Up to the latest advices from the Crimea, the actual siege operations against Sevastopol had not yet begun. The bombardment of the 4th was only a trial of the range of the guns. According to the English dispatches, the siege cannot begin before the 9th; according to a reported statement of Gen. Canrobert, the place may hold out for a fortnight after the fire from the trenches is opened; and according to the authority both of Omer Pasha and of the Russian papers, the re-enforcements which Prince Gorchakoff can send to Menchikoff may arrive before Sevastopol about the 15th inst. The allies have, therefore, evidently one battle more to fight before they can take Sevastopol. The conquest will be dearly bought, since the expected arrival of the Grand Duke Constantine at Sympheropol forebodes a strong resistance, and desperate efforts for saving the place, the Commander of which—General Lermontoff—is known for his obstinate resolution and firmness of character. Still, though the English and French papers are fully confident of speedy success, they begin to feel that the capture and destruction of Sevastopol, and even the occupation of the Crimea, cannot lead to peace; that is to say, to a peace which will guarantee the independence of Turkey, and which involves a humiliation of Russia. Kossuth's idea, therefore, that unless Poland should be restored, even a victory over Russia must remain barren, begins to become popular even among the higher circles.
THE WAR—SEVASTOPOL NOT YET TAKEN.
The news from the Crimea is—nothing! A multitude of private letters, telegraphic dispatches, and revivals of old news is found in the English and Continental papers, but none of these state that Sevastopol is taken, nor that the allies have made much progress toward taking it.
Lord Raglan's latest dispatches say that he expected to "open fire" in a few days, and private letters add that an attack on the outworks was fixed for the 9th inst. Menchikoff kept the field to the northward of Sevastopol. The position of the allies was strong and easily defensible against an attack from the landward. The allied extreme right leans on the slope of the mountains east of Balaklava, which run down like immense walls to Aloushta. The body of the right wing is at Kamara, and outposts are posted off on the Black River. The center occupies the roads leading from Kadikoi to Sevastopol, and from Bakshiserai to Balaklava. The body of the left wing is at Karani; the outposts at Khutor. The allies' siege artillery, with 60,000 gabions, fascines and piles, have been disembarked and have mostly reached the camp. Menchikoff has one hundred field guns with his army. On the 4th a cannonade took place between some English steamers and the quarantine fort of Odessa—nothing resulted.
THE DANUBE.
The Turkish army is ready to second the operations of the allies, and we again hear that Omer Pasha is preparing to assume the offensive in Bessarabia. It is supposed that his operations will commence on three points, the Pruth, the Dobrodja, and the sea.
THE BALTIC.
There can now be little doubt that the Baltic fleets will return home without attempting any further operations. All the smaller English steamers have already left, and the whole of the French fleet is on its way to France. The English sailing fleet, under Admiral Plumridge, was in Kiel Bay. Admiral Martin, with a small steam squadron, was among the Aland Islands and in the Gulf of Bothnia. A squadron, under Captain Watson, was cruising off the Gulf of Finland, Riga and Courland. Sir Charles Napier, with the screw line-of-battle-ships, had gone to take a last look of the Russian ships at Helsingfors.
JAPAN EXPEDITION—ATTACK ON SITKA.
Commodore Perry was to return home next month (September). The American ship Lady Pierce had arrived at Hong Kong after visiting Jeddo and Simodi, at which places she met with a favorable reception. The U. S. ship Supply was at Canton. The British Admiral Stirling remained at Shanghai awaiting the arrival of the French Admiral Laguerre, in the French frigate Jeanne of Arc. On his arrival the united French and English fleet were to proceed to Sitka to attack the Russian ships and forts there.