Leopard, attached
to the Baltic fleet, appear in the Dublin Evening
Post :

" Her Majesty's Ship Leopard, Aland Island, July
26, 1854.—My Dear --, I posted a letter to you, to
go by Dantzic, on Monday evening last. We were then
close to Bomarsund. We are engaged in a tiresome,
irksome duty that of surveying the thousand and
one channels that lie between the islands east of A land,
at least those passages close to Bomar. Our object is to
enable our ships to chase vessels communicating with
the garrison from Finland or elsewhere. We took two
large Russian boats on Monday, and yesterday we
destroyed some large beacons constructed of wood,
and already laid for lighting. They were full in view
of the forts of Bomar, and for what object they were
there is more than -I can tell. Along with us, and
scattered amongst these little islets, are the Hecla, the
Zephyr, the Basilisk, the Lightning, the Gorgon,
the Amphion, and the Locust. We have now hem-
med in Bomarsund in a semi-circle, so that nothing
can go back or forward to or from the town or forts
without our knowledge ; inside of us lie the Ajax,
the Hogue, the Blenheim, the Edinburgh, and
the French line.of-battle ships. It is said that
General Bodisco, the Russian Governor, will fight his
guns to the last ; we are not to make any advance till
the French troops arrive ; we are all longing for their
coming, for it is tantalising to be here full in view of the
enemy's forts and not engage them. The men remind me
of terrier-dogs held in a chain in sight of a rat, straining
and snapping to get a grip of him ; indeed, the im:
patience is not confined to the men. We have our boats,
armed, out in all directions, cruising where the ships can-
not go, so that all communication with the forts is effec-
tually cut off. From this place to the Finnish coast is
one continued Polynesia—millions of islands, small and
great, with channels between them, varying in breadth
from twenty yards to two miles or more, and an average of
five to ten fathoms of water. The half of them are not put
in our best charts. There is a report that the Russian fleet is
getting ready to come out into the Gulf of Finland, now that
our ships have come up here. I hope it is true—but I
fear it is not; take the news CUM grano sails. Yesterday
we sent a boat ashore to destroy some beacons that were
laid ready for fighting. I mentioned this, however; but
I did not tell you that along with them, in a hut hard
by, papers were found, in bad Swedish, telling the
keeper of these beacons how to light them as signals
from what direction we were approaching, such as one
fire for north, two for south, and so on. Hands are
piped to bathe. For the present, good bye."
" Friday, July 28, 1854, 10 a.m.—Yesterday, the
Commander-in-Chief sent for Admiral Plumridge, who
accordingly went down in the Alban, and did not return
till late last night in the Pigmy. It is said that we go
hence to lie at Bomar with the squadron till the troops
arrive, which event is expected on Sunday next. It is
rumoured that Admiral Plumridge is to be senior in com-
mand at the siege ; this, however, I do not believe, as it
is very likely Sir Charles will be here in person, not in
the Duke of Wellington, but in some other vessel, per-
haps in this. If General Bodisco does not capitulate,
he is a madman. The forts mount 90 guns, with a
garrison of 1,000 men, and how these are to meet 6,000
troops and some 250 guns, is more than I can tell. Ad-
miral Corry is gone home in a bad state of health, and
it is thought that Admiral Plumridge would shift his
flag to the Neptune. But this will not be. Ido most
sincerely wish the troops were out, for we are all mad
to level these formidable-looking stone buildings. The
weather is cool, with a strong northerly wind, and to-
day rain."

"Sunday, July 30, 1854, 10 a. m.—At anchor still,
some five or six miles from Bomar. We momentarily
expect the arrival of the French troops ; we are, on
their arrival, to go to the commander-in-chief, and
bring 1,000 of them to such place as Sir Charles Napier
shall deem fitting to land them. Ido not as yet know
what other vessels besides the Leopard are intended for
this service ; we every moment expect an express with
word of their advent—a crowded ship she will be then,
with her crew of 300, some dozen Russian prisoners, and
1,000 French soldiers.. But they will be on board but
for a few hours. It is said amongst other on dits that
there are 30,000 troops coming; if this be the case, we
have great hopes that Sir Charles will not be satisfied
with taking Aland, but will push up to Cronstadt or
Helsingfors before winter. There are reports of all kinds
flying about the ship, all of which I disbelieve. Don't be
misled by newspaper stories at home ; except Sir Charles
himself, I don't think any one in the fleet knows what
is to be done. Of our going at Bomarsund there is, I
believe, no doubt ; but many say that the place will capitu-
late. The natives of the surrounding islands are selling
us fresh provisions, as mutton, vegetables, butter, eggs,
&c., on the sly, for it seems the Emperor has threatened
to visit such doers with his uttermost wrath ; at night
it is they fetch us the stores. I don't think thir sym-
pathies rare at all with his imperial highness 1 It is be-
lieved here that Sing Oscar will at length side with
France and England. It is rumoured that Sir Charles
Napier wished Admiral Plumridge to ship his flag to
the Neptune, in lieu of Admiral Corry, gone home ; but
he refu-;ed and stuck to the old craft, so as to place her,
as flag-ship. in a post of honour and danger at the siege
of Bomarsund and elsewhere. If this be really the reason,
he is a trump, and his officers cannot be sufficiently thank-
ful to him for giving them such a chance of promotion.
How we do long for 6 these " blessed sogers," as their
coming will be the knell of Bomar, and a signal for General
Bodisco to "shut up." This time this day week we were
in an awful mess, the ship on a rock, and all confusion !
stop—here is another yarn. It is said that we are going
to dam up Petersburg, between Cronstadt and the south
coast of the Gulf. Engineers have some plan with old
vessels filled with stones, &c., and to erect a breakwater,
in fact. You must know that there exists a dam between
Cronstadt and the north shore of the Gulf, so that at
present the only outlet for the waters of the Neva is
south of Cronstadt. Even suppose they do not accom-
plish this, it is hoped that when they see our movements,
they will send out their men-of-war to interfere with
our little reereations. If so, there is an end to the Em
peror's navy. Mind, I only give you this as a rumour
—take it as such.

"9 p.m.—All is confusion—nothing bot steamers
going backward and forward to and from the com-
mander-in-chief. The Algiers and Hannibal have arrived
with troops, and the other ships are momentarily ex-
pected • nay, they may be with the fleet this moment for
aught we know. The Cuckoo is in sight with some
message for us ; but I fear I must close this before I
hear what intelligence she brings ; she may have letters
for me ! The admiral was away in the Locust all day,
'and found a place to land the troops, north of Bomar-
sund. This moment, since I wrote the last word, I hear
that 5,000 troops have come. Three men, Russians,
were taken to-day—deserters from the garrison of Bomar.
They gave us the particulars of the defences, but as yet
these are only known to the admiral. General d'Hilliers
is not expected here till Wednesday. lam just dotting
down the news as I bear it announced around me, for as
they are making signals to the Cuckoo, every new corner
off deck brings the result of the last signal made. Our
admiral is going down to the commander-in•chief at two
to-morrow morning, in the Locust. I suppose before
this day week we shall be in possession of Aland. I
must say farewell."