The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-20 00:00:00

THE FRENCH FLEET.

(From the the Moniteur de la Flotte.)
Our letters from before Sebastopol of the 3d instant
state that our squadrons are still anchored, partly at
Kamiesch and partly at the Katcha. They had Leen
exposed, but without suffering any injury, to strong (sales
from the north-west and'north-north-west, which fortu-
nately shifted afterwards to thg, northeast, as otherwise
the vessels lying before the Kataa, close to the shore and
without any shelter, would have been in danger ; but the
prudence and vigilant boldness of our admirals and com-
manders brought us safely through that trial, and their
devotedness to the common cause which our armies
and
fleets
once arei
mono
perilsn and obstacles they
the East made them
overlook
had to contend with. liamiesch and the Katcha are
two points which are of the highest importance
for us to occupy. The first blockades Sebastopol
on the south. It is the maritime centre of the occupation
of the troops and the station of Admiral Brunt's squad-
ron. The second, where sidosirel Hamelin's division
is lying, enables us to blockade Sebastopol on the north,
ant water may there be procured in great abundance for
all the ships of the allied squadrons. Our navy takes
every day a prominent part in the siege of Sebastopol.
The batteries established on shore with guns landed from
the ships give such complete satisfaction to the General-
in-Chief, both as regards their solidity and efficiency and
the ability with which they are manned, that 20 addi-
tional guns have been demanded and immediately dis-
embarked. General Bosquet was also anxious to have
a naval battery, and his wish has been gratified.
Our squadron have now on shore a ship captain,
four captains of frigates, 54 lieutenants and midship-
men, and 1,600 seamen under their orders. On their
side, the Russians have armed the ramparts of Sebas-
topol with the heavy guns of their ships, and those guns
are manned by seamen. Thus the siege of Sebastopol
offers the coincidence, perhaps unique in military his-
tory, of officers and sailors quitting their natural ele-
ment, the sea, to fight battles on land with their naval
artillery. The firing of the marine battery against the
Bastion of the Flagstaff has been remarked for its con-
stant precision and its terrible effect. On the 2d of
November the enemy, under the shower of its pro-
jectiles, abandoned a battery of four guns, constructed
in front of the Bastion. The seamen, nevertheless,
continued their fire, and it was hoped that on the
4th they would have cleared every obstacle opposed
to them, and opened a practicable breach. In order
to recompense them for their valuable co-operation the
army has reserved a post of honour to our seamen
in the assault, which will, no doubt, decide the fate
of Sebastopol. Our naval fuaileers have been as-
signed a place in the assaulting columns. 60 are
to march at the head of all the troops, with the sappers
and pontoniers, and the others are to accompany the
Zouaves and the Chasseurs de Vincennes. Our seamen
will nobly uphold the reputation of the fleet, even when
fighting by the side of the most valiant troops in the
world. With armies and squadrons such as those seat
to the East lsy England and France we may await
without uneasiness the result of the struggle.
The journals have announced that a number of
English vessels were shortly to arrive at Toulon to em-
bark French troops for the Crimea. Those journals are
correctly informed ; English vessels are again to co-
operate in the conveyance of the reinforcements'which the
allied Governments consider advisable to send to the
East. The French Imperial navy, on its side, has already
conveyed thither numerous troops and a considerable
materiel, and other ships aro being fitted out for the
same object. It is with that view 14 ships, frigates,
and steamers have been directed to assemble without
delay at Toulon. They will shortly be followed by 10
others, including four ships of the line and four frigates.

IVRISKy FOR FRAlrcE.—The French are making ex-
tensive purchases of whisky in Ireland, in consequence
of the prohibition against distillation from grain in
France. " Our lively neighbours" will find no difficulty
in converting the Irish "mountain dew" into something
like cognac.