It is conjectured that we shall go to Theodosia, Kertch, or Eupatoria. The telegi'aph will inform you of the expedition, and, possibly, of its results, long ere these lines can reach London. CHAPTER XXIV. Speculations on the expedition — An amusing story, illustrative of aristocratic sagacity — Various expeditions — Distribution of the forces in tlie fleet — The mixed commission — Its proceedings — List of members— The case of the military surgeons — Dr. Hall's letter — Lord Panmure's reply — An unfortunate omission — Jealousy between the military and the civil surgeons — Sir George Brown's prejudice in favour of Varna — Health of the army — Its strength — Its consumptive powers — Destruction of corn at Kertch an unwise proceeding — Scarcity of flour and of rum — Butchers without their implements — Bad tools— The Russian army on tlie Belbek — Deserters — Their accounts of want and suffering in the Russian camp — Forlorn condition of two deserters — Attempted classification by a contemporary writer of the regiments engaged in the attack on the Redan, Into English, Irish, and Scotch, fallacious — Dissatisfaction of the crew of the "Diamond" at being excluded from the Crimean medal — General Simpson presented with the Order of the Medjidie of the First Class, &c. — Similar honour to Marshal Pelissier — Arrival of Lieutenant Goneste at head quarters — Embarkation — Activity of the French and Russian batteries — Movements in the Russian camp.
Before Sebastopol, October 5. The expedition seems to be determined upon, and will assuredly sail this week, unless the weather should tm-nout very^ unfavourable. The Light (not the Hussar) Brigade of Cavahy have received orders to hold tliemselves in readiness to embark, and it is believed they are going to Eupatoria. Our destination is kept as close as possible, but every one affects to know it, points it out slily on charts, or mutters it into your ear. The excursion of the fleet, and its return a short time ago, may now have a deeper significance than has been generally supposed, but, if it was a ruse, the secret is known to the enemy. The electric telegraph quite annihilates one's speculative and inductive faculties. What's the use of trying to find out where an expedition is going to, when long before the result of one's investigation can reach England, not only the destination but the results of that expedition will be known from John o'Groat's to Land's-end?
You stop in the midst of your anxious impetus to convey information, and recollect that all your recent intelligence will be flat, stale, and very unprofitable on 'Change before the letter has reached Constantinople. There is, indeed, a story in circulation that the brother of a noble Duke received a letter from his Grace, in which he declared his belief that Sebastopol could not be taken, just a few houi's before the telegraph announced its capture, and that the contents of the said epistle were too largely promulgated to prevent the Duke's reputation as a soothsayer from being seriously damaged. We are told this expedition is going to Oczakoff, at the entrance to the Bug, or to Kinburn, or other abstruse places known in England only to the " Hertfordshire Incumbent" and a few Fellows of the Geographical Society.
You will be intimately acquainted with, all its proceedings, not to speak of its destination, by the time this communication is half way to Marseilles, and I am almost afraid to say where I think we are going to, but with much deference suggest that it is intended as a feeler towards Nicholaieff. The exact number of French I have not ascertained, but I have heard that it will amount to 15,000. The Light Cavah-y Brigade, under Lord George Paget, C.B., is said 1o be destined for Eupatoria, and it is evident that a strong demonstration is intended against the Eussian convoys westward of the Tchongar route into Eussia. If we are only blessed with moderate weather for a few weeks, these expeditions, judiciously handled, may precipitate the evacuation of the Crimea; but if the winter gales set in early it will be hazardous or impossible to effect a landing.