drink than by giving him 1s. 9d. to spend here, where
drink is literally the only thing he can spend it in.
The good qualities of the British soldier have been often
proved and extolled, and are admired by all; but
sobriety is certainly not one of his virtues; he will
drink if you give him money, and drink, as he does
here, until he brings himself to a level with the beast."

In consequence of the extent of the practice
among the officers of applying for leave of absence from
the army, General Simpson has issued the following
general order:—"The Commander of the Forces has
been much surprised at the numerous applications for
leave of absence which have lately reached him from
officers of all ranks in the army. He has to remind
them that they are still in the presence of a powerful
enemy; moreover that they have duties to perform in
camp not less important than those in the field; and
that the instruction, discipline, and well-being of the
troops are subjects which require the earnest attention
of all good soldiers."

Sir William Codrington has succeeded General Simpson
(who has resigned) as Commander in Chief of the
British army in the Crimea.

Lieutenant-General Sir Colin Campbell has returned
to England, having obtained leave of absence on account
of urgent private affairs. His absenting himself at this
time has been ascribed to dissatisfaction at the appointment
of General Codrington to the command of the
army. But it appears that Sir Colin had obtained his
leave of absence before the intelligence of General
Codrington's appointment could have reached the Crimea.

Prince Gortschakoff has announced his determination
not to evacuate the Crimea, by an order of the day,
dated the 25th of October:—"His Imperial Majesty,
our master, having charged me to thank, in his name,
and in the name of Russia, the valiant warriors who
have defended the south side of Sebastopol with so
much abnegation, courage, and perseverance, is
persuaded that the army, after having acquired liberty of
operations in the field, will continue by all possible
efforts to defend the soil of Holy Russia against the
invasion of the enemy. But, as formerly it pleased the
solicitude of the father of the great family (the army) to
order, in his lofty foresight, the construction of a bridge
at Sebastopol, in order to spare at the last moment as
much Russian blood as possible, so now the Emperor
has also invested me with full powers to continue or
cease the defence of our positions in the Crimea, according
to circumstances. Valiant warriors! you know
what our duty is. We will not voluntarily abandon
this country, in which St. Vladimir received the water
of grace, after having been converted to the Christianity
we adore. But there are conditions which sometimes
render the firmest resolutions impractical, and the
greatest sacrifices useless. The Emperor has deigned
to leave me the sole judge of the moment at which we
must change our line of defence, if such be the will of
God. It is for us to prove that we know how to justify
the confidence of the Czar, who has come into our
neighbourhood to provide for the defence of his country
and the wants of his army. Have confidence in me, as
you have hitherto had during all the hours of trial which
the decrees of Providence have sent us."

The following is a summary of a statement which has
been made of the strength of the British army in the
Crimea on the 16th of October, and its probable strength
at the commencement of the campaigning season next
spring. We have now in the Crimea 56,000 men, of
whom 51,500 are effective; calculating the mortality
among them as 100 a-week for six months, and the sick
list to be as numerous as at present, there would be of
the soldiers at present in the Crimea 49,000 effective on
the 15th of April; adding as reinforcement 2800
cavalry, and 20,000 infantry, we should have at the
commencement of the campaigning season, about 70,000
British troops in fair condition. The Turkish Contingent
will number 20,000, and this force will be further
materially increased. The different Foreign Legions
may be estimated at 5000 men, and omitting the
Sardinian army, the total strength is calculated thus:—
British troops, 70,000; Turkish Contingent, 20,000; the
British German and British Swiss Legions, 5000; making
altogether 95,000 men.

A despatch from Marshal Pelissier gives an account
of a serious disaster that had befallen the Allies.

"Sebastopol, November 16, six p.m.—Our park of
artillery (called Park of the Mill) near Inkerman was
partly destroyed yesterday at four o'clock in the afternoon,
by the explosion of three magazines, containing
altogether 30,000 kilogrammes of powder, 600,000
cartridges, 300 charged shells, and other projectiles. The
ignited materials, hurled to a distance, caused a violent
conflagration in the English park next to ours, and
there also partial explosions took place. At six o'clock
the English and French workmen were masters of the
fire. Our loss consists of 30 killed, including two
officers, and some hundred wounded, among whom are
ten officers. However sad such an event is, we must
still congratulate ourselves that the consequences have
not been more serious and disastrous. I am not able to
state the losses of our allies; I believe they are about
the same as our own. As nearly always happens in
similar cases, it is difficult to ascertain the cause of the
first explosion. This is certainly a very lamentable
accident; but our stores are so considerable, that the
resources of the army are not in the slightest degree
affected by it."

General Codrington has given some additional
particulars. "Sebastopol, Nov. 16.—A very heavy explosion
of a store of powder at the French siege train
took place at about 3 p.m. yesterday; it communicated
fire to our siege-train close to it, where there was no
powder, but some naval live shells, most of which were
removed; but the loss of life and damage done is
considerable. The great explosion threw shell over the
camp of our siege train; the huts of the first brigade
being entirely damaged, but not by fire. All officers
and men were on the spot at once, and worked with
good will and energy, and I saw all safe when I quitted
at 7 p. m. Killed—Deputy Assistant-Commissary
Yellon, R.A., and 21 non-commissioned officers and
men. Wounded—Lieutenant Dawson, R.A., lost his
leg below his knee; Lieutenant Robert, dangerously in
the arm; Lieutenant Eccles and Assistant-Surgeon
Reade, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, slightly; 116
brigade commissioned officers and men, of whom 47
slightly. Missing—4 rank and file."

Colonel Cameron of the Forty-second Regiment has
been appointed to the command of the Highland division
during the absence of Sir Colin Campbell.

The Gazette of the 20th instant contains a despatch
from Sir Edmund Lyons, enclosing despatches from the
commander of the flotilla in the Sea of Azoff. From
these we learn the operations of the flotilla between
the 10th and 25th October. On the night of the 10th,
Lieutenant Commerell, of the Weser, caused a prize-
boat to be carried over the Spit of Arabat, and launched
in the Putrid Sea. Embarking in this boat with Mr.
Lillingston, mate, Quartermaster Rickard, and two
seamen, he rowed across to the mouth of the Salghir
and Karasu rivers. Leaving the mate and one seaman
in the boat, and taking the others with him, he forded
the river, marched two and a half miles up its bank,
and, setting fire to large stacks of corn and forage, (400
tons,) totally destroyed them. In returning, the little
party was hard-pressed by the Cossacks. The seaman
sank in the mud, but Rickard gallantly rescued him
under fire; and all throe gained the boat, and returned
to the Weser without accident. On the 15th instant,
Lieutenant Day, of the Recruit, landed a party in the
face of the enemy on Whitehouse Spit, and burnt seven
boats, many new fishing-nets of great length, five large
new fishing establishments, full of quantities of fishing-
tackle and other gear. On the 20th, Lieutenant
Campion, of the Ardent, destroyed three boats on Crooked
Spit. On the 24th, Captain Osborn, of the Vesuvius,
landed a party of marines and small-arm men on
Whitehouse Spit, and destroyed eight rifle-pits, eleven
boats, and a large fishery; while Lieutenant Day
destroyed, in the neighbourhood of Mariopol, two large
fisheries and some fine launches, mounted on regular
travelling land-carriages. Captain Osborn, the senior
naval officer, says—"The extraordinary efforts made by
the enemy to prosecute their fisheries upon this coast,
are the best proof of their importance. They