ahead of the two steamers, and before the town lay the vessels which they wished to carry off. The water now shoaled, and the 'Arrogant' could proceed no higher. Just then a battery opened on them. The 'Arrogant' accordingly anchored, swung broadside to the battery, and engaged the batteries, while the 'Hecla,' throwing shells at the enemy, steamed up to Eckness, and running alongside a barque, the only one of the vessels afloat, to the astonishment and dismay of the inhabitants, took her in tow, and carried her off in triumph. The two ships then returned down the river with their prize. On their way they met the 'Dauntless,' which had been sent up by the Admiral to ascertain the cause of the firing. On their way down, Captain Hall landed with his marines and some blue-jackets at one of the forts, and sending out the marines as skirmishers to keep the enemy at bay, hoisted one of the guns into his boat, and carried it off as a trophy. The 'Hecla' had one man killed—one shot passed through her side, and several through her funnel. The 'Arrogant' had two men killed. When the two ships rejoined the fleet on the 21st, they were greeted with the signal from the Admiral of "Well done, Arrogant' and 'Hecla." "

ATTACK ON FORT GUSTAVUSVARN, HANGO BAY,

22nd May.

THE Admiral, by signal, ordered the 'Dragon,' Captain Wilcox, to try the range of her guns on Fort Gustavusvarn, which she did, sending the fascines

and sandbags flying into the fort. The fort then began to return the fire. The 'Magicienne' was later in the day ordered to join in the attack, while Captain Hall, in the Hecla,' attacked another fort, that of Gustavus Adolphus. The 'Hecla's' guns told with considerable effect, but she was well out of range of those of the enemy. The Dragon' had one man killed, and one or two wounded, and was considerably damaged.

'ODIN' AND 'VULTURE' AT GAMLA CARLEBY,

1st June.

THESE two steamers belonged to Admiral Plum ridge's division, in the Gulf of Bothnia. Having destroyed the shipping and marine stores in various places along the coast, they arrived in the neighbourhood of Old Carleby. At 7 P.M., two paddle-box boats, two pinnaces, four cutters, and one gig-nine boats in all-containing 180 officers and men, carrying six 24-pounder howitzers and two 12-pounders, were sent away under the command of Lieut. Wise, of the Vulture,' who was accompanied by Lieuts. Madden and Burton, Marine Artillery, and by Dr. Duncan.

After a long pull, the boats anchored near some storehouses at the mouth of a narrow creek, when, with a flag of truce, Lieut. Wise went on shore, and communicated with the authorities.

On his return, the flag of truce was withdrawn, and some of the boats went ahead to sound, the others following closely. A narrow creek appearing, leading

to the town, Lieut. Carrington, in one of the boats, was ordered up it to explore. On passing some buildings, some soldiers were seen, and the boat was on the point of returning to report the circumstance, when a wall was thrown down, and a volley of musketry was poured on her, which killed Lieut. Carrington, Mr. Montague, mate, and Mr. Athorpe, midshipman, and wounded Lieutenant Lewis, R.M., and Mr. M'Grath, midshipman, and fourteen men. The boat, which was much injured, was taken in tow, and carried out to the 'Odin.' The other boats immediately opened fire, the gunner of the 'Vulture' firing no less than twenty-seven times before he fell, badly wounded.

One of the Vulture's' boats, with Mr. Morphy, mate, and 25 seamen, was disabled, and, drifting on shore, was captured by the enemy. In another of her boats one marine was killed, and six were wounded. By this time the enemy had brought five field-pieces into action; the remaining boats therefore pulled off out of range, having lost altogether 52 killed, wounded, and missing, in this most unfortunate, though gallant affair.

No fault was found with the way in which the expedition was commanded, while both officers and men behaved with the most perfect intrepidity and coolness.

Most of the crew of the missing boat escaped with their lives, and were made prisoners.

BOMARSUND,

21st June.

A SMALL Squadron, consisting of the 'Hecla,' 'Valorous,' and 'Odin,' under Capt. Hall, was sent in

to engage the batteries of Bomarsund, on the 21st of June. This they did in the most spirited manner, receiving a hot fire in return both from the forts and from riflemen posted in the neighbourhood; rifle bullets and shot and shell falling thickly on board. The British Blue jackets were, however, far better pleased to have a few shot sent among them, than to be doomed to play at long bowls, with all the firing on their side, as was sometimes the case during the war.

The casualties were very slight. After engaging for three hours, and setting some buildings on fire, the ships drew out of action.

It was clearly perceived that the fleet alone could not take the place. Bomarsund, indeed, might well be considered the Sebastopol of the Baltic; its evident object being to overawe the neighbouring kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark. Its destruction, therefore, was of the greatest importance. The allied fleet lay at anchor at Ledsund, about eighteen miles from Bomarsund, anxiously waiting for the arrival of the French troops promised for the service.

It was not, however, till the end of July that the first division reached Ledsund, brought in British ships-of-war. They were under the command of General Baraguay D'Hilliers. On the 5th of August the siege artillery arrived, and on the 8th more troops and marines were landed. The fortifications of Bomarsund lie on the eastern point of the largest of the Aland islands. The principal fortress commands a semicircular bay to the south, with intricate passages leading to it. At the northern side of the fort the land rises considerably, and the defence on that part consisted of three round towers, one on the highest ground

to the west, a second in the centre, and a third to the east. On the 8th of August, 11,000 men were landed on the north side of the island, in the short space of three hours, after the Amphion,' 'Phlegethon,' and 'Edinburgh' had blown a fort to atoms, and cleared the ground with their fire. The army then marched across the island, and encamped against the western fort. The English and French marines, with some seamen, were landed.

Batteries were immediately thrown up round the fortress, while thirteen ships of the allied fleets attacked from the sea. The towers were taken in succession, and the large circular fort, mounting nearly 100 guns, surrendered, with a garrison of 2000 men, soon after the effect of the fire from the ships had been felt. The effect of the shot on the fort is thus described by an eye-witness:—

"Three or four shots set the big stones visibly chattering, as I could mark by a pocket telescope. One block then fell out, then another, then a third, fourth, &c., &c.; and these were followed by an avalanche of loose rubbish, just as you see a load of gravel pour out from the end of a cart, when the backboard is removed." From this it was argued that the fortifications of Sebastopol would be as easily knocked to pieces; but experience showed that there was a vast difference in the two works. Bomarsund was somewhat of contract work. The sea towers of Sebastopol were as strong as hewn stone scientifically put together could make them.

Sir Charles Napier in his despatch speaks highly of the way in which one of the batteries on shore was worked by the officers and men under command of