The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-10 00:00:00

The Soldiers' Graves at Sebastopol

We translate the following from the Nicholaef
_Messenger :
" During the whole of the siege of Sebastopol the
dead were interred upon the spot where they fell.
The result was a number of small cemeteries and
separate tombs, which surrounded Sebastopol. Upon
leaving the Crimea the Allies entrusted to us the
onerous and difficult task of guarding the inviolability
of these tombs. The Russian authorities did what they
could, but it was impossible to place a sentinel over
each tomb. By degrees the former owners returned
to their lands with their cattle. Some of the ceme-
tery walls were defaced, monuments broken, crosses
overthrown. Complaints, correspondence, negotia-
tions between the Governments interested followed.
The English proposed to send to the Crimea an entire
company of soldiers to watch the tombs ; it would
have amounted to the foundation of an English
colony in the Crimea. Naturally enough our Go-
vernment could not accept such a proposal. The
French acted much better ; they sent an engineer to
Sebastopol, with orders to form one large cemetery,
to which the mortal remains of their fellow-country-
men who died during the siege were afterwards to
be transferred. M. Braker, a landowner in the
neighbourhood, whose property is situated at about
three miles from Sebastopol, gave a piece of ground
for this purpose, which has been surrounded by a
wall. In this enclosure eighteen large tombs are
being built, one of which is in the middle. All
these tombs are built upon arches, forming cata-
combs, in which the bones of the soldiers will be
placed, arranged by regiments. Above each regi-
ment the officers of those regiments, up to the rank
of colonels inclusive, will be placed in separate com-
partments. The generals, to the number of ten,
will be placed in the tomb in the middle of the
cemetery. All these tombs and the catacombs will
be always open, and inscriptions cut in tablets of
marble will designate by name each officer's place.
A house has been built for the keeper, a French-
man, and for the attendants. The construction of
this cemetery is nearly finished. There is nothing
more to do than to transfer the bones from the old
tombs, and this is now being done. It is said that
the English are going to follow the example of the
French. If such is the case we shall be relieved of
a heavy duty, and the whole of that vast field of
death which surrounds Sebastopol will be covered
as of old with vineyards and gardens.

THE QUEEN A FRANK COLLECTOR.—The Queen
has, or had, a collection of franks of the Peers and M.P.'s
who held seats in her first Parliament. In procuring those
she is said to have employed the services of the Hon. Col.
Murray, Sir Charles Phipps, and the ladies of her court;
but I have never heard that her Majesty was able to suc-
ceed in making her collection quite complete.—Once a
Week.

GOLDSMITHS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in becoming
patron of the above charity, has forwarded his cheque
for twenty-five pounds as a life subscriber. It is the
intention of the subscribers at the next general meeting
to alter their laws, to enable them to give pensions of
twenty pounds a year to all elected in future. The
funded capital of the Institution has within a few years
increased to upwards of £ll,OOO.
FIRE IN THE EDINBURGH MUSIC HALL.—At a
quarter before three o'clock on Wednesday morning
a fire broke out in the Music Hall during the ball of the
United Service Club, which for a short time created consi-
derable alarm. The decorations, which were elaborate and
of the mosttasteful description, were principally confined to
the orchestra, which was entirely concealed by most artistic
erections that elicited universal admiration. Along the top
of the screens which stretched across the orchestra in front
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of the organ was a row of gas-jets, which, being unpro-
tected, appear to have caused flame to communicate with
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the muslin, calico, and other light materials used in the de-
stage below the organ the band of the 74th Highlanders was
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Thede-
corations.
rushed at the burning materials and tore them down, irre-
spective of all danger, the consequences would have been
much more serious than those we have to record. Several
ladies and gentlemen were seated on the platform ; but, so
far as we have ascertained, all have escaped without injury •
The gallant bandsmen leaped from their elevated position,
and wrought with astonishing energy in the midst of flame
and smoke, and falling planks, till the whole temporary
erections were torn down and the flames trampled out with-
out the aid of water. Valuable assistance was also lent by
many of the gentlemen present. When the flames were
subdued the company joined in hearty cheers in honor of
the noble efforts of the 74th. The alarm, of course, spread
to the peincipal ball-room, at one time a panic seemed
imminent, but luckily nothing untoward happened beyond
the fainting of several ladies through agitation. Dancing
was resumedin the Assembly-rooms; and although many
of the dancers left, it was continued till a late hour. We
understand that none of the structure of the Music-hall has
been materially injured, and that the concert of the Phil-
harmonic Society this evening will not be interfered with.
Edinburgh Courant.