ALEXANDRIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 10 February 1855, Page 3

ALEXANDRIA.

November 19th, 1854. Since the last mail went through Egypt to Australia, three great events have taken place at the seat of war in the Black Sea—the landing of the Allied English, French, and Turkish troops without opposition in the Crimea, on the 14th September; a great battle fought between the allies and the Russians on the bauks of the river Alma, twelve miles to the north of Sebastopol, on the 20th September, when the Russians were most signally defeated: and the commencement of the siege of Sebastopol on the 17th October. The latest intelligence received here from the Crimea reaches to the 4th inst., when Sebastopol was not yet taken, but the siege was being carried on with the utmost vigour, several reinforcements of French and Turkish troops having joined the besiegers. The weather had taken an unfavourable turn ; the troops on land suffered much from cold and wel, while the fleets were much knocked about by strong winds and a heavy sea. For ten days and nights preceding the 4th November," the allies had not ceased pouring shot and shells into the town of Sebastopol from 400 pieces of artillery, including mortars, Lancaster guns, and howitzers. The third parallel line of batteries had been formed close to the town, which, in places, was reduced to heaps of ashes and ruins, and several extensive conflagrations had taken place. The Russians had so many killed that they had not time to bury theiv "dead, and the stench from

their corpses was abominable, and extended for miles. Prince Mentschikoff, the commander-in-chief of the town had asked for a truce of thrse hours to bury the dead ; but General Canrobert, the successor of Marshal St. Arnaud, sent word that the allies had no dead to bury, and would not grant a truce of three minutes.

The French Commander-in-chief seemed anxious for a general assualt at once, but Lord Raglan preferred putting it off a little, feeling quite confident that the town could not hold out much longer, and being desirous to avoid the enormous sacrifice of human life which it would entail. The troops were, however, all clamorous for the assault which it was supposed would take place on the 6th or 7th November. It was not at all anticipated that this stronghold would be taken at once, but three or four attempts be required, and then it was imagined that it would be an affair similar to that of Saragossa. Several breaches had been made in the walls, and as all the regiments claimed the Honor of leading the assault, lots had been drawn for this purpose. We are now in hourly expectation of hearing of the fall of Sebastopol. Many Polish officers had deserted from Sebastopol and joined the allies, and from them much, useful informatiou had been collected regarding the assailable parts of the town, and the position of the numerous mines dug by the Russians. The Russians hare been defeated in every engagement, in the Crimea, and only once did they obtain a temporary advantage over a Turkish corps with 30,000 men, but were repulsed by the English cavalry and French Chasseurs d'Afrique. In this engagement the Russians lost 5000 men, and one of their regiments was completely annihilated by the Highlanders. The allies had 1,500 men killed and. wounded. On the 30th September the French General Farey had taken 4,000 Russian prisoners.

Our riflemen and the French carbineers had now approached so near to the walls of Sebastopol, that they could take good aim at the Russian artillerymen at their guns, and knocked them over as fast as they took up their positions.

It was anticipated by many that Sebastopol would have been taken in a very short period, but the allied generals had determined to besieging the town 'with every care and precaution, so as to avoid'the possibility of a failure. They therefore set about their work in the most scientific style, and gradually raised parallel batteries as "they approached the walls, and so worked with more certainty. In examining the plan of the town and harbour of Sebastopol, with its numerous forts and all that Jiature and art have combined to render it almost impregnable, one is terrified to think of the difficulties thai have to be surmounted before it is conquered. Sebastopol is armed with 1,600 cannon of large calibre, and all the energy and resources of a powerful empire have been concentrated to defend that fur-, midable arsenal.

The allied fleets had taken an active pan in. the bombardment of Fort Coustantiue, Quarantine Fort, and Fort Nicholas, the guns of which they had silenced, though with injury to many of their own ships, and loss of men. Reinforcements for the Crimea are being shipped from the Turkish army at Varna and Baltachick, and more French troops were expected, and the forces of the Allies may now be reckoned at not less than 100,000 men. The Russians were collecluie troops on the banks of the river Tachernaja to the eastward of Sebastopol, with the evident intention of annoying the allies with flank movements while they were engaged on the assault of the town.

The Turkish army in the Principalities is concentrating between Shumkinid Varna, anil it appears that Oiner Pasha is taking a position which 'will easily enable him either to marcn into Bessarabia or to semi reinforcements into the Crimea. . . The Russian troops are retiring' irora the delta of the Danube to the Upper Prnth, nna thev are evidently preparing to evacuate Bessarabia altogether after the tall of Sevastopol. Froni the army in Asia we have intelligence from Trehizonde up to the 22nd of October. The Russians hail taken up their winter quarters at Tiiiis, and the Turks at Erzeroum. In the Turkish e;>niu the cholera had broken out violently, awl from great nnsnianajrement ou the part of the superior ollicers, the utmost

disorder prevails amongst the troops. Desertions .are numerous, the country is very unsafe, and great cruelties are committed on the poor inhabitants.

At Constantinople the principal thought of all was tlit; cure n( the sick and wounded. All the hospitals were quite filled, and the patients had suffered greatly from the want of accommodation ; but since the arrival of a large number of English nurses and an accession of medical officers, they were getting on much better, and mortality had diminished. Greece is still occupied by French and English troops, whose presence is required there to prevent anarchy. The Sultan now seems inclined ti» make pence with Greece without insisting on an indemnity for the expenses of the wnr, which she certainly could never pay.

In Egypt thing's are quiet. The Viceroy is sending to Constantinople 10,000 more men, which will make 40,000 from this country. His Highness delights in playing- at soldiers, is always attended by a number of them and is just now on his way to Cairo by the desert with about 4000 cavalrv and artillerv.

The total abolition of the slave trade in Georgia and Circnssia will be a grand feature in this war; and, according to a firman obtained from the Sultan, by the strongest representations on the part of the British Ambassador at Constantinople, not only will all Circassian and Georgian slaves be set at liberty throughout the Turkish dominions, but the dealers also will be subject to severe punishment.

The steamer from London with the London mail of tiie 9tii oi November, arrived only this day, and the passengers proceed to Suez at once. The India, China, and Australia mails have been here since the 6th, and will proceed on their way to England to-morrow.

Lord Raglan has, it is said, been promoted to .the rank of Marshal, with a gratuity of £50,000, for the victory at the Alma.

Petropolotski attacked by the Allied Forces.— Capture of Two Russian Vessels. Death of Admiral Price. 64 French and English killed. Return of the Freneh fleet. .On the first and fourth of September an attack was made by the combined fleet upon the fortress of Petropolovsky. The Englith vessels of war comprised the President, the Pique, and the Virago; and the. French, the Forte, Eurydice, and the OWigado. The action was a very severe one, the English vessels firing 3000 balls. Two of the Unssian batteries were destroyed, and two crippled. The loss on the side of'the l.Htler was ?ery heavy, but not ascertained. Of the English and French forces sixty-four men fell during the assault. The Russian frigate Aurora, of 44 guns, and the Diana, of 20 guns, were moored inside, and protected by sandb7inks, behind which they operated as batteries beyond the reach of the French and English. One of the English vessels suffered severely in the fight, having i ost her foremast; but the fleet is expected to arrive in the course of a few days, and we suppose will be recruited by the addition of the Amphitrite and the Trineomalee, which, with the French coryetiee Artemese, are now cruising on our coast. The combined fleet of five Biitish and four French will then probably proceed to Petrupolovski and complete the work. When leaung the p : ,-rt, and a short distance outside, the Russian merchantman Sitka was captured by the allied forces, and sent to Vancouver. A Russian supply vessel was also taken ami burnt. Thioiigbout the seige we learn that the Russians fought with great courage, which is proved by the result. Tiie information afforded in regard lo the details of the battle is however, meagre and unsatisfactory. It does not appear that the British and French have come off with any very distinguished honour, but they may fare better on a second trial. The (iefences of Petropolovski undoubtedly render its capture quite a formidable undertaking. The Foue is a ship of GO guns, the Emydice o. 30 guns, and the Obligado of 30 <runs The fleet is anchored off North Beach. The Russian s.np bitka was captured on the Bth September She carried 10 guns, a crew of 35 men, and had 2a passengers. The crew and passengers were taken on board the Forte and Eurydice, and the ship was taken charge of by {h e President, Isque, aud steamer Virago, to be conveyed to Vancouver* Island. The Sitka was loaded wiih provisions for the Russian settlement, and had

touched at Ayan, where she discharged part oi ber cargo, and was hound thence to Petropolovski. jvhen she fell in with the fleet and surrendered at discretion, declining- to engage in a conflict with the odds 7to 1. It is reported by the Enrvdice that one American vessel was lying at Petropolovski (probably the brig Noble). On the Sandwich Islands, a Dutch ship, 130 days from Horns Kong, Tor San Francisco, was spoken, short of water, and intending to put in at Honolulu. Her name is not learned. The deiith of the English Admiral Price occurred on the3lst August, and was not caused by wound in the siege, but, as we gather the facts, from the discharge of a pistol which he was picking up. There is no reason to suppose that the act was premeditated, and the conclusion is that, this unfortunate occurrence was purely accidental. Captain Frederick, of the Amphitrite, succeeds in command of the fleet. A bearer of despatches for England has arrived in the Forte, and will leave in the steamer about the middle of the month. The French fleet hare been twenty-sir days from Petropolovski.