The bombardment of sveaborg, sketched by j. W. Carmichael. Illustration for the illustrated london news, 5 january 1856. Page 21. Read the iln
'the bombardment of sveaborg. This pair of illustrations was sketched by mr. Carmichael during the progress of the bombardment, and they show the destructive attack in terrific reality. The incident of the first engraving is briefly as follows:-" on sunday afternoon, august 12, h. M. Steam-vessel lightning, lieutenant james campbell, proceeded to the island of tona miola, with admirals dundas and seymour, and several other officers, for the purpose of seeing, if possible, the damage done to the rear of the town of sveaborg. The admirals and officers landed on the island, and were almost immediately seen from the russian batteries, who commenced firing on them, and also on the lightning. Their fire was most accurate, at a range of near 4000 yards; but it did not prevent the admirals from accomplishing their purpose, for they saw the work of destruction effected by our gun and mortar boats. "
the second illustration shows captain caldwell, h. M. S. Duke of wellington, superintending the gun-boats during the bombardment. The extent of the damage inflicted upon sveaborg by the bombardment may be estimated by the following article, which appeared in the helsingfors tidningar:
the danger is past, at least for the present. Sveaborg has ceased to smoke. The roar of the guns no longer deafens the ear, as during the eventful days of the 9th and 10th of august. No "invincible armada" meets the sight, the horizon is once more clear; but helsingfors is no longer itself. The feeling of security has not returned: life and excitement have vanished. Nothing more desolate can exist than the appearance of helsingfors during the last few days. The incessant moving and transporting of valuables, furniture, and effects of all descriptions, is beyond belief: the streets are filled w:th them, and the main road to the interior is one line of carts, waggons, and fugitive the scene baffles the power of language to portray. Helsrngfors and its inhabitants used to be known for their tranquillity and peaceable condition; but now they labour under that most contagious fever, the panic of fear. And what do we fear we hope our enemies have not lost all feelings of humanity and pity. They certainly have not, up to the present time. Spared private property, especially vessels of every denomination. Still it ought to be borne in mind that here the question involves the safety of a whole town a whole community--a small one, perhaps, but centering in itself the little all of the inhabitants and the deepest interests of the finland nation, a city that has a right to be respected, not only in the name of humanity, but in that of civilisation. It ought to be remembered that, as some deeds add imperishable laurels to a nation's and an individual's name, others leave a stain which for ever remains recorded in the future pages of history. Object Type: print. Date: 5 January 1856. Place of creation: London. Medium: wood engraving. Depicted Place: Suomenlinna. The Bombardment of Sveaborg, sketched by J. W. Carmichael - ILN-1856-0105-0021
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