ship-guns, and it seems a settled thing that until fresh
orders it has given up all intention of undertaking
anything against us. In the meantime, our situation is
improving in every respect. The reinforcements arrive,
and the condition of our regiments of Zouaves, like that
of all those originally from Africa, is especially satisfactory.
Our commissariat supplies have assumed large
proportions, and I find myself this very day enabled to
distribute among the troops a daily ration of wine or
brandy. This is a very important point, which will
prevent much illness, and keep up our effective strength.
Winter garments are also arriving, and already the hood
and sheepskin paletôt are common in our camps. The
soldier will nobly and courageously support the trial of
the bad season when he thus sees himself the object of
special care, evidencing so much anxiety for his situation
on the part of the Emperor and his ministers.
The Turkish government has promised me 6000 conical
tents, which are in great request here, on account of
their resisting better than our own the very violent
winds of these countries. I can assure you, Marshal,
that the army is getting to be singularly inured, and
you cannot imagine how our young folks, rapidly
ripened by the greatness of the contest, are fast
becoming old soldiers. It would have delighted you to
see deployed lines remaining calm and immoveable
under a fire of artillery which Lord Raglan declared
to me was superior to what he had heard at Waterloo.
I give you these details, because they cannot fail sensibly
to interest you, and at the same time reassure you. The
new divisions will find here elder ones that will set them
a good example."

The Moniteur has published the following letter
addressed by the Emperor to General Canrobert:—
"Palace of St. Cloud, Nov. 24th.—General.—Your
report respecting the victory of Inkermann has excited
deep emotion in my mind. Express, in my name, to the
army my entire satisfaction with the courage it has
displayed, with its energy in supporting fatigues and
privations, and its warm cordiality towards our allies.
Thank the generals, the officers, and the soldiers, for
their valiant conduct. Tell them that I warmly
sympathise with their misfortunes and the cruel losses
they have experienced, and that my constant solicitude
shall be directed to the task of softening the bitterness
of them. After the brilliant victory of the Alma, I had
hoped for a moment that the routed army of the enemy
would not so easily have repaired its losses, and that
Sebastopol would soon have fallen under our attacks;
but the obstinate defence of that town and the reinforcements
received by the Russian army, have for the
moment arrested the course of our success. I approve
of the resistance you made to the impatience of the
troops, who wished to make the assault under circumstances
which would have entailed too considerable
losses. The English and French governments direct
their serious attention to their army in the East.
Already steamboats are traversing the seas with
considerable reinforcements. The increase of assistance
will double your forces and enable you to assume the
offensive. A powerful diversion is about to take place in
Bessarabia, and I receive the assurance that from day to
day in foreign countries public opinion becomes more
and more favourable to us. If Europe should have seen
without alarm our eagles, so long banished, displayed
with so much éclat, it is because it knows that we are
only fighting for its independence. If France has resumed
the position to which she is entitled, and if victory has
again attended upon our flags, it is—I declare it with
pride—to the patriotism and to the indomitable bravery
of the army that I owe it. I send General de Montebello,
one of my aides-de-camp, to convey to the army
the rewards which it has so well merited. In the meantime,
General, I pray to God to have you in His holy
keeping.—Napoleon."

General Canrobert's powers as Commander-in-Chief
of the French army of the East have received a further
extension. He is not only authorised to fill up the
vacancies of officers up to the rank of chef de bataillon
or chef d'escadron inclusively, but also empowered to
make nominations in the Legion of Honour of the
grades of chevalier and officer, and to award military
medals.

The Duke of Cambridge (respecting the state of
whose health the most exaggerated accounts have been
published) arrived at Constantinople on the 27th of
November, from the Crimea. His Royal Highness was
somewhat better, but still far from having recovered his
health. He put up at Missirie's Hotel, with his aides-
de-camp, Major Macdonald and Captain Clifton. While
the Duke was with the army, he shared all the dangers
and hardships of his division. In the camp of Sebastopol
he slept in a bell tent, lived chiefly on his rations,
and carried as little baggage as the youngest of his
officers. He had but one suit of clothes, and when part
of them required mending he had to lie in bed, until the
tailor had done the job. On the 20th September, and
the 5th November, he was in the thick of the fight, of
which he bears honourable marks. Before he left for
Constantinople, he wrote from on board the Retribution,
in Balaklava harbour, the following letter of thanks to
Colonel Reynardson, left in command of the Brigade of
Guards: "I am personally most grateful to both officers
and men for their noble conduct in the battle of Inkermann,
and I feel confident their services will be duly
appreciated by the country and the army. Where all
distinguished themselves so much, it were wrong even
if it were possible to name any one in particular. Most
deeply do I deplore the heavy loss the Brigade sustained:
but the victory gained has been most important,
and the enemy himself sustained a loss he will not
easily forget. I wish you all health and happiness
during my period of absence from you." It is stated
that his Royal Highness is so much recovered as to be
able to return to the Crimea.

Interesting accounts are given of the labours of Miss
Nightingale and her assistants in tending the wounded
at Scutari. They are unremitting in their attention,
and display a zeal and activity beyond all praise. Their
ability has been fully acknowledged by the military
surgeons, who have all confessed that they were of the
greatest use in attending to 600 wounded who came in
on the 9th of November. These were the wounded of
the 5th, at Inkermann, who were rejoiced to find that
they were to be tended by English nurses. One poor
fellow burst into tears and exclaimed "I can't help
crying when I see them. Only think of Englishwomen
coming out here to nurse us; it is so homelike and
comfortable." A correspondent of the Times writing
on the 10th of November, says: "Miss Nightingale
appears eminently qualified for the noble work she has
undertaken, and I trust she may have strength to carry
it out. Her labours will spare the clergy many a sad
sight of men sinking for the want of proper nursing,
and because food cannot be administered often enough.
This is impossible with only hospital orderlies; but with
the nurses, all who need will be supplied. Mrs. and
Mr. Bracebridge are most active and all are in full work.
Mr. S. G. Osborne has arrived; under his care has
been placed half of the Barrack Hospital, which to-day
numbers 2300 patients, and will have another 600 added
during the day. The Hospital Proper numbers still
1000 patients. Mr. A. Stafford, M.P. for Northamptonshire,
is here, and has volunteered to write letters
for the men. They are very glad of his services, and I
have seen him sitting hour after hour on the beds,
most patiently writing the words which will cheer many
hearts at home. Mr. Osborne's son is also engaged in
the same work. Mr. Osborne has some funds, and
generally adds one or two pounds to Mr. Stafford's
letter, where wives and families at home are in need.
Lady Stratford comes and sends frequently, and has
made me her almoner for jellies, pies, and soups for the
officers. Miss Nightingale only takes care of the men,
so Lady Stratford sends for the officers. We much
need religious books and small common Prayer books.
My stock is exhausted, but I have Testaments still. I
have distributed 1100, and more are needed. The
Bible Society at Stamboul send me any quantity of
Testaments. Devotional books are much needed. The
Bishop of London's 'Private Devotion' is much prized;
but 1000 Prayer books would be the best gift. The
number of medical men in attendance at the British
Hospitals has been considerably increased. Their actual
number is seventy-two. The principal and most