In the Second Division, which furnished men for the trenches, one officer was killed, Captain L. Fraser, 95th (died 118 THE LfLL BEFORE THE ST0R5r. of wounds), and two wounded — the latter, MtijoiGraham, 41st (amputation of arm); Lieutenant Forbes, 30th (amputation of shoulder-joint). Captain Ross, Buffs, is missing. The " Sphinx" arrived off Balalclava, and Sir E. Lyons came round from Kasatch, and went back by her to the iieet. Lord Stratford de Kedcliffe and retinue took their departure for Therapia yesterday. The " Andes" has also arrived in port. September 3. There is a general belief that the Russians are about to try the chances of war once more, and that in one grand attack alon;^ the whole of our line they are prepared to assault the allies with 90,00() men at three or four points between Baidar and the gorge of Inkermann, and at the same time to make a general sortie in great force fiom Sebastopol on the left, centre, and riglit of omworks.
Prince Gortschakoff, General Liprandi, General Paniutin, and General Osten-Sacken are mentioned as the directors of the attacking columns on certain points, which have been indicated to us by information derived from the enemy's camp. The mass of the Russian forces is supposed to be at present concentrated on the cultivated plateau between Kamishli and Kalankoi, on the south side of the Belbek, supported by divisions echeloned on the road to Bakshiserai. Near Kalankoi " a bad and difficult" mountain road to Balaklava crosses the Belbek, strikes off to the right to Mackenzie's farm, descending thence from the plateau, crosses the Tchernaya at the bridge of the Traktir, now famous as the scene of the brilliant action of the 16th of August, and sweeps across the plain of Balaklava, intersecting in its course the Woronzoff road.
Several paths or indifferent roads branch from tliis grand causeway ere it descends the plateau of J\Iackenzie's Farm, leading bj'Chuliou and Ozenbasch towards Baidar, and it is thought that the Russians may have put these in tolerable condition, and rendered them available for the passage of troops and artillery. It seems almost incredible that any General would trust his army among those defiles and mountain-passes, because a failure on the part of the corps on his right to seize Tchorgoun and Kamara would leave himwithout support, and an active enemy could easiljpursue and crush him before he could possibly gain the plateau from which he had descended, and get under the cover of the guns of his intrenched camp. However, we are told that such an attempt will be made, and that Tchorgoun and Traktir are to be attacked once more, while a strong Russian column, advancing along the Baidar road, drives in the Turks and French, and menaces Balaklava by the heights over the sea.
Nothing would give such universal satisfaction to the whole ai'my as another attempt by the enemy to force our position. If the Russians descend into the plain we are sure of success, and the prospect of a sanguinary engagement would give positive pleasure to both officers and men, alike weary of the undistinguished, if not inglorious, service of the trenches. With nearly 3000 English cavalry and upwards of 5000 French sabres we ought to make signal examples of our defeated foes in their retreat, and our 50 field guns, all in high efficiency and order, would surely annihilate any artillery which the Russians could place in position to check pursuit or cover the flight of their inftmtry. As to their cavaby, they are, as far as we can ascertain, inferior in number to our own, aiid we are certain that in dash and pluck they cannot match the men who charged at Balaklava.
In fine, there is reason to hope that if the enemy should strike a great blov>r he will meet with a great disaster, and that we may by one wellfought field terminate the daily conflict which leads to such terrible loss of life, and win a victory rich for once with grand results, and yielding fruits worthy of our daring, our judgment, and our military genius. The attack was expected this morning; it may take place tomorrow; should it be deferred for a few days more, the Russians may have to fight with all their masses for the possession of the Malakhoif, for the French are assuredly determined not to delay the assault much longer, if it were only to put an end to the losses to which they are hourly exposed.