The Press.
London, England, 1854-11-11 00:00:00

on the contrary, only make them the more determined and
more fierce. Their universal longing is to storm the whole

place.
Oct. 20.—The trenches of the allies commenced their
fire, as usual, at daylight this morning. The French had
repaired their damages during the night, but still were
terribly overmatched by the positions and strength of the
Russian batteries. The English Crown and Green Mound
Batteries fired a good deal upon the town, but up to ten
o'clock did not succeed in setting any houses on fire. At
that time the magazine of one of the principal French bat-
teries blew up with a fearful explosion, killing and wound-
ing many of their men. A few minutes after this accident a
shell of ours, thrown into the town, caused a heavy explosion,
which destroyed several large houses. I suppose it must
have been owing to the shell dropping upon some powder
tumbril which was passing along the streets to supply the
batteries. Shortly afterwards some of the works round the
dockyard were set on fire with rockets, but were extin-
guished in about half an hour by the soldiers, whom we
could see at work. By this time the French batteries had
again been compelled to slacken fire, and the whole brunt
fell upon the English lines. It is by no means the fault
of the French that their batteries have been compelled to
cease. Whatever the most desperate and heroic courage
could do has been done by them ; but the truth is, the
enemy's batteries are placed on the most commanding
situations, and outnumber them ten to one, mounting also
all 32, b 6, or 68 pounders, while our allies have no heavier
than 16 or 21 pound cannon. It is said that heavy metal
Is to be landed from the French fleet, in order to make up
the furious deficiency of our allies in this respect. Our
lines begin to show the effects of the continued cannonade.
At dusk we are obliged to cease, in order to repair the
batteries, but the enemy fires at intervals all through the
night. Our cannonade to-day has done a considerable deal
of damage to the town, but we have not yet succeeded in
setting it on fire. Three of the guns in the circular earth-
work, with one or two in each of the other batteries, have
also been dismounted, but unfortunately there is little
doubt that by to-morrow we shall find them replaced.
21.—The allies have continued the fight with re-
doubled vigour to-day. During last night the French not.
only repaired their works, but, in order to attack with more
destructive effect, advanced one strong battery about 200
yards nearer the enemy. The Russians had some suspicion
of this work being in progress, and between twelve and one
last night made a sortie for the purpose of destroying it.
Our allies received notice of an extended attack through a
deserter, and were, therefore, in readiness. Directly the
enemy were beard advancing to the work, a heavy cannonade
of shell, grape, and canister was opened on them from the
French batteries, and spread death throughout their ranks.
A perfect panic appears to have seized them on finding
that the allies were prepared. Judging from the confused
sounds, they made no attempt to advance, hut, after an ir-
regular fire of musketry, hastily retired. The French had
only two or three casualties, but the enemy sustained a
rather severe loss. A similar attack was made at the same
time upon our position at Balaklava, but the garrison of
our redoubts round that place were perfectly prepared, and,
as our pickets fell back, received the enemy with a smart
cannonade, which compelled an instant retreat. In this
affair we had only one Turk killed and three wounded.
The Russians lett between thirty and forty dead behind
them.
°cr. 22.—This morning our trenches commenced with
a heavy fire. All the French lines have been opened in the
night, and their cannonade is incessant, and tells with
fearful effect. Two-thirds of the guns in the Flag-Staff
Battery have been silenced, and the enemy are striving to
raise new ones, but the constant fire of our allies prevents
them. Our batteries received orders early this morning to
fire only once in eight minutes. This appears to have
slackened our fire in rapidity, but what is lost on this side
is amply made up in steadiness of aim. Every shot tells.
The explosion of last night in the Circular Battery appears
to have done considerable mischief. Only two of the guns
in it have been worked to-day, and even those fire very
slowly, as if the groundwork of the trenches were injured,
and impeded the movements of the guns. Our stores are
said to be getting short. of ammunition, which has led to
the order for slow firing.
During last night the Lancaster guns on our left were
shifted closer in, so as to enable theni to bear upon the
Tirane Apostles, which has been doing much mischief, and
firing perpet ally. Unfortunately, the men in charge of a
gun moved down the hill at a quick pace, and capsized it
over the two shaft horses, killing both. Owing to this acci-
dent, the carriage of the gun was destroyed, and its chance
of being mounted out of the question for the next two or
three days. No more shots have been fired at the town,
except where it has Leen evident that there are storehouses
and military arsenals. Yesterday evening a flag of truce
was sent in from the enemy for the purpose of pointing out
the locale of the hospitals and hospital ships. As a matter
of course, the officer who was charged with the message
was informed that both should be respected.
The whole results of this day's firing have been decidedly
in our favour. The enemy's works are much cut up, and
they no longer remount the guns which have been once
dismountal. It is evident that their defence is flagging
and that steady courage and perseverance will gain the day,
in spite of all the obstacles of nature and art. It is said
that the French are opposed to any attempt to storm at pre-
sent, or until our trenches have been much further advanced.
In this they are not altogether wrong, for the assault of the
town is certain to be attended with fearful loss and doubt-
ful results. Our trenches accordingly are to be advanced
410 yards further to-morrow night. This will bring us
almost hand to hand with the enemy's redan battery. When
such a contest commences, we know well how it must ter-
minate, and who will stand to their guns best. The enemy
have no chance against the dogged courage of our fellows.
Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar was wounded yesterday
evening b: the busting of a shell. The wound, which is