The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-27 00:00:00

V.,E,N IN G, ocTonrin 21/, 11647.; •

COURT CI.ROULAR,

WINDSOR, OCT. 26.

The dinner party yesterday included his Excellency
the French Ambassador and the Countess Walewski,
the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl and Countess
Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge, Lady
Caroline Barrington, Lieut.-Colonel H. Vyse, command-
ing officer Royal Horse Guards, and Major Spitty,
commanding officer Essex Rifles.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attend-
ance during dinner, and played the following pieces :
Overture . Auber.
Capricio
Waltz—" Dew Drop" D'Albert.
Finale, second part—" Il Trovatore"
Selection—" Cheval de Bronze"
Polka—" Invitation"
The Queen's private band afterwards attended in
the Castle, and played the following selection :
Overture —" La Bayadere"
Coro der Derwische and Marsch—" Die
Rninen von Athen" ..... . Beethoven.
Duetto—" Die lustigen Weiber von
Windsor" .. Otto Nicolal.
March—" Joseph"
The Queen,. attended by the Countess o f Desart,
drove out in an open carriage this morning.
His Royal highness Prince Albert, accompanied by
Earl Granville, went out shooting.
His Excellency the French Ambassador and Countess
Walewski, the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl and Coun-
tess Granville, and the Viscount and Viscountess Har-
dinge took their departure to-day.
M. Foucault had the honour of exhibiting before his
Royal Highness Prince Albert some experiments with
the gyroscope, in demonstration of the rotatiun of the
globe.

M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, transacted
business yesterday'at the Foreign-office.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed eleven o'clock on
Thursday, the 2d of November, at his residence in
Upper Brook-street, for the reception of the Lord
Mayor and the other authorities of the city of London,
when the Lord Chancellor will signify his Majesty's
approbation of the Lord Mayor Elect.
On the same day, at twelve o'clock, and also at his
private residence, the Lord Chancellor will receive the
judges, Queen's counsel, &c„ Thursday being the first
day of Michaelmas Terrii.
The Duke of Newcastle returned to London yesterday
from Windsor Castle.

Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial
office for the Governor of Gibraltar.

THE EIiPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE
WIDOW OF MARSHAL ST. ARNAUD.

(Prom the Moniteur of yesterday.)

PARIS, OCT. 25.—The Emperor has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Marshal St. Arnaud's widow :
" Madame la Mar6chal,—No one more than myself shares,
as you are aware, in the grief which is overwhelming you.
The Marshal had associated himself in my cause from the
very clay when, leaving Africa to accept the post of Minis-
ter at War, he concurred in re-establishing order and
authority in this country. He has associated his name
with the military glories of France from the ♦ery clay when,
resolving upon setting his foot in the Crimea, notwithstand-
in ; timid counsels, he gained, with Lord Raglan, tho bat-
tle of the Alma, and cleared for our army the way to
SenastoNl. I have, therefore, lost in him a devoted friend
in bard trials, as Franca has lost in him a soldier ever
ready to serve her at the hour of danger. Doubtless so
many claims to the public gratitude and to mine aro inade-
quate to alleviate such a sorrow as yours, and I confine
myself to assure you that I revoi t upon you, and upon the
Marshal's family, the sentiments which he had inspired
to me. Accept, Madame la Marechal, the sincere expres-
sion of the same. " NAPOLEON."

LATEST NEWS.

BOMBARDMENT
OF SEBASTOPOL.

PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

A telegraph from Prince Menschikoff has been
received at St. Petersburg, and transmitted thence
through "Vienna.
It is dated from Sebastopol the 21st of October.
He says the Russian fire has successfully
answered the fire of the Allies.

The damage done to the fortifications was but

trifling.
The fire from the fleets had not ccntinued.
A part of the reserve had arrived.
The rest was expected
.immediately.

We have received the following, via Vienna,
from our correspondent at Constantinople :
CONSTANTINOPLE, OCT. 19.

"No news has as yet been received that the
bombardment began on the 17th, as was proposed.
" Lord Raglan was requested to spare one part
of the town where the women and children would
be sent. He replied that could not be, but that
they might leave the town unhurt.
" The British now occupy part of the northern
shore of the bay, and their guns command the
harbour."

THE WAR IN ASIA.
DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS.

PARIS, FRIDAY AIORNIN G.

The Moniteur contains a letter from. Mosul, of
the 25th of September, according to which the
Mushir of Van had attacked the Russian corps
which covered Gumri, and completely dispersed
it, with the loss of its tents, baggage, and ammu-
nition, and 30 guns.
A Russian General was killed.

The Turks then began to besiege the citadel,
when the Russian corps, which had formerly
beaten the Turks at Bayazid, advanced to the
rescue from Eilivan. It was, however, completely
repulsed and shut up in a defile, where it suffered
considerable loss.

horse, who were lying in ambush. The Russians
I been observed, and the French advanced
seder cover of:a ravine to surprise them. In the
ueanwhile a field-piece was brought forward to
hear upon the ambush, and quickly disperse I
it. The Cossacks, in their wild flight, came
eight upon the spot where the party of French
twaited them, and were received with a volley,
aid low a few, and caused the remainder to pre-
-ipitate their retreat. In the afternoon the alarm
was given in the 2d and light divisions, caused by
the appearance of a large body of Cossacks at the
,astern right, who evidently had intended to
.ttempt to outflank our position. On perceiving
that preparations were made to receive them,
they retired. The Ist Dragoons, Colonel Yorke,
had a long chase after a body of Cossacks, but
were of course unable to overtake these light-
weighted rascals. In order to increase their speed,
navy of the Cossacks threw away their valises, which
.vere picked up afterwards. These Cossacks are won-
lerful packers, and the number of articles (none of
he slightest value) which they contrive to stow
away in their small valises is quite remarkable.
Towards nightfall the working and covering parties
-A* the different divisions marched downwards to-
wards the spot select-id to break ground, and com-
menced operations. The 4th division contributed the
! argest nu imber of hands, and at least 2,000 men of this
livision alone ware in the trenches. The Russians
soon discovered the working party, and opened a
ire of shell, round-shot, and rockets. Not a shot
told, as the enemy failed in obtaining the range.
After some hours'. had work, a trench, 1,200 yards
long, was partly dug, and the working party then
returned to camp, without having lost a single
man. Towards daybreak a body of the 57th Regi-
ment was sent to the trenches, to relieve the
covering party of the 68th ; and on passing a
point which left them open to the view of the
Russian batteries, a few shells were sent amongst
them. One unfortunately 1 urst a few yards
from the ranks, and killed one man, besides
wounding another. As the 68th marched up, a
shell fell in the very same spot, and took off both
legs of an unfortunate privateovho has since ex-
pired from loss of blood. An officer of the 20th,
Lieutenant Rotherham, received a. slight contusion
in the knee from a piece of rock. The first step,
and an important one towards the reduction of
Sebastopol, has thus been made ; and when the
importance of the event and the customary loss
sustained in opening the trenches are considered,
the trifling nature of our loss (four killed and
wounded) is certainly amazing. On the 11th the
Russians employed their morning in repairing their
field-works, which had evidently been much shaken
by the heavy work of the preceding night.
Towards noon a transport-ship, showing Austrian
colours, could be seen from our heights, drifting
within range of the guns of the granite forts.
The high wind, however uncomfortable to poor fol-
lows under canvas, had been favourable to this
vessel, which turned out later to be an Austrian,
employed by us, and laden with hay from Varna.
The wind had died away, and the vessel having
borne too near shore, now paid the penalty of over-
hastiness. Fort Constantine commenced the fire
by sending a round shot about a mile beyond the
vessel. Tho captain and crew, having bound the
helm, then left in the boats. All the guns of Fort
Constantine—and their name is Legion—opened
upon the unfortunate Austrian, which calmly pur-
sued her course towards the shore. Now the turn
came to Fort Nicholas, and here the vessel ran
considerable danger of being sunk. The amount
of shot and shell hurled at her was enormous.
Several shot passed through her rigging, and one
large spar was carried away. The Firebrand now
Approached to render assistance, but was unable to
prevent the vessel from running ashore, from
which she was, however, soon towed off by the
above steamer. The Firebrand was forced to ap-
proach within range of the forts, and received four
balls in her hull.

At night the working parties marched out the
trenches, and, as a matter of course, the Russians
opened their fire. This they kept up with extraor-
dinary vigour, though with little success, until the
morning. In one of the trenches a little panic
was created. Shells and rockets were pouring
around in all directions, save the right one, when,
from among the sailors employed at the works, a
voice exclaimed, "Jack, it's getting too warm
by half ; I'll hook it." In accordance with this
expressed determination, the speaker retired
or, to use his own phraseology, he " hooked it."
few others followed, and in some few minutes
not a blue-jacket was on the ground. The panic
spread amongst the workmen, who also " hooked
it." Order was, however, soon re=established, and
everybody returned to the work. Whilst the men
were joking at the occurrence, in one of the works,
a shell suddenly fell right amonwst them. In an
instant everybody was flat on his belly ; in some
parts three or four living bein,zs were piled upon
one another, and all were shouting out, "Shove it
out, shove it out !" A young Rifleman had the
pluck to take the shell in his hands, and rolled it
ever the parapet. Something had gone wrong with
the fusee, for the shell did not burst ; but of this,
the man who courageously took it up in his arms
was not aware, and his conduct merits re-
ward. All night the Russian guns were
very active, and a little musketry fire was ex-
changed by some of the pickets ; and all the
divisions, with the whole of the French army, were
under arms part of the night. Towards morning a
round shot fell on the head of a man of the the 20th
(fourth division), who had fallen asleep from fatigue.
The poor fellow's head was completely crushed.
In the course of this afternoon another battery has
been established; consequently Balaklava is safe
from an attack from the rear. The French were
obliged to quit their works in the course of the
afternoon owing to the perfect range acquired by
the Russian batteries. Two shells fell into the
trenches, and then it was considered advisable to
withdraw the men until evening. _

OCT. 13.—Thg works were continued last night
without much annoyance from the Russian bat-
teries. Seventeen guns are in position, and by
Monday or Tuesday the whole of the allied guns
will, it is expected, be in position. Then, and not
before, the bombardment will commence.
A rumour (I give it as such) has reached head-
quarters that Eupatoria has fallen again into the
hands of the Russians. A strong body of infantry,
artillery, and cavalry approached the town, which
the weak garrison of the place (400 marines) could
not hope to defend. Captain Brock, the governor
of the town, embarked with the troops, after
having spiked a gun, taken from the Leander. So
goes the report, which, if true even, will be hut
of little consequence.
Sickness has, I am happy to say, considerably
decreased in the army, and all are impatient for
active operations.
Four battalions of Turks arrived to-day from
Constantinople.

The French army has likewise received consider-
able reinforcements in infantry, and 1,400 cavalry.

(Prom the Second Edition of the Morning Post.)
Sir George Brown had a miraculous escape on
the night of the 7th inst. Sir George had been out
visiting his advanced picquets in front of the enemy,
and was returning by another route into the lines,
accompanied by hislaide-de-catnp, when a party of
Rifles, on duty near the spot, opened firo. Sir
George was untouched, but a ball passed through
the coat of his aide-de-camp.
Colonel Upton has afforded valuable information
touching the fortifications of Sebastopol, and uo
doubt is entertained that the fortress must fall
very shortly after the attack is opened.
Captain Cameron, Grenadier Guards ; Lieute-
nant W. KnollSts, Scots Fusilier Guards ; Captain
Connolly, 30th Regiment ; Captain Raines, 95th
Regiment ; and Lieut. S. R. Chapman, 20th Regi-
ment, have volunteered to act as engineers, and
their services have been accepted by Sir John Bur-
goyne.

The following lamentable fact is announced—
that out of 3,003 effective bayonets in the Guards
brigade on the 20th of July, only' 1,740 are now
available. And out of nearly 40 officers, then at-
tached to each battalion, only 14 remain on the
effective list.
THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.

--------
The medical officers of the British division have
unhappily laid themselves open to very severe
animadversion, and the following order was issued
by the Commander-in-Chief on the 11th inst.

" GENERAL ORDER.
" CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Oct. 11, IBs4.—The
Commander of the Forces is sorry to have to animadvert
strongly upon the conduct of the medical deparbt.ent,
in an instance which came under his oliservation yes!er-
(lay. The sick were sent down from the camp to Balak-
lava, under charge of a medical officer of the division to
which they respectively belonged ; but on their arrival
there it was found that no prep2trattens had been made
for their reception. The Commander of the Forces is
aware that Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Dr.
Dumbreck, gave the necessary order verbally to the
staff medical officer at Bala.klava ; but that officer
neglected to inform his superior, and the consequence
was that the sick, many of them in a very suffering
state, remained in the streets for several hours, ex-
posed to very inclement weather. The name of the
officer who was guilty of this gross neglect is known
to the Commander of the Forces. He will not now
publish it, but he warns him to be careful in future,
and to be cautious how he again exposes himself to
censure. Dr. Dumbreck will, on future occasions
of importance,,give his orders in writing, addressed to
the responsible,officer. When a convoy of sick is sent
from the camp eitl-Kto the hospital, or to be placed on
board ship, it is '!_i4eeforward to be accompanied not
o
only by a medical fficer, but likewise by Deputy As-
sistant Quartermaster General of the division, who will

f.,=-I,4golgr
precede it to the place of deposit, and take suoh steps as
may ensure the due reception and care of the men con
fided to his charge.
(Signed) "RAGLAN."

THE WAR ON THE DANUBE.

The Journal de Franefort has the following
from Vienna, dated the 22d :—" The entrance of
Omer Pacha into Bessarabia has been 'retarded, it
is said, principally on account of the fact that the
Dobrudscha is still occupied by considerable Rus-
sian forces, which can without doubt only be driven
from their position by force. Omer Pacha is be-
sides taking measures to arrive at that result."
The Press of Vienna, under its Gallicia head of
the 13th, says :—" Travellers who arrive . from
Russia state that the troops stationed on our fron-
tier, an I, in particular, the cavalry aid artillery,
received orders some days back to leave their
winter quarters, and proceed by forced marches to
New Russia. The feeling of the army, and parti-
cularly of the officers of the corps which was near
our frontiers, is far from being favourable. Fears
are begun to felt of the issue of the struggle. The
orthodox Russians, formerly so enthusiastic, are
beginning to have infinitely less confidence in the
infallibility of the Czar."

THE RUSSIAN POSITION. _ •
A letter from Ht-Tmanstadt dated the 22d, in
the Moniteur, says :—" The advanced guard of the
Ottoman troops at Ibrail, under the orders of sadyk
Pacha, was on the 16th composed of nine battalions
of infantry, three batteries of artillery, and thirteen
squadrons of cavalry, in all about 7,000 men and 24
pieces of artillery. The Russian advanced posts are
still at Matohin, Isaktcha, Babadagh and Tultcha ;
the division of General Outchakoff with four regi-
ments of Cossacks, and Generals Luders and Sutanoff,
with a division of infantry and two regiments of
cavalry, occupy Ismail Kilia. General Engelhard
is established at Reni and Vadoul Isaki with a
division of infantry and a regiment of htissars.
General Dannenberg was at Belgrade, near Ismail,
with 20,000 men of the fourth corps. The remain-
der of that corps (farm& is stationed along the
banks of the Pruth. In all there are 65,000 men
in Bessarabia and 180 pieces of cannon. Prince
Gortschakoff has his head-quarters at Kicheneff."