The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-25 00:00:00

TIIR SIC.

BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, DEC. 8.
You will have seen by my last letter of November 25,
that the torrents of rain which tormented us almost in-
cessantly ever since November 4, put a stop to the siege
operations. This interruption was, however, only rela-
tive, for the works in the trenches, and batteries of the
second parallel, were never at any time wholly discon-
tinued. Now (since 4th of this month) that the weather
has become fine, the I ororks are almost finished and in a
part armed. In fact they await but the finishing touches
to be in a state to open their fire. When, then, we do
recommence firing, which we shall do in a few days it
the fine weather continue, we shall have something like
250 pieces (including mortars) in action, many of which
are 13 inch guns. Bear in mind, also, that we have
approached touch nearer to the place, and then you will
form a just idea of the respective positions of ourselves
and Messieurs lee Busses, and will be persuaded, as we.
all are here, that the capture of the southern part of the
town is almost a fait accompli. You will perhaps say
that the Russians also have not been idle, that they have
loads batteries, barricades, mines, and what not ; true
they have, but all their recent works have been done so
loosely, sa hastily, and so entirely without any system,
that after the terrible cannonade which will precede the
assault, they will not be worth seriously taking into ac-
count. Only yesterday I went through our trenches,
and I was struck like everybody else with ahe precarious
state of the Itustean entrenchments. I
of our men universally excellent, notwithstanding the
unparalleled fitigu-s and dreadful weather they have
found the spirit
had to contend with. We receive almost daily from
Prisoners and deserters confirmation of the miserable
and demoralised state of the enemy, both on ac-
count of the repeated checks they have experienced, 1,
and also in consequence of their insufficient and bad
food, .and the want of proper shelter. Their huts, formed
merely of branches of trees, without any roof, are wholly
inadequate to protect them against the cold and wet. of
this time of the year. The 12th division (Liprandes),
which hitherto occupied the positions before Balaklava,
evacuated them the day before yesterday and retired
beyond the Tehernaya. They burnt their barracks and
took away with them the Turkish guns which they cap-
tured in the affair of Nov. 25. This movement was be-
gun in the night of the sth, and finished by ten o'clock
the next morning'. There is no other apparent object
for the movement than the bad health of the Russian
troops, or a concentration of their army upon some other
point of the Crimea. On the 6th, at 2in the afternoon,
two Russian vessels, ono of which the famous Wladmir,
sailed out of the harbour in the direction of Streletzkaia
Bay, protected throughout their course by the quaran-
tine fortifications. Their object seemed to us to be to
reconnoitre the positions of our left, and to do some
damage if possible to the Caton and another of our
steamers, at anchor in the bay. But the Megre aviso,
which was en vidette before the port, having signalled
their manoeuvre, our vessels in Kamiesch Bay got up
their steam, and prepared to make for the enemy. How-
ever, the distance from the port of Sebastopol to Stre-
letzkaia Bay being very short, the Russian ships had
time enough to approach the bay, driving the little
Megre (which only carries two guns) before them. They
began to fire upon the Caton, which bravely responded.
While this was going on we saw the English frigate Ter-
rible, rush like an enraged lion upon the Russian ships.
They had already received somewell-directed bullets from
the Caton, and as soon as they saw the Terrible coming
they sheered off as fast as they could under the protec-
tion of their batteries. I never saw a more splendid
spectacle than the advance of the Terrible. She flew like
an arrow. Although the Russians ran away too soon for
the Terrible to come up with them, she sent two rattling
broadsides after them, and bravely steed the fire of the
batteriee which opened upon her vigorously. In spite
of his precipitate
flight the enemy must have sustained
some loss both from the Caton and the Terrible. The
only loss in the whole affair on the side of the allies
was two men on board the Terrible. I must not forget
to say that the
---1"-e ere allantly followed the Terrible
and blazed away with her two guns as resolutely as if
she had been a great ship. The Grand Dukes Michael
and Nicholas are quartered in the fort No. 4, the next
g g
fort to Fort Michel, on the northern side of the
harbour. Towards the Tchernaya there are four vessels
anchored, three of which, the Constantinople, Pat is,
and Twelve Apostles, are disarmed in great part, and
almost without crews. The Tchesma is in Carenage
bay, and is armed and manned. Beside her is the iron
steam frigate Elbrousse. Then comes the Codul, sta-
tioned near St. Paul's Fort. This ship comes to anchor
every night at the extremity of Southern bay to protect
the entrance to the town on that side. Besides the
above the Marie (transformed into an hospital ship), an
unfinished screw line-of-battle ship, the Wladimir, and
some small steamers, constitute the whole Russian fleet
in the Black Sea, after the sinking of the ships now
under water at the mouth of the Sebastopol harbour.
Add that but two vessels out of the whole lot are armed,
and the picture will be complete. Passing to theirland
forces—their army is stationed between the Belbec and
the Tchernaya. They carefully watch the roads to Sim-
pheropol and Batchi-serai, wherein are their main re-
sources for provisions. Their force is reduced daily by
sickness. In the present state of the roads in Russia
it will be difficult, if not impossible, to bring up a second
body of reinforcements in carriages. Their army, at the
very utmost, inluding the garrison and the crews of
the vessels, cannot exceed from 60,000 to 75,000 men.
Treating the northern fort as a citadel, they with
that extraordinary spirit of imitation which character-
ises'
their military tactics must needs have an entrenched
know will be impreg-
nable camp on the Belbec and Tchernaya positions. They
fancy, because the plateau of Cape Cherson is impreg-
nablenable
ainiso. L
our heatntdhse,mthgaot tohne.ir campWewell enough
that once the town taken, the famous northern fort
won't hold out a fortnight, deprived, as it will be, of
water and everything else, the moment our horses set
foot upon the Simpheropol road. This is the real state
of things. We are receiving reinforcements daily. The
English will very soon have 20,000 wooden huts, all
made in England. We hive provision:. a ,cured for four
months to come, and want fur neither wood nor water.
The disposition of the army is excellent, and in spite of
everything, the general health of the men is good. Give
us a few fine days, such as to-day, and you will see
whether, with the man who commands us, we shall be
, long before we take the town. It will cost us much,
i doubtless, but it will be done, and " Vive I"Empereur.'
f

M. Digby Seymour, M.P., is appointed Recorder of
Newcastle•upon-Tyne. This appointment renders neces-
sary a new election for the borough of Sunderland.

SCUTARI, DEC. 10.
The following officers are at present in hospital at
Scutari :

Brigadier-General Adams.
Captaix: Adams, 49th Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, Grenadier Guards.
Lieute unnt-Colonel Halkett, Coldstream Guards.
Colonel; Walker, Scots Fusilier Guards.
Lieute,a ant Colonel Haly, 47th Regiment.
Captai a Cameron, Grenadier Guards.
Captain Morris, 17th Lancers.
Lieutenant Trevellyan, 11th Hussars.
Ensign. Lewis, 20th Regiment.
Captai o Rowland 41st Regiment.
Captai o Meredith, 41st Regiment.
Captai rt Bligh, 41st Regiment.
Captai n. Gould, 63d Regiment.
Lieutenant Johns, 63d Regiment.
Captain Bamford, 63d Regiment.
Ensign.. Fraser, 631 Regiment, at Keellali.
Lieut.- Colonel Daubeney, C. 8., 55th Regiment.
Captai a Brown, 55th Regiment.
Lieutc a: a';'Twysclt n 55th Regiment.
C tptai.] King, 55th Regiment.
Lieute a ant Ellis, 4th Dragoon Guards.
Assist:- t-Surgeon Nott.
Lieute tant Stephens, 21st Regiment.
Liente want Clarke, 21st Regiment.
Ensign Owens, 331 Regiment.
_ _

Captain'. Butler, 20th Regiment.
Captai i Shipley, 7th Regiment.
Lieuteaz,nt butler, 7th Regiment.
Captain Sykes, 4th Dragoons.
Lieutenant Hartopp, Ist Royal Dragoons.
Lieutenant Aldridge, 21st Regiment.
Lieute) &ant Smith, 95th Regiment.
Captain. Mande, Royal Artillery.
Captain. Ingleby, Royal Artillery.
Captain Harris, 63d Regiment.
Captain. White, 17th Lancers.
Lieutenant Wallis, 33d Regiment.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mauleverer, 30th Regiment.
Captain Rose, 30th Regiment.
Major WMahon, Staff.
Colonel Warren, C. 8., 55th Regiment.
Lieutenant Rotheram, 20th Regiment.
Lieutenant (or Ensign) Bennett, 20th Regiment.
Lieutenant Radcliffe, 88th Regiment.
Captain Shuckburgh, sth Fusilier Guards.
Lieutenant Bennett, 33d Regiment.
Lieutenant Newingham, 63d Regiment.
Lieuten ant Morgan, 63d Regiment.
Dr. Moore, 6th Dragoon Guards.
Lieutenant Hobson, 7th Fusiliers.
Captain Aldvrorth, 7th Regiment.
Captain. Crosse, 88th Regiment.
Lieutenant Baines, 88th Regiment.
Lieutenant Lempriere, Royal Engineers.
Assistant-Surgeon Fyffe, 30th Regiment.
Lieutenant Hobbs, 30th Regiment.
Lieutenant Streatfield, 44th Regiment.
Major Sluarp, 20th Regiment.
Major Whimper, 55th Regiment.
Captain Gubbins, aide-de-camp.
Captain Vialls, 95th Regiment.
Captain Baddeley, Royal Artillery.
Captain Hume, 55th Regiment.
Captain Campbell, Ist Royal Dragoons.
Captain 3lPonnell, 92d Regiment.
Captain Boldero, 21st Regiment.
Lieutenant M,Donnell, 95th Regiment.
Lieutenant Fitzroy, 41st Regiment
Lieutenant Hopson, 7th Regiment
Lieutenant Coney, 7th Regiment
Lieutenant Sayer, 23d Regiment
Lieutenant Curry, 19th Regiment
Lieutenant King, 21st Regiment
Lieutenant Buller, 57th Regiment
Ensign Cahill, 49th Regiment
Lieutenant Greenwood, 33d Regiment
Lieutenant Bush, 41st Regiment
Brevet-Major Erskine, 33d Regiment
Captain Sargent, 95th Regiment
Captain De Horsey, Grenadier Guards
• The nominal return of deaths at the hospitals
from the 4th to the Bth inst. inclusive is as fol-
lows :-
Lieutenant H. C. Harriott, 41st Regiment, wounds,
Dec. 8.
Private Walter Rhodes, Grenadier Guards, feloris,
Dec. 5.
Corporal Thomas Moreton, 23d Regiment, diarrhoea,
Dec. 4.
Sergeant John Forsyth, Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade,
wounds, Dec. 4.
Private Charles nagger, 20th Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 4.
Private Chas. Eggington, 95th Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 4.
Private Wm. Taylor, 4th Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 4.
Private George Lynn, 634 Regt., diarrhoea' Dec. 5.
Private James Burrows, 55th Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 5.
Private Samuel Bendel], Royal Artillery, diarrhoea,
Dec. 5.
Private Thos.Whitson, Gren. Gds., contusion, Dec. 4.
Private Henry Pettet, Coldstream Gds., vulnus, Dec. 4.
Private George Smith, 21st Regt., vulnus abdomen,
Dec. 5.
Private Joseph Keep, 49th Regt., compound fracture,
Dec. 5.
Private Mark Clarke, 23(1 Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 5.
Private John Foker, 63d Regt., wounds, Dec. 5.
Corporal John Daniels, Scots FusilierGds., diarrhoea,
Dec. 6.
Private James Bunting, 05th Regiment, dysentery;
Dec. 5.
Private William Kenning, Grenadier Guards, vulnus,
Dec. 6.
Corporal George Gunyon, 95th Regiment, wounds,
Dee. 6. - -
Private John Tarlton, 34th Regiment, Diarrhoea,
Dec. 6.
Private Charles Madge, 17th Lancers, dysentery,
Dec. 6.
Private John Moxon, 13th Light Dragoons, pleuritis,
Dee. 6.
Private William Marley, 17th Lancers, diarrhoea,
Dec. 7.
Colour-Sergeant Patrick Glynn, 88th Regiment,
wounds, Dec. 6.
Private George Clarke, 33d Regiment, pneumonia,
Dec. 6.
Private George Grier, Scots Fusilier Guards, diar-
rbce, Dec. 6.
Private Edward Stofer, 95th Regiment, diarrhoea,
Dec. 6.
Private William Vere, Royal Artillery, wounds,
Dec. 6.
Private George Halloworth, Coldstream Guards,
dysentery, Dec. 6.
Private Henry Judd, Scots Fusilier Guards, diarrhoea,
Dec. 6.
Private Robert Wicks, 20th Regiment, diarrhoea,
Dec. 7.
Private George Finn, 63d Regiment, wounds, Dec. 7.
Private Joseph Garside, 47th Regiment, dysentery,

Dec. 7.
Private John Wilmott, Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade,
wounds, Dec. 7.
Private Joseph Fallow, 2d Brttalion Rifle Brigade,
diarrhoea, Dec. 7.
Private James Sullivan, Ist Regiment, diarrhoea,
Dec. 8.
Private Robert Reed, Scots Fusilier Guards, vulnus,
Dec. 8.
Private John Stainer, 95th Regt., diarrhoea, Dec. 8.
Private George Alder, Royal Artillery, fever, Dec. 8.
Sergeant William Deegan, 77th Regiment, fever,
Dec. 8.
Private William Greatreaks, Greadier Guards, fever,
Dec. 8.
Private Joseph Moore, 13th Light Dragoons, diarr-
hoea., Dec. 3.
Private James Glover, Scots Fusilier Guards, febris,
Dec. 8.
Private Richard Godson, Ist Regiment, diarrhoea,
Dec. 7.
The number of burials was 17 on the sth, 10 on
I the 6th, 10 on the 7th, and 16 on the Bth.

THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND GREAT
WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANIES.—A final meeting, con-
sisting of managers, deputed by the London and North
Western, Great Western, South Staffordshire, Shropshire
Union, Shropshire Canals, the Duke of Bridgewater's
trustees, &c., and other interests, was held at the Queen's
Hotel, Birmingham, on Saturday last, to arrange and
determine the_ increase of rates which is to commence on
lines running north of London on the Ist of January,
1855. The discussion was understood to be chiefly in
reference to the goods traffic upon trunk and branch
lines, which have hitherto been considered as competing
railways. The result was that after the' date named,
goods of all descriptions, viz., manufactures, minerals,
luggage, parcels, and all the varieties of articles, whether
manufactured or in the raw state, will be subjected to a
large increase of charge for conveyance. Similar ar-
rangements have been made with regard to the passen-
ger traffic.
The Lord Chancellor has presented the Hon. and Rev.
Frank Sugden to the Vicarage of Brignall, diocese of
Ripon ; the Rev. James Hugh Bacon to the Vicarage
of Baxterley, diocese of Worcester ; the Rev. Cyril W.
Wood to the Vicarage of Aswick, and the Rev. E. Ed-
munds to the Vicarage of St. Michael's, Southampton.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.—To-day the provision with
respect to dogs being used for the purpose of draught
will come into force. Dogs are not to be used through.
out the United Kingdom to draw trucks, barrows, &c.,
under penalties.
DEATH OF THE REV. RICHARD DILL, OF BALLYKELLY.
.---We regret to announce the decease of this much
esteemed minister, which took place on Tuesday last.
For some time past Mr. Dill had been in a declining
state of health, and had retired from all ministerial
duty.—Banner of Ulster.
SNOW FOWLS.—Numerous flocks of these winter
visitants are now seen about our shores—in some cases
so large that they number many thousands of birds.
These snow- buntings, as they are termed, come in
large flights to the Scottish coasts at this season of the
year, and many of them fall a prey to hunger and the
fowling piece. —John O'Groat Journal.
AT COURT.—A person recently returned from Europe
told his friends he had been presented at Court there.
gi Do you see the Queen there ?" asked one. " Well—
no—l didn't see her 'zactly, but I zeed one of her
friends—a judge. Yer see," he continued, "the court
I was presented at happened to be a police court.—
American Paper.
LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.—The British and North
American Mail team-ship Asia, Capt. E. G. Lott,
sailed this forenoon for Boston, with the usual mails,
about 120 passengers, and a full cargo of valuable mer-
chandise on freight, Amongst her passengers was Ge-
, ;Aral money,