The Sun. — 1854-07-11 (London, England)

OPERATIONS BEFORE CRONSTADT. The following is from a letter dated the British feet 'off Cronstadt, June 30 : ," Vessels are now occasionally chased 'which are found to contain floating villages—men, women, and children, with all their goods and chattels, deserting their farms and homes on some little islands, where, had they remained, they imagined death by shooting or imprisonment from the ruthless English awaited them. Those poor creatures become regularly terror-stricken When boarded, caused in some measure by the usual Preamble of firing a shot, often more across their bows to oblige them to heave to. The poor women, like so 'zany trembling gazelles, are found huddled together in some little hiding hole. However, the poor things are soon reassured by kindness, and see that we are not the brutes they were led to suppose we were. We Part—no longer enemies, but now real friends ; Much to their surprise they are again set free, and continue their route without further molestation. On 'Me occasion we had much ado With the women to reassure them of our kind intentions. We fired off our muskets as guarantees, but alas! good intentions are often mistaken. It was- most decidedly the case in this instance, for it made them ten times worse—this Very firing. So much for our rode way of inspiring conPence. After having stayed a Couple of days off LesJiar, the squadron moved on for Cronstadt. The gulf narrowed as we approached its scud de sac. The land on either side is covered with a sea of ridfi waving woods of Pine-trees, especially on the Finnish shore, which is the higher ; occasional oases appear in this moving mass of green, revealing snug hamlets and cultivated fields which often slope down to the dark, nasty water of this great brackish gulf. As we closed with Cronstadt, and as goon as the tall masts •of the Russian ships in harbour (19 ships of the line and 5 steamers) were descried from our topmast heads, great excitement prevailed through the fleet. A rumour is set afloat that the,Russian not expecting us up so high, are at anchor outside the forts. Not a breath of wind prevails to carry them inside under protection of their batteries ; such be the case, visions of immediate action, certain sictory, and captured ships, seize upon our imaginations. ;'hips are in advance of the squadron, looking out for the infernal machines.' All the ships have watches posted flotheir tops, repbrting every floating log of wood that ats near us, bearing any resemblance to a buoy—an appendage said to be attached to all those submarine traps., We draw closer and closer. A mirage now begins 40 tantalise us ; it clears, and a lighthouse 'of tolboukin belluvr stands out in white relief. The rigging of the ships comes more distinct, and, alas, so do the prodigious rt.% The men-of-war are skulking under their guns Within the harbour. The admirals consult. The combined squadron come to an anchor ; on our approach there was evidently a great stir amongst the Russian ships. The steamers in harbour immediately got steam up, and all seemed on the alert. Our squadron made a sweep, and retraeing its steps a little, dropped anchOr about-eight or ten miles off Cronstadt. Seven or eight ships, amongst Which are the Imperieuse, Arrogant, Desperate, Pene. Magicienne, Lightning, Driver, &c., have been Placed 4 in a position off the mouth .of the harbour, about Tree miles. Some boats belonging to one of those suiPs was sounding, a few evenings age, off the Wand ef Cronstadt, when a Russian -steamer, with steam up, Was observed coming out of h,arbour to cut them off. The Desperate quickly got steam up and made a dash to catch the Russian, who immediately rushed back again into Port as if the devil was after her. Vessels are constantly going reconnoitring the place and sketching the fortificafi?hey which appear to be of amazing strength, and not a .4tr Match for wooden walls. The lighthouse bf Tolboukin le abandoned. Several officers have landed, and have tietuated the tower, from which point there is a-splendid rd's-eye view of the whole place. Just fancy our audacity Lo doing all those things under the very eyes of the Czar, MWith whose name invincibility has hitherto been coupled. ost likely the steamer which came out, or attempted' ,L. come out, the other, evening, had an admiral on board, ,o_l6 the vessel carried a flag at the fore. Could it have Zell the Grand Duke who was thus forced 'to an ignoo,ltiuhs flight Before Desperate ? Oh,. how the 17,,1ntY are fallen.' The Driver went up towards the :-"thouse yesterday, with Admiral Chads and party 1.11 board. He went to visit the tower which the Rus"tiho seem to have relinquished in our favour. It is saold -there is some intention to endeavour, to get at pr,138 cif the submarine torpedos. It is currently resits ed that there are small buoys placed to mark their at iberiVlV,hat fun it will be if we can manage to _get he ‘` We have got cholera in the fleet. Mr. Graham, a 4:ltetiant of the St. George, has committed suicide, ofd his vacancy has been given to Mr. Clarke, mate th.'ue Duke of Wellington. It is a most-unfortunate Ing. lie shot himself with a revolver pistol."