The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-28 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, June 18.—The Porte has just
concluded a loan of 50,000,000 piastres (about
370,0001.), on terms very advantageous to the
lenders. The revenue of the rich and populous
town of Smyrna is guaranteed for the repayment
of the principal at the end of two years. In the
meantime the loan is to bear interest at the rate of
12 per cent.
Miss Nightingale is now entirely out of danger,
but so weak that it is judged necessary that she
should return to England, at least for a short time.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, JUNE 12.
We have again for the moment relapsed into a
state of comparative silence and repose, but it is
not that kind of pause which proceeds from ex-
haustion, and which leaves it uncertain when ope-
rations can be again renewed ; it is only the time
necessary to turn to the best advantage the ground
obtained by the successes of last week.
The advantages which may be gained from the
new positions occupied by the besieging armies
seemed to be great enough to justify this short
interval, in the opinion of the commanders, and
induced them rather to allow the enemy time to re-
pair and increase his works than not to employ
every means given into their power to obtain a surer
and less bloody, although, perhaps, a little de-
ferred, success. And, indeed, through the position
gained last week the position of the besieging armies
is considerably improved. Leaving aside the moral
influence which the capture of the Mamelon and
the Quarries right in the teeth of the enemy must
naturally exercise, the capture of them as well as
of the White Batteries, greatly facilitates further
operations.

Through the occupation and arming of the White
Batteries, situated on the edge of the ridge of
Mount Sapoune, the head of the harbour is more
or less in our power. The Russians themselves
seem to acknowledge this by taking outside the
boom the vessels which hitherto had been
lying in that direction, and would have been
commanded from the works which the French are
constructing on the site of the White Batteries of
the Russians. But this is not all. These new works
will likewise be able to act against the two strand
batteries which the Russians have behind the Ma-
melon, and which, not being much commanded by
any of our works, could hitherto do a great deal of
harm without being expo3ed to much danger. The
construction of French works on the Mamelon brings
us to about 500 yards from the Malakhoff works ;
it gives us a footing on the plateau on which tuese
works lie; it furnishes us with the means of ap-
proaching the rear of them, and at the same time of
operating successfully on the annoying batteries in
the rear of the Mamelon, which, taken thus in a
cross fire, cannot long resist. The Quarry is scarcely
more than 200 yards from the Redan. The battery
which it contains already will work successfully on
the 6-gun battery in the rear between the Redan
and the Malakhoff Tower works ; and from the ad-
vanced posts our riflemen will be able to prevent a
good number of the guns in the Redan from work-
ing. Several of them seem already abandoned ; at
least no shot igfired from them. Besides, in other
embrasures the guns cannot be sufficiently depressed
to do much harm in the Quarry.
But, for all this, the keeping of the Quarry was,
especially in the beginning, not at all an easy thing.
The Garden Battery on our flank, the 6-gun bat-
tery in the rear, and the Malakhoff works could
touch it on nearly all sides.
Our position on the Tchernaya is still the same,
except that two regiments of French cavalry and
some infantry have pushed forward in the direc-
tion of Baidar, which is occupied.
There are rumours of a large Russian cavalry
force having come down from Eupatoria, and being
in the south now, but hitherto no trace of it has
been seen, except some distant watchfires. On the
other hand, it is confidently asserted that Lip-
randi's corps has gone from this neighbourhood to
the north in the direction of Simpheropol.

JUNE 13.

To-day a boat with a flag of truce came out of
harbour; its object was to request the Allied
commanders not to fire on some of the vessels in
the harbour, as they had been converted into hos-
pitals. The impression is, that the Russians would
not scruple at all to employ a little ruse to save
,their ships. Immediately after the affair of the
7th a great activity seized all the ships in the
harbour. The steamers approached by night the
Careening-creek, and fired on the French working
parties in the White Batteries. The line-of battle
ships have all moved and are now distributed
about the harbour with their broadsides looking
towards us, so that ,it strikes one rather as
if they were preparing to take an active part
in the defences of the Redan and the Mala-
khoff works, and to try to make them un
tenable in case we should take then, than as if
they were inoffensive hospital ships, removed from
a feeling of humanity out of reach of our guns.
Several of the Lancaster guns in the right attack
have been shelling them in their new position, but
without being able to do them much harm, as they
are about 4,500 yards off. There is a strong sus-
picion that several of the houses in the to wn on
which the yellow flag has been hoisted during the
bombardments are nothing less than poyider ma-
gazines protected in this manner; so that any con-
cession made in respect to supposed hospital ships
would not be very palatable to our gunners ;
hitherto, however, no order has been given in this
respect.
If possible, the fire on both sides was even slacker
to-day than yesterday, principally in the forenoon.
The capture of the Mamelon, and the diversion
which the French batteries constructed there will
make on the part of the Malakhoff works facing
them, will put the right attack into an even more
favourable position at the re-opening of the fire,
for it will be freed from the annoying cross fire
which it had to endure hitherto from the Mamelon,
and will be able to turn the guns formerly neces-
sary to face this entirely against the Malakhoff
works.
A large quantity of ammunition fell into the
hands of the French in the White Batteries. Seve-
ral large exceedingly well-constructed powder-
magazines were found after the capture of these
batteries, in which about 500 rounds of shot and
shell remained after a 24 hours' bombardment.
JUNE 14.

To-day the Turkish troops, who have been since
the attack of the 7th in front, have been withdrawn,
and, with the exception of some battalions which
as before remain about Omer Pacha's head-quarters,
all the rest have taken up their old position on the
heights towards the Tchernaya.
There is nothing new in front ; the fire is as slack
as yesterday, and the activity in the works greater
than ever. The Russians, as you may easily ima-
gine, are by no means behind us in strengthening
their position. Our late successes seem not to
have discouraged them, and everything shows their
determination not to give way except step by step,
and to sell every advantage as dearly as possible.
They are very busy just now in strengthening the
rear of the Malakhoff works, which, as long as the
Mamelon was in their power, was safe enough,
but for which they must naturally entertain appre-
hensions now that this outwork is taken. Besides
these new works they have entirely repaired all
the old ones,' which look as if they had been con-
structed yesterday.
This afternoon a, large body of Russians, about
10,000 men, were observed from the Mamelon
going into the Redan. Whether they intend them-
selves to make an attempt to retake the Quarry,
or whether they apprehend an attack on our side,
or whether they were simply reliefs, is, of course,
impossible to say. At any rate precautions have
been taken to receive them should they attempt
anything.
Most of the English and French troops have
returned from Kertch.

JUNE 15.

No change has taken place ; the same stillness
prevailed during the whole day. The order for the
reopening of the fire is every moment expected.
A council of war was held to-day at Lord Rag-
lan's quarters, in which Omer Pasha took part.
In consequence, the Turkish army received the
order to be ready to march at a moment's notice.
This looks like a movement in advance on the
Tchernaya line.
The two light cavalry regiments arrived lately
from India have been thrown into rather an un-
settled state through the imminent reduction of
the regiments from their Indian to the Crimean
strength. The 10th Hussars have already received
orders from the War Department in this respect
The custom is, when the regiments return from
India, and are reduced to the strength of the regi-
ments serving in England, that the surplusofficers
go on half-pay, free to look out for a place in some

other regiment. Instead of following these prece-
dents, the War Department has sent orders to the
10th, that all the officers who would have had to
go out On half-pay, had the regiments been reduced
in England, shall remain in the regiment as super-
numeraries. By this order, both those who remain
in the regiment, and the supernumeraries too, lose
a good deal, while the regiment itself gains nothing,.
JUNE 16, MORNING.—The night passed silently,
and the morning too, at least up to 10 o'clock.

THE KERTCH EXPEDITION.

OFF YENIKALE, June 11.—Had I been aware
that this expedition would have been so barren
in everything but considerable strategical and
great political results I certainly would have he-
sitated before I abandoned the camp before Se-
bastopol. The mode of defence adopted by the
Russians has left one nothing to write about. Corn
ricks blazing, batteries and forts blown up, and
stores and magazines gutted and burnt offer but
little variety of detail. We have inflicted great
ruin on the enemy, but they have emulated our
best efforts in destroying their own settlements.
Our haste to attack has not exceeded their precipi-
tation to retreat. The reduction of every place in
the Sea of Azoff, except Arabat and Temrouk,
without the loss of a single life, has been an extra-
ordinary and gratifying success. It is understood
that there are difficulties in the making a success-
ful demonstration against Perekop, but difficulties
are not insuperable, and the Allies have had leaders
who knew not the word impossible. Of the road
to the west of Perekop we know nothing, but it is
said to exist and to be in fine order for military
purposes. However, the approaches to this road
from east to west are not of the easiest or best.

Already the Tartars have, as far as they dared,
evinced their hatred of the oppressors whose final
conquest of the Crimea does not outrun the me-
mory of men still living. They have seized on
Russians and brought them in as prisoners. The
other night a party of Tartars carried a Russian
captain and an officer of the Commissariat, or a
paymaster of a regiment, bound fast into the Allied
lines at Yeuikale. They reported that the Cos-
sacks, in parties of 30 and 40 strong, were ranging
through the villages and driving away all the cattle
at the distance of 30 versts from Yenikale.
MONDAY MORNING.

The intelligence of the destruction of Anapa has
had rather a perplexing effect on the authorities,
who do not seem well prepared for the enemy anti-
cipating their intentions, and for such eccentric
operations of war as those of the Russians, who
delight to do the work of hostile fleet. and armies,
and to burn and blow up their own forts and set-
tlements. However, the embarkation of the troops
goes on as usual. All the English forces are now
embarked, except the 79th R..-giment, who are in
garrison in and about the Quarantine station, near
Kertch, and the 93d Regiment, which still remains
at Yenikale. The Turks have been reinforced by
2,000 men, who were landed yesterthy. Toe
French force is all embarked, except about 2,500
men.

KERTCH, WEDNESDAY, JIMII 13,

The mission of the fleet and army having been
accomplished, the force is on its way homewards.
Sir George Brown and his staff are embarked. The
Admirals are at Am balaki. It has been decided to
occupy Pavlovskaia, because it is in a fine position
to command the entrance to Kertch and Yenikale,
at a place where the channel is narrowed by one of
the sandbanks from Taman to the breadth of a mile
and a half. The lines which have been thrown up
around Yenikale are extremely strong. In fact,
the place is lost to Russia so long as we like to
keep it.
The point orbank of Tchechka, opposite Yenikale,
is one of the many extraordinary spits of land
which abound in this part of the world, and
which are, as far as I know, without example in
any other country. The enemy relied considerably
on the shallow water to save him from attack, but
he was also prepared with heavy metal for gun-
boats, such as they were in the old war, and he
was no doubt astonished when the large shot from
the Lancaster guns began to fall upon their works
from the small hulls of our despatch gun-boats. The
Russians fired badly, fought badly, and retreated.
The Lancaster guns are more highly spoken of
than they were, because they are better under-
stood. They require great care in loading and aim-
ing, and are, in fact, delicate cannon, but their
range an-d power astonished the enemy. One part
of his defence completely failed him; the knowledge
that he was surprised, and that the submarine
batteries on which he relied . were not in readi•
ness, had adept-wising effect on his courage. Rarely,
if ever, were the agencies of electricity more exten-
sively adapted to the purposes of war than at Yeni-
kale. One of the gun-boats which lay off the fort—
a mere hulk, without masts er cordav, of 15;1
tons burden, with embrasures through her si&s
on the deck for nine small guns—was found to
be filled below with the most complete series
of galvanic apparatus, attached to vessels full
of powder, which would explode on contact with
the keel of a vessel. The shock, no matter how
slight, would create a ccntact which would have
the effect of completing the electric current, and
discharging the submarine battery. C have not
seen the whole of the apparatus, and I am not
aware that there was any officer on Sir George
Brown's staff who understood rudimentary physics
sufficiently well to explain the action of the ma-
ehine. There were enormous coils of insulated
wire, and jars of sulphuric and nitric acids, plates
of zinc and copper, and some electrodes of platina.
The submarine machines with their strange cups
and exploding apparatus have been recognised, I
understand, by Mr. Deane, the diver, as portions of
the instruments he employs in submarine opera-
tions. They were all regularly numbered, and, so
there is a break in the series, there is reason for be-
lieving that some of them are actually sunk, but
the wires connecting them with the battery on
board the ship were cut the night we forced the
Straits, and the vessel itself folindered subse-
quently. There were many miles of wire, arid the
number of cells indicated a very powerful battery.
To-day, the 13th, the only Engl.sh vessels hfc
at Yenikale are the Sphinx and the Wrangler.
We do not interfere with French or Turks, and
our measures against our own men are harsh, ridi-
culous, and impotent. It was resolved not to give
our friends a chance of getting hold of any stores,
and all the corn that could be found was burnt.
The Austrian Consul was found to have a large
store, which he concealed in maaazines painted and
decorated to pass as part of hid dwelling-house. It
was all destroyed.
In the whole lengthened front facing the sea, and
the wide quay which borders it, there i"eta
edifice untouched but one. This is a fin
store-
house, with a grand semicircular front, eornamented
with rich entablatures and a few Grecian
mirrorspillars.
of
The windows permit one to see massive
and the framework of pictures and the glitter
brasswork. Inside the open door an old man in
an arm-chair receives everybody. Howdeferen-
tial he is! how he bows! how graceful, depreca-
tory, and soothing the modulation of his trunk
and arms ! Mit these are nothing to his smile.
His face seems a kind of laughing clock, wound up
to act for so many hours. When the machinery is
feeble, towards evenino, the laugh degenerates into
a grin, but he has managed hitherto with nods,
and cheeks wreathed in smiles, and a little bad Ger-
man and French, which enable him to informa
:comers that this house is specially under English
and French protection, to save it from plunder
and pillage. The house belongs, dit, to Prince
Woronzoff, and the guardian angel is .an aged
servitor of the Prince, who, being paralytic, was
left behind ; and has done good service in his
arm chair. Prince Woronzoff's house is said to be
under the protection of the English and French.
Es he protected because he is a Prince, or merely
because he is supposed to be friendly to English-
men, and is known to be connected with some
English families ? Sir George Brown assuredly has
no natural sympathies with pure aristocracy or
with anything but pure . democratic soldiery and
military good fortune. It may be—nay, it is—
right to save Prince Woronzoff s house, but would
it not be equally proper to protect the stock ien.
trade of some miserable Russian meQhanie
mained in the town trusting to our cleruetleYz
who was ruined by a few brutal soldiers 7 How-
ever, the house is so far safe, and if we
are sorry
that the museum is sacked we may be Proud'warn, that
the palace is spared.

CAPTURE OF A BURGLAR.—Yesterday morning police
constable No. 321 Y captured a man for stealing some
The
tween the officer and the prisoner._ latter escaped,
leather at Mortlake. A desperate eunter esued
and attempted attempted self-destruction by jumping into the
Thames. In leaping, his foot caught
was retaken, and con-
caught some boats, and
,s gospital, where he now remains
both his thighs were broken H
in a precarous state.
con-
veyed to St. George
On Saturday evening, at seven
THE ABERDsn, ARCTIC COMPANT
--- --Y.—DEPARTURE OF
y°left Aberdeen harbour, on board
C,,,AclP,TcAklNcaPptir
Penny
bound for Hogarth's Sound, Arctic
the Lrylv Franklin, along with the Sophia, Martin, and
where, necessary, they will winter.
THROUGH DlSTRESS.—Yesterday the neigh-
tat. crewe..lji
wnisop,fEw4sheml.
houthood of Castle-street, Holborn, was the scene of
Consequence of the suicide of a
tradesman° exciterne
namedn in
Page. It appeared that the deceased
vas by trade a watchmaker, with two children and wife.
Latterly the poor fellow had been short of work and
'ouch reduced in circumstances. Yesterday morning
:frs. Page, with her two children left, and on her return
the deceased was found on the floor with his throat cut
from ear to ear.