execution another volley was fired, and a shell exploding
severely wounded the other leg of the crippled man, and
struck down and killed his aide-de-camp and nephew,
Mr. Giffard, midshipman, who, in this, his first battle
and his last, had never once left his uncle's side. The
flag was then struck. A boat was sent on shore to enable
the Russians to take possession of the prize. Just then
the Niger and Vesuvius came within range, and, from a
favourable distance opened upon the Russians, soldiers
and civilians, who, exulting over their victory, formed a
tumultuous crowd on the cliff. The fire of these vessels
did terrible execution among the Russians. An officer on
horseback—evidently a man of high rank—was struck,
and he and his horse tumbled over the cliff into the sea.
The dense mass on the rock, even the soldiers, dispersed
with shrieks and cries. But our ships could not
approach to where the Tiger lay without losing all means
of defence—she lay so near the foot of the steep rock.
And seeing that the Russians used their utmost endeavours
to remove the crew and the killed and wounded
from the burning vessel, the Vesuvius and the Niger
ceased firing, and took up a position without range.
Our sailors were taken to Odessa; the battery watched
the burning Tiger. At six in the evening she exploded,
and the two vessels proceeded to Odessa, and tried to
communicate with the shore. The Russians refused to
admit a flag of truce. Then the Vesuvius remained off
Odessa, watching the port, and the Niger went to carry
the bad news to the admiral. Admiral Dundas sent her
back, with the Furious, with orders to insist on communicating
with Odessa, and, at any risk, to ascertain the
fate of Captain Giffard. When the vessels returned,
the Furious sent a flag of truce, and this time the
commander of Odessa permitted the officers to land. They
were taken to the Lazaretto, where they saw Captain
Giffard. He was apparently doing well, but suffering
great pain from his wounded leg. The other leg had
been amputated at the hip-joint—a most dangerous
operation, which was most skilfully performed by the
doctor of the Tiger, whom the Russians permitted to
remain with Captain Giffard. He, as well as the other
prisoners, were kindly treated, and at first there were
hopes of his recovery, but he died a few days afterwards.

The combined fleets in the Baltic were, at the date of the
latest accounts, lying in Baro Sund, in the Gulf of Finland,
a few miles from the town of Sveaborg. They are stated
to consist of the following vessels:—Three-deckers:
Duke of Wellington, Royal George, St. George, and
Neptune. Two-deckers: Cumberland, Prince Regent,
Boscawen, Monarch, Hogue, Blenheim, St. Jean d'Acre,
Princess Royal, Edinburgh, James Watt, Ajax,
Cressy, Cæsar, Nile, Majestic, Austerlitz (French),
and fifteen other French vessels, seven of which are two-
deckers. Euryalus, Magicienne, Basilisk, Hecla, Porcupine,
Alban, Penelope, Driver, Pigmy, Lightning,
Belleisle (hospital ship), and Resistance (store ship).
On detached service, blockading:—Impérieuse, Arrogant,
Amphion, Desperate, Leopard, Valorous, Conflict,
Rosamond, Cruizer, Dragon, Archer, Gorgon, Odin,
Vulture, and Bulldog.

A gallant exploit was performed by two of our
cruisers, while Sir Charles Napier's fleet was at anchor
in the bay of Hango, in the entrance of the Gulf of Finland.
The Arrogant, commanded by Captain Yelverton,
had been detached from the fleet for a considerable
time, employed in reconnoitring the enemy's posts and
shores. While so employed, the Hecla, commanded by
Captain Hall, whose services in the China war are so
well known, joined her. Having heard of three large
merchantmen in an inlet about ten miles inland, the
two captains resolved to attack them. Captain Hall
having met a fishing-boat off the coast, resolved to turn
the two men in her to some account, and accordingly
made them understand his determination that they
should act as pilots. The two ships proceeded up a
narrow river, and on anchoring on the evening of the
19th of May, the enemy, from behind a high sand-bank,
in a thickly wooded place, fired upon one of the boats,
which was then pulling at a distance of from six to eight
hundred yards from the shore round shot also striking
the Hecla. Both ships beat to quarters, cast loose their
guns, loaded with shot and shell, which they poured
into the wood and against the sand barricade, whence
the enemy was quickly dislodged. The vessels were
not further molested that evening—the anchorage was
shifted for the night, and all made snug with watches
posted. At two next morning both ships again weighed,
the Hecla leading, both ships' companies standing by
their guns. After about three hours, quietly feeling
their way along the intricate navigation of the river, both
ships came suddenly within range of an enemy's battery.
The Hecla opened fire, which was quickly answered
from the fort; the promontory, upon which stood the
battery, was crowded with soldiers, with long grey
coats, and spiked steel helmets glittering in the sun.
While the battery was firing upon the Hecla, the Arrogant
let fly a broadside amongst the soldiery. A troop of
horse artillery, when the smoke cleared off, was observed
scampering away. A prolonged and heavy fire of musketry
now ensued from the wood, and Minié balls fell
thick on board both ships. The Arrogant now got
aground within twenty yards of the battery. However,
before attempting to haul the ship off, the enemy's guns
were dismounted by a broadside, and the ship was then
got off in safety. On passing the fort where the guns
had been dismounted, a terrible sight was witnessed—
gun-carriages blown to fragments, guns dismounted,
helmets and knapsacks strewed about without owners.
The town of Eckness now opened to view; and there lay
the ships, the objects of the expedition. The Arrogant
was obliged to anchor here, as the water was shallow.
The Hecla proceeded on; but another battery now
opened fire upon her. The Arrogant swung broadside
on, kept up a cannonade while the Hecla passed, firing
shells on the enemy as she did so, ran up alongside of a
barque, took her in tow, and steamed away with her, to
the horror of the inhabitants. When this little
expeditionary force was returning they were joined by the
Dauntless, which vessel had been sent on by the
commander-in-chief to ascertain the cause and source of the
firing, which was distinctly audible as the squadron
steamed into Hango-roads. The Hecla had several shot
through her funnel, steam-pipe, and hull, one shot
passing right through the ship's side. The round-shot
and shell went over the Arrogant. Both ships were
studded with Minié balls. The Arrogant had one man
shot through the heart, and a man wounded by a bullet
in the navel, which ball went through his intestines,
and passed out at his back. He died soon after. The
Hecla had one man shot, or drowned while wounded.
Captain Hall was resolved not to leave without carrying
back some military trophy. He gallantly landed with
his marines, threw them out as skirmishers, while
himself and a party of men hoisted one gun (an iron one)
into his boat, and placed it on board the Hecla. The
Arrogant and Hecla, with their prize in tow, joined the
fleet on the 21st. The commander-in-chief hoisted the
signal "Well done Arrogant and Hecla." The
flag-ship manned the rigging; her example was
followed by several other ships, all of whom gave the
heroes three hearty cheers. Captain Hall and
Lieutenant Reade of the Hecla were wounded, but not
dangerously.

On the 21st of May, four ships of the Fleet—the
Dragon, Magicienne, Basilisk, and Hecla, cannonaded
the Hango forts. The Dragon steamer, with her heavy
10-inch guns, began by firing at the main fort, Gustafssvœrd;
she kept up a smart and well-directed fire for
upwards of an hour and a half, when she was ordered
off. She was placed in an admirable position, and could
rake the whole length of their guns, leaving only two
from the fort which could bear on her in return. The
people on board could see every shot as it told, sending
the sand-bags about their ears, and clouds of dust; no
doubt killing numbers, as the ramparts were crowded
with troops in the morning. The Dragon had one
killed and one wounded. Eight shots told—one passed
very near her shell-room. The Magicienne was sent
in to her relief, and partly engaged the masked battery
on the mainland, partly the fort Gustafssvœrd. She had
no accident. The men in the fort were seen employed
in carrying off the killed and wounded.

Admiral Plumridge, who has been cruising in the
Gulf of Bothnia, has destroyed the Russian dockyards