The storm of shot from this great ordnance is appalling. The very earth seems flying into dust, and the fiery embers of the fort are thrown into columns of sparks. Still the Russians stand to the only guns they have left. The broadsides increase in vigour, and at last a white flag is waved by a single man from the rampart. Boats with flags of truce push off", and bring back the information that the garrison is willing to surrender. At 2 p.m. the firing ceases, and 1100 men march into our lines. Several of these were quite dnink; they caiTied off food and drink, and the officers wore their side-arms. The garrison consisted of the 29th Regiment and of one hundred Artillerymen. Two hundred are said to be killed, and four or five hundred wounded; but admittance to the town is denied by the French, as it is reported that the Governor, inflamed to madness, is in the powder magazine, watching for the victors to enter, in order to fire the mine, which is well stored with powder.
We shall know more to -morrow. CHAPTER XXXIL SniTender of the governor — His grief at liis reverse — Obstinacy of the second in command — llussian council of war held during tlie bombardment— The majority decide iii favour of submission — Tears of the governor on signing the articles of surrender — The major-general's friendly warning — Strength of the place — Preparations for increasing its strength — Guns — Piles of shot and shell — Large stores of ammunition— Prisoners of war — Plans for the future — Lipraiidi with 22,000 men supposed to be in the neighbourhood — Cherson — ISicholaiefi"-— The "banks of the Bug — Seven hundred and fifty Russians to be sent to Spithead — Appearance ot the prisoners — Intoxication — A reconnaiseauce towards Cherson — A deserter from Oczakoff — Active operations— The bomb-vesseld — Success of ihe floating batteries.
October 18. When the flag was waved from the parapet, two boats, eacli bearing a flag of truce, pushed off, one from the English and another from the French Admiral, and at the same tiiTie Sir Houston Stewart proceeded to land near the battery, where he found the French General advancing to parley with the Governor. Major-General Kokonovitch advanced with a sword and pistol in one hand and a pistol in the other. He threw down his sword at the officer's feet, and discharged his pistols into the gromid, or at least pitUed the triggers with the muzzles pointing downwards, in token of surrender. He was moved to tears, and as he left the ibrt turned round and uttered some passionate exclamation in Russian, of which the interpreter could only make out, " Oh!
Kinburn! Kinbiun! Glory of Suwarofi' and my shame, I abandon you," or something to that eflect. As the garrison marched out they were ordered to pile their arms, but many of them threw them on the ground at the feet of the conquerors, with rage and mortification depicted on their features. It appears that the second in command, whose name is something like Saranovitcli — a Pole by birth — inflamed by courage and its Dutch ally, declared he would not surrender, and that he was prepared to blow up the magazine before the enemy should enter. In this he was supported by the officer of engineers and by the officer of artillery. Ainid the crash of falling buildings, the u2 explosions of mortars, the thunder of the fleet, and the smoke and flames of their crumbling batteries, the Russians held a hasty council of war, at which it was put to the vote whether they should surrender or not, and the majority carried the question in the affirmative, on the side of humanity and reason. lu vain the fanatic Pole, the artilleryman, and engineer, tried to persuade the Governor and the majority to persist in the madness and folly of continuing their passive resistance, for active opposition was out of their power. " We can hold out for a week," said they. " What then?" asked the Governor. " You have not been able to fire a shot for three-quarters of an hour.