The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-30 00:00:00

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COMMODORE ELLIOT S CRUISE IN THE GULF
OF TARTARY.

By the arrival of the steamers Hellespont and Erin
from Shangai, we (the Friend of China) are placed in
possession of some interesting information regarding the
recent cruise of ex-commodore Eiliot's squadron in the
Gulf of Tartary.
This squadron, consisting of the Sibylle, Pique, and
11114rra.conta left Hakodadi, Japan, on the 4th May, and
on the 10th reached Cape Lemanon, in about 48 deg.
north lat. There the Sibylle and Pique remained, the.
Barracouta steaming onwards along the coast to
the northward. On the evening of the 11th, in lat
49.1.50 deg. N., long. 140.19 E., a fine and capacious
bay was discovered, with many sheltered creeks capable'
of affording secure anchorage for ships of the largest
tonnage. The entrance to this bay is very narrow, and
when seen from a diz.tance appears blocked up by an
island in the centre. Indeed a vessel might pass and
repass, and no one would dream of the beautiful enchora J
so close at hand. Soon after anchorinu a few nativ
(Ghuliacks) came off to sell fish, which they were glad
barter for buttons.

Some of these natives had buttons with Russian insigni
on them, leading the Barracouta to infer that Russian 3
had been there not long before. Consequently, early
next morning, Mr. Freeman, master of the Barracouta,
proceeded on shore, and crossing over a field of ice, came
all at once on a number of Russian log-houses strongly
built and ensconced in the shade of some forest trees.
These houses bore evident marks of recent occupation--
piles of freshly cleft firewood lying here and there in
various directions. There were some empty casks, too,
in a store-house; marked with the English broad arrow,
" Portsmouth, 1852," the contents, &c. In front of the
principal house waa.a flagstaff, with a compass card of
April, 1855. In the rear, and a little to the left of the
houses, W 33 a strong platform battery for 8 guns. At some
distance to the right a similar platform for 10 guns,
whist in the anchorage, between the two, with her broad-
side t, the entrance, lay the remains of alarge frigate 200
feet long, anchored in 10 fathoms, burnt down to the ice
in which she was embedded. The framework of this vessel
was stouter than that of either the Pique or Sibylle, and
conjecture assigns her to have been the Pallas. Her figure
head, a double eagle, found on the ice, was taken posses-
sion of by the Barracouta, and much of her rigging,
spars, &c., was found stowed away in different places, it
being evident that her destruction had been an act com-
mitted but a short time before. Numerous graves—dis-
tinguished by the Greek Cross—were found on the hill,
and dated at various periods from as far back as 1853.
The Ghiliacks, by signs, led the Barracouta, to believe
that the Russians had vacated the place seven weeks be-
fore only.
Having made this extraordinary discovery, the Barra
couta returned to Cape Lemanon to inform the Commo
dore, who, with the Pique and Sibylle, then proceeded
to a further examination of the bay,, the hills about
which were thickly etudded with birch and pine trees,
affording fine shelter from the cold blasts of the north
and east.

Leaving her comrades in Barracouta Bay, as it was
at once termed, the. Barracouta proceeded north to
Castrie's Bay, looking into all the bays and inlets on the
coast en route, a labour which could be performed effectu-
ally, the weather being clear, although there was some
danger from drifting ice. Finding nothing more of Rus-
sia.us either at De Castries Bay or on the roal to it, the
Barracouta returned to the bay named after` her, which -
she reached on the 21E-t May, and took in wood and
water. Leaving Barracouta Bay again she reached
Hakodadi on the 29th; the Sibylle and Hornet arrived
there a day or two after her.