The Sun. — London, England, 1855-06-21 00:00:00

EOiAL OPERA, DRURY•LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. SVENIN(4, Will be performed T. SO S'N %. Characters by Alak.m. Gassier, Martini, and -ignors ilettini and Gassier. To conc'.ud with a Grand FttEN - C supported b licite- Pal nyra, Wife. Paolo, ~ Friant, &c. Prices of admission :—To the two galleries, 6d.; second circle boxes and pit, Is ; dress circle, 2s. 6d. ; sta Is, 45.; private boxes t, admit two persons, its. 6d.; four persons, one guinea. Box-ofidc open from 10 to 6 daily. vcrr.ATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under •he management of Mr. Backstonc; THIS EVENING, Will be performed BERTA ; or, The Gnome of Bartsberg. After which, ONLY A HALFPENNY. To conclude with the new Extravaganza, called THE NEW aAYMARILET SPRING MEETING, 855, ROYAL. PRINCE T FIE ATRE. OXFOR D-ST RE ET. Under the Management of Mr. Cakat.za THIS EVENING, Will be performed AWAY WITII MELANCHOLY. To conclude with KING HENRY THE EIGH CIL Queen Ea tiarine, Mre. C. Kean ; Cardinal , Volsey, Mr. C. Kean. TTIZATRE ROYAL ADELPRI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Mc. Jame Ce:este. THIS EVENING, Will be performed HELPING HANDS. Characters by Mosrs B. Webster, Keeley, L. Murray, C. Selby, &c.; Madame Celeste Mrs. Keeley, &c. Followed by FOREIGN AFFAIRS. To conclude with TaE PRETTY GIRLS OF STILBERG. W)YAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. A. Wigan; TITIi EV:ENING, Will be performed PERFECT CONFIDENCE. Characters t), Messrs. F. Robs ,'n and G. 'Vining; Mi,s viarston and Miss Br.,mier To be followed by ST ILL ‘VA.TERS RWN DEEP. Characters by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, G. Vining, Danvers, Miss Masksll, and Mrs. Nlelfort. To conclude with THE GARRICK FEVER. ROYAL ATRAND THEATRE.. Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, Will be performed THE HONEST LAWYER. Followed by 'TWAS I. After which. CHERRY AND FAIR STAR. Principal character by Miss Rebecca Isaacs. To be followed by I'VE EATEN MY FRIEND. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Leggee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. Boundless Magnificence and Majestic Effect. THIS EVENING, The Grand HTppodramatic Spectacle called. ENGLAND and FRANCE in the DAYS of CHIVALRY; or, the Brothers in Arms. Caparisoned steeds, knights in armour, tournament in the Field of the Cloth of Gold. One gigantic arena formed by the ring and the stage! razzling ,rilliancy and vivid reality ! Each night the unique ACTS in the CIRCLE, arranged by Mr. William Cooke. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Acting \Tanager. Mr. W. H. Cooke. Equeerian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. T bay —Morning 6 min.after 6 I Evening2Bmin.aft. 6 To-4naepw Morning 50 min.after 6 I Evening 13min. aft. 7 THE WEATHER.—Sus Orrics, June 21. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. C 2 —highest since noon yesterday. 43 --Lowest this morning and during the night. 61—thi4 day, at noon. - AARosfirrsm, up to 30.51—n0w 30'43. Wnw, N.E.—Moderate, with very fine sunshiny weather. 4:74 i `f' _~ ,r~ ~+ 1111, LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1855. May we be permitted respectfully to suggest that his Royal Highness the PRINCE CONSORT was labouring under some unaccountable misapprehen tion, on the 9th of June, when he intimated to his brethren of the Trinity House that, in the instance of the present War with Russia, a heavy trial is now being passed through by our Consti tutional Government ? The trial, we would ven ture to hint, is not by any means a test of the strength or weakness of our Constitutional Go vernment itself, but rather an ordeal for those who palter with it—a path of burning plough shares to be traversed .by the leaders of our aristo cratic cliques, the champions of our patrician coteries, the chiefs of a dominant oligarchy. It has not been left for us to prove the soundness or the unsoundness of those grand root principles which form the very basis of our Constitutional Government. Century after century the Constitu tional Government of England has been tested, and has not been found wanting. It has grown with our growth—it has strengthened with our strength. It has survived the hurricanes of more than one revolution. Whatever a Prince of the house of Saxe-Coburg may think to the contrary, it is not now that the palladium of our national liberties, the au cyllfe of our popular rights, the charter of our insular freedom, have to be weighed in the ba lance. Their ponderable worth has long since, we take it, been calculated by preceding genera tions. It has not been left for us or for our children to decide whether or not the somewhat essential principle of vitality is anywhere discoverable in our Constitutional Government. The struggle now taking place on the shores of the Euxine is a heavy trial no doubt—but it is a trial of our administrators, not of the whole scheme of our political constitution. Already the system of popular government in the United Kingdom is Ally comprehended and entirely appreciated. It does not admit of any fresh test, or trial, or ordeal, or scrutiny, or analysis, or criterion. All such have been long since exhausted. What the people of these islands are at present aspiring to bring about are certain administrative reforms—not any radical change, or fundamental modification in the elaborate fabric and complicated scheme of our vast Constitutional Government. It is idle, therefore, for any one to talk nowadays, midway in the nineteenth century, of a war like the one at present waged against Russia, being a " heavy trial " undergone by our Constitutional Govern ment. As well dream of some mighty oak of a thousand years' standing being imperilled by a night's frost, like the tenderest sprout just grafted, or the most delicate seedling just budding through the mould. There are but three tests for such as this Oak of England. It may wither out after the lapse of ages, crumbling into gradual decay out of the fullness of time, from having passed the limits of possible survival. Or it may be laid low by the axe of some new ALartic, s ome " Scourge of Goo," some appointed Destroyer. Or it may be struck down, reverently so to speak, by the " stretched-out arm" of the ALMIGHTY, by the lightnings of HEAVEN, by the thunderbolts of His awful Providence. Not by any frivolous ordeal, such as that of a single campaign, or even of a sustained contest—the ordeal rather of an u nconstitutional Ministry than of a Constitu tional Government. Again, therefore, we insist upon the extravagance of any one talking of the present War with Russia, be the speaker Prince or Peasant, as a " severe trial" which is being undergone by our Constitutional Government. it was no less unfortunate, we cannot but think, that his Royal Highness the Prince Con sort should, during the course of the same speech to which we have already here alluded, the speech delivered by him on Saturday seen n i g h t, the 9th of June, 18i55, have given utterance to an extra ordinary sentence like the following—Dai s Royal Highness, it will be understood, while speaking the words hereinafter subjoined, referred to the recent exposure by the Press of the late mismangement of our army before Sebastopol]—" No mistake," said the Prince " however trifling, can occur, no want or weakness exist, which .is not at once denounced, and even sometimes exaggerated with a kind of morbid satisfaction." Language, we repeat, which w cannot but designate as somewhat extraordi nary urAcier misting circumstances. In testimony rf.l_l4 il.fro4 _ tomp two Fr ii trn sDAY 1107PININO, JUNE 21, 18.8 h: ' Church, and refuse to be bound by any religious law not contained in or based directly on the precepts of " the Book of Books." There might be some justification if an attempt were made to compel the members of the Church of England to contract or its ministers to solem nise such marriages ; but every religious scruple that they can put forward is respected. All that is asked is that those who feel no such scruples may be permitted to do that which they consider to be, if not laudable, at least perfectly harmless—to pro cure the most faithful and affectionate guardians for their motherless children—to unite to them selves by indissoluble ties the women whom they can love and esteem—with whom they can brave the most arduous struggles of "the battle of life," and pass through this world in thehumble and Christian hope of a glorious hereafter. This is the just, the moderate, the irresistible demand of the advocates for the repeal of the existing law—that each man should be permitted to act in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience in a matter where the national welfare is not concerned ; and this must be speedily conceded if there be any foundation for the claims of liberality put for ward by the Ministers and the members of both Houses of Parliament. It would have been a cruel mockery to have prevented the retrospective action of the law to have allowed all marriages contracted before a specified time, and all after a subsequent period, to be legal, while those solemnised during the in terval would remain null and void. It would be inflicting a severe punishment on innocent per sons for that which was now considered justifi able. There has been no instance of the execution of any person under a repealed enactment, even though he might have offended against it while in operation. Why, then, should the punishment be continued when the legal prohibition to act has ceased ? The question does nct admit of argument, more particularly by those who, because the succession to a high and ancient title and princely estate was at stake, sanctioned all such marriages contracted before 1835 But why, we repeat, does not Government take up the question ? Lord PALMERSTON has spoken clearly and explicitly in favour of the abolition of the restrictions. We cannot doubt the opinions of the proposer of the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL has, as usual, exerted himself nobly in the good cause. We believe that there is no difference of opinion in the entire Cabinet. Why, then, is it not made a Ministerial question ? Lord PALMERSTON may rest assured that no act would confer greater strength on his Government, or do more to consolidate his power. Let every independent voter then press on his representa tive to urge the importance of the topic on the Government, and to insist on its immediate set tlement. Ministers are already well inclined. They only require a little pressure from without to do that which is just and reasonable, and which would satisfy the justice of the case, and meet the wishes of the People. rents of wind ; but the deep, thunder-like tones, of the cannon at the moment of discharge, and the loud rush through the air of the shot, and the compara tively uniform intensity of sound, bespoke the weight of the metal which together was forming the iron shower raining upon the town and earthworks of Sebastopol. It could easily be distinguished that no guns of small calibre were among the number. Our casualties, as yet, have been very few, both among the men of the Naval Brigade and those of the Royal Artillery. The Russian shot have fallen wide of their mark. Precision of aim could not be looked for in face of such a storm. Captain Mortimer Adye, R.A., has been brought into camp severely scorched. He experienced a mi raculous escape. He was standing with a sergeant and bombardier when a shell exploded in front of them. The blaze singed the hair and skin of all three, the sergeant being most severely injured, but no one was struck by any portion of the fragments. Lord Raglan, who, at the opening of the fire, took up a position in front of the Third Division, afterwards passed round the camp, and called at the Right Siege - Train to inquire respecting the casualties. The troops loudly cheered the Field Marshal as he rode by. General Pelissier, with a large staff, also passed toward the Victoria Re doubt, and was greeted with loud cheers. 9 p.m.—During the last two or three hours the Russians have fired very sparingly, scarcely one in ten of the rate at which they at first replied to our batteries. The Mamelon redoubt was perfectly si lent during one hour, then, commencing on the left, fired once from each embrasure. It appeared as if done out of bravado. JUNE 7. Shortly after sunset the Russians ceased firing from their batteries. An incessant shelling was kept up all night from our works, to prevent the enemy from repairing damages. So silent were the Russian works that it seemed probable the guns had been drawn from the embrasures and placed behind the parapets, and that the gunners them selves had also retired to places of shelter. At 8 a.m., however, they again opened fire, but even then seemed to have a limited number of artillery men, for only two or three guni were served at one time in each battery. 10 a.m.—An explosion took place in our 8-gun battery, right attack. Two shells burst on the root of the magazine, without doing any material damage ; a third fell, and penetrated into the in terior. A portion only of the gunpowder was ex ploded. A quantity of fuses were lost. No one was killed, and only two men wounded. The mis chief done to the work will be repaired without much cost of time or labour. Captain George Frederick Dawson, Royal Engi neers, was killed this morning. It has become known that operations are to be commenced in earnest this evening. The French are to assault the Kamptscatka Redoubt on the Mamelon Hill, and also the redoubts on the east side of Careening Bay. As soon as the Mamelon is secured, the English are to take the Quarry work in front of the Redan, and the Russian trenches in front of Frenchman s hill. The French have had served out to them cooked rations for 48 hours, and a pint of wine each. All are in high spirits, eager for the struggle, and confide 4 of the result. 5 p.m.—A very exeiting scene has just transpired. The French divisions have been marching .to the attack. The Second Division, with General Carnot at the front, led the way. About six or seven hun dred yards from the entrance to the Karabelnaia ravine the regiments were halted, and shortly after wards General Bosquet arrived, with his staff, and addressed a few words to each regiment in turn. By each, at the conclusion of his remarks, the General was greeted with loud cheers. The order to move forward was then given. The Second Division was scarcely lost to sight in the winding valley of the ravine, when the Fifth Division came in sight. This body of troops had been brought up from the plain during the night : they had quitted it at 2 a.m., and arrived at their position in the camp before Sebastopol at 7 a.m. Their move could hardly have been observed by the Russian Rickets about the Tchernaya. This division, under General Brunet, was arranged to form the working party, to secure the hold of the Mamelon Vert as soon as the attacking columns had taken it. It included the 4th battalion of the Chasseurs-a-pied, with the 11th, 25th, 69th, and 16th regiments of the line, altogether 10,000 men. At the same time, Omer Pacba moved with a force, apparently about 15,000 strong, of Ottomans and Egyptians, and occupied the space on which was formerly encamped the 2d British division, and the brigade of Guards, near the Inkerman heights. Soon after the French divisions had passed down the ravine, General Pelissier, with General Can robert, and an immense staff, amid loud cheer ing, rode past the front of the British troops, and, going by the right of the Victoria Redoubt, took up his station in a small outwork, made for the purposes of observation, about five hundred yards in advance. From this observatory a full view could be obtained of the operations on the right of the Careening Bay Ravine, as well as of those immediately in front against Kamptscatka re doubt on the Mamelon Vert. Lord Raglan, it was understood, was to take up his position in advance of the Third Division, whence there was a good view of the Quarry in front of the Redan, the more immediate object of the British attack. This quarry cannot be seen from the look-out station near. the Victoria redoubt, being concealed by a hog's-back rise in the fore part of Frenchman's hill. The English troops•told off for the attack of the Quarry, and the Russian rifle pits and trenches in front of the works of Frenchman's hill (the British right attack), were now in the advanced parallel and its approaches. A detachment of 100 men of the 88th Regiment, from the second brigade of the Light Division, and a like number of the 7th Fusiliers from the first brigade, together with a similar force taken from the 47th and 49th Regiments of the Second Division were reserved for the attack. They were under the immediate command of Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, of the 90th Regiment. Colonel Shirley, of the 88th Regiment, was the General in com mand in the trenches of the right attack on this evening. The working parties were supplied in certain proportions by nearly every regiment of the Light Division. All the troops not thus employed remained under arms in reserve. • Half past six.—Four incendiary rockets have just taken their flight from the Victoria Redoubt towards the town. They are the signal for the starting of the attacking columns. The fourth rocket had no sooner taken its flight than the parapets were cleared. Forward went the lines, throwing out a cloud of skirmishers. The Rus sian trenches on the side of the Mamelon Vert were climbed over, trench after trench, appa rently without any opposition. Then the steep sides of the hill were mounted. The French were seen in three columns, one ascending towards the west face, another towards the east face of the works, while the third moved directly up towards the face fronting the Victoria Redoubt. But the whole sur face of the hill was soon covered with their skir mishers. After one discharge from some of the heavy guns, the Russians got into the embrasures and upon the parapets, and fired a few shots from their rifles, without, seemingly, doing any execu tion ; but the volleys from the skirmishers, or else the consciousness of the inutility of resistance, compellei them quickly to retire. Their force was evidently small. They had not expected an attack at such an hour, by daylight. Nothing could be finer than, the " dash" with which the French troops ascended the steep slope—a natural glacis—towards the parapets. The Russians were evidently staggered. At first, the Malakhoff batteries, and the Redan offered no at tempt to impede the progress of the assailants. Whether the tremendous fire which was poured against them from the English batteries of both the left and right attacks restrained them, or whether they were bewildered at the nature of the assault, they scarcely fired a shot while the first columns of French mounted thehill. Presentlythe French were swarming into the embrasures, mounting on the parapets, and descending into the work. Shortly afterwards the Russians were observed escaping by the way leading from the redoubt toward the hill crowned by the ruins of the Malakhoff Tower and the numerous ,batteries around it. Here, to all appearance, occurred the grand • mistake, which subsequently entailed a great loss of life among our allies. The arrangements had been made for taking and securing the large redoubt on the Mamelon hill, but it was not intended to go further at that moment. Such, however, was the impetuosity of the troops, such the excitement of the officers and men at their first success, that they could not resist the pursuit of the Russians on the one hand, or the attempt to storm the Malakhoff itself. Between the Malakhoff and Mamelon hills is a deep saddle-like hollow. Across this saddle, dipping down towards the right of the Malakhoff hill, is the ordinary way of communication be tween the Marine suburb and Mamelon. In this direction the Russian troops took their flight, and these and their pursuers were soon lost to sight be hind the ridge. But the great body of the French troops moved straight across the saddle and mounted the Malakhoff hill. The Russians, aware of their danger, poured down a heavy fire upon the assail ants from the batteries, and apparently brought field pieces so as to take them in flank. In spite of these, the French still mounted and at last were seen to reach the abattis work drawn around the hill. So short a distance was this from the lower tier of bat teries that the Russians could no longer depress guns sufficiently to hear upon them, and stand ing upon the parapets they were seen to throw large stone4f besides keeping up a heavy mus ketry fire against the French. The French had evidently met with a difficulty they could not eouquer ; they were observed to be looking on all ,ides for an opportunity of advancing, but yet were unable to move on. Presently a sudden sense of their dangerous position seemed to seize them, and they retired back towards the Mamelon. The Russians by this time had assembled their rein forcements behind the Malakhoff works, and, as the French were moving along the dip of the saddle towards the Mamelon, these troops were seen to come up in a dense mass, pouring a heavy flanking fire against our Allies. At the same time they came within range of the guns of the works around the Malakhoff Tower (the Korniloff Bastion), which, notwithstanding the shower of shell and rockets from our batteries, kept up a galling fire against the. French as they retired. Some confusion followed, the Russians followed the French into the Kampt scatka redoubt, and the latter were next compelled to evacuate it. That was a time of deey anxiety for all who were watching the engagement. But con fidence was again resumed, when the French, who had descended the Mamelon Hill, were seen to be steadily reforming in the Russian trenches which surrounded its base. Up they went again, sending a shower of balls among the Russian .who were s __ now in crowds covering the parapets. The redoubt was fringed with smoke and flames from the fire of Russian rifles against the French as they mounted the hill, and the hill side was covered with the fire of the assailants. It was now a few minutes before 8 o'clock, a dense bank of black clouds rested on the horizon, and the sun had just sank behind it. The Russians made for some time a gallant resistance, but in vain; as the French mounted they were seen to waver, and just as the French reached the parapets, they leaped down and retired. Our Allies were again masters of the Mamelon Vert. In vain the shipping in the harbour, the guns from the batteries on the west side of Careening Bay, and some on the north side of the roadstead, tried to drive them away. The guards were thrown out, and the working parties speedily set to won's to turn the redoubt against its late possessors. While this bad been going on, a sharp struggle had ensued between the French and Russian troops occupying the redoubts on the east side of the Ca reening Bay ravine. The French had been seen to rush from their advanced appioach, and from the right flank of their works, towards the foremost re doubt. In front of this were two large ambus cades and a trench ; one volley appeared to lie fired by the riflemen in the pit, after which they hastily fell back on the redoubt. The contest at the first redoubt was speedily settled : at the se cond redoubt the resistance was more obstinate. Here the Russians had a deep and secure covered approach, which descended the slope of the cliff, crossed the ravine, and was connected with a like approach from the Mamelon redoubt. • A com plete parallel was thus formed. Zile enemy in the Careening Bay redoubts were evidently dis mayed when they saw the Mamelon Vert fall into the hands of the French, for this prin cipal communication by which supports could arrive to then was thus cut off, and they were not in strength sufficient without reinforce ments to resist with effect the overpowering force of their antagonists. They retired therefore partly by the covered way, and partly towards the slope of the hill, as it falls upon the roadstead, and the work remained in the hands of the French. A large number of prisoners was taken in these re doubts. The number of guns, including some field pieces, taken by the French, is stated to be 24 ; the heavier guns were spiked. As soon as the Mamelon was taken by the French, the order was given by Colonel Campbell for the small force told off for attacking the quarry to advance. One end of the quarry, that looking eastward in a direction towards the Malakhoff Tower, was connected with three parallels which • the Russians had dug in front of the most ad vanced works on Frenchman's Hill to prevent our further advance. The large rifle-pit which the Russians contrived to throw up after " Egerton's pit" had been taken from them, was connected with the foremost of these parallels. When the order was given for our attacking party to advance, the 88th and 7th rushed out from the right of the zigzag approach on the left of our advanced work, the men of the 47th and 49th regiments from the left of the approach. While some rushed up the hill towards the Quarry, others took possession of the enemy's rifle pit and advanced trench. It appeared that the Russians on seeing the attack of the FrenCh against the ,Mamelon had moved along their trenches towards the right, where they became connected with the trenches or other works on the Malakhoff hill, so that the left, that side against which our men advanced, was almost wholly deserted. A trifling opposition met with in the Quarry itself was quickly reduced, and our troops congratulated themselves on having gained an easy victory. Carried away by their enthusiasm, they even advanced towards the Redan, and perhaps, had they been in force, such was the confusion and alarm of the Russians, they might have carried this im- portant work. As it was, the enemy - returned with comparatively powerful reinforcements, and suddenly opened a flanking fire, which compelled our men to abandon the quarry. It was not armed as had been anticipated. A second time cur men moved against this work, and took it from the ene my, who had again entered it ; nor was this the last time, for still later in the evening a third con test for its possession took place, which ended as before in our being victors, but at a severe expense. No . less than 18 officers, and a large number of men, amounting to upwards of half the original attacking force, were placed hors de combat, in cluding killed and wounded. Col. Campbell behaved with the most determined gallantry. He was struck no less than four times, and once so severely by a musket ball, which providentially was prevented from inflicting a more serious wound by striking the front of his sword belt, that he fainted. No thing but the unflinching bravery of the troops could have enabled them to retain the Quarry after 'they had wrested it from the enemy. The ground at the back of the Quarry was, fortunately found to be loose and soft, .so that the working party were enabled to throw up some cover in this di rection without much difficulty. Our exact less is not known, nor will it be until after an armistice has enabled the dead outside to be collected, and communications to be made respecting prisoners. Lieutenant Maclean Lawrence, of the 34th Regi ment, who was wounded a few nights since, was killed. Captains John Peel and Brown Westhead, of the same ree i' iment, and Lieut. S aun d ers were wounded, and Lieut. Clayton is reported to be missing. Of the Royal Engineers, Lieut. Graves Lowry, a g eneral favourite and m os t ac ti ve o ffi cer, was killed by a musket shot, which penetrated the back of the neck. He is said to have volunteered for duty with the storming 'columns whenever a general assault might take place. Lieutenant An derson, 96th Regiment, doing duty as an assistant engineer, was also wounded by a musket ball, but not dangerously. The casualties have been scat tered among so many 'various regiments, and the statements given by those most closely engaged are so imperfect and often contradictory, that until,the regular returns are collected and published, no satisfactory conclusions can be made either as to the extent or precise nature of our losses. The loss of the French is variously reckoned from eleven to fourteen hundred in killed and wounded. Many of their bodies are lying scattered over the Malakhoff Hill. The number of Russians lying upon the Mamelon Hill is immense ; the slaughter chiefly occurred when the French, after their tem porary retirement from the Mamelon Redoubt, re turned with renewed energy to the attack against the Russian reinforcements, and drove them back behind the Malakhoff. The ZouaveA again suffered severely. The 6th regiment of the line is also said to have lost a great proportion of officers. JUNE 8. The working parties have not been idle. The wall of the covered approach leading up to the redoubt on Mount Sapone has been turned, and now faces Aowards Careening bay. The embrasures of the Mamelon redoubt have been converted into lodgments for riflemen on the:sides facing the French. and English frontiers, and some guns, pro bably field pieces, have been turned toward the enemy. The covered approach from the left of the Mamelon redoubt toward the Karabelnaia ravine has been reversed in its aspect, and the French troops are now safely placed under its protection. A new covered approach has been carried up from our advanced zigzag in the right attack to the Quarry, and on all sides our new acquisitions ap pear secure. Several bodies of troops have been observed to .come over from the North side. What bar have also been towed over, conveying what appeared to be stores of ammunition. The enemy have scarcely fired at all from the Redan ; and only four guns have been worked in the Malakhoff batteries. An incessant discharge of shells was kept up all night from our mortars against'these two series of bat teries. Some carcasses were also thrown from our left attack into !the town. As they were dis 'charged from a very advanced position, the charge of powder was not required to be s• great as that which caused them to burst, and destroyed their efficiency, when thrown from the first parallels in the two attacks a few nights ago. A fire at present burning in the town, but seemingly confined to one small house, is attributed to the action of one of these missiles. Various rumours aro prev a ili ng as t o th e i n t en ded opera tions to-night. Among the French a belief prevails that a regular attack is to be made against the Malakhoff hill, while the English assault the Itedan. An attack by the enemy, with a view to recover some of his losses, is not considered un likely. An attempt was made on the Quarry at daybreak this morning, but was quickly re. pulsed. A vigorous fire of musketry from the troops within it, and soma dea dl y discharges freo the four-gun battery near our advanced work 0 0 Frenchman's hill, compelled the Russians to retire. They were in great force. These continued c reverseo cannot but have had a very.dispiriting influence ! their troops, and now that sufficient time 135' elapsed to strengthen our newly-gained pooest tow we have no reason to anticipate any Unard Fi.e 1- suit, even should the enemy advanc e in con siderabl numbers. Strong gales of wind from the north-east, Oa clouds of dust have been sweeping over the cater nearly the whole day. JUNE °' No event of importance took place duewe ring the night. The Russians made no advanc e, their : generally slack : a few shells and occasionally, sem round shot were thrown from the line of batteries th e tending from the west side of Careening Bay to tr Karabelnaia suburb in rear of the Malakhoff bill and were directed against the redoubts now in Pw session of our Allies on the right of Careening 135_1" The shipping also threw a few shells at the Mern: li ion redoubt. Our shelling has been kept , t 11 3,0 night withoutlinterruption, and a heavy fire i li " going on from our batteries. Nothing sure is known of the intentions resP be th ing a further assault, but it w ill probably lrd:n long before the attack is made against e and Malakhoff positions. received here:ll.4 FRANCE. The following telegraphic despatches hav° PARIS, WED/osnAT Etrrolo6 . beam are additional details l9the,f Ethveetvgrs.---broThocoftlywitlerige 4 t MAR SEILLES E R uphrate :—ln the affair of the 7th R hours, with varying upsian battalions defended the Marcelo° 8 .0 i andseveral the adjacent batteries. The conflict ?s e t a e the_ wo edan was very murderous for the Fr: qi r e carried E nglish d battalions, consisting a nd t ":__,' j into the the enemy's ambuscades Peiectrtr 7f great Redan, of which they sPktftel;wards the twenty-Vrrt, 1, l. guns. But the two battalions were a „, the T no u t rk sp s i w ke h d o . occupied the tke m m elon I re ' " e tu ) Th ig e e d d a t o g a f i a n l against t back.the Russians I t Wsa ltsb ch ance s ?F::1:3;711;1 lai t e:2l ;e ilt r i leteer W ere e a ne /f has been 15tb. han e • c ~ k in the Divan was expected for the _, to , nister of Finance,found intact. . At °erliConeestilaenettiinopl ~ o t rtes on .00.rDRID, 19th—The Cortes have aPfq.°.sil. day fromhe ordnance granting a concession q the .5 0, ay Barcelona to Saragossa. 311. Pl7ll'lall - h is financis. r i o is to present 1:, 1 ne rai.. to the C Thursda Ty. ran . the 131 The m • onzteur publishes a notice frora .__, in dressed vernal Exhibition stating that all the siterthe numerous applications having been alreadi fiLiae.a ad plied to. o Napoleon en w th h e i cshuhai o r: t vrvileiryo;llo re, The Bulletin decreegl°,l3: de Lois publishes three epening to the Minister of Public Instracterto late Minister of Marine; qui11415.8 v . . supplementary credit of 52,500 f, fo n t the c„/LAP,SOOf. of the Observatory ; a second, a cre of "v os th e for lat the expenses of the funeral a 31. Do d t to The Bo mbe Minister policeex penses the an o d f the the TEetiibni,tsivii.ing borah.revesls: Tourville, day for the Balti c. Biers examine in Psliv core by Generals GPOlreelireanonrleGs. and t woteenaoemfralehri,soloferf.A.dt loCrgeih:erittacrgeers::::: de Yussul Chabaud-La-Tour •P o A.l - morningwerlsef otheth73elvvOtrheafdo,rn•vover wolf completed, from that place to Algie rs ' 4 3 BC i rpe perele g idriß e l gia n ne C FnF e to n isnv t, Cents Fives Cash.z 59 _657 9 007 st r ir 9 6 3 13h i n i . 6 : 275 .. . . ........... : 8 2 6 : Credit Mo:i°IiURSE. 3 ---,....—: ._6._5 00 SI opusaa ai fins Jinni 20.—CLOSI" Via. End 00100 fr. e. Piedraontese B7 Soros Debt ......... 0 , -" It Y 0-7 0 8 CAS& 10 l ib Orleans 1205 L y ons •• ..... l lso --- Western... 760 Itolloll .............. 8 0 ...:: Cate 656 25 Strasb urg . 60 ...... "''' 612 Mediterranean 1192 50 Havre ................ :: .., Northern _ --- h, in AthleelittfertofnrboimadHet,elssaiynsgf:o_rso(Finlanw, ctelegr3l;o RUSSIA• - Al f the S t The ele cbi las be ° 1 0 fwbneltiliwkeoemn worki rt,h forii s n p tph lace:l Poland an a sd n t, d sf to S au t t . re P s detathyeasr that b u ii. r g b a lettersia ii : o r° os f o F orf i o n tsh l s and riflemen has suffered severely tiie T fr b ° e ln i llsslll.°3il' 250 me over r h a l a tlo v i i st n lha g en d d i sedn mainlande i a n r o thenteh ec d or n al as : tlociact.o i ii : b i : ye by tarts e fo : a ' rr,. Government has given orders to all tb f e vio locl o ; o °l'lB ll enemy's vessels make their appear il " chants residing on th e co ast have the i° as their merchandise into the townft irl, Ti d, 0 f 3 r d. o The commerce and industry of Fi l l ~,,rabl e navigation is concerned, are complete Yr --- SWEDEN• A letter from Hamburg edis h at th e s' a i ll Government is at present stag CO eu"" the f ro ' s tates 0 _ T d o re placing in a respectable state doomdefen an d tbe P ° rious fortified places of the king . o ral al le : e , in which are established the princiPoThtinuedlee, nale. In consequence of the long - e _u 1, somewhat neglected, but the the regular repairs of the fortaifioevdierPnni?ecereisltpirsatils.to:Bl.lo perceived that it could not any ' c ' n , D o ence , g l the such a course, and it hag, in ou s " ers od et s t orders to have considerable orks.eiPo as w ell es , fortresses of Carlscrona and Cartotdig; the 03 1; the fortifications at Molar, A ciefen t numbe r °f Lir to the port of Stockholm. -,-.- v.a n s ts, an d it is s are now employed on thole pOl w mont hs. posed that all will be finished in t 0 ............--- TAI X ' rat nceS ann-- 132 - tid an a the 11 ° dingo Trotti, the present ?an is a A letter from Turin to owe' a ocl tart' division of Alexr,cl.."'3:iarroora in the com.niths General Alexander do l% 4 sardinian army 111 . o of of the 2d division of ' theoefothuentrotl; 1848- 9 . 00 01 0 w ar of a good officer in th . th d e dr fra essuleder6 the C °llll ' uiredgtai l li o e Crimea. General Trotti ac that with regard reputatlo party, announces sion a convents in r1; 00 ppres The Armotiia ° t h a t passed for the en i o n f tsb : ue h the I:: i . os :f t the bishops of Savoy _ ___ of . tbs. 0 0 addressed or their clergy, aPPIY--- session of 0 0010, ing to all usurPe rs / 41 , i f eto er of Trent, which , enacts that dt be iPS ° J -- the 11th chapter of the 22d siastical property ars) considere o communicated. ._,. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 15th °opting. news of interest. The Gazette mention' th e The fittoiret.or dispersal of two small Car list b a t h e to 591,5m3g6,d9e8197t; which on the Ist gay 00011210 to 681,840 160 teals, ' Teal& The committee Of tu r , e i, t vber on the tar' iff's had resolved to propose to the Lit 1 10 rose on the Ist of this nortes to abolish all prohibitions, and to dolor: "-- protecting duty should exceed 40 per dare & f the 18th ................ says—" The , G , W erm e a h n ave Jo b t e t r fo n r a e l u o s f trhrea ntkelotrvoti°-r: which M . de Glinka wrote in Prelfthee3litehtttileff Diet of rankfort the Russian not e ge ° of the l which April. a The sed following saitisdt tVigtighlehri3rae°petithr°lYre;.:jis t au note had been Gofe m rtm o h d ea i np fie ris august sovereign,oainnttfialcucdeepttihnegntya.ciftobepragshirlislhetiabPeiihrhbreeeeirtaraiteetoitiniloit.:: obtained in the ee Danube,erencrs at a ::::: arid t° the w the r wards u s t Russiau re positi o n the h e C ennanvdigaititninonthoaft tthh in the existing political complicatiMie• w h° nt it ins . dogs The intelligence from GermallY "1 13 ; 1 ' at W 414 I much interest. The situation of the °lRerte,o dia still continues the same ; it is imPossible n evi ber• more perseverance in indecision. ft, I ° ,, bind 1, - 6 s evident that Germany does not intenu 0 00 ° " o ti self in any way, and that she Wilt n ot Pt --.00 co-operation to the Western Powers; OP' she will her neutrality to Russia• A aiir CRYSTAL PALACE.—SHILLING DAT --- , jtin. .--1.47iP 1V B S u io iT n aur S z o a n nma payment, 8,898; ditto by season ticim-, total, 10 1 , 76. rrh Pavia A o It ri S e . n —SOUTHA MPTON,-- 4 ;; : c..3110 Soy, left this afternoon with the usual malls w h o 0 are and the Mediterranean, 88 passengers n0304'4'1 gris' Captain_ and Hon. Mrs. Barrington, 'Captain Arle.o for India,.bienson, and Lieut. Johnson, 361,468/. in sP e i c i tt rg e ' 17,9691. for Alexandria, and a genera or The ti Sultan, Captain Burney, with full hhiso on of these mails, is expected to-morrow. Th e o Or Captain Cook, with the mails from Vigo OPer'l4o' bon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, is looked for early 01 the e nor ts This vessel will convey these outward mails to i11e11.,,r0, t on the 27th inst. The Alhambra, Captain ahrhl,"/1. 0 01 new screw steamvessel, bought for thud eninewi' , of Oriental Company by the Messrs. Sam Brother; io Blackwell, of 720 tons burden, and 140.120r3e TOfis'op' expected at Southampton on Monday next. Sh e e taie pointed to convey•the Peninsular Mails, and I fill r the the duties on that station hitherto performai 131 OP Iberia. The United States' Mail steamship Captain Higgins, left this afternoon for New lefic„derh the German. French, and English mails, 250 paso . " and about 550 tone of general merchandise. Iferoloith of which let us examine this sentence for a moment piecemeal, it scarcely matters how cur ,orily. "No mistake" it begins—rather a mild phrase by which to specify those wait ron blunders, those altogether monstrous and ?gregious short-comings which have already cost the country in round numbers, as Mr. BRIGHT took occasion to remind the House of Commons only the other evening, between 30,000 and 40,000 men, and between 30,000,0001. and 40,000,000/. sterling ! "No mistake, however triiiing".-=Good GOD, is the loss of an entire - trmy in a single winter trifling ? Is the destruc tion in one season of some 30,000 men trifling ? Is the squandering of revenue to the amount of 10,000,000/. sterling trifling? Nevertheless, to proceed in the obvious analysis of this unlucky sentence. "No mistake, however trifling, can occur, no want or weakness exist, which is not at once denounced." Not so, we protest ; not so— the word is altogether rashly and inaptly selected. It is not the want which is denounced, it is not the weakness—it is rather the inefficiency of those shameless Ministers whose bungling caused that want, whose timidity and vacillation originated that weakness, that the press of England has been all this while so loudly and earnestly denouncing. Howbeit, to give once more this unfortunate sentence in its entirety. "No mistake, however trifling, can occur, no want or weakness exist, which is not at once denounced, and even some times exaggerated with a kind of morbid satis faction !" As to the " exaggeration "we leave the settlement of that question to the result of the evidence taken from the lips of somewhat credible witnesses, in "number seventeen," before Mr. ROEBUCK'S memorable Committee of Inquiry into the State of the Army before Sebastopol. Corroborated as that ex cathedra evidence is by the ex officio testimony of men such as S. G. 0., or as the Times almoner, or as the Hon. Member for North Northamptonshire. While in reference to the unjust statement that these denunciations have been sometimes " exagge rate d"—ho w ?—why, actually, it is said, " with a kind of morbid satir faction"—THAT we leave implicitly to the conscience of the country, to the sense of justice of thirty seven millions of our follow-countrymen ! Sub mitting it simply to the nation at large, as we do so, whether a brand-upon-the-patriotism like this is precisely the meed which has been deserved by that free Press of England, which was the first to lay bare the deficiences of our noble army in the Crimea, the first to disclose betimes the exceeding peril of its position before Sebastopol. Whereby —from the open speaking of the Press in the sorest time of need the English soldier ever had to encounter—the remnant at least of our first heroic band of warriors was preserved so as to be the nucleus for the formation of a second arma ment. &Tough. It is sufficient for us that we have here selected for analysis but a single phrase, but one solitary sentence from the remark able harangue delivered in the Trinity House, on the 9th inst., by the Prince Consort. That single phrase, and that solitary sentence, we content ourselves with particularising as we have here particularised them, to the end that we may thus earnestly regret the untoward circumstance of his Royal Highness having expressed sentiments so de rogatory to his high reputation for prudential fore thought—implying, as the language of the Prince does, but as we cannot induce ourselves to belief e his Royal gighness could possibly have intended it to do, a Lubt as to the patriotism of our jour nalists, and as to the stability of our Constitu tional Government. Another obstacle in the way of the Marriage Law Amendment Bill bas been successfully en countered. The several amendments of which Sir FREDERIC THESIGER had given notice, with the view, nominally, of preventing the retro spective action of the bill, but really to impede its progress, and cause its virtual rejection, have been disposed of—after several divisions, with majorities varying from 24 to 47—in favour of Mr. HEYWOOD'S clauses. The day was, however, consumed in the conflict against bigotry and intolerance, and there has been a further post ponement until the 10th of July, when we sup pose, in accordance with the tactics hitherto dis played by the minority, the Fabian policy will again be resorted to, with a view of retarding that which c tnnot be entirely - prevented. It is, therefore, indispensable that every friend of civil and reli gious liberty—every person who considers that there should be no undue restriction on the most sacred and highly-prized privilege belonging to a free man, should exert himself to bring this un toward state of affairs to a speedy conclusion, and to sweep away the last, but perhaps the bitterest, remnant of religious intolerance, the foulest blot from the national statute-book. Nay, more, the Government, which professes great liberality, should itself take up the question, and take care that the forms of Parliament should not be resorted to in order to defeat the passing of an act of justice to a numerous body of religious and moral indi- 1 viduals. The voice of public opinion has been long heard in favour of the equitable demand. For a series of years in successive Parliaments the question has been decided over and over again in every possible form in which it could be put, and if the friends of civil and religious liberty were but one-half as earnest and energetic in their proceedings as the bigots who seek to bind the entire body of Dissen ters by a doubtful canon, which is not even ac knowledged by the members of the Established Church, the measure would long since have passed into a law. Unfortunately, however, there is a degree of apathy and indifference amongst many of those who feel correctly, but who will not make any extraordinary exertion to carry their views into practical operation, and thus it has been that the opponents of the bill have been en abled indirectly to extend its passing. This insouciance we desire to get rid of. We wish to stimulate those willing to do justice to so nume rous and influential a body of their countrymen into making the necessary exertion to see that there shall be no further procrastination. This can only be done by every man who asserts the right of private judgment, and who refuses to allow others to dictate to him on matters which are between him and his CREATOR alone, firmly resolving that he will not vote for any candidate, no matter how high his other qualifications, who will net solemnly pledge himself to the repeal of the existing restrictions on marriages with a de ceased wife's sister—that he will not support any Ministry who will :not make it a Cabinet ques tion which they are determined to carry. The theological part of the question has been long since abandoned. None can venture to assert that such connexions are prohibited by the clause, which gives an implied sanction thereto, after the death of the first wife. But as the restriction cannot be justified from the text of " the Bible," it is endeavoured to be sustained on certain canons, which, as we have stated, are not recognised even by the great majority of the members of the Church of England themselves. Now, whatever authority these canons may have so far as Church men are concerned, they cannot exercise the most remote influence on those who conscientiously protest against the Articles and Canons of that ADELPHI THEATRE. Madame Celeste took her annual benefit last night at the above theatre, which was crowded to the ceiling on the occasion. This accomplished lady's claims to public patronage, whether as actress or directress, are too well known and generally admitted to need our advocacy ; and stronger proofs of this could not be wished than were afforded last night by the multitudinous assemblage of her admirers, and the enthusiastic welcome which greeted her first appearance upon the stage. Madame Celeste not only personated her celebrated characters in the dramas of Foreign Affairs and The Pretty Girls of Stilberg with her usual ability, but also rained a new and irc,,ortant success in a piece by Mr. Tom Taylor, called Helping Hands (presented for the first time on this occasion), in which, however, Mr. Benjamin Webster's inimitable delineation of a distressed old musical enthusiast, who loves nothing in the world so much as his Straduarius' violin, and his busts of Bach and Beethoven, which are seized for debt, and ultimately restored to him by "helping hands," was the most pro. minent feature. Mr. Webster, one of the greatest and most versatile actors that our modern stage can boat, has never, perhaps, appeared to greater advantage than in this character, his performance of which would alone suffice to keep the drama of Helping Hands before the public for some time to come. The entertainments were most agreeably varied by the pretty dancing of Mesdames Maraquita, Beaoni, and Spar]. COURT CIRCULAR. Major-General Torrens was presented to the Queen at an audience yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace by the Earl of Clarendon. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, rode on horseback in the morning, attended by Captain the Hon. D. de Ros. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince took a drive in the afternoon in an open landau and four, at tended on horseback by Lord Alfred Paget and Captain the Hon. D de Ros. Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena and Louisa took a drive in an open carriage and four. Colonel Sir Thomas Troubridge was presented to the Queen yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace by Lord Byron, Lord-in-Waiting. Her Majesty gave a concert in the evening, at which the following musical artists—viz., Mesdames Bosio, Ney, Castellan, and Didi6e, Signors Lablache, Tam burini, Gardoni, and Lucchesi, and Herr Formes, at tended and performed a selection from the works of Mozart, Mendelssohn, Weber, Rossini, Meyerbeer, Paer, and other composers. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary ; the He• reditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, and the Duke of Cambridge were present, and a party of 400, including the whole of the foreign Ministers were honoured with invitations. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at half-past nine o'clock, attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Baroness de Spaeth, and Sir George Couper. Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert were conducted by the Marquis of Bread albane, Lord Chamberlain, to the Grand Saloon, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, the Princess Mary of Cambridge, and the Duke of Cambridge, and also by his Highness the Maharajah Duleep Singh, and fol lowed by the general company assembled in tht picture gallery. The concert commenced in the saloon shortly before 0 o'clock. At the conclusion of the concert the Queen and Prince with the Royal family left the Music-room, fol- lowed by her Majesty's guests, to the State Dinner-room, where supper was served with the usual magnificence. Refreshments were also served to the company between the parts of the concert in the Green Drawing-room. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday in the Council-chamber. The appeal from Bom bay, " Nusserwanjee . Pestonjee v. Meer Mynoodeen," was concluded, and an appeal from Bengal, " Gunesh Dull Sing v. Moheehur Sing," was part heard. The Lords present were —The Lords Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, the iChancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, Su. J. Patteson, and Sir E. Ryan. Mr. IIuLLAR's CONCERTS. -Mr. Hullah's eighth and last concert this season took place last night at St. Mar tin's Hall. He relied on this occasion chiefly up on his choral resources, for th ere was no instrumental band, nor any principal vocalists of celebrity. The concert was, nevertheless, highly interesting, and appeared to give perfect satisfaction to a very numerous audience. In another part of our paper, it will be observed that criminal proceedings are being instituted against the partners in Strahan's Bank. Sir John Paul, it appears, has lately been in Paris, whither he pro ceeded several days hack for the purpose, it is stated, of making some arrangement in connection with existing as9ets. A multitude of rumours are in cirulation re garding the extent to which individuals have been plun dered of securities especially deposited with the firm for safe custody, and there can be little doubt that the cases are numerous and of considerable mag nitude. In those which have at present trans pired, the property seems chiefly to have consisted of India Bonds, Dutch Certificates, and other things of that class, which were left open in order that the firm might be able to collect the periodical interest or dividends on account of the owners. Whether any securities are missing from locked boxes is not stated, but the law as it applies to bankers and agents makes no distinction in such cases. Another meeting of creditors of the house was held yesterday at the office of Mr. Brandon, a solicitor in Essex-street, at which many instances were narrated of the heartless sys tmi the partners have so long deliberately pursued. After the meeting of yesterday, however, it was not con• sidered necessary to pass any resolutions, and the dis cussion terminated with the expression of a determination to exercise the greatest vigilance in order that no undue influences should prevent the necessary legal investiga tions from taking their proper course. LATEST NEWS. RUSSIAN DEFENCE OF THE HANGO MASSACRE. ALLEGED SURVIVAL OF ELEVEN OF THE CREW. BERLIN, THURSDAY. The Invalide Busse of the 15th describes the affair at Hango as in accordance with fair play, the Cossack's boat having effected an hostile landing, with all on board armed. The crew were, it is said, suddenly attacked by a body of Russians, secreted behind buildings. They at first defended themselves, but were forced to surrender to superior numbers. Five were killed, and one officer, one surgeon, and nine sailors caged, of whom four were wounded. The boat was sunk, and the boat's flag, together with seven guns and seven cutlasses, taken.* * The Russians were thus unaware of the escape o: the seaman Brown in the boat referred to. COPENHAGEN, JUNE 20. Royal proclamation, published to-day, dissolves the Diet. ALTONA, JUNE 20. A Royal Proclamation has been published pro hibiting enlistments for the foreign legion. The penalty for disobedience is eight years' imprison- ment and hard labour. CONSTANTINOPLE, JUNE 13. J Halil Pasha remains in office. At Kars an attack of the Russians was consi dered inevitable. The Turks have evacuated Batoum and Chou rouk-su. Nassif Pasha has advanced with his general staff to Kars. The French Consul has quitted Batoum. The Russian forces have advanced and en- camped near Red6ut Kaleb. The recruiting for the British Legion pro grosses slowly. VIENNA, JUNE 20. General Count Coronini has gone from the camp in Wallachia to meet the Emperor in the Bukowina, which may be considered as a proof that his Majesty will not go to the Danubian Principalities. KIEL, JUNE 20. The Retribution, Falcon, Cornwallis, Hastings, Hawke, Pembroke, Russell, Biter, Stork, Sky lark, Growler, Grappler, Havoc, Carron, Belcon, and Redbreast, sailed this morning. PARTS, TUESDAY, 8 A. M. The Moniteur announces the convention of the Senate and Legislative Corps on the 2d July. It adds that the Government had already notified that financial measures would render it necessary that they should meet soon. VIENNA, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 21. Prince Gortschakoff has been definitively ap pointed Minister to this Court. M. de Titoff has been definitively appointed Ambassador to the Court of Wurtemburg. GRAND ATTACK ON THE RUSSIAN WORKS. GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. (From the Daily News Special Correspondent.) CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, JUNE 5. A report is going about the camp that a Polish officer of some standing in the Russian service has come over and given important information. Ac cording to the current version of the story, the news of the successes of the Allies in the Sea of Azoff has produced a powerful effect on the Russian Comman ders. For some days past Councils of War have been held, on two or three occasions twice on the same day, at which there has been great diversity of opinion, one party advocating a general attack against the batteries and works of the Allies, another re commending that a passive resistance should be preserved. A. general depression of spirits is said to prevail among the troops, on account of the great amount of sickness, both in Sebastopol and in the camps. A fire broke out in the town, on the left, this morning, in a direction between Fort Alexander and the Quarantine Fort, and the French have been throwing shells for the purpose of preventing it from being extinguished. It does not appear to be spreading. A little alter noon a long convoy of carts made its appearance on the north side, coming from the direction of the camp, toward Fort Sievernaia. About an hour afterwards a sudden explosion took place in the line, and two columns of smoke rose in the air. As far as could be ascertained by the telescope, two waggons, carrying gunpowder, seemed to have been blown up. The enernyagain commenced about 7 p.m., throw ing shot in the direction of the" entrance to the middle ravine. A number of shots have also been thrown on the open space in front of the First Bri gade of the Light Division. No casualty has oc curred. JUNE 6. 7 p.m.—The bombardment opened at 2 p.m., and atremenclons fire has been since directed against the enemy's fortifications. About one o'clock long lines of artillerymen and sailors were seen to be threading their way along the ravines leading to the several batteries. At that time all the guns on the right and centre of the general lines of attack and de fence were silent ; a few guns only were being worked on the extreme left. Some of those were apparently directed from the sea-batteries against four men-of-war steamers, two French and two English, which had approached the shore off Fort Quarantine; the two English vessels appeared like the Queen and London. They were out of range, and the latter was quietly engaged in target prac tice. The balls could be seen in the distance by the splash of the water, ricochetting in a direc tion parallel with the coast. Fort Constantine, from the guns on its roof, was occasionally throw ing a shell over the mouth of the harbour and the opposite part of the town to the French ap proaches near the cemetery. The heat was very great ; notwithstanding the refreshing breeze which was blowing over the heights, the thermo meter, placed o n the ground in the open air, indi cated a temperature of 95 deg. Farh. This com parative stillness continued until just 2 o'clock, when the loud boom of a gun resounded from the French works on Mount Sapoue. These were fol- lowed in quick succession by other guns, the shots being discharged against the Kamptscatka Redoubt on the Marnelon Vert. The Russian redoubts on Mount Sapone (east of Careening Bay) quickly re plied. The guns on the left French attack, next took up the fire, then our guns on the left at tack, and lastly those on our right attack. The combined roar of the artillery was fearfu'ly grand. In a short sp ace o f time, from the French bat teries on th e sea - s h ore , to their works on the Inkerman heights, dense columns of white sm o k e arose, so as a l mos t t o f o rm one continuous cloud, veiling every thing beyond from view. The wind blew from the north-west, and drove the smoke along the ravines and over the hills to the camp, where the atmosphere assumed for some distance the condition and aspect of a fog. The Russians had this time the advantage of the wind being in their favour. Very little could be seen, even although spaces were now and then cleared by particular cur-