The Georgetown news., 1855-08-09

Narrow Escape of the British WnI
Steamer EsAIer,In' before Cromstmdx--
Subterranean Internal Machines.
A letter from the Baltic feet off Cron-
stadt, to the Times, June 18Th says:
AT noon the Merlin carrying the French
Admiral Penaud and several French and
English Captains, proceeded TO reconnoitre
CronStadt. They were attended by the
Dragon, tlrthy, and corvette D'Assas.-
Going first along the north side of the island
they approached within 1000 yards of the
blockships lying in the open water between
Cronstadt and St Petersbureh. They con
sisted OF four liners, five frigates, and two
corvettes, moored in line along the three
fathom bank, with their broad-sides bearing
upon the northern passage. Inside these,
i steam gun-bOats lay at anchor. and un-
der the wall of Man-oEWar Harbor, an
chored in three lines: were "A row gun-boats
W hen the Merlin went in 50 close two Of
the steam gunboats came out and one fred
a heavy shot at her, but it fell short.
In the Man-0t-W ar Harbor were II line
of-battle ships, four Of them fully rugged, and
the others IN progress. Between the har-
Dor and Fort kronsl0t were 10 steamers of
various sizes. some Of them screws, and be-
tween Kronslot and Fort Menschikoff two
three-deckers are moored bow to bow with
their broadsideS commanding the only en-
trance. The island seems full Of soldiers.
tor, besides those quartered in the town and
batteries, three large camps were formed
outside. two on the north and the other on
the south side. Immense new earthworks
have been erected this Spring; complete
chain of them runs from the Governors
home across the island to the old KesseIl
Battery, dividing it into ba.ves. one forti-
he'd. the other without gun upon it. Just
as the Merlin was returnn e, and when 90
ing about seven knots an nour. a severe
shock was felt, as If she had struck upon
sunken pile. 1t made the ship quiver IRON
stem to stern. The engines were instantly
stopped and reversed, but before she lad
stern way upon her, another blow, ten times
more severe than the first, struck her on the
starb0ard bow, just before the paddie-wheel
senslbIy lifting hvr over to port, and making
her maStS bend and shake as If they would
topple down. The Firety was in the Mer-
Inns wake, and before she could stop. she
ran to starboard of the Merlin. and partly
turned round, when tremendous explo-
sion took place under her bows, causing her
to stagger, and proving very plainly that
they were over nest OF Professor Jacobs
internal machines, the existence of which is
now beyond doubt.
They then proceeded carefully until they
got into deep water without meeting with
any more, and then reconnoitered the south
side, and getting so near the shore as to
witnfSs sort of review of the Russian
horse artillery, and afterwards returned to
the feet. A diver was Immediately sent
down to examine the FireHy, and not the
slightest injury could be detected; but inside
the ship almost every piece Of crOckeryware
was broken, and the bukheads thrown down
or displaced. On examining the Merlin,
eight sheets Of her copper were blown. not
scraped, Oft, and the side appeared to be
charred. All the inside fittings of the engi-
neerS' bathroom, mess-room and store-ro0m
were completely demolished. An iron tank,
which was bolted to the ships side, and con-
tanned l3 cwt. of ta.low was knocked a
distance of four feet. Shot was shaken out
of the racks, and almost everything move
able IN the ship was. displaced.
1t is supposed these machines have been
laid down since Admiral Dundas reconnoi
tered the place the last time; for, after he
returned two steamers came from the har
Dor, and were busily employed for some
time"