The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET.

The Baltic fleet, under the command of Vice-Admiral. Sir C.
Napier, it appears, made no long stay at Kiel, but, as we an-
ticipated, have proceeded further northward, and. with the
view, it is believed, of meeting and engaging that division of
the Russian fleet which is separated from the Cronstadt force
by the ice. The last accounts say that the fleet had sailed for
Kioge Bay—a fine anchorage, with five to seven fathoms wa-
ter, just below Copenhagen.

Various reports are in circulation respecting the Russian
fleet: Some accounts state that, by extraordinary exertions,
the divisions that were separated by the ice have joined; that
the Emperor is directing the equipment an( refitting of the
fleet in person, and that his object is to come down/ upon the
British fleet with his 28 sail of the line before reinforcements
can reach Sir C. Napier to render the British fleet a more equal
match for him. It is to be hoped, however, that the Comman-
der-in-Chief will have the opportunity of bringing just oue-
half of the enemy to action. We have no fear, then, of the
result.

PORTSMOUTH, MARCII 30.

The James Watt, 91, screw, Captain George Elliot, sailed
from Spithead at daylight this morning to join the fleet in the
Baltic, but we regret to add she has been compelled to put
back, temporarily disabled in her engine department. By
inquiry on board, we find she had gone about 40 miles to-
wards the Downs, when it was discovered that her bilge in-
jection pump was quite useless, and this being a most seri-
ous defect and not to be repaired except at a dockyard, in-
duced Captain Elliot to put back at once to this port. We
fear the damage cannot be repaired under two or three days.
The Penelope, 16, paddle-wheel frigate, Captain Caffin, re-
fitting to proceed to the Baltic, hauled out of the factory-
basin dock this afternoon to complete the repair of her defects.
It is reported that the whole of her former crow are to rejoin
her, but this we give as mere rumour, and we trust is not
correct, for, while such ships as the St. George, 121, and
Prince Regent, 90, are without any adequate proportion of

" A.B.'s"-wo think the Penelope should not have the whole of
her late fine crew returned to her.
The St. Vincent, 101, Captain E..H. Scott, hauled into the
fitting basin, and thence into dock, to-day to have her bottom
overhauled and scrubbed down.

The Scourge, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop (first fitted out as
a bomb-vessel, and carrying a 13-inch mortar) has been to-
day placed in the steam basin to be equipped for sea service
with all expedition. She has been masted to-day, and is
taking in her machinery.
The Resistance, store and troopship, Master Commander
Bradshaw, hauled out of the fitting basin to-day to complete
her refit alongside the dockyard jetty.
The steam staff of this dockyard are on board the James
Watt, and repelling her defect with the utmost alacrity.
The Colossus, 80, has her sternpost for the crew in and
fixed, and is getting her internal equipments as fast as hands
can supply them. Her masts, yards, stores, drc., are in readi-
ness to go on board as soon as they can be received.

PLYMOUTH, Menu 30.

The two flat-bottomed launches, 27 feet long each, for
landing troops, have been constructed in seven days by Mr.
Waterman, of Anderton, the contractor, and are now in pos-
session of the dockyard authorities.
The seamen riggers employed on the hospital ship l3elleisle,
Commander James Hoskeu, fitting for service in the -Baltic,
got up topmasts and topmast rigging to-day.
The Government contract ship Allipore No. 8, Captain
Millman, with Captain Paynter, Lieutenant Young, and 50
artillerymen, cavalry horses, die., from Woolwich, for Malta,
having been as far west as the Dodman, put back to the
Sound this afternoon.

The Phcebe, 50, sister ship to the Indefatigable, will be
launched at Plymouth, on the 12th of next month, and then
taken into dock to be fitted with a screw propeller.

SOUTHAMPTON, 3/Amu 30.

The, camp equipage of Lord Raglan, Commander-in-.bhief
of the British. Expeditionary Army of the East, is being
shipped in 'the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's
ship Sultan, which leaves this port to-morrow (Friday) for
Constantinople.
A telegraphic despatch has been received this afternoon,
ordering the steam-ships Orinoco, Thames, and Medway to
be prepared for sea without delay. A large quantity of Minid
rifles and ball cartridges is to be shipped by these vessels to-
morrow. The precise time of their departure, or the regi—
ments they are to .take, is at present unknown ; but it is
stated that, after leaving Southampton, they will proceed to
Constantinople or the Black Sea direct, not calling at Malta.
A considerable quantity of stores for the British fleet in
the Black Sea has been shipped by the Sultan for Constan-
tinople.

WOOLWICH, MARCH 30.

The St. IEI4, No. 11 horse transport-ship, and the Col-
grain, No. 12 horse transport-ship, were both taken out of
the
.basin to-day and, down to
,the ,moorings off the Royal
Arsenal, preparatoiy'to 'their departUre with the Edendate,
No. 10, carrying the pendant of Lieut. Martin, ,R.N., for the
Mediterranean.

The Rhadamanthus, steam store-vessel, Master Commander
Belam, was also taken out of the basin, and left for Ports-
mouth with the engines and boilers of the Colossus, 80, screw
steam-ship at that port.
Her Majesty's ship Janus, Commander C. A. Kane, now
fitting at Woolwich, is ordered on particular service, and in-
structions were yesterday recoived•at the Naval Rendezvous,
Tower-hill, to use every exertion to complete her required
number of blue jackets.