The Sun. — 1855-09-22 (London, England)

THE TAKING OF THE MALAKHOFF.  A French letter from Constantinople of the 11th states that the news of the taking of the Malakhoff, which reached at 2 o'clock p.m., produced in that capital an immense sensation. It was, however, considered too good to be true, and many hesitated to believe it. The Greeks openly manifested their incredulity. Despatches from head-quarters received the same day per the Amsterdam confirmed all that had been announced by the electric telegraph. The letter goes on to say— " The Malakhoff Tower, attacked with unexampled impetuosity to the cry of Vire l'Empereur,' was carried after a murderous struggle on both sides. The formidable position was occupied without. delay, and batteries were established on it with remarkable celerity. The Little Redan of Careening Bay was also taken, but as the Russian batteries poured down a tremendous fire on those who were the first to occupy it, our men were obliged to'abandon it to return to it afterwards. The few details I have picked up I send you in haste, as the Indus weighs anchor in two hours. On the night of the 7th all the necessary arrangements were taken by General Pelissier with admirable precision. On the Btb, at mid-day our assaulting columns issued from their posts, and marched on against the enemy to the cry of Vive l'Empercur,' with an impetuosity beyond all description, and in spite of a terrible fire in front, and a flanking fire from the Little Redan, the ditch was soon passed, and after an hour of a murderous struggle the French flag floated on the tower, and was hailed with one electric shout of triumph by the whole army. Batteries were instantly placed in position, and we are established in the Malakhoff in as solid a manner as if we had held the place for a long time past. Our battery poured down on the Russian fleet a perfect storm of shells ; three ships were set on fire in spite of the precautions of the Russians, and the following morning those that bad not been destroyed by our shot were sunk by the Russians. The south part of the city was on fire, and the Russians passed into the north forts. "Our losses are severe. Several Generals have been killed ; four are wounded. I have only been able to ascertain one name among the latter—that of General Bosquet. We have, moreover, 4,000 men hors de combat. I cannot vouch for the exactness of this last numbr, on the Redanandthefirstestitbnyattehies EtonogThenwtelsrrmonaedoeuws.ithTtihiee attack utmost vigour. They were repulsed three times, but each time those gallant troops returned to the charge, and remained masters of the position. The Little Redan of CarOsning Bay was also occupied, but the Russian fire, which inflicted enormous injury on the first occupants, did not allow us to maintain it. A telegraphic despatch, received yesterday at the French embassy, announces that the city is occupied by the allied troops. I am in hourly expectation of letters from the Crimea, which, I trust, will give me more complete details than those I now send you.  A postscript to the foregoing says : " A. letter written on board the Indus, at 7 p.m., contains the following General Rivet is killed, as also Colonel Chassaigne, General Pelissier's Chief of the Staff. The English have suffered severely. When the Russians saw that we were masters of the Malakhoff Tower they blew up the Redan. All was mined, but they had no time to blow up the Malakhoff. I learn from an eye-witness that the Russians blew up the Centre Bastion ; as they were retiring the Quarantine was also on fire. We now occupy the entire of the south part of the city. The Russians set fire to the small vessels and sank the large ones. It appears that for those who were on board the fleet the sight they beheld was impossible to give an idea of. The French dashed into the city undismayed and undeterred by the flames."  Another letter from the Crimea gives an idea of the state of discouragement of the Russians before the attack of Sebastopol "A very short while ago a corps of 1,000 men was required for a sortie against the French, who were occupied in certain works particularly obnoxious to the Russians. These last had been boasting that they could furnish not only 1,000, but 10,000 volunteers at any moment. Only 150, neither more nor less, presented themselves ; the sortie was abandoned, and the French went on with their work quietly.  PROPOSED INCREASE OF THE Dom