The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-14 00:00:00

No. 243

Sir,—l acquaint you, for the information of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Sir E. Lyons re-
joined me this morning, from the coasts of Circassia,
Georgia, and Anatolia; and I have very great pleasure in
transmitting, for their Lordships' information, Sir E.
Lyons' official reports of the proceedings of the detach-
ment placed under his orders.
2. The operation therein detailed, as well as the intelli-
gence as to the state of the coasts he has visited, are very
important and interesting ; and I trust my Lords will con-
sider I have done right in expressing my entire approval of
the great skill and judgment displayed by Sir E.
Lyons, and his colleague, Viscount de Chabannes ; and I
beg to add my testimony to the ability and conduct of
the Agamemnon, of whom Sir E. Lyons has made such
honourable mention.—l have, &c.,
J. W. D. DUNDAS, Vice-Admiral.

No. 21.

Agamemnon, at Redoute Kaleh,
May, 21, 1854.
SIR,— I have great pleasure in reporting to you that
he small squadron placed under my orders by you and
Admiral Hamelin, have been the means of expelling the
Russian garrison from the only place on this extensive
coast, with the exception of the strongholds of Anapa
and Sonjak Kaleh, near the Crimea, that the Emperor
Nicholas exempted from the general abandonment two
months ago.
2. At Soukoum Kaleh I learned that the Russians were
still in possession of Redout Kaleh, and that they at-
tached great importance to maintaining themselves there
as long as possible, in order to forward to their army at
Kutais, a large quantity of ammunition and stores still
in the magazines ; and at the same time to intercept the
communications of Selim Pacha at this cri'ical juncture,
and prevent his occupation of so favourable a port for the
introduction of suplies.
3. The squadron left Soukoum Kaleh on the morning of
the 18th, and as we passed Redout Kaleh we observed a
body of about 1,000 infantry under arms, and that the few
guns on the sea defences were manned. If we had opened
our broadsides we could have obliged the enemy to retire,
but ho would, no doubt, have returned to occupy the place
on our disappearing, and I, therefore, went on with the
squadron as fast as possible to Chouruksoo, in hopes of in-
ducing the General commanding there to aid me with a
sufficient number to occupy and maintain the place, after
we should have driven the enemy out of it with our guns;
he sent an express to &dim Pacha, whose reply arrived
early on the following morning, and who placed at my dis-
posal a battalion of 300 infantry and 3 field pieces, which
were immediately embarked on board the ships of the squa-
dron with a degree of alacrity I have never seen surpassed.
4. At 4 p.m. the squadron reappeared off Redout Ka-
leh, where the troops were disembarked, under cover of
the steam-vessels, about two miles from the batteries, and
at the same time a summons was sent to the Commander
of the Russian forces by Vicomte do Chabannes, the senior
officer of the French division of the squadron, and myself,
under cover of a flag of truce, and in charge of Lieutenant
Maxse, of this ship, by whom it was delivered to an
officer who spoke French fluently, and alleged as the reason
why an answer could not be given without considerable
delay, that the commandant was not on tke spot.
5. After a delay of nearly half an hour Lieut. Masse left
the shore without an answer, and consequently the Aga-
memnon and Charlemagne stood in, as close as the depth
of water would permit, and opened their fire upon the
quarter occupied by the Russian troops as well
as on the sea defences, which tried an ineffectual fire on
the boats. The enemy soon returned out of reach of the
ships' guns, and the Turkish troops advancing along the
beach, took possession of the batteries, when the firing
ceased.
6. The enemy retreated so precipitately from under the
fire of the ships, that he failed in his attempt to ignite the
combustibles which were laid for the destruction of the
Military Quarter, but when out of gun-shot, and his re-
treat secured by crossing the river and destroying the
bridge, he set firo to the magazines and storehouses, and
at nightfall the Commercial Town, which commenced at
some distance from the sea and extended about a mile and
a half up each bank of the river, was in a blaze, so that in
the morning the flourishing place of the evening presented
an awful scene of desolation ; the Mingrelian inhabitants,
who had rendered themselves very obnoxious to the dis-
pleasure of the Turks having retired with the Russians.
7. This devastation is, no doubt, deeply to be deplored,
but it is some consolation to have deprived the enemy of a
depot of military stores, and to have driven him from a
place of so much importance, without any accident, or any
irregularity arising from success.
8. Nothing could exceed the cordial co-operation and
assistance I received from my French colleague, the Vi-
comte de Chabannes, as well as from Commandant Wailly
of the Mogador, Captain Jones of the Sampson,
.Captain
Symonds of this ship, and Captain Moore of the Highflyer,
and, indeed, from every officer in the combined squadron,
during this fatiguing day ; but I should be doing injustice
to a highly deserving officer, if I did not particularlyiiien-
tion the senior Lieutenant of the Agamemnon, William
Rue Rue Rolland (a Lieutenant of thirteen years stand-
ing, twelve of which he has been in active service afloat),
upon whom a largo share of the toil and responsibility of
the day devolved, as he had the management of the em-
barkation and disembarkation of the troops.
9. Yesterday and to-day working parties from the com-
bined squadron have been assisting the Turks in putting
the place in a good state of defence, and I am highly
pleased with the quantity of work they have accomplished ;
but, as the Russians are probably not fit distant,
think it would not be prudent to leave the Turkish garri-
son without some support, I therefore venture to consider
it your pleasure, that, on my quitting this anchorage to-
night in the further execution of your orders, the Samp-
son should be left behind for that purpose ; and I inclose
a copy of the instructions I have given to Capt. Jones.
10. I have also the honour to inclose.the copy of a letter,
which the Vicomte Chabannes and I have addressed to the
Muchir olim Pacha, and I have directed Captain Jones to
draw his attention to Poti and ei.gysoo, the dependencies
of Redont Kaleh which were also set on fire by the enemy
on the evening of the 19th instant.—I have, &c.,
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS, Rear-Admiral.

Agamemnon, at Baljik, May 28, 1854.
Sir,—With reference to my letters of the 17th and 21st
instant, Nos. 20 and 21, I feel that my report of the visit
of the allied squadron under my orders to the coast of Cir-
cassia would be very incomplete HI were not to relate that
we were everywhere welcomed as deliverers by the remark-
able race by whom it is peopled.
2. The weather was tine, and the water deep, so we
approached very near the land, and always by daylight ;
and as we opened each beautiful valley, with our English
and French colours flying, the Circassians flocked to the
beach, and testified their joy by firing musquets and
waving flags and handkerchiefs.
3. On landing at the principal places the natives assisted
us out of our boats, and after giving expression to their
delight for a few minutes, formed a circle around us, pre-
serving the most perfect order, while their chiefs
came forward and addressed the Viscount de Chabannes
and me, speaking fluently and sensibly with an air
of self-esteem, which, combined with their handsome
and lofty mien, and their manner of carrying their weapons,
was exceedingly striking. They invariably said that while
they turned towards England and France with gratitude
and admiration, as the instruments in the hands of Frovi-
''..ence for delivering them from their invaders, they con-
fessed that they considered it the just reward of their
patriotism and constancy.
4. They are certainly a fine intelligent race, and I can
readily believe them to be second to none in desultory
mountain warfare.—l have, &c.
(Signed) EDMUND LYONS, Rear-Admiral.

THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.-It will be seen
from an advertisement inserted elsewhere that the Oat-
lands Grange, Weybridge, formerly part of the domain
of the Duke of York, some time ago purchased for the
members of the Conservative Land Society, is to be
allotted to the members on the 21st instant. This fine
estate will qualify nearly 100 freelicilders for the
western division of the county of Surrey. A
public meeting will be held in Guildford on Monday
evening, when Viscount Ranelagh, the chairman, and a
deputation from the executive committee, will attend to
explain the plan of the society and the allotment of tl►o
Ottate,