The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-01 00:00:00

quence of thick foggy weather, I did not reach Grissel-
hamn until noon of the Oth instant.

On landing to communicate, I found that the come
mandant was absent at Stockholm, but the officer in com-
mand, Captain Billbery, very obligingly afforded me all the
information in his power through the interpretation
of Captain Fahnelyeltn, the director of the electric tele-
graph, which was to be in operation in about a week.
No pilots for the Aland Islands could be obtained, and I
believe they are not permitted to serve in our ships of
war. The commandant observed that ho believed there
were not more than 1,000 troops at Bomarsund, and that
300 of them had lately been relieved by 500 from Russia;
he did not appear to know v.nything about the gunboats.
The only information I could obtain relative to the Aland
Islands was, that the inhabitants appeared to be well dis-
posed towards the English, and that they had declined
taking up arms to oppose us. Ho was anxious to know
whether their Post-boat, Eckero, would be intercepted by
us. I replied it would not, unless it contained military
despatches to or from the Russian Government, but that
I considered it advisable that a passport should be obtained
from the Commander-in-Chief, to be produced when
boarded by cruizers.
2. I proceeded next morning in the direction of Wardo
Island and Bomarsund; but in the afternoon found myself
mar some shoals, with ice on some of the patches ;
I therefore anchored' to sound, and a fog soon came on
which prevented my moving until noon on the fol-
lowing day. On standing to the southward, on the Bth
inst., towards Wardo Island, I observed a barque running
to the southward among the islands, and on my steering to
cut her off, she bore up. I therefore stood in cautiously,
and finding a good channel close to some rocks and small
islands, I proceeded in, anchoring in 15 fathoms, with
Vulture in company, within a mile of the barque, in a
good harbour formed by the Island of Saggo and numerous
others. On sending the boats, the barque was found to be
aground and deserted, in a small cove. Russian colours and
a paper found on board proved her to be the Princess of Ulea-
borg, of 346 tons, with a came, of.aalt,. (part having been
landed), from St. Übes, bottnaCO—Aho. Observing a boat
pulling away from her, I sent a gig which brought
her back, with the master, mate, and three men, the
ship's papers, and their private effects. I have sent her
to Faro, with a prize crew of eleven men from the Valorous
and Vulture, in charge of the second master of this ship.
The village, consisting of half a dozen cottages, was de-
serted, with the exception of au old woman. I left a paper
in the largest house, on which I caused the master of the
captured vessel to state that the English would not molest
them, or touch their property, but would pay for anything
they had to dispose of, and this was likewisie explained to
the woman. We also found a cutter of about 35 tons, de
sorted and empty, called the Alfred, which the master of
the Princess said was a revenue vessel.-- The barque having
been got afloat and brought out during the night, I started
the following afternoon with the Vulture, towing the
barque, and the cutter not being worth removing I di-
rected her to be burnt.
3. While casting the anchor, three or four cables'
length from where we had been lying, the ship touched
on a sunken rock.
4. The prize parted company in the evening, and I
proceeded with the Vulture in the direction of Bomar-
sund. The master of the Princess stated that he had been
three weeks at Marsund, and that, the Russians had 50
troops there and 1500 at different parts among the islands,
but principally at Bomarsund. Some, he said, were in
the vicinity of the spot at which we had captured his
vessel, and several watch-fires which were kept up during
the night on the adjoining hills, which are rocky and
covered with pine-trees, supported the assertion, though
we saw none.

Next morning, the Vulture in company, I pro-
ceeded in the direction of Bornarsuud, but found
the channels very intricate between the innumo•
rable small islands and rocks, which did not cor-
respond with any of the charts, and which appear to be
far from correct. Having no pilot, I proceeded cautiously
by the eye and lead, the water being perfectly smooth.
About two p.m. I observed a part of the works of Bomar-
sund, which proved to be two casernated batteries, one
of which appeared to have double loop holes below, and
both with embrasures on the summit, with chimneys ap-
pearing between them, a sketch of which, as I observed it
to be from our mastheads, was taken by Mr. Broadrick,
mate, is enclosed herewith ; the distance was about 5 miles
from Bomarsund. I was led there by observing the mast-
heads of several vessels over the land. In standing cau-
tiously towards them the ship touched the ground
once, but I succeeded in anchoring, in company
with the Vulture, about a mile from the vessels.
We made out six or seven, and I sent in seven
boats from the two ships ; they found them de-
serted, six being small schooners, and the other was a
brigantine—all empty and scarcely of any value. The
boats brought out the brigantine• and two schooners ; the
latter had the appearance of being fitted for gunboats, I
therefore burnt them. The others were apparently un-
seaworthy, except the brigantine ; but as she was very
badly found, and not fit for a voyage to England, and be-
longing apparently to the poorer people of the place,
whose good-will I consider it advisable to gain, I left her
untouched. The lights of Bomarsund were visible above
the trees of the adjoining island from the masthead ; and,
with the assistance of a glass, the sketch was accurately
made.

We started next morning without meeting with any op-
position, only a few of the people of the village being seen
at a distance. The channels between the innumerable
rocks and islands are intricate, and so different from the
positions on the charts, that I considered it unsafe to pro-
ceed further south than Wardo without a pilot, nor could
I find the channel track by which I entered; fortunately,
the water was very smooth and clear, and the rocks bold,
so that I could steer through them by the eye and lead,
which generally indicated the approach to shoal water.

5. 071 the 12th instant I met.the thtin, and received the
rendezvous from her, since which I have been drawn away
to the N. W. by chasing several vessels which proved to be
Swedes and Norwegians.—l have, &c.,

(Signed) C. H. BUCKLE, Captain.
Roar-Admiral J. H. Plumridgo.

Sub-Inclosure No. 2, in Enclosure No. 1, in Sir Charles
Napier's Letter No. 151.
Her Majesty's ship Leopard,
off Uleahorg, June 1, 1854.

Sir' —I have the honour to forward the enclosed report,
from Lieutenant Benjamin P. Priest (senior lieutenant of
this ship), of the operations of the boats of the squadron
under his command, sent into Brahestad harbour on the
30th ultimo ; and have great pleasure in reporting the
very good conduct of every officer and man employed ;
the boats having been away up.vartls of seven hours, im-
mediately after clearing the ice in which the squadron
had been blocked up for the previous twenty-four hours.
Lieutenant Priest deserves credit for the able manner
lie conducted the operations, and I beg leave to bring his
services under your notice.—l have, Sze.
GEORGE GIFFARD, Captain.
Rear-Admiral J. Hanway Plumridge.

Her Majesty's ship Leopard, off Brahestad,
May 30, 1854.
Sir,—ln obedience to your orders, I this afternoon pro-
ceeded with detachments of boats from Her Majesty's
steam-frigates, Leopard, Vulture, and Odin, into the har-
bour of Brahestad, where I damaged enemy's property as
follows

BURNT ON SHORE AND TOTALLY DESTROYED, VIZ. :
Four large vessels, building and nearly complete on the
stocks, the largest being about 500 tons burden and pierced
for six guns.
Three detached stores of timber, fit for building ships
of large scantling.
Two detached storehouses, containing some thousand
barreli of pitch, tar, and oil, a large number of them
marked with the Imperial crown.
Burnt afloat and totally destroyed.
1 barque just launched, not masted, about 450 tons
burden.
1 brig under repair.
1 topsail schooner.
2 fore and aft schooners.
5 sloops.
All in ballast.

As the inhabitants yielded immediately to our force, 1
was very careful not to damage the private houses ; at the
same by personal inspection, that
there timewas nloscaotinteacianralfdyoaef;ar within those storehouses,
which were situated in the immediate vicinity of and in-
side the town, which I did not destroy.
Two large stores, on the outskirts of the town, were found
to contain flour ; these were not destroyed, as I had reason
for supposing it to be private property.
All the officers placed under my orders vied with me in
preventing unnecessary alarm to the inhabitants; and I
feel it to be my duty to report the alacrity, great steadi-
ness, and good conduct shown by all the officers and sea-
men employed on this service.
It is almost superfluous to add that the royal marines
under Lieutenant Thelwall, R.M.A., showed their admi-
rable discipline.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) BENJ. P. PRIEST,
Senior and Gunnery Lieut.
Captain Giflard, Leopard.
DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY'S PROPERTY.
In all 14 vessels destroyed.
About 25,000 barrels of pitch, tar, and oil.
A large quantity of timber, spars, plank, and materials
for ship-building.
3 building yards, with workshops and store-houses.
BOATS EMPLOYED ON THE 30TH MAY,'IBS4.
Her Majesty's ship Leopard.
2d Cutter—Lieutenant B. P. Priest.
Ist Cutter—Lieutenant Hammet (next in command) ;
Mr. Harrington, midshipman.
Ist Launch—Mr. Payne, mate; Lieutenant Thelwall,
R. M. A.
Mr. Palliser,
MAJESTY'Snd
SHIP VULTURE.
Pinnace—Mr. Lawrence,
assistant-surgeon;seco master.
nalvsatl cGaidgeT.Mr.
HERWI
Ist Launch—Lieutenant Wise ; Mr. Hill, mate.
Barge—Mr. Morphy, mate ; Mr. Chapman, master's as-
sistant.
Gig—Mr. Duncan, assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Butler, naval
cadet.
Cutter—Mr. Fortescue, midshipman.
HER MAJEST ar'S SHIP ODIN.

let Launch—Lieutenant Mould, Lieutenant Lewis,
R.M.A., and Mr. Montague, mate.
Pinnace—Lieutenant Carrington, and Mr. Long, acting
quartermaster.
Cutter 111 r Athorpe, midshipman.
Ist Gig—Mr. Hamilton, assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Rice,
naval cadet.

2,1 Gig Mr. Sahuond, naval cadet.
Total--3 gun-boats, each with 24-pounder howitzer, 3
gun-boats, each with 12-pounder howitzer, 25 officers,
201 seamen, 78 marines. '

Grand total-6 gnu-boats, 8 smaller boats, 25 officers,
and 279 men.
Sub-Enclosure No. 3, in Enclosure No. 1,, in Sir Charles
Napier's Letter, No. 15L
Her Majesty's ship Leopard, off Uleaborg,
June 4, 1854.
_ _

Sir,—l have the honour to enclose the reports of the
officers commanding the several detachments of boats of
the squadron sent from this ship on the Ist and 2d instant,
after the ships had anchored within range of the town of
Uleaborg • and I have much pleasure in agnin bringing the
zeal and Aility of Lieutenant Benjamin P. Priest, who
commanded the principal force, to your notice.
All the °Moen and men engaged in this trying duty