The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

LOND )3isl THURSDAY EvENING, JULY 26, 1855.

sortment of empty sugar barrels and receptacles of
beef and•pork, it is possible I may have more than
my share of these pertinacious insects, which hover
on every side in clouds, and settle on the most irri-
table parts of the face without giving a moment's
relaxation. Like the Harpies, they literally "dis-
pute the viands," such as they are, on which we
regale, a morsel in its passage to the mouth being
generally settled upon by two or more of the in-
sects, which require to be vigorously shaken before
they will let go their hold. To remove them from
a glass of any liquor before tasting it it is neces-
sary to introduce three fingers and draw them
from the vessel on the principle of ." dragging," as
practised by the Humane Society. The only way
to be at rest is to sit in a thorough draught, which,
when surrounded by papers, is a somewhat trouble-
some position. On entering a hut after 'a few mo-
ment's absence they rise in a dense cloud; with
deafening buzz, from every object. Irritable suf-
ferers pursue them desperately with towels, laying
about on every side ; others try to carry on a more
scientific warfare, by burning old newspapers after
closing every aperture ; but it is useless—in five
minutes the place is full with a new and more
hungry swarm. The only respite is at night,
when the invaders retire to re3t on the ceiling in
enormous black patches ; but even then, a
candle brought in rouses them to all the play-
fulness of noon. Seriously, they are an unex-
pected and most troublesome visitation, and are
especially irritating to the poor sick fellows
in the hospital marquees, whom they prevent
from getting any rest the live-long day, and
keep in a constant state of nervous restlessness.
For the next three months we mustAM content to
suffer all they can inflict unlais the, rains of Sep-
tember rid us of them.

JUNE 12.
Nothing new to-day. The French and Turks
hive finally returned from their reconnaissance,
and the country about Baidar is again in the hands
of the Cossacks. The quantity of cattle driven in
by them is very great. The beasts, though not of
the large size we are accustomed to in England, are
finer and better fed than those obtained in Asia

Minor ; at least as we see them after a voyage across
the Black Sea. An attack on the Russian position
is considered all but hopeless. Nature seems as if
she had constructed the plateau they occupy as a
vast defensible position, which 50,000 men may
hold against four times their number. Of the re-
duction of Sebastopol proper before the winter I
have no kind of doubt. That the Russians will
hold out with all the obstinacy of their character,
even after the destruction of their ships and the
capture of the Malakhoff, may be expected ; but
the possession of a new position, commanding the
harbour and the bridge of boats which crosses it,
must eventually cause the enemy to retreat. The
Russian generals, though brave and determined
on an ob,tinate defence, may fairly receive credit
for the possession of prudence and forethought.
As long as a place can be held with a chance of
success, or even of damaging the enemy, they will
hold it ; but all their proceedings give reason to
believe that they will not allow their troops. to
he cut to pieces merely for the credit of having
made a desperate resistance, and held, without
advantage, for a short time lowi°er an untenable
position. When they see that their retreat is
s3riously endangered, ,it is not improbable that
they will altogether abandon the southern
side, which they can hardly hope to hold
should the allies be able to command the harbour.
They, no doubt, count at least on being able to
prolong their resistance until the winter sets in ;
if that be impossible, they will most likely with-
draw to the northern side, which it airy be imprac-
ticable to lay siege to before the spring of 1856.
What may be done during that time to strengthen
the works we may judge from the industry and
skill with which they have laboured in the defence

of Sebastopol proper.
To-day Major-General 13arnard was appointed
chief of the staff, in the plane of General Simpson.
Rumours prevail that a new Commander-in-Chief
is to come out from England. Whether this be
true I have not yet learnt, but it is to be hoped
that the Peninsula and Waterloo, at 23 or 24 years

of age, will not be the only qualification. It seems
to all here that the best school for Sebastopol is
Sebastopol itself, and that a man who has been
hero six months is likely to be a more efficient ge-
neral than any one who may be sent out in reliance
on vogue reminiscences of campaigns in the field
40 years ago. It takes some little time to be cog-
nisant even of the ground, and with autumn draw-
ing on there is no time to be lost. The only reason
that can he conceived for sending out a general
from England is that some man of European repu-
tation may be appointed, who may give a status to
the British army beyond what its present numbers
may obtain for it in the eyes of the world. There
is uo doubt that Lord Raglan did this. His rank,
his high character, his manners, his superiority.tg
petty jealousies, and his abstinence from petty In-
trigues, commanded the respect of those even who
were disposed to question his capacity and energy
There can be little doubt that if this war he
prosecuted for any length of time, and %ng-
laud be not prepared to embark in the struggle
with men as well as money, there is some dagger
of the British army being regarded as a mere Con-
tingent. A general of established reputation maY
give a lustre to the British name, but, after all,
the hest reliance is on skill and energy, and, there
are not wanting men at .present before Sebastop.ol
on whom the command might devolve with satis-
faction to the army and with'reasonable hope of a
_ _

creditable fulfilment of duties.
The Commissariat, both in the Crimea and at
Constantinople, is making laudable preparations for
a regular supply of provisions during the coming
winter. Depots are to be established at 'mid and
Sinope, and a regular transport service will be or-
ganised between various places on the coast and
the port of Balaklava. Sheds for 4,000
cattle will
be constructed near the camp. The chief difficulty
will be in the land transport, which will require all
the care of the authorities to render it
complete
when the season of mud and snow again recurs.
The railway is not as firmly laid as could be wished.
The late storm washed it away in several places,
the sleepers being merely placed on the soft yielding
soil, which after the heavy rains of November be-
comes a mass in which horses' hoofs sink to the
depth of Bor 10 inches. A Commissariat should
have its own transport at its own command ; but
under the actual system requisitions must be made
y mul,
on the Land Transport Corps, who even it
the pre-
es
sent summer weather often cannot supp
other requisitions having been made on them for
carrying up ammunition. Some persons go so far
as to prophesy for the army as great an irregu-
larity in provisioning as was the case during the
past calamitous winter ; but the very fact that
these dangers are foreseen and discussed is a war-
rant that they will not recur. At any rate the
crushing burden of overwork will not press on
our men, for we have the French on all sides of
ps to take part of the labour of the trenches. A
"singular fact, elicited by Sir J. Macneil, but known
to all acquainted with the army, is, that during
the winter every man *looked his own food. The
cold and weary soldier, creeping back from the
trenches, found his junk of salt meat, which he
must light a fire to cook, often with wet wood,
probably the work of more than an hour. The
cinonistesqruaewncsetawtea: was,
or that n
theen often,ted
hi devoured
mm
as eun to
with
d
rum and biscuit. A better sy
prevail with regard to cooking, which, it is to be
contented s
elf
hin er
btehl
ye
hoped, will be developed and perfected before the
return of inclement weather.

JULY
scleso3o.
Last night the Russians
by
kept up a tremendous
fire. It has been blowing
a gale for the last 24
hours, and the wind bore the
soundt
horsof :6lhee
combat,
heavyom ba
t,
guns towards us, so that the very'
t
ye'groounpdie
shook.
I am sorry to say that the battery which the
French have constructed between the Mamelon
and the Malakhoff has been no
the powerful fire of the latter fort. A colonel and 1
about 30 officers and men were pu
and the siege works have received a decided check.
In fact, as the Allies advance to the actual defence
of the place, they must expect to meet more elabo-
rate works, and obstacles heaped on one another
with all the care which nine months of preparation
admit. Even now the enemy are strengthening
the Malakhoff every day. R's not what it was on
the 18th of June, and a fortnight hence it will not
be what it is now. The battery at the White
Works, however, still goes on, and its affect will
be proved in a few days.

JULY 14
new up to 8 o'clock this morning.

Nothin

with Cap a full cargon Macin-
tosh,taiever ,
THE AFRICAN MAILS.---PLYMOUTH, Wednesday.—
Themeaaiiliesdcrferwem Plymouthsteami
of general merchandise and letters for Madeira and the
West Coast of Africa. The Candace, homeward, is sup-
posed to be at Fernando Po, and the Ethiope, outward,
is probably at. Sierra Leone, going down the coast. A.
new steamer, to be called the Gambia, will shortly be
launched for the mail service of this company. Her
steam-ship
yesterdayetri
' Majesty's brig Britomarb, Commander Heseltine, is or-
dered home from the African station, and may be ex-
I pected, shortly,

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-quarters before Sebastopol, July 10.
No. 1. At a General Court-martial held at the Camp
before Sebastopol on Monday, the 9th day of July, 1855,
in pursuance of an order of Lieutenant-General Simpson,
commanding the forces, dated the 7th day of July, 1855,
No. 3,308, Private James Brennan, 39th Regiment,
was tried for " Insubordination, and offering violence,
in several- instances, against Lance-Corporal Enright,
39th Regiment, his superior officer, in the execution of
his office." _ .

Sentence—" The Court having found the prisoner
guilty of every instance of the charge preferred against
him, do now adjudge him, No. 3,308, Private James
Brennan, 39th Regimant, to be transported for the term
of 14 years.
" W. G. ROMAINE, Deputy-Judge-Advocate.
" F. W. HAMILTON, Colonel and Captain of
Grenadier Guards, President.
"Before Sebastopol, July 9."
Approved and confirmed,

J. SIMPSON, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
No. 2. Lint. E. Beck, 89th Regiment, will act as
Regimental Quartermaster, until further orders.
No. 3. The under-mentioned lieutenants, being in per-
manent command of companies, will draw field allow-
ance and forage as captains :—Lieutenant Lockhart,
41st Regiment, Ist of June, 1855 ; Lieutenant Hand,
63d Regiment, Bth of July, 1855.
No. 4. The following is appointed an Interpreter to
this army :-2d class, Nicholas Papuffy, 9th July, 1855.
3d class Interpreter G. Morielsi is promoted to 2d class,
from the sth June, 1855. •
No. 5. A Medical Board will assemble to report upon
the state of health of Major Gordon, 93d Highlanders.
The principal medical officer will be pleased to give the
necessary directions.
No. Leave of absence is granted on the recommen-
dation of:inedical boards to Staff-Surgeon Ist Class W.
L. Langley, M.D. ; Staff-Surgeon let Class R. O'Fla.-
herty • Civil-Surgeon Dr. Woolaston ; Purveyor's Clerk
Mr. Powell ; Mr. J. M'lntosb, apothecary to the forces;
Mr. S. Selkirk, purveyor to the forces ; Clerk of Works
J. Bennett. To proceed to England. On arrival they
will report themselves to the Adjuta,nt•General.
No. 7. Leave of absence is granted, on medical certi-
ficates, to• Capt. Lewes, 3d Buffs, to the 10th August;
Cant. Brown, 31st Regiment, to the 10th August; Capt.
Maynard, 88th Regiment, to the 10th August ; Ensign
R. Hanton, Mounted Staff Corps. to the 10th August ;
Lieut. Williams, Royal Horse Artillery, t 3 the 31-t
July ; Veterinary Surgeon Collins, 6`ll Dragoons, to the
31st July. To proceed to Scutari Lieut. A. Hunter,
Royal Artillery, 25th July, to go on board ship.
Memorandum.—The Generals of the Day for the
future will not be named in orders ; the whole of the
duties in each attack will be furnished by divisions alter-
nately. By orler,
W. L. PAKENHAM,
Lieut.-Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General.