Vol. IV.— No. 89.] 
Saturday, September 9, 1851. 
[Gratis. 
TIIE FIELD OF WAR 
OUR WOODEN WALLS. 
THE BALTIC FLEET. 
Dantztc, Monday. 
On Saturday evening one of the forts at Bomarsund was 
blown up — the conflagration was visible thirty miles off. 
The new fort was burning two days aud nights. Eight 
hundred French troops are dead. A Russian steamer, with 
flag of truce, was at anchor amidst the English fleet at Led- 
sund, on Saturday. On 20th August a largo steamer came 
out of Helsingfors and made for Croustadt. She was chased 
by the Euryalus, and returned to Helsingfors. 
DESPATCHES FROM CAPT. SCOTT, R.N. 
(Enclosure No. 1 Sir Charles Napier's Letter No. 410) 
Her Majesty a skip Odin, Led Sund, A ug. 25. 
Sir, — I have the honour to state that, in pursuance of your 
orders, dated the 18th of August, I proceeded with her 
Majesty's ships Odin, Alban, Gorgon, and Driver, under 
my command, towards Kumblinge, and the islands east of it. 
Rather than return to your flag without intelligence, I 
resolved to attempt a passage to Abo, aud on Monday 
at daylight, leaving the larger ships at anchor, I took all 
the masters in the Alban, surveyed and buoyed off a pas- 
sage for ten mile3 to Bergham, and then returned for the 
other ships ; but, the Gorgon grounding, delayed us for that 
night. 
On Tuesday we made our way in safety into the com- 
paratively main open track to Abo, beyond Bergham ; at 
two p.m. observed a small steamer watching us, and at 
three p.m., several gun-boats moving a body of troops from 
the point (one and a half mile to the north-west) up to the 
chain across the narrow entrance to the harbour. 
Having approached to within 3,000 yards, the Alban 
stood in to sound. The entrance of the harbour was closed 
by two impediments ; the one in front appeared to be a chain 
laid on a floating platform, the other of stakes and booms, 
betweeu which the gun -boats were stationed at regular inter- 
vals, and the steam vessels (four in number) were under the 
shelter of the points. 
About four p.m. the Alban fired the first shell, which 
burst over one of the gun-boats. I then commenced firing, 
and was followed at intervals by Gorgon and Driver, but 
with little or no effect that we could discover, except that 
of fully answering my purpose in drawing a return from 
the masked batteries and gun-boats. Only one of the former, 
at the end of the boom, mounted a gun or guns of large 
calibre and long range, but which was concealed from our 
view by a point of land. # The others, three in number, about 
one mile to the west of the boom, as far as we could judge, 
did not in any one case mount more than five, or less than 
three small guns. A fort, of apparently eight or nine large 
guns, at a distance, constructor! to enfilade both passages, 
fired repeatedly, but the shot invariably fell a very short 
distance beyond the south eud of Little Beckholm. 
As my object was not to attack Abo, but to examine 
its defences, I contented myself with firing a shot occasionally 
at the gun boats, or whatever looked like a masked battery. 
Iu the meantime Commander Ottor, in the most zealous and 
gallant manner, after going ns close as it was prudent iu the 
Albau, pulled in with his gig, sounding just within range of 
the gun-boats and batteries, which were all the time keeping 
up a constant fire. 
The sum of the observation I have been able to obtuiu 
with his assistance, and that of Commanders Cracroft and 
Hobart, nmouuts to this — seventeen row boats, two gnus 
each, and about twenty oars ou each side, four steam-vessels 
(all small), two having the flag with cross anchors iu it, and 
another, were observed steaming away through the channel to 
the eastward of Beckholm. Three (if not four) masked 
batteries and another, I think, in course of construction, for 
the position of which I refer you to the very clear delineation 
executed by Commander Otter. 
The channel appears to be very narrow, and the thick 
woods were evidently full of soldiers. Wo learnt that our 
arrival had been anticipated (as we expected, knowiug that 
we had been watched by a steamer for some days), aud that 
four thousand additional troops had been sent on the pre- 
vious day, and five thousand more were expected to arrive 
on the following day ; that thore were six steamers, five 
small and one large (the latter we did not see), and eighteen 
boats and two guns, and eighty men, besides soldiers in 
each. 
I have, &c., Francis Scott, Captain. 
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., 
Commander-in-Chief, &c. 
OUR FRENCH ALLIES. 
The French steamer Souffleur, with General Bodisco and 
a number of Russian officers ou board, took in coals at Elsi- 
nore on the 26th ult., and proceeded on her way the follow- 
ing day. 
Paris, Sept. 6. — General Bodisco, who was taken prisoner 
at Bomarsund, has arrived at H&vre. 
At Bomarsund, during the action, there was one Frenchman 1 
who did good service. He crept ou his face and hands under I 
the fort, his only protection being a large stone. Ho was 
there for sixteen hours, aud fired no less than 200 rounds i 
of ammunition, and killed about 1 50 Russians. According | 
a3 a fellow would put out his head, pop went the French- ' 
man's gun. The French are dead shots at 600 yards. 
SAILING OF TROOPS. 
The 21st Fusiliers arrived at Malta ou the 21st, and sailed j 
for the East. 
Although it was contemplated to withdraw the 10th Royal 
Hussars from the East Indies for service in Turkov, tho idea 
is abandoned, and tho corps will remain its duo time in the 
East Indies. Tho draft of this and other regiments aro 
waiting ready to embark for Bombay per tho Earl of Bal- 
carras. 
TROOPS ON THE MARCH OR UNDER ORDERS FOR 
FOREIGN SERVICE. 
Orders have boeu issued for 100 men and two officers of 
the 97th, and fifty men and twooffleersof the 88th, to embark 
at Portsmouth to join tho service companies of their regi- 
ments iu Turkey. 
SOLDIERS WIVES AND FAMILIES. 
Collection. — We rejoice that the recommendation of tho 
genoral assembly is at length to be carried into effect, in 
tho collection to be made iu all tho churches and chapels 
belonging to the Church of Scotland. In Edinburgh alone 
about 200 families have been for several moutliH receiving 
weekly allowances proportioned to their need ; aud we agree 
with the general assembly in Iheir delivemuoo “ That it 
would bo a disgrace to the country that the wives and 
children of those under arms in defence of our national 
honour should bo reduced to tho necessity of being supported 
as paupers.” Tho appeal to our patriotic and Christian 
benevolence cannot fail to receive a generous response. By 
anticipation, some of the congregations in British America 
havo already modo liberal collections for this national 
objeot . — Edinburgh Courant. 
THE TURKS AND RUSSIANS. 
(Continual from page 831.) 
Complete Rejection op tiie Conditions op Peace.— 
Berlin, Sept. 1. — “Genoral Count Benkendorff, who has ar- 
rived at Putbus from St. Petersburg, has carried thither to tho 
Kiug tho news that Russia replies by an absoluto refusal to 
the last propositions of tho Vienna cabinet supported by 
that of Berlin.” On Saturday last Princo Qortaohakoff, tho 
envoy, having ascertained that no relaxation of tho French 
and English conditions of poaoe was to bo obtained, 
presented a copy of a note addrcsstiad to him by Count 
Nesselrode, the effect of which was that the Czar would not 
negotiate on tho basis offered by tho Western Powers. 
Tho Monitcur states from Bucharest that nearly tho eutiro 
Turkish army has passed into Wulluchiu. 
A letter from Bucharest states that, so enthusiastic was tho 
reception given to Omar PaHhu on his entering that place, 
that his carriage was literally covered with flowers thrown 
to him as he passed. 
Her Majesty has bestowed on Omar Pasha tho cross of 
Grand Commander of tho Bath. 
J assy, Aug. 15th. — On tho 2nd of Sept, tho head-quarters 
of Prince Gortschakoff will be transferred from this place on 
to the Russiun territory. Tho Russian Government has given 
SINOPE, BLACK SEA, AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT, 
