The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY VENOM, ME 13, 1855.

break, when the Neraiene for some hours kept up a
tremendous ceenee♦nie ea all parts of our lines, and
those of the French. Of course, all the gene we had
le working order unaware& It was a geaeral bom-
bardment from fisherman's to Kamissoh. but I cannot

Isere that it did nig* extention on ruiner tide.

grwatet activity in placing and repairing still pm'
vads in our trenches, and It is confidently sitheed
that all preparations are to be completed to-marrow,
and that the third bombardment of Sebastopol is to
eseemenee on Wednesday morning. If so, it will'
meet likely take place at one and the earns time with
the battle of Tohorgoun.
Apropos of Tchorgoun, I understand that when we
occupied the village for a short time on Friday last, the
French got possession of the Russian mail bags that
had just arrived, with numbers of letters for officers and
some few for soldiers. The bags were taken to the
French headquarters, where, no doubt, the letters have
been opened. Theirooutents, if interesting, are likely to
transpire, and everybody looks with great interest to
the revelations of the intercepted Muscovite letters.
The glorious news from Kertch reached the camp
first in the shape of two rumours. One was that we
had token the town and fifty guns, without the lose
of • single man. The other, that the allied forces
had been hotly engaged, that they took the town at
the cost of 2,000 casualties, and that Sir Geo. Brown
wee among lithe killed. Yesterday the authentic
news of the taking of Kertch and the
complete result of the expedition was pub-
lished in general orders and read to the troops
on parade. They received the announcement with
enthusiastic cheers. The details which I have been
able to collect are the following :—The expedition
entered the Straits early in the morning of Thurs-
day, the 24th instant, and on the voyage and while
entering, they captured seven merchantmen and one
gunboat. They attacked the forts that guarded the
entrance, and the Russians, finding their position un-
tenable, blew them up and retreated. Proceeding
further the allied fleets landed their troops near the
town of Kertch, and the forces prepared to attack
the town both by land and by sea However, it did
see come to an attack, for the garrison, consisting of
1.1100 men, sprung the mines of the fortifications,
bunt the stores of grain and some of the public
buildings, and retreated under cover of night. On
the following morning Sir G. Brown took possession
ef the place, and took all necessary measures
tee the protection of the inhabitants. The
winging the mines appears to have been
done in a very slovenly manner, for the
Allies found fifty guns in position in the various bat-
teries, and they also took possession of a foundry for
dissenting of Mini& balls. Among the spoils made
at Kertch are said to be a large quantity of coals, to
the valise of 20,0001., which were, of course, appro-
priated teethe use of the Allied fleets. 'should also
any that before landing at Kertch, a steamer, with a
eaiNag vessel in tow, was observed to leave the port.
It is generally supposed that the public treasury was
earried of in these vessels.
Sir George Brown has at once commenced en-
trenching himself at Kertoh. Admirals Lyons and
Brag have left the port on an expedition against
Anaps, and Captain Lyons, with the steamers, pro-
seeded to sweep the Sea of Azoff, with the ulterior
object, it is supposed, of attacking Arabat.
In Kertch were found official letters from Se-
bastopol, containing accounts of the miserable
audition of the place, and the prevalence of disease.
I repeat this, though it may be a mere rumour ; for
sorely up to the resent, we have not discovered any
signs of distress in the town. The Russians make it
a war to the knife in more than one respect. At all
events it is a remarkable fact that, for many weeks
=Thaw) made no prisoners during their frequent
against our trenches.
The weather is most favourable to the carrying on
of military operations. The late heats are now tem-
pered by cooling breezes, and on Sunday we bad as
violent a thunder-storm and as heavy a rain as the
lovers of green forage and good water can desire.
The nights are cool and tranquil—the season of
violent gales appears to be over. Few ever doubted
the final taking of Sebastopol; but now even the
most =optical are gaining confidence.
Sickness decreased as the heat moderated. The
allied armies may safely be pronounced to be ex-
tremely healthy, and a change of air and the excite-
ment of active operations ate likely to keep them so.
The fisedieiens, who are extremely stele*, and who,
abusers yet to the various uniforms of the armies,
an full of suspicions, stopped and almost arrested •
couple of Guards officers, who on Saturday last rods
up to examine the new position. This morning they
arrested two navvies who had been found strolling
near the Sardinian lines. Our new allies were posi-
tive these navvies must be Russian spies. Picture the
indignation of the men in red jackets and linen tro-
sera at those foreigners mistakieg them for Roommate
and spies. " They be Roossians ! No, not they—
they'd scorn the traction." In spite of their
protests, they were marched to Lord Raglan's
headquarters, and handed over to our military,
authorities, who, of course, set them free. On the
I other hand, I should not wonder if the very admir-
able uniform of the Sardinian line regiments did
not lead to awkward mistakes—at a distance they
-s so much like the Russians!