They are fine serviceable-like cavalry, their evolutions were well performed, they made some capital charges, and their whole appearance was highly praised by the English military spectators. It has been proposed to make the First Division into two divisions, one to consist of the Guards, to which were to be added the 31st Regiment, 3rd Buffs, and 13th Light Infantiy, the other of the five Highland regiments now here, and of the 92nd, expected out. The project, however, has been abandoned, at least for the present. I regret to announce the decease of Colonel Cobbe, of the 4th Eegiment of Foot. He died this afternoon from the effect of wounds received in the afl'air of the ISth of June. He commanded the 4th from the commencement of the campaign, and was wounded at the Alma.
Lieutenant Evans, of the 55th, is also dead. He was shot through the windpipe yesterday in the trenches, and every effort to save his life proved fruitless. Capt. Layard, 3Sth Regiment, D.A. Quarter-Master-General, died, on the 7th, in Balaklava harbour, on board the " Faith" steamer, where he had been removed for the benefit of his health. He sank under diarrhoea, and the loss of such an active and intelligent officer will be felt in his divi.sion. It is in contemplation to make a good road from Balaklava to the camp. This is indeed a most necessary work if we are to pass the winter here, and it is to be hoped it will be promptly proceeded with, and not postponed until too late to complete it before the bad season sets in.
It is also to be hoped that we shall not see — as we did last winter — guns inextricably stuck in the mud, and remaining there for weeks; and commissaries, when bringing up stores from Balaklava to the camp, compelled to unharness the mules and horses from half a dozen carts, attach them to one, in order to get it up the hill, and then lead the animals down to recommence the same operation with each of the vehicles. In connexion with a good road from Balaklava there should be branches through the camp, connecting the divisions, and leading to the front. The health of the 10th Hussars still continues unsatisfiictory. A day or two ago that regiment had 161 sick, out of a strength of 676.
Major-General Sir W. Eyre was put in orders on the 3rd August, to command the Third Division. On the 5th, Brigadier Lockj'cr was in orders for Ceylon, and Colonel Windham, C.B., was nominated to succeed him in the command of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division. F. H. CHAPTER VII. Signs of an approaching attack — The hospitals are cleared out — Various opinions respectinp; the result of an assault — The ilulakholT — I'ast errors and blunders — Hopes of better things for tlic future — A terrible bombardment contemplated by some — Leave of absence sought and obtained by many officers — Regiments without their proper number of officers — Tedious nature of the siege — Leave of absence too readily granted in the English, and loo rigorously refused in the French army — Jlore clergymen required — Effective force of the British army in the Crimea — Arrival of French and English reinforcements — Russian practice — Promotion of Colonel AVindham — A birth in the trenches — A Russian attack expected — Keinforcemeuts supposed to have reached Sebastopol — The Army Working Corps — Deaths of Deputy-Assistant Commissary General Coppingcr, and Major Hugh Drummond.
Heights of Balaklava, August 10. The report of an approaching attack upon the Malakhoff gains ground, and is credited in the camp. False reports are so numerous here that one would pay little attention to the current rumours, did not various indications, more than general expectation, give it an appearance of probability. At an early hour on Tuesday morning, General Simpson went round the lines, examining the works. Yesterday, General Jones did the same. A council of war was held on AVednesday evening, at the British head-quarters. A more positive symptom than these of approaching action is the fact that some of the principal medical officers of Divisions have received orders to clear the hospitals, sending to Balaklava such patients as can safely be moved, and to make the customary preparations for the reception of wounded men.