Are yo\i likely to be in a better state two hours hence, and, above all., where are the men to live in the mean time.''" Such arguments, enforced by tremendous broadsides and by the knocks of the Admirals with cannon balls against every side of the foi't, prevailed. The white flag was hoisted, much to the satisfaction of every humane sailor in the allied fleet, who could feel no pleasure in destroying a brave enemy, and much more to the gratification of those who were allowed to cease a demonstration of hopeless courage. Kokonovitch wept as he threw down the pen with which he signed the articles of surrender, but he had no reason to be ashamed of his defence. By the terms of the capitulation the garrison were permitted to retire with everything except their arms, ammunition, and guns; the officers were allowed to wear their swords, the men to carry off their knapsacks, clothing, regimental bugles, church property, relics, and pictures.
When the Major-General was asked to use his influence, or to give a pledge that no harm should beiidl such of the allies as might enter the place, he said he would do so, " but at the same time I must tell you," added he, " that the flames are at this moment very near the grand magazine." This was a friendly caution, which produced, of course, a corresponding effect, and steps were at once taken to prevent any such lamentable losses as Avcre caused aftisr the evacuation of Sebastopol by the rashness of the troops. The second in command, the artillery officer, and the engineer, finding themselves deserted by officers and men, abandoned their suicidal determination, and surrendered; so Kinburn was ours, as far as the flames and smoke would allow us to occupy it.
The defenders of the northern forts on the spit were not aware for some time of the reduction of the principal battery, or at least paid no attention to it, and hammered away from one gun till a shot from the *' Terrible" utterly destroyed the casemate. As well as I can make out, there are in Kinburn Fort fifty-one guns mounted cii harhette, inside and in the outworks, six flanking guns in casemates, and twelve mortars, and of these twenty-nine are dismounted, smashed, or disabled in gun or carriage. Tn the Centre Spit Battery there are ten guns, of which two are disabled, and in the Spit, or North Battery, there are ten guns, of which three are smashed. We ariivcd just in time to prevent the latter work from assuming most troublesome dimensions, for the casemates were ready for nine more guns, and the platforms indicated they would be of large calibre.
The guns in Kinburn were long eighteen and twenty-four pou. i<^rs, of great weight and thickness, and some of ancient date; we found a small park of guns inside ready for mounting. Some of the others were of 1852, and the piles of shot and shell and stores of ammunition of all kinds were out of all proportion to the size of the place. The prisoners will be embarked and sent to Constantinople in the course of the day. They sold their kits and all they could dispose of — droschkies, horses, spare clothing, and food, by a rude kind of public auction on the spit this morning. Sir Edmund Lyons came down in a small gun-boat at ten o'clock to the beach off the encampment, and went on shore, but remained only a few minutes.
The " Triton" received orders to join the " Eoyal Albert," and the " Leopard" took her place, to protect the beach, and direct the landing of stores. The fleet is getting up steam — the small gun-boats are far up in the Bay of Cherson, supported by a vevy strong force of steam frigates and sloops. It is intended, we hear, to occupy the fort of Kinburn, and to put the fortifications in a state of defence. The enclosure will be divided between the Fi-ench and the English; and a portion of the allied troops will be stiitioned inside the present intrenchments on the spit. In order to ascertain the position and strength of the enemy towards Cherson, a strong reconnaissance will leave the allied camp early tomorrow, and go out for two days, feeling their way in that direction, in which the ubiquitous Liprandi is said to be concentrating his forces vf\i\\ the intention of attacking us.