The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-28 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1854.

We are again indebted to Prince MEIiSCHIEOFF
for the latest intelligence from Sebastopol ! The
information, which the negligence and carelessness
of our own Commanders and Government with-
hold from the anxious people of England, is
supplied by the zeal and energy of our opponents.
In that respect, at least, we might take a leaf cut
of the Russian books. Oar authorities might de-
rive a salutary lesson from the proceedings of
their adversaries. The present account, however,
is one on which the same reliance cannot be placed
as on that which announced the commencement
of the bombardment, and the serious loss
to the Russians en the first- day. The opening
of the fire was a distinct and intelligible
fact, which no amount of equivocation or colour-
ing could get rid of—and the promulgation of
that solitary truth might serve as the ground-
work for numerous falsehoods, for flattering tales
of failure on the part of the assailants, and
vigorous defence by the garrison.

According to the statement of the veracious
Muscovite, " the Russian fire had successfully
the fire of the Allies." This, however,
answered
is, at least, rather a vague announcement. That
a vast quantity of powder had been con-
sumed in the various fortifications, and
many balls and shells discharged in the
direction of the besiegers, we can easily
credit. Indeed they had not waited for the
opening of the French and English fire, but from
the first moment that the Allied Forces came
Within range had indulged in a lavish expendi-
ture of ammunition. But, inasmuch as their fire
had proved singularly ineffective in every instance,
whether directed towards the land or the sea, we
can scarcely feel any dread that they had mani-
fested any decided improvement. They might
"answered
haveour fire" without inflicting much
damage on those against whom they aimed. In-
deed from the circumstance that Fort Constantine
and other neighbouring batteries kept up a
continued fire for some hours on a vessel under
Austrian colours, which, laden
with 600 tons of
hay for the English camp, drifted
past them at a
distance of 2,500 yards, and was subsequently
towed off with comparatively little damage by the
Firebrand, proves that we have not much to fear
from the "direful skill" of the Russian artillery-
men.

It is also declared that " the damage done to
the fortifications was but trifling." This is clearly
a matter of opinion, in which the Russian General
allows himself considerable latitude. To judge
from the tone of the despatch, he rooks on it,
or deserves to be thought of as looking upon
it, in rather an amusing light than otherwise.
As Punch's drover, who was " tossed many times
and likes it," the valiant Russians considered it
an agreeable excitement that pleasingly varied the
dull monotony of garrison life, which he could
atop 1 toy Moment he thought proper, but suf.