The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-03 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, AuG. I.—The following is an ex-
tract, which will be read with interest, of a letter
received from his Majesty's ship Blonde, which con-
veyed our Ambassador to Constantinople, dated
from that capital, June 21 :

" The Blonde is now moored-in the port of Con,
stantinople, right before the Seraglio, or the Palace
of the Grand Seigneur, from which we are distant
about three hundred yards in a northerly direction.
The preparations we were making for the reception
of the British Ambassador being completed, his
Excellency the Right lion. Robert Gordon and
suite (twenty-two in number), in which are com-
prehended the Earl of Yarmouth, Viscount Dunlo,
and the Hon. Mr. Grosvenor, came on board the
Blonde at Tenedos, on the forenoon of Tuesday
last, when we weighed and made all sail for the
Hellespont, or western entrance of the Dardanelles,
having the Rifleman sloop of war and Hind in com-
pany. The French frigate Armide, with the Am-
bassador of that nation, Count Guilleminot, on
board, made sail at the same time. On passing the
first castle, or strong battery, which stands on the
European side of the Straits, a few heavy guns
were fired at us, or rather a little a-head of the ship.
We were rather close to the battery, indeed so much
so, as to distinctly perceive, by our glasses, that the
tremendously heavy guns in the ground tier were
loaded with ponderous balls of marble, some of
which appeared to be equal, in circumference, to
the drum head of our capstan. On seeing a boat
shove off from the battery with a Turkish officer on
board, we shortened sail, and received a message from
the Governor of the castle to the effect that he
could not allow us to pass without an order from
his superior, the Pacha of the Dardanelles; for that
were he to do so, he would lose his head. To this
our Noble Ambassador replied by stating, that the
Embassy should proceed forthwith v.and that if
the Governor tired another shot at the Blonde he
would most assuredly lose his head. The Turkish
boat then pulled off for the shore with that bold
reply; so we made sail and passed the battery
without further molestation. About nine, p.m. the
wind becoming too light to enable us to stem the
current, which runs here at the rate of about four
miles an hour, we were obliged to come to an
anchor. At midnight a deputation of Turks came
on board, with an apology from the Pacha of the
Dardanelles, for the uncourtly and unjustifiable act
of firing at a British ship of war, with the British
Ambassador on board; and stated that the Pacha
had directed the Governor to be thrown into prison,
and that he should be subjected to the immediate
punishment of banishment. This apology was, I
understand, considered satisfactory, and fully pro-
portioned to the hasty act of which the Governor
had been guilty. Next day the wind freshening,
about nine, p. m., we weighed and made sail, and
soon passed the remarkably strong castles which
are built near the ruins of Abydos, on the Asiatic
side, and Sestos, on the European. Immediately
after pasting those castles, the Turkish Govern-
merit steam-boat came alongside, having on board
Captain Hanclietts. This gentleman stated that
the Pacha of the Dardanelles had sent his son on
board the steamer, for the purpose of paying his (the
Pacha's) respects to the long-expected British Ambas-
sador. As the wind was fair, and as we were desirous of
making the most of it, so as to get over the narrows
before night, the formality of the young Pacha's
visit on board the Blonde was dispensed with, and
a mere interchange of compliments substituted in
its stead. After this the castle near Abydos fired a
salute in honour of the British Ambassador, and on
the Armide's passing, it paid a similar compliment
to the Ambassador from the Court of France. Mr.
Gordon, immediately after interceded for the de-
posed Governor (who had fired at the Blonde), and
through his influence he was released from prison,
and restored to the full plenitude of power. As
the Turks had been some days anxiously looking
out for the British Ambassador, they sent a steam-
boat to our assistance, which towed us to our pre-
sent moorings. The Turks have received us with
every demonstration of friendship and respect. Se-
veral Officers of the Sultan's body guard have been
on board, some of whom have dined with us and
have drank wine with as much taste as if they had
been commanded to do so by the Prophet. The
Turkish squadron in the Black Sea consists of four
line of battle ships, five frigates, and a few sloops
war. A few days since, on the clearing up of a fog,
a Russian frigate found herself surrounded by the
above squadron, and, to the everlasting infamy and
disgrace of her commander, surrendered without
ever firing a gun, or making any resistance what-
ever. The crew of that frigate are ;now prisoners
of war at Constantinople, where they are treated
with great lenity, the officers being allowed the be-
nefit of a parole. The captured frigate. is now
manned with Mussulmen, and added to the num-
ber of the Turkish squadron. Since the period of
the disgraceful event, a Russian brig of war found
herself under similar circumstances, t hat is, situated
as the frigate was on the clearing up of the fog; but to
the immortal renown and credit of her commander, he
opened a well-directed broadside on the nearest of
the Turkish line of battle ships, shot away her
main topmast, and thus succeeded in effecting his
escape. Report says that the Captain of the frigate
will be hanged in the event of his ever returning to
Russia. The Turks have a three-decker of 140
guns, and a frigate of 64 guns, ready for launching
at this port. It is expected that the launch will
take place in the course of a few days, at which the
Sultan and his principal officers are expected to be
present. This Monarch is the most indefatigable in
the world; he is on horseback every morning at
the break of day, and at their stated periods in each