The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-27 00:00:00

LOND)N, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27, 1855.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

( From the Special Correspondent of the Times. )
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Aug. 13.—There at last
is some prospect of action, but not against the Malak-
hoff, nor is it the allies who are expected to assume the
aggressive. Late last evening orders were given for the
troops to be under arms by three in the morning. Of
course, Malakhoff was immediately the word, and most
persons supposed that the long talked of assault was to
be made. This, however, was soon found not to be the
case. An attack was expected to take place, it was be-
lieved, along the whole line. Without tap of drum or
sound ot bugle, the camp was afoot at the prescribed
hour, the troops forming up in profound silence. The
entire army was out, including the cavalry and artillery
froni Balaklava,. The first gray of morning found a
a number of officers and amateurs assembled on Cath-
cart's-hill, the best point ot observation. There was un-
usually little firing yesterday and last night, and all ex-
pected that this tranquillity was to be broken by the din
of an engagement. The interest of the situation grew
stronger as the morning advanced and as the scarlet
columns became visible, massed along the lines, motion-
less and expectant. Superior officers, with their staff,
moved to and fro ; aides-de-camp traversed the heights
with orders ; here and there, through the still imperfect
light, which began to be tinged with the first red flush
of sunrise, waved the pennons of a Lancer escort With
broad day the brief excitement ended. Before the
upper edge of the sun's disk rose above the hills
the troops were marching briskly back to their
tents. The -morning was beautifully clear, and the
spectacle was striking. In fine order, in serried
calms, looking hardy, active, and cheerful, and
up to any work, the Crimean army regained its
canvass quarters. For the day the danger was over
—to commence again, it is believed, to night. From
certain orders that have been given with respect to
ammunition, mules, &c., I infer that the army will
again be under arms early to-morrow morning. The
officers are warned to be ready at a moment's notice. It
is believed that reinforcements have reached Sebastopol.
They have been expected for some time past. Four
divisions are talked of, two of them Imperial Guards.
Word has beet, sent up from the fleet to head-quarters
that large bodies of troops were seen collecting behind
the Redan, and others behind the Tdhernaya, and there
were grounds for expecting a general attack along our
lines. , The generals of division assembled yesterday
afternoon at the quarters of the Commander-in-Chiet.
General Simpson is indisposed, and it is reported that
he intends going on board ship for a few days. It was
thought probable that he had summoned his subordi-
nates to confer with them previously to absenting him-
self, but it may now be supposed that the meeting had
reference to last night's operation. It is not imp .ssible
that 'his turn out of the army was a mere rehearsal,
intended to ascertain that all the actors were perfect in
their parts, and in case of need would be promptly at
their posts. The report. to-day, in camp was that the
Archduke Michael is in Sebastopol. We lately learned
from desert, rs that he was expected.
To-night lam informed that our cavalry has been
withdrawn from Baidar and its neighbourhood. Con-
cerning this you will doubtless receive positive informa-
thm trom another quarter. General Pelissier holds
40,000 men in readiness to operate on the line of the
Tcherna‘-a, which, from its extent, is, perhaps, the most
tat ickable part of our position ; but it is vigilantly)
guarded, and I entertain no doubt as to the result should
the Russians venture to assail us.
The Orinoco has arrived at Ba,,aklava with dragoons
and horses. Mr. Doyne, Superintendent in-Chiet of the
Army Working Corps, has also arrived. He came as
far as Constantinople in the Simoom with 450 of his
men, who will quickly follow him hither. The corps
is to consist of 1,000 men. Mr. D sync has had an in-
terview with Col. Macmurdo, in command of the Land
Transport Corps. I understand that it is not intended,
as was; at first proposed, to employ the Army Working
Corps under fire unless in case of absolute necessity. They
will be set ,to making roads, cleaning the camp, and
similar highly useful and necessary occupations.
The staff or the railway, which had been greatly
diminished by illness and other causes, has been broken
up. Mr. Beattie has been requested by General Simpson
to remain to superintend the working of the railway and
all engineering matters connected with it.
Two vessels have been sent front Balaklava to Gibral-
tar for mortar. We are informed that no less than eleven
vessels sailed from England between the 20th and 30th
ult. laden with guns and ammunition, and bound for the
Crimea.
Deputy - Assistant Commissary - General Coppinger,
attached to the Fourth Division, died on Saturday of
fever, and was buried yesterday afternoon. He was much
liked and respected here, and a large member of officers
followed him to the grave.
It is now past 11 o'clock, and I find that no orders
have as yet-been given for a turn-out, but merely that
all.should be ready at very brief notice. Unlike last
night, .whose:unwonted•stillness had something almost
ominous—warned, as we were, of .a probable encounter
--the fire of the batteries is pretty much as usual, and
from Cathcart's-hill, a short time ago, the shells were te
be seen traversing the darkness, in low curves or in lofty
flight, according as they were thrown from gun or from
mortar, while the round shot hurtled through the air and
the rifles sparkled at various points of the lines.
Ana. 14.
The night has passed quietly, and there has been no
occasion to turn out the troops.

systematically arranged, for they often refused to sell;
under the plea that they had to share with their com-
rades, or that the things belonged to officers—very likely
an excuse for passieg safe. If you showed any curiosity
about the affair, you were asked whether you wanted
any household furniture, such as chairs, or mirrors,
lamps, beds, &c., and told that you had only to say
where the things were to be brought to, and they would
take care you should have them. There was nobody at
these country-houses, the Cossacks sent only an aeon-
sional shot from the distance, and there were two French
steamers to keep the road open, which leads quite close'
to the shore ; so there was lull security. I have not
heard of any case where the marauders have come to
harm.

etract the particular attention of the Queen, and then
turned round, and went along the line of cavalry. About
a hundred yards before reaching the Ecole Militaire
on their return, the horses which had previously
been going at a walking pace • broke into a trot
as the rain then began to fall. Her Majesty on alight.
ing from the carriage was conducted to the balcony, and '
took her seat in front of it, her ladies of honour and the
ladies of the Empress's household being on either side.
The Emperorand Prince Albert, surrounded by the staff,
took their station on horseback in front of the building,
and the filing-off commenced. The Imperial Guard were
the first that marched past, and they were followed in
rapid succession by the regiments of the line, cavalry,
and artillery. Not less than 40,000 men could have
been on the ground, and it is impossible to speak too
highly in praise of their martial bearing and soldier-like
appearance. Among the many scenes which must have
excited the admiration of Queen Victoria during her
visit to Paris, that which was presented to her Majesty
in the Champ de Mars yesterday will be one that will
perhaps be the most deeply impressed on her memory.
On leaving the Champ de Mars, after the reeiewe, the
Queen of England, the EniPefor, Prinee *Albeit, the
Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal, visited the
Hotel des Invalides, and the chapel in which the mortal
remains of the Emperor Napoleon I. are deposited.
Their Majesties were received in the grand court by
General Count d'Ornano, the governor of the establish-
msent, at the head of his, staff. At half-past seven their
Majesties returned to the Tuileries.
The Imperial party dined at the Tuileries, as they
were to go to the theatre afterwards. The visit of the
Queen of England to the Opera-Coinique was not by any
means of the same importance as that to the Grand
Opera, being altogether of a private character, but her
reception was again most enthusiastic. The outside of
the theatre was handsomely lit up with lines of gas, and*
the entrance by the Boulevard was tastefully ornamented
with flowers. Inside the house seats festooned with
flewers of great beauty, placed along the front of
the &A :ratite-of boxes., Tho Imperial box belonging to
the Emperor, on the left, was without any, additional
-ornament. The Queen arrived at about half-past nine,
at the end of the first act of the opera of Hayd6e, and
was received with "God save the Queen!" played by the
.orchestra, the house cheering over and over again with
the cry "Viva la Reine !" Her Majesty curtsied re-
peatedly, being obliged by the cheers to do so not less
than four times. Her Majesty was-accompanied by the
Emperor and Prince Albert, both in evening dress, black
coat and white waistcoat, the Emperor wearing the
Ribbon of the Garter, and the Prince the Grand Cordon
of the Legion of Honour. Her Majesty was dressed
in blue, bore the Ribbon of the Garter, had a wreath
of flowers in her hair, and wore a necklace of
pearls of immense size, with other ornaments to
match. Her Majesty, when the cheering had subsided,
sat down in the corner of the box, tke Emperor being in
the centre, and the Prince nearest the stage. The bell
then rang for the performance to proceed, and the drop-
scene drawing up discovered the curtain penilel for the
occasion, containing two compartments—one represent.
ing the entry of the Emperor into Windsor Castle, and
the other that of the Queen at St. Cloud, with the date
of each event. In the centre was the inFcription of
" Aout 24, 1855," and above the army of England and
France united. This was received with great applause.
When the opera was over the whole company came on
the stage and sang "God save the Queen !" which
brought down tremendous cheers. The Emperor and
the Prince retired a little, and her Majesty stood alone
in the front of the box during the anthem, and at the
close had to salute the audience four or five times whilst
the cheering continued. The Emperor then led her Ma-
jesty away, and the party drove off amidst tremendous
cheering outside. The Imperial party had come in nine
carriages, but only one Lady of Honour of the Queen and
one Chamberlain of the Emperor were in the Imperial
box.

LIEUT. PERRY, LATE OF THE 46TH.