the field. 
NOTICE. 
With the first number of the new volume of The Field, 
and the neiv year, there will be presented to the Sub- 
scribers 
THE SPORTSMAN’S ALMANAC, 
AND 
Couiitrii (ftfirtlrmaii’a <£iilriiirar ; 
tiie field, the garden, the farm, 
For the Year 1855. 
This Almanack will contain superb Engravings , from 
designs by Ansdell, Wilson, and others , with ail the 
information useful for reference in the country house. 
N.B . — This will be given to all who are Subscribers to 
The Field for the year 1855. 
Advertisements for " The Sportsman’s Almanack ” 
should he sent to The Field Office without delay to secure 
insertion. 
Cjr mi 
SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 25, 1854. 
TO OUR READERS. 
The Field lias passed into new hands, and the conductors 
are desirous of stating explicitly what are their views 
and intentions. 
The place which The Field is designed to occupy is 
that which its name implies— a journal devoted to the 
collection of every kind of information calculated to inform 
and amuse those who take an interest in rural sports, 
amusements, or occupations, from the country gentleman, the 
lord of acres, to the man of business, who goes home, after 
his day s work in town, to enjoy his garden and paddock. 
A love of the country and of rural occupations is a cha- 
racteristic of Englishmen; and it is the design of The 
Field to minister to that wholesome tuste. 
We desire it to be expressly understood that we contem- 
plate no rivalry with what are called the sporting news- 
papers, such as Bell's Life, the Era, and the Racing Times. 
We do not compete with them in their peculiar walks, and 
therefore we shall be content to occupy worthily a domain 
of our own— a domain sufficiently extensive to engage the 
entire energies of one journal, nnd in which a constituency 
will be found quite large enough, and certainly sufficiently 
influential, to gratify the utmost ambition. VVe shall pur- 
posely exclude all themes that are not perfectly consistent 
with decency, with humanity, with religion, and with the 
“taste of the educated and refined. The sports which we 
shall record will be those shared and sanctioned by the best 
men, which arc manly without being brutal, recreative 
without debauchery, and invigorating without vulgarity 
—Hunting, Shooting, Fishino, Yachting, Cricket, 
Riding, and Driving are the field sports which we shall 
embrace. The Country Occupations upon which we pur- 
pose to keep our readers fully informed, will be the Garden, 
the Home Farm, the Poultry-yard, the Stable, the Dairy, 
the Household. The Country Amusements that will have 
a place will be such as Chess, Billiards, and in-door Games 
of all kinds, the Library nnd the Arts. 
A department will he devoted to Natural History, to 
which we invite the contributions of whatever that is 
curious our readers may note. We shall report also the pro- 
ceedings of those delightful societies, the Field Naturalist 
Clubs. 
Ihe Field will be peculiarly a familg paper ; its con- 
tents will be sedulously weeded of whatever a gentleman 
would be unwilling to place in the hands of his children. It 
will, we trust, be so conducted that every member of a family 
shall find in it something to instruct and to amuse. It will 
make no endeavour to become the newspaper of “the man 
about town,” but to he that of “the man out of town;" 
an*], inasmuch as a vast number of those whose business is 
conducted in towns are dwellers in the country, we shall 
nope to enlist among our readers not a few of that class also. 
In addition to the special news to which The Field is 
dedicated, it will give a condensed and well-arranged collec- 
tion of the general News of the Week. 
Particular attention will be paid to the departments of 
the “ Garden” and the “ Farm, which are of such univer- 
sal interest, and they will be entrusted to the care of 
competent editors, who will take those departments exclu- 
sively. 
Our Letter Bag will be open for the reception of cor- 
respondence on any of the subjects embraced in the scheme 
of The Field, and we invite communications. 
. As for illustrations, they will be introduced when there 
is something that requires to be illustrated ; but mere 
pictures, apropos of nothing, ure mere impertinences ; their 
cost is great, and mucli better ones can *be procured for a 
penny in John Cassell’s illustrated sheet. The expense is 
enormous, and, applied to other departments of the paper, 
would make them thoroughly efficient. This we purpose 
to do, reserving woodcuts for occasional introduction, when 
there is something which it will be desirable to describe to 
our readers through the eye. 
As in E Field is designed to be a country gentleman’s 
paper, we propose not to occupy so large a space with a 
rnere Racing Calendar, which interests only a fraction of its 
eaclers, and which will necessarily be more fully obtained by 
iem in Bell’s Life, or the Racing Times, and to devote the 
pace thus gained to other departments of more general 
rest and utility. A well-condensed report of the Racing 
ews will, we believe, be for more pleasing to the great 
roajouty of our readers, while it will not be unacceptable to 
ose who refer also to other journals, whose speciality it 
for the full details. 
DRdenr 1 Ar but we must pray the" 
operation for fV readers , wbll ° we arc carrying it into full 
P Unonillii ?•' bc accomplishes by degrees, 
mvm ca ions of * ub J ect V lamed abovi ’- we invite the com- 
whic hfnTrLf- • fead r- Thcre «* many topics on 
of others rnn 011 “ S0U 5 ht b - v *>"*» tM the experience 
serttn r?Vr ; . ,et tbem s ™ d the inquiiy for in- 
rf^r 1 ® 8 * 11 W,U elicit rc P VlQS - This, in a 
department of N otes and Queries, do we hope to facilitate 
thin^ 0ramUniCa,,0n ° f mUtUal iutelli 6 e “cc on all country 
iourall^'iL? 1 f VC h ,? Ve IiUle t0 Tbis is not a Party 
h?sZv7A L aU ? arUcs - 11 will present a faithful 
history of the week, and a well-condensed collection of the 
news, but not to such an extent ns to restrict too much the 
com^y- 11 aU ° n Wbidl h is Wed to collect and 
In conclusion, we ask the continued confidence of nil the 
existing readers of The Field, at least, until they have 
g en a fair tnul to our scheme ; nnd if they should then 
approve it, we ask them to do us this further favour— to 
make known to their friends that thcre is a journal which 
every lover of the country may read with pleasure and 
profit, and place in the hands of his family with safety. 
Let us add a request, that if any reader has any objection 
to the scheme we have described, or to any part of it, he 
will candidly intimate it to us, for we are desirous of doing 
that only which is satisfactory to our readers. VVe shall 
also be obliged by suggestions for additions or alterations 
that may occur to any of our friends, ns likely to be improve- 
ments of the plan. It is impossible for the most experienced 
conductors of such a journal as this to anticipate the wants 
of the public ; they can only he learned by trial. 
1107 
CHRONICLE OF TIIE WEEK. 
TILE have now received the fullest intelligence of a most 
* 1 decisive and sanguinary battle, fought in the valley 
of the Inkerman. The garrison of Sebastopol, reinforced by 
Ostcn-Sacken s army of 50,000 men, and animated into a 
fanatic fury by the presence of the Grand Duke Constan- 
tine and the two sons of the Emperor, fiercely attacked the 
extreme right of the English position with columns of in- 
fantry, supported by artillery, and estimated by Lord 
Raglan to have been not less than 60,000 strong. At the 
same time, a demonstration was made in the valley before 
Balaklaya, by a body of 10,000 Uusssans; but this was 
merely intended to divert the French troops and the High- 
land Brigade from rendering any assistance to the English. 
The Russians advanced, under cover of the fog ami rain, 
early on the morning of the 5th, and it seems universally 
admitted that they took the English by surprise. The 
Second Division and the Light Division bore the first 
brunt of the attack, and these were promptly supported by 
Sir G. Cathcart’s Division (the Fourth), and the Brigade 
of Guards. It was a hand-to-hand fight, by u handful of 
men against a multitude. The Guards covered themselves 
with glory, and around a battery defended by the Coldstreams 
the Russians bodies lay three or four deep. It was a 
rndltfe rather than a battle, mid, astounding as the fact may 
be, it is unquestioned that 8,000 English troops successfully 
resisted 60,000 Russians from day-break till noon. General 
Bosquet’s Division then cuine up to the support of the 
English, and the Russiuns were at length driven back with 
tremendous loss. They left 6,000 dead upon the 
field, and Lord Raglan estimates that their loss in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners, was not less, than 15,000 
men. On our side the loss wus deplorable — 162 killed, 
1,952 wounded, nnd 191 missing. VVe lost three of our most 
valued general- officers, namely, Sir G. Cathcnrt, Brigadier- 
General Strangways, nnd Brigadier-General Goldie ; 43 
officers were killed, and 103 wounded; the Coldstreams 
alone lost 8 officers. The Russians behaved with the 
greatest barbarity, stabbing and shooting the wounded as 
they lay defenceless on the ground It is said that Men- 
schikoff forbade them to give quarter, by a general order, 
before the battle. While the struggle was at its height, a 
sortie was attempted from the walls of Sebastopol, but was 
driven back by the French, with the loss of 1,000 men. 
There appears to be a strong feeding in the army that 
Lord Raglan was to blame, in leaving the extreme right of 
the position open to attack. It is even asserted that the 
weakness of this point had been frequently nnd specially 
called to his attention by Sir Do Lacy Evans and other 
general officers, but that lie neglected to take any precau- 
tions. That the position was undefended by artillery, or 
even by breast-works, is universally admitted; and the 
terrible execution made by two eighteen-pounders, brought 
up by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson, serve to prove the great 
facility with w)iich the approach might have been defended. 
It is clear that the allies have not only a numerous, but a 
brave and skilful enemy to contend against, and they need 
all the vigilance and skill of their own commanders to 
preserve them from such needless sacrifices of human life. 
The allied arms have met with a reverse upon the 
Russian shores of the Pacific. Four French vessels 
— the Forte, the Eurydice, the Artemire, und the Obligado ; 
and four English — the President, the Pique, the Ainphi- 
trite, and the Virago— sailed from Honolulu to attack the 
Russian fortress of Petropaulovski, on the coast of Kam- 
skatcha. On the 31st of August the bombardment com- 
menced, and on the 1st of September troops were landed 
to attack the batteries. The Russiuns retired from the 
batteries into a wood of indefinite extent, and kept up a 
fire upon the troops. Unable to hold the place, the troops 
retired to the ships, and the setting-in of the arctic winter 
compelled them to return. The Allies lost about 200 
men, killed and wounded. Admiral Price was killed by 
the accidental discharge of his own pistol, and Captain 
Parker fell fighting bravely at the head of the marines. 
The Independence Beige states, “upon good authority," 
that the Czar, after bringing Lord Dunkelliu to St. 
Petersburg, has set him at liberty. Why bring him to St. 
Petersburg? Lord Raglan made overtures of exchange 
before Lord Dunkellin was removed from Sebastopol, but 
they were not accepted. To be sure, if they had been, the 
nm!S7 0Ul(i ,mV0 m , is8ed tho opportunity of making such 
another convert as Lieutenant Royer. 
le Parisians are said to be highly indignant against 
rrmc c N»p„ r ,f 0r | OTvi „ , h oS,ol ware, .h?S 
brn V ,u hey Contrast his conduct with that of the 
i Zb d A A 6 ? bal \ wb0 di “>. «» ^ were, at his post', 
PomSivi tv aC nt*V b ' y ‘ vr n T t,,rmc » tin ff disease. The 
Eccause ftfoili I .“ nce Nu l ,(, lcoii is of importance to him, 
in success ion.' 8 ° Lmpei0r) he wiH ^ "ext 
Some of our contemporaries, who have a talent for tho 
discovery ot mares’ nest*, accuse the Government of keen! 
mg back despatches; and complain, that while they and tin* 
making himself master of it. It is just possible that when 
the informant ot our contemporary took in tl„. ovenint? 
beer, Jeames may have boasted of having special intelU- 
gence from the Crimea; but our contemporary should 
remember that that valuable domestic is apt to be a little 
imaginative. 
There can be little or no doubt that this war (we do not 
refer to the method ot carrying it on) is a most popular war. 
Ihe abundance ot recruits (putting to shame even the 
hateful conscript system), the willingness with which the 
Working-classes bear the burthens of increased taxation and 
high bread, and the eager response of the nation to the 
appeal ot the Queen in founding the Patriotic Fund, are all 
touching proofs of tins. Nor is tho enthusiasm in the colo- 
nics much less: witness Canada, whoso Legislative As- 
sembly is voting £20,000 for tho use of the Patriotic 
I undsof both England and Franco-a graceful tribute to tW 
two nations from a population springing out of both. That 
the war is popular among tho gentry of England, wlu.t 
better proof need we than the fact that an applicant for a 
commission was told that there were twelve hundred names 
upon the list; the average before the war being about two 
hundred. Wo have been told that a Hertfordshire 
gent email, heaving an ancient and honoured name based 
ns claim to a commission .for his younger son upon the fact 
that the elder brother had been killed at the Alma The 
immediate answer was, that his son was appointed. A cor- 
respondent of the Times suggests that the twelve hundred 
applicants should form themselves into n volunteer corps, to 
beea led Ihe i Patriotic Band," and which he predicates 
would soon make itself illustrious by the chivalry of their 
breeding. 3 
People ore talking, nnd journalists are writing, about i lie 
recent depression of the funds, as if it were an extraordinary 
und dispiriting circumstance. In our opinion it is one of tho 
best proofs ot the inherent confidence and courage of the 
nation that the funds are so high. The price of money is 
from six to seven per cent., there have been recent failures 
ot enormous magnitude, bread is at famine prices, the 
nation is paying a double income-tax, nnd, finally, wo are 
engaged in a most expensive and indefinite war, and still 
the funds are above ninety. Judging from precedent, the 
present price should be below eighty. 
The conduct of Major Powys and his arbitrary exclusion 
of bond fule widows of soldiers from a participation in tho 
funds of the association formed for their relief, continue 
to give greut dissatisfaction to the subscribers of the fund 
Some of the subscribers arc even culling for tin- restoration 
ot their money. Meantime, the committee (yielding to the 
pressure of public, opinion), have called a meeting to re- 
consider the obnoxious rule. VVliat a pity it is that so 
nationul and benevolent a scheme should be frustrated and 
discredited by pragmatic officiousncss! 
The ball and concert at Guildhall, in aid of the Patriotic 
Fund, took place on Wednesday evening. It went off 
merrily, despite such contretemps as the want of musicians 
for an hour arid a half; but we cannot help regarding it us 
a breach of good taste, that people should be dancing and 
singing over such news ns we are receiving from the 
Crimea. 
Mr. Perry lias returned from Paris, to apologise 
to Mr. Bedborough for his unintentional incivility, 
and to explain that the money was wanted for “a 
snfe and advantageous investment, producing a larger rate 
of interest than could be derived by remaining at the 
London bankers." However this may be, Mr. Bedborough 
does not appear to he satisfied, for another advertisement 
has appeared, declaring that “ lie cannot advertise further 
remittances," and stating that “in addition to the reasons 
given in the Times of the 9th inst., for withholding the 
petitions to her Majesty in favour of Mr. Perry, the 
treasurer lias now to state that Mr. Perry lias distinctly 
intimated to him that it is not his intention to accept any 
situation or office in her Majesty’s service." It is but fair 
to Mr. Perry to state that he has placed it in the power of 
Mr. Bedborough and Mr. Darvill to test tho accuracy of his 
statements, and has further, in writing, empowered those 
gentlemen (if they find his conduct, since the termination 
of the court-martial, to have disentitled him to the sympathy 
of the public) to band over the whole of the money in the 
hands of the bankers to the Royal Patriotic Fund. This 
is candid and honourable in him. 
Political news (strictly speaking so) is not very abun- 
dant. The nation (which means a section of flic press) 
is clamouring for a winter Parliament ; but it is very well 
understood that February is the earliest month thought of 
by the Cabinet. It would, indeed, be a very awkward 
thing for Ministers to face the Commons before Sebastopol 
is taken, and there cau be no doubt that they look to the 
bravery of the troops to extricate themselves from their 
present difficulty. 
Sir Joseph Paxton, intoxicated with bis Sydenham suc- 
cess, aspires to be a legislator, and addresses the electors 
of Coventry with a profession of Radical principles. Mr. 
Disraeli promises to add another to the phases assumed by bis 
versatile genius; for the Conservative Club of Glasgow 
lias agreed to propose him for Lord Rector. Tin’s is not, 
however, the only career open to Mr. Disraeli, for the Rev. 
Canon Stowell, in a speech to the working-men of Rlan- 
