THE BALTIC FLEET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 243, 28 February 1855, Page 6

THE BALTIC FLEET.

Kiel, November 9. No sailing orders have yet arrived. The j coaling of the steamers is completed. Admiral Napier has returned to the squadron. The ships were dressed to-day, and fired royal salutes in commemoration of the Prince of Wales' birthday. Th* departure from Nargen of Sir Charles Napier, with 12 screw-line-of-battle ships under his immediate orders, have been a source of infinite satisfaction to the residents of Revel, who, for the past three months, were in expectation that their city would be bombarded.. A.s soon as they were assured of the withdrawal from the Gulf of Finland of the main portion of the fleet, a seriet of Tejoicings commenced and festivities on a grand scale were given in honor of the peaceable termination of the present year's campaign. Although thehlockade of the Gulf of Bothnia has been raised, that of the Gulf of Finland will continue to he strictly enforced, by the squadron under the orders of Captain R. Watson, until it is forced to retreat to avoid being frozen in. Up to the present time the weather is unusually mild, but there is every prospect of the winter setting in with its accustomed severity; and now that the main portion of the fleet is safely moored in tbe harbour of this port, 600 miles distant from the enemy's territories, their remaining here is of no importance whatsoever, as no further operations will be. undertaken—hence they may just as well proceed home immediately. The detention is a mere matter of " conveiiance," determined on solely for the purpose of satisfying public opinion in England, which has been so unequivocally expressed at the contemplated return of the fleet at an early period of the season to its native shores.