[Gratis. 
Vol. III.— No. 77.] 
Saturday, June 17, 1854. 
THE FIELD OF WAR. 
OUR WOODEN WALLS. 
THE BALTIC FLEET. 
Off Helsingfors, June 5. — The screw line-of-battle 
ships, consisting of the Dulce of Wellington, 131, bearing 
the Hag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Commander- 
in-Chicf ; Edinburgh, 58, flag-ship of llear-Admiral 
Chads; St. Jean d’Aere, 101, Captain the Hon. H. Kep- 
pel; Austerlitz, 100; Princess Royal, 91, Captain Lord 
C. Paget; Cffisar, 91, Captain John Robb; Cressy, 80, 
Captain It. L. Warren; Blenheim, GO, Captain Pelham ; 
Hogue, GO, Captain W. Ramsay; paddle steam frigate ! 
Penelope, 16, Captain Caflin, and a lWv smaller steamers, 
remained at anchor in Hango Roads, Finland, for a longer 
period than was intended, in consequence of the preva- , 
lence of dense fogs at frequent intervals. As an instance 
of one of the impediments which the enemy has thrown ! 
in the way of the safe progress of the fleet up the Gulf of 
Finland, it may be cited that the lighthouse on the island 
of Hango, which is situate at the north-western entrance 
of the gulf, has been pulled downwind the usual marks for 
vessels entering the roadsteads have been removed. 
Throughout the whole length of the gulf similar proceed- 
ings have been adopted by the enemy, but by sending in ad- 
vance two or three small steamers to take soundings and 
bearings, the large ships will be able to shape a safe 
course to Sweaborg, and thence to the vicinity of Cron- 
stadt. No further bombardment of the forts commanding 
Hango Udde has taken place. Their complete destruc- 
tion would have been easily effected, but attended with no 
advantage. The fortresses of Sweaborg mount 800 guns 
of large calibre, one-half of which, it is stated, could be 
brought to bear on any ships attempting to pass through 
the narrow channel to the harbour of Ilelsihgfors. In the 
garrison are several thousand artillerymen, and our 
ships, notwithstanding their powerful armament, would 
make but little impression o£ batteries of solid granite. 
Bufcadmitting that the fleet succeeded in demolishing these 
fortresses, they could not be retained without a large 
body of troops, a supply of which is not provided. While 
at anchor in Hango Roads, the crews of the various ships 
were exercised in reefing and furling sails, shifting top- 
sail yards, and similar matters. A squadron of observa- 
tion, consisting of the Impericuse, 50, Captain Watson; 
Arrogant, 46, Captain Yelverton; Dauntless, 33, Captain 
Ryder; and Basilisk, G, Captain the Hon. F. Egerton, 
have been cruising in the vicinity of Sweaborg. Rear- 
Admiral Corry, with the sailing ships and a few steamers, 
is roconnoitering between the island of Gottska Sando and 
Port Baltic. The paddle and screw steamers under the 
orders of Rear-Admiral Plumridgeare off the Aland Isles. 
The Amphion, 3G, Captain A. C. Key, has captured 
several of the enemy’s merchant vessels. The Desperate, 
Captain E. T. C. D’Eyncourt, anchored in the Hango 
Roads on the 27th ult., and the Hecla, Captain W. K. 
Hall, was despatched to Stockholm, to procure fresh 
rovisions for the fleet. The Driver, Commander the 
Ion. A. A. Cochrane, arrived from Copenhagen, having 
on board Lieutenant Naylor, R. M., the bearer of des- 
patches for the Commander-in-Chief. On the 28th the 
Driver was sent to look after a Russian steamer reported 
cruising outside, and the Lightning, Captain Sulivan, to 
the Gulf of Bothnia. The Alban, paddle steamer, Com- 
mander Otter, joined company on the 29tlr, and the 
Cruiser, Commander the Hon. G. II. Douglas, proceeded 
to Gottska Sando. During the 31st, and the greater por- 
tion of the subsequent day, a dense fog prevailed, by which 
all communications between the ships was prevented. Two 
Dutch galliots came into Hango Roads bound up the Gulf 
Finland, but were not allowed to proceed on their voyage. 
The Alban brought in a Russian gun-boat and a merchant 
brig, and the Porcupine a brigantine, as prizes. At noon, 
the fleet weighed under steam. After clearing Hango Roads, 
the fires were banked, and all necessary sail made to a fine 
breeze from the N.W. In the evening, the ships anchored in 
Baro Sound, about eight miles off the shore of Elgso, the 
Penelope remaining off Hango to watch the movements of 
the enemy on that part of the coast, and to wait the arrival 
at that anchorage of the squadron in company with Rear- 
Admiral Corry. The Lightning, Captain Sulivan, while 
in the Gulf of Bothnia, will reconnoitre Boraarsund, the 
principal of the Aland Isles, for the purpose of ascer- 
taining the strength of its fortifications. Mr. Nugent, 
one ot the officers of engineers attached to the fleet, 
accompanies Captain Sulivan to assist him in this import- 
ant service. Toe Hecla, Captain W. K. Hall, arrived in 
Baro Sound, on the 3rd, from Stockholm, with a large 
number of live bullocks and vegetables for the fleet. The 
Imperieuse, 50, Captain Watson, and Arrogant, 46, Cap- 
tain Yelverton, hove in sight in the afternoon, and were 
ordered to cruise in the offing, to intercept all merchant 
vessels bound up the Gulf of Finland with supplies for the 
enemy. The Pigmy, steam gun-boat (with a mail), 
Lieutenant-Commander C. Otter, joined company on the 
4th, fourteen days from the Downs ; and the Gorgon 
steamer was despatched to Stockholm. 
Junction of the Allied Fleets. — The French squad- 
ron of eight sail of the line have united with the division 
1 the English fleet cruising off Gottska Sando. On 
leaving Baro Sound, the allied squadrons will proceed 
further up the Gulf of Finland, near to Sweaborg, and 
thence to the Island of Ilogland. 
SoUNDINU BEFORE Hp.LSINQFORS. — B.UIOSUND, JUNE 0. 
—An opportunity for letters has just been signalled. 
Since our arrival the few inhabitants who resided on the 
island of Ronskay, where the lighthouse stands, have fled, 
owing, I fear, to the very thoughtless conduct, to use tho 
mildest expression, of one or two individuals who are 
quite old enough to know better, but whoso love of mis- 
chief is ever in the ascendant. The Gorgon took letters 
for us to Stockholm on Sunday evening. Tho Porcupine 
started at an early hour yesterday morning with the 
Master of the Fleet, Mr. Biddlecombe, on board, to sur- 
vey the waters close up to Helsingfors. I understand She 
i was fired upon once to caution her off, but tho survey 
! went on notwithstanding. There were nine line-of-battle 
ships within view, three Hying flag-officers’ flags, and two 
i line-of-battle ships moored across the cotrance of tho 
harbour. The fortifications are reported as looking rather 
! tough. Some excitement took place in the squadron last 
j evening, as a boat, supposed to be a gun-boat, was seen 
under full sail making its way through the islands for 
Helsingfors. Two boats immediately struck out from tho 
flag-ship in chase, and after a sharp run and some dodg- 
ing in amongst the small intricate channels they canto up 
with her. She was boarded and brought back, when sho 
was found merely loaded with fire-wood. The Bclloisle, 
hospital ship, arrived here last evening. 
Tub Operations before Helsingfors. — The following 
letter was written by an officer of high rank in the Baltic 
fleet, dated from Barosund,some twenty miles from Helsing- 
fors, June 5: — “ Tho shots that the different forts have fired 
at our ships weigh upwards of 261bs., equalling our 24-poun- 
ders. They look ridiculously small to our enormous shot, 
and I fancy that wounds or damage done by them would be 
by the splinters they cause. One shot passed through a crowd 
of twenty men, and did not hurt one till it struck a gun- 
carriage, and made splinters, which killed one man, and 
knocked another over. The wounds mado by the Minio 
rifle ball are very severe. Those wild do not get under 
fire are very impatient, but it seems very doubtful if we 
shall have any general action here. Tho Impericuse looks 
THE RABBIT WARREN.— Drawn by Harrison Weir. 
