The expedition to Eupatoria has been countermanded, in consequence of a telegi'aphic message from Lord Panmure, to the effect that the Russians meditated an attack. Inkermann is the quarter in which it seems to be expected. It is difficult to say what the Russians think to gain by attacking vts now. The fire seen on Saturday night is believed to have been at a village about three miles on this side of Bakshiserai. Such, at least, is the result of the calculations made by our engineers, who took an observation at head-quarters and another at Balaklava. They have thus ascertained the spot with tolerable accuracy. Of the expedition to Eupatoria the following troops are countermanded — viz., the Highlanders, two batteries of artillery, and the company of Sappers.
The cavah-y has sailed. I have not yet heard whether they are to proceed, or whether they will be brought back. They were ordered to embark several days before there was any question here of sending other troops. CHAPTEE XXVII. News of the Kinbum expedition — The accuracy of Lord Panmure's information, rt'hitive to a projected attack by the Kussiaiis, questioned — Another telegraphic report — Xo signs of a Russian retreat — Dangers of visitiiig tlie town — Disabled cannon — Formidable appearance of the Redan and the Malakhoff — Russian hiding places — Sebastopol literally riddled with shot — Strange effects of the bombardment — News of the repulse of tlie Russians at Kars — Tho victory at Kars and the capture of Kinburn great triumphs — Why was not more attempted? — A head to devise wanting — Rumours of a Russian advance — French review — Labours of Mr.
Doyne, superintendent of the Army Works Corps — New roads — Mr. Doyne's plan for stations and police — Review of the French army — The Imperial GuardGrenadiers, Chasseurs, Zouaves, Engineers, and Artillery of the Guard in brilliant array — Admiration of the English officers for the Chasseurs and Zouaves — Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Bentinck's testimony to the good conduct and services of the gallant Fourth Division — Irregularity in the delivery of newspapers by the post. Sebastopol, October 20. Waudebeks abroad are genei'ally longer in giving news of their whereabouts than anxious or impatient friends at home think reasonable and right, and accordingly when eight, nine, ten, and even eleven days elapsed without intelligence arriving from the Kinburn expedition, all wondered and many were uneasy.
General Simpson being among the latter. Yesterday morning, however, we were all relieved and gladdened by learning the capture of Kinburn and the blockade of the Dnieper, the news of which came by telegraph via Varna. We have few details, but the Russians apparently offered considerable resistance before surrendering. In General Orders last night the little that has been ascertained was communicated to the army, and before this letter reaches England, you will probably know much more on the subject than we do at present. Here, at Sebastopol, nothing has been going on, and, in the absence of events, we are left to reflect upon the past, and to speculate on the future. In the hasty lines I added to my last letter, just before post hour, I mentioned that the projected expedition to Eupatoria had been given up, an attack upon our own lines being expected.
Accordingly, since then we have been turning out before daybreak every morning, and occasionally at other hours also. Late on. Wednesday night the reserve ammunition was warned to be ready early in the morning, as there was every probability of an attack. On Thursday forenoon the French were formed up in the Valley of the Tchernaya, awaiting a foe who came not. Yesterday, about noon, movements of troops were made; and it was reported that large masses of Russians were visible. There is much note of preparation and the frequent clash of arms, but nevertheless many here are of opinion — some of them persons whose opinion has weight — that our Muscovite friends have not the remotest idea of attacking us, and that Lord Panmure's information to a contrary effect, derived from Berlin, proceeds, in fact, from St.