The Express. — London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

int expreoo. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Watiessmis ftisseird kw " The ilyros," Undo& &falai ism oast be at the 0111% 11. Isaisibmittest, by 'No Velma ea Oa deg a pelisadis. HIGH WATIN AT LONDON BRIDGIL TE. OAT-714orsiag.1111. fin Atiorsees. 111. Ma So aossow—Monlag. Ob. O. LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 26. Tat remind "hundred peasants" are now in the Baltic. The Hoglish have 86 vessels of war with l 2,098 guns; the French 18 vessels of war with 408 gums. In the combined fleet there are 23 line-of baffle ships with 1,893 pea; 31 frigates and corvettes with 694 pus; 29 smeller steamers and pc-boats with 78 guns; 18 mortar-boats and other craft with 21 guns—in all 101 vessels and 2,508 guns. What is to be done with this new "invincible armada!" At the doss of last year's campaign Sir Cwasute Nerves was ordered to "strike his flag and come ashore," with lees courtesy than a private gen tleman would use in dismissing a luy valet. The reason sniped for this unprecedented course wee, that Bir Quitse had not accomplished all that might have been expected, or that he had been ordered to do, with the fleet under his command. Sir CHARLES had with him 19 ship-of-the-line, 12 frigate', 17 corvettes, eight smaller steamers, and an hospital ship. The combined naval force of the Allies now in the Baltic is nearly double that which was placed at the disposal of Sir CHARMS NAPIER— when the floating batteries arrive it will be rather more than double. The present Admiral has the advantage of all the soundings and reconnaissances of last year; and yet it cannot be said that more enterprise or activity bee as yet been dis played in 1866 than was evinced in 1864. The coast blockade is not more strictly enforced. The desultory duhes at villages and telegraph stations along the onset are not more important or decisive than those of lest year. We bear of no operation during the present campaign that can take rank with the destruction of Boma:sued, which was effected before this time last year. In 1864 we were told that nothing could be accomplished till late in the season, for want of land forces to %ropiest' with the ships. It is true that little or no use was made of the land forces after they were sent out ; but i n 1856 there is no appearance of preparations being Made to send any. The few brief summer mondia l of the Baltic are rapidly slipping away: is it in tended that the campaign of 1855 in these waters shall, after all the boastful note of preparation we have heard, be u muffins as that of 1864 P We are not asking in ignorant impatience for dazzling exploits at any cost. It is possible that nature and art have so strengthened the Russian coasts in the Baltic, that the enemy have only to re main ensconced behind their defences to baffle all that mere human power can accomplish in the way of assault. It may be sound policy, as some main tain, to attempt nothing in the Baltic, but to con centrate all our energies in the Euxine, where Russia may be more vulnerable. But, if this be so, why the vain parade of so expensive a naval armament in the Baltic? Last year, a fleet of half the strength of that which the Allies now maintain in these waters sufficed to keep Russia as anxiously paralysed as the immense armament of the present year has succeeded in doing. Are the resources of France and England so inexhaustible that money can be squandered on a surplusage of men, shim and guns, maintained for mere ostentatious show and bravado? The war be • fore Sebastopol is starved; there are not troops enough there to invest the fortress, and the weight of our battering trains barely equals that of the ordnance employed in the defence; and yet an expensive fleet is maintained in the Baltic, simply it would appear to show the Russians how many ships of war France and England can fit out. There is infinite danger in this idle ostentation. We can afford to laugh at our human enemies. Were the Russian fleet to venture out from its skulking place, it would only be to be captured. But there are such things as wind', and waves, and rocks; and the larger the naval force we keep at sea, and the longer we keep it there, the more we 1 1 are exposed to casualties from the elements. Not withstanding the gallantry of the brave English mariners who fought with DRAKE, the destruction of the Spanish Armada was more the work of tempests than of human skill and daring. The dilatory manner in which the war is now waged in the Baltic almost looks like a wanton tempting of PRovintuvcs to dis perse and scatter our Armada by the same means. If any disaster should happen to our ships from storms, the Russian men of war are ready in their harbour to take advantage of it and pounce upon the dispersed and dismantled vessels. Common prudence would seem to dictate the striking of some decisive blow without toss of time in order to avert the pos sibility of such a humiliating disaster. It is to be hoped that Parliament will not be allowed to separate without some explanation being demanded of Ministers on this head. We are well aware what will be the stereotyped answer to any such question. Ministers will say that to re veal their intentions beforehand would be to give the enemy warning and place him on his guard. Even if this were true we have only a choice of difficulties. By letting the enemy know what he his to expect, we may better his means of defence ; but by allowing Ministers to remain in their unac countable state of inaction without any explanation, we run the risk of seeing this year's armament return as ingloriously as its predecessor. One great source of the superiority of a free over an enslaved nation in war, is the power which exists in the former of bringing public opinion to bear upon an inert and in capable government. It is true that this cannot be done without letting the enemy at the same time, in some measure, into our councils ; but if our opportunities of striking unforeseen blows are thew abridged, the disadvantage is more than compensated for by the greater weight and energy that is imparted to our open assaults. When we speak of demanding an explanation from Ministers, we do not mean that they should be called upon to reveal when, where, or how they intend to assail the foe• We merely point to the expediency of extorting from them some reasonable assurance that they are not neglecting the great business they have in hand ; of reminding them that the eyes of the nation are upon them, and that a strict amount will hereafter be exacted for all their shortcomings. . visit of MO*. ROSA Bosun to Lat han fixed in many minds tbs floating t has existed for some time gut that foreign artists sliculd know one smsdlee, _ acquainted with one another's woo bp hap-hasard way than hitherto. Thy I. efforts, vigorous, but too arduous to he so.: • individuals, we hove far some years bow in London a good many weeks of Bomb land Osman tions are mafioso llama of 1 meets we association which would chugs itself with procuring an annual Wallin in London of the works of artists of all nations. Many of our readers no doubt remember the sensa tion excited in Londosi—drat, among artists, and then in the public—by Bran's piston of "A Slave Ship on the Aldan Coast." That lurid and terrible 1 picture mode snob an impression on artiste and con noisseurs that they were heard to say that, whatever was BIARD'S intention, his picture would haves social operation which fine pictures have long to wait for, if they ever obtain it. They said it would do more towards negro emancipation than the acts of CLAM sox and the silver speech of Wmaxeroics. The human interest, of which good hearts might form some conception, was so enhanced and vivified by the tree presentment of Emery and climate, that the careless and the " bored" about anti-slavery, and the devoted abolitionist, familiar with the topic, were alike moved and amazed at the spectacle of the slave trade in 'igloo. How many of the English in Paris now are longing that every body belonging to them could me BSION'S little picture of an "internment dans lie Vosges." It would be a fine thing if all Paris could see MILLAIS' " Order of Release;" and it would be a See thing if all London could see that most touching mountain funeral, where the coffin is drawn on a little hand-sledge down the difficult path, encumbered with snow, and the blast catches the white cotton pall, and the weeping women are knee-deep in the snow; and the little child carries the wooden Gross; and a friendly group looks on mournfully from the cottage garden on the steep. And who doss not wish that to see Rona BoNnzun's pictures, present and to come, should be the common privilege of both nations P And who that met her last week does not wish that the mind and conversation of distinguished artists should be reciprocated like their productions P The literature of art ham been reciprocated freely enough. There is plenty of talk and books about it. Even the Americans find they can talk about it, by following the lead of Clikrus ; and practical artists in our own country are quite sufficiently annoyed by the discourses of pedants who never drew a line, but who have been to Munich, or Dresden, or Dussel dorf, and have picked rip, or made up theories of art which, arising in a metaphysical and critical age, can afford no true account of the paintings of an anterior period, or any guidance as to the genius of a corning time. In the midst of the 'esthetic babble of pedants, masculine and feminine, up rises Ross BOSHEUE to strike them dumb. Some may murmur that hers is not high art; but there will be a general consent that we have got hold of a treasure of true art, and that we may well be thank ful for what we have got. We shall obtain no high art by imitating the ancient, or by calling out for it. The faculty will find its own way of manifesting iteelf—a new and fresh way—which there is no use in guessing at beforehand. Meantime here is, in Ross Bonn:sun and her works, something new, fresh, strong, and capital; and our business is to be thankful for what we have seen, and to see as much more as we can. This dieeinguished woman is an agreeable subject d andowidsdia ia ovary way. She is good and wise, hadtby sad bappy, beloved and cherished by family and friends, and with every prospect of a long career, enviable for better things than the fame which will ao company it. No one can look at such work' as hers— paused beam she had passed her thirtieth year— and doubt her industry. They are the results of genuine study of nature—close, prolonged, and animated. Yet has she neglected no duty, domestic or social, for the indulgence of her own tastes. She is one of the happy would become unlimited, if education were what it ought to be—whose chief pleasure happens to be also their first duty. Her father was an artist ; and she studied under him, till she was qualified to fill his place in hie home, and support and educate the family he left. Simply and nobly she did that duty; and now, at thirty-one, she has achieved fame and pecuniary ease, and may cultivate and exercise her genius according to her bent. Thou who saw her in London must have been struck with the heart's content in her countenance, mingled with Da bright expression of exhilaration. Courage is exhila ration and peace in one; and what her courage is, her countenance and her pictures show. The Nubian and treatment of her "Horses-fair" is such a proof ai courage as is not often afforded by men. In a woman it takes the world by storm, as the artist world of London saw last week. Without touching on the old question of the comps reties intellectual ability of women and mem, and the dispute uto the causes of the acknowledged infe riority of women in the department of art, we may point out that Roes Bonnura has brought up a new phase of that old question. The French call her their PAIILIIII POTTER, and insist on her equality with Elam. We hope she has many years before her to ascertain the scope and power of her genius ; but meantime, whatever may be the place finally assigned her, we know to a certainty that it is by her power of toil that she has reached her present eminence. There is genius in the concep tion and endurance of such toil as she has undergone, and out of which she oomes with an overgrowing strength and freshness. Those who see her in her own home see what her power of study is. She has, because she must have, a house of her own in Paris, on account of the neces sity, not only of the ordinary requisites of light, spoor, itc., but of room for her curious happy family of animals, of which a splendid goat is the most conspicuous member. There are no women like the French for the free exercise of industry and ability ; and Ross Borst= has been working like a French wo.nan in a department open to all, while women elsewhere--and men, too—have been talking, or trying, by means of books, to enter into other folks' labours. A good many English in Paris are now with amazement gazing at her great new picture—" The Hayfield." It is badly hung, in a bad light, and un favourably surrounded; but it is the picture which fixes all eyes. No part of that picture could have proceeded from anything but the labour of her own senses, ministering to her intellect. It comes out of the hayfield, without any intervention but Roez's own mind. Everybody starts at the oxen—those live creatures looking at you and breathing on you as they stand out from the canvas. When you come to consider, think of the boldness of taking noon for the time—with its pale hot sky, and its deficiency of shadow. You see at a glance what the heat is, and how much wind there is to relive it. If the Hors►fair amazes London by its daring and its power, it will be a grievous pity if London cannot see the Hayfield, which hes equal daring, power, and wonderful vitality, and a rural freshness and charm besides, which declare the advent of a new genius. If the picture should be isacoreeible (and it was immediately mold), there will be small consolation in looking at the excellent litho graph of it, which must tantalise as much as 'it can gratify. We must have an annual exhibition of THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY artist& Art in an different digests following pigt4hieal divisions, it is evident that the thing wanted is freer intercoms, like that which we desire to lees established.: --- ; and it we find LATEST FROM ABROAD. OFFICIAL DESPATCHT --~_ WAR DEPARTRIINT, Jinx 26. 1855. Lard Panmare has received the following own munication from the Crimes, dated July 25, 5 pm. : " Cholera has not increased eines my hat report, and the Army continua in eatidaotory health." NEW MINISTRY IN HANOVER. --•-- OM MIMIC TILIGRAPIa (MK OWL OWN 0011210.0111D1131111 HANOVER, Jinx 25. The whole CabizetZezoepthig the Waal Minister, hays rsoignseLlWisar Ministry has bun swortan, as &Rows :--Cirinc r lialmanisigge, Pinions and Royal Ho - iitshold y Count Platen Ha anorsign • fairs ; Volt Borrien, litortVon Der --- 11n7 tic. i and Von Bothnia., Publics Instrootion and Religion. A Ministerial President has not been :ap pointed. The King will preside hinuelL TIM BALTIC. ELSINORE, Jett 35. The Centaur has arrived. Tin abort • dos mast la duke which Begliali and and booms a a Lai hap-h partial effort • waived of Ind • alia to moo is • • • ••• • •, . _. .. r , an artists. Bat the plisillush 21110 S 5 0240 D, ultil elsedliellis ensong" tremulous ; and it is really ilsesible dial ' widen% ,mhateeet noir boson* of the enterprise should resin! iworksideise orned ignds sad their goverlanetts. The sight of yor isopootiony, 4 Unged . the bantsillite . inv the sordid Intim:am between Ihrtrin LAMM ' Rom Bounzo* iirsolliiit'end irldab end set a MUMS, Made Mit Attu last week i and believe it would not be difficult to fora en the league must extend till it sitcom all true _ _ _ _ __ . . I THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN IN ASIA MINOR. 1 The mail from Constantinople of the 16th brings word that the Russian general appeared to have sud denly abandoned the siege of Kam, although he was in the vicinity with a force of 30,000 men. Letters from Trebisonde state that Kars, if properly pro- visioned, might with its present garrison hold out till the winter. The city is defended by three citadels, connected with one another, a doable creneUated wall, flanked with towers and six bastions. The mamelon Kszodagh, which commands the fortress, is fortified, as well as the outwork opposite to it, called Tessin. General Muravieff has chosen the south-east side of the city for his attack, and so gained the strategetio advantage of cutting off the communication with Erseraum. It is said that Kars is only provisioned for forty days. Supposing Kars taken, the Russian army would pro bably advance on Newsroom by the two parallel roads which meet near Khorasan; it would, however, first have to poems itself of the defiles of Khasi Mahar and Raman Kale. Tice latter town is built on a bill, and consists of the fortress and four suburbs. It has a citadel and four outworks, which are said to be well armed and served. Letters from Constan tinople state that troops are constantly leaving for l'rebisonde ; and it is natural to sup pose that the presence of Omer Pacha is the capital is connected with the measures to be taken for the defence of the Asiatic territory of the empire. Two months ago no fact relating to the Russian army was better authenticated than that the army of trans-Cancesia was in no condition to carry on an independent campaign. The changed attitude of Austria has, however, set at liberty more troops than Roma can well maintain in the Crimea, and enabled the Cur to reinforce the army in Asia. General Muravieff has probably anticipated the actual junc tion of these troops with his army, in order to divert some of the reinforcements of the allies from the THE REVOLT OF THE On the subject of the revolt of the Bitshi-Buouks the following details, under date of Constantinople, 12th, are published by the Semaphore of Massillon : TIM town of this Dardanelles is, solo speak, M a state of siege. ♦ carps of Bashi-Bamako in the pay of the English, and forming part of the troops commanded by General Hutson, broke into Mesas, violated woman, assassinated people in the streets, and committed each horrible mosses of all kinds, that the inhabitants left the place and aban doned it to pillage. General Hutson bevies at length de termined to punish them bandits, and having arrested some of them, their comrades demanded their re lease. Upon the general's refusal to comply with their requisition, they left the town in a body, die. paned themselves in the open country, end threatened to return to barn the town and kill everybody they might find in it. Bows squadrons mat in pursuit of the rebels failed to nest with thus. The general has deelared the town in a slate of siege. The bosses sad shops are shut up. A Turkish division sad two deld•plues have been asked for by the governor, in order to defend the Dardanelles against a por sible attack by the Bashi-Basonks. The frigates Zume aide and Tisiphose have approached the plass, to afford aid in can of need. Bach was the state of things ma the 7th, the data of the latest news. The last telegraphic despatches must refer to events of which these above narrated were but the precursors. BY FIRE. We stated yesterday, on the authority of the Echo de Most Blanc, of the 20th, that on the 19th instant a fire at Chamounix burnt down 26 houses and three hotels. On the same subject we are favoured with the following commo by Mr. Albert Smith : Itaptiaa Hall, Welaaaday evening. The following distrunisi intelligens, has been rewind by Yr. Albert Smith, ham (ham, this anemias _ _ . - . . •' On Friday 'morning, at 3 °Week, the Ire broke out is the Hotel d'Aagletem, sad, despite every exertion, 22 houses had bean °costumed. " The Souls d'Asiletern, de Landau, end de la Con roeu ere bond down, besides 19 hum Wale.' to th e poorer inhabitants. The old Hotel (Males has been saved by sebtratiat it with water, whieb readers it for the present uninhabitable. The new Hotel Royal de has become the refuge at every one, as abo the mall Hotel du Nord. "No lives have bees lore, bat there have beau sad mei doses. An eprwitaess describes the state NI ago n i s i ng . Half the village, isaladlag part of the char* has beak burst, sad a peal amount of property destroyed. " • sabseriptics has been already set ea to by the Ideglisli raglans, Mr. Ferryman, and by Dr. Melia, who wee at Chew/mai at the tine. These mamma were very active is giving relief to the wretched Mirrors, sad is aiding to extinguish the Ire. The wiad was very high, sag a Mora was ragtag all the time. ,, 1 Lord Pismire, writing to the Birmingham Gnu- Maas, states that he is set disposed to pores say altere d= is the existing law rep:ding the wives of soldiers. Every endomay, he says, is made by the goverassent to dissearsge (while they 'mate privet) the marriage of soldiers. It is his liedship's intention, however, to entonit to her Majesty that a told alleviate be ranted to all ed• dive employed on Wive genies in the dad against an mew, by which mesas sash soldier will have the power of more easily providiag, tea orals attest, tog the manse et 1r temily." EVENPTIg OUR Afl IN THE CRIMEA. mJULY 26, 1855. • (710 X OIIR OWN COBANIIPONDINT.) OAXP *BOPS SZBASTOPOL, JULY 14. The events of the past week have not been marked by any striking features. The French works destined to set against the shipping in the roadstead and the approaches against the Malakoff have been steadily advancing. The new batteries in our position have also been staking favourable progress. The enemy had maintained a very determined opposition to these advances, and, espesially from the, direction of the Reda, had kept up a constant discharge of shell and grape against our working parties. It was de termined, therefore, to make the attempt of silencing some of the guns of the Baden, as well as of inter rupting the works known to be in progress there ; and on the 10th instant a tremendous Ere was opened against it, and maintained nearly the whole day. The fire of the enemy against our working parties has been leas active since that date, but it is doubtful whether any of the enemy's guns were injured. On the extreme left groat tranquillity has been pre served. The general health of the troops engaged in the siege operations continues excellent. Dysentery and fevers are the prevailing diseases. Cho lera appears almost to have entirely quitted the front of our position, although it still clings to some particular situations. The temperature has continued very high. rsubjoin a Diary of remarks : JULY 7.—About six o'clock last evening a shell was observed to fall into one of the large three decker line-of-battle ships lying in the roadstead, off the entrance to the south, or Admiralty, harbour. The shell appeared to be of large size, and had ei ideally fallen through the upper deck. The event produced instant confusion. Several boat' were seen to be lowered, and almost at the same moment that this movement attracted attention, dense volumes of white smoke rolled out of the stern-ports, and out of some of the side-ports of the lower deck. This smoke mutinied to be evolved for upwards of ten minutes, and it began to be surmised that the ship was on fire. The smoke gradually cleared, however, and no trace of injury remained to be assn. The shell had been thrown from a French battery near Quarantine Bay. A short time previous a shell had been observed to fall into the water a little distance in advanoe of the ship. Two three-deckers are lying near the position I indicated above; the ship struck was moored nearest to the month of the Admiralty Harbour. It has not changed its position since, bat this morning it has not hoisted either of the flags which are usually car ried by the men-of-war ships in the harbour. There has been a haze all:day *the atmosphere, so that at the distance of the heights on the north side scarcely any object could be distinguished. So dense was the mist to the seaward that the sun was lost to view long before it reached the horizon. The fire has not been very active in the batteries all day, but during the previous night a heavy fire was maintained against our working parties Fort I Constantine has cottoned to throw shells at intervals against the French works near Quarantine Bay, and the 12-gun battery on the north side opposite to Careening Bay has endeavoured to interrupt the French operations is that quarter. The most con stant fire has been kept up by some gum on the proper right of Korniloff bastion against the advanced works our allies at the foot of the Malakhoff hilL The French have constructed a large ambuscade in advance of their foremost approach. From its ap pearance, size, and position, it would appear as if this were destined to perform the same part against the ' Malakhoff works, that the mortar battery made by the French in their advanced parallel st the foot of the: Maraelon vert, formerly iperformedminst that position. No embrasures have yet been out in the new parapet on the crest of the Malakhoff-hill, &ad, were their guns in position, they would hardly be depressed sufficiently to bear on this ambuscade. The enemy is, however, making etre. noon' efforts, by discharging shell and grape, to im pede the progress of this work. Major Harrison, of the 63rd Regiment, was shot this evening while on his way to do duty as field officer of the trenches in the left attack. lie was just entering the battery with the troops, Colonel Lindeaay, of the same regiment, being by his side, when a chanceround shot struck him in the side, and inflicted mortal wound. He had lately rejoined from leave of absence to England. His death is much regretted in the regiment. July B.—Lieutenant Gerald Graham, of the Royal Engineers, had a narrow escape last evening. He was on duty in the left attack. Some Sappe . rs having reported to him that the fire was so hot against a oer tam position where a working party had been posted as to have led them to withdraw the troops for a time, Lieutenant Graham went himself to inspect the place. He had no sooner arrived there, accompanied by one Sapper, than a shot struck the ground in front alum, scattering stones with great foroe. Several of thesefragments struck Lieutenant Graham in the face, and one piece inflicted a severe wound near one of his eyes. It was thought at first that the eight of this eye was destroyed; this has happily turned out not to be the case. It is stated that this is the only officer of engineers remaining with the army who accompanied it on its first arrival in Bul garia, and who up to the accident just mentioned had escaped without injury or serious illness. The fire from the Russian batteries was kept up all night with great determination. They employed, as usual, fire balls to discover the position of our working parties, against whom the fire was chiefly directed. Large quantities of grape as well as shell were used. Our works are, however, progressing very satisfactorily. The ordinary amount of fire only has been maintained during the day-time. The tem perature has been high, but it has been tempered by a pleasant breeze. Several convoys of waggons were observed to come to the north side. They all appeared to be conveying famines and gabions, chiefly the latter. Half-past 9.—A very active fusillade has just been heard in the direction of the Mamelon Vert. A few scattered shots preceded a general musketry fire, which, however, subsided after a period of ten or fifteen minutes. The sounds of bugles and the pecu liar shout of the enemy were distinctly audible. A considerable number of shells were thrown from our own works, as well as from the French works east of Careening Bay ravine, immedistely after the com mencement of the attack, and the batteries on both aides are now firing with energy. July 9.—The fire was very heavy all night, but the working parties- escaped with comparatively few casualties. _ _ _ The attack last night was made against the new French rifle pit, on the Malakhoff-hill. It is said that the enemy did not advance with their former confidence, and their approach was observed. Our allies were consequently folly on the alert, and the reception the enemy met with caused him to retire with precipitation. It is probable that the Russians suffered severely as they were going back from the discharge of shells whisk were poured in the direction of the Malaboff works. The heat has been very intense all day. For some hours the thermometer indicated 90 deg. Fahrenheit, in well-shaded double tents, where, the aides being raised, a free current of air was pairing. Blanks& and dysenteric dioxins are prevalent, as well as fevers. It is rare however, to hear of deaths from these causes. ran, number of fresh cases of cholera in the camps in front has diminished very materially. The 13th Light Infantry, lately arrived, and at pre sent occupying the ground formerly enoamped upon by the 93rd Wighlanders, near Xsdikoi, are suffering severely from this disease; and it is said that the Ottomans near Baidar are also losing many soldiers fres this cause. It has found two more victims 'mem the officers at the British head-quarters—Mr. Calvert, Superintendent of Interpreters, and having sharp of the secret melee, and Colonel Vioot, of the French army, attached to the staff of the B r itish eozonim- 1 — ' " -0 by _the Emperor. The loss of Yr. Calved will not imasily be replaced. He had pulsed some years in the Crimes, in a situation whieh had brought him into frequent intercourse with the inhabitants and officials, was intimately acquainted with the habits, feelings, and language of the Tartar population, and was thus enabled to afford peculiarly valuable information on many topic's. Colonel Vicot wee highly respected for his many talents and accomplishments, and was ply a moral tivonsito. Rs bad not Tory - bog received hie promotion. It may be remembered I that Lieut.-Colonel Legondie, who wee attached u prineipl French commissioner at the English head-geartere, was taken prisoner the day before the battle of Alma. Sloee that date Colonel Vioot, then Major Vicot, and acting as second in the sense capa city, has .been fulfilling all the duties of this aloe. He is said to have discharged them with equal satis faction to his own government u to the late oom- July 10.—A powerful fire was opened against the Roden at 3 a.m. this morning, from both the left and right British attacks, and was continued about nine hours. The sedan answered quickly and vigorously. Our practice was most excellent. Three of the most powerful mortars in the Greenhill attack were con stantly diseharged together, and the effect p r od uce d by the shells falling within the Redan at short dis tanoes trots each other was strongly marked. They reached the ground almost at the same instant, and clouds of dust rose after their explosion. Frequently the shot from the Frenchman's-hill batteries were noticed to pare right through the embrasures of the Rabin, ploughing up the cheeks of the openings as they passed along. Yet it is doubtful whether much damage was done to the enemy's guns. Often when our artillerymen had supposed that certain guns, from their continued silence, had been knocked over, these gnus would s uddenly appear in their embrasures, and open fire. Run late in the evening, after the fire had been renewed in tbe after noon against the Roden, the guns appeared able to reply whenever it suited the purpose of the enemy that they should do so. It is fully evident that the enemy possesses some means of speedily drawing the guns away from the embrasures and placing them under safe cover, where they can be loaded and kept ready for use, and afterwards of speedily replacing them in the embrasures. What kind of " blindage” is used cannot be distinguished. After a gun from the Roden had been fired the space in the embrasure was often observed to become vacant, and only re occupied jut before another discharge took place. But though the guns' may have remained for the most part uninjured, it was seen that the artillery men suffered severely. Behind the hollow between the Redan and Malakhoff hills part of a broad road is visible. This road emerges from behind the Redan hill, passes in front of the barrack and part o f th e I do cky ard wall, and is lost to view behind the Blhoff hill. Along this way men bearing stretchers and ambulance waggons were observed to pass and repass in unusual numbers. Nor could it be understood how the requisite number of men for working the guns could remain within the Redan and great loss not occur among them from the dis charge of such an overpowering weight of metal. The fire from our batteries against the Redan ceased about noon. It was resumed between 3 and 4 o'clock p.m., and prolonged till sunset. The object appeared to be to silence, if possible, the fire which for some nights past the Redan had kept up against our working parties. The gnus of the enemy failed to do any execution against our batteries. In the course of the morning a 10. inch gun in the right attack burst, killing one sailor and wounding two others. It is remarkable that the Malakhoff batteries did not fire. Three new embrasures were discovered this morn ing on the proper right of the Malakhoff works. They must have been opened during the night. The line of fire appears to be against our Quarrywork. The quantity of gabions brought along the north side is marvellous, and it is difficult to imagine for what purposes so vast a quantity can be intended. Several convoys of them arrive daily. The crossing of boats between the two sides of the roadstead has been constant all day. The passenger steamer has had its steam up, but has not quitted its usual position within the ad miralty harbour. The entrance to this harbour, sometimes called the South Port, is now the most busy part of the great inlet of the sea which forma the roadstead and harbour of Sebastopol. This is the place of rendezvous for the small steamers, for barges and boats of all dimensions coining to the south side of Sebastopol, as well as those leaving it for the north side. There is always an active movement here. Some time ago the Careening Port used to be thronged with boats. The reliefs and working parties from the other side which were destined for the works of the Malakhoff, Mamelon Vert, Redan, and other batteries covering the Harabelnaia, as well as for the redoubts east of Careening Bay, used to land there, that passage being much shorter, and the troops being free from danger, though not from observation in the day time. Only the men intended for the works sur rounding the citadel and town were then landed at the Admiralty harbour. All heavy materials were brought to this bay, either to be landed at the Dockyard creek, or at the mole near Fort Nicholas, for at Careening Bay the cliffs rise very abruptly from the water, and the ascent is steep and difficult. Before the obstruo. tion was made across the roadstead from Cape Nicholas, boats used frequently to pass toward ' Artillery Bay; but since that appeared very few have been observed to go in that direction, although a considerable space has been left open at the north end, and apparently another opening, though com paratively small, at the south end also. Moreover, between Careening Port and the oppo site shore, the water was usually occupied by vessels of all sizes. The men-of war steamers used to lie chiefly in this part of the roadstead. Since our allies have gained possession of the east side of the Careening Port and Ravine—thus concluding the mastership of all the heights from thence to the Inkermann valley, and controlling the bay of Inkermann below—this has been changed, and the ships, steamers, and smaller boats, have been compelled to move further to the west ward, or remain in the bays on the north side, where the greater width of the roadstead and pro jecting points of land ensure greater security. The limit to the westward for the large ships is formed by the obstruction from Cape Nicholas, for although it is open for some distance on the north side, the is said to be only available for boats of small tra a trt on account of the shallowness of the water. None of the larger vessels as yet have passed round in this direction; they are all lying off the Karabelnaia suburb, or still further off in the bays on the opposite side. At intervals along the barrier just mentioned there are openings, or small o Whine channels, through which light rowing boats can pass from either side. The situation of the sunk boom stretching across from the west side of Artillery Bay towards Fort Cathe rine is usually discernible without difficulty ; even when the weather is perfectly calm a line of ripple is seen over it. Now and then, more especially lately, a barge has been noticed passing across on the east aide of the boom, towed by rowing boats and seemingly carrying furniture, coming, no doubt, from Artillery Bay; but very few have been noticed, and the long distance round the Cape Nicholas obstruction has made the evidently very tedious. Thus the broad part : a Z roadstead included between this last-named barrier and the line of sunken vessels at the entrance—the positions of which are still indicated by portions of the topmasts standing above the water—is generally characterised by a still, lifeless appearance; and the water beyond, as far as the two allied steamers stationed on watch, is, of course, equally deserted, being commanded by the guns of Forts Constantine and Alexander on the one side, and those of the blockading steamers on the other. When the white flag has been hoisted by the nearer of those vessels, and another white flag is waving on the roof, of Fort Constantine, two little boats may be just dis cerned struggling with the waves and rising on their crests; but at other times no trace of life is visible on the surface of this water. It forms a striking contrast with the busy crowded scene along the coast to Hamlets*, and in the bays with which this shore is indented. There are two points of view from which the Admiralty Harbour can be best observed. One is on the left, near the French trenches, whence a good view of the entrance and part of the Dockyard Creek is observed ; the other is from the upper part of the Victoria Redoubt hill, just above dm Middle, or Karabelnaia, ravine. From this latter position a full view of the entrance of the harbour is also obtained., and for a short distance the shore on the left, or wet, side, bat very little can be seen of the Dockyard Creek. This is the more interesting of the two, for the prineipd landing-place is on the left side, and the movements of men and boats peering to and fro are readily observed. The line of vision extends obliquely across the deep dip between the Malakhoff and Man Mlle, over the greater part of the Admiralty buildings and Port o much are these objects foreshortened, howe that the position of Fort Nicholas on It west side of the Admiralty Harbour, appea r , to continuous with the high er ground on the il east on which the ranges o f b u ildi ngs connected wi t h tha . Admiralty stand. The water of that pan of th e D r + which separates them cannot be seen. Reneeti; relative position of these objects is rendered puzzling to casual observers, just as from th e p s a i e pause, at first sight, our ad vance d trenches olt the right of Frenchman ' s bill, appear t o b e almestil contact with the Russian buildings sad a patios the Dockyard wall, although a considerabl e not obvious to the spectators, intervenes. Taking this point of view, then, the following eh. joists about the Admiralty Harbour principally tw ice the attention. On the left the curved inner asp ect of Fort Nicholas, with its long lines of we* tie above tier, though distant between two am three miles, first catches the eye of to observer. Approaching nearer, the speck le Lid extensive buildiogs, known as the Admiral t y Barrack, and Hospital buildings are seen. The haai hill, with its formidable armament, closes the p ain on this side. On the right Fort Paul, sere k n , verse, rises prominently above the line of earthwork' raised along the slope on the proper right of the lies lakhoff. Some of the line-of-battle ships a re sea from this position ; and the obstruction strincluat out from Cape Nicholas, and the boom farthermost also before the spectator. Within the suneems e appears on the opposite side of the roadateietthe te et h shore between Fort Constantine and the Ste:Poet ; rather au uninteresting, because little frequentedlut of the north height'. By a slight tarn of pow % the whole of the north shore is exposed to view, mt. : as the Inkermann camps,with the exception of a cow paratively small distance interrupted by the mud the Malskhoff Hill. July 11.—One result of the fire opened against th e Redan yesterday appears to have been a oonsidenbls diminution in the degree of opposition made by hi guns against our advanced work', and the supposed site of operations in progress by our working parti te , The fire was less vigorous than it had been for may nights previously. The enemy made frequent and fireballs, as if there were some suspicion that the firs • daytime of the .0 was intended to be . preliminary to is attack at might. Captain Beauchamp Manama, of the 39th Begi. meet, is reported killed last night. He was on duty in the trenches of the left attack. About 10 p.m., a fire broke out in the town, which threw a bright glare for a wide distance round. It appeared to be near the ravine, at the head cf the south harbour, and was very probably an inlet. tional destruction of some of the houses of the suburts which were in the way of the Ittuibian works. The fire in the batteries has been very nick all day. The weather has continued oppressively hot. It appears strange that at this advanced period oftla hot season, the issue of summer clothing to the troop is not yet completed. In the Light Division tin issue was only commenced within a week past, and as yet summer trousers only have been given oat to the men. It is stated that the suite will be woe plated within a short time, but two months ego they might hive been distributed with advantage. The soldiers who have lately joined have brought their canvas dress with them, and all the men who ore wearing it describe it to be an easy and cool attire, especially when on fatigue duty. Flies now infet the camp in such countless myriads that they almost amount to a plague. They chiefly consist of the sees species as the common house-fly in England. Mee quitoes and and flies are also annoying, but do sot exist to such an extent as to cause inconvenience worthy of note. The execution of a French soldier took place this afternoon in the plain of Balakleva. The unhappy criminal belonged to the 73rd Regiment of the boa He had stabbed the captain of his company,and camel his death. The law of retaliation was executed with the characteristic promptness which exists in the French army. He was conveyed in an artillery nto the spot where his life was to pay forfat f w o7tre act he had committed, and was attended by s priest. Three sides of a hollow square were form.* the whole of the 73rd Regimept, and one compuy from every other regiment in the plain,being preeeat. The fourth side was occupied by the culprit. Ho knelt down, and his eyes were bandaged. His WA had been previously secured behind him. After a few words from the priest, a crucifix was presented to him, and he kissed it. The priest then kissed the soldier on the forehead and left him. Only a few momenta of suspense followed. A firing party of twelve men had been drawn up in front of the pd. eoner. Ten of these men were to fire ; the shots el two were reserved in case of the execution being be complete. This proved to be a prudent pretended. The order to fire was made in silence—signalled by a movement of the sword of the officer in command of the firing party. At the first wave of the blade the arms were "carried," at the second they were brought to the" present," at the third the shots were discharged. There were a few quivering movements, and the soldier fell forward. A surgeon advanced and found life not quite extinct, but one of the two men left in reserve being ordered forward, speedily concluded the tragedy. July,l2.—There was again a very sharp fire in the batteries last night ; but for every shot or shell ,of the enemy our guns sent two back; and this pile. tice, if continued, considering our superiority in weight of metal, must in the end, it is premier& cause the Russians to think twice before they fire. The French works are advancing considerably, both those destined to act against the shipping, and those more directly against the Malakhoff The works above the Careening Bay ravine are ap proaching completion. The new battery in advance d the spur, on which wan the small 5-gun battery deserted by the enemy after their lose of the other redoubts in this situation, is progressing, notwitle standing the difficulties connected with its pontieet very favourably. But it will require some time kr its completion. In consequence of the vertical fire brought upon it by the enemy from some of the bee tenes on the north side, it is necessary that the gnu should be protected by a bomb-proof blindage, and this is a work of much labour. The guns are to be "en barbette," and will be elevated very little ahoy+ the level of the water of the harbour. It is said that red-hot shot, u well as howitzer shells, will be made use of. The 12sun battery on the height opposite has sought to impede the progress of the work, bat unsuccessfully. The French have completed another approach across the Malakhoff Hill. It is connected with the large ambuscade which they threw up a few nights ago, and the site of an old Russian trench has been taken advantage of in its formation. The duties of each attack are in future to be per formed by the regiments of one division; the nntn bers not being taken as heretofore from all the dill aims collectively. The Third and Fourth Divisiono will continue to guard the works of the left attack; on the right attack, where the duties are more Dente, and the number employed greater, the duties will be given by the First, Second, and Light Divisions For this latter attack each division will be employed in the trenches only every third day. Lieutenant Robert Clayton, of the 34th Regiment, who was dangerously wounded in the attack of the 18th of June, died to-day. His injuries were mused by grapeshot, and were of a most serious nature. Major-General Barnard is appointed chief of the , staff under Lieutenant-General Simpson, Command iog in Chief. ing j l ul y Y hea l3 vy .—T on he bo a t re h e f i ro dee m ties have been very few in number. lu the t n b i a g t h te t ri , e b rain, have been passing over the camp, but the q• Thunder clouds, accompanied by heavy showers o f diminished. Fort Paul fired a salute of 19 guns to Base pressive heat of the atmosphere has been earm7 -UP. s ut w o u ur e cosal' xiged. of the guns on the roof, as well as others facing tr harbour, were used. The object of the salute is only a matter of surmise. A communication was observed to take ph ee t ,b _ tween Fort Constantine and one of our blockadin g vessels. t The French, toward sunset and for about an hoar • afterwards, fired a number of incendiary rocs% k against the tows. They were discharged from ___ of the redoubts on the east side of Careening De l ravine. Coo bat* occurred during the night. The fire from ties was lets heavy than ea the melees night. July 14.—Heavy gnats of wind and wash: o d a! rail *1