The immediate eflect of these plashing showers is not particularly agreeable, although I believe it to be highly beneficial. They convert the clayey soil of the camp and its vicinity into a heavy kind of mud, which clings tenaciously to the feet of man and beast, and renders locomotion slow and difficult. The clay hardens rapid]}^ and only by repeated efforts can it be extracted from the horse's hoof. Considering the quality of the soil, it seems unaccountable that our authorities do so little in the way of road-making. One would imagine they anticipate either continual summer, or the departure of the expedition before winter arrives. While the Erench have made excellent roads, in om* camp one sees mere tracks. As for the Balaklava railway, it will be useless within a short time after the bad season sets in, unless repaired.
It is a very convenient summer construction, but the ground on which it rests will be converted into mud by the winter's wet. The opinion is pretty general that no very long period will elapse before another attack is made upon the MalakhofF. As regards an expedition into the interior of the Crimea, that is highly improbable. In fact, I believe nothing of the kind is in contemplation, at any rate, for the present. The month of September would be a flivoiirable season at which to commonee such a movement. 3Iajor-General Dacres, commanding the artillery, goes tomorrow, on a fortnight's leave of absence, to Therapia. Colonel jSTorcott's (Rifles) servant and charger were awaiting,- yesterday morning, their master's return from the trenches, in what was considered a perfectly sheltered situation, when a rouuf] shot bounding over an eminence, killed both horse and man.
Four Russian deserters came in yesterday. The Duke of Newcastle has arrived at Balaklava, and has been up to the front. July 31. Soon after five o'clock this morning a most violent storm of wind and rain commenced, which continues as I vs'rite. It will cause, I fear, much discomfort, if not actual damage, in the camp, over which it rages with a combined fury and obstinacy, which I do not remember to have seen surpassed. The extensive portion of the camp, of which I command a view from my hut, is converted into a lake, the rain descending much faster than it can sink into the earth. Over the surface of this lake the rain is borne in clouds by the driving wind, and forms a sort of watery curtain through which the soaked tents look dreary and dismal enough.
The shelter Avhich they offer, imperfect as it is, has been sought, and only here and there a drenched figure is to be seen struggling through the blast. In the pens the mules and horses hang their heads mournfully, enduring, with melancholy philosophj% the inevitable and unwelcome douche. In sundry nooks and corners to the leeward of tents, and under the eaves of huts, the camp fowls have taken refuge, with drooping plumes, and that look of profound discomfort peculiar to poultry under difficulties. Down the numerous slopes of the camp the water has forced channels foi itself, which will not, however, I fear, prevent its finding its way into many of the semi-subterranean huts, to the great disturbance of the domestic economy of their occupants.
Even the furious war of the elements does not arrest the strife between man and man, and from time to time, above the roar of the wind and the plash of the rain, the boom of a gun reaches us. As I write, however, the fury of the tempest abates, the clouds fly seaward, the rain ceases, and already the camp resumes its stir. The firing during the last few days has, on our side, been far more lively than for some time past; this increased activity has, however, a defensive rather than an offensive character. The Russians, perceiving that our works are daily brought closer to theirs, are trying by their single gun practice to.annoy us. Orders have accordingly been given to return the fire from our batteries whenever it becomes too hot.
This plan was tried once before, and it had the effect of moderating the ardour of the Russian gunners. The second trial will, I hope, be no less successful in procuring for us a little respite, for, somehow or other, the less we fire the better is the Russian gun practice, and vice versa. But no firing of the Russians, be it good or bad, slight or heavy, can impede the progress of the works. The surface of the ground in the neighbourhood of the Malakhoff and the Redan presents every day a more checkered appearance. It is one mass of trenches, traverses, rifle-pits, and batteries — a perfect maze, so that it requires a strongly developed organ of locality, or else many days of trench duties, to enable one to find one's way.