The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-04 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF ALMA.

NITO read in the Constitutionnel : The de-
spatch of Marshal St. Arnaud has shown with
what impetuosity had been carried the position
of the Alma. Private information gives some

details relative to this important affair. Lie
Russians had held firm for some hours, and
had even obtained an advantage over the English
in a charge of cavalry, when the latter, seconded
by their dragoons, regained their advantage, and
during this time the Russian entrenchments were
carried at the point of the bayonet, and the rout of
the Russians became a sauve-qui-peut. But this
victory is said not to have been obtained without
sensible loss on our side. General Thomas, lately
raised to that rank, is named as having been dan•
gerously wounded ; it is added that General Can-
robert has received a slight wound, and that Prince
Napoleon had a horse killed under him. Now, if
any one 'wishes to explain to himself what followed,
he must not forget that the field of battle of the
Alma was not distant more than five leagues from
Sebastopol ; and that it may be presumed that
our troops, driving with sword in hand the
Russians before them, were able to penetrate
at the same time as they into the first• lines of
defence on the side of the northern fort. That
fort being attacked was not able to resist, particu-
larly if the diversion occasioned by the revolt of
the Poles be admitted, whilst the combined fleets
must have lent a powerful co-operation in attack-
ing Fort Constantine, which completes the defence
on that side. These two points once occupied,
everything was finished, and if, in fact, Prince
Menschikoff has withdrawn, as is said, into the
inner port, which is commanded on all sides, he
cannot do otherwise than capitulate or blow him-
self up, for every kind of serious resistance is im-
possible for him.

The Pgys of this morning says :
" Paris learned on Sunday morning the great event
which at present occupies every man's mind. This prodi-
gious news was first met with doubt ; a splendid termina-
tion to the expedition was certainly looked for, but the as-
tonishing rapidity of the tremendous event which has just
taken place leaves far behind it the dreams of the most
vivid imaginations. Men ask each other, why the cannon of
the levalides has not given notice of this great triumph
of civilisation. It is forgotten that Governments do
not consider as authentic anything that has not been
communicated to them by their agent 4, and that a report
is required from the admirals or generals-in-chief to con-
firm the communications sent privately. This uncer-
tainty and these hesitations have weighed the whole day
on the extraordinary impression produced by the tele-
graphtc despatches. And yet, it was easy to perceive
that the national feeling was thrilling with pride and
hope. Astonishment and delight filled every breast.
Had there been only the slightest official manifesta-
tion, Paris would have ',eta spontaneously illuminated.
What every one comprehends, by intuition rather than
by reasoning, is the immense importance of this victory,
and its incalculable consequences for the future. Every
one tees in it the definitive fall of brute force, and the
victory of right, of justice, and of the saving principles
of social order, even in the disinherited steppes of
Russia. Yesterday no official despatch arrived to con-
firm the great news of the capture of SebaStopol. The
.details of that gigantic coup-de-main, are• not, icaown,
and men cannot even account for the extraordinary
manner:in which the enterprise has been conducted.

But the fact itself is certain, undeniable, and hencefor-
ward acquired to the hiAtory of our country and of our
age. The cannon of the Invalides will perhaps an-
nour,ce the news this day to France. It wai on the
20th of September that the allied troops first encountered,
the Russian army, 50,000 strong. This combat was
decided by the bayonet. The dash of the French and
the sustained vigour of the English overthrdw every-
thing before them. The Russians, in terror, retreated
on sz,bastopol, leaving 3,000 of their men en the field of
battle. What has taken place since? No one knows.
But, after prodigies of daring heroism, the town was
forced to surrender on the 25th. One week has sufficed
for the conquest of the Crimea, and for the annihilation
of the naval forces of Russia in the East."

The Pas de Calais gives the following details of
the circumstances ettendino•a the reception of the
despatch, announcing the fall of Sebastopol, by the
Emperor. The anecdote has at least the merit of
being graphically told:—

" By a coincidence quite providential, at this moment
a courier covered with lust arrived at full gallop, hold-
ing up a despatch, which he displayed from a distance
to his Majesty. It was. the telegraphic despatch from
the consul at Bucharest, which announced the taking of
Se storm'.

"The Emperor, as soon as be had made himself ac-
quainted with its contents, read it out with a loud voice.
"One comprehends, but cannot represent in words, the
enthusiasm that burst forth at this news, arriving as it
did during the review, on the very ground where, half
a century before, the first distribution of crosses of the
Legion of Honour took place, and in right of the column
consecrated to the glory of the grand army.
",The despatch bad been sent at one o'clock from Paris ;
it reached Boulogne after the departure of their Majes-
ties for the review, and a courier was sent to convey it to
them."
The Three per Cents. closed yesterday at 76f.
70c. for the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-
Half per Cents. at 99f. 25c. ; and the New Loan at
76f. 15e. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,255 f. ; Rouen,
987 f. 50c. ; Havre, 600 f. ; Great Northern, 872 f.
50c. ; Strasburg, 840 f. ; New Shares, 655 f. oe. ;
Paris and Lyons, 1,013 f. 75c. ; Lyons and the Me-
diterranean, 867 f. 50c. ; Western of France, 672 f.
50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 622 f. 50c. ; Great
Central of France, 523 f. 75e. ; Lyons and Geneva,
542 f. 50e. ; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 761 f. 25c.