The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-08 00:00:00

vessels had been all screw-ships the effect might
have been very different ; but it was necessary to
lash a steamer alongside of each sailing-vessel in
order to carry her in, and the efficiency of both was
correspondingly diminished. The Albion is very
much injured ; it is said she was on fire in nine or
ten places, and that she was only saved by great
exertions. She will be patched up here, prepara-
tory to being sent home. Her place is, however,
well supplied by the Algiers.
There was some talk of storming the place to
wards the end of the week, about the 28th, but
there is reason to believe that such reports are
mere surmises, and that the commanders have
come to no determination. Indeed, it is evident
that such an assault must depend for success on the i
impression made on the Russian works, and up to
this time there iA nothing which can be called a
practicable breath.
Communications between the southern and
northern shores of the bay are still open, but it ro-
niains to be seen whetherthe Russians will be able,
on the fall of Sebastopol proper, to cross the water
with their remaining vessels, and defend them-
selves in their new position. If they can succeed
in this their fire may render the place untenable, ,
and at all events Fort Constantine and its out-
works
would have to be attempted by a second
series-of seige operations.
The weather is still gloriously fine, and well fitted
to siege operations. The wind, for the last few-
days, has been from the south, and the heat con- 1
sequently oppressive ; but still the season is most
favourable, and for another fortnight we may
expect a continuance of the present propitious
weather. Afterwards the army muss make up its
mind for hail, wind, and rain, with all the incon-
veniences of a November climate. Let us hope
that before the middle of next month they may be
safely housed in Sebastopol.
The wounded are all going on favourably, except
that whenever a southerly wind prevails inflamma-
tion begins, and the simplest wound will not heal.
Scutari is in a much more decent order, although
there is still a great deficiency of medical attend-
ance. The supply of medicines is now sufficient, and
the place has been cleaned of its former impurities.
But the sufferings of the risen have been very great,
and it cannot be too frequently impressed on the
minds of those in authority at home that the prepa-
rations for such events as those now occurring
ought to be on the largest scale. No one can say
what will be the numbers of wounded in the great
assault which may any day take place. It is as well
to state the truth at once. Alma is likely to have
been far less deadly than the struggle which will
take place in the breaches of Sebastopol. The
enemy there will probably be unable to retreat,
and if he have a trace of courage, or even of
natural instinct, he will defend himself with
desperation. Every street may have its barricade,
countryc
will
lel c o
n economy w
an wickedness.
expense Surgeonswhieh andwi
will
and the very ground over which the assaulting
regiments, pass may conceal the deadly mine. In
such
nurses in numbers should be sent out. The
Te
myis ickdes
grudge
be small in vmparison with the good it will do,
and many a family will owe its
happiness to the
precaution of a thoughtful Executive.

OCT. 27.—The last advices from Sebastopol are
up to the 25th. The vessel which brought them
is unable to furnish any details, but we know that
the siege was going on as usual. Women and
children are said to be lying unburied in the streets;
everything is neglected in order to keep up the
defence ; all the guns of the Round Fort were said
to be silenced except one. The Russians are con-
structing another line of works behind their pre-
sent ones ; they have plenty of guns and ammuni-
tion. The British effective infantry is now about
15,000, the French 36,000, the Turks.ll,ooo. The
artillerymen are being much worn out by incessant
toil. They are 12 hours out of the 24 in trenches,
instead of the usual 8. The loss of effective strength
from sickness and wounds amounts, in the British
force, to about 80 a-day.
The Carnac has just arrived with a large addition
to the medical staff. This is a timely relief to the
worn-out surgeons of Scutari, and a fitting pre-
paration for the great assault which will soon take
place. The sick are still very much neglected in
the Crimea. The naval hospital at Therapia is ex-
tremely comfortable, and the men receive every
attention. They are about 80 in number, and most
of them are becoming rapidly convalescent. Lieu-
tenant Lloyd of the Triton is doing well in spite of
his dangerous wound.
Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrenson, of the 17th
Lancers, went home a day or two since. Captain
Dallas, 11th Hussars, is recovering. Prince Ernest
of Sane Leiningen is now nearly well, after two
months' illness. Scutari is being prepared for the
reception of fresh wounded.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM THE
CAMP.
REPORTS OF DESERTERS.

OCT. 20. —Deserters, whe came out in the last two
days, drew a melancholy picture of the state of Sebas-
topol, and the execution our artillery had done among
the garrison. The fortress, they said, was like a large
slaughter house, and since we opened fire five thousand
men had been taken to the hospitals and the graveyards.
This is good news for us, if it be true. But it should
be recollected that deserters are in the habit of saying
whatever they think is most likely to please those to
whom they surrender.