Sir W. Codrington received the local rank of Lieutenant-General in Turkey on 30th July, 1855. Sir Colin Campbell was gazetted to the same rank on 23rd January in the same year. The only officers now with this army who are senior to Sir W. Codrington are Lord Rokeby and Lieutenant-General Barnard, Chief of the Staff, and it is to be hoped they will consent to do duty with the troops, commanded by an officer under whose direction an honourable and glorious career is expected to open upon our arms. Sir Richard Airey is junior to the new Commander-in-Chief, bat it is certain that he will go home at no very distant period, as his health is much broken. The Commander of the Turkish Contingent, General Vivian, is senior to the Commander of the British Army, and it will be necessary to prevent inconvenience that Sir William Codrington should receive a step of rank.
By the by, when will the Gazette, or the authorities at home, abandon the foolish practice, as it seems and is called, of giving local rank to officers in Turkey while they are serving in the Crimea? Is it an indication of future policy, and is the Crimea to be a part of Turkey? Surely it would be better to say at once that the local rank was given to officers " during the Russian war," or in the " army of the East," or something of the kind. But this is a small matter. There is a report that General KnoUys may soon be expected. He is senior to General Codrington in actual army rank, having been appointed Major-General on 20th June, 1854, and he stands higher on the list of Majors-General than either Lord Rokeby or General Codrington.
Sir Richard Airey is so well acquainted y3 •with the details of his department, that it would be a pit}- to lose his services at present; but the report of his retirement is very general. Two persons are commonly spoken of, one of whom will probably be selected as his successor, these are Colonel Wetherall, of the Turkish Contingent (well known as one of the best officers in the army), and Colonel Herbert. It is almost certain that the latter will get the appointment, but there are not two opinions as to the qualifications of the two officers, notwithstandingColonel Herbert's acknowledged activity and ability. Colonel Wetherall is expected here momentarily. CHAPTEE XXXV. Both armies at bay — General Simpson's departure — Too much despatchwriting — Grand military work — 'Ihe duello between the north and the south sides — Treaty between France and England respecting the distribution of booty and trophies — Bread stuffs — Quality and quantity — Objects of art placed at tlie disposal of the generals in-chief — A present to the Ottoman Porte — Keturus of the booty — Preparations for the winter — General Codrington's Order on assuming the command — General Simpson's farewell.
Before Sebastopol, Novemler 13. The enemy have not stirred — they are only making huts and preparing for the winter. Still the allies expect, or rather hope, that the Russians will be considerate enough to play our game and come down to assault our position, and it is quite possible that the Russians are deludedenough to indulge in similaranticipations,and look forward to a number of little Morgartens amid the mountain passes of Aitodor and Mackenzie before the winter sets in. The extraordinary fineness of the weather affiards a daily reproach to whatever General it may be who ought to act offensively. "Within one day of the first anniversary of that terrible 14th of November, which will never be forgotten by those who spent it on this plateau, the air is still calm.
Since the expedition returned from Kinburn not one drop of rain has fallen; and each day has been cloudless, sunny, and almost too warm. The mornings and nights, however, begin to warn us that winter is impending. As I write, the sky is overcast and the atmosphere heavy — ii good specimen of a London November day, minus the fog, drizzle, or rain; but there is not a breath of wind. Under these circumstances it is to be regretted that the Admirals could not carry out tlieix' wishes concerning the expedition to Kafia, SIR w. codrington's good fortune. 325 ibr tlie onl^' ostensible oLstade to the tinclcrtakhi<T was the weather, and our experience and traditions of hist year certainly su<^gested extreme caution before we ventured upon sending a flotilla, filled with soldiers, on such an awful coast at this season, even for the very shoi't passage to Theodosia.