Nasmyth told us that Omer Pasha would probably not arrive for two or three hours, so I gladly accepted his offer to go with me round the Russian trenches and

I trust that the well-earned fame of the one son, and the rising merit of the other, will, under Providence, be a source of consolation to you at this moment of extreme affliction.

Pray accept, my dear General, the condolence of

Your very faithful servant,

(Signed)

Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. H. E. Butler.

HARDINGE.

Extract of a Despatch from General Lord Raglan, G.C.B., to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, dated Varna, 4th July, 1854. "He brought also the painful intelligence of the death of Captain Butler, who had been supposed to have received only a slight wound, which however proved so serious that he sank under his sufferings one or two days before the siege was raised by the Russians.

"This officer had so greatly distinguished himself, and had in all he had done shown so much prudence, courage, and ability, that his death cannot be too deeply lamented.

"I beg to enclose a copy of a further despatch from Omer Pasha of the 1st instant, in which your Grace will see with satisfaction that the services of the late Captain Butler, as well as those of Lieut. Nasmyth and Lieut. Ballard, of the East India Company's army-the last of whom, though late in Silistria, exerted himself most ably and gallantly in aid of the defenceare fully recognised and appreciated by his Highness."

Extract of a Letter from Omer Pasha to Lord Raglan, dated 1st July, 1854.

"Parmi les braves qui ont pris part à la défense glorieuse de Silistrie se trouvaient deux officiers Anglais dont je ne dois pas oublier les noms. Le jeune Capitaine Butler, arrivé pendant

field-works, and also those constructed by the Turks during the siege. We commenced by going into the earthwork called Arab Tabia, a small redoubt that

one would scarcely have thought could have checked the progress of a siege for any length of time. It had been so completely battered about by the Russian cannon, shot and shell, that the old outer line of the work could not be recognised. On the Turks finding that their parapet was falling from the Russian fire, they were for abandoning the work, but Captain Butler told them that they must construct another parapet in rear of the first; this was done, and again on that being destroyed they made another in rear of the second parapet. This also was getting rapidly into a state that rendered it of but little if any protection to the garrison, so a third inner parapet was ordered by Butler to be made,

l'hiver avec M. Nasmyth au quartier-général de Chumla, était à Silistrie au moment où les Russes commençaient l'attaque contre la place. Tous les deux pouvaient se retirer, mais, la voix de l'honneur parlant haut chez eux, ils préférèrent de rester, dans l'idée d'être utile dans la lutte qui se préparait. Leur exemple, leur conseil, ont puissamment contribué à la conservation des forts attaqués. Malheureusement, M. Butler, blessé d'une balle au front, a trouvé là une mort glorieuse; mais sa mémoire ne périra pas dans l'armée Ottomane."

which was in fact outside the rear parapet of the old fort!. However, the Russians raised the siege before this was completed; and when I went over the work with Nasmyth it was just as it had been left on the morning they retired. We afterwards visited a fort or earth field-work, called Ylauli; this had repelled three attacks of the Russians, and was never once occupied even for a moment. We then went over all the Russian parallels and approaches; they were of a strength and extent enough to attack a fort of much greater importance than Arab Tabia. Their works were confined entirely to that side of the town, and long approaches and numerous batteries were made up to it all the way from the Danube. All the Russian works appeared admirably constructed, and must have given them great labour. They had also raised several strong redoubts overlooking the Danube on the south side, none of which could have been made without much trouble.

The Russian retreat must have been admirably managed; they had but one bridge over the Danube, and yet in one night they moved the greater part of their infantry, from 30,000 to 40,000 men, and all

their siege train, across the river!

I went all over

the ground they had camped on, and yet could not find a single arm of any sort, or any uniform or accoutrements, left behind. There was one portion of ground marked off; it was the burial-ground; and here I counted 174 mounds of earth. The Turks

say

this was where the Russian officers were buried who were killed during the siege. I was standing there with Nasmyth when we heard the guns of the fortress commence firing. It was a salute to Omer Pasha, who was now approaching the town. We therefore turned our horses towards where he was coming. I rode up to him with General Cannon, who introduced me to his Highness, and I then presented my despatches. Omer Pasha received them with evident pleasure, and was most civil to me. He was accompanied by an enormous staff of officers and dozens of pipe-bearers and attendants, and no end of grooms leading spare horses, &c. Then he had three carriages and four, no great shakes certainly, but still carriages; one of them was a closed sort of barouche, which I was told was supposed to be occupied by Mrs. O. P. He

ordered up one of his horses, and begged I would come and ride with him. In a moment after I was mounted on a charming chestnut Arab, with the most gorgeous gold shabraque I ever saw. He asked me many questions about Lord Raglan, and professed the greatest respect and regard for him. He then inspected the garrison that was drawn up as I have above told you. There were about 14,000 men, on parade, the greater portion of whom had been engaged in the siege. He made a speech to each of the different regiments and brigades, complimenting them on their bravery, and telling them what a triumph they had gained over the Russians. He then went all round the Russian works; in fact doing just what I had done with Nasmyth. He told me when we were inside the fort of Arab Tabia that Captain Butler was the "Saviour of Silistria," and passed some high praises on the courage and judgment of all the English officers who had taken a part in its defence. We went to a spot near the Danube, on rising ground, whence we had a magnificent view of the Russian position. Here the whole party dismounted, and, Turkish fashion, sat