The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-04 00:00:00

SUNDAYS,

Fen-
church
Street

Fen-
ch arch
Street

Passages marked * are run direct.
Fore Cabin. Saloon.
To or from Gravesend and L0nd0n.......... 10d. .. is. 2d.
„ Gravesend and Blackwall or Woolwich Bd. .• Os. 10d.
Betwaen Gravesend and Intermediate Piers.. 6d. .. Os. Bd.
BOAT TICKETS.—TweIve Months, L. Os.; Six Months, 3/. Os.;
Three Months, 21. Os. ; to be had of the Collectors on board the
Pac'iets or of Mr. Monk, Terrace Pier, Gravesend.
Fast and superior Packets to be Let for Excursions. Apply to
Mr. W. Morgan, Agent, Star Company, Star Office, Fenchurch-
street Terminus, Blackwall Railway.
July 1, 1854.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION
Under the Patronage of 11.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.

The Pubic is respectfully informed that this Establishment is now
placed UNDER ENTIRELY NEW MANAGEMENT, and that
alterations and improvements are in progress in all its departments,
which it is hoped will render it even more worthy of the support
of the public than it has hitherto been.
Communications in future should be addressed to J. H. Pepper,
Esq., the Resident Director.
All the LECTURES, OPTICAL and other EXHIBITIONS, are
continued as usual.

Open daily from Eleven till Five, and every Evening except Satan
day from Seven till Ten.
Admission, Is. ; Schools and Children ender ten years of age,
Half-price.

CANADA.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

MONTREAL, JUNE 19.—0 n Tuesday last his Ex-
cellency the Governor-General proceeded in state
to the Chamber of the Legislative Council, in the
Parliament-buildings, Quebec. The members of
the Legislative Council being assembled, his Ex-
cellency was pleased to command the attendance
of the Legislative Assembly, and, that house being
present, his Excellency was pleased to open the
Second Session of the Fourth Provincial Parlia-
ment with the following speech :
" Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,
and Gentlemen of the Legislative Asssembly,
" During the recess the province has sustained, I re-
gret to say, serious loss by fire, in the destruction of the
Houses of Parliament, and of the building which was
subsequently secured for the temporary occupation of
the legislature. The best arrangements practicable
under the circumstances have been made for your ac-
commodation.

"Her Majesty the Queen, our most gracious Sove-
reign, having failed in her anxious and protracted en-
deavours to preserve for her people the blessings of peace,
has felt herself called upon by regard for an ally, the in-
tegrity and independence of whose empire have been re-
cognised as essential to the peace of Europe, by the
sympathies of her people with right against wrong, and
by a desire to avert from her dominions most injurious
consequences, to tike tup arms in oonjuction with the
Emperor of the French for the defence of the Sultan.
" The manifestations of loyalty to the Sovereign and
sympathy with the parent state which have been so
general throughout the province at this conjuncture,
will, I am confident, be heartily responded to by the
legislature. The cordial co-operation of England and
France in this war is well calculated to call forth the
sympathies of the inhabitants of a country peopled
mainly by the descendants of those two powerful em-
pires.

Having during my recent visit to England been ho-
noured by the Queen's command to endeavour to effect
the settlement of various important questions bearing
upon the interests of the British North American pro-
vinces which had been long pending between the Go-
vernment of Great Britain and the United States, I pro-
ceeded to Washington, where, after frank discussion
with the authorities of the United States, I was enabled
ononelude-a-treaty which now awaits ratification, upon
terms which it is my firm conviction will prove in the
highest degree advantageous to the colonies generally,
as well as to the United States. A measure to give
effect to that treaty will be submitted for your approval.
" I will communicate to you a despatch which I have
received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
with reference to the addresses to the Queen from the
two Houses of the Legislature on the subject of the con-
stitution of the Legislative Council, transmitted by me
at the close of the last session of the provincial parlia-
ment, in order that they might be laid at the foot of the
throne.

" I recommend to your consideration the passing of
a law for bringing into early operation the act of last
session which extends the elective franchise, in order
that a constitutional expression of opinion may be ob-
tained as speedily as possible under the system of repre-
sentation recently established on the various important
questions on which legislation is required.
" Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly,
" The public accounts for the past year and the esti-
mates for the present year will be submitted to you with-
out delay ; and I rely with confidence on your willing-
ness to make the necessary provision for the exigencies
of the Government.

" The prosperous condition of the revenue may sug-
gest to you the propriety of making such reduction in the
tariff as may be compatible with security to the public
creditor, and efficiency in the public service.
"Honourable Gentlemen and Gentlemen,
"During my sojourn in England, I was much struck
by the proofs which I received from all quarters of in•
creasing interest in Canadian affairs, and I trust that my
acquaintance with the province derived from long resi-
dence within it, may have enabled me to render some
service in spreading more widely a knowledge of its re-
sources and of the feelings of the inhabitants.
" Although a state of warfare has a necessary ten-
dency to restrict operations involving large expenditures
of capital, I feel confident that the credit of Canada has
attained a position in English opinion which it never
before achieved, and that, to enable you to retain it, no-
thing is requisite but prudence in your undertakings and
the maintenance of the high character for fidelity to
pecuniary engagements which the province has at all
times borne."

The house having adjourned, it did not meet
until Friday, when the house voted an address
echoing the sentiments of his Excellency. The
paragraph relating to the war is thus expressed :
" This house heartily responds to the manifestations of
loyalty to her Majesty the Queen our Most Gracious
Sovereign, and of sympathy with the parent state,
which have been so general throughout the province, at
this conjuncture, when her Majesty having failed in her
anxious and protracted endeavours to preserve for her
people the blessings of peace, has felt herself called upon
by regard for an ally, the integrity and independence of
whose empire has been recognised as essential to the
peace of Europe, by the sympathies of her people with
right against wrong, and by a desire to avert from her
dominions most injurious consequences, to take up
arms in conjunction with the Emperor of the French
for the defence of the Sultan ; and that we believe the
cordial co-operation of England and France in this war
is well calculated to call forth the sympathies of the
inhabitants of this country, peopled mainly by the
descendants of those two powerful empires."
From a report just published by the Montreal
Board of Trade, it results that in 1827 the exports
from the British American provinces to the United
States fell short of half a million dollars ; in 1852
they exceeded six millions. In 1849 the entire
exports and imports amounted to eight millions of
dollars. In 1852, after an interval of only three
years, they had increased in amount to sixteen mil-
lions. In 1849 the exports and imports from the
Canadas alone amounted in round numbers to five
millions ; in 1852 they had more than doubled,
amounting to eleven millions. In 1849 the quantity
of wheat exported to the States from the Canadas
was equivalent to about 25,000 barrels ; in 1852 it
amounted to nearly 467,000 barrels.

AMSTERDAM AND ROTTERDAM PRODDOE.—The weekly
reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotterdam produce
markets state that business was limited. A slight increase
in the demand for coffee had created greater firmness,
and for some descriptions higher rates had been paid.
Sugar, raw and refined, exhibited little variation. Sales
of rice had caused an unfavourable reaction, the state of
the weather having been good for the grain crops. Metals
were heavy, and but few transactions had taken place in
indigo.
COMPLETION OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S DIARY AND
LETTERS.—CHEAP EDITION.—The seventh and conclud-
ing volume of this work is just published. " This
volume possesses even snore interest than any of the pre-
ceding. The work stands at the head of this class of
English literature. Wholly different from the Diaries of
Evelyn and Pepys, or the Letters of Walpole and Lady
Wortley Montague, it possesses, in a high degree, some
of their hest qualities. The great charm of Madame
D'Arblay's Diary and Correspondence is to be traced to
their good sense and ingenuousness. The air of a court
had not spoiled her natural character. Madame D'Arblay
had the good fortune to mix largely with the most dis-
tinguished persons of her time ; she was admitted to a
closer view of the domestic life of the Royal Family than
almost anybody else, and her literary reputation drew
around her crowds of people celebrated for taste and
genius. These circumstances contribute to cufer a
peculiar value upon the work."—Atlas.

A TROOP FLEET. -----
The Royal William, 120, Waterloo, 120, St. Vincent,
102, Hannibal, 91, Algiers, 91, Powerful, 84, Calcutta,
84, and Formidable, 84, are all under orders to proceed
to Cherbourg, and embark French troops to aid in ope-
rations in the Baltic. It is for this object, and not as
stated by all the Portsmouth papers on Saturday last,
that a " formidable fleet" is to be formed.
The St. Vincent, 102, Captain Elliot, is now being
fitted up a Spithead with all despatch to receive these
troops, and will sail on Thursday, attended upon by the
Sphynx steam-frigate, She will embark, it is reported,
2,000 troops, her lower deck guns having been removed
for their accommodation.
The Algiers, 91, Captain Talbot, passed Portsmouth
from Devonport on Sunday night for Cherbourg.
The Colossus, Captain Robinson, has ceased fitting,
having lent her men to help in expediting the St.
Vincent, Termagant, and Sphynx for this special service.
The latter will be ready this day (Tuesday), and the
Termagant on the 11th.

The latest news from the Black Sea fleet is contained
in a letter from Baltschik Bay, dated the 19th ult., at
which date the Britannia, Agamemnon, Albion, Queen,
Trafalgar, Rodney, London, Retribution, Apollo, and
Banshee were at anchor there. The Caradoc despatch
vessel arrived there on the 16th from Varna, Lord
Raglan, Colonel Steele, and Colonel Lord Burghersh.
Lord Raglan was received with a salute from the Eng-
lish and French flagships, and left for Varna in the
evening, where a large party, consisting of the Duke of
Cambridge, General Sir George BroivAlujp., met him
at dinner on board the Bellerophon. He started that
night in the Caradoc for Constantinople. The French
fleet was lying at Baltschik, and the Turkish fleet at
Kavarn a.

Mr. Dalyell, Acting-Lieutenant of the Terrible, has
been promoted by Vice-Admiral Dundas to the rank of
Lieutenant, vice Sir Henry Blackwood, deceased.
The Apollo troop and store ship was to leave to
Baltschik on the 19th ult., with obsolete stores for
Malta.

The Bellerophon, Vengeance, Arethusa, Sidon, and
Spitfire, with the French ships of the line Henri Quatre
and Bayard, and three steam•frigates, and two Turkish
line of battle ships, were at Varna on the 18th ult.
Commander Spratt, of the Spitfire, was employed in
surveying Lake Devno, in order to the baggage, &c., of
the land forces being forwarded that far in flat-bottomed
boats. The Sidon towed the London on the 16th ult.
to Baltschik, and returned to Varna in the afternoon
with the Vengeance in tow. Lord George Paulet has
been giving large dinner parties to the naval and mili-
tary dignitaries on board the Bellerophon at Varna.
The Sanspareil and Sampson are on the coast of Cir-
cassia. The Highflyer is gone on a secret mission. The
Terrible and Furious are reconnoitring off Sebastopol.
Admirals Dundas and Lyons and some of the captains
of their fleet went from Baltschik to Varna on the 17th
to pay their respects to the Duke of Cambridge.
The following is a copy of a letter from Sir Charles
Napier to Captain H. R. Yelverton, commanding her
Majesty's ship Arrogant, enclosing a despatch from the
Duke of Newcastle, expressing the Queen's great
satisfaction at the gallantry and zeal displayed by the
officers and men of her Majesty's ships Arrogant and
Hecht at the destruction of the defences of the town of
Ekness

"Duke of Wellington, Baro Sound, June 16.
" Sir,—l beg to forward a copy of a despatch I have
received from the Admiralty, conveying the Queen's sat-
isfaction at the gallantry and skill displayed by the
officers and men of the Arrogant and Hecla at the late
attack at Ekness, and it gives me great satisfaction to
transmit it to you, and in assuring you I highly estimate
your conduct in managing your ship and the Hecla through
such an intricate navigation.
" I have the honour to be, sir,
" Your obedient servant,
"CHARLES NAPIER,
"Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
"To Captain Yelverton, Commanding
Her Majesty's ship Arrogant."
(Enclosure No. 1.)
" Admiralty, June 6.
" Sir,—Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty your letter of the 23d ult., transmitting a
report from Captain Yelverton, of her Majesty's ship Ar-
rogant, of the operations at Ekness, I am commanded by
their Lordships to express to you their satisfaction in en-
closing a letter from the Duke of Newcastle conveying her
Majesty's great satisfaction at the gallantry and skill dis-
played by the officers and men of the Arrogant and Hecla
on this occasion.

" I am, sir, your obedient servant,

" B. 'OSBORNE.

"To Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, &c." ---
(Enclosure No. 2.)
" Downing-street, June G.
"My Lords,—l have laid before the Queen the papers
transmitted to me by your Lordships relative to the de-
struction of certain batteries at Ekness, and I have received
her Majesty's commands to desire that you will signify to
the Vice-Admiral commanding her Majesty's fleet in the
Baltic her Majesty's great satisfaction at the gallantry and
skill displayed by the officers and men of the Arrogant and
Hecla on this occasion.

" I am, my Lords,
" Your Lordships' humble obedient servant,
" NEWCASTLE.
_ _ _

" To the Lords Commissioners of the Adrnfralii.";.---
The Vulture, 6, Captain Glasse, was to leave the Gulf
of Finland on the 2d inst., for England to recruit her
crew, replace the lost paddlebox boat, &c.
Sir Charles Napier was off Seskar on the 24th ult.,
with the Duke of Wellington, Hogue, St. Jean d'Acre,
Imperieuse, Blenheim, Princess Royal, James Watt,
Edinburgh, Cmsar, Cressy, Royal George, Majestic,
Arrogant, and Nile ; and the French ships Austerlitz
(screw), Inflexible, Darien, Hercule, Jaroe, Duguesclin,
and Indret. These were towed by their own paddle-
wheel steamers and screws, except the Austerlitz' which
was towed by our Magicienne. Three French ships,
the sailing squadron, and the Ajax (screw), are left with
Admiral Corry, watchinl• Sweaborg. Admiral Plum-
ridge has gone back to the Gulf of Bothnia with two or
three small vessels.

Our Malta correspondent in his letter, dated Juno 26,
says,—

"The arrival of a French mail-boat from Alexandria
menableslast, mh
eeyteon
dc own
ht iine uhe t thhe or e sis lit of
hairnrgi veal s
theof
stlriogohpt se sincest
in-
terest to communicate.
" June 22.—Rip Van Winkle No. 82, from Liverpool
32 days,—Captain Campbell, COrnet Hartop, Veterinary
Surgeon Poett, 67 troopers and 65 horses, Ist Royal Dra-
goons, Assistant-Surgeon Casach 47th Regiment.
"June 23.—Burmah No. 85
—Lieutenant Morgan, Cornet' from Kingstown, 25 days,
Muttlebury, 47 men, 41
horse., together with an
assistant-surgeon (name not given)
of 4th Dragoon Guards. steamer, from Wool-
wich 10 days,—Lieutenants 0
The Taurus
Assistant-
Surgeon Loughnan, •
commissariat officers (D. A. C. G.)
Gerraud and Bailey, 95 rank and file R al Artillery.
"June 24.—William Jack '
Owen and Sterling,
—Major Forrest, Capt •
ain Robertson Cornet Wilkinson
53 troopers, and 56 horses, 4th DraGuards;
son No. 93, from Kingstown,
z on Assistant-
Surgeon Pollard, 93d Regimen -`) •
t ; Veterinary Surgeon
Delany (Staff).
98, from Plymouth 19 days,—Captain
To‘ Ta,l
Tower, er Quarter-
master J. Marshall, Assistant-Surgeon Boats, 55 men, and
atveierna,te No.
Hunt,
Cornet Rawlinson,
56 horses, 6th Dragoons.
" Cormorant, No. 103, screw steamer, Woolwich, 11th,
—Captains Brandling and Spurway, Lieutenant Tillard,
Assistant-Surgeon Fasson, 35 horses, and 42 troopers,
Royal Horse Artillery.
"Besides the English troops, the passage of the French
has been active since the 22d inst.
"The Jean Bart, with 17 officers and 1,100 troops, has
reached and proceeded to her destination, and a number
of transports carrying their living burdens of men and
horses, in number—men 450, horses 474 ; and the Thabor,
with 14 officers and 518 men."
Yesterday evening the mail for the British army in
Turkey and the fleet in the Black Sea was made up,
and forwarded from the General Post-office, via Mar-
seilles and Constantinople. The mail for the Baltic
Fleet, via Dantzic, will be made up and despatched
this evening.
Intelligence was yesterday received that on the 11th
of June the Eurydice, Captain Ornnaanney ; the Mi-
randa, Captain Lyons ; and the Brisk, Captain Sey-
mour, forming the British portion of the White Sea
squadron, sailed from Hammerfest, for Vardo, to operate
against thei Russians.
Advices were received yesterday, under date Ham-
burg, July 2, announcing that a part of the allied fleets,
under the command of Sir C. Napier, had advanced to
the Isle of Siskaer, near Cronstadt, without meeting
any resistance.
Advices were received yesterday, under date Christi-
ania, June the 24th, announcing that the Bonus Finus,
Hulm master, had been captured by her Majesty's
cruisers, attempting to break the blockade, and sent
home a prize to England.
Yesterday another Russian prize, called the Franciska,
Michelson master, arrived at Sheerness in charge of a
prize crew.
Another Russian ship, called the Ernest Mork, has
been seized by the Customs' authorities at the port of
Hull, with simulated papers ; the necessary proceedings
have been taken in the Court of Admiralty to insure her
condemnation.
The Sphynx, 6, Captain Clifford, is taking in a supply
of coals in Portsmouth harbour, and will leave for Spit-
head this day.
The screw steam-ship Malacca, 17, has been commis-
sioned by Captain Farquhar, and is to be fitted for sea
with all expedition, and yesterday the entry of men to
form her crew commenced at the naval rendezvous,
Tower-hill.
Her Majesty's ship Spy has been put in commission
by Lieutenant R. Boyle ; the Merlin, paddlewheel
steamer, is ordered round from Deptford to Woolwich.
Both these ships are to be brought forward for service
immediately.
Her Majesty's ship Mariner, 12, Captain F. John-
stone, arrived at Plymouth, from Cork, yesterday, hav-
ing been on a cruise.
Yesterday her Majesty's ship Wolverine, 12 guns,
Captain J. Corbett, arrived in the Downs from the river,
en route for the West Indies,

The French transport ship Infatigable sailed from off
Deal yesterday to join the allied fleet in the Baltic.
Her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, Captain the
Hon. Joseph Denman, returned to Portsmouth from her
five days' cruise yesterday (Monday) morning, and hay-

ing replenished coals from the dockyard, hauled off to
her moorings ready for service.
The Black Eagle steam yacht arrived at Sheerness at
11.30 a.m. yesterday, from Chatham, with the Right
Hon. Sir James R. G. Graham, Dart., G.C.B. M.P.,
&c., Rear-Admiral Maurice F. F. Berkeley, M.P.,P &0.,
and Captain Sir Baldwin W. Walker, R N., K.C.8.,
who made an official visit to the Hannibal and Daunt-
less ; after which they proceeded on shore, and left
again at 6 p.m., by the North Kent Railway, for Lon-
don.

A number of the naval coast volunteers have entered
to go out to the Baltic to bring home the Russian prizes
taken by her Majesty's cruisers.
The following appointments have been made :
Captain George A. Eliot (1838), from the St. Vincent,
102, guardship of ordinary at Portsmouth, to command
the Powerful, 84, at Portsmouth.
Captain George Mansel (1840), from the Powerful,
84, to command the St. Vincent, vice Eliot.
Masters—Henry Harper (1843), from the Powerful,
to the St. Vincent ; Joseph N. King (1828), from the
St. Vincent, to the Powerful; Thomas H. Fraser (1849),
to the Malacca, 17, screw steam-sloop, at Chatham.
Assistant-surgeons—James F. Stoddart (1850), to the
Spy, 3, brigantine, at Chatham ' • John L. Palmer (1848),
to the Jackall steam-vessel, at Woolwich.
Clerk Frederick Lucas (paymaster of 1854), to the
Hannibal, 90, screw steam-ship, at Sheerness.
Yesterday the Lords of the Admiralty gave notice
at Lloyd's that ships were required to convey 300 tons
of ordnance stores, shot, and tilled shells to Malta ; six
tons of ordnance stores to St. John's, New Brunswick ;
and 72 tons to Cape Coast Castle ; 90 tons of victualling
stores to Halifax ; eight tons and a half of victualling,
medical, and ordnance stores to Valparaiso, and one
officer and 56 men to St. Helena.
Their Lordships also gave notice that several steam-
vessels of not less than 900 tons burden were required
to convey troops to the Black Sea.
A Southampton correspondent informs us that the
Royal Mail steamer Orinoco is being prepared for sea,
to take out a regiment of infantry, and the Peninsular
and Oriental steam-ships Himalaya and Simla. The
former is ordered to embark a regiment of cavalry from
Plymouth. The Government has also chartered the
General Screw Steam-Shipping Company's steamer
Prince, of 2,760 tons, now fitting at Blackwall, for the
conveyance of troops. The whole of these steamers are
to be got ready without delay. 13 waggons full of musket
ball-cartridges (weighing about 60 tons), and other mi-
litary stores, have arrived at Southampton for shipment
to the East. The destination of the troops to be sent
out by the Orinoco, Himalaya, Prince, and Simla, is not
known, but it is understood the steamers are to proceed
direct to Constantinople, there to receive orders as to
their final destination, which is supposed to be a port
in the Crimea, for the purpose of co-operating with the
land and sea forces now in the Black Sea, in a combined
attack on Sebastopol.

The depots of the 3d (Buffs), at Newry, and the 62d
(Wiltshires), in Belfast, have been ordered. to send out
strong draughts to the service companies of their re-
spective regiments stationed at Malta with the least
possible delay.

DEPARTURE OF THE SCOTS GREYS.
The 2d Royal North British Dragoons, or Scots Greys,
having been ordered on foreign service, left Nottingham
yesterday. The occasion of their departure excited great
enthusiasm in the town, and it was calculated that 30,000
persons were present. On reaching the centre of the
market-square, they were met by a civic procession from
the Exchange, headed by Mr. Reckless, the mayor, and
Mr. Mundella, the sheriff, and which consisted of the
magistrates, town council, the municipal officers, many
of the principal townsmen, and by all the corporation
servants in their ancient livery, bearing the mace and
other insignia. The mayor's valet carried the "loving
cup," presented to the Nottingham corporation by
Henry, Duke of Newcastle, in 1631 ; and other attend-
ants conveyed a plentiful supply of wine wherewith to
replenish it. The " Health of her Majesty the Queen"
having been drank with great enthusiasm, the Mayor,
grasping the "loving cup," addressed Colonel Griffiths
in energetic terms, telling him that it was the wish of
the corporation and people of Nottingham to drink, on
the eve of their departure for the East, "Success and
prosperity to the noble regiment of Scots Greys."
His worship having drunk to his toast, the cup was
passed round, and the civilians within the circle did the
same, the band meantime playing "Scots wha ha'e wi'
Wallace bled" and other stirring tunes ; the people, who
thronged every inch of pavement, every window around,
and nearly all the housetops, meanwhile waving flags
and handkerchiefs, and unanimously cheering with enthu-
siasm. Colonel Griffiths, having expressed his anxious
desire to return a complimentary toast, was asked to
allow his men to partake of a parting cup of "Notting-
ham ale," which the corporation ordered immediately.
He then proposed "The Health of the Mayor, Corpora-
tion, and every individual of the town of Nottingham,"
which was drunk by the officers from the " loving cup,"
and by the troops from their cups of ale, with three-
times-three hearty cheers, and many more.
The Rev. S. M'All gave a few words of exhortation
and a parting blessing, shortly after which the order to
march was given amid hearty cheering.

DIARY OF TRE SIEGE AT SILIST.RIA.

We make the following extracts from a detailed
account of the siege of Silistria :
May 16.—At five in the morning the enemy opened
fire from his batteries on the islands, and continued to
throw shot and shell into the town throughout the day.
Casualties, 12 killed ; wounded, no return. The amount
of casualties, particularly of the wounded, is exceed-
ingly difficult to be ascertained, as no return of wounded
is made, and the amount of killed is frequently con-
cealed. The amount of killed and wounded among the
townspeople, of course I do not attempt to estimate ;
they have remained, however, throughout the siege in
vaults of their own construction, where they bad taken
refuge on the bombardment commencing. We estimate
the total force of the enemy on both sides of the river to
be about 35,000 men.
17th.—Cannonade commenced at daybreak, and
continued throughout the day till about seven p.m.
Between 10 and 11 heard smart firing beyond Arab
Tabia, and a report circulating in the garrison that
a force from Shunala, marching to our relief, is attacking
the Russians. Much excitement in consequence. On
arriving there I found, however, it proceeded merely
from our skirmishers being hotly engaged with those of
the enemy ; the former after some time driven in as be-
fore from want of guns, severely shelled as they retired.
The Russians, however, not advancing, they were again
sent out. The enemy during this day having obtained
the range of the north-east bastion (Tschengel), it be-
came necessary to place gabions on the top of the parapet
to shelter the men from his fire. While this work was
going on during the night, a furious fire was opened on
it as well as the northern face of the works, and was
continued at intervals, answered by our guns, till morn-
ing.

18th.—A four-gun battery, erected during last night
on the island of Salhane, opposite the Tschengel bastion,
opened this morning. The Russian fire throughout the
day was very slack, ceasing nearly altogether between
ten and twelve. At sunset it increased, and was sharply
carried on during the night. The sick were removed
from the hospital and put under canvass below the
citadel, the former situation not being safe from the
enemy's shell.
19th.—The enemy broke ground, opening his first
parallel across the Rassova road, at a distance of nearly
two miles from the fortress. Its extreme right resting
on the river, where a steamer keeps pace with his move-
ments, supplying materials from the opposite side, the
parallel extends along the line of heights next but one
to Arab Tabia. Another battery on Salhane was opened
for the purpose of silencing Fort Yelanli. An officer
who had been sent to Shumla to report the commence-
ment of the siege returned with Omer Pasha's answer,
that we were not to expect any relief for at least
fifteen days. The trees to the east of the town
were directed to be cut down ; this order, however,
like many other Turkish ones, was not carried out.
Firing continued throughout the night, some of the
shells sent from the enemy's batteries on the opposite
side bursting close to the citadel, a distance of fully two
miles.

20th.—The enemy commenced his second line of
batteries on this side of the Danube. About half-past
three a smart affair commenced, and lasted about two
or three hours, between our Chasseurs and Albanians
and the enemy's riflemen. Butler accompanied the
skirmishers, who drove the enemy, nearly double their
number, over the hill, into the valley beyond, although
his field-pieces kept up a vigorous fire of grape and
shell on them the whole time. Butler says that
the Russian riflemen worked well, taking admir-
able advantage of every cover afforded, whence
they kept up a brisk fire on our men as they
advanced. During the affair a battalion of Egyp-
tians, who had been thrown out in reserve, were foolishly
brought forward by their commanding officer in line—na
.
mistake of which the enemy did not fail to take ad
tage, directing on them a severe fire from both gunesvaand
light troops, till he forced them to retire overt -th hill.
in
l edia
While doing so, some shells falling m
the battalion caused a slight confusion in its
rear re
ranks,
about
ksieurmnteili
on Butler's suggestion, the commanding officer
his men, and made them lie down under the brow of the
bill. A man who had been found within the. enemy's
line by some of our skirmishers on their advance, Was
brought in, suspected of being a spy,an,d, not being
able to give a satisfactory account of himself, was ordered
into confinement. Cannonade lasted the greater part of
the night ; not replied to by us.
21st.—About 10 a.m. we heard
firing in the direction
of Arab Tabia and the ground between it and the river.
We hurried up there, and found our skirmishers hard at
work in the same position as on tue 17th. Two Circas-
sians (one of them severely wounded) were brought in
as prisoners, and told us that at 2 o'clock a general at-
tack on the redoubt would take place, a thing which
seemed by no means unlikely from the disposition-of the
enemy, who had been distributing his forces as if with
some view of this nature all the morning. At a quarter
before 2 o'clock p.m. two large bodies of cavalry were
seen advancing against Arab Tahiti, while a third body,
with infantry, proceeded westward towards the ground
in front of the citadel. On the guns of Arab Tabia and
Fort Order opening on them, however, they retired, and
left us for the day. Cannonade on the town as usual,

• We got up a sweepstakes to name the day on which we
shall be relieved, each naming the day he thought most
probable. They ranged from the 3d to the 15th of
June, Mussa Pasha having chosen the first and his se-
cretary the last of these dates. Casualties, seven killed.
22d—Enemy's fire slackened in the course of the
forenoon and ceased altogether for about two hours,
after which he opened a very heavy fire on the Arab
and Yelanli forts from seven batteries at once—practice
very good. Demonstrations against these forts con-
tinued all day. Made out from the Circassian priso-
ners that Paskiewitech was commanding, and not the
Archduke Constantine as was previously supposed.
Casualties, upwards of 50 killed and wounded.
23d.—During the night the enemy threw up a 15-
gun battery beyond Arab Tabia, and three additional
ones on Salhane. From all these he opened fire on
Yelanli and Arab Tabia in the afternoon.
24th—(Queen's birthday)—Received the weloome
news from Mussa Pasha that in eight days we might
expect to see the English red-jackets topping the heights.
Nothing particular occurred to-day, and in the evening
Butler and I loyally drank her Majesty's health in a
mugfull of sour wine.
25th—The quiet the enemy has maintained yester-
terday and to-day bodes no good. An orderly from
Mussa Pasha requested our attendance at his quarters,
where he found a council of war assembled to decide oil,a
very important question. In the middle of this a tremel-
dons hailstorm came on, and the enemy, taking advan-
tage of, it, commenced an attack, underga furious can-
nonade, on Arab Tabia. A body of cavalry with guns
suddenly appeared in front of it, when, halting at a
short distance, from behind each horseman leapt an in-
fantry soldier ; these formed up, and commenced an ad-
vance on the redoubt, but being received by a severe fire
from its defenders, the cavalry halted, leaving a gun be-
hind, and the infantry drew out of range, and quietly
began to pitch their tents in the valley below. We had
hardly returned to our quarters in a little barrack inone
of the bastions when the alarm was again given, and
drums beat to arms. Scuttling back in the dark, knee-
deep in mud, and fancying from the sound, which ap-
peared very close, that the body of the place was attacked,
we were suddenly called on to halt by the gruff chal-
lenge of a sentry demanding the parole. Doubtful
of accomplishing the correct pronunciation of a 12-
syllabled Turkish word, we answered Inglis Zabit
(i.e. English officers), a reply which seemed fully to
satisfy the curiosity of the inquirer. Arrived at the
rallying point, the Stamboul gate, we found an attack
taking place on the forts of Yelanli and Arab Tabia.
It lasted upwards of an hour, during which time
an uninterrupted flash and roll of musketry proceeded
from that direction, while shells were sent blazing
through the air in all directions from both our own and
the enemy's batteries. By 10 o'clock it was all over, and
soon after a report from each of these forts showed
that we had suffered little damage in the affair. Dur-
ing the day a Turkish officer, who had been made
prisoner at Kalafat and afterwards escaped from the
Russians, arrived—he states the force opposite to be
100,000 men. Rockets, thrown at Arab Tabia and Ye-
lanli fort, were used for the first time by the enemy
here.

26th.—A few solitary shot and shell only thrown by
the enemy this day. He is not idle, however, being
employed in fortifying his position, constructing strong
breastworks on the Ada Kien heights, as if with the
view of awaiting the arrival of the allies.
27th.--The Russians during the night have cleared
the neighbourhood of their position of all wood that
might afford cover to the riflemen of the allies, showing
mueh greater foresight than our friends the Turks.
Considerable injury was done to the blockhouse and
parapets of Fort Yelanli by the enemy's shot and shell
during the cannonade of this forenoon. About sunset
the enemy turned his attention to the abovenamed forts,
opening a strong fire from his batteries upon them, to-
gether with rockets during the night. He seems to
have abandoned all idea of the town, for the present at
least, and appears intent on taking Arab Tabia, thereby
completing his line and securing a retreat in the event
of being defeated. He has now a large redoubt on the
Ada Kien hill, and is busy constructing another near
the river. On the former he has a sort of observatory,
on which some of the Turkish sentries told me they had
soon ladies. I suspect what they saw 'were only some
Russian officers in their long greatcoats.
28th.—Awoke about 3 a.m. by a furious cannonade,
which last:all day. Another council of war on the subject of
making a sortie on the enemy's batteries ended in smoke, '
Mussa Pacha not being able to make up his mind to risk
the loss of men that might ensue. A watercourse, which
supplied part of the town, and which at the commence-
ment of the siege had been cut off by the Russians, was
again allowed to run by them. About midnight aroused
by the report of musketry from Arab Tabia, and on
reaching the rampart at the Stamboul-gate found that a
second and much more serious attack on that work was
going on. The first assault was on the left face, the
enemy actually penetrating into the redoubt before they
were observed. A Russian officer who led it, and cut
down a lieutenant of artillery, was immediately brained
by a handspike. A severe and desperate struggle took
place, terminating in the repulse of the enemy, who
were driven into the ditch, having suffered severely from
our grape and canister tearing through them. Re-form-
ing, they again attempted it in the same place, led gal-
lantly on with drums beating, but were again driven
back with great slaughter. After about a quarter of an
hour a third attack was made, this time on both left
and front faces at once, but meeting with the same
determined resistance. After a bloody fight the Rus-
sians were finally beaten off, the Albanians pursuing
them into their own batteries. The force in Arab Tabia
at the time was only four battalions of Egyptians and
500 Albanians, under the command of Hussein Pasha.
The lowest estimate of the numbers with which the enemy
attacked is nine battalions, and it is not improbable,
from the number of his dead found in and about the fort,
that this is considerably under the mark. The affair
lasted from midnight till after daybreak, and is one of
the most brilliant occurrences in the whole course of the
siege. Casualties, 68 killed, and 121 wounded, many
officers being among the former. The loss of the enemy
may be reckoned at 2,000 killed and wounded, although
those who removed the bodies declared there was up-
wards of this amount in killed alone, which allowing
for wounded in the smallest proportion, would bring
their loss to upwards of 6,000.
29th.—Went down to the Stamboul-gate, where
we saw the arms, accoutrements, &c., of the
enemy's slain being received and registered. While
there a ruffian threw down before Mussa Pasha
a pair of ears, which he said he had cut
from the head of a Russian officer. He was quite
surprised at the Pasha, instead of rewardin, him as he
had expected, ordering the ears to be buried, and turn-
ing from lion with disgust. Several heads were also
brought down, but were not allowed inside the walls.
It is to be hoped that this disgraceful mutilation of the
dead will be abandoned by the Turks when they come
to act in concert with the Allies, it being, moreover, in
direct violation of a special firman from the Sultan. In
justice to the Turkish soldiers, I must state this bruta-
lity was confined chiefly to the irregulars and towns-
people, who seemed to take a savage delight in dis-
figuring the bodies of those with whom. the latter had
not even been engaged. In the afternoon Butler and I
went up to Arab Tabia, where the enemy's conical bul-
lets were singing through the air in great profusion.
Heaps of dead were lying in the ditch and about it. All k
the former were stripped, and many were headless. The
Russian riflemen had apparently done their best to pre-
vent the mutilation of those outside, as most, if not all,
still wore their clothes, although their arms and
accoutrements had been brought in. While at Arab
Tabia we saw a body of infantry, with. cavalry
thrown out, which had, as they came in sight in the
distance, on the brow of the hill near Medjidie, all
the appearance of the advanced guard of a large
force. Cries resounded on all sides that the Shumla re-

lieved army had arrived. Off we galloped, taken in like
the rest, to welcome them. It turned out, however, to
be merely a clever dodge of Hussein Pasha's to deceive
the enemy, and make them suppose that a reinforcement
menraen
march.cat
Arabhad a r4-avbeida
wholt
hadbeing necessarybeen
tber
et of relieverom
th e theeims
round-aboutm went of th e
methodsiege,
of Husseindo in Pashag saocuc7a;tdhsopiipnas
gtneydat
morning,tthbee ab o
sameavce
who took the dead up to
theo
en
enemy's dead
flag,
squadrons
roof
ccoa
wasv lr cavalry
etnot
withstanding
they
were fired on
oatnfirrsetooblyvitnhge etnheemy
bodiesuntil atbßeuosfasieaenr officerspoke
hisetienim36°Pttahvfn.yin g
batteries. a loyt
interposed.
in most indignant terms of the state in which they were
handed over to him, but was told by the officer in charge
of our party that it was the result of the Bashi-Bazouk
handiwork, and that everything had been done by the
Tu3riksits.h_aNutohtobriintgiespatortiperuelvaerntit.
beyond constant firing took
plajcuendeuf.tgTthhe ne deaye.my
was busy all day in bringing
over his siege train and materiel to his batteries oppo-
site Arab Tabia. Information was received to-day that
Om f
Omar Pasha is ea route from Shumla, with 28 battalions,
60 guns, and a large force of cavalry. Also that the
first division of the allies
were
supposed seen att Varna arn
containaon the
tb e29th
ult., and several
vessels,
re-
mainder, were the same day
seen in the offing ; so that
eve may expect to see them here about the 7th. 3,000
Albanians, with some irregular cavalry, having been re-
ported to have arrived at a village a few miles from this,
an order was despatched to hasten their march, so as to
reach this before night. Galleries of the mines in the
counterscarp of the ditch in front of some of the bastions
were finished this afternoon, so that, in the event of the
enemy trying an escalade, he will meet with rather a
warm reception. Firing was kept up without intermis-
sion throughout the night, and shells came unpleasantly
near our tent.

2d.—At 1 o'clock this day Mussa Pacha, the comman-
der of the fortress, was mortally wounded in the left side
by a piece of shell, which burst near him while sitting
outside his quarters at the Stamboul-gate. He lived
about 12 minutes after receiving the wound. He had just
received intelligence that a messenger was at hand,
bearing the Sultan's order of Medjidie of the second
class, which had been sent to him, and was waiting for in-
structions as to whether it was his Excellency's wish
to receive the decoration publicly and with the usual
ceremony or otherwise. Mussa Pasha replied that it
would be better to bring it in quietly, remarking at
the same time that this was no season for pomp and