There is no news to record except what is contained in my diary. Aovemhcr 7. The enemy since morninsr have been executing manoeuvres on a vast scale all over the plateau, from the west side to Mackenzie's farm. The}- are in full uniform, their great coats being laid aside; and it is evident that they are undergoing inspection by some great personage. The gleam of buyonets flashed in every direction over the ridges, and pierced the brushwood, showing the number of troops to be very considerable. The manceuvres lasted till kte in the afternoon. November 8. A beautiful day, with scarcely a breeze of wind, a fine genial sun, and a pleasant atmosphere; all lost so far as the expedition to Kaffa is concerned.
The men have now been ten days on board ship, and the cost of such a little armada would startle our economists if they knew the precise amount. It is, besides, very hard on the officers and men to remain cooped-up in men-of-war at a period when their presence is \u*gently required in camp, to construct huts and carry on various works of pi'epai"ation for the winter. Should they return to their old quartere, they will most likely find the excavations over which their tents stood filled with water. Should the weather break, there will be discomfort enough, and it can hardly liold fine mtich longer. It is not very agreeable to Jack, either, ■who finds his ship turned into a barrack, and himself suddenly cribbed, cabined, and confined in his own castle.
Money, time, opportunity, are all wasted alike — we don't " know the reason why." It is said that there is a difference of opinion among the Generals and Admirals, and that in their strait they have refen-ed to England and France, or rather to the governing powers of those countries, for instructions. It cannot be doubted, that if England and France were consulted, they would say, " be off at once! do something for goodness' sake, or go on shore and stay there." Tlie answer recently received to a message, requesting the instructions of an eminent person as to the departure of the expedition, is said to have been, that he was not in possession of sufficient facts to enable him to decide, and he wished for further information.
Thus some time will be lost before auotlier telegraphic despatch can be received. One can only say that such loss of time is as much to be deplored as it is irreparable. The English Admirals are in favour of the expedition, and some military men. MajorGeneral Windham and others have always believed that Kafla and the Kertch peninsula would have been the proper base of our operations in the Crimea and against Sebastopol. Admiral Bruat warmly co-operates with ISir Edmund Lyons, but he is under the orders of Marshal Pelissier, and it is affirmed that the latter is averse to any further reduction or dispersion of his armj', which he is concentrating as much as possible on the Tchernaya and Baidar, to be prepared for an attack, should the enemy resolve on such a desperate measure ere winter sets in.
Hence probably arise the diH'erences of opinion which require an arbitration at home. But the arbitrator, although we can talk to him by the agency of lightning, is a long way off, and in spite of all his sources of knowledge, is necessarily unacquainted with many things, and while his decision is pending, the time i'or striking the blow which he may fmally order and approve of will be gone for ever. The weather is too good to last, and a continuation of it for a day longer cannot be calculated upon with any degree of certainty. In the Crimea the fog bi'ceds the storm, and last night and early this morning we had a very heavy fog, which endured till the sun warmed uj) the air.
Thei'e may be much force in Marshal Pelissier's objections to any reduction in the strength of his army just now, whilst rumours to the effect that the Russians are preparing to tlirow away the lives of more of their soldiers in assaulting our position are in circulation. However, the Imperial Guard are under orders to embark for France, and they might as well take Kaffa and Arabat en route, and secure us the peninsula of Keri:ch for the winter. Ten or certainly nine days have elapsed sinci? the fleet left the Spit of Kinburn, and Kaffa and Arabat would have been taken and reduced, and fortihed over again, in that time, if they were to be taken at all. Sir Edmund Lyons is not a man to let the grass grow under his feet; but one foot he cannot move, for he is tied by the leg, just as he was when he in vain opposed the famous flank march on Balaklava, and advocated a rush at the town ere the enemy could recover from the efl'ects of their dismay.