Admiral Fremantle deserves credit for his naval administration, and he has been most ably assisted by Captain Heath, Avho now retires, at his own request, I'rom the harassing and responsible office to Avhich he Avas appointed upon Captain Christie's dismissal. Ships are cleared out rapidly, instead of being detained for months in harbour, Avith enormous demurrage dues. A naval officer has been appointed, at Admiral Fremantle's suggestion, to examine all ships as they arrive, and to expedite their despatch after discharge of cargo. It is his duty also to see tliat there is no unnecessary delay on the voyage, and to make the transports as useful as possihlo to the country. Sir Edmund Lyons has just conferred the post, rendered vacant by the death of Captain Hammett, on Lieutenant Pasley, his Fhig Lieutenant, son of Sir J.
Pasley, and lias thus placed him over the heads of lieutenants, many of them senior in the service, who have been serving in the trenches for months, while he has been comfortably " doing nothinr/," as Flag Lieutenant of the Admiral's ship. A reference to the Navy Lint will show the hardship this inflicts upon many hardworking officers. No one hlamcs Commander Pasley, who is an active and intelligent othcer; it is, however, most unjust to those who have borne the toil and heat of the day, that he should he, for no special merit of his own, but because he happens to he a friend of the Admiral, promoted over their heads. Commander Pasley is now serving for his farther promotion in the trenches.
Lieutenant Graham has, I believe, returned to England after a brief sojourn in the rear of the batteries. He volunteered for that service, as it is supposed he was not quite convinced of his fitness for the duties of lieutenant on board ship, but the anxiety of his family induced them to remove him from the post of danger, and of honour. This is the on dit in the Naval Brigade. The 5Gth Regiment, which has just arrived off Balaklava, and was under orders to proceed to Kertch, to relieve the 71st Eegiment, is to land at once, with blankets, &c., as the enemy seem preparing for another attack, either on Balaklava, by the way of iJaidar, or on the position of the Tchernaya. On the '25th August, General Simpson reconnoitered with great care the position of the enemy in front of Balaklava, which he was led to do in consequence of the continued reports of the concentration of the enemy in that direction.
They certainly had amassed a considerable number of troops on the Mackenzie Plateau at Taura and Korales, and had pushed forward strong parties as far as Makoul. It is understood from the spies that two divisions of the Grenadier's corps have been sent down in light carts from Simpheropol to reinforce them. The force on the right bank of the Tchernaya is obviously preparing for an aggressive movement, and at the same time the Russians are busy at an enormous line of earthworks on the noi'th side, connecting all their defences from the sea to the 'Vv'^est Inkermann Lighthouse Hill. Their bridge of boats or pontoons from north to south,.across the road, is almost completed. It takes a course from the western cuive of Fort iNicholas to the creek between Kachimoft" Battery and St.
Jlicliael's Fort. The fire at night is very heavj^ and our men keep up a constant fusillade upon the Russian works at night, in order to prevent their rcpiiiring their damaged parapets and embrasures. This proceeding, of course, draws fire on our trenches; and from the 20th to the 23rd of August inclusive, we have lost no less than 2 sergeants, 24 rank and file killed; 8 officers, 8 sergeants, 168 ranli and file wounded — total 220 liors de combat. On the 20th, Lieutenant Home, 4Sth, was contused on the shoulder; Lieutenant Campbell, 72nd, slightly wounded; Lieutenant McEarnet, 79th, ditto; Captain Dickson, R.A., ditto; — on the 21st, Lieutenant Smith, 28th, ditto; ■ — on the 22nd, Lieutenant Campbell, Scots Fusilier (.ruards, ditto; Lieutenant Wield, 95th, severely; on the 23rd, Lieutenant de Winton, R.A., slightly.
The Highland Division has been ordered from the front to Komura, and fifty guns and the cavalry at Kwangi have been placed in reserve to meet the enemy in case of an attack. The 42nd Regiment, the 71st Regiment, the 79th Regiment, and the 93rd Regiment, under Sir Colin Campbell, will be sui-e to give a pretty good account of any force that may attack them. The 56th Regiment arrived in fine order this Aveek, and it has been placed on the strength of the 2nd Brigade of the First Division. The bridge from the north to the south side of the harbour was completed about the 26th, and the enemy use it constantly for the conveyance of troops and stores. Of the latter, large quaiitities seem to be moved to the north side from tlic city.