see any portion of tlie town, althoug-h the atmospliore is very bright and clear. This little breeze of wind will afford more food for the Papas to feed their ilocks withal. It is said that the clouds of dust we witness are natural to Odessa, and almost peculiar to it during the least breeze from S. or S.W, October 12. To-day was like unto yesterday, exactly. The French gunboats and om* ovn\ were getting under way just after noon, when the wind and sea rose as before, the weather looked threatening, and the very signals of yesterday were repeated. It is reported that a large lire was lately observed bm-niug on Kinburn Spit, and the " Spitfire" has gone away to reconnoitre. The mail arrived by a French steamer.
October 13. The wind was high, and the sea ran heavily till 2 o'clock this morning. The " Banshee" arrived about 10 a.m. At noon the weather looked threatening, and the same signals were repeated for the postponement of om* departure. The wind has hauled roimd to the north this evening, and the weather promises to be fine. The Admiral has signalled to the fleet to weigh to-morrow morning, at 6 o'clock, and to follow the " Royal Albert" in order of seniority. The weather threatening, barometer 29 "41, wind light from S.S.W. At 12"15 the signal was made to postpone departure till more settled weather, and at 12'30 orders were given to bank down fires and to prepare to start at dawn. CHAPTER XXXI.
THE CAPTURE OF KINBURN. The fleet sails along the coast — It anchors — The passage between Oczakoff and Kinburn Spit forced by a portion of the fleet — Landing of the troops — Bombardment by the gun and mortar boats — The wind rises and produces a surf that impedes the progress of operations — The French fall in with a Cossack picket — Seasonable supplies — Renewal of the attack — The intrenchments — Fall of Kinburn — Opening of the bombardment — A conflagration — An engagement between the fleet and the forts — Another conflagration — A flag of truce on the rampart — The Russians surrender — The garrison marches into our lines — Bumours. Off Kinburn, October 14. The fleet weighed and stood along shore this morning.
The inhabitants were in a ferment of alarm. The weather was beautiful, and we could at our leisure admire tlie numerous cleau-lookinjj^, snug villages, the immense flocks and herds and well-filled iurmyards, which met the eye along the coast. The fleet anchored at three o'clock three miles west of Kinburn Fort. It is understood that the plan of attack has been materially changed. October 15. Last night the " Valorous," Captain Buckle, with RearAdmii-al Sir H. Stewart on board, and several French and English vessels, forced the passage between Oczakoff' and Kmburn Spit, and got into Cherson or Dnieper Bay. I could only see five gun-boats, three French and two English, this morning, but I was assured the " Valorous " entered also. The troops landed without the smallest opposition, or even the appearance of an enemy, about four miles below the fort, in the order already indicated; the 17th regiment was the first to land, and the French were, for a wonder, behind ns.
The mortar and gun-boats bombarded the forts for three hours, but did not produce any apparent impression. The weather continuing fine, the troops set to work, intrenching themselves on the eandy spit: only a few Cossacks were visible towards Cherson. The wind rising, and thereby producing a surf upon the beach towards evening, suspended opea-ations. October 16. This morning a few French troopers, who were out patrolling in front of our lines on the plain towards Cherson, came upon a Cossack picket, hid in some brushwood. They charged at once with great gallantry, killed two, and took two prisoners out of the party, which consisted of eight men, and since this occurrence the Cossacks have not been visible in front. The breeze is still strong on the land, and the surf is so high as to render landing disagreeable.
Getting off" again involves the certainty of a thorough wetting. Great diflicultj"- is in consequence experienced in landing stores, and the paddle-box boats and flats, which got adrilt last night and this morning, are still on.shore, settling into the sand. One of these has drifted under lire of the fort. The Cossack guard-station is fast disappearing, as the few bouses are i'ound to contain wood, and wood burns, and fuel is necessary for cooking. The cow-houses and stables have been carried off' bodily, even the bulrushes are considered too valuable to be left behind; the cabbages have been cut, and the potatoes dug up, and the hedge taken away, the pigeons killed FALL OP K'l with revolvers, the poultry and pigs eaten, and the horses appropriated.