It is believed they sustained a very considerable one on Saturday night. Their fire became extremely brisk on that evening. Our people kept up the musketry against the proper right and the curtain of tlie ]\Ialakhotf to protect the French workmen, and shells and bouquets of shells were flying all along the lines from right to left — very pretty to look at, but unpleasant to meet. The night was dark, and the only light, save that of the burning fuses which crossed each other in curves against the black sky, and that of the flashes from the rifles, proceeded from some carcasses whicli the French threw from time to time, in order to see what the enemy was about. The Russians were numerous in the Iledau, intending a sortie, and I believe some of them did venture out, but they were received with such volleys from the Quarries that they qvuckly retired; and then our batteries threw into the Redan a shower of shells, which must have had a murderous eifect among the throng of Muscovites.
The aflair was brief; the volleys of musketry were very sharp indeed, and were taken up, more or less, along the whole line. There was also extremely heavy firing on the loft. Altogether the evening was an exciting one, and the consumption of ammunition must have been considerable. At sunset on Saturdayevening a party of the Naval Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Gough, dragged a 68-pounder up to JS^o. 11 battery left attack. Jack hauled away with his usual good-will and alacrity. The Russians fired at him as he went up, but he reached the battery without casualty, and the gun was put in position. The next morning trial was made of it in the presence of Captain Keppel, and it was found to bear pei-fectly on the mole-head and on the bridge across the creek.
The mole-head is a sort of landing-place at the lefthand corner of the creek, where it enters the main harbour, and is used by the Russians to land their stores from the opposite side. They will be obliged to land them elsewhere in future. I understand that the Russians have been observed moving ahout the heights beyond the valley of the Tchernaya, and it would not be surprising if another attempt were made ere long. They will find us all prepared — the English ai'my full of fight, the French and Sardinians elated with their recent triumph, and the last animated with that additional confidence ivhich the consciousness of having behaved gallantly and proved VOL, II. G themselves worthy of their allies cannot fail to give them.
The conviction that wo shall render a very handsome account of the Eussians whenever they think fit to attack us does not prevent our taking proper precautions, and preparing for their reception. The whole of the French Imperial Guard, which was away to the left, where it could be of no use, was ye.sterday marched over to this plateau, and encamped beyond the French semaphore, and all along the slightly elevated ridge that overlooks the valley of the Tchernaya. I do not know the numerical strength of either the infantry or artillery of the Guard, but they form a very large body of men, and fine-looking soldiers they are. There are nine regiments of infantry and some battalions of Cliasseurs, which compose a strong force; but I did not see them march up, and opinions vary so mucli here, that even some French officers whom I asked would not venture an estimate of their numbers.
I walked round the edge of the plateau yesterday afternoon, and. they were all snugly established, and had set up their kitchens, composed of a few fi'agments of rock and big stones, and, while some strolled about picking up the scanty sticks and roots for fuel, others skimmed the marmites, some of which emitted an extremely savoury odour. The French are certainly famous fellows for settling themselves down in an instant, and making themselves at home wherever they may be placed. The vacanc}'^ occasioned by the death of Commander Hammet, of the " Albion," is filled up, I understand, by the promotion of Lieutenant Pasley, of the " Royid Albert," who is thus put over the heads of at least five or six lieutenants of the Naval Brigade, lieutenants of ten years' standing, or even more,:md who liave now passed eight months in the trenches and been in four bombardments.