The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-12 00:00:00

be that his Baltic ports would follow the fate
impending over those of the Black Sea. We only
hope that NICHOLAS will compel us to fight till
Poland drops from his grasp.

Seldom has there been even under the tropics
a more frightful hurricane than that which caused
such fearful damage in the neighbourhood of Ba-
laklava on the 14th ult., and which might, in-

deed, have inflicted irreparable injury on the
cause of the Allies. Fortunately, however, al-
though our losses in men, ships, and stores were
very severe, they cannot exercise any material

influence on the great struggle now going en in
the Crimea. There has been a severe pecuniary

loss, but that is the least part of the transaction.

It is the destruction of human life, and the
absence of stores and medical comforts urgently

required for the troops, that are chiefly to be

lamented. Ammunition, warm winter clothing-,

and provisions for the army, were all involved in

destruction. The vessels in which they were
contained yielded in turn to the devastating
power of the terrible tempest.
The storm burst suddenly, and almost unex-
pectedly, on the heads of the devoted seamen.

The wind had been high, with frequent rain, for

some days, but there was nothing to indicate the
awful character of the scene about to be enacted.

Fortunately, it subsided almost as rapidly as
it had come on. Had it been otherwise it would

be impossible to estimate the amount of damage
that would have fallen on the French and Eng-
lish navies. As it was, strong ships were crumbled
to atoms on the iron-bound coast, and others
gaped in every seam, the waters rushing in like-ia
torrent through their aides—
" laxis laterum compagibua cranes,
Accipiunt inimicum imbren,rimlsque fatiscunt."

Even on shore it was formidable enough. Tents
were blown down, or, in some instances, literally
carried away. The hospital Marquees shared the
same fate, and the patients, sick and wounded,
were left exposed to ' all the inclemency of the
weather. The spectators who dared to witness
the terrible conflict of the elements could scarcely
stand against or under their fury. But the sea,
the " inhospitable Euxime," exercised a fearful
fascination, from which the bystanders could not
withdraw their charmed vision. Even to the
vessels in the harbour the danger was
imminent ; but those anchored outside were
scarcely to be preserved, and it seemed
as if not a single life could be saved
from the impending wrecks. Fragments of
vessels, and portions of the cargoes were floating
around in fierce confusion—

" Apparent rani nantes in gurgite vasto,"

and what was more deplorable was, that men
struggling for their lives wor e seen amid the
turmoil. The lookers-en would gladly have
afforded assistance, but they were powerless in the
fierce storm—and saw their countrymen hurried
to the fate they were unable to avert.
The magnificent steam-ship Prince was one of
those completely wrecked. She had just before
landed the 46th Regiment, and had on board
Ordnance stores, warm winter clothing for the
army, hospital comforts, and about a quarter of a
million in specie. The strong cables snapped
asunder, and unfortunately her screw, by
which she might have been saved, got foul
of the wrecks of her masts and rigging, and
she was hurried on the fatal rocks, from
whence six of the crew were rescued.
Of course there wiil be a strict investigation
into the conduct of the crew and officers, to see
that all that was practicable was effected under
the circumstances. We must profit to the utmost
L by such terrible lessons. The intensity of the
storm will, however, in the present instance, suf-
ficiently account for the serious damage sustained
by the shipping on the dreadful 14th November.

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