The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-30 00:00:00

THE BLACK SEA.

CONSTANTINOPLE, May 20.—Several ships of
the allied fleets—the Agamemnon and Charle-
magne amongst them—arrived off Kaffa, in the
Crimea, on the 10th, and demanded the delivery
of Russian ships, amongst them two frigates, and,
upon refusal, bombarded that harbour for two
days.
Other accounts state that the town and har-
bour of Kaffa were destroyed.
The family of Captain Giffard, late commander
of the Tiger, have heard from him. He is a pri-
soner of war at Odessa, and speaks very well of
his treatment by the Russians.
Private letters from Constantinople of the 15th
report that a serious accident has befallen the
Astrologer (s.s.) at Sinope. The particulars are un-
known. _ _

Accounts from the fleet state that for five or six
days after the departure of Sir E. Lyons for the
Circassian coast a succession of dense fogs had pre-
vailed throughout the Black Sea, the steamers
were therefore unable to approach the coast until
the 9th, when they stood in two divisions to Kaffa
and towards Kertch. The batteries at Kaffa, of
which much had been said, proved to be of little
importance. A few shots fired from them at the
approaching squadron fell half way, and then
the gunners made off. The steamers continued
to stand in, and found only one or two country
boats. -The defences being contemptible, the
admiral did not waste time there, but proceeded
on his way to the Circassian coast. The Fire-
brand and Niger were together in the endeavour
to approach Kertch. While chasing a brig the
Niger grounded in water marked deep on
the chart. The Russians, on whose charts the
sailors of other nations have mainly depended,
would almost seem to have purposely published
false soundings with the view to deceive an enemy.
By the aid of the Firebrand, the Niger was at
length got off, though with some difficulty. She
sustained, however, no material damage. The
channel at Kertch is said to be very shallow, 12
or 14 feet only. and we have nothing which can
be made to float either there or in the Sea of
Azoff. At present, therefore, it is impossible to
speak positively as to the batteries at Kertch,
but they are said to be of considerable strength.
Some mode of approaching them will doubtless
be found ere long. The Niger, Tiger, and
Vauban rejoined the fleet on the sth, and the
remainder of the steam squadron proceeded on
their mission to Circassia. They have on board
several of the natives, and among them a very
intelligent chief, who, after fighting the Russians
for years, took service iu the Turkish navy. The
object of the expedition, of course, is to rouse the
half-subdued natives of the Caucasian range into
more active resistance against the Muscovite
power, and some are even sanguine enough to
expect that real practical assistance can be given to
ig
norant
of At present the Circassians are
of us and our intentions, and the steadily carried
out system of NVoronzoff has broken all but a few
heroic spirits. Should it be impossible to assume the
offensive in Asia, yet the new courage and activity
of the Caucasian tribes will draw largely on the
enemy's resources, and some such diversion is ne-
cessary to save the Turkish provinces from an .in-
vasion which would probably be a conquest.

CAPTURE OF PRIZES.
The following despatches give an official account of
the capture of prizes by her Majesty's ship Retribution
and two other war steamers in the Black Sea :
" Britannia, off Odessa, April 21, 1854.
" Sir,—l beg you will acquaint the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty that the combined squadrons
left Baltschik Bay on the 17th, and anchored off Odessa
Oil the 20th inst.
"This morning the Retribution and Descartes re-
joined, and I transmit copies of Captain Drummond's
reports of proceedings since lie was detached on the
11th inst. ; and I trust that the zeal, activity, and judg-
ment displayed by Captain Drummond and Commander
Heath will meet their Lordships' approval.
"The Sidon, Firebrand, and Inflexible are still
watching the coast between the Danube and Varna, and

in consequence of an attempt by some Cossacks to carry
off the grain and forage at liostendji, Captain Gold-
smith set it on fire.

The forts at the Sulina mouth of the Danube have
been dismantled, and the guns and gunboats removed to
Ismail. The Russian army, by the latest intelligence,
was ,still stationary.—l have, &c., -
"J. W. D. DIINDAS, Vice• Admiral.
"The Secretary of the Admiralty."

" Retribution, April 17, 1854 ; rendezvous 15
miles east of Fidonisi.

" Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that, in pur-
suance of your instructions dated the 11th inst., I pro-
ceeded off Odessa, having under my orders her Majlty's
steam-sloop Niger, and in co-operation with me the
French steam-frigate Descartes.

" The morning of the 13th inst., off Cape Fontan
Light, I prevented a Danish ship from entering into
Odessa, she having on board at the time contraband for
the enemy—namely, a cargo of coals. On arriving off
Odessa, the Niger captured two merchant brigs lying
at anchor outside the 'mole ; one.of them slipped, and
was within range when the Niger captured her. The
crewe I have detained on board as prisoners, subject to
your further instructions.
"I made an exception in favour of some passengers—
viz., two men, two women, and two children ; these I
sent on shore in a small captured vessel to Odessa pre-
vious to my departure.
"The Governor of Odessa sent off an officer with a
flag of truce to make some explanation's respecting the
boat of the Furious having been fired upon on a late oc-
casion. I declined to receive any verbal explanation on
this subject. The following day an aide-de-camp of the
Governor came off, but again, as his communication was
verbal, I declined accepting it. Subsequently, about 4
in the afternoon of the 14th, the officer returned with a
letter from the Governor to your address, which I have
the honour to forward.
_

"The number cf vessels captured and destroyed is
enumerated in the enclosed list. Total, 13 ; crews, 51 ;
of which 23 are prisoners in this ship, and 28 in the
Descartes.

Commander Heath, who was detached on the 14th
inst. to reconnoitre towards the Dnieper, observed a
Russian transport in tow of a steam-tug ;he chased the
vessels, but, after following them as far as the first
beacons at the entrance of the Dnieper, and into three
fathoms water, he deemed it not advisable to detach his
boats without the support of the ship. The transport
was at a distanca of five miles, and had got within the
entrance, and under protection of the forts of Kinbourn
and Nicholaef. The former fort fired several shots
at the Niger, but at a distance of four miles. On re-
turn Commander Heath captured six country vessels,
two with a full cargo of English coal on board, a third
with a small quantity, all bound up the Dnieper to
Nicholaef. I thought it advisable to take possession of
this coal for her Majesty's service and therefore pur-
chased it for Government, and supplied the several quan-
tities, as per receipts, to the Retribution, Descattes,
Sidon, and Niger. The price of coals at Odessa, as
stated by the master of a British merchant ship, was 4/.
sterling per ton, and the prices at Constantinople on the
6th inst. had been quoted nearly as high. I have the
honour to enclose a letter for the information of the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject,
as the proceeds of these captures are due to the officers
and crews of the ships serving under my command, and
the French frigate Descartes, as belonging to her Ma-
jesty's ally. The several small vessels having been
cleared, I thought they might be most useful at this
moment for the service of her Majesty's fleet, as they
are well adapted to be used as coasters fur the carrying
of coal at Heraclia.

" I examined carefully the position off Odessa, and
there appears to be nothing in the ivay of fortifications
to prevent the fleet anchoring within two miles, or even
less, from the shore ; the total number of guns does riot
exceed between'6o and 70, and from the north side a posi-
tion might be taken which would enfilade the moles,
but no firing could take place on the moles without the
entire destruction of the merchant ships anchored
within, and of the storehouses situated near the water's
edge ; within the imperial mole were anchored three
steamers (two very small). I also observed three
skeleton vessels in frame, apparently gun boats ; a very
large depot of coal was seen between the moles.
"I detached the Niger to examine the coast about
Tendra ; Commander Heath stood well inside the bay,
and found the soundings as laid down in the chart per-
fectly accurate ; as he did also within the Three Fathoms
Bank at the entrance of the Dnieper.
"As respects the enclosures contained in your in-
structions to me Of the 11th inst.' -I have the honour to
inform you that her Majesty's Consul-General quitted
Odessa 10 or 12 days previous to my arrival there on
the 13th inst. • I could learn nothing of the two vessels
alluded to in the enclosure from an lonian merchant,
as forwarded to you through her Majesty's Ambassador
at the Porte. The exportation of grain had been stopped
and all loaded vessels obliged to re-land their cargoes ;
this proved to be a detention to merchant ships of all
nations.
"During my stay off Odessa, I had communication
with some masters of British merchant ships anchored
within the mole, who were all anxious to get away, but
complained of their consignees not getting them a clear-
ance. I was also informed by the master of the Morde-
cai that he had heard something said of a certain time
having been allowed to them to get out, and added, that
he had asked for, and had not succeeded in getting, his
clearance. There were 15 vessels with the British en-
sign and about 10 French. I was told the latter, being
loaded vessels, were all detained. One British vessel
and two lonians came out of Odessa on the 13th inst.
"It has been very gratifying to me the cordial co-
operation of the captain of the French frigate Descartes,

and I have been much indebted to Commander Heath,
of the Niger, for his examination of the Dneiper entrance
and Tendra Bay, and for his efficient assistance in enabl-
ing me to carry out your instructions relative to captur-
ing and destroying the enemy's vessels. I left my po-
sition off Odessa on the night of the 15th, at the expira-
tion of 60 hours. At daylight observed the Niger stand-
ing towards the land ; Com. Heath reported to me on
rejoining that he chased on shore, burnt, and destroyed
a Russian schooner laden with salt; the crew escapedon
shore in their boat.
"I reached the rendezvous on Serpent Island at 5 a.m.
this morning, with the Descartes, Niger, and nine prizes,
to await further instructions.
"10 a.m.—Exchanged pendants with her Majesty's
ship Sidon. Reported myself at noon to Captain Gold-
smith, senior officer.

"I have, &c.,
"T. R. DRUMMOND, Captain.

" P. S.— Her Majesty's ship Sidon is taking theremain-
der of coal out of the colliers ; the receipts for the entire
quantity of coal taken on charge for the use of her Ma-
jesty's Government will be forwarded as soon as receipts
have been furnished to me. The quantity of coal will
amount to amount to about 315 tons, north country
coal.

" T. B. D.

"Vice-Admiral J. J. D. Dundas, C. 13.,

Commander-in-Chief."

The following is a list of Russian vessels captured by
her Majesty's ships Retribution and Niger, and the
Frerch Imperial frigate Descartes, between the 13th
and 16th days of April, 1854 :
The St. Constantine brig, empty, captured by the
Niger.
The Graphonitite brig, linseed and oatmeal, captured
by the Niger.
The St. Peter and Paul, brig, empty, captured by the
Niger.
The St. Constantino lugger, oatmeal, captured by the
Retribution. _ _ _

The St. Nicolas lugger, oatmeal, captured by the
Retribution . —Destroyed
The St. Nicolas, schooner, empty, captured by the
Niger.
The St. Nicolas, lugger, empty, captured by the
Niger.
The Annee lugger, coals, captured by the Niger.
The St. Speridon lugger, coals, captured by the Niger.
Destroyed.
The Proce Bragenia lugger, coals, captured by the
Niger.
The Elchina brig, salt, captured by the Descartes.

The St. Nicolas lugger, linseed, captured by the
Niger. Discharged into the Graphonitite ; sent into
Odessa, with passengers, women, and children.
The Unknown schooner, salt, chased - and destroyed
by the Niger..
T. R. DRUMMOND, Captain,
and Senior Officer present.