The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The Invalids Russe, the 7th, publishes the fol.
lowing extracts from Prince Gortschakoli's Huai
tary journal, from the 2d to the 10th (14th to 22d,
November :

" Since the 2d (14th) November the enemy has been
working with great activity at the south side of Sebas-
topol, wh,:re 500 men are daily employed on duty.
They have increased the height and thickness of our old
mortar battery, and commenced the construction of
other works at Cape Chersonese, and, it is said, a new
mortar battery at the end of the bay opposite Fort Con-
stantine. Moreover, they have continued digging a
trench on Mount Sapoune. They have also filled up
and levelled their approaches and batteries against bas-
tions 4 and 5.

"On our side, on account of this increased activity of
the enemy, the guns of the northern forts have kept up
a smart fire against the town and its neighbourhood.
The enemy has replied weakly. We have not suffered
any loss.

On the 3d (15th) of November, at 3 30 p.m., a large
powder magazine belonging to the enemy blew up, and
the explosion was soon followed by a second but not
such a violent one. The noise of the bursting projectiles
lasted for more than a quarter of an hour, and the
quantity of powder must have been very considerable.
"On the 10th (22d) of November, at noon, a third
but not an important explosion took place on Bastion
No. 5."

"On the left flank of our positions the enemy has
made occasionally reconnaissances. On the 4th (16th) of
November, at half past 10 in the morning, the allies,
with four battalions and two squadrons, advanced from
Ourkousta along the mountain pass. The skirmish which
ensued on this point between the advanced last lines
lasted till 4 in the afternoon ; on our side we had one
Cossack and one soldier wounded. At 4.30 the enemy
withdrew, and our Cossack pickets resumed their furmer
positions.

" On the 7th (19th) of November the ad►anced Cos-
sack outposts of the 22d Regiment of •Lieut.-Colonel
Valonieff captured two French officers, Lieutenant-Col.
de Br3yer and Captain Panchen. The 69th regiment of
the Line, to which these two officers belonged, forms
part of Chasseloup-Laubat's division, which arrived from
France about a month since."

"Near Eupatoria the enemy's cavalry occasionally
shows itself in considerable force, but not beyond half a
march from the town. The object of these movements
is to devastate the nearest villages."

"On the 7th (9th) of November great activity was
visible throughout the whole of the day in the Eupatoria
roadstead ; 70 barges were continually going to and fro
from the landing-place to the ships ; two steamers em-
barked troops, but they have not yet left the roadstead."

A correspondent of La Presse, writing from St.
Petersburg of the 3d inst., says :
Fourteen successive levies of recruits have with-
drawn from the soil all the robust among the popu-
lation, leavingc, in the villages none but the aged
and infirm. A certain number of the latter have
already been enrolled in the Gassoudarsivennoe
Opolt Schenie, and the remainder are threatened
with incorporation in the Narodnoe Opolt Schenie.
The nobility, thus deprived of the resources in
which lies their wealth, anticipate the future with
terror should the Czar continue the war for another
year. Seeing themselves forcibly deprived of their
moukiks, who, the war finished, will not not be
willing on any terms to return to the domination
of their former batiouchki-ba.rines, the nobility are
extremely dissatisfied. They, however, are con-
strained to put a good face on their unpleasant lot,
and are talking (this time seriously enough) about
the emancipation of their serfs. Between ourselvep,
this is the only benefit the war will confer on
Russia.

This emancipation of rabs is strongly discussed at
this hour in the committee of the senate.
With respect to military matters, and the defen-
sive measures which are being taken throughout
the whole extent of the empire, I may mention that
a high commission of engineers has been established
here, having for its mission to provide for the se-
cure defence of St. Petersburg and Moscow. The
general of engineers Dehn is president of the com-
mission, and the vice-president is General Lomnoff-
ski, acting director of the school of engineers of
Nicolas. Generals La3koffski and Todtleben, Cols.
Boldyreff, Wolkenstein, &c., are members thereof.
The Grand Duke Nicholas, in his capacity of chief
of the engineers of the empire, is president ex
officio of the commission.

A letter from St. Petersburg, of 4th December,
says :—" To-day all the avenues leading to the
winter palace were crowded with carriages, as there
was a presentation of high dignitaries, both mili-
tary and civilian, as well as of ladies, to the Dow-
ager Queen of the Netherlands. It could not but
be expected that the presence at St. Petersburg of
General Todtleben. would not pass without some
manifestation in his honour. At the moment
of his arrival, ho was met at the railway station
by a great number of friends, who received
him with enthusiastic acclamations, in which
many strangers joined. The superior school of en-
gineers, whore the general was educated, could not
fail to pay honour to its most distinguished scholar.
A grand dinner was given at it yesterday in honour
of the general. The Grand Duke Nicholas, in
his capacity as Inspector-General of Engineers,
honoured the dinner by his presence, at which
were present all the generals and officers who took
part in the defence of Sebastopol and who are here
at this moment, as well as the former scholars of
that establishment. The various clubs likewise are
preparing banquets in honour of General Todtle-
ben.'