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

THE BALTIC FLEET.

KIOGE, Arran B.—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 Kioge, 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 Sulivan, 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 31 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
letfing 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 from 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 for 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 those 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 Plurnridge, with his
flag flying in the Leopard, weighed-anchor, taking
with him, under his command, the Imperieuse,
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) ono of the boats of the Nep-
tune left that ship at daylight with Lieutenant
Telfer and crew, and proceeded on above to procure

-----41 r ship in
water. In attempting to reach . lei the
afternoon, during the height of the gale, they had a
narrow escape 01 perishing. To keep the boat afloat
it was necessary to- stave in the hea is of the ca,mks
containing-water, and throw their contents over-
board. Fortunately, they succeeded in getting
hold of the buoy of the Roy/al George, and were
hauled in one by one through the stern ports of that
ship, but not until one of the boat's crew had
perished, either from fright or long exposure to the ,
.cold. The Conflict, Captain Foote, was despatched
at sunset of the 4th, and the Archer, Captain W.
K. Hall, early on the sth on special service. The
Bosca en, 70, Captain W. F. Glanville, arrived in
Kioge Bay at 7 a.m. of the latter date.
_ .

0--n the 6th the fleet was reinforcea by the Caesar,
91, Captain John Robb ; the Desperate, 8, Cap-
tain E. C. T. D'Eyncourt ; and the Basilisk, 6,
Captain the Hon. F. Egerton. A further addition
was made to it on the 7th by the arrival of the
Magicieune, 16, Captain Thomas Fisher ; the
Cruiser, 17, Commander the Hon. G. H. Douglas,
and the Driver, 6, Commander the Hon: A. A.
Cochrane. The St. George, 120, and the Prince
Regent, 90, are hourly expected, as also the Aus-
terlitz, 100, French liner. A move further up the
Baltic will be made in a few days.. The first ope-
rations will probably commence in the Gulf of
Bothnia by taking possession of the island of Aland,
a most important position to hold with respect to
further proceedings. Every one in the fleet is
anxious for the signal " Prepare for action" to be
made, and fully prepared to do his duty, feeling
confident of victory.
During a gale of wind on the 7th the Cressy,
Capt, R., L. Warren, parted both her cables. In
order to avoid' a collision with the Caesar she im-
mediately made sail with main and fore trysail,
triple reefed maintopsail and foretopmast staysails,
and ran a considerable distance to leeward. The
steam being got up, she was enabled in the course
of a few hours to take up her former position,
letting go a sheet anchor. Sir C. Napier is at
Copenhagen, but is expected to return to his flag-
, ship to-day. The stay of the fleet at its present
anchorage will not be extended beyond the termi-
nation of the ensuing week. _

APRIL 12.

• During the stay of the fleet at the rendezvous in
the Bay of Kioge each day has added to ite num-
bers. Moored in line of battle, with the Duke of
Wellington, the monarch of all in the centre, it
presents a most formidable appearance. It is more
powerful in its armament, comprises more ships,
and musters more men than any fleet that has
ever congregated on the waters. Up to the above
date it amounted to 37 sail, a list of which we sub-
join:—

Names of
Vessels. 0,4 Officers en Command.
c7Et t)
vlag,hip of Vice-Ad-
Duke of Wel- 1 mind Sir C. Napier,
lington(screw) j 4,700 1,100 750Coinmndr.-in-Chief ;
Captain Gordon.
Flag-ship of Rear-Ad-
Neptune (sail-121 2,705 970 miral Corry ; Captain
ing ship • • .. j Hutton
Flag- hip of Rear •Ad-
Leopard
. (.. pad- l2 1,412 300 560 miral Plumrldge ;
dle) • • . Captain Gifford.
Flu-ship of Re +r-Ad-
Edinburgh (sw) 58 1,772 60u 650 / mind Chads; Captain
Hewlett.
Royal Georg(
(screw) •.. 1 120 2,616 1,100 400 • 'aptain H.J.Codrington.
*St. George ... 129 2,719 1,100 .• Captain Henry Ey res.
St. Jean d'Acre
1 101 3,60' 900 650 Capt. the Hon. H.Keppel.
(screw) ....
Ciesar (screw) 91 2,761 850 400 .;aptain John Robb.
Princess Royal 1,1 3,129 850 400 Captain Lord C. Paget.
(screw). • • ..
*Prince Rrgerit
'2,612 85,, .. Captain Scott.
(sailing ship) 1 90
Eton .rch (sai 184 2.286 750 .. :,`ap,ttin Erskine.
ing ship) • .
Cressy (screw' 80 2,537 751 .. '"',aptain R. L. Warren.
BOSCUVI,II(SAiI
jug 1 40 2,212 62,' 'aptain W.F. Glanvitle.
Klenheim (sw. 60 1,747 700 s)c ap. the ttnn le Pelham
Hogue (-crew 60 1,750 70' 46 ;again W. Ram-ay.
Ajax (screw) 58 1.761 600 4 'a.d&n F Warren.
turyalus (=w) 5 2;11 55 40, Captain Ram•ay.
nmerieuse (se) • 50 2,317 58h 35, 'aptai- It. H a atson.
Arrogant (s ,f 46 1,572 45 36 aptain Yel,erton
4mphion (sw 34 1,474 32 ma' '.aptain . C Key.
Dauntless (sw 33 1,4'10 300 580 aptain A. P. Ryder.
Tribune(screw: 30 1,57(1 300 301 Cal:pain the Hon. S. T.
Carne .ie.
[ G.
Cruiser (screw) 17 750 250 60 Captain the Hon.
H. Douglas.
Odin (paddle) • • 16 1,310 300 501 ,aptain F. Scott
Va'oroas (pad ) 16 1,255 25..• 40'' 'apt C. a. H 'suckle.
Magicienne(p.) 16 1,255 250 400 ;aptain T. Fiche-.
At cher (stirew) 14 973 3'l, 201 'aptain E. Heathcote.
Deep rate (atsv " 8 1,190 40, 'apt E. C D'Eyncourt.
'onfllct (screw) 8 1,013 16- 40- 'aptain f oote.
Gorgon(paldle 6 1,111 1'•; 350 lomnindr A. Cumming.
iullog (pad.) 6 1,231 16'. 5' I aptain W. H. hall.
Dragon(paddl 9 6 1,270 160 52 'aptain Wilcox.
Hecla (paddle; 6 817 16- 24 ;aptain W K Hall.
Vulture (pad.) 6 1,190 1.11 47- 'aptai,' FH. Gl.tsoe.
Basallsk (pad ) 6 480 160 40. Hon. F. Egerton.
*Driver (pad.) 6 1,036 16 28 Command,r the Hon.
A. A. Cochrane.
Lightning (pati 3 296 60 10 'aptain Sullivan.
T0ta1.... 1.722 45,051 18,295 11,70,

• lime ships have not actually
and aro hot,rly expected

raved, but are in Wingo Sound.

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
Magicienne. Independent of the French sail of
the line (four of which are hourly expected), the
fleet miler 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 awl screw steam
sloop; consisting of 2t vessels.
10 a.m.—The fleet has been signalled to "Pre-
pare to sail."