No doubt the enemy saw our preparations at Oczakoff, and were persuaded the troops were coming up to attack Nicholaiefi'. The infantry we saw were fine solid-looking masses of men. On Tuesday morning before we left they might be seen in the various villages or hamlets on the east bank, so that when they had united with the troops about Stanislaus, there must have been a good force ready for us. Admiral Stewart sailed from the Bug on Tuesday morning, and joined the fleet at Kinburn, and a poi'tion of the fleet which had gun-boats to tow started for Ivamiesch the same evening. The allied fleets, under Sir E. Lyons and Admiral Bruat, Sir H. Stewart and Admiral Pellion, sailed the following day for the same anchorage, and encountered a strong breeze of wind.
The wisdom and foresight of most of our military operations in burning, laj^ing waste, and blowing up, was never better exemplified than at Kertch. There was a very fine barrack near the quarantine.station, on the Bay of Kertch, recently built, provided with every comfort, and well supplied with water from a deep well, and with capacious tanks. In the ordinary exercise of reason these buildings should have been preserved, inasmuch as it was determined to keep a British force at Kertch, but before Sir George Brown left, they were burnt by order, and reduced to a heap of blackened ruins. We are now, with infinite labour and trouble, and at prodigious expense, sending the materials for huts to Kertch, and dragging them up close to the site of the barracks, where they will form a very poor })rotection against the weather in comparison with the substantial buildings which we destroyed.
As the tanks are ruined and the well spoiled, the men will have to di-ag water a distance of three miles to their new residence. Provisions arc now tolerably abundant. The '• Highflyer" returned yesterday from Circassia and a cruise along the Turkish coast, having on board the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Simpson, the artist, Avho accompanied him on the excursion. His Grace will find things greatly changed since ho left; roads made, huts erected, generals gone. Sir Colin Campbell, Colonel Stirling, Sir H. Bentinck, and Brigadier THE NEW COMMAXDER-I\-CHIEF. 317 Shirley, have left the camp during his absence. The Duke's trip is said to have been most agreeable, and to have aflbrded a pleasiint ynclange of hunting, shooting, visiting, travelling, sight-seeing, and Circassian adventure.
The 8th Hussars, with the exception of a troop ordered up as an escort to head-quarters, will embark to-day for winter quarters at Ismir. Before Sebastopol, Novemher 9. It is kuown that Sir William J. Codrington, with the local rank of General, will succeed Sir James Simpson in command of the army; that Sir Richard Airey, Quartt^rmaster-General, will retire in a few days, to be replaced either by Colonel Wetherall or Colonel Herbert. There is every prospect of undisturbed repose during the coming winter, and during the fine frosty mornings the drill sergeants can work their will with the awkward squads of recruits, so that on the return of spring there will be as fine an army here as ever was led by an English general.
Sir W. Codrington is just the man to draw in the reins gently but firmly, and to correct the evils which tend to mar its efficiency in the field. We are a little too free and easy. Rum is too plentiful, and money too abundant. In one small regimental canteen on the fifth of November, the anniversary of Inkermann, not less than 140/. was received in ready money for articles of consumption, mostly of a liquid nature, and about 50/. more was debited to good customers. The Russians maintain their usual attitude. The contraction of our straggling lines towards the Belbek destroys their only hope of temporary success in assaulting this position. Strange as it may appear to most people, I must express ray belief that the Russians do not intend to abandon the Crimea until they are forced to do so.
They occupja splendid position, notwithstanding all that the maps may indicate, and they will not believe their communications are cut off till the fact is evident. Their hope is probably that, by next campaign, the Crimea will be a vast camp, and that they will be in sufficient force to hem us in at Eupatoria, to defcnd the coast wherever we may make a descent, to hold Perekop, and to paralyse our army before Sebastopol, so that it cannot move on Cherson or Nicholaieff. They hold the rivers and streams of the Crimea, and tliat is a great advantage. However, there is one place in the Crimea from which an army might move with ease on the rear of the enemy's position behind Simpheropol, and it is not possible for the enemy to hinder our del)Ouclnn<]^ from this point unless the}' beat us in a pitched battle.