The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-02 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Privy Council at three o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. It was at-
tended by Prince Albert, Earl Granville, Lord Presi-
dent ; the Duke of Argyll, Lord Privy Seal ; the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne ; Viscount Palmerston, First Lord
of the Treasury ; Sir George Grey, Secretary of State
for the Home Department ; the Earl of Clarendon, Se-
cretary of State for Foreign Affairs ; Sir Charles Wood,
First Lord of the Admiralty ; the Right Hon. R. Vernon
Smith, President of the Board of Control ; Earl Spencer,
Lord Steward ; the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord
C)amherlain ; and the Duke of Wellington, Master of
the Horse. •

The Right Hon. Dudley Earl of Harrowby and Hon.
Edward Pleydell Bouverie were by command of the
Queen sworn of her Majesty Most Hon. Privy Council,
and took their places at the Board accordingly.
Her Majesty in Council was pleased to appoint the
Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie Vice-President of the Com-
mittee of Council for the consideration of all matters
rela.ing to Trade and Foreign Plantations.
Mr, C. Greville was the Clerk of the Council in
Waiting.
Earl Graaville had a❑ audience of the Queen, and re-
signed his seals of office as Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster.

The Earl of Harrowby bad an audience of the Queen,
and was sworn in Chancellor of the Duchy and Counts
Palatine of Lancaster. Her Majesty delivered to the
nob!e earl the seals of the Duchy and County Palatine.
Mr. Fre&rick Dawes Danvers, Clerk of the Council to
the Duchy, assisted at the ceremony.
The Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Palmerston, Sir G.
Grey, and Sir Charles Wood had audiences of the Queen.
Her Majesty was attended by Lord Ernest Bruce,
Vice-Chamberlain ; Viscount Drumlanrig, Comptroller
f the Houßehold ; Earl Somers, Lord-in-Waiting ; and
the Hon. Mortimer Saukville West, Groom-in-Waiting.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert went to the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham on Saturday morning, accompanied
by the, Duke of Cambridge ar.d the Prince of Leiningen.
and attended by the Duchess of Atholl, the Hon. Fora
Macdonald, Major-General Bouverie, and Capt. Du Plat.
The Duchess of Kent visited the 'Queen at Bucking-
ham Palace.

Her Majesty had a dinner party in the evening at
Buckingham Palace. The company included the Duchess
of Kent and the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Lein-
ingen, the Maharajah Daleep Sing, the Earl of Harrow-
by, Lady Fanny Howard, Madame Tricoupi, the Earl
and Countess St. Germans, Earl and Lady Constance
Grosvenor, the Right Iron. Sidney and Mrs. Herbert,
Sir John Login, Col. Ridley (Scots Fusilier Guards),
Major Oliphant (Chairman of the East India Company),
and the Gentleman in Waiting on the Duke of Cam-
bridge.

The band of the 2d Life Guards was in attendance in
the Palace, and performed during dinner.
Yesterday the 'Queen and Prince Albert, with the
Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the
Princess Alice, and the Prince of Leiningen, attended
Divine service in the private chapel in Buckinzham
Palace. The Hon. and Very Rev, the Dean of Wind-
sor officiated.

The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Glou-
cester on Saturday, at Gloucester House.
Prince Ernest of Leiningen arrived at Clarence House,
St. James's, yesterday, from Portsmouth, on a Tisit to
the Duchess of Kent.

CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held on
Satnrlay afternoon et the Foreign•nffice, Downing-
street. The l!lioi,ters present were Viscount Palmer-
ston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville' the Marqui,
of Luisdowae, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey,
the E:•r1 of Clarendon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Vernon Smith, Sir
W. Molesworth, and Viscount Canning. The Coutfcil
sat two hours.
A deputation from the Burial Boards of St. Maryle-
hone, St. Pancras, and Islington, had an interview with
Sir G. Grey on Saturday, at the Home-office. The de-
putation consisted of Sir B. Hall, M.P. (Marylebone),
Mr. Alderman Challis, M.P. (Finsbury), the Rev. Thos.
Dale of St. Pancras (vicar), Messrs. John Flathr and
Henry Farrer (churchwardens of St. Panqras), Messrs.
Robert Furness and William Durant Cooper (St. Pan-
cras Burial Board), Mr. William Anderson (Islington
Burial Board), Mr. John Layton (clerk to the Burial
Board, Islington), Dr. Sayer, Messrs. J. H. Harlowe,
and F. H. Bridgman and Mr. W. E. Greenwell, clerk
to the Burial Board (deputation from St. Marylebone).
A deputation consisting of Mr. Forster, Mr. Swanzy,
Mr. Sewell, and Mr. Blanksom, had an interview with
Sir G. Grey on Saturday.
Despatches were sent from the Colonial-office, on Se-
tur.!ay, to the Governors of the West India Islands.

CRYSTAL PALACE.--Her Majesty and his Royal
Higness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of
Cambridge and the Prince of Leiningen, visited the
Crystal Palace en Saturday morning. Her Majesty
was attended by the Duchess of Athol and the Hon.
Miss Macdonald, and General Bouvorie and Captain Du
Plat were in attendance on the Prince. The Royal party
were received by Mr. Laing, the chairman, and other
directors, and were conducted' through the palace, with
the improved appearance of which her Majesty expressed
herself greatly pleased. In the course of the visit the
Queen made some purchases of jewelery and bronzes
from the stalls of Messrs. Rudolphi and Barbedienne, in
the Foreign Court. After the departure of her Majesty,
Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge were con-
ducted by Sir Joseph Paxton into the grounds, where
they remained until half-past 1 o'clock.
Lord Aired Paget, Equerry to her Majesty, has been
selected by the Queen, to be Lord in Waiting to the
Emperor of the French during his visit to England.
Lady Hartopp and Miss Anna Maria Hartopp have
left the Clarendon Hotel for Four Oaks, Birmingham.
Sir Robert and Lady Gerrard have left the Claren-
don for Roehampton.
The Right Hon. 13. and Mrs. Disraeli left town on
Saturday for Hughenden Manor, Bucks, where they
will remain during the recess.
THE MARQUIS OF DONEGAL—It is, says a Belfast
paper, the intention of the Marquis of Donegal to take
up his residence, if not permanently, at least for a time,
at Ormeau.
THE VIENNA CONFERENCE.—It is confidently as-
serted that the purport of M. Drouyn de l'Huy's visit
to England was to protest against the course Lord John
Russell was pursuing at the Conference, as yielding too
much ; and that he was proceeding to Vienna with a
strcng assurance that the English Plenipotentiary should
receive instructions not to assent to any propositions
unless they were fully in accordance with the views of
our ally, and likely to be productive of a lasting peace.—.
Mo ening Herald.
The following entry appeared in one of the recent re-
turns made by the Vienna police agents to their supe-
riors. " Lord John Russell has walked arm-in-arm on
the glacis with Prince Gortschakoff."
FURTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Earl of
Harrowby has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster, and will be sworn into office this after-
noon. This, with Mr. Bouverie's appointment to the
Vice-Presidency of the Board of Trade, and Mr. Brand's
acceptance of the Junior Lordship of the Treasury,
leaves but one office--the Colonial Under-Secretary-
ship—vacant in the Administration. Mr. Brand will
undertake the English department of the Treasury, Lord
Monck succeeding Mr. Fortescue as Irish Lord.
APPOINTMENTS.—Mr, George Young has been ap-
pointed Commissary Clerk at Perth. Mr. John Pyeris,
promoted from Second Clerk to Chief Clerk at Thames
Police-office. Mr. B. F. Bowdler, from Assistant-clerk
at Bow-street, is to be Second Clerk at Thames Police-
d° cc.— Observer.
THE GUARDS FOR THE CRIMEA.—This week 1,200 of
the Guards will embark for the seat of war. These will
be composed of 300 from each of the four battalions of
thethree regiments.

NEW Yong.—The commercial advises from New
York on Friday give very satisfactory accounts of the
stock and money markets ; but much of the improve-
ment having been caused by the news of the death of
the Emperor Nicholas, sonic reaction, analogous to that
which took place on this side, will probably be reported
by future packets. The greatest rise had been in rail-
way bonds, several of which had advanced 2 or 3 per
cent., but all descriptions of securities were well sup-
ported. The cotton market had likewise been rendered
firmer. There had been no diminution in the abundance
of mosey, as the banks were still increasing their loans
and discounts. The heavy amount of specie shipped by
this packet, 320,0001., and the fact of the rate of ex-
change having gone up to a point to indicate the proba-
bility of further large remittances, were calculated, how-
ever, to excite caution. Letters from Panama received
or. this occasior. state that her Majesty's steamer Virago
arrived at that port from the Mexican coast on the 24th
of February with nearly a minim )f dollars or England

LATEST NETS.

THE CRIMEA.

MARSEILLES, SATURDAY, MARCH 31.
The Sinai, which left Constantinople on the
22d of March, has arrived.
Despatches for the Government left at 2 p.m.

BALAKLAVA, MARCH 20.

The Russians still occupy the ambuscades,
which the French attacked on. the 17th and 18th

without success and with loss.

Reinforcements of 15,000 Russians arrived a

SAastopol on the 18th.

On the same evening 15,000 Russians crossed
the Tchernaya, and advanced on Baidar.

For the last three days the Russians have

ceased firing.

The Russians and the Allies are occupied in

in strengthening their positions.

The morale of the army is excellent.

Sickness is on the decrease.

Provisions are abundant.

KAMIESH, MARCH 20.
Advices from Perekop of the 17th announce
the death of Prince Menschikoff.

ST. PETERSBURG, SATURDAY.

General Osten=Sacken writes from the Crimea
that in the night of the 23d, and early morning
of the 24th, the garrison of Sebastopol made a
powerful sortie for the purpose of putting a stop
to the works of approach made by the Allies near
the Kamschatka lunette.

This operation, adds General Osten-Sacken,
resulted to our advantage. Our men succeeded

in destroying the works executed by the French
during the last few (lays. The loss on both sides

was considerable. Two French officers, one a

colonel and the other a captain, fell into our

hands, together with an English captain.

VIENNA, SUNDAY.

To-morrow the Conference meets again.
M. Drouyn pie Lhuys is expected to arrive on

Wednesday next.
The Dowager-Archduchess Maria Dorothea
died at Buda yesterday.

ELSINORE, SUNDAY.
The first four ships of the British Baltic fleei

arrived here this afternoon.

KIEL HARBOUR., SUNDAY.

Nothing but ice is in sight.

Letters from Bessarabia, received by private
persons at Galatz, confirm the intelligence that
orders have been given by the Commander-in-
Chief of the Russian army of the South that, in
the event of an invasion by the enemy, all the

inhabitants are to retire beyond the Dneister,

after setting fire to all their produce as well as

all the towns and villages,

T-FIE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
(From a Second Edition of the Morning ilerald.)
ENGLISH CAMP, SEBASTOPOL,
MAncu 18.
At about half-past eight last night the whole of
the allied camp was alarmed by a tremendous
tiring of musketry in the direction of the French
trenches. The firing, wh....n was caused by an
attack made by our Allies on the enemy's infantry
pits, mentioned in my letter of yesterday, con-
tinued for upwards of two hours, and was at one
time so hot that all expected a general action was
about to take place. Even after the real nature of
the fight was ascertained, both English and French
troops remained under arms for some time, since,
as the French were ag tin detected in their attack,
a strong sortie was anticipated upon their works.
I stated yesterday how continually the French
were galled by the fire from these rifle pits. This
annoyance increased to such au extent during yes-
terday that the French engineers determined to
attack•tbem forthwith. For this purpose, soon
after it was dark, 300 volunteers from the French
sharpshooters, with about 200 from the Infantry
of the line, and seven officers, were selected.
They remained under cover till eight o'clock, when
the night being windy and pitchy dark, they cauti-
ously advanced to the attack. The rifle pits are be-
tween 60 and 70 yards from the French parallel, yet
the French had scarcely advanced ten paces when
a Russian sliouted out something, and in a minute
afterwards a smart fire was opened from the pits.
The French instantly threw themselves down, and
availing themselves of the inequalities of' the
ground began their advance until within a sufficient
distance to make a dart at the enemy. The sudden
discovery of their plan appears, however, to have
disconcerted the French, who straggled far in
the darkness, opening their line so wide that some
part of them were advancing upon points where
there were no riflemen, and only deep ditches and
stockades. This error, with the repeated words
of command which were given in order to rectify
it, enabled the enemy to fire with much accu-
racy in the direction of every sound. The
French, consequently, suffered smartly in their ad-
vance, while the enemy were enabled to concen-
trate their strength upon the threatened points.
The French, notwithstanding these difficulties,
managed to come within twenty yards of their
antagonists, and the firing was hot on both sides,
when the order was given to our allies to rise and
charge. All instantly rose and made a dash in the
darkness, at where the flash of rifles was thickest,
and in spite of a heavy volley continued their ad-
vance. The officers gallantly led the way, followed
by the volunteers, and closed with the first line of
pits. From these some of the Russian riflemen
sprung out to take shelter behind the second line,
while others remained at their posts and defended
themselves with their swords to the last. This
resistance, however, was in vain. In a few minutes
the French had completely captured the first row of
pits, and were engaged with the second and third,
when some unaccountable confusion arose among
them, and by the time it was rectified the enemy's
fire was so steady and so hot that they were com-
pelled to give ground before it. Their officers in vain
tried to rally their men, who had fallen into dis-
order ; before such a fire it was almost impossible,
especially as it was evident that the numbers of the
enemy were momentarily increasing. A retreat,
therefore, became necessary, and the French accord-
ingly retired in the same
manner in which they
advanced—skirmishing and fighting from stone to
atone. - They did not, however, fall back upon their
advanced trench, as on the first' symptoms of their
having experienced a repulse a strong reinforce-
ment of 800 men Was despatched to their assis-
tance. This additional force joined the first attack
while retreating from the rifle pits, anc a renewal
of the attempt to capture the position was instantly
determined on. The French accordingly made a
stand, and began a steady continuous file fire upon
the line of pits, which the enemy returned as hotly.
So close and incessant was the rattle of the mus-
ketry, that it aroused even the troops at Balaldava.
The assemble() blew in the English and French
camps, and the divisions rapidly got under arms,
as, from the continued rattle, a general engage-
ment was expected. The 2dDivision moved to-
wards the brow of the hill, so as to be ready to
support the French and the Inkerman batteries.
The Light Division advanced, and took ground to
the left, so as to support the new 21-gun battery,
and cover the Woronzow road, up which it has
been lately expected that a powerful attack would be
made. The Third and Fourth Divisions were also
under arms, and remained in readiness to support
any threatened point with their field batteries.
The other divisional batteries acted with the Se-
cond and Light Divisions. Lord Raglan and staff
turned out with their horses, but only remained at
head-quarters in readiness for whateVer might
.
a Use.

In the French camp there was the same activity.
All their divisions turned out, and, closing u to

their batteries, formed, with the English, a perfect
line round the south of the town.
The musketry had now lasted nearly an hour
and a half. Very few heavy guns were fired by
the enemy, as the French and Russians were much
too close to.permit of its being done with safety to
their own troops. Our allies had meanwhile con-
tinued their advance until close upon the pits. The
flashes of musketry, extending ever nearly a mile,
were incessant, and every five or ten minutes the
explosion of a long gun in the batteries dimly lit
up the whole scene, and showed the heavy masses
of smoke which hung over the place of contest. All
this time the English troops were quietly waiting
for their turn to begin, as of course they were un-
acquainted with the nature of the French attack,
and were looking forward with confidence to an-
other night battle of Inkerman.
Suddenly the French musketry ceased, and. with
loud vivas they advanced to the charge. In another
second broad heavy streaks of flame, followed by a
stunning crash, showed that the enemy were then
in overwhelming numbers, and had drawn up re-
serves of infantry under their batteries, and in rear
of the pits. The time which the contest had lasted
had thoroughly alarmed the whole Russian garrison
of Sebastopol, and muck of its strength was con-
centrated round the threatened point. The French,
as I have said, dashed in upon the pits, but, before
they had moved ten paces, received a heavy volley
from the troops in the rear of them. Still they pressed
forward to where the holes were occupied by the rifle-
men, engaging in bayonet contests with their occu-
pants, while the Russians behind were discharging
deadly volleys into their ranks. Nevertheless, so
impetuous was the French onset, that within a
minute they again captured the first line and the
greater part of the second line of pits, and bayo-
netted their occupants. But by the time that this
was effected the heavy volleys of the Russian in-
fantry were telling severely, and the officers saw
that, with the small force at their command, it was
in vain to persevere any longer. After a brief but
desperate struggle, therefore, they again commenced
their retreat. As they did so, the enemy yelled and
shouted like demons, and the shouts were taken up
and echoed and re-echoed along the whole extent of
the Russian lines, while, emboldened by the success
of numbers, the enemy's infantry advanced in pur-
suit of the French. However, this last was a step
for which our gallant allies were by no means pre-
pared. Of themselves, from prudential motives,
they had retired before superior numbers, but to
be driven in by the enemy was another affair. As
the Russians advanced, therefore, the French
quietly retired, firing a little into the enemy and
gradually closing up until their would-be pursuers
were close upon them, then instantly facing
round, fired one heavy volley, and charged with the
bayonet. By this coup the enemy's infantry was
driven back with severe loss, though not sufficient
to deter them from again attempting to close with
our Allies, who still were falling back upon their
advanced parallel. Into this the Russians, who
were about 2,000 strong,made a serious attempt to
enter also, bui such a close and continued fusillade
was kept up by the defenders, that the enemy were
thrown into disorder, and rapidly retreated to the
cover of their own batteries, which opened fire
heavily. The French then discontinued their at-
tempts, and the cannonade gradually ceased at
about half-past eleven.
According to general report the French lost in
these attacks, no less than 2 officers and 29 men
killed, and 3 officers and 133 men wounded.
Of course, there is no means of ascertaining the
loss of the enemy, but it must have been little
short of that of the French. Had the same amount
of skirmishing taken place in the day, the loss
would have been a thousand killed and wounded
on both sides,. but skirmishing in the dark not one
shot in ten tells.

The French officers behaved on this occasion
with the most daring courage ; and it is generally
said, that had some of the troops supported them
properly, the forts might have been captured on
the first attack. One French officer received a
sword cut from a Russian, which cut through his
shoulder slantwise almost down to the spine, so that
he died in a few minutes. Our division remained
under arms until past eleven, when, all being quiet
again, they returned to quarters.
Early this morning the Russians commenced the
day by throwing bombs into the French advanced
parallel, from which -the attack of last night was
made. The French returned the fire smartly for
about half-an-hour or so, when the cannonade on
both sides slowly slackened down and ceased en-
tirely. From Gordon's Battery we threw a few
shells among the Russian infantry pits in front of
the enemy's advanced work on Gordon's Hill, but
they appeared to be deserted. Emboldened by
the success which has attended the formation of
this advanced work on Gordon's Hill, the enemy
are again attempting to throw up another
in advance of the Barrack Battery and flank-
ing our left attack, and some of the new Fi ench
Works on that side. Very few traces of broken
ground are yet to be seen, though there is still
quite enough to show the intentions of the Rus-
s;aus. If they succeed in carrying out this battery
an mounting it with ordnance, it wiil not only
give considerable trouble, but be a most extraor-
dinary feature in this most extraordinary siege,
for then the enemy will have turned Alio tables and
1)3 literally advancing their parallels and batteries
against our works.

MARcti 19.
Again last night the camp was kept rather on
the qui vice by a heavy bombardment, which the
French maintained upon the suspected advanced
work to which I alluded at the close of my letter
of yesterday. It now appears that the Russians
are fully bout on establishing au advanced bat-
tery on this spot, and from the commanding and
important nature of the position, the French spare
no efforts to hinder its completion. Llst night
their out picquets and volunteers discovered the
party hard at work, and a strong mortar battery
was immediately opened upon the intended posi-
tion. In the course c.f two or three hours up-
wards of 200 10 and 13-inch bombs were dropped
upon the place, and the enemy, after suffering se-
verely, were compelled to fall back. After the
working party, had retired the French still con-
tinued their practice, and threw shell the whole of
the night. At daylight this morning all the para-
pets (which were only partially finished) were com-
pletely destroyed, and the ground ploughed up all
around the spot. When the working party retreated •
the enemy's batteries opened upon the French
mortar battery, but without effecting any damage
worth speaking of, and after maintaining an irre-
gular cannonade for nearly an hour, discontinued,
and left the field to the French.

Our Allies are much nettled at the repulse which
they met with on the night before last at the rifle
pits, but still speak with determined confidence as
to the result of their next attack. No one can
surmise when this next attack will be made, but
from the harassing fire which the enemy's sharp-
shooters keep up night and day, it cannot be lone-
deferred, and the sooner it is made the less the
French are likely to suffer.
Another 13-inch mortar was mounted on our
right attack yesterday. It is placed in a peculiar
position, apart from the other mortars, as it is in-
tended for immediate use. This morning it opened
fire, and commenced throwing shells among the
Russian rifle pits round Malakhoff Tower. Soon
after it had begun the Russian soldiers swarmed
about the earthworks opposed to us, and wherever
man
ny ri o t a
dropped unff til
earth-
works occasionally throw a few shells, but
wwoeureldthshienkwes.t sThehlelsawunerseidnromp
without producing any results calculated to
hinder our fire. For the first hour or so after
the mortar opened the Russian riflemen laid close
in their pits, but after some 30 or 40 of them had
been blown up, pits and all, they commenced run
ning back to their batteries in twos and threes, so
that all their holes were evacuated before two in
the day. After accomplishing this, the mortar
was employed in throwing occasional shells into
the town and earthworks until near dark, when
the firing ceased.
Yesterday evening a long train of waggons,
about 450 in number, entered Sebastopol from the
north side. These are presumed to contain ammu-
nition, of which, beyond all doubt, the Russians
must now bo getting short. It would seem quite
incredible to your readers if I was to state the
enormous amount of powder, shot, and shell,
which the Russians are computed to have fired
away since the commencement of the siege. During
the last few days that the enemy have been firing,
not more than one shell out of three has exploded.
Many of the others have been picked up, and in-
stead of the usual metal fuse used all over
Europe, they have fusees made of pieces of
alder wood bored out and roughly fitted into the
shell. The shells also have been found to contain
very little more than one half of their proper burst-
ing charge. With such examples as these therefore,
before our eyes it would not be thought credulous
to believe that at last the enemy are getting short
of ammunition. At the same time it must be re-
membered thst if the waggons which entered yes-
terday were really laden with powder it would
give the garrison an ample supply for the next
month to come.

All to-day the enemy have been extremely busy
in the advanced earthwork on Gordon's Hill, and
it is evident from the bustle going forward there
each night that they are either mounting it with
guns or sapping down towards our trenches—per-
haps both. But no matter what the object which
the Russians may have in view ; both English and
French engineers are decidedly of opinion that the
work must be taken immediately, and at any risk.
This time the Freneh will not form the attacking
party exclusively ; in fact, only two battaions of

Zouaves will assist the English division of infantry
which may be selected fur the work. According
to some the Light Division is to have the honour
of capturing it, and according to others the 3d
The latter is most probable, as up to the present'
the 3d division has not been seriously engaged in
any great exploit. Of course, no day is fixed for
the attack, and the time will be kept a profound
secret until the moment of at tack. From the strength
of the work and the care which the enemy seems to
take about its preservation, the attempt to storm
it is likely to be one of the most severe and bloody
episodes of the siege, and may even bring about a
general action. But taken the work must be, and
the English are determined to do it or perish in the
attempt. All the divisions claim the honour of
having been selected for the task, but up to the
present there is no ground for believing that any
has been named. The same uncertainty prevails as
to the time of the attack, but it is improbable that
it will be deferred longer than four or five days,
Or so.

As regards Balaklava, it is rumoured that the
Russians intend making regular approaches, and
besieging our heights, as they would a regular
fortress. This, of course, is a mere on chit, an very
unlikely to be true. Our troops ou the Balaklava
heights are in splendid condition, and beyond all
description anxious for a brush with the enemy.
The usual Cossack picquets remain about the plains,
but there is no appearance of more than 200 or 300
men being in the neighbourhood, or even towards
Tchurgoum. The Marines and Rifles on the
heights on the extreme right are in splendid order,'
and each hut and tent has its own little garden of
crocuses and snowdrops around it. The camp is
quite a model in its way. Some tremendous earth-
works have lately been added to the defences en
this point, and to-day, by means of the buffaloes,
a long 56 cwt. 32-pounder was drawn up the ascent
and mounted in a most commanding position.
Two more will be placed to-morrow And the day
after. These long heavy guns are all which were
required to make this part of our defences perfectly
impregnable. Balaklava itself is lately much im-
proved. Nearly all the houses in the village have
been pulled down, and the rubbish and stones
heaped over the filthier parts of the town. • In place
of tl#se houses our neat huts have been erected on
the heights over the harbour.

The railway is progressing with truly railway
speed. The stationary engines are not yet at work,
but, by means of the trucks and horses, immense
supplies of shot and shell, with provisions of all
kinds, have been collected at a depot half way be-
tween this and head-quarters. In the course of
another month the whole line will be completed.
The harbour of Balaklava is, if possible, in a
state ten times worse than ever. Each ship moors
and remains where she can or where she likes.
Seven days ago there were upwards of 190 sail of
steamers and sailing vessels, public and private, in
this little harbour. At pres -nt there are about
150. The precautions lately taken against the out-
break of fire are now entirely relaxed, acid the fate
of the whole expedition is; as it were, abandoned to
mere chance. The Medina arrived at Balaklava
this afternoon. Among other news, she brought
intelligence of the gunbt,at Swallow and two others
having been hotly engaged with the enemy's batte-
ries off Kertch, in which contest the Russian town
is reported to have suffered to some extent.
The Cormorant and Albatross, of the Cork
Steam-ship Company, have been ordered home, and,
according to our ordinary method of working, it
will require nearly half-a dozen vessels to do the
work of these two, as they were beyond all doubt
the hardest-wcrked and most useful vessels which
ever entered the transport service. Mr. Filder, in
particular, is likely to miss much the services of
the Cormorant, which was the best cattle-ship on
the station.

The Jason has gone to Genoa for Piedmontese
troops, and the Medway follows her to-morrow on
the same errand. The Manilla has gone to Eupa-
toria with shot, shell, and wooden huts; and will
receive in exchange a portion of the surplus Tartar
population of that town, who are to be brought
down here and emp!oyed in scavenging and road-
making.

MARCH 20.
All last night the French batteries fired heavily
upon the spot which the enemy have selected as the
site for a new earthwork. Last night two French
soldiers deserted from Balaklava to the Cossack
picquets. They were seen passing the plain, and
were fired upon, but escaped without injury. An
hour afterwards a Russian deserter crossed to us,
and was- pursued to within 600 yards of our lines
by the Cossacks, who escaped again in the darkness.
No movements of importance are stirring, though
very possibly before next mail the attempt upon
the Russian advanced work will have been by our
men.

FRANCE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.
_ _ _

M. Drouyn de Lhuys returned to Paris at ten
o'clock yesterday morning. He will probably start
for Vienna to-morrow, but the exact time of his
departure is not yet fixed.

The Prussian envoy Baron do Wed 11 had a pri-
vate audience of tho Emperor yesterdaY, to take
leave. He left Paris for Berlin last evening, to
obtain fresh instructions from the King of Prussia,
and expects tie return in a few days.
I am inf irmed that the Russians hava established
two fortified camps, each of 30,000 men—the one
between Mittau and Riga, and the other between
Revel and Narva, to defend' the Baltic provinces.
The leading departments of the Paris journals, as
if by common accord, are one and all vacant of poli-
tical discussion, and are occupied, so far as polti-
cal matters are concerned, solely with the custo-
mary references to the events and reports of ti.
day, with but slight comment.
The' Moniteur 'contains the following despatch
from Admiral Bruat

" ON BOARD THE MONTEBELLO, KA.MIESHI, MARCH 20.
" Various nocturnal engagements have taken place
on the left and on the right of our troops. On all
points our soldiers have mainttined their incont.)st,tble.
superiority over the Russian troops."
The Yerite of Lille states that the military admi-
nistration has determined on not continuing to
purchase in the interior of the country the wheat
required for the army, but has. entered into con-
tracts for supplies from Algeria, Portugal, and
Spain. This measure will, it is expected, cause a
reduction of prices in the provincial markets..
The Russian General, Baron de Budberg, who
was charged with the mission of announcing the
death of the Emperor Nicholas to the King of the
Belgians, left Brussels on Thursday for Hanover,
where he is also charged to fulfil a similar mission.
The following private telegraphic despatch has
been received here :

" MADRID, 30th.—The, Government will make
the bill for restraining the national guard a Cabinet
question. The committ©e is favourable to the bill.
M. Pacheco's gracious reception as Amba3sador
from Spain by the Popo has produced an excellent
effect. here."

BOURSE, MARCH 31.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
4i per Cents 95 • 91f. 55c.
3 per Cents 7O ' 69f. 75c.
Credit Mobilier BlO Roman
Credit Foncior — Austrian
Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes 36
Piedmontese B5 75 Home Debt —
RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.
tr. c. fr. c
Orleans .. ....
Western — Rouen
Cott() , 617 50 Strasburg
Mediterranean 992 50 Havre 570
Northern ...... ...... 867 50 Cherburg