—so hearty and vigorous from the lungs of sick and dying
men came the sincere 'Amen!' You may well suppose
from our vast number the severe cases are many. The
deaths during the last few days have been on an average
thirty per diem, but this is not an excessive number
(sad as it is) when the vast number here are considered.
But amid all these scenes of suffering and death, I
cannot tell you what a load is off my mind when I know
that all are cared for and none neglected, and that we
have such an efficient band of nurses, medical officers,
and clergy. The unbounded liberality and sympathy of
our friends at home are most cheering to us, and I
cannot express to you how we rejoice in the expression
of it, either in private letters or public prints. We are
so glad to feel that we have a share in your thoughts
and specially in your prayers; and the kind words from
our homes, our country, our Queen, have reached the
heart of all of us during our first Christmas out in Asia."

The present appearance of Sebastopol as seen from a
position of the besiegers, is described by the correspondent
of the Morning Herald, from whose account it
appears that the place has been less injured than has
been supposed:—"The real damage inflicted on the town
of Sebastopol amounts to this—all the huts used by the
dockyard labourers and the Turkish parts of the town
outside the walls are nearly destroyed—that is, laid
almost level with the earth. The walls are here and
there marked with shot, but most unquestionably, as
defences, they are still uninjured. One large barrack
inside the walls against which our fire, as against a
government building, has been particularly directed, is
riddled in every part, and most of its roof destroyed.
The same is the case with about sixty or seventy of the
houses nearest to the walls, but beyond this nothing
has been done. Had any of the principal mansions
more to the centre of the town been injured, it would
be easily seen, as most of them are detached, and all
are as white as snow, and instantly show a shot-mark.
The splendid structure which we call the 'Parthenon'—
the Government house—and, indeed, 19-20ths of the
buildings, show no trace of injury. The streets which I
could see, and which, of course, were those nearest
to our 'batteries, were all in a most enviable state of
cleanliness and good order. In these were numerous
bodies of troops lounging about unconcernedly, with
their muskets piled upon the pathways. Many civilians
passed constantly to and fro, and now and then an
ammunition waggon; but I saw no trace of either
women or children, or vehicles of the ordinary
description. Once during the time I was watching, three
carts, laden either with sick or wounded—most probably
the former—passed towards the north side of the
town. None of the Russians appeared to take
the least notice of their suffering comrades, so
from that one may not unreasonably argue that they
have got as used to death and misery as ourselves.
Near to the walls on the south are the ruins of some
large building, which has evidently been burnt. This
is the hospital in which so many of the Russian wounded
unfortunately perished. Two or three more buildings
near the dockyard are also blackened by fire, as if they
had been 'gutted,' but the walls were too thick to permit
the conflagration extending. Most of the houses in
the Crimea—even peasants' cabins—are built with stone,
and of extraordinary thickness, for the purpose of resisting
the tremendous gales which sweep this part of the
world in winter. So much for the aspect of the town.
Of the earthworks round Sebastopol it is more difficult
to speak with accuracy. So numerous are these defences,
that of them it is quite impossible to gain at once a near
and extensive view. As far as I can judge from traversing
nearly two-thirds of the allied lines, the enemy's
batteries appeared generally in good working order.
Only in one or two instances were their embrasures
masked—that is, closed up when a gun is dismounted—
and these maskings I was informed by our officers would
be merely temporary, as the enemy always managed to
replace their artillery in twelve or fifteen hours. I
myself have seen them do so within three. The whole
of the enemy's batteries are now protected by a deep
ditch in front with regular abattis and rows of stockades
and chevaux de frise. From this fact alone it is evident
that they are guarding against, and, therefore, fear an
assault. But it is principally of the north side that I
wish to speak. I was told before I set out upon my
survey that I should be astonished at the immensity of
the Russian batteries, reaching from the head of the
harbour to the east, right round to Starfort and St.
Severnia on the north, and all of which had only been
unmasked two days previous. I know something of the
nature of Russian works, and the energy of Russian
perseverance, but still the tremendous extent of new
redoubts and batteries which I then saw thrown up all
round the city did, indeed, astonish me. Every space
from the circular earthwork and martello tower (the
latter now a mere pile of rubbish), round to the sea
near Cape Constantine, is one long line of redoubts and
batteries. Malta, Gibraltar, or the lines of Chatham,
all in one, would be far more vulnerable than these
formidable entrenchments, covered with infantry, pits,
and deep ditches in front, and protected by scarped
banks, stockades, and masses of cannon. I have seen
many of what are called first-class fortresses, but the
present aspect of Sebastopol might vie with any."

The correspondent of the Daily News, writing from
Varna on the 25th of December, makes some observations,
which deserve attention, on the character of the
Turkish troops:—

"No one who visits Silistria and the Arab Tabia, with
a full knowledge of the fact that in the latter, a small
and insignificant fort, constructed in the depth of winter,
with a ditch that the most timid rider who ever took the
field in England would not hesitate to cross in a standing
leap, a handful of Turks, never above a thousand
in number, resisted forty days the attacks of an
army of 60,000 men, well armed and well led, and
provided with every requisite for carrying on siege
operations with success, and thus, there can hardly be a
doubt, changed the whole course of the campaign, and
transferred the seat of war to the Russian territory, can
help feeling surprised at the strong feeling of hostility
towards, and contempt for, the Turkish soldier which
has sprung up in the minds of many people in consequence
of the unfortunate incident of the 25th Nov. in
the Crimea. Either the Turkish soldier is a good soldier,
is personally brave and fights well, or Oltenitza, Csitate,
and Silistria are so many dreams; and some hundreds
of individuals from various parts of the globe, without
personal interest in the matter and competent to form
a correct judgment upon it, have entered into a
conspiracy to propagate one of the most curious
falsehoods and delusions recorded in the whole history
of imposture and deceit. It is quite true, that at
Kalafat the Turks were well led, and that many
of their officers were Europeans—Hungarians, Poles,
and others. At Oltenitza they fought under the eye
of Omar Pacha, who himself directed most of the
movements in person. At Silistria the whole defence
was conducted by an Englishman and a Prussian. At
Giurgevo they were led by Englishmen. At Benzeo, the
last affair of the campaign, the Turkish cavalry, commanded
by an Englishman, charged and routed a superior
body of Russians. But no one ever contended that
officered solely as they are at present they could be
looked upon as good European troops. At Sebastopol,
owing to Lord Raglan placing too much reliance in
their steadiness behind entrenchments, 300 men were
placed in three redoubts, two miles distant from any
support. When they saw 30,000 men advancing to
attack them they ran away, the officers leading the van.
This is just what I would have expected. Again, when
they were formed on the flanks of the Highlanders, they
likewise ran away, and everybody cries shame because
the Turks did not receive a charge of Russian cavalry
standing two deep, as if they, poor wretches, led by the
offscourings of the populace, the vile favourites,
chiboukges, and grooms of pachas, armed with flint-lock
guns, half-clothed, and half-starved, can be expected to
do everything that Highland regiments will do, in the
highest state of discipline, well armed, animated by
glorious traditions, and led on by men who fear
dishonour more than wounds, and who are looked up to
by the soldiers, not simply because of their military
rank, but because of their greater intelligence, better
education, and higher station in society. The poor
Turk knows well that no one of his officers is a whit