The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-16 00:00:00

PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEK.

On Tuesday there will be a review in %admit
Park, and a greed banquet at the Castle in the easel's,
On Wednesday there will be an Investiture of the Ginn
and afterwards a grand banquet, at which several of the
knighta of that illu-arious order, and thtir ladies, with the
great of of Stove, will be present.
On Thursday the Emperor will take his departure
Windsor by the South Western Railway for Buckieglaak
Palace, where he will receive the corps diplomollps, skit
which he will proceed to the Guildhall to receive the 144,1,4
of the corporation and the freedom of the City. Re wig
return by Cheapside, Fleet-street, Strand, Pall-mall Pass%
Regent• , Piccadilly, to Hyde-park-comer, s
Constitution-hill. In the evening their Imperial Majesty'
will accompany the Queen to the Royal Italian Opera.
Oa the Friday they will accompany the Queen to the
Crystal Palace at Norwood. In the evening there will bet
greed party, ball, and concert at Buckingham Palace. •
And on Saturday the illustrious visitors will take gait
departure for France.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.-THE IMPERIAL
VISIT.

The arrangements at the Crystal Palace for-the
reception of her Majesty and her imperial geese on Friday
next are in rapid progress, and will. when completed, be is
every way worthy of the occasion. Sir Joseph l'extenaog
his numerous staff are indefatigable—fresh walks are Wag
prepared, trophies erected, orchestras arranged, and katti-
-11101114 balconies are in course of construction. A maguillirat
Mike of reception rooms has sprung into existence at the
Queen's entrance, almost as if by magic, doing iafmito
audit to the taste and judgment of Mr. Cram, to obi*
their preparation has been entrusted, and to the liberality
of the directors. They consist of one magnificent saloochr
the royal and imperial visitors, handsome reception rasa
for the suite, and dressing rooms replete with every toilette
luxury for the ladies. We have seldom seen a handiest
interior than that preseated by the royal Wan. Ybs
decorations are of the Renaissance period,resplendeat ia
end colour, relieved on a dark chocolate greaet,
and having the centre of the ceiling painted in a high styli
of art. The tables, chairs, and mirrors are of proper/dente
magnificence, and cannot fail to meet the approval of see
illustrious visitors. The apartments for the equerries and
dame* rr /armour are plainer in tbeir decorations, bat still
extremely elegant, and tie boudoirs have been image;
more with a view to convenience and utility than decorative
effect. In the large space recently occupied al so expisi.
'mental picture gallery, a luxurious buffet will be sprcd,
capable of entertaining sixty or seventy persoar,and to witch
only the royal and imperial party, the more distingaigag
members of the respective suites, and the foreign slaw.
'adore will be admissible. The arrangements for genet
*Worsen the 20th contemplate only mason ticket Malin,
shareholder', and exhibitors. To the two latter clusesemis
ad admission will be sent, and the tickets will admit Ms fin ti
named as usual. To those of the public who, not kin
ticket-holders, may wish to be present on the maim of
the imperial 'hit, tickets for the unexhausted portion of the
present year will be issued at the rate of one guinea each,
and should the purchasers wish Vs renew them at the Cad
the month, a farther charge of one guinea only will be
demanded, so that persons availing themselves of this pet-
tiness will be in a slightly batter position than those wbe
bad taken their tickets at the commencement. It is expected
that the extraordinary interest of the occasion, and the
reduction in price, will create an immense demand SX'
tickets. As may be seen by the advertisements, the gnaads
will be open front is n in the =ruing, but the interior of the
building will be closed to the general public until the royal
party have retired to luncheon, when the darn will In
thrown open. It is hoped that under these circutastsxml
the public will be their owa police, ranging themselves
decorously on each side of the nave and transept,
in which case every one will be gratified wijb a
eight of our illustrious guests, while the latter will sot
be incommoded or annoyed. Proper steps will of cows
be taken by the authorities to carry out this anisge•
ment, but the friendly co-operation of the public will wet
Aerially facilitate their succors. There will naturally be a
lively curiosity on the part of the latter to see the Emmet
and Empress, but as the company must be, from the term
of adzirsion, comparatively select, there are many reasons*
expect that that eeriest., will in no instance be permitted
to trump/rem the bounds of politeness and good tails.
These who come early will have their patiecce somewhat
taxed, se they will hardly gain admission to the interior
before half-pr ►t ens o'clock, but the basement story will be
thrown open, end imply supplied with refreshments, ander
the experienced direction of Messrs. Staples, who viii
maks sufficient errangemeots for the refection of thou-
peeted influx of company. Bands will be stationed la
various parts of the grounds, and various nerd decorations
will give gaiety and variety to the scene. It should he
mentioned that among the temporary erections it prove*
is a large balcony over the garden front of the great transept,
from which the royal and imperial party will have an en.
cellist view of the unrivelled prospect, and in their teas
may be men by all the company assembled on the terrace.

OUR ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL

(711011 A

07 TRI DAILY

imws.)

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, MARCI 31.

The general bombardment of Eiebastopo 1 has not
yet bees renewed. Its probable date is still a sub-
ject of rumour and speculation, but, judging from
the rut stores of ammunition which have been ac-
cumulated, and are still being carried to the batteries,
both of the French and English attacks, it is in-
tended to be undertaken very speedily. There is a
prevailing impression that the opening has been de-
layed, pending some turn in the diplomatic negotia-
tions in progress at Vienna. In the mean time, the
Russians continue to strengthen their position, es-
pecially in the neighbourhood of the Malakhoff Tower,
and their new advanced works. They have com-
pleted an entrenchment from the Mansion Redoubt
down to the valley near Careening Bay on one
side, on the other to the middle or o:chakot ravine.
This line nearly bisects the Mamelon-hill. The rifle
pits close to the French line, have been connected
and formed into a deep trench, and seven or eight
other large ambuscades have been thrown up on
either side, stretching back in a direction towards
the new line of entrenchment .cross the hill. A new
line of work has also been commenced intermediate
between these two entrenchments. The new rifle-
pits on the right of the ItUdilllD position extend in a
line nearly parallel with the direction of the middle
ravine, atd are close to the verge of the hill above it.
They nearly correspond in &fiction with oar new
line on the opposite side of the ravine connected with
the advanced work on Frenchman's-hill. A constant
rifle fire is kept op between these two positions
Much execution moat have been done against the
enemy's riflemen by the firs of two field pietas which
have been taken down to the advanced work and
directed against the ambuscades. 'I here have been
scarcely any casualties on our side.
The new batteries on the Malakhoff Tower-bill
are making progress. The enemy has lately con-
structed • two-mortar battery to the right of
the Malakhoff works, the fire of which has
been chiefi/ directed against the 21-gun battery on
Frenchman s-bill. On our side, and on that of the
Allies, great advance has been lately made; and
when the general attack is renewed, the enemy
will, in all probability, be as much surprised by the
position as by the power of the new batteries. The
firs from the Russian batteries has been much more
active during the last taw days than it had been for
a week or ten days previously. There is now com-
munication by electric telegraph between the right ot
the British attack and the head quarters of the Com-
mander-in-Chief, and any important movement of the
enemy is inrently announced by officers specially
appointed to exercise constant observation over the
works around &beat opol and the army on the northern
heights. Semaphores have also been erected along
the whole line of the French and English position, so
that the speedy transmiarion ot intelligence is ensured
on all sides.

The health and condition of the troops in camp are
now very favourable. Cases of fever are not unfrequent
in the field hospitals, but they are not of a serious
nature. Orders have been given to facilitate the
observation and proceedings ot the gentlemen sent
from England on the sanitary commission. The I
state of the camp is everywhere much improved, I
especially in respect to all the minute, details. Lime- I
kilos have been made, and • supply of quicklime I
thus ensured toe sanitary purposes. la some general
matters more attention is still required than has
hitherto been devoted to them. The supply of water is
one of these; and now that the numbers of the army,
and of those associated with it, are so greatly in-
creased, it is more than ever a subject of importance.
There cannot be • better example for illustrating the
providence and care of our allies in the managements
of general matters in the field as compared with our-
selves, than the attention paid by them to the econo-
mica preservation and cleanliness of the water em- '
ployed for drinking purposes. Immediately below
the extensive farm buildings which were converted
into the residence and head-quarters of the field-
marshal commanding, is a spring of very pure water. '
It issues from • rock in the side of the ravine, nod '
with the ezceptiou of a small pool near to the spring,
there was no arrangement fur tanking the slater
when the house was taken possession ot. No change
was then made. The horses of the bead-quarter
establishment, and all who sought water—no incon-
siderable number—went to the spring at its source,
and much delay was caused by each waiting for his
tarn to be supplied. But the French cavalry came
into the neighbourhood, and the state of the water
supply was soon altered: a conduit was carried from
the spring, a series of wooden troughs placed across
the ravine at a convenient height for horses to drink
from, and the ground near was paved with round
stoats to give the animals a secure footing, and
obviate the accumulation of mud. The water was
thus obtained limpid and pure, and u a sentry
was always put over the troughs for some time
before the horses were brought to water to prevent
it from being used by those not entitled to
it, a good supply was ensured, and a number
of horses enabled to drink at the same time without
confusion or unneoeuary delay. At other spots the
French have sunk wells. I do not know any place
about the English camp where similar precautions
have been taken, although, as a sanitary measure,
and for the sake of economy in time and labour, it
might be naturally supposed that this would be one
of the first objects wooded to by the proper depart-
ment. I will give another example, which has just
occurred. There is a bountiful supply of good water
in the maim (the "left muse") which divides the
camps of the 4th and Light Divisions. The Wawa-
zoff-road to Sebastopol skirts the head of this ravine,
on its out side, puma over the hill above by the ruined
building commonly known as the Picket-house, and
about a quarter of a mile further on descend., by a
gradual slope into the ravine itself, to get into the
town near the south harbour. Between the oun-
monument of the ravine, and that part where the
Waren:off-road descends into it, the bottom is narrow,
and for a considerable depth is filled with loose vege-
table mould. The water, which flows from five dis-
tinct springs, four of which rise near touch other,
ham made a sinuous channel for itself, narrow at first
and then widening to spread ovsfr the valley, until it
again sinks below the superficial soil to find its
way to the harbour water by an under-ground channel.
I mention the nature of the soil to show how neces-
sary was some provision against its being mixed
with the water used fee drinking purposes. The
neighbourhood of a spin eosins to bare been one of
the local circumstances which determined the settle-

meat of the farms about the Chinaman plateau; there
are some good wells in Balate's, but none on the
plateau itself. When the army took possession of
this position, the upper part of the lett ravine was oc-
cupied by a large vineyard, for which the rich mould
and sheltered aspect seemed to be particularly fitted.
The house, the remains of which have been turned in-
to a residence for Lieutenant-General Sir G. Brown,
was close by, there were fields and gardens, and,
moreover, the water of which we are speaking, wee
prevented from tanning to waste by befog collected
into two large ponds, roughly banked in by stones
and mud walls, but no doubt sufficiently KM* for the
limited demand of those days. Then was also a dyke
made to carry it without spreading through the plan-
tation. The house soon disappeared for the sake of
the timber, is place of the vine bashes are now rows
of graves, the stow walls which separated the fields
and gardens are nearly all levelled, and very early in
the winter the protection made by the farmer
for the
.preservation of the water in a great
measure disappeared. When not hardened by frost or
embedded in snow, all the ground for a wide dis-
tance round wu a pool of mud. Hones and men
making water, trod down the slight earth embank-
ment of the dyke below the ponds, and the water
spread over the ground and was lost. Still no ar-
rangement was made for collecting or purifying the'
water in reservoirs. The only chance of getting
water fit for use was at the somas ; and even there
it MY constantly muddy after rain, from passing
through the alluvial soil. Much valuable time was
lost. Things remained in this state until the last
day of February, when a sentry was posted to keep
distinct the water for making, and that for the
horses, and to prevent washing except in the waste
water below the ponds. Shortly afterwards, some
Frehch regiments, forming part of the ninth diviales,

tiaosiaped is roar of the British Fourth wad Light)i
he
Milian% asi tbsy had to oar Se die MIN foe
of the plies INS IMM di O aaged,
sod he Os Was Tbs, began by dude, oat the
mei through villa the water from*, swags first
and dna paved it deeply with largo loose
dunes. Wen this they carried a tunnel, likewise
mend with detached fragments of slope to act as a i
flame and intercept the passage of twigs and filth,
OW covered it over with a roofing of large flat stones
sad earth. This tunnel was made to con-
duct to the upper of the two °rights'
reservoirs, this being not onli at • higher
level than the second pond below, but also out of the
direct route along the ravine, and more easily kept in
repair in oneequenoe. They thoroughly cleaned out
the reservoir, banked it up with a strong, high, and sub-
stantial wall of stone and clay, and at a proper level
at the lower end made a channel for the exit of the
water, by means of an iron pipe. The water as it flows
eat is received into a simple wooden trough, placed
at a convenient height on a atone wall. To complete
the work, they have carried down to the trough a
paved road, so that hones can drink pure water, re-
turn clean, and the accumulation of mud from the
mutant passing to and fro of the animals is /in-
vented. Another tank is being excavated, to meet
the increased demand, for in a short time the men
and horses of nearly the whole of three British and
one French Division, will depend upon these springs
for their supply of water. Already two regiments
of the 2nd Division, the 41st and 47th, have moved
down from the right at Inkermann ; and the remain-
lag regiments will shortly follow, and occupy the
ground formerly occupied by the Naval Brigade,
between the right of the 4th, and left of the Light
Divisions. Considerable care and method will then
be required to abtain and dirnbute the necessary
supply of water without confusion.
Viers was no difficulty, no particular skill, not
much labour, in what the French have already done
in forming this reservoir and issue of clean water.
All that was wanted was a directing head, and the
same might have been done at the beginning of the
winter. The only extraneous material was the iron
pipe, and these pipes abound in the English camp,
where they are chiefly employed foe chimneys from
the tent fireplaces. They were formerly employed
by the Russians for aqueduct purposes. The lower
pond the French seem to have left to us. One spring
flows into this ; but there is no paved way, no pre-
elution for filtration or cleanliness. It remains as it
was four months ago. It is quite open at one end,
where the hones enter, walk into the water, and
drink. Three paths or gullies down the side of the
ravine dip towards the pond, and down these gullies
comes the mod and enters also. A never-failing
supply of mud is ensured for the reservoir by the
horses going in and out ; for the gullies lead upwards
to part of the camp, so that some horses are continu-
ally supplying water front their dripping sides to
make the mud, while others are as constantly carry-
ing it down to the water on their soled feet and legs.
This pool might readily be converted into a rest rvoir
of clean water, and provision be made for supplying
men and horses with a fair proportion. Some per-
sons do not hesitate to say that the hones
are none the worse for having water mode-
rately muddy--rather better, indeed, than otherwise—
bet, however wholesome it may be, it is quite et, ident
It is not sufficiently so to counteract the mune,
whatever their nature, which have led to nearly all
the horses being out of condition and affected with
skin disease, while that clean water is not unwhole-
some is sufficiently proved by the contrary condition,
as a general rule, of the French horses. Our allies
are very particular about the pure quality of the
water: the English opinion and practice have mani-
festly been in favour of muddy water for the horses.
We have held Balaklava fur a long time now. A
stream runs along the valley into the harbour, and
there is a good spring by the roadside near the town.
Hundreds of thirsty horses passed in and out of
Balaklava every day during the winter; but who
ever thought of putting up a trough or two for their
accommodation P Truly, there are some lessons we
may learn even from our Ottoman friends, and the
care they take of their quadruped dependents is one.
Instances of sanitary neglect such as I have men-
tioned can only be remedied by that portion of the Staff
whose province it is to superintend the general camp
arrangements. As a general rule, order and
cleanliness prevail in the camps of the British
regiments taken separately to an extent unknown,
perhaps, in any other army. Even the French,
superior as are their administrative gements,
may with advantage visit the English encampments,
and gather a lesson or two in sanitary details. In-
deed, it is altogether unaccountable, that, with such
admitted superiority in everything connected with
general management, there should yet co-exist so
meek neglect of what common sense points out as to
be necessary for salubrity, comfort, and decency in
the domestic economy, as it may be term, d, of the
several regiments of our allies. The atmosphere in
the neighbourhood of a French regimental encamp
meut becomes after a short time almost intolerable
from want of common cleanliness in the habits of the
men, and many matters are passed by unnoticed by
the French officer which would be very offensive to
the eye of an Englishman. This becomes a subject of
importance in stationary camps such as that now be-
fore Sebastopol.