EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 223, 20 December 1854, Page 3

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

England,:—Parliament was prorogued by the Queen i» person on the 12th of August to the 19ih of October. The obituary for the month of September includes the names of the King of Saxony, j j( ,nl 15e.ium>nt, and Viscount Jocelyn. The latter nobleman was attacked by cholera shortly after attending a review of tlie West Middlesex JV.liliLia, and died in a few hours. THE WAll. Tub Capi'UKu or Bomausuhd.—Tl»e conformation of the bay in front of Bomarsund may $c described as taking the shape of a half-circle, the diameter being about three miles; the laud around is high and well-wooded, and intersected by creeks and inlets, which break up into numerous islands.. Looking on to the batteries at the centre of this bay, they would bear about North. On the extreme east our men-of-war were moored, but as the troop transports and their attendant steam-ships came in, they gradually stretched across the mouth of the bay to the west shore, which had been selected as the place for landing two divisions of the army. At sunset, Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Admiral Chads, and Admiral Seymour, (commanders of the fleet) pas3ed through the troop ships, inspecting their position, and giving the orders for disembarkation. It was a splendid evening ; and the sun setting tinged the light fleecy clouds with a bright red and purple hue as the swarm of troop ships gradually passed over, playing the national airs of England and France. Thft forts on shore looked grim and silent, and lookouts could be observed gazing with astonishment at the unexpected scene. 9 p.m.—Signal to the whole fleet to gst out boats. Halfpast 10.—Amid the greatest silence the Termagant crept under the land of the western promontory and neured the shore within 200 yards, followed at intervals of a quarter of an hour by the Strornboli ami. Sphyux, two boats being ahead sounding the passage. The moon, being full, favoured this operation. August 9, a.m.—The Phlegethon (French), and Atnphion (English), steamed through an intricate passage, and moored themselves to the west of the earthwork'battery, where no guns could be brought to bear upon them. They then opened a terrific fire with shot and shell, which fell with beautiful precision, the trees which partly masked it, cracking and falling in all directions. In halt an hour they ceased and sent three boats to spike the guns. The men landed, and waving the French and English (lags, gave three cheers. It was seen, however, that the enemy had deserted his battery upon Gnding the guns useless in the unforeseen position which the ships had taken up. Sir Charles Napier, who, in the Bulldog had run round the Western shore to reconnoitre, made the sigiuil •' Well dune, Amphion.". The following is the list of ships moored oft" the forts :— English —Bull-dog, (dag of Sir C. Napier), Edinburgh, (llajj of Admiral Chads), Hogue, Ajax, Blenheim, Amphion, Termagant, Belleisle, (hospital ship), Penelope, Sphyux, Gladiator, Valorous, Vulture, Piumy, and Lightning. Troop transports, —Prince, Julia, Columbia, Cornelius Fox. Yachts—Mavis, Foam, Esineralda. Cutler—Sp irrowhawk. French — Inflexible (£hg ship), Braslau, Trident, Tage, Diiperre, St. Louis Algeriue, (hospital ship). Steain-ships—Phlegethon, Durieu Souffieuv, | Asmodce, Dam Imperial Yasdst. Of (he above English ships all are steam, with the exception of the Be!lei.sle. On tli; north side o.f the island are the Leopard, Arrogant, Odin, Hecla, Locust, Porcupine, Otter, Alban, and Cuckoo. As each regiment landed, they formed into order on the rocky shore, and marched through the thick pine forests, and over the heights, their =>-*yonets and red caps g!iste:iing in the sun. The centre wing of the avmy encamped for the night in and around a large village at a distance of less than two miles from the tower which they were destined to attack. This tower, from >ts highly elevated position, commands a great portion of the surrounding country, and here General B.uaguay d'rlilliers had determined to make the first ilssault, :is the capture of this, tho key to the long f,»rt, wsis secured. The soiiill steam-ships, wore employed all day in carrying provisions, ammunition, &c, to the shore. *'> the evening the Amphion moved ia front

of the battery that had been destroyed to prevent the enemy reinstating their guns. Early in the morning, the* marines had been obliged to alter their position slightly, four canisters of bullets having burst among them disturbing the repose of some of the officers and men by scattering under and about their pillows. At 2p. m. General Baraguay D'Hilliers with a large staff came into the encampment and minutely inspected the preparations. He is a fine, noble-looking soldier, and slands as erect and firm as a much younger man. He is 74 years of age, .and lost his left hand in the French warjjwith Eussia in 1812.

August 10, 10 a.m.—The Penelope, in attempting to cut between the islands of Prasto, got within range of the long forts,whereupot> they opened fire, and continued for two hours and a half. The Admiral at once ordered all boats to her assistance, and the Hecla and Pigmy came through the passage as well to attempt to tow her off. A signal to the Edinburgh and Valorous caused them immediately to commence throwing shells into the fort from 10 inch guns, which they did with impunity, being without the range of the forts. A little after 12 the Penelope was fortunately removed from her critical position, the Admiral having ordered all her guns to-be thrown overboard, when the Hecla at once towed her away. The battery fired some red hot shot by which two men were killed and three wounded. One shot passed completely through the ship, killing one man, then falling into a French boat killing another.

August 11.- —This morn in w the work of transporting heavy guns continued, and the sailors, with a band at their head, hauled away at these cumbrous weapons, marching through the village and to tlie.'camp, of the-Royal Marines. The first round tower kept up a fire at intervals upon them whenever in view. Sir Charles Napier, in a rough car, drove through the encampment, and with General Baraguay d'Hilliers, arranged the disposition of the forces. Men have been all day employed filling sand bags, and making gabions for the batteries of the long guns. The outpost of the Marines and Chasseurs have had some skirmishing", and six or seven of the enemy were captured. The men are thrown out within hailing distance, and they creep up the rocks, hiding behind trees and stones; they are not more than 200 yards from the enemy.

August 12.—-Two French soldiers were lulled and five wounded in the night,, by a clumsy error of mistaking: the relief picket. Last night the two men killed on board the Penelope were carried hy a torch light to a smalt island, and the funeral rites performed ; they werp silently buried. In the morning a boat's crew landed there and erected head-posts, and planted some small fir over their graves, and on a tree at the foot they carved the words, " Woodman, spare that tree."

August 13. —At 4 a.m. the first round fort opened on the Chasseurs as their field pieces were crossing the valley. Three French mortars and three long brass field peices were now planted in their batteries, the latter point-blank upon the fort, while the mortars were placed at the base of a gentle slope. The French now began the bombardment in reality. After half an hour's practice, they obtained a beautiful range, and kept up all day a tremendous cannonade, the shells bursting in ihe embrasures and over the roof, and the shot destroying the facings of the embrasures at every round.

Aujust 14.—The first round tower, which commands all the others, was captured at 9 this ■morning1, and 54 men mule prisoners. The loss of the Russians is found to he very considerable, and they are m-ich dispirited.

August* 15.—A.ftt:r the capture of the fort yesterday inoi'iiin<r by the Chasseurs, 1 crept up with others to witness the damage. The face of the tower on which the {runs played is completely knoeke<l away, and the continuous bombardment of 26 hours had nearly completed a breach. The embrasures are literally covered with the marks of rifle- bullets, levelled by the French ■ from behind every nook and liidinsrphice. Inside, the tort is large, and has sufficient room to work the guns well. A Russian officer, who was killed, was, at the lime, heini? removed. Their loss is estimated at something considerable, as they were continually obliged to ohiuiu reinforcements. At 2 p.m., tlie large fort opened upon this one, and a shell, bursting on the-tup'soon drove us away. The French hospital is in the village close by, denoted by a red flag. The English battery is most fou-

inidable, and erected behind sand bags of nine or ten feet in height.' The Royal Marine Artillery will commence early to-morrow. 8 a.m. —The English battery on shore is keeping up a rapid discharge of shot and shell on the second round tower, which is situate, looking from the bay, just over the-long fort. All the enemy's bombs are playing upon our battery. Half-past B.—A mortar has been landed at the spot where the Russian earthwoik battery was, and the French are working it against the west end of the long fort. 10 a.m.—The Edinburgh and Ajax are throwing in shell to harrass the enemy. It is generally expected that if the long fort does not surrender, it will be stormed on Thursday. The rapid capture of the first tower has entirely destroyed the illusion of granite walls being impregnable. The fort looked most solid and unapproachable; and yet a few hours' firing completed its destruction. 10 a.m.—The Edinburgh and Ajax are making good practice at Ul3 large fort. 11 a.m.—The Amphion and Bulldog opened fire. Captain Pelham, of the Bienheim, landed a large teninch gun on the earthwork battery. The crew rapidly raised a high defence, and kept up a steady aim on the west end of the Luge fort. They stood lire admirably in their expobed position; and T as the shells burst over them, they prostrated themselves for an instant, and again renewed assault. Incessant firing from the English battery oa the heights upon the second round tower. A smouldering lire had been burning for some hours in the first round tower, and fierce flames began to rush out from the embrasures, and at half-past 11 it blew up with a tremendous explosion, sending the granite and brickwork high into the air. The effect was magnificent, and the fort which a moment before on'one. of its sides had borne the appearance of strength and solidity, was now a -blackenedina.ss of ruin. The fire was the effect of a shell from the Russian fort upon their own tower to dislodge the French. Quarter to 12.—The Valorous and Hecla went in to support Captain Pel ham's gun. 12. — Every ship was dressed with flags,-and a royal salute fired in honor of the "Tete de Napoleon." The ships engaged paid their honors with shotted guns. Half-past 12.—-Asmodeo, Phlegethon and Durion joined in the bombardment, nnd the Cuckoo also. 1 "p-tn.-—The Bulldog and Driver engaged with the forts, and soon after the Arrogant came in from the north side of the island, and the attack became general. The embrasures of the long fort were now seen to be crushed and defaced, as our shells continued to burst in and. around them with unerring precision and deadly efieot. The fire becoming warm from the large fort,.the Asinodee ami Durien retired, leaving ibe Amphiou, Hecla, and Valorous on that side of the bay. 430 p.m.—Firing cease.i from the ships, mid the guns on the second tower were ;i!so seen to be silenced. 6 p.m.—They hung out ;t."ilajjof truce, whereupon our marines-and blue jackets coolly walked up and tix>k- r!5- men-; :hiu 3 officers prisoners. Captain Ramsay, iwssi the hatterv, had poured-in- so quick a discharge from his three thirty-two pounders, that he silenced this in twiv hours-and'a-hair", making a. large practicable breach in it.

At 12 at midnightalarge force was despatched to the fort to bring these prisoners to the shore. The Russian Commandant is a colonel in the army. As he passed the debris of the first round tiwer, he looked up, and exclaimed to an officer, " Oh, England, England, we did not expect this from you." They had breakfasted hi- the- I£ng;Uh camp, and were then marched three miles to the boats, under the charge-of Captain Saver, Lieutenant Bent, and a 'large party of marines, with loaded muskets. August 16. —At S o'clock this morning the prisoners, to the number of 1 IS, were put on board the Termagant, 10 a.m. —The Blenheim's guns and the Chas>euss' mortars- have been playing all the morning oil the principal battery.* Yesterday the ship shelled the fort at long range,-and I have not heard of ;vny casualties.

Russians Suffocated—Many Isnssians were su(located in the Bomarsund casemates by the sinoko of their own fire. After the surremler thero were ureas, rejoicings in Aland, anil prayers were oftereil in the churches f'tsr Qaeeu Victii'riii ami the Em pen-r Louis NapnU'ou- The fortress was ftiiiml itr uoiitaiti aiiunuuiiiuu uiul provisions for one year. Russian Fkisonbus. — Return of Russian prisoners einhaikt'tl in the undermentioned snips :'• -Hannibal, —ufii-ersy 9, pvivutes, 304,

wives of officere. 1, wives of men, 7, children, 2 __-oivl 323 ; Alters :—officers, 8, privates, 409 wives of officers, 2, wives of men I—total, sob'- R.val Wiiiiam ; officers, 16, privates, /31, wives of "officers, I, wives of men, S, children, S __t.,nl 784.; Termagant—officers, 3,. privates, li>t>. wives of officers, 3, children, 1 ; servant, llltotjil. 207; St Vincent —officers, 15, privates, 499, wives of men, 5 ; children, 2—total 52!. ' Grand total, 2235. Dffevt and Retreat of the Russians in A«-v — Constantinople, Aug. 31.— Schamyl has suVnri«eil the Russian army of Georgia, near Gori. where he destroyed 200 villages. The beaten "Russians have retired into their forts. Forty Russian ladies were carried off. General Bcbutoff has evacuated Bayazui, and blown in> the fortress. _ The Russian forces, despite their dear-bought successes at Bayasid and near Ears, have beconieVsheartened, and have not numbers to cope with the increasing anries of Turks and Tfheikcsses. REPORTED ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN ExGtISH \xd Russian Frigates in the Chinese Seas. —The folio wins? is sin extract of a letter dated C mum, July 23:—" We have received intelligence from' tbe Governor of Macao, who has fust arrived from Chusan, on the coast and about half way between this and Shanghai, that the English' and Russians met close to that port, amfthat, after a very hot engagement, the latter were completely* annihilated, Admiral Stir\ht" bavins: sunk* three Russian frigates. I cannot vouch for the truth of this, bntl have no doubt that some portion of it is true."— Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, Sept. 3. Russian "Fbigate Diana. —There is another report" of the capture of the Russian frigate Diana. The Cornwall Chronicle (Tan Diemen's Land) on. the authority of the captain of the schooner Acis, n >w reports that H. M. steam sloop Virago of 6 jruus has taken-the Russian ns a prize into San Francisco, the captured frigate not exchanging shots even with the steam sloop. Tue Melbourne Argiis however throws a doubt on the statement as the San Francisco papers of a later date than the reported capture, were still speculating on the whereabouts of the Russian frigate.