equipment, and his clothes were then set fire to while
he was still breathing. The only consolation which
existed for any horror-stricken spectator lay in the fact
that the unfortunate man cannot have survived many
minutes. Few scenes I have ever witnessed were at
once more picturesque and horribly impressive than
that which met my eyes when the Bashi-bazouks began
to retire in wild disorder to the monotonous rub-a-dub
of their two drums. The Cossacks had been driven off
in complete rout, and were riding about, three or four
hundred in number, on the hill side, like a large
flock of sheep, awaiting reinforcements of regular
cavalry. Twenty or thirty Bashi-bazouks were chasing
a loose horse in the ruined village in the hollow, under
the very noses of the enemy, who did not dare to interfere;
the rest were returning from the fray, yelling,
whirling their lances about, carrying on conversations,
altogether at the top of their voices, in that least
harmonious of all languages, Arabic; some were running
races, bellowing 'Allah-illah-Allah!' in the height of
their mad enthusiasm, and others were ambling steadily
along, hidden under the huge bundles of hay which the
Cossacks had left behind; one bore in triumph a pot
from which he had emptied some hot soup; others were
laden with sacks of barley, others with boots; a few
had carried off lances, nearly all had something. Every
man seemed in a state of fierce and savage elation, and
evidently looked on the skirmish as a fait d'armes of no
ordinary brilliancy. One fine-looking young fellow,
certainly not more than twenty years of age, with eyes
of fire, coal-black moustaches, curled and trimmed in a
way that would excite the envy of many "a gent in
the Guards," joined my companion and myself as we
rode home, and in broken Turkish, his features glowing
with excitement, told us the story of his share in the
fray. He sat his horse with a grace and solidity that no
riding-school could ever give, and brandished a Cossack
lance in his hand. I shall never forget the expression
of brutal ferocity which passed over his fine face when
he recounted that, passing two wounded Cossacks lying
on the ground—and he laughingly imitated their groans
—he fired upon them and finished them. All this
while his comrades were yelling and prancing around us
like so many devils broken loose. I was considerably
amused by the manner in which the Tartars and Turkish
soldiers received the Bashi-bazouks on their entry into
the town. Each man, as they defiled through the gates
with his item of plunder, was evidently looked upon as
a hero. Here and there eager groups surrounded solitary
Bashis, who, from out bundles of forage, told the
story of the fight to their delighted auditory. No
rhapsodist was ever listened to in Homeric days with
more devout attention. A single glance at the faces of
the hearers was sufficient to reveal the thought which
at that moment filled the breasts of every one of them.
'These are real soldiers; we, with our drill, and
muskets, and yresbashis, bunbashis, and what not, are
but humbugs. That's the way war should be carried on.'
Laugh at this one might; but who could avoid seeing in
it a flash of departed glory and byegone times, when
battles were won and kingdoms gained in that very
way, by the rush of hosts of Bashi-bazouks? The poor
Turks often forget that the times are changed, and the
men too."

Despatches from Sir E. Lyons, dated the 17th of
March, give an account of the Operations on the eastern
shores of the Black Sea. The first of these reports the
destruction, by Lieut. Armytage, of the Viper, of the
martello tower and barracks of Djimiteia, which had
been recently erected for the defence of the direct
communication between Anapa Kertch, results which were
accomplished without any loss on his part. The second
despatch reports an attack made upon Soujak-Kalé by
Captain Giffard, of the Leopard, accompanied by the
Highflyer, Swallow, and Viper, and also by the French
steamship-of-war Fulton. Sir Edmund says: "Captain
Giffard was informed by the Circassians in the
neighbourhood that the enemy had so reduced the strength
of that fortress by the removal of men and guns to
Anapa, that they were ready to attack it by land if he
would do so by sea; and that he, wishing to encourage
the natives and to embarrass the Russians, had assented
to the proposal, and moved the ships to within 1,000
yards of the south face of the fort, where he performed
his part; but that on finding the Circassians did not
perform theirs, he withdrew, after having driven all the
garrison out of the place, with the exception of a few
gunners in the earthen batteries, and having also
dismounted several guns, and done considerable damage to
the arsenal and public works, leaving the garrison about
a mile from the place, surrounded by Circassians, who
were collecting reinforcements."

The Baltic Fleet sailed from Portsmouth on the 4th
inst. The ships which sailed were the following: they
are placed here as they appeared from the shore standing
towards the Nab. Port Division:—Magicienne, 16,
Fisher; Blenheim, 60, Hall; Colossus, 80, Robinson;
Duke of Wellington, 131, (Flag); Gorgon, 6, Crawford;
Cressy, 81, Warren; Bulldog, 9, Gordon; Majestic, 81,
Hope. Starboard Division:—Basilisk, 6, Jenner;
James Watt, 91, Elliot; Hogue, 60, Ramsay;
Edinburgh, 58, Hewlett; Cæsar, 91, Robb; Ajax, 60,
Warden; Nile, 91, Mundy; Exmouth, 91, (Flag); Royal
George, 102, Codrington. The fleet sailed for Kiel,
where it now lies. The latest intelligence states, that,
"after taking in coals, the Impérieuse and Euryalus
left Kiel harbour on the 15th. Two men-of-war passed
Copenhagen on the 14th steering southwards. Four
ships of the line are lying at anchor there."

The latest official account from the Crimea is
contained in a despatch from Lord Raglan, dated the 14th
of April. His lordship says:—"Since I wrote on the
10th instant, a steady and heavy fire upon the works
of the enemy has been maintained from all the batteries
of the allies. The practice both of the naval brigade
and the artillery has been excellent. The casualties
have not been very numerous, but the loss has fallen
heavily upon the sailors, as your lordship will see by
the accompanying returns, and the royal navy
has to deplore the death of Lieut. Douglas, who
had served with great ability and zeal from the
commencement of the siege. Lieutenants Urmston
and D'Aeth, royal navy, and Steele, royal marine
artillery, all valuable officers, have been wounded.
The Royal Artillery have also to lament the death of
Lieutenant Luce, who was an officer of much promise;
and Lieutenants Sinclair and L'Estrange are among the
wounded. The former has sustained several severe
injuries, but I am happy to add that there is every hope
of his recovery. They are both highly meritorious
officers. Captain Crofton, of the Royal Engineers, who
had in the course of the protracted operations before
Sebastopol rendered most essential service, has also
received a wound, which will, I fear, detain him from
duty for a very considerable time."

Accounts from Genoa state that on the 14th instant,
the King of Sardinia reviewed a portion of the troops
forming the Crimean contingent; and the chaplain of
the division blessed the colours with which they are
entrusted. After the troops had defiled before the
King, the minister-of-war read to them the following
speech in the name of his majesty:—"Officers, Sub-
officers, and Soldiers,—A war, founded on justice, on
which depends the tranquillity of Europe and the fate
of our country, calls you to the East. You will see far
lands, where the cross of Savoy is not unknown. You
will see brave peoples and armies whose fame fills the
world. Their example will be a stimulus to you to show
to all that you have no less valour than our fathers. On
other occasions I have led you on the field of honour,
and I remember with pride sharing dangers and fatigues
with you. I now grieve to separate myself from you for
a time. My wishes will follow you everywhere, and it
will be a happy day for me when I shall be reunited to
you. Soldiers, there are your colours. Generously
unfurled by the magnanimous Carlo Alberto, they record
a distant country and eight centuries of noble traditions.
You know how to defend them. Bring them back
crowned with fresh glory, and your sacrifices will be
blessed by the present and future generations." These
sentiments elicited rounds of cheering. In the evening
the King entertained the officers of the contingent, in
the palace of Alexandria.—The fine screw-ship CrÅ“sus