The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-07 00:00:00

THE BRITISH EXPEDITION.

We extract the following from a Varna letter of
July 29 :—At Varna there were 33 cases of cholera
in our hospital last night, and a much larger num-
ber of men from the same cause in the French hos-
pital. The Duke of Cambridge has been suffering
from diarrhcea. ; indeed, a large percentage of
officers of the different divisions have been attacked
by this complaint, but great precautions are taken
by the medical officers to prevent neglect in the
early stages, and to check the premonitory symp-
toms, which are too often disregarded until it is
too late.

This morning Captain Gordon, R.E., returned in
the Vauban from the Circassian coast. It is re-
ported that the Russians are employed night and
day in strengthening the defences of Anapa, and
in fortifying some small redoubts south of it.
Their vessels often take a peep out of Sebastopol
and run in again.

Sir George Brown has not yet returned. When
last seen the English fleet was standing off the
mouth of the Danube, with the Lieutenant-
General on board, and it is believed General
Canrobert was also with them, but the French
vessels are still at anchor at Baltschik. However,
they art not far from Kostendji, in case they are
required to embark the division which has moved
up there. Lord Raglan and M. St. Arnaud
continue in their quarters at Varna. The cavalry
division under Lord Lucan, which has been en-
camped on the other side of the bay, was to have
moved 5 or 6 miles away this morning, and their
camp and ground to be occupied by the division of
Sir R. England, but these orders were counter-
manded this morning. They will be close to the
water's edge, and ready for embarkation in their
new camp, when they occupy it. Two batteries of
artillery moved out from Varna on Friday, one to
Deena, the other to Aladyn. These countermands
are frequent.

There is a most magnificent preparation going on
just now. The Sappers and Miners, and fatigue
parties from the Ist and 3d divisions, are working
away as hard as they can making fascines. To-day
they will be set to work on gabions, and orders
have been issued for an immediate supply of sand-
bags.
By news from
Rustchuk to the morning of the
17th, we hear that Omer Pasha, with 30,000 men,
was lying at the left bank of the Danube opposite
an entrenched camp.
Rustchuk, in His line of
,
videttes were not more than 800 yards from the
Russian videttes, and the main body of the latter
(45,000 strong)
lay facing the Turks
left resting on the marshes of the' with their
Danube, and
their right resting in strong works, which have
been called Little Shumla, from their resemblance
to that place,
and stretching along the line of road
to Bucharest. Our gabions, fascines, and sand-
bags look like preparations for a siege.
On Friday last Colonel Gordon returned from
Baltchick. He made a reconnaissance of the Do-
brudscha up to the very banks of the Danube, and
found the whole country desolate—a waste of burnt
villages and desolated corn-fields. At the other
side of the Danube the Russians were visible in
force. This reconnaissance was effected by twelve
artillerymen,
mounted on pack saddles and bag-
gagers. They all returned safe and sound. Had
they been regular cavalry they would not perhaps
have done as. well. Lord Cardigan has taken fare-
well of his regiment, the 11th, in very handsome
terms, and takes occasion to refer in a very lauda-
tory manner to the efficiency of the brigade he
commands. .
We hear many accounts of outrage inflicted on
the people of the villages by the Turks. They are
puffed up by the pride of victory, and believe they
can now do as they please.
As I passed a café on Saturday I heard the
report of a pistol, and in a moment afterwards
some Turks ran out, bearing a man in the agonies
of death in their arms. He had been shot through
the heart. His murderer, who seemed like a zaptie
or cavass, was dragged off to the Pasha. The latter
will put him in prison, and in some months the fel-
low will, be let out, when room is required for
a fresh culprit. The cause of this occurrence I
could not ascertain, and the bystanders seemed
very little disturbed by it. There is small trouble
taken to arrest the course of such crimes, and until
the Turks are disarmed these things must happen.
Where are our British merchants and our Eng-
lish enterprise? We have lately paid 3s. 6d. a lb. for
ham, 2s. a lb. for bacon, 1/. sterling for a flannel 1
shirt, poisonous brandy for ss. a bottle ; bad wine '
for the same price ; preserved meats double the
London prices ; a water bottle IN. ; a white felt
cap, 15s. ; German saddles, 5/. (worth 255.) ; bridles,
2/. (not worth 125.) ; and BO on. However, money

plentiful—neither Grie,:,rF; nor men know what
to do with it.

The Brevet has given a great deal of satisfaction,
and has of course caused some grumbling. The
new regulations are not well understood, but so
far as they are they are well spoken of.
Forage for horses is sometimes scarce. Captain
Nolan has returned with 300 splendid Arabians
from the desert. Lieutenant King has also come
in with fine horses from Tunis.