there; but only in the event of any large body of our troops being ordered to move across the Danube into Wallachia, it would be one way of keeping them supplied with stores, &c., and advantageous, as it would save so much land-carriage. There would always be great difficulty in marching any large force from here to Silistria into any part of the Dobrudscha on account of the want of water. better route would be by Shumla and Rustchuk, and so on to Bucharest. However, all this is speculation, and I don't believe anything is settled by the allied Commanders-in-Chief. I suspect they are waiting instructions from home.

The

On the 10th instant Lord Raglan received despatches from Omer Pasha, giving an account of an affair between his troops and the Russians. It appears that on the 7th instant a column of Behrim Pasha's division made the passage of the Danube at Rustchuk, and crossed over to Giurgevo, where they were met by a large force of Russians. The main body of the Turks was led by Lieutenant Burke, R.E. (whom I had met at Silistria); he was shot dead at the head of his men, after having killed five of the enemy with his own hand. There was also a Lieutenant Meynell, of the

75th regiment, on leave; he too led a portion of the Turkish troops, and was killed. Then a Captain Arnold, of the 3rd Madras Light Infantry, who had only arrived at Rustchuk the evening before, fell when leading on the Turks. All this is very unfortunate, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that, owing chiefly to the example of these gallant officers, our allies the Turks were victorious, and held their ground whilst the Russians had to retire. The Turks are said to have lost 500 killed and 800 wounded; the Russians 1500 killed and wounded; probably 500 more they carried off.

The old saying, that misfortunes never come singly, appears this day to have been verified, for in the evening intelligence was brought by a French ship of war of the death of Captain Hyde Parker of the Royal Navy, on the 8th instant. He commanded her Majesty's ship "Firebrand," a 6-gun steam frigate. He was killed at the Sulina mouth of the Danube having landed with a party of seamen and marines to attack a small Russian military post, they got into an ambuscade; Captain Parker was shot dead, and five or six seamen wounded. Another of our vessels of war, near the mouth, saw the whole

affair, and sent assistance, and got the party off, but not without difficulty.

Two Austrian officers arrived on the 11th instant at Varna, on a mission from General Hess and the Austrian government, to confer with the allied Generals. They had a long conference with Marshal St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan, but left, I understand, an impression on the minds of both the allied Generals unfavourable to Austria; they not approving of the position the Austrians propose taking in the ensuing war. Some of the French go so far as to say that these officers were sent more to see in what sort of state the French and English armies were, and whether preparations for immediate moving were going on.

The brevet of the 20th of June has caused many changes in the army here, to the disgust of some and the delight of others.

Varna, July 19th, 1854.

This morning Lord Raglan sent one of his aidesde-camp to Devna for Sir George Brown. It appears

that orders have arrived from home that an expedition is to take place without loss of time against the Crimea; the great point of attack to be Sevastopol. So it has been settled that certain officers shall be sent from each of the allied armies, to cruise along the coast of the Crimea, to ascertain the best place for landing the invading army. This afternoon Sir George Brown and one of his staff arrived in Varna. He is to embark to-morrow morning on the cruise I have spoken of. On Sunday last (16th), the day on which the order from home for the expedition was received by Lord Raglan, he also heard that another division of infantry is to be sent out under command of Sir George Cathcart; it is to consist of six battalions of the line; there are also two more regiments of cavalry under orders, viz. the 4th Light Dragoons and 2nd Dragoons (Greys), and two batteries of artillery more.

This is but a short letter, still the facts I have told you in it are of importance, as much may hang upon them. "Coming events cast their shadows

before."

CHAPTER III.

Naval reconnaissance Health of army

tion of the French to the Dobrudscha Fatima Hanoum

Horace Vernet "Fury" reconnoitring- Admiral Dundas - Theatricals Preparations Cholera French losses General Canrobert - Dreadful mortality Illness of heads of departments, &c.- Cholera in allied fleets - Council of War -Fire at Varna - Austrian Commissioners 'Times' Continued cholera - Mr. Calvert, chief interpreter-Baldjick Bay-Accident to Zouaves Distress of Canrobert - Sir George Cathcart · General Airey, &c. - Embarkation of horses, &c. French hospitals Left Varna - Plan of transports Mail from England-Off Eupatoria - Conference of allied Generals. French Navy Reconnaissance of coast Katcha River - Allied fleet off Cape Tarkan, &c. -"Old Fort"-Summons of Eupatoria.

Varna, July 24th, 1854.

I HAD hoped by this time to have given you some certain information as to the future movements of the army, but at present nothing final has been decided upon, nor will be until the return of the naval reconnaissance. Sir G. Brown started on the

20th instant from here, accompanied by staff officers from the different departments of the army. The French sent General Canrobert, and also several