Yesterday i^hey finished, a new line of batteries, to-day ^ve begin to make some in reply. The papers which arrived yesterday must be amusing to the authorities, for by their want of energy they have assuredly falsified all those absurd anticipations of further victory, of utter routs, of vigorous pursuit, and of energetic action in which these mere writers and readers — men who have read TJmcydides till they are stupefied, and have muddled their brains poring over histories of wars and lives of 'Generals, and who have musty traditions about your Caesars, Akxaiidors, Buonapartes, and Wellingtons, involving disagreeable inferences and compai-isons — have ridiculously and unjustifiably indulged. But could we have moved had our Generals been so minded? Is it true that as steam has impeded the action of our fleet, the Land Transport Corps has stopped the march of our armj'?
I am assured that Colonel M']\Iurdo will not permit any such assertion to be made. With the aid of a few men the army would have been ready to take the field and to carry provisions and ammunition for om* available strength of bayonets detached on a short expedition. As to the French, they have certified theiimobility by the rapid demonstration of four divisions on Baidar. Then, why did not the English move? Orders and counter-orders were sent daj' after day — requisitions on Captain This to know how many mules he had to carry ball cartridge, orders to Captain That to turn out his battery for the purpose of taking the field at daj'break next morning; counter-orders in the evening re-countered jmd retracted at night, till it was hard to say what was to be done; and if the men Avho gave the commands were in half as confused a state of mind as those who received them, they were indeed in a pitiable plight.
Cato with his Plato could not have been at all puzzled like unto them. We did not move, and people say it is because we had not the means to transport the Land Transport Corps; but that I don't believe was the reason of our immobility. AVliat that reason was it is not for me to pretend to say. It is quite evident that the expectations of the people at home have not been gratified to the full extent, and that we are not in undisputed possession of maritime Sebastopol, that the Russians are not utterly defeated, and that the campaign will have to be renewed next year by doing what might have been done three weeks ago. How many men will Russia have in the Crimea ere the season for the renewal of military operations retm'us, should she be determined to hold it, and be able to continue the war?
On the north side there are few houses, but there are very lai-ge magazines. First, on the western extremity of the northern shore stands Fort Constantine. The roof is covered in to a great depth with sandbags, and there are large gims mounted on it en harhette, but many of the embrasures are empty, and do not show guns. A very heavy parapet with traverses — in fact, a line of batteries — strikes out from the north side of the fort, and crests the seaward face of the clitf, communicating with the Wasp Fort, StarFort, and the works of the sea defences towards the mouth of the Belbek. Next to Constantine, on the harbour, there is a large earthwork, with heavy guns, behind whicli is the citadel, and this has recently been much strengthened, and occupies a commanding position on a hillside.
Next come more earthworks, a lai'ge stone storehouse, and the casemated Avails of Fort Catherine, with two tiers of guns; then more earthworks, till the line of defence merges into the works at Inkermann. In fact. Fort Constantine, Sievernaia, Fort Michael, and Fort Catherine, with their connecting works, and the citadel and forts in their rear, form one great battery, too far to injure us seriously behind Sebastopol, but quite able to withstand any infantry attack from the south side. The difficulty of the north side was foreseen all along — foreseen, but not provided for. In fact, there was no step taken to insure the possession of the fruits of our labour. We did not prepare for success, and Ave now have to brave a new campaign, and the Russians have seven or eight months in which they may strengthen themselves, recruit their exhausted army, gather new materiel, and dispute our progress with fresh slaughter, Avhich leaves us victory but half enjoyed.