The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-14 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

A letter from St. Petersburg of the 6th, in the
Constitutionnel, says :
"The day before yesterday the Ensperor Alexander
reviewed the Baltic fleet, drawn up under the guns of
the forts of Cronstadt, and, as I was present, I send you
an account written on the spot. We left St. Petersburg
at 10 o'clock on board the steamer Sylphide, in which
by special favour a select company bad assembled, and
at 11 o'clock we stopped off Peterhoff to take on board
some other privileged persons. At half-past 11 we again
stood out, and passed along a regular line of gun-boats
and bomb-vessels, extending from St. Petersburg to
Cronstadt. These steamboats, recently built on the
models of the French and English, are small in size,
but very solidly constructed. Their decks, on a level
with the water, are so arranged as to afford little mark
for the enemy's guns. A few months only have sufficed
to build 80 of them, and in another year the number
will be carried up to 300. Each of the gunboats carries
2 heavy guns and a crew of 45 men ; the bomb vessels
have each 1 large mortar, 3 heavy guns, and 50 men.
All the merchant vessels at anchor in the port of Cron-
stadt were gaily dressed out in flags. After rounding the
forts of Cronstadt, our steamer passed along the line-of-
battle ships, and then took up a position within musket
shot of the last vessel. Vice-Admiral Schantz bad the
command in chief of the fleet, which was composed
of one hundred and thirteen vessels, namely, thirty-
three line-of-battleships, frigates, and corvettes, form-
ing two divisions under Rear Admirals Tirinoff and
Nordmann ; and 80 gun-boats and bomb-vessels, also
forming two divisions, under the command of Rear-
Admirals Moffecte and Stroukoff. At two o'clock, a
long streak of smoke announced the approach of th•
steam-vessel conveying the Emperor from Peterhoff.
Every glass was immediately turned in that direction,
and his Majesty was seen standing on the deck, with a
numerous staff, add a large number of ladies. At the
same moment, and at a given signal, the yards and rig-
ging of t ie vessels were manned, and the Czar, as he
passed along the line, was bailed with the most enthu-
siastic huzzas. The Eesperses steamer, after pass-
ing along the line of vessels, took up a position on
the right of the admiral's ship, and the filing cif
of the gun-boats and bomb-vessels commenced, the
crew of each, as it passed, crying out • Health to
your Majesty !' After the filing off, which occupied
inure than an hour, a fresh signal was given, and
in a moment, under a general discharge of can-
non, every ship was covered with flags. The salutes of
the fleet were answered by the guns from the forts of
Oronstadt. This grand naval fete, which was favoured
by the most delightful weather, terminated about five
o'clock. Oa Sunday last, being the fete day of the
reigning Empress, there was a kissing of hands at Peter-
hoff, and a brilliant illumination in the evening. All
the streets of St. Petersburg were also illuminated. I
say streets, because, except on extraordinary occasions,
such as accessions to the throne and coronations, the
lighting only consists in placing a row of lampions along
the edge of the foot-pavement."

A letter from Sebastopol of the 23d ult., in
the Austrian Gazette, says :—" The arch-
bishop of Cherson and Taurida, Innocent, ar-
rived here two days ago, to bless the southern
part of the town, which the Emperor has ordered
to be rebuilt. The churches being destroyed,
Divine service was celebrated in the chapel of the
Virgin, which alone stands entire, on an altar
made of wood. The archbishop compared the
town to the fields of death of Ezekiel, and re-
marked that even if Sebastopol were not rebuilt, it
would still remain grand and immortal. The
south side being still uninhabited, the only spec-
tators presest, besides the admirals and authori-
ties, were a few sailors, two battalions of infantry,
and some people drawn by curiosity from Sim-
pheropol. In the place where existed the six
bastions which defended Sebastopol there will
now be constructed hospitals and residences
for invalid solders. The communications be-
tween the nosh and south shores will be esta-
blished by means of a bridge of boats, placed be-
tween the former forts St. Nicholas and St.
Michael. In the Karebelaaia good houses, on a
uniform plan, will be constructed in place of the
miserable huts which formerly existed there. Those
will be let oat to sailors' or soldiers' families at the
rate of 3 per cent. on the money expended."