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THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

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THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL. Fot'RTII DIVISION CAMP, AUGUST 17. At four this morning, the English batteries opened a heavy fire along the whole of their line. The Russians kept silence for full 20 minutes, when they replied in good style. The French were slow in co-operating with us. It was fully half-past five before they opened on the left, and when they did, it was a sort of intermittent fire, their right pausing when their left was active, and vice versa. A report had been current that but for the action on the Tchernaya, the long talked of bombardment was to have commenced yesterday at noon, and when at daybreak to-day the roar of the artillery was heard, it was supposed the cannonade had commenced in earnest and would be vigorously sustained. After a short time, however, it slackened considerably, and it became evident that no serious bombardment was intended. During the whole day, the cannonade has varied in violence, and has often been scarcely more severe than that we are accustomed to witness nearly every evening. At other times, however, the fire has been very heavy. Its real object is, I believe, to enable the French to continue their approaches to the Malakhoff. Many conjectures and reports are afloat on the subject. It has been said that the fire is to be succeeded by a feint attack. Then, when it is supposed that the enemy has brought large bodies of troops to the front of his defences, a more effective bom- bardment is to take place, to be followed by a real attack on a different point. More authoritative information has reached me, which, without entering into details, gives me grounds to believe that something serious will shortly occur, to which to-day's fire has been merely a prelude. Meanwhile, we have casualties to lament, and have suffered some damage to our batteries. Four guns of No. 7 battery, left attack, were silenced, the other two thereupon suspending their fire. Two guns of the Naval Brigade were disabled. Captain Oldfield, Royal Artillery, was killed. Major Henry, of the same corps, lost his arm at the shoulder joint, but was doing well this evening. He had just been relieved, and was about to quit the battery when the ball struck him. Lieutenant Dennis, 3rd Buffs, has been very badly wounded, and there is scarcely a chance of his recovery. Captain Hammct, commander of the Albion, was killed in the trenches. He saw the ball coming, called to his men to stand out of the wav, and himself remained, and was instantly killed, either by the ball or by a spoke of the wheel which it smashed. I have heard of other similar instances. There is sometimes a sort of fascination, it would appear, in a cannon shot when it comes at you. The Naval Brigade suffered severely. About 200 were in the trenches, and they had 23 casualties, including six men and an officer killed. This gallant but ill-treated brigade usually gets all the hard knocks, but none of the rewards of good service. It surely is not too much to expect that vacancies made in their ranks by the shot and shell they so bravely and frequently face, should be filled up from among themselves yet for many months there has not been a promotion among them, but very numerous deaths, Three lieutenants belonging to one ship have been killed. On the ISth of June, a lieutenant fell when gallantly attempting to rescue a wounded sailor. The mate pro- moted had seen no service before, and has seen none since, for he went to England shortly afterwards, but he is a very near relative of Sir James Graham's. Is Captain Hammet's vacancy to be similarly filled up ? The X anl Brigade has certainly strong grounds for complaint. This afternoon, about G o'clock, one of our mortar batteries on the right discharged six mortars simul- taneously at one spot in the Malakhoff, and blew up a magazine of shells, which popped off in succession in beautiful style, while the Russians jumped over the parapets in mortal terror, and our fellows in Gordon's Battery jumped on theirs and cheered with delight. This evening, about 9 o'clock, we were disturbed from our post-prandial pipe by a sudden alarm in the camp of the Fourth Division—by shouts of "A Russian Spy!" Seize him There he goes and similar exclama- tions. Of course we bowled out of our hut in double quick time. There was considerable excitement in the vicinity of the cattle-pound, formed of empty beef casks, which, after containing the dead provisions of the divi- sion, seive to enclose the live stock. Nobody seemed to have a distinct idea of what the Russian spy was like, but he was said to be mounted, and some bold Hibernian warriors were heard to declare they saw him doubling" in the distance, which, considering the darkness, was rather a daring assertion. Finally, the spy-if spy it was, and not some new-come Englishman riding home to his quaiters—escaped unscathed. Not so a canteen, which the seekers after the spy entered, by mistake, and nearly emptied, under pretence of seeking him. Of the action on the Tchernaya, so creditable to the French and Sardinian arms, which, yesterday took place, you will receive accounts from another source, and I have therefore little to say concerning it. The Sardi- nians did their share of the work most efficiently, the French behaved with their accustomed gallantry, and the result was a complete triumph. The prevailing esti- mate of the Russian loss, including killed, wounded, and prisoners. 15 at least 4,000 men, while that of our allies is happily extremely small in comparison; numbers arc not yet accurately ascertained. We have several hun- dred prisoners, and a large number of dead were counted upon the field. The French are greatly elated by their < access; they must have found the battle a relief from the monotony of trench duty. When, before the close of the action, some regiments were turned out to proceed to the support of their comrades then engaged, they dis- played unbounded joy and enthusiasm. The practice of the Sardinian artillery was very good indeed. The in- tention of the Russians is variously conjectured. There can be no doubt they had an ulterior object, dependent on the success of their attack on our position on the Tchernaya. But their project, whatever it may have been, was completely frustrated, and with heavy loss. In the English camp there seems to exist but one opinion as to the brilliant success of the allies, whose loss is be- lieved not to exceed one-fourth of that of the foe. From the brink of the plateaux on which the English infantry and a portion of the French are encamped the retreat of the enemy, towards 10 o'clock yesterday morning, was advantageous} seen. Large bodies of cavalry and in- fantry were formed up at the foot of the hill on the left, round wlncii uunds a road that leads into the Russian positions. On a ridge below the plateaux some French artillery were stationed, and fired rockets at the retirine; forces, while two Russian batteries on the heights sent round shot, without much effect, at a small body of French that was advanced into the plain a little on our side of the Tchernaya, higher up the course of which stream the 1ctim had taken place. The Russians re- mained for s..me time at the point I have described, per- haps in hopes of tempting an advance that would have brought our troops un ier the fire of their batteries. In the afternoon, when I returned to the edge of the ridge, they had disappeared from the plain. There must have been many a sore head and much ill-humour in Sevas- topol last niirht; great things had been hoped for, the army had been earnestly exhorted to do or die, and the men had been brandied to an extravagant extent. Bottles were plentiful on the field; and Gortschakoff, I believe there is no doubt, commanded in person. The action will probably be known among the English by the name of the river on whose banks and for whose passage it was f<• uizht. The French talk about calling it the battle '-f Traktir, from the village of that name. A general ant I' relating to the action might be expected to- night from General Peliss'er, but I understand it is not likely tei appear so soon. In to-day's English general orders complimentary mention is made by General Simp- son of the gallantry of our French and Sardinian allies. Captain Moubray's 321b. howitzers were engaged near the Sardinians and made excellent practic, doing conside- rable execution. The range of these pieces is very long, "00 and they are most formidable against uncovered troops. The miscellaneous intelligence that has accumulated since my last letter, has almost ceased to be matter of conversation here, owing to the stronger interest excited by yesterday s fight, and to-day's bombardment. I re- gret to announce the death in the trenches of Captain and Adjutant Drummond, of the Scotch Fusileer Guard!, who was buried at Cathcart's-hill, on Tuesday evening, A very large number of officers of the brigade of Guards and of other regiments, followed his corpse to the grave. Captain M'Gowan, of the 93rd Regiment, was wounded in three places, and taken prisoner, while visiting his sentries a few nights ago. Through a flag of truce, sent from the ships, a note was received from him, and money and other necessaries conveyed to him. The contem- plated formation of six divisions out of the five of which this army consisted has taken place. For particulars, see general after orders of the 13th. instant. It is reported that the Russians really contemplated an attack on Monday morning, but that two deserters from the 93rd, who went over to them on Sunday night, in. formed them that all was in readiness for their reception, and they accordingly desisted from their intention. The 15th of August, the file day of the Einperor of the French, was celebrated with due honours. The French army was reviewed, by divisions altars, sur- rounded by such trophies and decorations as could be got Tip here (guns, branches, &c.), were raised, and mass was pertortned at them. The French soldiers had art extra ra on o wine, The salute fired by the fleet at noon v^Sf\vn.a t?Um.Yer persons in the English camp, who plpvatJTrir tnt G- m?l*ve °/ t^e broadsides, to run up to the forts m tae tho fleet was attacking A review of the Britisil cavalry was to have taken place at six this murnin0, but was postponed in consequence of yesterday s action. There would have ,i fmn »^tlle ground, but that is less than the°effec'tive Colonel Macmurdo, commanding the Land Transport Corps, and Major Napier, his second in command have gone on board ship, in consequence of ill health.' The latter proceeds to Malta. It is reported that Generals Airey and Jones are indisposed, but this is not yet con- firmed. A very large number of carts of stores entered Sebas- topol this evening. The amount of the reinforcements that had actually reached the fortress was exaggerated. Only two divisions arrived in time for the action on the Tchernaya, but three others are close at hand. AUGUST 18. The fire continued more or less all night, at times heavy. This morning it is not very severe. As I write, the funeral of poor Captain Oldfield is taking place. It appears that he was careless about exposing himself. He was hit in three places by fragments of shell. Half-past 12 o'clock.—There has been some very heavy firing since I wrote the preceding lines. Upon the whole, the results of the cannonade appear pretty satis- factory. The Redan has suffered a good deal. Our fire has been well directed, and that of the Malakhoff has been considerably checked. CRIMEA. Lord Panmure has this day received a despatch and its enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to his Lordship by General Simpson :— "BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, AUG. 14. My Lord,—During the last few days considerable acitvity has been exhibited in the movements of the enemy, both in the town and on the north side and from the information we have received from the country, as well as the examination of deserters, I have reason to believe that the Russians may attempt to force us to raise the siege by a vigorous attack from without. Every pre- ceution is taken on the part of the allies. and the ground occupied by the Lardinians above the village of Tchorgoun and its front has been made very strong through the energy and skill of General Dell a Marmora, who is nn- ceasing in his precautions, and shows the outmost dispo- sition to co-operate in the most agreeable manner with the allies. The Minister of the Interior immediately charged the Bureaux de Bienfaisance of Paris to distribute the money conformably to the generous intentions of her Britannic Majesty. "The fire has, if anything, been rather less during the day since my last despatch. At times, however, the ene- my open heavily for a short period, causing many casual- ties and among them I regret to have to announce that of I Brevet-Major Hugh Druimnond, Scots Fusilier Guards, who was killed yesterday afternoon by a fragment of a shell. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him, and Her Majesty has lost the services of a most promising officer. "The firing, on our side, has been directed, in a great measure, against the large barracks, dockyard buildings, and the town, all of which show visible signs of the admi- rable practice of the Royal Artillery. "I further beg to enclose the returns of casualties to the 12th inst. I have to apologise to your Lordship for having omit- teel to inform you before, that I had despatched the steam- er Indiana, on the 8th instant, to Corfu, for the purpose of conveying the 82d Regiment from that island to the Crimea. Draughts for the Light Division and 71st Regiment, to the number of 800 men, the remainder of the Carabi- neers, and one squadron of the lst Dragoon Guards, have arrived." "I am, &c., JAMES SIMPSON, General Commanding, "The Lord Panmure." THE BALTIC FLEET. The monotony unavoidably attendant on blockading service, was relieved for a few hour3 on the 16th instant, by an apparently hostile demonstration on the part of the Russians. Six of their largest steam gunboats came out of port, standing directly towards the fleet, the crews of the latter being at tho time emploveel aloft in making, shortening, shifting, and bending sails by way of exercise. The Imperieuse, Centaur, and Bulldog were ordered to prepare to weigh and to slip their cables, and went away in chase, two of the line-of-battle-ships at the same time getting up their steam to support the steamers if necessary. The enemy for a while appeared to invite an engagement, but, as our steamers approached them, they gradually edged into shoal water, but at the same time not keeping sufficiently near the land to give no chance of their being intercepted. The Bulldog, having got into position, opened fire from her large pivot gun at the bow, where- upon three of the Russian gunboats put up their helms and got inside the shoals, where they were speedily joined by their consorts. Our steamers approached them as far as the depth of water would permit, the Bulldog firing at them continually, her shot falling among them, but owing to the long range, not touching them. The Imperieuse threw a broadside amid them and several shells, supported by the heavy guns of the Centaur, but apparently without bitting them, which was warmly responded to by the enemy, whose shot, however, evidently well directed, fell short of the mark. After a couple of hours, it was appa- rent that to continue the engagement longer, would be a uieless expenditure of ammunition, and the recall was hoisteel to our steamships to return to the anchorage, the enemy following in their wake as far as they could do so with safety, and firing at them, but without effect. The Russians, being aware that the whole of the gunboats hael eft the anchorage off this port, knew our vessels could not get sufficiently near to do them any injury, otherwise they would, as heretofore, have kept under shelter of the shore batteries. The St. Petersburg Journal will doubtless edify its readers with an account of this incident, and, with its usual adherence to veracity, assert that the ships of the allies, in an attack on the Russian gunboats, were defeated, and compelled to retreat. Yesterday, the 17th, the Exmoutb, 90, flagship of Rear- Admiral Seymour, arrived from Xargen. The gallant officer, who has recovered from the injuries he sustained by the explosion of one of the infernal machines, takes cOillmand of the squadron blockading Cronstaelt., Rear- Admiral Baynes being orelered to proceed to the Gulf of Bothnia as senior officer of the flying squadron emploveel in that locality on particular service. He leaves this afternoon in his flagship, the RetribntioD, touching at Xargen, and I avail myself of the opportunity of forward- ing this despatch for transmission vii Dantsic. A medical survey was holden to-day on board the Xile Captain G. R. Mundy. The invalids go to Xargen in the Retribution, where they will be transferred to the°Calcutta, Captain Stopford, ordered home, taking under her charge the mortar vessels, which require extensive repairs. The Calcutta will sail for Spitheael in a day or two. A north- easterly wind prevails, and the temperature was decreased to 47 deg. Fahrenheit; barometer, 29'435 weather, cold and gloomy. XARGEN*, AUGUST 21. The fleet, having returned to Xargen from Sweaborg, has fallen into its usual monotonous round of every-day duty, enlivened occasionally by the arrival anel departure of different ships at and from their several stations. On Wednesday, the 15th, being the Saint's-day of Xapoleon I., every honour was paid to his memory. The fleets were dressed in gay fl igs, and at eight a.m. the French fired a Royal salute, which was repeated at noon by all the ships present. In the evening, Admiral Penauel entertained Admiral Dundas, Commodore Pelham, and several Captains of the fleet, at dinner. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY, ALo. 27, 6 F.M. The Queen has left Paris on her return to England. Already the whirl of festivity in which this city has lived for the last eight or ten days, is beginning to sub- side. The crowds, though still much more than the average at this season, are less dense than on Friday or Saturday last. The houses that have been most gaudily decorated,begin to be thinned of their flags and streamers" and fewer oriflammes flout the air. Shields and devices and garlands, and Imperial crowns are dissolving away. The eagle himself, the bird so worshipped by political ornithologists, descends from his lofty resting-place, and with plumage ruffled from exposure to the weather, and eyes dimmed from so long gazing on the sun, is hurriedly conveyed a way among broken flagstaffs and torn canvas, destined, perhaps, to figure at some suburban Ftc; or, sad to think, transferred to the marc-hands de bric-u-brac of the Marais. The triumphal arch that imposingly spanned the Italian Boulevards at their finest point is stripped of its effigies, its flags, its busts, its crimsoning covering, and, at the hour I write, it stands stark and bare like a huge skeleton and before the sun sets will not have left a trace behind We have witnessed so many sights of splendour during the week, that it is not easy to all at once resume the habits of quiet existence. Not a wheel rolls along the pavement that is not taken for an incipient Royal salute. Courtiers have not yet begun to recover from the continuous bend of the spine endured for so many days. Corporations and deputations of all sorts and sizes and denominations still, from habit, recite addresses and speeches of congratulation. The very gamins of the streets begin to talk favourably of beef- steaks, and the word ''lunch" bids fair to be admitted into the French vocabulary. When the Allied Sovereigns visited England after the fall of Napoleon, the Emperor Alexander, for some un- known cause, became a great favourite with the Irish colony of St. Giles's. The Hibernian nature loves ex- tremes a party of pipers decided on giving his Majesty a concert, and actually played Green grows the Rushes oh 1" under his windows, from some vague re- collection of the visitor being Emperor of all the JRussias. I cannot say whether a similar blunder has been made here, but it is certain that Queen Victoria has been sung to, and played to, in every imaginable style and form and tongue, and even now the artisan of the faubourg whistles a tune which seems to be an unskilful compound of "God save the Queen," the "Marseillaise," Drin, drin," and the White Cockade." As you are already aware, the Queen and suite left St. Cloud this morning at ten o'clock, in the imperial car- riages. Previous to starting, the whole of the function- aries of the Chateau, administrative and. military, were received by her Majesty. The inhabitants af St. Cloud and the municipal body cheered as she passed under the same triumphal arch which was erected for her arrival. The Army of the East, the garrison of Paris, the National Guard, Sappers, and Special Corps, lined the way from the bridge of St. Cloud to Paris-the National Guard on the right, the place of honour. The weather was magni- ficent, as it has been, with two exceptions, since the Queen's arrival. It has rained but twice for the last ten days, and the moisture only served to lay the dust. The royal party reached the Tuileries at eleven o'clock, where the Empress awaited the Queen. The ministers and the members of the diplomatic corps were already assemblad there to meet her Majesty. When the last presentations were over, and the last farewell spoken, the cortege re- sumed its march. The numbers who thronged the line through which her Majesty passed, the same as that by which she entered, were considerable. The decorations were pretty much the same, and the words Long Life to the Queen," were substituted for that of Welcome," on the shields and cscocheons. The triumphal arch raised by the artishs f the Grand Opera had resumed its floral decorations, and the Gymnase modified its previous eol" mods of decoration, and was now covered all over with banners. When the cortege issued on the Boulevard close to the Madeleine, in the midst of acclamations from the crowd, the flourish of trumpets, the drums beating to arms, and bursts of military music, the eagles in front of each regiment were lowered, and then it was that an immense cry of admiration arose from the multitude. But, with all this, it is right to observe that some dis- appointment was felt at the Queen passing in state through Paris, in a close carriage. Her entry was so far' a failure, that at the hour it took place no one could see her features, and, except to those in the streets and close to the cortege, the carriage she rode in prevented her being seen this day to any advantage. The carriage, the sides of which were plate-glass, was, it appears, that which was used by the Emperor on the occasion of his marriage. It glittered all over with gildiug, and was drawn by eight horses of the same size and colour, with gorgeous housings, mounted by postilions, who seemed no bigger than the Aztecs, while grooms as tall as Gulliver must have looked to the Lilliputians, marched stately at the horses' heads, and the grand officers of the Crown caracolled at the sides. The Emperor, in his usual military costume, and wearing the Riband of the Garter, sat opposite; the Queen, with the Prir.cess Royal by her side, returned frequently the salutes of those who could see her, and whom she could see. Prince Albert sat next to the Emperor. A second carriage, similarly appointed and attended, contained Prince Jerome, his son, Prince Napoleon, both in uniform, and the Prince of Wales. Several other carriages of the Court, drawn by six horses, conveyed the officers of the household of the Queen and Emperor. It was twelve o'clock when the corttge reached the Strasburg terminus. The prepara. tions to receive the Queen at this spot were not different from those that met her on her arrival; the decorations were the same, and so were the functionaries who re- ceived her. The National Anthem was performed, and the Queen, leaning on the Emperor's arm, entered the station. She saluted those about her, and proceeded to the.Royal train, while the band of the 9th Regiment of the Vultigeurs of the Guard played "God Save the Queen." The Queen shook hands very cordially with Prince Jerome, the uncle of the Emperor, and Marshal Vaillant, anll some others. She at once entered the Imperial carriage, and was followed by the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales, and then by the Emperor, Prince Napoleon, and Prince Albert. General Loewestein presented the Queen with a fine bouquet, and the Prin- cess with another. The persons of the Royal suite took their places in the other carriages, as also the railway directors in attendance. The ministers anel civil and military authorities were drawn up in line in front of the carriages. In a few moments the signal was heard, and the train slowly moved away, while a last cry of Vive la Heineannounced its departure. The great dignitaries moved towards the entrance of the station, and the rest of the crowd soon followed. The troops drawn up on the outside, and along the line to the Tuileries, were already returning to their barracks, and the masses of people separated and moved about freely. It would be unjust to omit the reception which General Canrobeit, who formed part of the corttge, met with from. the people. On his return alone from the Strasburg station he was recognised in his carriage, and the shouts that hailed him were loud and repeated. The enthusiasm of many was so great that they rushed to the very doors of the carriage, throwing up their hats, and crying vivats that certainly came from the heart. It must have been a proud moment for the General to wit- ness a tribute to his merits and his talents, which is all the more valuable, as it is spontaneous. "PARIS, TUESDAY, AUG. 28. "The Emperor returned to Paris to-day, at 5 p.m., from Boulogne." We have received the Moniteur of Tuesday, which an- nounces the departure of her Majesty in the following terms :— The population crowded along the route of her Ma- jesty the Queen of Englanel, with the same eagerness, th. same spontaneous enthusiasm, as it showed on her arrival; the only difference was, that a sentiment of regret was mixed up this time with the respectful manifestations of affection and sympathy. The visit of her Majesty Queen Victoria has been a very short one, and there is not a single inhabitant of Paris who does not wish it had been of longer duration. All the Parisians, with that inborn tact which they possess, regarded themselves individually as the hosts of her Majesty, and the smallest shops, the most humble houses, in streets through which the Queen was never expected to pass, and of which she had not even any knowledge, hoisted a flag or illuminated a garret. The whole population was desirous of participating in the fes- tivities of these memorable days." The Moniteur thus describes the visit of the Queen to the tomb of Napoleon I. The day before yesterday, the Queen visited the tomb of the Emperor. No other visit produced so great an im- pression upon her. As the review had lasted to a late hour, her Majesty was no longer expected at the Hotel des Invalides nevertheless, despite the lateness of the hour, she expressed the wish to go there. The Queen arrived there at nightfall, followed by a numerous staff, surrounded by veterans of our former wars, who hurried up to accom- pany her, and she advanced with noble impressiveness to the last dwelling-place of him who was ever the most con- stant enemy of England. What a sight! What remem- brances did not then rise up, with these contrasts But when by the light of torches, in the midst of brilliant uniforms, the orgau playing God save the Queen,' her Majesty was led by the Emperor into the chapel where re- pose the ashes of Xapoleon, the effect was thrilling, im- mense, the emotion profound, for every one thought that this was no simple act of homage at the tomb of a great man, but a solemn act attesting that past rivalries were forgotten, anel that the union of the two people hael now received the most striking consecration." The Moniteur publishes the following letter from Col. Phipps to the Minister of the Interior, on the day of her Majesty's departure:— "Palace of St. Cloud, Aug. 27. "MONSIEUR LE MIJTISTIIE,—The Queen has ordered me to transmit to your Excellency the sum of 25,000f., which her Majesty begs of you to have the kindness to dis- tribute among the most indigent of the city of Paris. "Accept, M. le Ministre, the assurance of my highest consideration. C. B. PHIPPS, Colonel."

ENIGMA FOR THE LADIES.

THE BATTLE OF THE TCHERNAYA.

GENERAL PELISSIER'S REPORT.