21 OCTOBER 1854, Page 3

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TEE CRIMEA. —The latest authentic accounts from Balaclava extend to the 3d October. They consist of the usual supply of letters to the jour- nals, and a statement in the Monfteur derived from the despatches of General Canrobert. Thus they supply the history of the five days subse- quent to the latest despatch of Lord Raglan. After the troops had rested a short time, they were sent forward to- wards the heights that overlook Sebastopol, while the heavy guns of the British siege-train were landed at Balaclava. This was accomplished by the Sappers and Miners and Artillerymen, powerfully aided by the sailors of the men of war. The guns were put on shore upon the same launches which had been used at Old Fort ; and when they touJhed the beach, the sailors hauled away at them, and dragged them rapidly up tie heights.

Strings of soldiers passed the cannon-balls from hand to band. The gun- powder, shell-cases, and balls, were then transported in carts to the.

higher ground. These operations occupied some time ; but on the 3d, forty-two eight-inch guns and mortars were carried to a spot within a mile of the intended batteries ; and sixteen others, with sixty 32-pound- ers, were speedily to follow. It is estimated that, together with the French guns, there would be 240 cannon levelled at the defences of Se- bastopol.

The position of the Allies, as nearly as we can ascertain it from the not very clear statements before us, ran from the heights above the river Tehernaya, overlooking the Inkermann ravine, to the bays on the extreme left near Cape Chersonese. The Guards and Highlanders occupied the extreme right, a position strong for defence, and covering the right flank.

To their left were the Third, Fourth, Second, and Light Divisions ; con- necting themselves with the Turks and the French, who formed the left line of attack. General Canrobert was landing his siege-guns from the three most Westerly bays of the Chersonese. The Moniteur states that the French are divided into two corps, under Generals Foray and Rds- quet ; the former undertaking the siege-works, the latter acting as a ,corps of observation, with the Turks as a reserve. The French will attack on

the left, "from the sea to the Southern fort ; the English army will have the right, from the Southern fort to the ruins of Inkermann." Balaclava

was held by one thousand British Marines ; and the cavalry, augmeuted by three additional British dragoon regiments, were picketed near at hand. The base of operations, therefore, and the rear, were perfectly se- cure against any operations which Prince Mcnschikoff may direct. Certain "proposed orders" to be issued to our troops, and relating to the opening of the trenches, have been published. They direct that working-parties should assemble at given points, and proceed by night to the work, silently, but with the greatest energy in carrying it on. A guard would be stationed near, under orders to repel any sortie made by the enemy to interrupt the work. The spirit of the order is shown in this paragraph- " The guard will be posted in rear of the working-party, and near to it, if possible, under cover from the fire of the place; if not, they must lie down in order of battle, with accoutrements on, and each man with his &clock close by him ; one party, not less than one-third of the forces, absolutely on the alert all through the night, taking it alternately, ready for an imme- diate rush on the enemy. A sortie is out and on the works in a very short time, and therefore the guard must be in immediate readiness to attack it without hesitation: nothing is so easily defeated as a sortie if charged without delay." Some idea of the land defences of Sebastopol may be derived from the following extract of a letter by the special correspondent of the Times, dated September 27. "The city is quite visible below us. Across the mouth of the har- bour, near the most Easterly of the creeks, there is placed a two-decker, painted so as to look like a three-decker, with springs on her cable, and her broadside turned towards our position. On the Northern side is visible a large circular work, with three tiers of guns—Fort Constantine; and more inland there is another large fortification, called the Star Fort. A round tower of whi e stone, on an eminence, over the ex- tremity of the harbour, promises to prove very troublesome. Underneath it are two forts and large barracks; but we could see no soldiers in them. On the side near us there is a very large fortification, with curtains running in- land, a semicircular bastion, and some rudimentary earth-works—all outside the town. The people are working very hard at these defences, and their progress was quite visible today." It is doubtful whether the South of Sebastopol is completely "in- vested," and whether a Russian force could be thrown into or thrown out of the place. Some of the water-supplies have been seized ; and the ba- lance of evidence favours the belief that the place is invested on the Southern and Eastern sides of the inlet.

For the tows subsequent to the 3d instant, we are forced to accept the telegraph.

" Marseilks, Thursday.—The Phammond has arrived here, with General Thomas on board, convalescent. She brings advices from Constantinople of the 10th, and Balaelava 8th October. The siege-works were covered with in- trenchments against attacks from without. Prince Mensebikoff had not made any offensive movement. The siege-material amounted to 400 guns.

The firing was shortly to commence. It was thought that a breach would be made in forty-eight hours. Balaclava was perfectly fortified. The Porte sends 10,000 men there, the half of which embarked on the 9th."

" Vienna, Thursday, Oct. 19.—Advices from Sebastopol of the 16th report that nine batteries of the first lines were mounted on the 8th. Large Rus- sian reinforcements were going to the Crimea by forced marches. The bom- bardment with howitzers commenced on the 11th. The Allies had already received considerable reinforcements."

The reinforcements received by the Allies in the Crimea since the battle of the Alma have been—on the British side, the Scots Greys, and the Fifty-seventh Regiment of Foot, landed at the Rateha ; and the Fourth and Sixth Dragoons, at Balaclava. The British cavalry were about 2000 strong. The French received 8000 or 9000 additional infantry at the liatcha, and were expecting 5000 cavalry at Cape Chersonese.

The performances of the Arrow, one of the new steam gun-boats carry- ing the Lancaster gun with a range of three miles, have attracted atten- tion. On the 27th September and subsequent days, the Arrow tested her capabilities against the forts at the entrance of the harbour. One corre- spondent says that her first three shots passed "far over the whole place " ; but the range having been precisely taken, in three hours "the nearest battery was completely destroyed." Another correspond- ent states that "one of her shells alighted on the roof of one of the buildings in Fort Constantine, as we could plainly see from the enormous cloud of dust and smoke it raised when it fell." A third correspondent describes the falling of one of her shells on the roof of a building "not unlike a church," on which for a minute or two is seen "the white smoke of a bursting shell ; the smoke clears away and the roof is gone. With our glasses a number of persons can be seen run- ning out of the house below. Other shells burst high in the air ; some strike the earth, but fall short of the wall." A fourth correspondent, however, speaks of the firing as experimental ; admits that the gun has an "enormous range," but calls "the flight wide and inaccurate." He adds, that as the Arrow "was sent out with only twenty-five shells, it is said she could not repeat her experiment."

The most recent letters, written from Balaclava and the heights before Sebastopol, afford glimpses of some of the scenes at the halt of the rear- guard on the 24th on the Belbek, at Khuta Mekenzia, and in the camp of the besiegers.

Towards the evening a few white houses, surrounded with vineyards and gardens and a flowing stream, were distinguished, and proved to be the vil- lage of Belbek ; where we halted for the night. The first rush after arms were piled was, of course, to the water. The wise then went in search of wood to kindle the bivouac fires ; the foolish dived into the in- terminable vineyards, and gorged themselves with their luscious but dangerous fruit ; whilst the French experienced an irresistible curiosity to ascertain the nature and respective value of the goods contained in the houses. The latter were pleasantly built and most comfortable. An avenue of poplars, flanked by vineyards and vegetable gardens, led to most of the houses, which were chiefly one story high, and well furnished. A variety of out-houses extended to the back. In the greater number of these houses the furniture and everything of the slightest value had been destroyed by their owners. Fragments of mirrors, of upholstery, and even ripped-up feather beds, strewed the waxed oak floors. In others, on the con- trary, everything remained (though not long) intact. One of these houses I entered, and discovered a party of French comfortably installed. The fur- niture of this unfortunate house was even luxurious. The drawing- room was adorned with a splendid pier-glass, in which

chal de logis " of the Chasseurs d'Afrique was complacently admir- ing himself, and inviting his ami Francois, of the "Legion,' to the same agreeable occupation. Francois, of the "Legion," was, however, half asleep on a stately velvet-covered couch, little dreaming on what a slight thread hung, if not his existence, at least his equilibrium; for a sly little Zouave was industriously occupied in cutting open the mattress of the sofa, no doubt with some very laudable aim in view. In another room was discovered a piano, which afforded intense delight to the surrounding soldiers. A jovial-looking little "caporal" presided at this harmonic meeting, as- sisted by a numerous if not a select circle of admirers. The presi- dent was energetically hammering away at the French air of "Drin, drin," familiar in England as the Drum Polka. The numerous audience gaily i accompanied this classic composition by a song, in which the matrimonial misfortunes of a certain "lieutenant" were graphically and elegantly described. An enterprising party had discovered, in the mean- while, the road to the cellar; which proved fatal to the comfort of the little assembly installed in this comfortable mansion, for this piece of intelligence rapidly spread, and very soon reached the discriminating ears of the com- manding officer, who very properly considered it an unreasonable moment to indulge in any bacchanalian excesses. The edict then went forth that the house should be immediately cleared of its visitors and devoted to the flames. Instantly groups issued from all the doors, laden with a startling variety of objects. Some had chairs in their hands, others articles of bedding ; and the sly little Zouave, who had completely succeeded in dis- covering no hidden treasures concealed in the sofa, and had most effectively aroused Francois of the Legion, now issued triumphantly from the portal, staggering under the immense weight of the drawingroom pier-glass. The ultimate fate of this to a tramping soldier most useful article, as well as that of the piano, I regret my inability to record. Very soon a column of smoke, followed by a vivid flame, issued from the devoted house, and bril- liantly illuminated the darkness of the night. The British troops, as well as the French, were soon engaged in preparing their evening meal, and gra- dually the din and bustle of the camp was hushed. At length nothing broke the calm stillness of the night, save the "All's well" of the sentinels, pronounced in every brogue and patois of our fair and distant homes [Further on, the writer experienced and illustrated that resistless temp- tation to gather fruit which he had already mentioned as besetting the troops.] The first object on the road was a little farm-house, skirted by a beautiful little vineyard. Being overpowered with thirst, I forgot all pru- dence, and tasted here, for the first time, the Crimea grape. Imagine to yourselves 0 sober matter-of-fact people at home, dusters of luscious blue transparent grapes, such as would honour even Chatsworth and Lance would have delighted to portray. But imagine, also, the dark, dismal sentiment of remorse and dread which haunted me for hours after I had swallowed some half-a-dozen immense bunches. I could now understand with what delight and imprudence our soldiers actually gorge themselves with this delicious fruit ; for the palate, once excited, craves, as in my instanee, to be satiated. —Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle.

Lord Raglan and his Staff [in the flank march] rode on, as is their wont, well in advance, and reconnoitered Sebastopol. They were close to the N. E. Fort ; but though the soldiers must have made them out to be the Staff, no shot was fired on them, notwithstanding that they were well within range. The French seemed bent on taking ground to the left all during the day. The Turks, of whom I reckoned seven battalions, were inclined to follow their example. By the by, I must correct an error. Our march was con- tinuous, but by different routes ; the artillery proceeding by a difficult road, which allowed only one horseman to ride by the side of each gun. The Duke of Cambridge's baggage was actually within gunshot of Sebastopol for a quarter of an hour. The carriage of Prince ltlenschikoff fell-into our hands [in the rout at Khutor Mekenzia] : in it were found his grand orders as a Great Prince of the Russian empire, and they are now in the hands of Captain Peel. A Rus- sian artillery-officer, who was found in one of the carriages, was in a very jovial mood, and had evidently been making rather free with the bottle. Plenty of champagne was discovered among the baggage, and served to cheer the captors during their cold bivouac that night. A great number of very handsome hussar jackets, richly laced with silver, and made of fine light blue cloth, which had never yet been worn, were also taken, and sold by the soldiers for sums varying from 208. to 308. a piece. Fine larg winter cloaks of cloth, lined with rich furs, were found in abundance.—Correspondent of the Times.

The lighthouse of Cape Cherson has fallen into our hands, and is lighted up by English sailors. The Russians had left it in darkness ; but a party of blue-jackets dashed at it on the 26th, and compelled the Russian lighthouse- keeper to illuminate it. They have kept fast hold of it ever since, for the Russians cannot get at it without coming under the fire of our ships. Jack is in great delight at this little feat.—Idem.

The Russians in Sebastopol found out the range of the Third and Fourth Division. The practice of the Russians was not bad, and most of the shells burst in a small quarry about fifty yards in front of the Fourth Division. The range was about 1800 yards. A few round shot passed over the divi- sion' and one fell in the midst of the Sixty-eighth Regiment ; but no one was hurt. The men looked upon the whole firing as a spectacle got up for their especial amusement, and expressed their approbation or disapproval ac- cording to the merits of the ease. If a shell burst within twenty yards of the group, it was hailed with a universal "Bono Johnny " ; but if, on the contrary, the projectile chanced to burst in the air (as often occurred), the men appeared even disappointed.—Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle.

Our engineers have been daily engaged reconnoitering; but they go out, to my mind, far too cock-haty, and so at once attract attention. They should take a lesson from the French. Towards the evening, four Zouaves were seen walking as it were reeling drunk towards the walla of Sebastopol, just above the ship which had so long annoyed us. The Russians, thinking they were a sure catch, let them come quite close, and then sent out half-a. dozen armed men to bring them in ; upon which the Frenchmen took to their heels at a railway pace, followed by the shots of the hopeful Russians,

and reached their camp safety, possessed of all the information they re- quired as to the position and strength of the several forts and ships against which they are especially to act. These pretended friends of Bacchus were shrewd engineer-officers seeking important knowledge.—Correspondene of the Morning Post.

Falling back upon the letters of the 20th and 21st September, written on the battle-field of the Alma both by men and officers, and numerously crowding upon us in the columns of the journals from all parts of the country, we still find the most interesting reading. Lieutenant Annesley, Scots Fusilier Guards, to his Mother the Countess .Annesley.—" We were about thirty paces then from the ditch, and the fire was so hot that you could hardly conceive it possible for anything the size of a rabbit not to be killed. I kept on shouting, 'Forward, Guards !' to the few men that were not swept away by the —, when a ball came and stopped my mouth most unceremoniously. It entered the left cheek, and went out at the mouth, taking away the front teeth. I instantly turned to the rear, feeling it was about 100 to 1 against my ever getting there, as the bullets were whizzing round me like hail. I tripped, and thought it was all over with me. However, I got up again with the loss of my sword and bear-skin and at last got into the river, and out of fire. I had then another struggle on the other aide, where grape and round shot were ploughing up the ground, and shells bursting ; however I stumbled on, and at last got out of fire, and sat down among the wounded and dying soldiers and horses. The doctors gave me some water, and then were obliged to go to others ; so when they left, I sat there for above half an hour before I could find out where our hospital was. At last an officer of the Tenth, though wounded himself, gave me his arm, and took me to the Fusilier Hospital ; where I got some water, and sat down to bathe my face. . . . . Poor B— came to see me in the hovel we were lying in, and burst into tears when he recognized me, I was so altered. Of course, one cannot have an ounce of lead through one without swelling, and my face is like a good- sized turnip ; my mouth much larger than I have any desire to see it in future. I do not suppose the ball could' have hit me in any other part of the head where it would not have been attended with more danger. A most summary dentist the ball was, to take out all my teeth at one smash, except four grinders (there was a decayed one, which I hope has gone with its brethren, but I can't make out yet if it has or not). There is a good bit of tongue gone also ; but the doctors say that will not signify, and that I shall speak as plain as ever, or, at most, only with a becoming lisp': so,

altogether, I think even you must that I have every reason to be thank- ful, and I hope you will not allow yourself to fret the least about me. Just as we were charging the great redoubt, I prayed, 0 God ! spare me!' and I really no more expected to return alive than if I had been tied to the can- non's mouth. Only fancy grape and canister being flied at us within thirty yards, besides a whole battalion letting drive as hard as they could into us!"

Lieutenant-COlonel Unett, of the Nineteenth, to leis Father, at Birming- hant.—" The fire now [right bank of the Alma] became much hotter from all their batteries in position ; and we were ordered to run" for shelter under the walls of the line of the burning cottages and ditch,; :where we lay more than half an hour securely. My grey mare all the time Would show herself, turning round and being very uneasy at the firing. ' We were orderedto advance ; and did so to the best of our ability, in line, across atone walls and a vineyard. Here the plunging 'fire fiord grape, round shot, Shells, Minie muskets, &c., was awful ; and also across the stream through which we made our way with the greatest difficulty, more particularly us mounted officers. My mare got into a hole in the water, and was all under fur some time eicept her head and neck. I dismounted and got her 'to the aide. and attempted the high bank, which was nearly perpendicular and very slippery. I struggled to get up, sticking -my I fingers into the grass ; and she by desperate struggles came up by my side, as I had hold of the bridle. Shot falling all this time very thick. '1 mounted and pushed on, and we got into something like a line under the crest of a hill. lOur regiment now took ground to our right, and were ordered to advance against the intrenched camp at some distance.' The firing now was aw- ful, and many were hit. Our line was not well formed under such a plunging fire ; it was impossible to form line. Sir George Brown came and said to Colonel Saunders, Go at them !' He rode in front of the line and waved his sword. The line got more confused. I was on the right Of the line, to which they seemed to crowd ; and instead of being two deep we had become fourteen or fifteen deep, all crowding together. During this paused half an hour, we were all being scattered by the round shot, .eanister,

and shells, which continually burst over us. We were next to the Seventh Fusiliers. They retired gradually ; we did the same. I saw a French general tumbling from his horse, and his horse rearing up. Smuiders's horse I saWalso rearing. My mare was now struck twice in the front part of tier bead, fn the shoulder, and in one of her fore-legs. I felt myself struck slightly in two or three places, leg and thigh. The regiment retired, gradually finng as well as they could. We got under the hill, and formed them again there. We remained ten minutes, to get our scattered men together, and tell off; during which time we heard of many of ours being killed and wounded. Colonel Saunders badly wounded in the leg. I now took the command, and told off the regiment. I abandoned my mare, as she had become faint ; and, looking at me as I dismounted, she snorted sue all over with blood, which was streaming from her nostrils • my face and hands were covered, and all thought I was badly wounded. I marched the regiment up again to the in- trenched camp, in line, and in order; but in the mean time the Guards had supported us, and taken the position. Afterwards we bivouacked for the night. Slept well, all round a fire, and got a little hot tea and biscuit."

An Officer of the Ninety-fifth.—"I assure you' my dear father, that while in this position, the shot and shell were falling thick and fast all over and around us, and we lost several fine fellows while lying down. While in line, and standing up, we could plainly see the shot, 9, 12, and 24-pounders, bounding along the ground towards us and over our heads : one of the latter, I judge from its size, I saw almost when it left the gun ; it came apparently, very slow, right for me' so slow that one would imagine it could be stopped by the hand, and about a few feet horizontally from the ground. I made sure that my last moment was at hand, when, by instinct, I bent myself double, and at that moment—whiz—I heard the shot pass, and felt the wind of it on my head. On rising, I turned round, and I sair the shot strike against a small elevation of the ground 300 or 400 yards in the rear, throwing up a cloud of dust; it then bounded in the air, and fell, spent, half a mile further on : had I remained in the erect position, my head must have been struck off. A short prayer of thanks to Him who had thus so nairaculously protected me burst from my lips. . . . . In the midst of the turmoil and confusion of the battle, I occasionally caught a glimpse of our brave old General, Sir De Lacy, exposing himself to the enemy's fire, and most gallantly—the brick—encouraging his division. He is wounded, but, I am happy to say, only slightly.

A Private of the Fourth.—" Today [the 21st] I walked over the battle- field ; and such a sight I never saw in my life—bowels ripped out, heads

blown off—in fact, bodies cut in pieces. The Russians are lying in all di- rections dead and wounded. This day employed in burying dead ; tomorrow for the enemy again ; the division I belong to first for the fight. The few brambles are going out in a few seconds—it is ten o'clock at night now—the envelope I picked up on the field. I am in good health ; all right as yet : have not stripped this week."

An Of/leer of the Ryles.—" It was painful to see the poor wounded. One young Russian officer whom I came up with had his wound dressed, and was sitting next a hay-rick fondly looking at the miniature of some dear friend— I suppose his mother. A soldier of our Second Battalion was in charge of him to prevent his escape, and also to attend to his wants until he could be removed. , . I landed with a water-cloak to keep off rain at night, a blanket, two 'noir of boots, two extra pairs socks, flannel drawers and shirt, which I had put in a commissariat waggon, but have not seen them since ; so I have only with me a greatcoat and an Indian rubber coat, and the clothes on me ; and I sleep with an assistant-surgeon, who has a water-cloak, which we put under us, and my cloak is placed over us, and also a water-cover that one of our officers has kindly lent me. Our bed is not, therefore, so soft as a feather one would be : he rests his head in a pad which he found tossing about, and until last night reposed on a packed haversack. After the battle of the 20th I captured a saddle, so last night I put my head on it. Oh, how I shall en- joy a barrack-room after this ! " One of the Band of the Fifty-fift`h.—" Our regiment was in the very centre of the cannonading. Emma, I was knocked down by the shock of a Russian cannon-ball; it passed between me and Bainbridge as we were carry- ing the stretchers for the wounded : it was the awfulest day lever experienced in my life I was busy with the remainder of the band carrying the wounded to the rear, and had to run up again under a heavy fire of shells from the Russian batteries. I helped to carry Major Rose and Lieutenant Bisset, of our regiment, to the rear."

4 Private of the Forty-second.—" One of our officers said to his company, Come, you must cross the water.' I was among the first of the regiment i to jump n, &dock and all. I leaped in up to the neck, and was much re- freshed by it after coming out. So we got all scattered in the wood. But the old Brigadier says, Come on, my boys ! the Forty-second never turn their backs to the foe.' So up the hill we go; every man calling out, ' So- and-so company '—we being all scattered. He got us formed after we had passed a regiment that had to retire ; and the only thing he had to regret was, that we were too keen to get at the enemy, and he could not get right time to form us. The Duke came up in front of us, and said—' Here I am." Come,' says the old General, come on, my boys! I am going to make you charge.' So on we go as firm as rocks, the shot showering like rain. When he came within eighty yards of a large column, we halted, fixed bayonets, and gave a British cheer, long and loud; and when they heard us, they were amazed, and fled from the bat- tery. The whole retired, keeping up a murderous fire. But didn't we pay them back ?—the Minie rifle laying hundreds low at once After we had taken the heights—mind the Forty-twa ' was the first to crown it— we sort of half fell out, and were half permitted. As I was looking at the awful carnage, I came across a poor Pole—he was shot in the belly, and was in great agony. I went down on my knees, and the tear stood in my eye, and I cried like a child. I clapped him, and gave him a drink of water, which was all I could do for him."

.4 Sergeant of the Royal Fusiliers.—" There are always four sergeants and two officers told off to carry the colours ; so I happened to be one of those sergeants for the colours. I was the centre sergeant, an officer on each side, and three sergeants in the rear of us. We had not been on the hills' long before both the officers got wounded, one through the head, the other his arm ; me my leg ; one of the other sergeants his arm, so only two sergeants escaped with the colours out of that let; so you may see that this was hot work : the bullets were flying about like hailstones, and we were exposed to the fire of the enemy's grape, canister, and shell, for a long time, without us doing them much injury. . . . . We lost a great many men ; I could not tell how many. You could see them in all directions ; some with their heads blown off, others blown to a dozen pieces, legs, arms, brains, strewn about in all directions; it was a shocking sight to look upon."

Colour-Sergeant of the Thirty-third.—" All the infantry laid down on their bellies. Our artillery advanced and commenced firing on them ; we laid in this position for an hour. I must here thank God again for His mercy to me, a wicked sinner ; for the cannon went buzzing over our heads' and rolling through our ranks, and many of our comrades were launched into eternity. At last we were ordered to advance. I had to step out to the front, Mason on my right, and Sergeant Spence on my left, six paces in front of the lines, directing the advance' when the bullets went whistling past as nearly as thick as hail. At last we came to the river, which we had to ford, and in doing so it took us up to the middle in water. After we had got through the river, we were out of the fire of the Russians ; and it caused the Seventh, Twenty-third, Thirty-third, Seventy-seventh, Eighty-eighth, and Nineteenth Regiments, to be a little out of order, all being so eager to get at the Russians. We never waited to form line properly, but up the embankment we went, in great disorder After being engaged half an hour, Mason was shot through the thigh; one ball had hit the peak of his cap, and slightly grazed his forehead, another ball went through the leg of his trousers, and another ball cut the string of his water-barrel : so he had many narrow escapee. He was carried on a stretcher to the rear by Sandy and Dr. Morison.' .

A Soldier of the Seventy-seventh.—"In one spot convenient to where I sin writing this' there are six men in a row, all lying dead from one can- non-shot, which struck them all straight through the back, just as if they had been skewered. They have all the appearance of being fine, veteran- looking troops, remarkably clean, and admirably well armed, and seem to consist chiefly of Poles Dear friend, I have no postage-stamps, pow- der and ball being the most plentiful things now ; and you will see by this letter the way I am in for stationery. I had not time to answer your letter sooner : indeed, I_would not have done so now, but that you made me pro- mise that I would do so immediately after we were engaged. All the old acquaintance join with me in their kind regards to you and to all the old hands ; and, if I survive, I will write and let you know as soon as either Constantine or Sebastopol falls."

TIIIMEL—The accounts of the movements of Omar Pasha have for some time been meagre and contradictory ; but it would appear that a considerable portion of his army are stationed on both banks of the Lower Danube, keeping watch upon Ismail and the line of the Pruth; and that a large reserve is held at Varna for use in the Crimea should it be needed.

Prince Stirbey returned to Bucharest on the 5th. Some of the Boyar& wished to protest; and in attempting to do so they were, it is said, as- sisted by Sir Stephen Lakeman and Mr. Colquiumn. But they appear to have been frustrated, and the Hospodar is once more in the capital of Wallachia.

FEANCL—The remains of Marshal de St. Arnaud we deposited, with all the honours of a public and military funeral, in the Invalides, on

Monday. From the Lyons railway terminus to its last resting-place, the corpse was preceded and followed by bodies of infantry and cavalry, including the new Imperial Guard dressed on the model of the Old Guard.

The succession of troops presented an array of nearly every uniform in the French army. The hearse, simply ornamented, was drawn by six horses, with housings of black cloth ; and it was covered by a pall up-

held by four generals riding on horseback. Behind the hearse walked

Marshal St. Arnaud's charger, led by a groom ; and the carriages of the Emperor and the great officers of state followed, that of the Turkish

Ambassador closing the file. The coffin was carried into the Invalides by eight chosen sub-officers, and placed on a catafalque in the middle of the nave. The church was full of spectators, and decked with flags won

in battle. Among those who stood near the coffin, were Marshal Megrim,

Admiral Mackau, the Generals Lcewestine, De is Rue, Levasseur, and Bourgon, Lord Cowley, and four British officers sent to represent the British Army—Lord Arthur Hay, General Sir Harry Smith, Colonel Taylor, and Colonel Holdieh. The leading part in the religious ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Paris. When the last benediction

had been pronounced, holy water sprinkled on the coffin, and the coffin itself lowered into the vault, a salute was fired, the troops outside tho Invalides presented arms, and the ceremony was at an end. As usual on such occasions, many people had assembled in the streets to witness the procession.

Barbee resents his liberation at the hands of Louis Napoleon. The, following letter appears exclusively in the Moniteur.

"Sir—I have just arrived in Paris, and I take up my pen to pray yea to insert as soon as possible this note in your journal. An order, the motives of

which I do not examine, for I am not in the habit of casting aspersions on the sentiments of my enemies, was given on the 5th of this month to the governor of the prison of Belle-Isle. At the first announcement of that news, I felt the thrill of inexpressible pain of a conquered man run through my body ; and I refused as long as I could—for two days—to leave my prison. I now come here, to speak nearer and to be better heard. What matters it to whoever has no right over me whether I love my country or not ? Yes ! the letter which has been read was written by me, and the grandeur of France has been, since I was able to think, my religion. But once more, I ask, what matters it to whoever lives out of the pale of my creed and of my law, whether my heart is actuated by such sentiments or not ? Is not the coup d'etat of December there for ever, a contest marked out between me and him who effected it ? Laying aside, therefore, every consideration of any personal dignity wounded, my duty as a loyal enemy is to declare to all and each here, that I repel with all my force the measure

taken with respect to me. I shall pass two days at Paris, to allow time to replace me in prison; and that period once over, on Friday night I shall go into exile. A. BARBES. "Paris, Oct. 11, ten in the morning, Grand Hotel du Prince Albert, Rue St. Hyacinthe, St. Honer."

GEIIMANY.—The new King of Saxony opened the extraordinary session of the Saxon Diet on the 10th instant. In his speech on the occasion he made but a brief and obscure reference to foreign affairs-

" Although our relations with foreign governments are certainly very friendly, we cannot, however, look with confidence to the future, which is disturbed by the most serious complications. A country which is in the situation of Saxony cannot pursue a false road under such circumstances, if it seeks the rule of its conduct in the strict and conscientious accomplish-

ment of its duties as a member of the Germanic Confederation. Attaching itself firmly to this point of view, my Government will endeavour to do everything that can be advantageous to the welfare and dignity of Germany, and may lead to a pacific solution of political complications."

RUSSIA.—The Emperor Nicholas, by a ukase to the Directing Senate, and an order of the day to the Army, appoints Prince Michael Gortscha- koff commander-in-chief of all the forces in the government of Podolia, Kief Poltova, Kharkoff, Catherinoslaff, together with the city of Taganrog, Kherson, and the Northern part of the government of Taurida, as far as the isthmus of Perekop, and the province of Bessarabia.

The Journal of St. Petersburg publishes this exquisite illustration of. the Russian "talent for lying." "General Prince Menschikoff gives an account to the Emperor, of the date of the 30th September, to the effect that, after having executed his flank movement from Sebastopol to Bakshi Sarai, he was preparing to assume the offensive on the first favourable occasion. That plan promised so much the more success that the Allies had divided their forces. Whilst the French were approaching the fortifications on the Northern shore of the bay of Sebastopol, the English troops had proceeded by sea to Balaclava, where they had made a descent. Prince Menschikoff, on learning this, had ad- vanced ; but the French, avoiding the combat, had also abandoned the North of Sebastopol, and had proceeded to the South of the town to join their allies. On the 30th, Prince Menschikoff had arrived with the greater part of his troops at the fortifications on the North, and had established himself there, waiting to see what the intentions of the enemy might be. Up to the 30th no operations had taken place."

DENMARK.—The Danish Diet seems resolved to impeach the Oersted Ministry. On the 11th instant, Tutein, one of the wealthiest landowners in Denmark, moved the first reading of a resolution appointing a com- mission to draw up articles of impeachment against the Cabinet. The Home Minister, Tilliscb, defied the Opposition, and maintained that the House had no power to nominate any such commission ; but admitted that it had the right to proceed at once with the impeachment or nomi- nate a committee. The other speakers were the veteran Gruntvig, who was for direct impeachment; Tscheming, who took sides with neither party ; Oersted, who supported Tillisch ; and Bishop Monrad, who elo- quently summed up the illegal doings of the Ministers and supported the resolution. It was carried with only one dissentient. So thoroughly national is the feeling that upholds the Opposition, so great the majority both in and out of Parliament against the Ministers, that some think they will give way ; while others see nothing for it but an appeal to arms.

The second and final reading of Tutein's resolution was taken on the 14th; and, after a debate of five hours and a half, it was carried by 80 to 6. Thirteen members were absent, and among them Gruntvig and others, who had voted for the principle of the resolution, but supported it no further, on the ground that it was not sufficiently far-going. it was de- termined to amend the resolution so far as to appoint a committee instead of a commission.

NEW ZEALAND.—The last newspapers and letters from Auckland relate the sudden and unexpected but smooth and peaceable introduction of the principle of local "responsible government." Our readers will remember that Sir George Grey sailed from the colony at the end of last year, after

having indefinitely delayed the meeting of the Representative body, and hiving practically frustrated some of the provisions- in the Constitution Act sent out from this country. He left the administration of the go- vernment to Colonel Wynyard ; and three days after the Governor's de- parture, Colonel Wynyard issued a proclamation convening the General Assembly of the island to meet at Auckland on the 24th May. By help of a small steamer recently brought from England to ply on the coast, all the members of the six provinces with the exception of four arrived at Auckland on the 23d. Some of the representatives from the more Tut- tent parts had been nine weeks on the voyage ! On the meeting of the As- sembly, Mr. Clifford was unanimously chosen Speaker ; and then the Assembly listened to a very long speech from the Administrator. But as- this speech unmistakeably emanated from the Governor's old Executive Council, and its policy was entirely set aside, it needs no description. Inconvenience was at once felt from the absence of any responsible Mi- nisters in the Assembly : not one of the three members of the Governor's Executive Council had been elected, and thus the proceedings in the As- sembly were without guidance, and the Government without representa- tion. The Assembly adjourned, and the adjournment was subsequently renewed.

Meanwhile, the members held conferences daily ; discussed the prin- ciple of "responsible government" as expounded by Mr. Wakefield—the selection of executive officers from the majority in the Representative Chamber ; and ultimately adopted that principle as a basis of proceed- ings. A short complimentary reply to the "officer administering the government," expressly waiving the political topics introduced into his speech, was unanimously adopted ; and Mr. Wakefield, who represents the Hutt Valley district in the Province of Wellington, was requested to bring the subject of responsible government before the Assembly. At the next meeting of that body, be did so : after Mr. Fitzgerald's reply had been adopted, Mr. Wakefield expounded the subject in a long speech, to which the members and the strangers in a thronged gallery listened with earnest and close attention. "Mr. Forsaith, member for one of the Northern constituencies, alone was found to oppose the motion ; which he did not from any aversion to the principle affirmed, but because of alleged legal obstacles to its immediate practicability, in the existing tenure of the executive officers, and because he believed that certain amendments in the constitution, requiring confirmation at home, would be indispensably necessary as a first step. He therefore proposed to re- fer the whole question to a select committee." Out of 30 members present, 24 took part in the debate ; Mr. Wakefield explaining, and Mr. Henry Sewell, member for Christchurch, disposing of legal objec- tions. At the end of the third day's debate, a division took place, and Mr. Wakefield's resolution was affirmed by 29 votes to 1.

On the next day, Mr. Wakefield moved an address to the Governor em- bodying the resolution, it was met by Mr. O'Brien, a young lawyer, member for Auckland city ; who put Mr. Forsaith's objections in a more plausible shape. They were again met by Mr. Sewell; and the address was adopted by 24 votes to 2. Next day, the House received an answer from the Administrator, promising to take the subject into "early and serious consideration." An hour afterwards, the satisfaction of the As- sembly was confirmed by an announcement on the part of Mr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Monro, that, as the mover and seconder of the address in reply to the opening speech, they had been "sent for," and offered seats in the Executive Council on the tenure of Ministerial responsibility. They asked for a week's adjournment ; which was granted as a matter of course. "The Ministerial explanations," says a letter dated June 14, published this week in the Daily News, • will be made tomorrow ; but the following arrangements have oozed out as likely to be the programme. Mr. Sewell as Solicitor-General, Mr. Weld (Member for Wairau) as Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Fitzgerald (Superintendent of Canterbury) without office, are to have seats in the Executive Council. Attorney-General Swainson is to re- sign his present appointment, and to reaceept a similar one on a respon- sible government' tenure. The other two old Councillors are to resign so soon as the new Secretary and a Treasurer (to be selected from among the Auckland members) shall have acquired a knowledge of the routine of their offices."

The colony was in a state of great satisfaction ; and a subscrip- tion was on foot to present Colonel Wynyard with a piece of plate pro- bably to be worth 1500/.

CUBA—Don Jose de la Concha, the new Captain-General of Cuba, had arrived at Havannah on the 22d September. A bull-fight celebrated his return to the island ; but the General refused a present of a coach and horses which the delighted inhabitants desired to give him. It re- mains to be seen whether he will carry out the treaties for suppressing the slave-trade. He had issued a decree on the subject containing this passage- " It remains to me now, as a matter for our first attention, to indicate to you the course that ought to be pursued upon the grave subject of the slave- trade. It is a sacred duty of the Government of her Majesty, in fulfilling the faith of treaties, to suppress, in frankness, good faith, and absolutely, this reprobated traffic. It is the duty of the authorities in this island to consider this matter, above all, one of honour. The trade ought to disap- pear entirely, and must disappear."

INDIA AND CHINA.—The overland mail arrived in London on Sunday, with dates from Bombay to the,11th September, and from Hongkong to the 22d August.

The intelligence contains very little matter of interest. The journals are devoted to accounts of the small but vexatious disturbances and do- mestic troubles of the Nizam's dominions and the kingdom of Oude ; from which it is evident that the central government in each is as ty- rannical to the weak and as powerless towards the strong as ever. The accounts from Burmah are described as "most satisfactory." The King of Ave has contracted to supply the troops with wheat and grain, and has made tenders for supplies of coal, sending in samples to Rangoon. Trade is going on steadily, and dacoity has disappeared. The coal is said to be good, and lead has been carried down the river for sale.

The novelty in the Chinese rebellion is its extension to Canton. On the 7th of August, the insurgents "sat down" before the place, "just out of gunshot." The Imperialists were encamped under the walls, but on the 8th the rebels drove them by a vigorous attack into the forts. They followed up their success by fruitless assaults on succeeding days, and were themselves exposed to fruitless sorties led by the Mandarins. Up to the 22d, the rebels were masters only of the surrounding country. Atrangements had been made fm-the defence of the, foreign residents. There were present the British ship Comus, 18; an armed steamer, the Queen; and the United States ship Supply.