Arrival of Lord Raglan - Ditto of Prince Napoleon Lord Raglan's house Arrival of Sir George Brown - Ball at French embassy - Presented to Marshal St. Arnaud, &c. Arrival of the Duke of Cambridge - Loss of cavalry horses Inspection of Divisions banquet to allied commanders Officer drowned Varna of allied generals Departure of Light Division for Varna French and English commissioners Newspaper reporters - Grand dinner at English embassy - Loss of "Tiger" — Varna General Beatson and Colonel Lloyd. On board Steam Transport, April 8, 1854. WE left the Dockyard Stairs (Woolwich) this morning at nine o'clock, the band of the Royal Artillery playing us off to the tune of "Cheer, boys, cheer!" We took the hint literally, and cheer followed cheer from the troops on board as the steamer got into the stream; we were answered from the shore by the dockyard workmen and the crews of all the vessels near. It was curious to watch the countenances of VOL. I. B the soldiers; some faces so full of hope, and glowing with excitement; others so sad and dejected that one wondered how they could cheer so lustily. Here you had a young soldier already talking of how he would "thrash the Rooshians;" there you saw a veteran with some Indian medals on his breast, vainly endeavouring to suppress the tears that would come into his eyes as he gazed on his wife and little one standing on the wharf, and bidding him adieu, perhaps for the last time. However, all feeling must give way to duty; so in a quarter of an hour every one was doing something to get things into order. We are somewhat crowded on board: here is the cargo-2 general officers, 10 staff do., 3 regimental do., 13 medical do.; a company of 120 men of the regiment; 46 officers' horses, 1 cow, 12 sheep, and 4 pigs, and baggage and food for the same. There! I think I have given you all. We have fortunately got a beautiful day, the sea smooth as glass; so at present we are spared the horrors of sea-sickness. Our sailing orders are to touch at Gibraltar and Malta, and then to proceed to Gallipoli, and wait for further orders. My three horses seem already pretty well reconciled to their situation, and look out with the same eagerness as ourselves for feeding-time! They only have bran allowed them for the present, as oats are said to be heating, and likely to bring on fever when horses cannot be exercised. This letter is to go on shore by the pilot, who lands at Dover directly, so I must bring it to a termination. Gibraltar Harbour, April 14, 1854. We arrived here an hour ago, six A.M., having made thus far a most successful voyage, going at the rate of ten knots per hour all the way. We have had calm weather until yesterday. During last night we were pitching and rolling in a manner most uncomfortable for our stomachs, and great was the relief on entering the bay this morning. The entrance to the Straits is the most magnificent thing I ever saw; and the view from the harbour here is quite beautiful. I don't regret now having come by sea, bad sailor as I am. This sight fully compensates for any amount of sea-sickness. Anything like the noise that is going on I never heard! They are coaling the ship; and independent of the row caused by the coals being thrown into the bunkers, the sort of way in which the men employed chatter is quite wonderful. Such a jargon, too! They look more like imps from the infernal regions than human beings. I hear these coalheavers are a curious set apart from the rest of the of men; they live quite community on the rock. They are engaged by Government, and get paid very highly, but have at all times to be in readiness to coal any Government ship, night or day; and, in spite of all the noise they make, they do their work remarkably well and quickly. We leave this place as soon as the ship is coaled, which will take some eight hours. We are to be allowed to land, which, I believe, till now has not been permitted, thanks to Sir Robert Gardiner, who has given orders that ships with troops from England should be exempt from quarantine. The Spaniards are in horrors at this, and expect that all sorts of plagues will come among them in consequence. What humbug quarantine is, and how strange that civilised nations should continue it! I will venture to prophesy that, should the war last for |