New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-12

Eeaiv very hl'ie WI Dos OF the cruise Of the title
iqna5rob sent round the North CAPE 10 Operate a,
soon as the weather permitted IN the White Sea To
that Distant region the mail bags Of the British Post
Office have Dot penetaied. and even our own "cor-
respondent has not yet travelled. We knew no
more OF the proceedings Of Capt. Lyons and Capt.
seymour Tor the lasf three months tb al II they hsd
sailed on a Polar expedition and they now return
from the Arctic Regions 20 reste their story aud
10 tell us that the noriberpuos shores Of the Russian
empire have Dot escaped the ravsges Of war. This
cruise OF the Miranda and The Brisk is in many re-
spects so peculiar and So sprted feat Of naval
terIrise that we hope the Admiralty will publish a.
length the dispatches they must have received the
subject. But, in the mean time, we shall enfearor
to extract something Ike connected narrative from
the notes which have already Appeared in our naval
intelligence.
1t will be remembered that the Miranda, which is a
screw steamship Of $50 horse power, carrying guns
was the first vessel sent into the Baltic alter the
declaration Of TO explore the state Of the ice and
the naviea alton Of the Great Belt. She forced her
way with great skill snd daring through the ice 10
Revel, which port she surveyed. She wss then
almost frozen in and compelled 10 break the fields Of
ice by firing heavy shot; but she returned home with
valuable information, and was soon repaired for
another cruise still further to the north. She sailed
from the Downs in company with the Brisk steam
sIoop on the 2lst Of May, reached Lerwick in the
Shetland Isles on the Goth, and sailed for the White
Sea on the sth of June. The navigation Of those
waters however, lie seldom open till the latter part of
June, and it not til the Goth that the vessels
were ena,led TO approach the mouth u Ine Dwina,
where they met with a strong current anu q par
which prevented the approach Of the Miranda TO
Archspee,. The squsdron had been ordered not to
apply an immediate blockade TO the ports Of the
While Sea, because il was ascertained that both at
Omega and at Arcbange large amount Of French
end English property was lying, which had already
been paid for and which would have been lost to i.s
owners if il could not be exported in neutral vessels
These vessels appear have frequented the northern
ports in great numbers for no less than 375 ships
- I'D 49, a j. L. al-N Ia g.
the neutral property being now all removed, the
blockade win Of course be more strictly enforced
next year.
On the 18th Of July the Miranda sailed round the
island Of SOOvetskoi, upon which is situated build
ing called monastery, but which proved to be strong
" fortified and armed with the most approved engines
OF war. The quick eye of Lieutenant Mackenzie, of
the Miranda also discovered troops aud field pieces
half concealed in the adjacent woods and heavy fire
soon commenced on the ships On The following day
the attack was renewed by both ships at 81 in the
morning, and was continued until in the evening,
when the guns of the enemy were senced, the mon
astery having been sheed and fired into with red hot
shot We should like, however, TO have some further
particulars Of this occurrence The marital Abbot OF
Soloyetskoi has himself removed all scruples which
might be felt in attacking religious house in this re-
mole part of Europe, by avowRg that the place was
fully prepared with grape, she'll and canister and by
defending il us a fortified work. Nor do we imagine
ma the Abbot would have Us believe that the interp0
sitop of the Greek saints was so eectual the re
of the English pivot guns Ill directed that no dam
age whatever done TO this mansion or ts holy gar
rison during ten hours bombardment. But on the
other hand to be just to the Abbot, who ap pears TO
have acted as commander Of the forces this occa
sion ust be acknowledged that the British account
of this exploit doe, not furnish US with very clear or
definite statement Of the causes and results OF this at
tack.
Twelve days later the British forces destroyed all
the public buildings on place called Shlyley Island
and about month afterward, on the 23d Of August
having quilted the internal waters OF the White Sea-
they proceeded attack the town of koa the chief
place in Russian Lspand situated in the highest la-
fude Of Europe about G9o and few miles 10 the
east of the Norwegian frontier and the North Cape
KOa is described by the gazeteers as place OF
about j 600 inhabitants and we should wonder If, in
so upgenial latitude it contained more. Bat it un-
doubedly possessed fort, with batteries well armed
a garrison, Governor, and depot OF Gov
eminent stores. The oihcers OF the Miranda
coDtrived, with uncommon skill and intrepdity, to
buoy a passage for a very considerable dis
lance up an almost unknown river to kSla, and to
lay the ship within $50 yards of the battery. The
Governor having refused to surrender the place, or
to listen TO terms the Miranda opened tremendous
fire. which speedily annbilsted tle enemy batteries.
and psity headed by the First Lieutenant, landed
sword in hand carried every thing before hem The
Government stores were all destroyed, ana inc ~noie
tow seems 10 ave shared the same fate-a eafas-
tropbe which the Government mig int have avoided by
surrenderiDg to enemy whom he had not the power
TO resist. II is impossible to read without deep com
misseration the narrative OF operations wch must
bay inflicted extreme hardsbps on population sui
fe,ipg these terrible cbsstsemaDts for the sins OF It's
ruler: and il is difficult - discover more ihan very
rude and random justice In measures when MAKE the
Lsplanders of kOla responsible Tor the Mencnihon
mission ard the passage of the Pruth. But that IS
one Of the conditions Of war with the Russian en-
nire. II is only by making the people of that en-
pre feel that they defenseess and open TO attack
along the whole of er vast external frontier that
We can hope 10 drive them into submission, and from
LapIapcP TO the confines of Armenia one power and
one man is alone responsible for these dreadful and
destructive consequences. Perhaps, too the feelings
of resentment and impotence which inspire men to
conduct attacks of this nature have been heightened
by the gross Misrepresentation put forth by the
X, ssan authorities every encounter with the
British forces and by the difficulty Of dealing with
an enemy who shuns every fair and open contest
abandons his barhors ard bis coast, and lies hid be-
hind his batteries ard fortresses. Never was this
country engaged in war in which was 80 difficult
TO meet the enemy at all, for never before
had we. to deal with an enemy whose only
tactics by sea and land are to endeavor to
escape. Our forces have therefore been compelled
TO attack what they could approach. Bat, though
we wish that the squadron in the White Sea, IKE toat
in the Baltic bad encountered force more worthy OF
IFS power Capt Lyons and his gallant comrades have
undoubtedly Effected all that could be done under the
circumstances, and the utmost praise is due to the
officers of the Miranda for the skill with when tney
took that ship up the kola River, and placed her
without hesitation within $50 yards of the batteries,
which were accordingly very rapidly destroyed We
have still some reason 10 hope that before the allied
feet quits the Baltic which will not be for weeks
another maritime operation will be undertaken and
we should be happy TO learn, even now, that Sir
Charles Napier bad found an opportunity to perform
some service worthy of the reputation with which he
alted on this command.
THE BALTIC FLEET.
Some Of the papers still keep harping upon the al
legged speedy return 10 the English coast Of the Baltic
feet unaer the command Of vice-Admiral Sir Charles
Nspier II may be as well once for all 70 contradict