22

THE RUSSIAN FLEET

After the ruin of this place the Fleet sailed backto Borgo ; and the inhabitants deserting their habi-tations on the approach of the Russ, the armylanded and joined the part that had marched uponViborg, proceeding in their conquests this summeras far as Abo. Soon after 5 large Holland flyboats,arriving at Helsingfors to load timber, were allburned, and the men either killed or wounded in abarbarous manner by Count de Buss, Rear-Admiralof the Russian galleys, merely through ignoranceand indistinction of the neutral flags and passes.This action was utterly unjustifiable, AdmiralApraxin gave him a severe reprimand and sent thereport to the Tsar, at that time returned to St.Petersburg to hasten his fleet of men-of-war to sea.Most of the English and Dutch officers in the lateexpedition were remanded back to man their ships ;and Captain Sievers, with several officers, orderedto Revel to take care of several ships arrived fromabroad.

A List of the Fleet of Men-of-War, 1713.

Flag Officers

Ships

Guns

Commanders

Vice-Admiral Cruys

Riga

52

Degruijter

Captain-Commodore

Scheltinga .

Viborg

52

Blorey

Captain-Commodore

Rays .

Poltava

54

Turnhoud

—

Katharina

60

Cosier

—

Pernau

52

Besemacher

—

Samson

32

Edwards

—

St. Paul

3 °

Wessel

—

St. Peter

3 °

Brant

—

Standard

24

Papagoy

—

St. Jacob

16

Falkenberg

Lesela

14

Trane

All the captains are to be removed, and