176 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



altered in habits or condition. The name and local- 

 ity became familiar to many "who had scarcely ever 

 heard of either before, when "war "with Russia arose 

 before us as a great fact, and men's minds began 

 to grow busy with the questions of assault and 

 defence. Speculators on the Baltic operations fixed 

 upon Aland as the first point of attack, and there 

 was much reason in the supposition. It was at 

 once the most assailable of the enemy's posses- 

 sions, and the most easy of occupation. All the 

 other strongholds Abo, Eevel, Helsingfors might 

 have been bombarded, but could not have been 

 held except by the aid of a large army, whilst our 

 flying squadron could have effectually cut off all 

 communication betwixt Aland and the mainland, and 

 secured it from attack. Its possession would have 

 afforded our ships a convenient rendezvous a depot 

 for coals and stores, an hospital establishment for 

 infectious diseases, and a fold or grazing - ground 

 for the cattle, which might then have been col- 

 lected from every quarter for the use of the fleet. 

 Above all, its capture at the outset of the war would 

 have been hailed as a good first blow ; afterwards it 

 was looked upon merely as a compromise for the non- 

 performance of more brilliant exploits. It would 

 have shown the earnest purpose of the war might 

 have decided wavering allies, and daunted covert foes. 

 Our rulers and chiefs thought otherwise. 



Early in the spring of 1854 a mighty armament 



