The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-29 00:00:00

[V.RECK OF TEE CHEVALIER. STEAMER

We regret to say that this fine steamer, belonging to
Messrs. Hutcheson and Co., and employed in the West
Highland trade, was thrown away upon a well-known
conspicuous rock in the Sound of Jura, at an early hour
on Friday morning.
The Chevalier sailed from Greenock on Thursday
afternoon bound for Portree, Loch -Inver, Stornoway,
and the other ports in the West Highlands, which
Messrs. Hutcheson have opened up by their splendid
line of steamers. She had rounded the Mull of
Kintyre, and was proceeding through the Sound of
Jura early en Friday morning, when, at four o'clock,
during the mate's watch, the steamer was run right
upon the Skerrie Eirn, or Iron Rock, a well-known
reef, upon which there is a large beacon erected. The
night was fine, the sea calm, and the weather clear ;
so that it would appear as if the grossest neglect and
carelessness on the part of those on board could have
led to such a catastrophe. The rock is flat, and it for-
tunately happened that with the full force of the steam
the Chevalier was driven se hard aground that she stuck
fast, and at once began to fill the forward compartments,
injurying or destroying the goods they contained. As
soon as it was ascertained that the steamer was hard
and snug on the rock, one of the boats was manned,
in which some of the more timid passengers pro-
ceeded to Port-Askaig in Islay, so as to meet with the
Islay steamer on her passage up to Glasgow. In this
they were fortunate enough to succeed, and about eight
o'clock the Islay came to the wreck, and took off the
rest of the crew and passengers, and brought them back
to Glasgow, where they arrived on Saturday afternoon.
A part of the cargo was also saved by the Islay.
It is fortunate that the weather was so fine and the
sea calm, or it is possible that many lives might have
been sacrificed.
Should the weather continue moderate, it is expected
that the Chevalier may be got off, as steamers have
been despatched to her assistance,—North British Mail.

THE BATTLE-EVE IN THE RUSSIAN

A

CAMP.

1, of I

coltuiv. t-::,

information rezpec3ting
L;istopol and the Russian camp, from
the a.crival of the reinforcements under C.3-eneral
Dannenberg till the battle of Inkerman

The new reinforcements which have come to the assist-
ance of the Russians had been already announced to the
Commander-in-Chief from Perekop. It was known that
this army, commanded by General Dannenberg—the
most able, we are assured, of all the Russian generals—
and by the two Archdukes Michael and Nicholas, was
composed of the 10th, 11th, and 12th divisions. Each
of these corps consists of 16 battalions of infantry, of
two batteries of artillery, and of a force of cavalry, the
number of which is not accurately known. Altogether
30,000 men have arrived at Sebastopol, post haste, hav-
ing left their baggage behind at Nicolaieff.
Having reached a forest, two leagues to the north-east
of Sebastopol, the army halted, and the two archdukes
put themselves in communication with Prince Menschi-
koff, who paid them a visit. A council of war was held
on the 3d, at which the two Archdukes, Prince Mens-
schikoff, and General Gortschakoff were the only persons
present. It was decided at the council that an attack
should be made upon the Allied forces two days after-
wards. The army was to advance towards Inkerman,
to take possession of the fortified works which crown
the heights and surround the plain •f Inkerman.
After having accomplished this, the army was to attack
the eastern side of the French works towards Balaklava.
At the same time a vigorous sortie was to be made to help
these operations. The point chosen was a spot between the
Fort Quarantine and the Southern Fort. A portion
of the garrison of the city and of the Southern port was
to attack and destroy the first and second. French bat-
teries, which are causing considerable damage in the
town.

Matters being thus arranged, Prince Menschikoff re-
served to himself the command of the town and the dis-
position of the columns which were to make the sortie.
The army and the reinforcements which had came up
were placed under the command of General Gortachakoff.
The army of operation was to receive also draughts of
troops from the garrison of Sebastopol. The archdukes
were placed on the staff.
Measures were immediately taken to insure the due
execution of those plans.
On the 4th a solemn celebration took place. A mass
was chaunted with all solemnity by bishops who had
come with the archdukes. At the end of the mass the
troops were assembled, and one of the prelates addressed
them. I should have been incredulous as to the details
which I am about to communicate had I not received
them from a Russian officer, at present a prisoner at
Balaklava, and if they had not been confirmed by special
investigations which I have made for the purpose of as-
certaining the truth.
The bishop began by reminding the soldiers of their
duty to the Czar and their country, and drew their at-
tention to the two archdukes, who had come to share
their dangers. He then spoke of their enemies, and gave
an explanation of the battle of Alma calculated to flatter
the self-love and to elevate the courage of the imperial
army. The English came under the special notice of the
bishop. He said they were poor soldiers, destitute of
all energy, and hostile to the cause of God. His allusions
to the French were a mere echo of the proclamation of
the Czar at Moscow in the year 1812.
The most remarkable point, however, was the strange
conclusion of the addresl

"If you are conquerors," cried the bishop, " great
joy is in preparation for you. We know from unim-
peachable sources that these English heretics have in
their camp an enormous sum, which God will give into
your hands. This sum amounts to thirty million roubles.
The Emperor makes you a present of the third part of
this tremendous sum. The second third is rQserved for
the purpose of the re-building of Sebastopol, which you
are on the point of relieving. Time remainder will be
divided amongst the Princes and officers who will to•
morrow be your commanders in the battle. Every one
of you soldiers will receive 580 roubles. To the wounded
the Emperor promises a month's pay and rations. As
to those of you chosen by God fur a glorious deatti, your
Emperor will permit you to dispose of your share in the
booty by will. Whatever may be the wishes of any one
of you they will be respected solemnly."
The speech was terminated by no appeal to the God
of armies to bless the soldiers of Russia. A distribution
of medals and coronets followed. .

The officer who has given me these curious details is
a person of high family, with a spice of Voltairianism
in his composition ; but he assures me that the scene
was almost sublime. It was calculated to make a great
impression on the soldiers, on whoa the recollection of
the battle of Alma had operated most prejudicially.
Whatever may have been the cause, whether it were the
exhortation of the bishops, the presence of the princes,
greed for gold, or any other reason, there is no doubt
that the Russians fought most admirably on the morrow.