works in front of Sevastopol, and the more he saw of it, the more he was convinced of the utter impracticability of attacking the town without first reducing the fire of the Russian batteries. From prisoners, deserters, and secret information, it had been already ascertained that there were upwards of 35,000 fighting men in the town and on board the ships of war in the harbour, and large reinforcements were to be expected daily. To-day the ground which each army was to take up, for the purpose of besieging the town, was settled between the French and English generals of engineers. The troops of the two armies before the place are now divided by a great ravine, which runs up from the end of the Man-of-War Creek, out of the great harbour of Sevastopol, up to the English head-quarters, a distance of some three miles. On the 1st of this month 1000 marines were landed at Balaklava from the fleet to occupy the heights in front and above it; thus relieving the like number of men of the 1st Division, who had up to this time done duty there; the remainder of the division being at the front. An invalid

battalion has also been formed of all the young and weak soldiers of the army; they do duty as the garrison of Balaklava. The entrance to the town itself is protected by the 93rd regiment, camped about a mile in front of the head of the harbour, at the commencement of the plain. These, together with the cavalry and three batteries of artillery, form the troops for the defence of Balaklava; the whole being under the command of Sir Colin Campbell. For the last three days the greatest exertions have been made landing the siege-train and the necessary stores for the gigantic operations about to be commenced for the reduction of Sevastopol.

On the 2nd, after a long conference between Lord Raglan and General Canrobert, the latter agreed to place a portion of the French army (under the command of General Bosquet) on the heights overlooking the valley of Balaklava and the Tchernaya river, in this manner covering our rear from any attack of the enemy. If you will look at the map, you will see what I mean by the following description of the position now occupied by the

Allies. Kamiesch Bay is on the extreme left of the French army; they take up the ground from there to the great ravine running from the Man-of-War Creek, a distance of some six miles. On the other side of this ravine rests the extreme left of the English, viz. the 3rd Division; then comes the 4th and then the Light Division. These divisions are all nearly in line as far as the ground will admit, and parallel to the town at a distance of nearly two miles, occupying high ground which commands an extensive view on all sides. Beyond the Light Division come the 1st and 2nd Divisions, occupying the ground from the Karabelnaia ravine in a backward direction along the heights in front of the ruins of Inkermann and the valley of the Tchernaya -the distance of the English positions being nearly four miles. The ridge of heights overlooking the plain in front of Balaklava, and which runs at right angles from those already mentioned to the head of the harbour, is occupied for the most part by French troops-the heights above and in front of Balaklava being defended by the British; the whole front thus defended by the allied armies extending from Ka

miesch Bay to Inkermann, and from there again back to Balaklava, being a distance of upwards of fifteen miles! The position is one of great natural strength, but of too considerable extent for the number of troops that defend it—the Allies numbering at the present moment something under 50,000 bayonets. Nevertheless, it is doubtless the very best that could be taken up, and when our reinforcements arrive will be, I believe, almost impregnable against any attack from the enemy.

A careful reconnaissance was made of the ground in front of the ruins of Inkermann by General Airey and some other members of the staff, accompanied by two or three officers from the French headquarters. It was not very pleasant work, as the Russians kept up a constant fire on us of round shot and shell from three steamers at the upper end of the harbour. However, nobody was hit, but the horse of a French staff-officer was wounded severely by the bursting of a shell. On the 4th instant the Russians sent a great many heavy shot and sometimes a shell over the heights in front of the town, right into the camps of the 3rd and 4th Divisions;

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they did but little harm generally speaking, though one shell fell at the door of a tent, and, bursting, killed one man and wounded three others. An immense quantity of ammunition has been brought up to the front for the siege. Upwards of 100 guns have been landed of the siege-trains and from the ships, with about 300 rounds per gun! pretty well to begin with.

October 5th.-We heard to-day of the death of the poor old Marshal St. Arnaud. He died the day after leaving Balaklava, at sea. His remains are to be conveyed to France. I believe he is much regretted in the French army, as, although I don't think they thought much of him as a soldier, still he was considered by them as a fortunate man and a successful general. In his private life he was very popular for his good-natured manner and generous hospitality.

Lord Raglan moved up this day from Balaklava to the farm-house I endeavoured to describe to you at the beginning of my letter. I was left behind in Balaklava until late in the day, on duty, and had to witness the parting between the poor old Russian