to 400 feet, that from the sea closely borders the left bank of the river, here ceases, and formed their left, and turning thence round a great amphitheatre or wide valley, terminated at a salient pinnacle, where their right rested, and whence the descent to the plain was more gradual. The front was about two miles in extent. Across the mouth of this great opening is a lower ridge at different heights, varying from 69 to 150 feet, parallel to the river, and at distances from it of from 600 to 800 yards. The river itself is generally fordable for troops, but its banks are extremely rugged, and in most parts steep; the willows along it had been cut down, in order to prevent them from affording cover to the attacking party, and in fact everything had been done to deprive an assailant of any species of shelter. In front of the position, on the right bank, at about 200 yards from the Alma, is the village of Bourliouk, and near it a timber bridge, which had been partly destroyed by the enemy. The high pinnacle and ridge before alluded to were the key of the position, and consequently there the greatest preparations had been made for the defence. Half-way down the height and across its front was a trench of the extent of some hundred yards, to afford cover against an advance up the even steep slope of the hill. On the right, and a little retired, was a powerful covered battery, armed with heavy guns, which flanked the whole of the right of the position. Artillery at the same time was posted at the points that best command the passage of the river and its approaches generally. On the slopes of these hills, forming a sort of table -land, were placed dense masses of the enemy's infantry, while on the heights above was his great reserve; the whole amounting, it is supposed, to between 40,000 and 50,000 men." It is impossible to add a word to this most graphic and lucid description of the arduous steep up which the Allies were to win their way to victory: the master hand is apparent in every stroke of the pencil. That hand is now cold in death; but bold indeed and eloquent must be the historian who would attempt to wield the pen which has fallen from its nerveless grasp.
The arrangement concerted between the Allied Commanders for attacking this strong position was " that Marshal St. Arnaud should assail the enemy's left by crossing the river at its junction with the sea and immediately above it, and that the remainder of the French Divisions should move up the heights in their front, while the English Army should attack the right and centre of the enemy's position."