The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-18 00:00:00

THE CAPTURES BY THE BRITISH NAVY.

The vessels stated to have been captured by Sir
C. Napier's flegt are said to have been laden with
sulphur and other articles contraband of war.
They had been under surveillance for some time
past, and were last from Lubeck, and on their way
towards a Russian port in the Gulf of Finland.

COPENHAGEN, April 16.—The fleet has passed
the Island of Bornholm. A heavy cannonade w.is
heard in the course of last night. The Austerlitz
has rejoined Admiral Napier. Admiral Plumridge,
with the English cruisers, has captured five Rus-
sian ships laden with salt, and carried them into
the Bay of Kioge. The whole of the Danish Cabi-
net remains in office.
A letter from Stockholm of the 9th says :—" The
movements of troops for the purpose of reinforcing
the garrisons of the seaports and of the Island of
Gothland have already commenced. A battalion
of infantry has left for Carlscrona in three steam-
ers. It is known at Stockholm that the Russian
troops have abandoned the island of Aland, and
that all the cannons and gunpowder have been re-
moved to Sweaborg; but it is doubted that the bar-
racks, which were built at great expense 14 years
ago, and the fortified works at Bremarsuud, will
be destroyed. The statement made by the German
journals, that England has offered subsidies to the
Swedish Government, and has invited it to take
an active part in the war, was copied from a Stock-
holm journal which deserves no credit. It is
evident that it owes its origin to a passage in the
despatches by which the Western Powers recog-
nised Swedish neutrality, to the effect that if neces-
sary they will aid Sweden in causing her neutrality
to be respected."

A letter received from an officer serving in the
Baltic fleet by friends in England, dated Kioge
Bay, near Copenhagen, April 11, says, some of
the ships have very large sick lists, being princi-
pally cases of influenza (enre novas, common
catarrh), which appears to be epidemic. Steamers
laden with people from Copenhagen steam daily,
weather permitting, around the squadron, giving,us
most hearty cheers en passant. We have heard that
the Russian ships have managed to get up to St.
Petersburg, and it is rumoured that the Russian
have been expernueutalising on a grand scale with
their shipping against their forts to try the effect of
heavy shot upon them. They have brought out,
some of their large ships and anchored them off
their forts, and have !led them heavily with shot
without producing the slightest effect upon the
granite of which they are composed. It is
also currently reported at Copenhagen that the
enemy is setting traps for us. It is said, with
what degree of truth I know not, that they
are submerging, in the narrow waters, sun-
ken cylinders, or cases of powder, to be
discharged by galvanic wires as the ships approach
or pass over their track. The different ships have
received a circular from Sir Wm. Burnett, regard-
ing the preparations to be made in the cock-pit
during battle. We all got a double supply of
chloroform before leaving England. Admiral
Plumridge with his squadron was ordered up the
Gulf of Finland, as some intelligence was received
here about the breaking up of the ice. The Light-
ning no doubt will hatve brought some intelligence.
Lest I might lose the letter , bag, I will close this
letter, hoping you aro quite well. P. 8.-1 have
opened this to say that the signal to prepare for sea
has just been made. I suppose we are off to the
Gulf of Finland. We have not gone ashore any-
where—there is no leave. How very disgusting."

THE BALTIC FLEET.
KIOGE, APRIL 8.--The presence in Kioge Bay of
the English fleet is a source of great attraction to
the Danes residing in the vicinity. On the day
subsequent to their dropping anchor off Kluge, the
Cimbria and Flora, two Danish merchant steamers,
each having the English ensign hoisted at the fore,
and their deck crowded with an assembly of the
most respectable residents of Copenhagen, visited
the fleet. On passing along' the line of ships these
vessels stopped opposite to each, the ladies waving
their hankerchiefs, the gentlemen giving three
hearty cheers, and evincing their delight and grati-
fication at the grand and imposing spectacle pre-
sented, probably for the first time, to their view.
The Bulldog, Captain W. H. Hall, came into the
bay in the afternoon, having in tow two merchant
brigs laden with coal for the fleet, and bringing
the not unexpected intelligence of war being
declared against Russia by England and France.
The Lightning steamer, Captain Sulivau, . which
it had been signalled would proceed to Co-
penhagen with letters, and on board which many
officers had embarked for the purpose of visiting
that city, was ordered to anchor on the intelligence
brought. by the Bulldog reaching the flagship of
the Commander-in-Chief.

On the morning of the 3d inst. it blew, fresh from
the N.W.; and by noon the wind had, increased to
a gale. Topgallant masts were sent down, top-
masts struck, yards pointed to the wind, and every-
thing made snug. During a heavy squall the St.
Jean d'Acre parted her cable, but brought up by
letting go a second. anchor. All communication
was suspended between the ships of the fleet, most
of which felt it necessary to have two anchors down.
The Amphion, Dauntless, and Tribune, which were
detached from the fleet on their leaving Kield Fiord,
arrived froin Copenhagen in the afternoon, and an-
chored in' their relative positions. The Dauntless,
while standing in -for the anchorage, had her fore-
topsail blown away. The Commander-in-Chief, as
an evidence of his consideration fQr the comforts of
the officers generally, sent the Lightning to Copen-
hagen, With the stewards of the various ships, to
procure supplies for their messes, and further sig-
nified his intention, if he could possibly do so, of
affording these under his command an opportunity
of visiting Copenhagen prior to the departure of
the fleet from its present anchorage.
The gale having subsided on the 4th the fleet
sent their spars afloat. The Hecla, steamer, Capt.
Hall, arrived at 6 a.m., and the Archer steam-ves-
sel at noon. The Commander-in-Chief, having re-
ceived official information of the declaration of war
against Russia, announced it by signal to the whole
of the ships comprising the fleet. Some of the
ships hoisted signals to the effect, " We are ready
and willing ;" and throughout the fleet the news of
war having been declared was received with feel-
ings of the utmost delight.
At 5 p.m. Rear-Admiral Plumridge, with his
flag flying in the Leopard, weighed anchor, taking
with him, under his command, the Imporieuse,
50, Captain Watson the Dauntless, 33, Captain
Ryder, and the Tribune, 30, Captain the Hon.
S. T. Carnegie. This division sailed on important
service, but its specific destination has been, from
prudential motives, kept secret. Several merchant
brigs, with coals for the fleet have been towed into
Kioge Bay by the Gorgon and the Hecla. Yester-
day morning (the 3d) one of the boats of the Nep-
tune left that ship at daylight with Lieutenant
Teller and crew, and proceeded on shore to procure J

* ships have not actually arrived, but are in Wing() Sound,
and are hoi.rly expected.

A gale of wind (the third which has occurred
during- the past week) prevailed on the 9th. The
ships sent down their topgallantmasts, struck top-
masts, and pointed yards to the wind. The Bull-
dog and Odin returned in the forenoon from a
cruise. The latter parted both her cables in the
evening, got up steam, and joined company the
next morning., The various ships are completing
water and coal. The Cruiser returned from Co-
penhagen on the 10th, anchoring north-east of the
Magicienue. Independent of the French sail of
the line (four of which are hourly expected), time
fleet un ter the command of Sir Charles Napier
will be increased to 40 sail, forming three squad-
rons; the weather squadron to comprise the first
and
.second divisions • the centre squadron the
third and fourth ;, and the lee squadron the fifth
and sixth divisions. Three other divisions will be
composed of the paddle-wheel and screw steam
sloops, consisting of 21 vessels.
10 a.m.—The fleet has been signalled to "Pre-
pare to sail."