The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

ART CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID OF THE
PATRIOTIC FUND.

• •

OP/ACING OF TUB EXHIBITION AND SALE OF
WORKS At BURLINGTON. NOUSE, P ICCADILL Y. —The go-
Tommeat bare wisely granted Me Art Contrantios Assoeia-
tics Om am at a lulus of rooms as the principal Moor of the

above-mentioned stately manias. Aooordiog to the an-
mouneement we made a few days sines, the exhibition of
the numerous works collected by the committee was opened
to the midis yesterday. Considerisg the banana rupee
for whisk the association is formed, and the attreetive cha-
racter of the exhibition, it seams superfluous to say that the
1006111 of the anectiatkos were aunerouly and fishioaably
attended. ♦ Wale better adapted than Barlingtonhoose for
the beneveleat and poutede undertaking I. which the ems-
mitt', are need it would be impossible to And ; and,
independently of other more weighty cottei.ieratioss, the
thanks of the aesornunity are due to the aminiation
for the privilege of inspecting a building lanais
Sir W. Chambers, the arehiteet of llesureetAmmes, truly
dweribed whoa he remarked—" Few in this vast city sun
pen, I believe, that behind an old brink wall in PkadLy
there is one of the east pieces of anhiteetare is Europe."
We hope these wards will penetrate the ears of government,
and shield this truly rare sad besatifal sample of Palla-
dian art from ell sash desserations as "alterations and im-
precisions." The cone of taste eitelaisse against the
exterior of this bullring being temhed.
We (misled* oar present brief anise of this excellent
mediation by listening our readers that sines Its formation,
about Ave weeks dm, it has bees the mane of relieving
twenty-ass widows (etyma having etillihres) of military
and naval diem, the nun of 2,2301. hoots, been devoted
to that purpose, leaving a baleen Ia the hands ef the am
elation of VOL as the 28th of April.

Copy of • Lotter from tko Ussery Secretaries of Jo
Paulette Feud.

"Royal Camiskaion of do Patriotic Toad, 16, Gnat
Georforatroot, Wastiaiaotor, April 13, 1866.

" ClestlemeavLWe us directed by iiiißoysi Highness
Prises Albert to Mem to you the Wake of tie Royal
Cusaiseles ter your very velaable sad eusesefel esertioas,
wild bare ambled then to mist tbe widows sad orphans
et odeers of an teaks. and alael aseistasee hes already pro
dosed very grateful eekaewiedgeteate. —We have tier

Wooer to I;s,gootiossoo, roar obedioat somata,

" (J.lwo[Noumea, 1 Hen seaebuto.
"J. H. •
"To the Minns and Conacittto iftfo
Mutest Artisle Stfilsollo, 121, Pan-10l '

ROYAL ITALIAN OPIRA.—Her Majesty the QUM
sad Prises Albert lionaared the performances at the Biel
Dallas Ogers with their preemies last Madill. The Quota
sad the Priam were amompanied by the Primer Royal
sad the Primeness Adelaide sad Feeders, sad Priam Pieter
of Hohealobe. The royal suite maimed of the Comte.. ii
Desatt, Lard Dalreria, Omen' Smithy, sad Captain De
Plat.
TER DEZIALATZIL—The iron ship Deerslayer,
whisk west wound at the 'Misses to the Messy *beet
six weeks ago, while as her mime from Paraiba to Liver-
pool. sad after remaining a considerable time ashore, was
get el math obrathed, sad clothed, was sold seder lay la the
rerge's Doak, yesterday, with her Wee masts sad hew-
' sprit steadies, for the s of 1,6101.
PIISZXTATION OF A !WONT/ TO MAION-GENZIAL

BaLiss7l3(eii;r4;arral Bersieti having beta mode&
ham the Crisee NI wpm family hasisese, hie aslabharit
at imaley, Laassabisfb, ham availed themselves al Os ar
paelmity. Nam ha moans. ft Few lam with a MN&
same wad. The am at la iminsasmm eabearils/ b dis
imam af aOw der *My, mil as Wedaseday swabs the
mad wes rematiod la Me Femme et a crowded msselei
at Om Ceset4iisse. Mt. Towsely, Tewaelrpmk,
WOOL

I

,717".IZalf"'".

;X P~

, WRAY

THE WAR.

Tlis following is trots a special despstoh of ihs

" WAitsew, 20d.-32,000 Grenadiers are on their
march from Poland into Lithuania. The Emperor
and General &diger are expected. The amnesty
has arrived."

The following despatches are from another source :
"BT. Prreasauzo, 2nd (via Baaux.)—Prince
Gortchakoff writes from Sebastopol, under date of
the 27th alt., that the ere of the Allied Armies had
become moderate, and that the Hessians had este-
at 100 tains (the tams is somewhat over six
feet English) in front of the bastion No. 4, a line of
lodgments which have served to form a trench of
continued communication."
o VI624NA, 2od.—Oeseral von Hess leaves today
to rejoin the army. The newspapers of this city say
that yesterday Count de Baol, Baron de Boarqueney,
and Lord Westmoreland, held a conference, and that

immediately after, Count Buol had an audience of the
Emperor." _

" CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 23.—1 t is reported
that the mission with which MK. Murray and Bor-
rue were charged to the Persian government has hail
lan unfavourable result. On the Persian frontiers
there bad been a great movement of troops. It is
said that Bejsaid has fallen into the hands of the
Russians."
Other accounts from Asia are satisfactory.

Letters from Trebtrond state that 40,000 Circa's-
akin, united to a part of the Ttukish army, were
about to march on MU.

Fortifications were being actively constructed at
!azeroeni.

The Turkish army in Asia has been reorganised by
the exertions of Vasaif Pacha and Williams Pacha.

The Moniteur of yesterday contains the following :
DESPATCH FROM GENERAL CANROBERT.

The Marshal Minister of War has just received
from the General Commanding-in-Chief the army ot
the East to.e letter dated April 16, and the report
dated the 17th, which we here subjoin :
" Monsieur le Maiechal,—l hare the honour to
send you an account seriatim of our operations before
the place.
" After a fire kept up during the day with signal
superiority over that of the enemy, we advanced our
saps, during the nights between the 9th aid the 12! b,
in the direction ot the Flegstaff Bastion, successfully
contending the while against the poets maintained
by strong reserves, which the enemy keeps in his
ambuscades.

"In the night between the 13th and 14th, General
Feheater took efficacious measures for secur-
ing our possession of the ground, in which the
engineers intended sapping towards the central bas-
tion. The operation was divided into two portions :
that on the right, in front of the T (en arant du T),
directed by General Rivet ; that on the lett, towards
the cemetery, directed by General Bretoo.
"At the first, the enemy's ambuscades were carried
with great vigour by tour companies of the 46th,
under the orders of the Chef de Bataillon
Julien, and a company of the bth Chasseurs (Lieut.
Coin* The enemy's resistance was moat strenuous,
and his reserves made several offensive rallies, which
could not triumph over the resolution of the com-
panies engaged. Supported by a detachment of the
Foreign Legion (Captain Robert), by two companies
of the 42nd (Captain Brauregard), and a company of
the 14th (Lieutenant Stove), they valiantly kept
their ground. The ambuscades, notwithstanding the
solidity of their conntruction, were razed. On the
left and in the rear, the labour of the engineers was
protected by three companies of the 26th, under the
orders of Captain Michel, who had taken excellent
dispositions, and who was wounded at the head of
his men.

" While these events were taking place, General
Breton caused to be carried on the loft, with the
same energy and success, all the Russian ambuscades
of the cemetery by six companies of the 98th, com-
manded by the Chet de Butaillon Otemion. These
companies, reinforced during the action by two others
of the 9th battalion of Clamours, exhibited the most
remarkable impetuosity and calm bravery. The 98th
(23rd light regiment) bad here a brilliant debut. The
enemy recoiled atter a very hot fire, before which
our troops did not flinch for an instant. These am-
buscades were occupied and rued like thoes on the
right.
" Protected by this double operation vigorously
carried out, the engineers were enabled to trace their
lines and carry on their woilt4 with activity. A new
parallel was formed, from which we expect to derive
very great advantage.
"We had in this nocturnal affair, which was a
very sharp one, and reflecting the greatest honour
on our troops, 40 men killed, 4 of them officers, and
117 wounded.

"As for our saps towards the Flagstaff Bastion, the
effects of the enemy's artillery, acting at a very shoe
distance, rendered them nearly impossible, or, at all
events, they were practicable solely on condition
of our res,gning °omelets to continual losses.
In this situation we endeavoured to form • trench
half-way between our third parallel and the salient of
the bastion, with the help of our fourneassz de mine,
which had been suitably placed for this purpose.
They were fired in the evening of the 16th. The
operation was completely successful. The officers
and sippers of the engineers immediately contrived
to lodge themselves in an immense pit, averaging
four metres in depth, a pit of which the enemy has
not disputed our possession. His troops lined the
fortiAostioe, and opened a very hot fire of musketry
and artillery.
" Our mortars, in their turn, rained down bombs
on the enemy's assembled troops, and I have been in-
formed by a deserter, who was a non-commissioned
officer, that the • suffered great losses there.
Our workmen, ough in • difficult position, laboured
actively in this ploughed-up ground. in order to com-
plete as much as possible the orown-work of the
efeloresoire, and connect the new trench with the

third parallel. Last night the troops continued this
work with ardour. One hundred picked men of the
74th now occupy this fourth parallel by day.
" In the midst of these painful combats and labours
the troops have always shown the firmest attitude
sod the best spirit. Goosed Ptlimier, who com-
mends on the lett, is extremely welled with them.
•it the right, on the side of the Malakhoff tower.
the superiority of oar artillery has been equally main-
tained, but without succeeding in silencing that of
the besieged, except, however, in the two counter-
approaches of the Caresoing Ray, which have sot
Bred for the last two days. In this part of our
attack, as in the other, we advance slowly, perfecting
our existing trenches, and leaving nothing to chance.
The fin of a Dew battery meted in front of the
aountor-approach, called the Orem Masseloa, cum-
mended yesterday morning, sad is producing good
effect& -

—"
Frogs the reports of deserters the garrison has
sustained considerable losses, and the naval gunners,
forming the most vital portion of it and exhibiting
mast spirit, have particularly suffered. The Central
and Flagstaff hastiest) are seriously damaged. The
whole of their gam were often rendered unserviceable.
but the almost usexhamtible resources of the plane in
artillery have not failed it yet, and every night
thossands of workman premed to make the repairs
that are the most urgent.

Before Sebastopol, Aprill6.
" Monsieur le Marechalr—General Bizet has just
suomenbed, at the very moment 1 wee receiving on
all aides the assurance of his being nearly oat of
danger.
"His death is a real public misfortune; it is a
grief for the whole srmy. General Bizet enjoyed
le it a portlari.y meet hoeourably acquired. He
carried his love of duty to enthusiasm, and for six
maths we have seen him toiling day and night, de-
ploying amid the mast arduous diMealtiss the most
extraordinary calm, insets' fortitude, perseverance,
and serenity. Oar soldiers all knew him; they ad-
mired his ardour, hie bravery hot as that of a sub-
lieutenant, and they were sawed to see him every
day returning from the trenches, where ho had
braved dupes with that iadahms• sad abase-

71,4 I

7'l

,it~'i

Ifi.frElstlNG, MAY 4, 1

taboo that stamps* his merge with a. peculiar &a-
-1 roam

"I should never end, Monsieur le Marechal, if I
were to tell you here all that this excellent man was
amongst us, and all the regret his lass occasions.
His mind, full of resources and original conceptions,
constantly showed itself equal to the task we are
performing.
" I am, Monsieur le Marechal, the organ of the
Crimean army in reeking known to you the claims
that this general officer had acquired on the gratitude
of the Emperor.
"It is also a duty for me to remind you of all that
the Engineer Corps has deserved and deserves every
day in this memorable siege; and to renew ;o you
my urgent request that the services of these officers,
no less brave than skilful and devoted, may be amply
recompensed."

SEBASTOPOL.- JOURNAL OF
THE BOMBARDMENT.

(1101 t TUB SPICL&L

/411111.)

MI DAILY

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Aram 21.
I resume my narrative of the leadiog events of the
siege. The present enclosure embraces the operatiocs
of the past week.

APRIL 14.—Notwithstanding frequent fogs and
showers, the fire irons the batteries has been active
during the whole day. The enemy appears to have
been adhering to the policy of reserving his fire as
much as possible. The hfalakhoff and Mameion
works, and the batteries between them and Careen-
ing Bay, have been remarkably silent. A very con-
stant fire has been kept up by the French works
against the two Russian redoubts recently thrown up
on the east side of Careening Bay, and their fire ap-
pears to have been in a great degree silenced. The
butte ' on the opposite side of the roadstead have
replied, however, with energy; but, it is said, have not
been able to effect any damage to the French batteries.
The Reda°, and adjoining batteries to the left as far
as the Barrack flattery, near the South Harbour, have
been the most unremitting of the Russian works in
replying to the English guns. Their works appeared
to be much injured, and several guns must have been
disabled ; but towards sunset, as if to show
that they had been able to replace them
by others, they flied a round, sending a
shot from each embrasure in ,accession. In the
same wsy they fired an evening salute from the em-
brasures of the Hamlett) Redoubt. A vigorous dis-
charge has been maintained from the French
batteries on the left, and the part of the town in tace
of the right section of their attack appears a mass of
ruin. It is stated also that a very favourable impres-
sion is being made by the French works against the
Russian batteries connecting Quarantine Fort with
the Central Bastion on that side.

There is a rumour going round the camp that a I
spy in the pay of the Commander-in• Chief has
brought intelligence of the town and fortiti •ations
having been very seriously injured by the bombard-
ment. The barracks in the dockyard, which used to
show until lately a vast number of lights at night,
seem to be deserted, for these extensive ranges of
buildings are now left in total obscurity after sunset.
Some of the large shells, weighing each upwards of
two hundred pound., including their bursting dis-
charge, thrown from the 13-inch sea-service
mortars on Frenchman's-hill, have fallen it not
into, at any rate close to, these buildings, and
must have inflicted great damage to their structure.
The eminence on which the Redan is placed prevents
the full effect of these projectiles from bring observed
in front, and the Malakhoff-hill and other irregulari-
ties. in the ground obstruct the view of the arsenal
mid dockyard buildings from other positions on the
right. Latterly these sea service mortars have been
directing their lire against the works on the Male-
khoff-hilL

----
Among our casualties to-day was Captain John
Edward Michell, of the Royal Artillery, who was
killed by a round shot in the right attack. Ensign
Horatio Preston, 88th Regiment. received a mortal
wound while in the advanced work of Frenchman's-
hill, and died about halt an hour afterwards. He
was quite • boy in age and appearance, and bad only
been with the corps just long enough to endear him-
self to all his brother officers. A ball freer one of the
Russian riflemen found its way between two gabions
and struck him in the body u he was walking along
the trench. Several sailors and artillerymen were
wounded in the batteries, and a few men of the
covering parties in the advanced works by the fire'
from the enemy's ambuscades.
APRIL 16.-A constant discharge of shells was
kept up during the night against the enemy's works.
The fire during the day has been much the same in
intensity from the siege batteries, but has been more
active on the part of the Russians. A small three-
gun battery between the Redan and Barrack Battery,
early in the morning, particularly distinguished itaelt
by the frequency of its fire ; but some well-directed
shots were sent against it, and after a time it was
completely silenced. In the wane of the morning a
shell which fell just within the salient angle of the
Redan burst and blew up a platform, and must have
damaged the neighbouring guns. A couple of shells
which burst one after the other just within the Bar-
rack Battery appeared to do great execution, and for
a time stopped the Are from this work altogether : it
had previously been directing a heavy cannonade
against the batteries on Greenhill.
In the afternoon Fort Constantine fired three shots
against • small steamer as it passed from the north-
ward toward the fleet, which was lying off the coast
between Quarantine and Bamiesch Bays. The
steamer was just oat of range, and passed on
unhurt.
Captain Crofton, of the Royal Engineers, who re-
ceived a severe fracture of the thigh from a round
shot on the 12th instant, died to-day. His constitu-
tion had been much impaired by service at Hoag-
' Kong, and to this fact, in • great degree, is attn.
bated the fatal result of the injury. General Bigot,
of the French Engineers, who has throughout the
' siege been particularly prominent in all the sogi-
' neenag operations of our allies, alai died to-day
from the effects of a wound. About a week previous,
while in one of the advanced works of the centre
(British) attack, be was struck by a rifle ball in the
taw. It penetrated deeply, but effected an exit
through the opposite (lurk. Severe inflammation
followed, and led to his death. Hs is deeply
regretted, not only by his own countrymen, bat by
all who were acquainted with him in the British
service. He earnestly cooperated with Mejor Gor-
don and the other commanding Royal Engineers
during the earlier period of the siege in the prepara-
tion and execution of the several works. Latterly he
has been constantly occupied in superintending the'
advance of the new approaches towards the Hameln°
and Malakhoff hills. Major Gordoo, who has not
quitted his tent in cusp, as feet recovering from his
wounds.
We had floe, dry weather, with a westerly wind
to-day, until the approach of evening, when the sky
became clouded, aid rain tell.
Aran, 18.—An active shelling was continued all
night, and a heavy flee from all the batteries opened
at daylight.
The French sprung a mine last evening to the left
of the Flagstaff Bastion. The gunpowder appeared
to have bees injured by the continued rain of the
previous day, and the result was not so satisfactory
as had best anticipated. A considerable portion of
the enumy's earthwork was, however, scattered, and
a space @ancient for effecting a lodgment was cleared.
At a later hour the Russians made a sortie in strong
force against the right of the advanced French line,
and after a severe contest were successfully repulsed.
The number wounded smug oar allies is said to
have been greater than usuaL The Russians
mast have suffered severely before they
reached the shelter of their ambuscades.
Shortly after the fire of subtly commenced
on the left, the attack gradually extended itself until
it reached the line of &dressed works of the
French on the right. The essmy did not come
I against the British part of the line in force, and was
easily repulsed. They appeared rather to be recon-
noitring, to moortila it our minks was out the alerts

They were compelled to retire, with inanely any
casualties on our side. In repelling same of the
enemy from before the advanced work on French-
man's-hill, Captain Donovan, of the 33rd Regiment,
accidentally injured himself. He had discharged one
barrel of his revolver against a 'Lamaism in front of
him, and was about to fire at another a short time
afterwards when some one fell against him ; he was
in the act of raising his pistol at the time, and the
shock caused it to go off. The ball entered his foot,
and the injury will very probably disable him for
several weeks or a longer period.
An explosion occurred in our right attack about
half past 2 p.m. Fortunately it was only the expense
magazine which suffered, and there was bat a small
amount of gunpowder in it at the time. The work—
a new 8-gun battery near the advanced work, and
which was only opened three days previously—was,
therefore, not damaged materially ; bat one man was
killed, and several were wo.inded. Among the
wounded was Lieutenant William Norris, lately
transferred from the first to the second oattalion of
the Me Brigade. He was struck in the chest by a
fragment of stone, and it is hoped that the effects of
the injury will be only of • temporary nature. The
explosion was caused by a shell from one of the
enemy's howitzers, which passed through an em-
brasure and entered the magazine by the wall at its
aide.

The 10th Hussars have been landing to-day. They
have only lost 18 horses since the regiment left Bom-
bay. Colonel William Parlby, commanding, being
some months senior to Colonel Lord George Paget,
4th Light Dragoons, will now take charge of the
Cavalry Division, and Lord George Paget resume
the command of the brigade of Light Cavalry. The
10th Hussars are to be attached to this brigade.
The day has been flee and mild, but on several
occasions a thick mist has passed over the plateau,
without remaining longer than fifteen minutes, or
halt an hour. at a time.

APRIL 17.—There has ben no change in the
character of the siege opetations to-day, and I have
not heard of any occurrence in the batteries worthy
of note. The 8-gun battery near the advanced work
on Frenchman s-hill, which was injured by the ex-
plosion in the expense magazine the day before, was
repaired last night, and all its guns are now in work-
ing order. The fire, both in our right and lett
attacks, has been slackened. It is raid that the
present stock of limes is nearly expended, but that
• vessel bringing a fresh supply is hourly expected.
I he fire of the French on the ;eft continues active.

A body of Russian cavalry, supposed to be about
400 strong, and some columns of infantry, made a
reconnaissacce to-day in a direction toward Heistlava.
They approached from Tchorgnna, but took care not
to advance within range of our guns.
Several visitors have arrived lately, and inspected
the camp and scene of operations before Sebastopol.
The Earl of Selkirk is among their number. A
stranger will now find a state of things very dif-
ferent from the condition which existed two or three
months ago.
There was a dense fog last night, and as it cleared
away the day became sunny, bright, and warm. In
the afternoon a north wind again brought dense
mists from the sea, and as they swept rapidly by
the eon became obscured, and the atmosphere damp
and ch.lliog. These sudden changes of temperature,
and variation, in the condition of the air, are very
trying and injurious to the constitutions of invalids,
and even the healthy require to guard against their
influence.
Theelectric telegraph wire being now submerged, I
and a communication established between. Varna and
Cape Sr. George, it is hoped that a very short time
will elapse before the whole line to Vienna will be
completed. A message may then be transmitted
from the Crimea to Vienna in two or three hours, or
from the Crimea to London in about eight hours.
Similar means of communication are already in active
operation between Lord Rsglan'a head-quarters and
Balsklava, the right and left siege train depots, and
our right attack. Mesuges can be sent from the
station at any one of these points. The French con-
tinue to employ semaphore*.
APRIL 18.—There was scarcely any firing from the
bat tries last night. A heavy fog cleared away soon
alter sunrise, and a warm fine day followed.
Csptaiu rederiok King, of the Royal Engineers,
was wounded by a rifle bell last evening, near the
advanced work of the right attack. The ball entered
near the hip, and has not been extracted, but the sur-
geons do not apprehend any serious results from the
inj
Ameetingu for athletic games and contests among
the men of the Light Division took place to-day, on
the slope of the hill between the Picket House and
the ground occupied by the 90th and 97th Regi-
ments. About 30 prizes were distributed. The usual
exercises of wrestling, leaping, running, and trials
of strength, were engaged in.
The mail doe on the 16th instant is not yet deli-
vered. The bag for head-quarters arrived safely
yesterday, but the rest of the letters have been de-
tained by some accident, the nature of which is not
known at the Post-office.
Our fire from the batteries has been very slack to-
di—about thirty rounds having been discharged ft om
each of the comparatively few guns in action. Nearly
the same number of rounds was fired yesterday. The
French fire on the left has continued to be more
energetic than ours. The enemy has repaired much
of the damage which has been done to their works,
and though to-day some destructive practice has been
made against the Mamelon and Mslakhoff batteries,
yet generally the works appear as complete, and
almost as well ordered, as when the fire began.
It is evident now that the intention of assaulting,
at least for the present, is abandoned. Several days
ago an attempt might have been made. The great
Restart was supposed to be practicable on Friday or
Saturday last; it is manifestly not so now. We shall
not, with our present siege materiel, in all probability
reduce the fire from the fortifications to the same ex-
tent as it was then reduced. Gunnery on our side
has almost done its utmost.
Under these circumstances a new field is °pomad—
e new plan of operations required. What this is to
be is, perhaps, still under eonsideestioa by the
commanders themselves; but it is manifest that,
while a sufficient force remains to protect this posi-
tion and carry on the siege, a portion of the army
will have to leave and commence a new campaign
elsewhere. The ease of contest will he in part
changed; our soldiers are likely to see some of the
vaunted beauties of the southern and south-eastern
parts of the Crimea. In the meantime, the progress
of the siege works against the fortifications is not
arrested; on the contrary, the attack by regular
approaches continues to be systematically and ener-
getically advanced. Our allies on the right are
slowly, but surely, gaining ground, inch by inch,
toward the Mamelon and Ms fakhoff Tower ; we, in the
same way, are sapping up to the Redan and works
round the arsenal ; while on the left, again, the
French are fast closing upon the outer line of de-
fences surrounding the town itself. We most wait for
further events.
Aram 19.—The mail arrives, with papers to April
the 2nd.
There is a marked change in the weather today.
A cold, stormy wind, at times increased to a gale, is
blowing from the north, and the sky is clouded and
overcast.

_
The fire freak oar batteries is mach diminished; the
French fire on the left still continues active.
A reconnaissance was made to-day toward Tahoe-
The troops consisted of a mixed force of
iretb, English, and Ottoman regiments I &boat
four hundred of oar cavalry, among whom were
two squadrons of the 10th Hussars, taking part in
the expedition. The remainder of the cavalry con-
sisted principally of the amateurs d'Afriqes. The
infantry was furnished from the Ottoman troops
lately arrived in the Crimea. A French battery ac-
companied the force. Skirting the line of hills by
Namara, they proceeded toward Tohorguns, where
a few shots were exchanged by the mart forward
skirmishers, and returned along the valley. It was
stated that the chief object of the reconnaissance
was to show Omer Naha the ground. As the body
of troops retired some Canada advanced, but were
compelled to return by the discharge of somerockets
from a French battery on the right Bank overlooking
the %Oakley' valley. Two marines, who from mo-
tives of curiosity had advanced too far toward Ka-
mars, were taken prisoners, and though their clap- i
tore were pursued, they effected as escape with their
Paw
APZIL 10.—A very gallant attack wan tends last
night on sons lissom nib pits in front of the new

approaches being carried on from the silenced work
oa Frenchman'.-hill : and though the undertaking
was successfully accomplished. this MOOSUP MO
purchased at a costly sacrifice. It was at first ar-
ranged that part of the force under Colonel Yes, 7th
Fusiliers, told off to guard the advanced work, '
should make the attack, Colonel Egerton, 77th Regi.
meat, being in reserve with 260 men of his regiment ;
but this plan was subsequently changed, and the
affair entrusted to Colonel Egerton himself and his
men.

Several weeks have now elapsed since the new ap-
proaoh alluded to was commenced. It was made to
extend from the left of the advanced work on French- -
msn'e-hill (right attack), and the zigzag had not pro-
ceeded far forwards, when the Russians cootnved
OM night to throw up a large ambuscade in front of
ft. Subsequently another was placed still further off
which, in turn, was covered by other ambuscades
that had been for a long time established by the
enemy on the verge of the hill, where it loses itself in
the dip of the ravine. The two rifle pits nearest to
the zigzag approach were together capable of holding
about 120 men, and the foremost, that nearest to the
work, in particular, was the object of last night'.
operations. It was necessary to secure this pit, as it
lay in the proposed hoe of the advancing trench,
which was being sapped towards it from an angle on
the left. Its distance in front of the line of trench
last finished was not more than twenty-five yards.
It was so close, that a few days since the Russians
tossed an empty glass bottle from it among oar
mar in the trench t and they in return, not wish-
ing to expend uselessly their ammunition against
the enemy who were securely protected behind
the wall of the ambuscade, had contented themselves
by pitching over some stones. This pit was about
160 yards in front of that part of our advanced work
from which the zig-zag had started, and about 600
yards from the &den, towards which the Mg-sag Wes
approaching. Not tar off, between it and the ahattie
in front of the Redan, is a large quarry with ninny
I loose moues scattered about: this quarry at night is
always occupied by Russian riflemen.
Shortly after nice o'clock Colonel Egerton gave
directions for his men to move against the that am-
buscade, having previously ordered that it was to be
carried at the point of the bayonet. The night was
dark and favourable for the enterprise. It was
arranged that the partite attacking should advance
in two columns, so as to surround the pit. Captain
Gilby led the left column, and Captain Lempriere the
right. Scarcely any resistance was made at the first
ambuscade, from which the enemy was no sooner
driven than the at'ack was carried on against the
second. This was so quickly accomplished that had
it not been for some inadvertent shots which gave
the alarm, the second pit would hive been captured
with almost the same ease as the first. As it was, the
Russians in this pit received the advancing party with
a volley, and being reinforced by some men, probably
those who had been concealed in the quarry, for some
time made resistance. A struggle ensued, which termi-
nated in favour of the English troop'', by whom the
ambuscade was then occupied. The working parties
from the 55th Regiment now advanced the saps up to
the first pit, and means were adopted to protect the
ambuscade beyond, so as to prevent the Russians re-
gaining possession of it. Could they have got it,
they would have annoyed the working party near
the first pit by the fire of their rifles. It was too far

to hope to sap up to it, also. The garrison was now
aroused. The Russian. who escaped had barely time
to reach their main supports, when confused noise
and the rolling of drums told that the enemy was
gathering in force, and preparing for attack. Nearly
two hours elapsed, however, before the enemy were
observed to advance in four dark columns; and shortly
after, two field-pieces, charged with grape, were
bought to bear upon the ambuscades. Previously a
few shells had been thrown up, apparently from some
ships in the creek, and the Redan had also fired
several shots. The first pit had been turned by the
time the field-pieces were brought, and was now
secure. After these guns had discharged their flre, the
Russian columns t ushed on. The we'll, gallant band
protecting the more distant pit, finding themselves
overpowered by numbers, tell back on the first pit.
The enemy still came forward, and attempted to
take this, bat was received so warmly that he fell
back, and contented himself with recovering posses-
sion of the second ambuscade; but Colonel Egerton
determined cot to permit him to hold even that pit
without another struggle, notwithstanding the dispa-
rity of numbers, and was in the act of gathering his
men for a second charge against the work when a
rifle ball struck him in the angle of the mouth, and
he fell mortally wounded. One single groan, and
life was extinct. At the first attack he bad been
struck by a bullet in the side, which, though it in-
flicted no wound, oinked him to feet faint, and com-
pelled him to lie down for some minutes. He is
reported to have discovered the bullet among his
clothes, and to have placed it in his pocket, with the
intention of preserving it as a memento. After the
death of Colonel Egerton the attack on the second
ambuscade was abandoned. The large pit,which was
immediately in front of our work, was now connected
with the approach, and its front turned toward the
enemy. Colonel Egerton was not the only
victim. Captain Andley LempriAre, a lad in
years and appearance, the darling of his company,
and a general favourite in the regiment, also fell in
this affair. He received a wound in the body, and
on falliog, Colonel Egerton caught him up in his
arms as if In had been a child, and calling out," Make
war, men, while I carry my poor boy-captain away,"
took him to the trench in rear. But he was dead
when he laid him down. This happened at the tint
attack. It is related that when there was a hot fire
near the second rifle pit, some men hesitating to
ado oe were seen by young Lempriire, and that he
called out "Come on, come on," and that the men at
ones obeyed the call, and said, " Yes, we'll follow
you anywhere." Officers and men all behaved most
gallantly, and the 77th have gained fresh laurels in
' this affair. Lieutenant Knight distiognished himself
at the first attack, by jumping on the parapet of the
' anitinteade, and into the midst of the Russians within.
He yet escaped unhurt.
/ Colonel Egerton's death is a severe loss to the disi-
sion of the army with which he had been associated
through the whole campaign, the Light Division, but
more especially severe to the regiment of which he
I had been so long the chief ornament. Of Herculean
frame and strength, with courage in proportion, of
singular independence of character, he was devoted
' to his profession, and to the welfare of the mew
' ander his command.