Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-09-14

/ Ivan Golovine, whom We suppose to be A
Russian. begs to state that Sweabors has not
been taken. lie says
1t is impregnabe 1t is no use 10 the
allies to take tortresses they cannot keep
The fact is that Sweaborg was bombardcd for
two days and some stores around it were
destroyed, Sweaborg commands Ilelsingfors,
where part Of the Russian fleet is stationed.
The capture Of the former should then cause
the surrender Of the latter which Is not re-
ported The fleet OF all the allies have even
not sllcnced the batteries of Swcaborg, that
could never be taken bv the Russians them.
lelves, who corrupted the Swedish General
Suchteln.'
The details of the late foreign news which
have been published, show conclusively that
the report Of the conquest and destruction of
Sweaborg was erroneous Ii has been bonn
barded and its depOts of military stores, &c,
destroyed The suhjoined brief account of
the Notifications there will convey to the
reader some idea Of their formidable charac-
ter
'llelsinGfors, the capital of Finland, is
beautiful town OF 10000 inhabitants. situa-
ted on a fertile peninsula in the government
Of Ryland. 1t was built in 1878, and the
forts of Brabcrg and Ulricaborg were erected,
one on each side its spacious and deep har-
Dor, for its defence Three miles and a
quarter southeast Of Helsingfors rise the mas
siye, and, as hitherto been believed, almost
impregnable walls of the fortress of Sweaborg,
which was built in l74S. by General Ehrens-
wald, on the seven islands of Longoe Wester-
Syartoe, Bakholm, Lila tEster- -Svartoe Sto-
ra- -Ester-Svartoc, Wargoe, and Gustafs-
Sword, (the Sword of Gustayus,) and which
has been since strengthened, particularly du-
ring the past year, with all the skill that sci
ence could devise. The seven islands lie
within circumference Of four mites, and all
of them are fortified, although the KEY to
the position has been the Fort of Gustsfs-
Syoerd which has commanded by its guns the
narrow and only inlet for ships fwar
At the commencement of this century
Coke. in his travels, called Sweaborg the
Gibraltar of the North and lluot said of il
more recently, it is one of the wonders of
modern military architecture the object of
eternal regret TO Sweden, and the greatest
trophy of Russia. Portions Of the fortress
were cut out of the solid rock, presenting to
the eye single mass of hewn granite 4S feet
in height, covered from SIX t. ten feet in depth
by earth and turf, which had been laid over
it to destroy the effects of bombs and shot
In the island of Wargoe is a dry-dock capable
ot containing ten or twelve frigates, followed
in the solid rock. 500 feet long, POO broad
Is a basin two hundred feet square closed at
each end with sluice gates. which serve for
the entrance and exit of GrigGtes. and like
wise for repairing and building ships. At
the other extremity is another basin Of the
same dimensions. The magazines and bat
terry are built on the edge Of the water,
which is sufficient to admit each vessel to the
edge of the quay to be equipped without
trouble There is also an excellent port for
seventy ships of the line. and a small harbor
capable Of containing from ten to fifteen large
vessels or steamers. Fifteen months ago,
when two British ships reconnoitered the
place, they counted in this harbor thirteen
ships, three of which were steamers. The
loss of Sweaborg to Sweden took place on tho
9Th of May, lS0S, and its capituntion was
regarded as one of the most serious calami-
ties ever incurred by the Swedish nation.
Since that time it has remained uninterrupt- |
edly under Russian control, and the opinion .
that had been formed Of il. impregnahle ma /
ture was SO strong that even Sir Charles .
Napier is said 10 have declared that, what
ever might have been done last year, it would .
be hs difficult to take this as Cronstadt itself
-NGtiondi IntehPsnc,r. Sept l