The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-24 00:00:00

THE ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL

GLOM ♦ SPICIAL

07 TEI DAILY

MIMI).

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Malca 5.
The Ruskin& are busily employed, day and night,
in strengthening the new works they have opened
near the end of the mountain spur which flanks
Careening Bay to the eastward. They have already
formed an advanced work, and connected it with the
redoubt by a covered way. Yesterday (March 4)
they could be plainly seen dragging guns up the
slope, and along the ridge towards the redoubt.
Judging from the height of the wheels and the mass
of men employed at the ropes (there appeared to
be between two and three hundred men drag-
ging each gun), it must be inferred that they
are arming the battery with metal of very
heavy calibre. They pursued their operations with
every appearance of confidence and determination in
the open daylight, knowing well they were just out
of the range of our heaviest guns. A well-directed
rocket might have reached them, and a shell from
some of the recently-placed mortars created a our
prise, but they were permitted to carry on their ope-
rations without interruption. Within the redoubt
can be seen timber for platforms, and a rough plank
shed has been raised, under which some work is going
on, judging from the number of soldiers who are con-
stantly entering and leaving it. Then are said to be
strategical reasons for not repeating the attack on the
poeitioo which was made by the French on the 24th
ult.

Another work the enemy is bully employed upon
is what appears to be intended for a floating bridge
across the Great Harbour. At present it consists Of
a number of large floats, connected with which are
numerous masts and booms, arranged in a aigsag
direction. At intervals there are small platform of
sawn timber and planks. It commences a little north
of Cape Nicholas, and stretching out in a north-
easterly direction, already extends half way across
the water. Whether this work is intended simply to
act as an obstruction to the further progress of vessels
which may have succeeded in forcing an entrance
through the line of sunken ships at the mouth of the
harbour, or whether, as is not improbable, it is in-
tended to be a means of communication and image
from the town to the north shore, does not yet ap-
pear ; it will be soon seen, however, should the work
continue to advance as rapidly as it has done the last
few days.

The army encamped on the heights north of Inker-
mann are still seen to be busily occupied in entrench-
ing their position. Their camp now stretches over a
very extensive area, and seems to be strongly for-
tified in every respect. Its oonnexions with the great
north fort, and the communications of this stronghold
and the camp, with the line of forts and batteries
along the north shore of the harbour, from Fort Con-
stantine to the batteries on the West Light-house
Cliff, are daily rendered more substantial and secure.
A recent reconnoissance, and the reports of spies,
would lead to the belief also that the enemy is
making a very determined effort to disturb our posi-
tion
at Balakiava, by bringing up to the heights
eastward of the pan through which winds the road
to Beide:, some mortars of such a calibre ma would
enable them to throw shells over our entrenched
position into the port below. Rumours have been
prevailing in camp that a combined French and
English fore' is shortly to take the field for the pur-
pose of defeating this object of the enemy, and the
troops intended for the expedition have been named.
Nearly all the new English works are now armed.
The former existing batteries have been strengthened
by guns of considerably greater power. On the
night of March the 3rd a new battery on the left was
commenced, very considerably in advance of Chap-
man's battery on Orsenhill. Although very close, the
enemy did not perceive the working parties on the
first night, and extraordinary progress was made to-
wards the completion of the work ; but last night

(Mareh 4) they kept up a very active Are of shot and
shell from the Barrack and other batteries in rear wits
the intention of impeding its progress. Afeldays only,
in all probability, will elapse before the Runk= will
discover fully not only the position and strength of
this work, but of all the other works recently con-
structed by the French and ourselves.
The position of the allies has been strengthened on
the right by the addition of the ninth French divi-
sion. This flue body of troops, lately arrived from
France, is now encamped immediately behind the
English Light Division, who still retain their place
in front, and also occupies part of the ground lately
vacated by the Guards' brigade.
The English troops continue to improve in oondi-
_

tioa and health. iota' detachmentsof oonvalessents
have arrived from the Boepbones, and, together with
the detachments lately come from England, are sea•
scalable additions to the reduced numbers of the re-
giments remaking in camp. The weather daring
the last few days his been less odd, and has been
dry. _ _

I regret to say that a soldier from one of at

most eistingoisb;d regiments deserted to the enemy,l
on the night of the 3rd instant. He was a bands-
man, on duty to mist in the removal of the

wounded, sad went over from the advanced work in
front of Freashasaniu bill. As soon as perceived be
wee fired at by h.s comrades, bat he appeared to

weeps unhurt.
Two mails for the troops are now due. The mail
bag, for bead- trcarters only, arrived by the last packet.
The expleas'tion gives was, the weather, oe the
leaving of t is steamer, was so rough, it was with the
greatest ilifilculty that even that beg wee pat on
board; 'but it is suspected that motives &polity, u
well as the weather, had influence in the event.
Wtoter clothing continues to be issued. The
officers have just received their long boots ; and,.it
is uported, the seal akin great outs are to be given to
is a few days. The Tartars say, that mu-
sionally in the month of March the weather is very
severe, and that sot antretimatly heavy fells of snow
take place, bat soon melt away. Ti, judge from pre-
met appearance, a stranger would my that all severe
weather had puns& No mow now remains on the
sodas. of the plateau, and the ground, in large plots,
where it is left untrodden upon, is sesavoing a grow-
l& hue, from the young gram springing up. Only
tits highest peaks of the mountains aeon in the dis-
taste retain their white curving 4 the lower 'sages

flanking the Tolbert's'''. and Ralaklava valleys have
completely resumed their natural garb.
Colonel W. Sullivan, assistant-adjutant-general,
has bad a severe attack of illness, but is now conva-
lescent. He has been advised to proceed to Eng-
land for the re-establishment of his health, and will
leave In a few days. The following officers also pro-
ceed to England at the recommendation of medical
boards :—Lieut.-Colonel Reeve, Grenadier Guards;
Surgeon Lewin., 63rd Regiment; Capt. Murchison,
60th Regiment; Lieutenants Morgan Rotherham,
20th Regiment ; C. J. Borton, 9th Regiment ; Waldy,
46th Regiment ; J. Tucker,Royal Artillery; Assistant.
Surgeons /ling, staff, and Orr Crichton, 4th Light
Dragoons; EnsignVousden, 21st Regiment. Colonel
H. Storks, unattached, has been appointed to take
command of the military establishment at Smyrna,
with Captain George Whitmore, 62nd Regiment, to
act as aide.de-camp.

P.B. The Welsh Fusiliers gave a large dinner party
to celebrate St. David's day. They got up one of the
officers' huts, the only one erected in the division I
believe, and contrived to decorate it with festoons of
Turkish scarves, whitewash, pictures from the illus-
trated News, and cundelabra made of groups of bayo-
nets, exceedingly tastefully. The appointments were
rather of a mixed character, being composed of con-
tributions from each officer, but what with preserved
fish, flesh, fowl, and vegetables, capital wines, &0.,
from Balaklava, the viands were worthy of England
instead of the Crimea. Some very good speeches
were made in reference to the events of the past year,
and these and the toasts were done full honour to by
peals of artillery from the trenches in front, and the
bursting of shells in the air. Each regiment of the
division was represented, and the utmost harmony
and good feeling prevailed. A dinner party being a
very great event here, it was kept up very late as you
may imagine.

(110 M Til

FRANCE.

lIINT OP THE DAILY NRWII.)
PARIS, FRIDAY EVINIRO.

For the last two or three days, and this day more
particularly, the idea has gained ground that the
Violins Conferences may possibly lead almost imme-
diately to a pacific result. Many people say that the
imperor, who for a long while stood alone (so the
Imam goes) in insisting upon the demolition of the
fortress of Sebastopol as a nee gun non, has now
expressed a willingness to cede the point.
Letters from Brussells allege that this change
In his Majesty's views has been announced
emphatically by M. de Morny. A letter in the but&
pendance signed "Y," arguing at great length that if
the Russian fleet in the Black Sea be reduced, and
the other demands of the Allied Powers frankly com-
plied with, the destruction of Sebastopol may not be
necessary, has produced a great sensation and tended
materially to foster the expectations founded upon
the above notions. There is a talk of a mixed com-
mission to settle the precise number of ships which
each of the Great Powers shall be permitted to main-
tain in the Black Sea, and the idea of the erection
of a great fortress either at Sinope or elsewhere on
the Turkish coast, as a counterbalance to Sebastopol,
is revived, and said to be favourably entertained by
the English government. I believe I may assure
you, without fear of being contradicted by the re-
sult, that the reel situation is widely different from
what the public is for the moment inclined to sup-
pose. I believe the foundation for the reports in
question to be the certainty now acquired by the
French government that Sebastopol cannot be taken
by the army now besieging it. It is not doubtful
that that army is in its turn besieged. Not a gun
could be moved, either backwards or forwards, with-
out risking the security of its position. In this situ-
ation it is more than probable that, seeing the impos-
sibility of storming Sebastopol to any good purpose,
under existing circumstances, the question whether
a diplomatic arrangement, superseding the necessity
of taking the place, might not be made at Vienna,
may have been discussed hypothetically at a ministe-
rial soma Hence, I have little doubt, the reports
so widely spread. But lam informed, in a quarter
in which I have every confidence, that the French
Emperor has no thought of throwing up the game.
The idea of assaulting Sebastopol is, I believe, re-
pounced for the present as impracticable. But a
large army, formed of English, French, Turks, and
Sardinians, will shortly be assembled at Eupatoria
with the Emperor at their head. A cam-
paign in the Crimea will be undertaken. The
Arians who, well as they fight, are much more
formidable behind fortifications than in the open field
will be encountered wherever they can be found ; and
In the course of the summer Sebastopol will, it is to
be hoped, be completely invested by the allies. Ai
immense army will be necessary to accom-
plish this object, but the French Government
is determined that men shall not be want-
ing. It is very evident that if Sebastopol
can be surrounded, we being masters at sea, the gar-
rison must in time be starved out, and it would in
every respect be wiser and more humane to under-
take a grand campaign than to throw away the lives

10,000 or 16,000 bare men for the mere honour and
glory of taking a place which we could not hold
until oar armies receive powerful reinforcements.
At the Bourse hominess was very brisk, owing to
the disposition of the public to credit the rumours of
pesos. The Rents rose 650., closing at 69fr. TOo.
Credit Mobilier rose 22fr. 600. All the railways im-
proved, some of them from Tfr. 600. to 10fr.
Mlle. Dondet has appealed to the Imperial Court
against the 'entente, to two years' imprisonment, and
200 fr. flue, passed on her by the Tribunal of Correc-
tional Police.