intervals. Sir II. Jones is on board ship, unwell. There are rumours that Sir E. Lyons will soon relinquish his command, as his health is said to be giving way. CHAPTER XXIII. SIGXS OF A MOVE. Kumours of an expedition— Destruction of the houses and puWic buildings of Sebastopol — Iload-niaking — The railway and the central road — Preparations for the winter— Beautiful weather — Wild flowers — French and Russian practice — Diary — The Russians commence a heavy fire — An enormous convoy — Revival of the Russian Donnybrook Fair — A serious accident — Destruction of the Imperial Barracks of Sebastopol by fire — Carelessness — A dashing exploit by the French — Council of Generals — Something in the wind — General inspection and review — Certainty of a move — Conjectures as to the destination of the expedition.
Before Sebastopoi., October 2. The army is amused by rumours of active service, while there are only signs of hybernation and stagnation in camp. Our allies and the enemy nevertheless are stirring. It is whispered that on Thursday next a secret expedition will start for a place the name of which is by no means secret, and that 25,000 French and 15,000 English troops are to go on board the fleet with all possible expedition on that day. Again, it is said, " orders have been received from England" by electric telegraph to keep all steamers in Balaklava or at Kamiesch; but, if such orders have been sent, they were assuredly disobeyed, for steamers leave Balaklava daily, and the " Great Britain," the largest of them all, is getting ready to return home on Saturday next, and will be preceded by the " Colombo," and several others.
The telegraph has many evil qualities attributed to it. Though generally quick in its operations, it is sometimes too slow. For example, it is stated that orders were sent from home to spare the houses, public buildings, and docks of Sebastopol. It was only in our power to comply with the latter part of this injunction, for the bombs and shot of ombatteries, aided hj the enemy's destructiveness, had laid all the rest in ruins. The docks only require a lighted match to fire the train, and these models of grand design and of beautiful workmanship will be mere craters of blocks of red gra-nite, fine sandstone, and gi'anite. Another indication of an intention to move is supposed to be conveyed by the fact that returns have been requu'ed from each regiment of the number of bat horses belonging to it.
Those returns are not asked for in anticipation of any expedition whatever. The work of the army is actually that of preparation, not for motion but for stagnation. The men are engaged on great roads from the ports to the front, which will be permanent marks of the occupation of this portion of the Crimea by the allied armies for centuries; in fact, with so much labour at their disposal, our authorities are determined, if possible, to atone for the apathy of last autumn. It must be remembered that the enemy has an equal amount of labour set free for the accumulation of stores and the formation and repair of roads, and that they can now cover the Crimea with depots and fortified lines from Simpheropol to the Belbek.
The roads which we are making are almost beyond the requirements of an army of temporary occupation. They are broad and well paved so far as they have gone — in some places they have been tunnelled through the rock, which here and there can only be removed by heavy blasting charges. The railway is now assuming an appearance of great solidity. Beside it winds the Central-road, and from the new central depot, under Mr. Brew, which has been removed from the Col de Balaklava to an open space in the rear of the Second Division and between the Guards' Brigade and the Fourth Division, there are divisional roads in progress, which will also communicate with the divisional depots. When the railway is worked by locomotives, instead of horses, the permanent way will endure much better, and a great deal more work will be got out of the line.