The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-02 00:00:00

A GRAND SIGHT AT SEd.

Whether the Adasi really abounds in serpents, and is
therefore justified in the possession of its byname, I know
not ; but certainly a more innocent-looking piece of bleak
rock, surmounted by a lighthouse, does not exist. At
the Serpent Isle not a sail was to be seen—the fleets
had already left for the Crimea. The Banshee shaped
her course towards Sebastopol. Hitherto the wind and
sea had been boisterous, but during the remainder of
the journey we had a calm, and enjoyed as pleasant
a voyage as twelve knots an hour and a quiet sea
will afford. In the afternoon we came on two French
transports (one laden with horses) which had fal-
len out of convoy, and were beating up the coast.
At dusk we found ourselves in the midst of some
French frigates, and two hours later we descried the
whole allied fleets in the bay of Kalamita. A grander
sight was never seen at sea. A line of lights extended
along the whole coast, and when, as signal, the Banshee
lighted a blue light, the effect was magnificent. The
bulwarks of Old England, surrounded by the imposing
number of transports, rose faintly in the distance ;
whilst in our immediate vicinity a formidable row of
line-of-battle ships, including the flag-ship Britannia,
stood out boldly, in the majesty of their proportions,
the largest spar and the tiniest rope emerging from the
darkness of night. The blue light once extinguished,
and all sank into the shade ; and who would have
guessed, amidst the surrounding tranquillity, that here
was assembled the most imposing armada that ever
cleft the seas, bearing the strength, the pride, and the
hopes of three empires.

ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE HAYMARKET THEATRE OF
THE VICTORY.—A demonstration of public feeling, such
as has not been witnessed in an English theatre for
nearly 20 years, was made on Saturday night at the
Haymarket, when Mr. Chippendale, the stage manager,
came forward, after the performance of the Spanish
Dancers, and read from the Gazette extraordinary the
copy of the telegraphic despatch from our Ambassador
at Constantinople, announcing the defeat of the Russian
army in the Crimea by the allied forces. The audience,
to whom the intelligence was as gratifying as it was un-
expected, rose en masse, and cheered vociferously, while
the orchestra struck *up "God save the Queen," fol-
lowed by " Partant pour la Syne." The cheering was
then renewed with redoubled enthusiasm, and did not
cease until Mr. Chippendale, in obedience to reiterated
calls from every part of the house, re-appeared before
the curtain, and read the despatch a second time ; the
audience, which was a most numerous one, testifying
their delight by cheers and acclamations which shook
the very walls of the theatre.
THE VICTORY AT ALMA.—BRISTOL, OCT. I.—The
news of the brilliant success achieved by the allied army
over the Russian entrenched camp at Alma arrived here
by night, at about nine o'clock, by electric telegraph,
and gave rise to the liveliest feelings of joy andgrati-
tude in all who heard it. Notwithstanding the lateness
of the hour at which it came to hand, the intelligence
spread like wildfire through the city. The landlords of
many of the principal inns and taverns posted it in their
bars and smoking-rooms, or proclaimed it aloud to their
assembled customers, and in every street parties were to
be heard cheering vehemently for the allied forces. This
morning at 10 o clock the still more gratifying news of
the fall of Sebastopol was received, and it would be diffi-
cult to convey an adequate idea of the enthusiasm and
patriotic rejoicing with which it was everywhere hailed.
A copy of the news received by the Electric Telegraph
Company was posted in front of the telegraph office at
the head of the (Broad Quay, and was speedily sur-
rounded by vast assemblages of citizens, who could
scarcely be restrained even by the sanctity of the day
from giving vent_to their feelings. Some of the church
bells have been ringing to-day, and no doubt to-morrow
1. will be one of general rejoicing.