On reaching the bridge a halt was again called round the group of Cossacks, and all eyes were fixed on the two neat blue and Avhite-striped tents, with awnings over their entrances. Some of the Generals were standing outside, and it was evident that the conference was drawing to a close. A short delay ensued, which I perceived that the Cossack corporal availed himself of to exchange his Sardinian whip for a much better French one, the receiver of the former doubtless imagining he had secured a genuine Russian article. Then cocked hats and feathers were seen moving among the horses near the tents; orderlies and escorts mounted; the Cossacks did the same, and presently English, French, Sardinian, and Eussian Generals and Staff rode over the bridge and between a double line formed by the spectators.
General Timoieff, a soldierly-looking man of agreeable physiognomy, rode first, and smilingly returned the salutes with which he was received. General Windham was close beside him, a little in rear. There was an escort of French Chasseurs-a-cheval and a small one of the 11th Hussars, and the big horses and tall, well-fed men of the latter strikingly contrasted with the puny, although hardy steeds, and with the meagre frames of the Cossacks, who seemed to regard them with some wonderment, while the Hussars glanced at them as if they thought that one squadron of theirs would have an easy bargain of half a dozen sotnias of such antagonists. The cortege proceeded a short distance into the plain, and then the allied portion of it took leave of " nos amis les ennemis," and retraced their steps to the bridge.
They had passed ovei' it, and the crowd of spectators was following, when they were met by a throng of officers from the English camp, coming down to see the fun, which, unfortunately, was over. Nevertheless, they were pressing forward across the bridge, and would doubtless, had they been allowed, have ridden up to the Bilboquet battery, or across to Mackenzie's Farm — for it is an axiom out here that nothing will stop an English infentry officer, mounted on his favourite baggager; but a French Staff captain, seeing what was likely to ensue, ordered the sentries to allow no one to cross the bridge. As we rode up the ravine between the two mamelons, which witnessed such sharp fighting on the 17th of August last, we met scores more of English officers coming down, only to be turned back.
There were still a great number of the allied officers and soldiers scattered over the valley, but doubtless they will all have returned to our lines without annoyance, judging from the indulgence and courtesy shown throughout the morning by the Russians to ramblers somewhat beyond bounds. The General Officers who met to-day were — General Timoieff, Chief of the Staff of the 4th Corps of the Russian army, which is in front and furnishes the advanced posts; Generals de Martimprey and Windham and Colonel Count Petitti, Chiefs of the Staffs of the French, English, and Sardinian armies. The three latter were deputed by their Generals-in-Chief to present the proposals of armistice which these had discussed and decided upon. Their mission extended no further, and General Timoieff, not being authorized to accept those proposals without referring them to his General-in-Chief, merely took a copy of them, which he will transmit to General Liiders, who is said to be now close at liand.
It is probable, therefore, that there will be another interview for the definitive arrangement of the terms. Altogether, there were a good immber of Russian officers at and near Traktir-bridge to-day. Some of them were strolling by twos and threes in the field, at a short distance beyond, and when these were descried there was usually a regular charge down upon them by the allied officers, eager to make their acquaintance. Their manner was generally grave and rather reserved, but they conversed readily, and all had the tone and appearance of well-bred men. Some of them were very young. There was one youth of eighteen, who named to us the regiment of Hussars in which he was an officer, and seemed knowing about horses, pointing out the English ones from among the French, THE KXPLOSIOX IN THE WHITE AVOltKS. 117 Italians, and Arabs tliat stood around.