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

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
IConstantine 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
British 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