The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-03-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE CRIMEA.  FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)  Camp before Sebastopol, Feb. 22  A correspondent in the Crimea at the present moment must needs have an ingenious mind, if he wish to cater to the public appetite for news. With the dull routine of camp life, the stagnation of winter quarters, the prospect of an armistice, and a peace infaturo, he almost finds it impossible to extract anything interesting or exciting from the dead level of things around. The weather indeed is an unfailing topic, and with the quality of variety at the least ; but even this may be exhausted ; and there is nothing left but to grumble or to be silent. A slight episode of a martial character indeed did occur last week. On Wednesday, the 13th, the Russians made a great reconnaissance ; they ad_ vanced in two distinct bodies, one from the Mackenzie Heights on the right attack, and the other at Baidar. They came down in great force, drove in the French outposts, but retired again without effecting anything, leaving several prisoners in the hands of the French. What their object could have been, it is impossible to conceive. It was reported that the reconnaissance took place in consequence of the arrival of their new general. Whatever was the reason of it, it satisfactorily proved, at least to us, how soon a large force could be concentrated on any one point ; for the French, on the first news of the attack, poured in on the point assailed, with a rapidity and steadiness that, I have no doubt, astonished the Russians. The Russians still keep up a desultory fire from the north side; it has been somewhat more fierce of late, though as little effective as ever. They have been, probably, attracted by the increased number of men employed on the French side in removing guns, anchors, and other Russian spoils. I was in Sebastopol the other day, and saw this weighty booty undergoing the process of removal. the labour is immense, and the French have lost by it a great number of horses. I saw quantities of large anchors which had stuck on their way; they have to be dragged from the water's edge up the precipitous hill on the entrance to the French side of the town, and thence along the road, over hill and dale, to Kamiesch, where they are shipped for their destination. Since my last letter, though we have had every variety of weather, we have had no rain, and the ground having attained a consistency sufficient to bear man and horse, reviewing has been the order of the day. Yesterday the Third Division marched out and were reviewed ; the day before, the Light Division were out; and to-day, the First Division had a grand field day. This division looked remarkably well ; the Brigade of Guards especially attracting much attention. The Grenadier Guards are now nearly 800 strong ; and, perhaps, a finer body of men never stepped together. Sir W. Codrington, who -vas present, complimented Lord Rokeby on the appearance of his division. Last Monday there was to have been a review of the whole army, but the weather, which, up to that day, had been mild and favourable, suddenly changed to the •depth of winter again, and the morning was ushered in with frost, sleet, and a piercing north-east wind, the thermometer falling to 15,) ; the review is, therefore, postponed till next Monday, always with the proviso of weather permitting. To-night orders have come out for detachments from each division to parade at 7 a.m. to-morrow, to see a private of the 77th Regiment hanged, for murdering his comrade in hospital. To-day the weather has again changed, the frost is all gone, and has been succeeded by a very bluster_ ing wind from the south-west, and the thermoimneorsntinpgeeniltiarw; asyesfrteersdtva,y, afnodr instance,meter is up again to above 40°. This climate is cinertatihnely cold ; at noon misty and muggy, and towards evening quite mild and warm. The army however, continues in good health, and however the peace negociations may end', certain, that 'at no time could our Queen have finer— entrusted the honour of her country, and the safekeeping of her throne, to a one thing is a more loyal— and a better-conditioned body of men than the one which is now drawing sword in her behalf on the shores of the Euxine.