The latter have also thrown up a small battery for field-pieces at the extremity of their sap, and this has hitherto prevented the egress and formation of Russian troops for a sortie against tiiem. These guns entirely command the points on which the Russians are in the habit of leaving their works, and they consequently have been reduced to the extremity of replj'ingto all the advances of their enemy by merely the lire of musketry from the erabrasures. The day before yesterday, however, a few Eussians straggled out here and there, making their way by dodging behind clumps of earth and bushes, until they had come to within about eighty yards of the parapet, when they threw themselves upon their faces, and began digging up earth for cover.
The French apparently did not observe the movement, and our people, not catching sight of the venturesome Muscovites until they had made good the position they wished to attain, fancied thern to be French. By this means the Russians have established rifle pits in front of the French sap, where they will do the usual amount of damage unless they be speedily driven out. On the 19th the French, observing signs of activity among the Russians on their left, opened a furious fire from all their batteries upon that part of the town. The fire, which was as heavy as in any of the bombardments, continued for about half an hour, and, having apparently eflected its object, ceased. On the side of the JMalakholF the French have discovered the way by which the Russian reserves are moved into the works.
It appears that two deep trenches lead to the Malakhoff, one on the side of the Redan, the other on the side of the Little Redan, towards Careening Bay. To interrupt, at least, the latter means of communication, the French have established a small battel"}', which is as yet unmasked. It will play on the covei'ed way on the side of the Little Redan, and to a great extent stop the advance of the Russian reserves, while the French are assaulting the works themselves. Jahj 20. To-day there has been a veritable July sun; not a breath of air stirring. Over the Black Sea hangs the mist which always appears when the sun pours down his rays with more than usual power. The firing was slack this morning, but towards afternoon it increased considerably, and at the present moment there is a sharp cannonade kept up from the I\Ialakhofr, and now and then a volley of musketry announces that the skirmishers are at work.
We have constructed another battery mounting two Lancaster guns to the left, in advance of the 21-gun battery. Somewhat further in the same direction a battery of six guns had been raised to fire on the shipping, but. it having been found that the position was too low for the purpose, mortars have been substituted, and tlie fire will, no doubt, open in a few days. The Lancasters have not yet beea mounted, but will probably be in position to-morrow. The health of the men is still excellent, and their spirits do not in the least suffer by the length and wearisomeness of the siege. The summer is cool, and, as the Russians have of late made very few sorties, the nights in the trenches are passed without much hardship.
When formed in marching order to descend the oft-trodden ravines which lead to the batteries, the men betraj' neither despondency nor unwillingness; the laugh and the joke prevail, their air is brisk and alert; how different from their appearance in the gloomy season of last December! The noise of skittles is to be heard on every side, and the regimental bands, sadly diminished indeed as to numbers, but still effective for amusement, play the various popular airs to which we are accustomed at home. Cathcart's-hill is every evening the resort of hundreds of idlers, Avho, stretched at lengtli on the dried grass, or sitting on the piles of stones which enclose many an honoured grave, look down on tiie beleaguered city, and watch with lazy indifference the flashes which burst forth from Mamelon, Malakhoff, or Redan.
Omar Pasha has not yet returned from Constantinople. He is heartily tired of his position in the Crimea, and wishes for a field in which he can gain some distinction, or at least keep up the reputation which he achieved on the banks of the Danube. "When he was directed or invited to repair to Eupatoria, he naturally enough expected that some operations in the field would quickly follow. Perhaps such a course was impossible, on account of a deficiency in the means of transport; but there is reason to believe that, had it been adopted, the Russian army would be in much greater danger than at present, and Sebastopol much nearer its fall. A hostile force a clieval on the roads from Perekop would have compelled the Russians to fight at a disadvantage and to keep open their communications, as all their provisions are brought by this route.