The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-01 00:00:00

LETTERS FROM THE CRIMEA.

Letter of a yonngster of 17, from the county Cork, a mid-
shipman serving in the fleet off Sebastopol:
"December 9.
"Harrah! my dear father, I have volunteered to go to
the trenches, and am off to-morrow for them. We send
fifty men. It will be rather cold work, but I should
prefer being there to remaining down here all the winter
in a state of inactivity. This is the third time I have
volunteered for the trenches, and am very glad I am
going to fight for Greenwich Hospital or Westminster
Abbey. lam very busy getting ready. If you direct my
letters still to the —, they will be forwarded to me, thong
I now belong to the second naval brigade, and our position
is within 600 yards of the Russian forts, and is called the
Koh.i-noor battery. You mast not be surprised at not
hearing often, as I suppose we will not have time. If any-
thing happens to me my particular friend and chum will let
you know ; at any rate, my dear father, you will not find
you eon disgrace yen by showing the white feather
before the Russians, or say one else. I must now say good
I bye' Ste."

Letter of a Newnan from the neighbourhood of Cork, a
sailor on board the fleet :

" Off Sebastopol, Dec. 7.
"No doubt, with all my countrymen, you are on tiptoe
for newgfrom the Crimea; such as it is you are welcome to,
so far as my knowledge extends. To-day is the first really
fine ,day we have had for a month ; I sincerely trust
it may be the forerunner of more. You, no doubt,
ere this, have heard of the heavy gale of wind
we experieneed last month. The effects of that on
the shipping eau really not be exaggerated. At Balak-
lava end at liatcha the scene was fearful—but I never like
to dwell on such subjects. In all large expeditions we
may anticipate some disaster, so let ns be thankful that it is
no worse. The combined sailing fleets have all left for the
Bosphorus, with the exception of the Bellerophon and
Leander at Bupateria ; the :Rodney and Vengeance, at
Kateha. I suppose they will also follow as soon as they can
be relieved by screws. The Hannibal arrived the day
before yesterday.
"The weather is becoming cold, but so long as we have
no rain it is healthy. The mountains in our rear are No
Treed with snow, and from the retest rains the passage of
any body of troops must not only be difficult bat in a groat
degree fatal to a relieving corps. For a week, our fire,
as seen from seaward, has been very weak, but
these last two days it is very vigorous. I antici-
pate that we have been occupied in bringing for-
ward our mortar batteries, no doubt with the purpose
of not leaving a roof to cover the besieged ; and from what
took pleas yesterday, I think the place must be getting
too hot for them. At one p.m. two Russian steamers came
outside of the harbour, and stood towards ' Cape Chor-
using.' One of them was the Vladimir, as heavy a steamer
as we have here. On their coming within range of the two
nom* steamers moored outside of the range of Quaraa.
tins Battery, they,opened fire, which was returned by the
heath, but with what result I do not know. In the meantime
the Valorous made a move,when they quietly paddled back,
allisugh net another steamer wee near her for some time. The
Vellum got within range, but at this distance I cannot say
with what effect; however, as soon as oar friend the Vladimir
pt seder Fort Conestautine she stepped. It wee evidently
a draw, for no wooer did the Valorous stop than every bat-
tery on the an face opened on her. I thWactly saw the
shot from the' Was Battery' go over her. But this morn-
ing, as if to let the ese how much she had to thank
them for their she hoists a flag of truce and
premeds under Put Osertantine to exchange a Russian
de tibia at Alma for Lord Dunkellia. So
Elarelielli egr Rar and all bravery—to no from ens steamer.' How
slimly they would have looked with her es a prin. As the
lag is just closing, I assist close. We are new eaveloped in
a dire fog, width Is surely a foretaste of joys to some,"