The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-09 00:00:00

thousands, and that we should have a hard day. We
were thoroughly prepared for them, and remained in
statu quo. The Moskows, however, halted in their on-
ward course, and in the evening lighted their watch-fires
about 2,000 yards in front of our vedettes, the blaze
showing bright and high in the darkness. The Russians
had made 1.1. reconnaissance three weeks ago in this di-
rection, when there were no works here, so had not bar•
gained for a first reception at this point. Of course, we
were on the alert all night, and before the day broke
were particularly attentive to our front. If the Russians
had intended to attack us at that time, they could not
have had a more favourable morning, a low dense white
fog covering the whole of the plain. The sun rose, and
the mists disappeared, when it was found the Russians
had vanished also.

" CIRCLING RIGHT."
The next day we naturally expected 'would be a quiet
one, wad that we should not be annoyed by remaining at
our arms for our final work. Not a bit of it ; we had
just laden our ourselves with haversacks to forage
among the merchant shipping in the harbour, when a
vedette was seen to " circle right" most industriously.
" Boot and saddle" again resounded through the cavalry
camps, and Sir Cohn Campbell nails ordered all to be
under arms, and another day was passed like its prede•
cessor, the enemy finally once more retiring, this time
without advancing near enough for a shot from the Turks.

THE PSICFI O MARMALADH.
The following day 1 had a foraging expedition, and
returned with a goose, butter, preserved milk, ke.—a
very successful foray, and a full haversack. Of the
price of provisions you will have some idea when I tell
you that a small ham is sold for 31. ; tins of preserved
meat fetch 1/. 16s. each ; and for sauces, curry-powders,
and marmalade the prices sound fabulous. I have
known a pot of marmalade fetch one guinea, and Ire•
quently 10s. is given for this luxury.

ANTICIPATION OF A NIGHT ATTACK.
We were just beginning our meal of commissariat beef
and pork, tempered with the contents of the aforesaid
haversack, when away went the vedette again, first circling
right, and then reversing as suddenly to the left. Again
sounded trumpet, bugle, and drum through the plain,
and masses again moved into position upon it. So we
remained till dark, a night attack on the Turkish posi-
tion in our front being anticipated, and the batteries
received orders to fire upon any troops perceived in cer-
tain eventualities, and so we again stand all ready for
some hours, during which the only amusement is in the
hands of the Turks, who fire a round or two ; darkness
finds us similarly occupied. About nine o'clock a smart
fire of musketry is heard from the Turkish heights, and
its light sparkles over the hills ; we now feel' that
our vis-a-vis means something ; then again all is
unaccountably quiet, until some batteries open a peal-
ing fire, and then the bursting shells illuminate
the sides of the hills. We strain our eyes in the dark-
ness, and wonder what the deuce it means ; afterwards
all is still, and the men lie down in their greatcoats to
rest, though ready for momentary action. No camp
fires were allowed to burn during the night ; the men
were dismissed at 8 o'clock for two or three hours, and

the vedettes have at present allowed us tranquillity.
We learned afterwards that the Turkish musketry was
directed upon some Cossacks, and that the batteries had
mistaken the preparations far chibouque lighting of a
strong Turkish advanced picket for flashes of musketry,
and blazed away—fortunately, in the thick darkness of
the night, having given their guns sufficient elevation
for the shell to pass harmlessly over the heads of our
astonished allies, and burst far beyond.

A CHALLENGE AT SEBASTOPOL.
Yesterday (the 17th), at half-past nine in the morning
(says a Guardsman), the enemy hoisted the red flag, as
a challenge ; but as neither John Bull nor Parlarous was
ready, we only winked, and said, " Wait till to-morrow
morning, my boy !" However, the enemy forthwith
opened a most murderous fire upon us, and kept it up
for more than.ballan-hour ; but, as our orders were not
to fire a shot until everything was perfectly ready, not
a shot did we return. There's cool work for you, which
I think you must admire. All was ready at 7 o'clock this
morning, and so at it we went in good earnest with the

2,000 cannon ; and now (5 p.m.) they are pelting away as
hard as ever. At present we aregetting on well, and have
had very few wounded ; but we have destroyed the prin-
cipal fort, and two magazines have exploded. One of
the explosions was indeed awfully grand in its appear-
ance and effects : the whole heavens seemed filled with
fire and smoke, and the earth trembled again, up to the
spot where I sit, which is 5 miles off the magazine.
" What makes you be 5 miles off I" you will exclaim.
Just fur this reason :—My division is, for to-day, occu-
pying a position so as to keep in check the Russian
army in our rear, and this gives me time to write to you,
and to enter up my journal.
THE CHASSEURS DE VINCENNES.
Our Chasseurs de Vincennes, says a French writer at
Sebastopol, lodge themselves in the trenches, as fast as
the works go on. They are beginning to do a great
deal of mischief among the Russian gunners. We have
stationed there our crack marksmen. It is a singular
sight to watch the effect of their shots. There they are
stooping, motionless, watchful, patient like those famous
scalp-takers in Cooper's novels. The moment any.
thing appears in the embrasures of the redoubts, any
object, no matter what, or how small, a head, an
epaulette, a hat, a spy-glass, crack and the bullet
speeds unerringly on its way without your having
perceived the slightest movement. So much the worse
for the object exposed, if it be a head.