It is to the necessity of the season rather than
to the repeated promises of the telegraph that we trust, when we suppose that be- fore long we must hear something decisive from SebastopoL The 3d of the present month was last named as the day for commencing flecisive operations. The Russians have now defended Sebastopol by strong lines of works extending all round the place, following the indentations of the internal waters, and presenting formidable outworks at the conspicuous .points which have been rendered familiar to the reader. The principal of these works lies in front of the Malakoff Tower, on the round hill called the Mamelon, where the Russians have erected a redoubt, covered in advance by' rifle-pits; and it is round this spot that the recent conflicts have taken place. Similar works extend to the extreme right of the besiegers. Alarmed at the progress of the French towards the Mamelon, or confident in their own strength, the enemy made a sortie on the 22d of March, and were repulsed with heavy loss. Such is the account of the French, who admit a loss of some 300 killed and wounded on their own side. This is where the active interest of the siege lies at the present moment; but both sides have amassed too much strength to remain passive. We have mustered a great army, with immense appliances; and the country expects results. The Russians may be said in a certain sense to have created a new fortress on the site of Sebastopol since we under- took to demolish the original stronghold ; and now that terrible enemy of the stranger in the Crimea, the hot season, almost worse than the cold, is marching up in the rear of the barbarian. Hitherto in this war there has been an equitable division of re- sults: we have had the heroism and the victory in battle; the Russians have had the successful progress in defence.
