The road from Balaklava to the front, in another phase of its Protean existence. The Commissariat and its difiiculties seem alike to have disappeared, the mud has given place to snow, and the leaden sky overhead is painfully suggestive that there is, in the words of the immortal Mr. Swiveller, " plenty more where that came from." The landscape is dreary enough in all conscience, and the thought of men passing their nights in such weather in the trenches, with no warmer couch than a snow-drift, and no other roof than the duU and gloomy canopy of heaven, may well awaken a feeling of self-reproach in the Sybarites at home, who shiver before the ruddy glow of a sea-coal fire, and starve beneath piles of blankets heaped Pelion on Ossa. But more cheering reflections arise as we watch that long line of horse and footmen, of mules and beasts of burden, struggling with and staggering under the weight of an unwonted load, almost exceeding their diminished powers of endurance, yet far too precious to be rashly cast away. For the warm clothing so "long looked for" has "come at last" — the terrible disaster involved in the distressing fate of the Prince is at length retrieved — the hardy sons of Britain, whose iron constitutions have borne up against sickness and exposure, shall yet experience warmth and comfort, of which they had long despaired. Slowly, partially, and scantily indeed are the first supplies distributed; for awhile even the hospitals are but shabbily supplied; frostbite must still claim its victims; and the hardships of winter must drag on a lingering existence ere they vanish for ever in the genial presence of spring. But the worst is over. " Hambre que espera hartura," says the
Spanish proverb, " no es hamhre." Hunger, with a leg of mutton in the perspective, is hunger no more; and many a poor fellow, who looked with eyes of envy on his more fortunate and warmly-clad comrade, may have derived support and courage under delay and disappointment from the thought that his own turn was not far distant, and that his weary warfare with the elements was well-nigh ended.
This picture, with its double tale of sufferings gone by and of present succour and relief, has also like aU human scenes its grotesque side. This is furnished by the strange and uncouth appearance of the men and animals, whose identity is obscured, confused, and at times annihilated by the vast accumulations of skins and furs under which they labour on the road. " This drawing," says Mr. Simpson, " is no caricature of life as it appeared during the winter season in the Crimea. The strange-looking animal in the foreground is a mule laden with buffalo -hides; behind which is a soldier bearing sheep-skin cloaks; the Hussar behind him is one of Lord Cardigan's regiment.
" A little on the road in front, and recognisable by his helmet, is one of the Heavy Cavalry, employed at this time in puUing up half-famished mules to the camp, laden with the wood for the huts; the figure encumbered with coats, shoes, and flannel comforters, is one of the ' Guards.' "
Such were the fantastic forms evoked by the genius of Winter; and, while we may now afford to bestow a smile on the ludicrousness of the spectacle, none will forbear a prayer that no British Army may ever again go through the tragic scenes of which this drawing preserves but a passing episode.
CAMP OF THE NAVAL BRIGADE BEFORE SEBASTOPOL.
We are here gratified with a peep at the local habitation of "Jack ashore." With his usual handiness and ready adaptation to circumstances, he has a thousand little contrivances for making himself at home in his unaccustomed mode of life, and in and around those symmetrical rows of neat-looking tents there is abundance of knick-knacks and devices for comfort, of which dwellers in camp have usually no notion. As we gaze upon the well-remembered scene, crowds of grateful recollections come back upon us; the unfailing welcome, the flowing hospitality, the unz:.3
stinting cheer, the hearty merriment, and the genial warmth of social intercourse in which we were permitted to ^hare among these tents, are present to our mental eye, as they will ever be enshrined amongst our most cherished memories.