n FLEET SAILS FROM VARNA 17 



vessels in all, sailed out from Varna, making a 

 spectacle the like of which will never again be seen 

 in the history of the world. Men-of-war had now 

 attained to about the height of their magnificent 

 appearance ; steam was coming in, but it was not yet 

 of sufficient importance to modify the shape of hulls, 

 or to diminish the height of masts or the spread of 

 canvas. 



A more magnificent, spirit-stirring sight can scarcely be imagined 

 than this, perhaps the most powerful Armada that ever was 

 collected together, putting out to sea. The beautiful order in 

 which the mighty steamers, each followed by two large ships in 

 tow, wheeled round out of the bay and fell into their respective 

 positions, while the line-of-battle ships hovered round, whipping 

 up the slow ones into their places and constantly firing guns 

 as signals ; the fineness of the day, the freshness of the breeze, 

 the good spirits every one seemed in, all contributed to make it 

 an event never to be forgotten by those who had the privilege of 

 witnessing or sharing in it. 1 



Then followed a week at sea, sometimes moving 

 ahead, sometimes at anchor, every fresh move giving 

 rise to much discussion and speculation, till on the 

 1 2th land was sighted, and two days later, on Thurs- 

 day, September 14, the whole army landed, quite 

 unopposed, about 28 miles north of Sebastopol. 



Thursday, September 14. Disembarkation of the allied armies 

 on the coast of the Crimea commenced this morning. The place 

 appeared to have been made by nature for such a purpose. The 

 two places where the French and English disembarked were exactly 

 similar, consisting of a low sandy beach about a mile long, and 

 perhaps a quarter of a mile broad, each protected behind by a 



1 From Diary of Thursday, September 7, 1854. 



