10 75 
smoke and roar were more awful, but the other was more 
business-like. Captain Christie, R.N., principal agent of 
transports, had his flag hoisted on board the Colombo. 
“ Having expended the number of rounds of powder, 
which was limited to fifty each gun, at one time the Sanspareil 
withdrew, and the foils on the hill directed their full efforts 
at the Agamemnon. The Agamemnon fired seventy rounds, 
and her broadside is quite scorched the whole length. Sir 
Edmund Lyons, at the time occupied with the big fort, scut 
his flag lieutenant through a galling fire to bring in the 
Bellerophon and to get the Sanspareil back. He said, 1 Tell 
them to come in; these forts will sink me 'and r in if Heave 
this ; and this is quite the case. He is of the truest stuff, 
fixes his mark, and then sticks to it. 
“The Britannia remained till after dark steady also at her 
work, but she and the French were all too far off.” 
DESPATCHED FROM CONSTANTINOPLE. 
Tuesday, Oct. 24. 
The dismasted and battered Albion arrived yesterday in 
Buyukder<5 Bay, towed by the Orinoco. This vessel, with 
the Agamemnon and Sanspareil, bore the brunt of the action. 
She had fifteen killed and seventy-two wounded in the day’s 
combat. She was towed down to Constantinople this morn- 
ing to be docked. As she passed, with her main and mizen 
topmasts shot away, and her sides showing the marks of the 
fray, a band on board played enlivening airs — a strange con- 
trast to the scene which had been witnessed on board a week 
before. She has several large holes near the waterline, 
which have been temporarily boarded up and painted ; and 
the round marks of the shot are to be seen on every part of 
her hull. Her vast bulk, equal to that of a first-rate, with 
her battered aspect, and the interest attaching to the fight, 
attracted crowds during her passage down the Bosphorus. 
The spectators eyed her silently with various ideas and 
sympathies — the English, with pride, mingled with sorrow, 
the Turks with apathy which might veil any feeling, other 
parts of the population with something like secret gratifica- 
tion. She had sent upwards of 120 men on shore previous 
to the commencement of the action, in which she was ex- 
posed to the hottest fire of the Russian batteries. Like the 
Albion and the Arethusa, the Trafalgar could not long keep 
her place, or, rather, she never took it up properly, for the 
Rodney sent a Moorsom shell into the mainmast of the Re- 
tribution, to which the Trafalgar was lashed ; it burst in it, 
the mast went down, and both vessels were unfit for action. 
There was' a general anticipation on board that the fleet 
would again try its fortune against the fortifications which 
it has so long watched ; but, whatever may be the ardour of 
the Bailors, it would be unwise to allow any chagrin at an 
incomplete result to urge the valuable squadron into action 
under circumstances in which our loss must at least be 
greater than any we can inflict on the enemy. The Are- 
thusa (towed to sea by Emeu) is not so much injured as 
some of the other vessels, but she was found to be in a rot- 
ten state, and the shot which struck her knocked out whole 
pieces of her hull, although this would have done little 
damage to a sound ship. The Arethusa had only fifteen guns 
out of fifty; and half her crew were with the army in the 
trenches before Sebastopol. Lieutenant Lloyd (Triton) is 
still alive at the naval hospital at Therapia (Bosphorus), al- 
though his wound is most severe, and his escape from 
instaut death wonderful. A shell struck him under the 
arm, and tore away part of his side ; the hurt, however, is not 
mortal, and he has the advantage of at least sufficient medical 
attendance. About eighty-four wounded have been landed 
at Therapia ; two had died up to the night of the 22nd ; 
since then there have been also one or two deaths. Many 
of the men who were slightly hurt have remained on board. 
The Orinoco, which towed down the Albion, will probably 
retnrn with Turkish troops. However, the supply of these 
is nearly exhausted, and the arrival of French reinforce- 
ments from Marseilles would be received with satisfaction. 
The Albion is very much injured : it is said she was on 
fire in nine or ten places, and that she was only saved by 
great exertions. She will be patched up here, preparatory 
to being sent home. Her place is, however, well supplied 
by the Algiers, arrived Oct. 21. 
THE FRENCH OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 
The following accounts are published by the French 
government in the Moniteur. The first despatches is from 
Vice-Admiral Hamelin. 
" ‘ ViUe dc Paris, before Katscha, Oct. 18. 
“ ‘ Monsieur le Ministre, — In my letter of the 13th of 
Oct. I announced to your Excellency that I had embarked 
with all my staff on board the frigate Mogador, in order to 
anchor as near as possible to the French head-quarters, and 
arrange with the General-in-Chief a general attack by the 
land and sea forces against Sebastopol on the day when the 
fire of the siege batteries should commence. On the 14th 
I had an interview with General Canrobert, whose views 
were in conformity with mine. On the 15th a meeting of 
the Admirals of the allied squadrons took place on board 
the frigate Mogador, and the arrangements for the general 
attack were made with common accord, and were then 
submitted to the generals of the land forces, who heartily 
agreed to them. 
“ 1 This general attack was fixed for the 17th, the day of 
the opening of the fire of the siege batteries. 
“ ‘ With respect to the squadrons, they were to effect 
what follows : — The French squadron undertook toplace itself 
towards the rocks to the south, and at about seven cables’ 
length, to operate against the 350 guns of the Quarantine 
Battery, the two batteries of Fort Alexander, and the bat- 
tery of the artillery. 
“ ‘ The English squadron had to attack towards the rocks 
to the north, at about the same distance, the 130 guns of the 
Constantine Battery, the Telegraph Battery, and the Muxi- 
milian Tower to the north. 
“ ‘ If your Excellency would imagine a line traced along 
the entrance to Sebastopol from the east to the west, that 
line would separate into two parts the locality of the attack 
which devolved upon each squadron. 
“ ‘The Turkish Admiral with two vessels, all that he re- 
tained at the lime, was to cast anchor to the north of the 
two French lines— that is to say in an intermediate position 
between the English and French vessels. On the morning 
of the 17th the attack of the siege batteries commenced; 
but, as the weather was calm, it was necessary to attach the 
ships of the line to the steam -frigates before developing 
against Sebastopol the line of the twenty-ships of the allied 
squadrons. Nevertheless, in spite of this difficulty, and the 
THE FIELD. 
separation which had taken pluce between the ships of the 
allied squadrons, a part of which had anchored ut Kamisch 
and part before the Katscha, I have the satisfaction to an 
nounce to your Excellency that the ships of our first line 
advanced about half-past twelve in the day under the fire of 
the batteries of Sebastopol, which they stood against at first 
during more than hnlf-an-hour without replying. A few 
minutes afterwards they replied vigorously to the fire, which 
did not fail to incommode them, from their small number. 
Afterwards the other French and English vessels successively 
arrived, and the attack became general. 
“ ‘ Towards half-past two o’clock the fire of the Ilussinn 
batteries slackened ; it was stopped at the Quarantine 
Battery. This was the exact object desired by the French 
squadron, but our firing was redoubled and continued with- 
out interruption till night. 
" ‘ At the time I nin writing to your Excellency I am not 
aware of what was the success of our siege batteries, whose 
fire had commenced before ours, and which attacked the 
Russian fortifications on the land side. 
'* ‘ If the Russinns hadjnot closed the entrance to Sebas- 
topol by sinking two ships of the line and two frigates, I do 
not doubt that the vessels of the squadrons, after the first 
fire, would have been able successfully to enter the port and 
lace themselves in communication with the army. Pcr- 
aps they would not have lost many more men in doing 
this than we have now to regret ; but the extreme measure 
which the enemy adopted of sacrificing a portion of his ships 
forced us to confine ourselves to attacking for five hours the 
sea batteries of Sebastopol, with the object of silencing them 
more or less, of occupying a great many men of the garrison 
at the guns, and of giving thus to our army material as well 
as moral assistance. 
“‘To-day, the 18th, I have only time to give a hasty 
sketch to your Excellency of this affair, which, in my opinion, 
does great honour to the French navy. 
“ ‘ I subjoin to this sketch a list of the killed and 
wounded on board of each ship. Without delay I shall send 
you a detailed report upon all the phases of the attack, and 
in reference to the part, more or less active, which each 
ship took in it. 
“ ' At the commencement of the affair the enthusiasm 
was extreme. During the combat the tenacity of every 
one was not less so. Before commencing the fire I signalled 
to the squadron France has i her\ eyes upon you , a signal 
which was received with cries of Vive V Empcrenr ! 
“ ‘ I am, with deep respect, Monsieur le Ministre, your 
Excellency's very obedient servant, the Vice-Admiral Com- 
mander-in-C'hief of the squadron of the Mediterranean, 
“ 'Hamelin.' " 
[Appended to the report of Admiral Hamelin is a list of 
the killed andwounded on board the ships of the squadron. 
The Admiral’s ship, Ville de Paris, had four killed, among 
whom was Lieutenant Soinmeillier, Aide-de-Camp to the 
Admiral, and Koursehid, an Egyptian Midshipman, and 
42 wounded, including the three other Aides-dc-Cnmp of 
the Admiral. The Valmy had 4 killed and 25 wounded ; 
the Friedland 11 killed and 31 wounded; Henry IV., 15 
wounded ; SuffVen, 4 wounded ; Montebello, (> killed and 
2fi wounded, among whom was a midshipman named Fitz- 
James ; Charlemagne, 2 killed and 35 wounded ; Jean 
Bart, 1 killed and I wounded ; Canada, 1 killed and 5 
wounded ; Primauguet, 1 killed— in all 32 killed and 180 
wounded. The following ships took part in the engage- 
ment without experiencing any casualty : —The Pomone, 
Mogador, Albatros, Labrador, Christophe Coloinb, Ulloa, 
Orcnoque, Pluton, Ajaccio, Jupiter, Marengo, Alger, 
Bayard, and Ville dc Marseilles.] 
Therapia, Oct. 20. 
You will hear from all sides that at Sebastopol our 
sailors fought valiantly : every one did his duty, and in 
the most noble manner. The Charlemagne, arrived at 
her station the first, and for half an hour supported alone 
the fire of all the Russian forts, returning their fire with a 
vigour which was the admiration of both squadrons. A 
shell burst on the stem of the Ville de Paris, and the 
poop was knocked to pieces. By a kind of miracle 
Admiral Hamelin was not injured; but of his four aides-de- 
camp one, M. Soinmeillier, was killed, and the others 
were wounded, as well as several other persons who were 
standing near. M. lionet Williaumez, the chief of the 
staff", escaped as fortunately as the Admiral. The 
four aides-de-camp of Admiral Hamelin were put hors de 
combat. One of them was cut in two by a cannon-ball ; 
another, M. Zede, had his two legs shattered ; the other 
two were not dangerously wounded. At nightfall the 
fleets suspended their firing, and returned to their 
anchorage. 
The Minister of Marine has been informed, by a 
report of the naval commander at Gallipoli, dated 2(ltli 
ult., that on the morning of the 27th the French commer- 
cial steamer Laroniigniere, which left Varna with 500 
convalescent soldiers, had run ashore at the Black Cape, 
on the Asiatic coast, at the entrance of the Sea of Mar- 
mora. Notwithstanding the exertions of the war steamer 
Gorgone and the steam -tug Wonder, sent to her assistance 
by the naval commander of Gallipoli, she could not be got 
off. Driven towards the coast by a strong north-easterly 
wind and a frightful sea, the Laromigniere, although very 
solidly built, was stove in by the rocks, and immediately 
filled. The 500 passengers were fortunately removed the 
first day on board the Gorgone, and safely landed at 
Gallipoli. 
GENERAL CANROBERT’S DESPATCH. 
Head-quarters before Sebastopol, Oct. 18. 
Monsieur le Marshal,— Yesterday, at sunrise, we opened 
our fire in concert with the English army. Matters were 
proceeding favourably, when the explosion of the powder- 
magazine of a battery, which unfortunately was of a serious 
character, threw our attack into disorder. This explosion 
produced greater effect from the fact that our batteries were 
accumulated round the point where it took pluce. The 
enemy profited by it to increase his fire, and, in accord 
with the general commanding the artillery, I was of opinion 
that it was necessary for us to suspend ours in order to 
make repairs, and to complete towards our right, by fresh 
batteries connected with those of the English army, the 
system of our attack. This delay is no doubt to be regretted, 
but we must resign ourselves to it, and I am taking every 
necessary step to render it ns short ns possible. 
1 lie place kept up the fire better than was expected. The 
circle is ot such a formidable development in u right line, 
and comprises guns of such lnrge calibre, that it can pro- 
!ong the struggle. On the 17tli our troops took | oss ssion 
° . , c feight before the point of attack called the Bastion 
° 1 K ‘ -'bit, and occupied it. This evening we shall raise 
upon it a masked battery of twelve pieces, and, if it be 
possible, also a second buttery at the extreme right above 
the ravine. 
All the means of attack are concentrated upon this bastion, 
am will enable us, 1 hope, soon to tuke possession of it, 
with the assistance of the English batteries, which are 
directed against its face. 
^ esterday, about ten o’clock in the morning, the English 
fleet attacked the external batteries of the place, but I have 
not yet received any particulars to enable me to give you 
ail account of the result of this attack. 
The English batteries are in the best possible condition. 
Eight new mortars have been placed in them, calculated 
to produce great effect. Yesterday there was, iu the buttery 
which surrounds the tower situated to the left of the place, 
a tremendous explosion, which must have done much injury 
to the enemy. Since then this battery has fired very little, 
and this morning there are only two or three guns which 
can fire. 
I have no precise information about the Russian army. 
There is nothing to indicate that it has changed the posi- 
tions it occupied, where it awaits reinforcements. 
I have received almost the whole of the reinforcement of 
artillery which I expected from Gallipoli and Varna. 
General Levaillant has just arrived with his staff, which 
increases to five divisions the effective force of infantry 
which I have under my orders. Their state of health is 
satisfactory and their discipline excellent, and we are all lull 
of confidence. C whoukrt. 
Tl»o French Minister of War has received the following 
further report from General Canrobert, Couunnndor-iu-Chiof 
of tho Army of the East : — 
“ Before Sebastopol, October 22. 
" Monsieur le.Mareoiiai,, — O ur works of uppronoh con- 
tinue according t.» the plan indicated in my preceding 
despatch of the 18th. I have not time to write to you at 
length, but I have the honour to send you the journal of the 
siege, which will make you acquainted with all tho details of 
our operations. 
“Tho difficulties with which wo meet are of two kinds, 
those which result from tho nature of tho soil, the solid 
Stratum ot which, already insufficient, diminishes in propor- 
tion as we approach the place, and those resulting from tho 
number and the calibre of tho pieces of artillery which tho 
enemy plants against, us almost iu a right and very extended 
line. In this respect, the resources which ho draws from 
Ilia vessels stationed in the port men ns well as materials 
are almost inexhaustible ; while ours, although augmented 
by the loans which we make from tho two fleets, are necessa- 
rily limited. The 68-pounders, the eighty howitzers, mid 
the 12-inch mortars are, in short, almost tho only artillery 
upon which we can roly. 
“ This position rondera the siege of Sebastopol ono of the 
most laborious operations which have boon met with for a 
long time, and the efforts which we are compelled to make 
to carry them into effect will explain tho delays that have 
arisen. 
“ In tho night of the 20th the enemy made an attempt to 
spike our guns, which failed. A low njen who, by a sur- 
prise, entered our batteries, wore killed tlioro by the officer iu 
command. 
“ The losses which wo have experienced from tho firo of 
the enemy are by no means so considerable as might have 
beeu expected, considering tho difficulties of our position, 
which I have explained to you. 
“ I eend successively, and by all tho means which the fleet 
places at my disposal, my wounded to Constantinople, where 
our hospitul resources have assumed a more satisfactory 
character. 
“The state of health of the army is satisfactory. Tho 
maladies which have arisen have been produced by tho 
excessive fatigue which our bravo soldiers have had to un- 
dergo. The naval gunnel's who have luiulud have also been 
attacked with illness. They evince a courage and devotion 
which are remarked by the whole army. 
“ Accept, Monsieur lo Marechal, tho assurance of my re- 
spectful devotion. “ The General Commander in-Chiof, 
“ Canhoiieht.’’ 
The following is from the Moniteur (Paris) of Wednesday: 
“ A Constantinople letter says : — ' We left tho Bay of 
Kamischli on tho evening of the 26th. The fire of the be- 
sieged had much slackened, and the aim hud become more 
and more uncertain. It is believed at head-quarters that the 
Russians begin to want artillerymen, and that it is tho in- 
fantry who work tho guns. Wo are to-morrow to enter a 
trench at 400 metres from tho place. 
“ On the 25th the Russians, to the number of 20,000, 
attacked our rear, which was defended by the Turk*, and 
took possession of the redoubt guarded by the latter. The 
English commenced the uttuck, giving notice of it to General 
Caurubert, who sent the Second Division and a squadron of 
Chasseurs. Our cavalry, assisted by the English cavalry, 
repulsed the enemy by a most brilliant charge, during which 
the combat was sustained for nearly five minutes with the 
sword. The positions were retaken. 
“The English lost 124 men belonging to the Queen’s 
squadron which recently arrived. In all, their loss amounts 
to 400 men. Our loss is not so great, hut wo have to regret 
the deaths of two officers. 
“ It is believed at head-quarters that the assault will bo 
made on Wednesday or Thursday (the 1st or 2d of November!. 
The inhabitants are in want of water, and appear to bo much 
discouraged . ’ ’ 
BATTLE AT BALA KLAVA — SUCCESS OF SIR DE 
LACY EVANS. 
The Constitutional (Paris) gives the following summary 
of the news received from the Crimea, with respect to tho 
attack made by General Liprandi on the heights of Bala- 
klavn. 
“ A Russian despatch, received a few days ago. announced 
that on the 25th and 26th General Liprandi had two com- 
bats with the allied troops. Some accounts placed the secuo 
