The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-28 00:00:00

TILE GRAVES AT SEBASTOPOL:

A writer in a contemporary says :
Being on a short visit to this place, and feeling
very desirous to see the last resting-places of our
fallen countrymen, I called on Lieut.-Col. Gowen
(American contractor with the Russian Government
for raising the sunken ships in the harbour) for
some information—he being the only person who
knew their relative positions—who very kindly
offered to accompany me. Our first visit was to
Cathcart's-hill, where we found the beautiful large
black marble cover on the tomb of Sir Robert Lyd-
stone Newman, Captain of Grenadier Guards, had
been removed by some sacrilegious hands, doubtless
seeking for jewellery or other articles of value. We
endeavoured to replace the cover in its proper posi-
tion, but were unable to move it. Col. Gowen pur-
posed having it replaced in a few days. We also
found the hinges on the gates partly hacked off,
evidently for the paltry value of the copper. I also
learn from Col. Gowen that there had been
previ-
ously a number of shot and shell placed over and
around several of the graves by relatives and friends
who had visited the spot ; these, together with the
large shot surmounting the corners of the wall en-
closing the cemetery, and on each side of the gate,
are now all gone.
We next visited the Artillery graveyard, and
discovered that they had also disturbed the tablet
from the tomb of Capt. W. K. Allix, Aide•de.Camp
to Gen. Sir De Lacy Evans. The walls around this
cemetery were sadly broken down.
We then proceeded to the graveyard of the
Naval Brigade, where a ghastly sight presented
itself. We found the slabs that covered the grave
of -Commander Lacon Usser Hammett, of H.M.'s
ship Albion, had been turned over and the remains
of that lamented officer entirely
.exhumed,
the bones as well as some remaining portions of the
uniform being scattered around the grave, which
evidently had been opened only a few days before.
It was truly a heart-sickening spectacle to behold
the last mortal remains of this brave officer lie
bleaching in the sun. Col. Gowen assured me that
on the following Sunday he would have the remains
carefully restored to their former peaceful state.
We then visited several other graveyards, and
found them more or less in a very dilapidated state
—the walls broken down in many places, and in
some instances so much so that even the cattle have
been found grazing within the enclosures.
Notwithstanding, however, the mutilated and
neglected state of many of the graves of those brave
men who fell in the Crimea, still the sincerest thanks
of every true Englishman are due to Col.Gowen
for the truly Christian and sympathising interest
he has so disinterestedly taken in having, entirely
at his own expense and trouble, already repaired
and restored many of the English graves and ceme-
teries, as well as several of the French and Sardi-
nian, and preserved them from violation and decay.
It is sincerely to be hoped that our Government
will take such speedy and necessary measures for
putting our graveyards in a proper state of repair
as to preserve from oblivion the last resting-places
of so many brave men who fell during the Crimean
campaign.