When after the long delays of Gallipoli and Varna, it was at last decided that the allies were to go to the Crimea, while Austria maneuvered into the Principalities, there were only two men in England who in the strongest terms denounced the intended expedition. Kossuth, in Glasgow, said to his audience that if the English went to the Crimea, they would be beaten, as their force was insufficient, and their cavalry would be destroyed by the Cossacks, since the Austrian occupation of the Principalities would enable the Czar to concentrate his forces around Sevastopol. Urquhart, in still stronger terms, said: "Not one of the soldiers who are going to the Crimea is ever to return." Both these statements were received with the credulous self-reliance of the English, who easily believed that they were invincible.
Even after the Eastern hoax of the capture of Sevastopol had exploded, it was still boldly asserted that the fortress of Sevastopol would soon have to yield; but the tidings became, little by little, gloomier, and now it cannot be longer denied that the allies are in a rather critical position.
If the contest goes on at its present rate, the forces now in the Crimea will be destroyed somewhere about New Year's day, and the allies will have the doubtful satisfaction of knowing that the Russians have lost twice as many, but are at last masters of the field.
SIEGE OF SEVASTOPOL—INCIDENTS.
November 3d.—It was expected in the French camp that an assault would be made on the 5th inst., and probably would have been, had not the Russians attacked the allied positions. Eight thousand French-men offered themselves as volunteers, but only 4,000, under Prince Napoleon, were selected. The first attack was to be on the Cemetery.
Apparently the assault was prevented by Menchikoff's attacking the camp on the 5th.
November.—The firing was slack on both sides. Preparations were being made for the assault, and scaling-ladders had been ordered up. Four Russian ships in the harbor had been sunk by the allies' fire. One of these ships was the "Twelve Apostles." Typhus had broken out in the city, from the number of unburied dead. Conflagrations are continually occurring from red-hot shot. Water is exceedingly scarce. The Russians are preparing for street-to-street fighting. They are posting cannon to sweep the streets, and fortifying houses.
HORRIBLE OCCURRENCE.
An occurrence of the most horrible nature has taken place. The great Hospital, in Sevastopol, was set on fire by the shells of the allies, and was burned to the ground, with all its inmates—two thousand sick and wounded.
In the battle of the 5th, the English had 2,000 killed and wounded. The loss of the French is not accurately known. The Russian loss is between 7,000 and 8,000.
The attack on the 5th was made by 40,000 of the enemy. The redoubts were taken and retaken. The French lost 1,500 killed and wounded.
The Russians had left the heights of Balaklava, and were expecting re-enforcements.
The typhus fever is raging at Sevastopol. The allies are continually re-enforced.
The steam frigates have arrived at Batoum to convey 4,000 troops to the Crimea.
Letters from Constantinople of the 6th, state that 5,000 French troops had sailed from the latter place for the Crimea with a favorable wind.