same ship on fire." On the night of the 26th June, as
we learn from a despatch by Admiral Dundas, Captain
Parker, of the Firebrand, nearly surprised the Cossack
guard at the entrance of the Danube, but only actually
caught the officer in command. "On the 28th and 29th,
assisted by the Fury, he completely destroyed the strong
and well-built batteries at the Sulina. The lighthouse,
the private houses, and the quarantine establishment,
were untouched; but the fear of damaging them by the
use of powder and fire rendered the work of destruction
of the batteries very severe and heavy to the crews of
the Firebrand and Fury." One officer was slightly
wounded—Lieutenant Jull, of the Marines. Non-
official reports speak of the capture of six Russian
vessels, of the repair and occupation of the forts "by the
English;" and of a survey of the Russian coast as far
as the Dniester.

The latest advices from the Black Sea communicate an
unfortunate occurrence, the death of Captain Parker of
the Firehrand. On the 7th inst., after the capture of
Sulina, he was ascending the river in his gig, and at
some distance behind was another boat of the same
vessel, and Captain Powell, of the Vesuvius, in a third.
The excursion seems to have been entirely unconnected
with any warlike object, and so completely was the
presence of an enemy unanticipated that the
chaplain and surgeon of the Firebrand were in the
boat with their captain. As the first boat came
abreast of a stockade, supposed to have been long
deserted, a shower of musket-balls was poured in
from an unseen enemy. No one was struck; but
a ball passed through the surgeon's coat, and one or two
others narrowly escaped. The boat immediately put back
to obtain the assistance of the others, and Captain
Parker and his companions were disposed to treat the
matter very lightly, laughing at the Russians for not
being better shots. Captain Powell with the other boats
came up almost immediately; the sailors rowed for the
stockade, and Captain Parker sprang on shore to lead
the attack. He had made but a few steps when he was
struck through the heart with a musket ball and fell
dead. Captain Powell then took the command, and in a
few minutes had driven the enemy from their stronghold.

The exchange of 180 officers and sailors lately forming
the crew of the Tiger has taken place at Odessa, but
unfortunately the number of Russians to be exchanged
fell short of the English by 30, and accordingly so many
of the crew of the Tiger remained in captivity.

By the latest accounts from the Baltic it appears that
the combined fleets remained at Barosund and off Sweaborg
till the 18th instant, when they sailed for the Aland
Isles. The Hecla, Valorous, and Odin have successfully
bombarded Bomar Sound, Aland Islands. On the afternoon
of the 21st of June, the Hecla leading, and followed
by the Valorous and Odin, pushed their way up a tortuous
and winding passage until they came within view of the
principal battery, a bomb-proof casemated structure,
mounting about 80 guns, on the sea front; a round
tower, mounting about 36, also helped to defend the
place. As the steamers cautiously approached, knowing
how the enemy take advantage of the woods, shells
were fired into them in order to dislodge any troops
that might be posted there in ambuscade. The ships
commenced operations by firing round shot, which, falling
short, they all three closed with the forts, which did
not return the fire for some time. As soon as the cannon
range was obtained, the steamers commenced firing
shells from their 10-inch guns, all of which told with
great effect. During the fire the steamers drifted, either
from the current or light wind, and when about 560
yards off the wood a masked battery suddenly commenced
firing shells upon them. The Valorous and the Odin
twice subdued the fire of this battery, and twice the
enemy returned to their guns. After an hour's vigorous
cannonade the fire was completely silenced. The Dragon
hauled off from this battery, as she had no broadside
guns to oppose them. The two forts all the time maintained
an uninterrupted fire upon the steamers, but none
of the shot struck, as the vessels were out of range. A
lot of cavalry or horse artillery next showed themselves,
but they were soon dispersed by throwing a few shells
into their position. About half-past 9 o'clock, p.m., the
ships anchored and began shelling the forts, which was
kept up till past midnight. In the height of the shelling,
a fire burst out in the rear of the main fort, and a second
conflagration blazed out in the round fort. The steamers
received some injuries from the field-pieces in their
upper works, one going through the starboard paddle-
box of the Hecla. A most gallant act of Mr. Lucas,
mate of the Hecla, deserves to be recorded to his credit:
a live shell fell on board the Hecla; all the men were
ordered to drop flat on the deck, to endeavour to save
themselves from its explosion. Mr. Lucas ran forward,
seized the shell with its burning fuse and threw it
overboard. For this act, we are glad to learn, Mr. Lucas
has been promoted.

On the following morning (the 22nd of June) a
portion of the British fleet under the commander-in-
chief, and the French squadron under Admiral Parseval-
Deschènes, sailed from Baro Sound up the Gulf of
Finland. On June 24th they anchored off Lesskar Island,
thirty miles from Cronstadt. They left Lesskar on the
26th June, and steamed up to the Tolboukin lighthouse,
within eight miles of Cronstadt. Here they came to an
anchor. The Arrogant, Desperate, and Impérieuse,
under the orders of Captain Watson, with the Magicienne,
Penelope, and Lightning, under Captain Sullivan,
steamed in-shore, to take soundings, but keeping
out of gun range. On the 27th, a Russian steamer
showed her nose outside the Tolboukin lighthouse; but
seeing the Dragon getting up the steam, she put up her
helm and ran under the outermost battery. On the
29th, Admiral Chads, Admiral Parseval-Deschènes,
Lord Paget, and Captain Keppel, embarked in the
Driver, and steamed up the north side of the island, in
order to ascertain the practicability of an attack from
that quarter. It was thought the ships could get near
enough to shell the town without much damage to the
ships. The cholera had broken out in the fleet,
apparently while it was before Cronstadt. Two gunners of
one ship were buried on the 29th June, a marine on the
30th, and several were ill. It was supposed that the
disease was partly caused by the water, which is fresh;
as the men liked the water alongside better than the
distilled water. It is stated that diarrhœa of a bad kind
had broken out. Thirty had died in the Austerlitz,
seven in the Duke, and a few in other ships.

A large body of French troops embarked on the
15th inst. at Calais for the Baltic, on board of English
ships of war. They are the first division, 10,000 strong,
of a force of 30,000, to be commanded by General
Baraguay d'Hilliers. They formed part of the troops
encamped at Boulogne, and the Emperor arrived there
on the 9th. Next day he reviewed the troops on the
race-course, which lies between Boulogne and Calais;
and, after the usual inspection, addressed to them the
following speech:—"Soldiers—Russia having forced us
to war, France has armed five hundred thousand of her
children. England has called out a considerable number
of troops. To-day our fleets and armies, united for
the same cause, dominate in the Baltic as well as in the
Black Sea. I have selected you to be the first to carry
our eagles to those regions of the North. English
vessels will convey you there; a unique fact in history,
which proves the intimate alliance of the two great
nations (peuples), and the firm resolution of the two
governments not to abstain from any sacrifice to defend
the right of the weak, the liberty of Europe, and the
national honour. Go, my children! Attentive Europe,
openly or secretly, offers up vows for your triumph;
our country, proud of a struggle which only threatens
the aggressor, accompanies you with its ardent vows;
and I, whom imperious duties retain still distant from
the scene of events, shall have my eyes upon you; and
soon, in rebeholding you, I shall be able to say, They
were worthy sons of the conquerors of Austerlitz, of
Eylau, of Friedland, and of Moskowa. Go, may God
protect you!" Cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" broke
from the soldiers; and several noncommissioned officers
having received decorations from the Emperor, the
whole marched off to Calais. The embarkation of the
French troops at Calais was most successfully performed,
amid great enthusiasm. The men carried themselves
with gallant bearing,—singing "Partant pour le Baltic,"