oy RI Pe

94

THE

0 ENE SO Ee es TE BL

me ee - - - ee _— = eee me

and eoe whether the good Jesus has not eometiing to give us! old acquaintance, the good man drow from hia pocket a golden | that of her good old friend, whilst she laid the other com- took place, and had just reached the hill, or clevated part

EXAMINER.

ee

eel a. Seneneutinn

a

tov, that we may keep the feast tomorrow like everybody else.” lanuffbox, and offering hima pinch of the best Virginia, whis passiofiately upon the arm of the dying man,

The two children accordingly est forth hand ja hand. | pered conddentially, bud so that all the world could hear, ** ft

Sig'its and sounds of rojvicing m%< them atevéry step. Miners in holiday attirs wandored through the streets in merry groups, vod paussd beneath the windows ef the richer citizens to sing their Christmas carols. The doors of the house thus serenaded never failed ta open when the singers paused, and the leader of the party always reesived from the generous host a few pieces of glittering ein in eXhang» Tor his song and his good wishes.

The children, followmg the example of their elders, joined thems ives in tittle bands, and went singing from door to door,

his the gift of a grateful pupil; see! that is engraven on the tid; and when [ received it, it was filled with gold ?”’

Then while the visitor was expressing his admiration of the gift, the old man would hastily draw a handsome gold repeater from his fob, and exclaim, ‘She gave me this, too! ) You want to know the exact hour’’ | delight of achild who has just received a new toy, he would make the repeater strike,

| “Ts it not true, good Master Chanter,’ said a new arrival,

whilst many & Christmas-boxs was ungrudgingly bestowed on |‘ that this is a very triumphant day for you?” ie 7% ca : u ** Los, indeed it is; and for the town of Subery too. She is; you, and J have more yet in store for you. As Veronica gazed on the morry scene, 8 sudden thought! my pupil, and she was born within its walls. “May the Al-

the young musicians.

flashed across her mind—W hy should rot she, too, Bing, ard perhaps obtain a little mousy to buy a few Christmas es: forts jor her father? He sat at home so desolate, ap? y dry crust was their only provision for the morrow ! ; _ Brought upin retires nt,and haying © Jdom time ¢5 mingle iu the pastimes of the children of tho place, Veronica at first hrank from the chought of de; OD ae ie ee Se 8 sng any Ch lag to attract attene tion; but tke recollection of her bli? Pape oan " : “I fither nerved her to the task, anddrawing bey veil yet e

' - af eb eloser round ber, she hastened te tar qrerwt o che t wh wy ere she was ieast known. Hold- dug her eile brother *

; wy the hand, sie paused beneath the — of & smal" neat-l king house, hed with a beating eart but a Pe, frosh votee, began the following couplet :— ** Cheer up, cheer up, ye miners braye! Aud though your lat be one of toil, Still lot your hearts with joy bear up! Beneath the might your right hand wields The earth her chois-st treasure yiclds, Cheer up, brave hearts—cheer up!” The words wore simple and unartistic, and poor Veronica's w ice at first trembled so much that she could hardly articulate them; but her courag> ros: as she proceedad, and she sang the chorus with an ensrgy and expression beyond her yeare. She paused: adeep stlevce egsued, and two long migutes elapsed—minutes whieh #:emed to her an age. Confased and

humiliated at the thought of her unsuccessful attempt, she |

was about to retwre when the door opened, and a woman placed in her hand a piece of cake and three kreutzers.

Veronica's heart overflowod with joy. **Oh look, Georgey !" ahe exclaimed. ‘* Has not my first attempt been a successful one? You shall have the kroutzers for your share, but the cake I will keep for poor papa, that he too may know it is Christmas. Who knows but ¢he gvod God may send us another piece !*’

Cheersd by this encouragement, the little songster went on her way, and many a heart was opened to her, and many a kreutzer and Christmas cake found their way into the pockets ef her little brother. But there is no rose here below without a thorn. From one window a harsh voice cried out, ** Go on, and do not disturb us, you impertinent iittle wretch.”’

Veronica, with a glowing cheek and tearful eye, went her way, and thought she woald sing no more. But as she passed betore the house of the superintendent of the mines, tl wealthiest man in Subury, she said, [will try my chance yet this once.’’ This time she did her.very best; her veice rove clear and sweet in the still, frosty air of evening—it might almost have been deemed an angel’s song.

Soon a windew on the first story opened ; she held out her hand for the expected boon; a kreutzer was dropped into it, but as it touched her she uttered a piercing ery, and let it fall upon the ground. The kreutzer had been heated red-hot. and the author of this gratuitous piece of cruelty only met her ery of anguish by an insulting laugh. m r

Veronica, weeping bitterly, turned to rejoin her brother, who lingered a little way behind her, whilst eating one of his

Christm ts cakes. He asked her why she cried, but she would |

not sow the seeds of bitterness in his infant heart by telling

him that man—m.n created in the image of God—had dared |

t» inflict so grievous a wrong on one of the * little ones *’ whom | the Saviour came on this night to bless and to save.

safe place.”’ | In order to afford additional pleasure to the benevolent heart

‘mighty Spare me to the close of this day, and then J am ready , bo depart in peace.” The concert-room resounded with applause when, after a few moments of silent expeetation, the door opened, and Ver- ‘onica Madel, radiant with beauty apd with goodness, appeared upon the seene with her blind father leanng upon her uri, ‘und her brother standing by her side. The mountain musi- cians, proud of accompanying their admired country-woman, layed their best, and Veronica sung as she had never sung Sites! even in the imperial halls, Every beart was touched, and every voice was raised in acclamatious. Her brother George also, and his performance ypon the violin, met with a due meed of praise. | <All the pieces announced in the programme had been gone through, and the audience was about to retire, when suddenly the musicians commenced an air which was well known to all present. The young Madel took up the theme, and displayed his talent in a series of brilliant variations, whilst at the close his sister burst forth in a voice whose sweetness and power bore it aboye the full tones of the orchestra.

‘* Cheer up, cheer up, ye miners brave ! And though your lot be one of toil,

Still let your hearts with joy bear up! Beneath the might your right hand wields The earth its chuisest treasure yields, Cheer up, brave hearts—cheer up !""

At this moment the whole assembly arose like one man, the musicians laid down their instruments, and eyery voice joined in the chorus—

‘* Cheer up, braye hearts—cheer up !"’

The concert-room resounded with the joyous song, and eyen the cantatrice herself was forgotten in the enthusiasm of the -moment, when suddenly the old sehoojmaster was seen forcing his way through the crowd ; and in another moment, forgetful

of the imposing audience and the dignity of the prima donna of the Imperial Opera, he had clasped to his heart his grateful

pupil, who had so far transcended his brightest hopes; and |

| Veronica, turning to the wondering audience, told them with tears of grateful affection that to this good old man she owed, ) under God, all the success she had attained, and all the hap- 'pmess she now enjoyed. Then gracefully bowing to the assembly, she withdrew, followed by universal plaudits,

The inhabitants of Subery had clubbed together in order to give a splendid banquet to their talented and generous country woman at the close of the concert. Whilst the preparations for the festiyal were in course of completion, the chanter drew his pupil aside, and said to her, in the familiar tone of former

days, ** My good Veronica, can you spare half an hour to ac- ‘company me home? This money weighs me down: I should

like to dispose of some of it to-might, and to leave the rest ina

of the old schoolmaster, Veronica had entrusted him with the distribution of the receipts of this evening's concert, and she now gladly acceded to his request.

Confiding her father to George’s care, she followed the chanter through many a winding street, which the darkness of

‘the night and her long absence from Subery prevented her! of his geographical knowledge of it.

bestows updn you a free pardon. See, the wound is healed Kunkel raised his bead and looked anxiously at Veronica

And with the innocent | are only mocking my misery."’ anew 105, suid Roane, ** M < indeed she. ae colour of the pillar was dark grey, flushed with red, but jt God's merey, your burning kreutzer became to me a golden. : : eget

ae ihe es some of its produce.”’ And 80 saying, he! — all een an pulls of smok HCH Marked laid a handful of mgney on the table and adding, ** This is for CXp!osion oO ‘ 8.

‘* Believe me,”

Keathel,”? avid the charter in a solemn tone, + here is the be cose oa ie ae a = yo aos aaa that they took away one’s breath, Neither pen nor " ‘a.| could describe them. ‘No,’ ho excleimed with a groan ; it is impossible that that | tained a height [ dare not estimate, in one great pillar, Now, if| fine lady can be the little girl to whom I was 80 cruel. You then seemed to shoot out like a tree, which overshadowed

‘the plateau, at the time, and happened to be looking jn very directioy of the park. The phenomena were go gt

The rush of fire, smoke and ;

‘the camp on the right, and rained down missi!cs upon it,

It retained the shape of a fir-trog f, ‘nearly a minute, and then the sides begat to swell out

Kunkel, with a bewildered air, gazed, alternately at the | the overhanging eanopy to expand and twist about in

money’ upon the table, at his wife, Veronica, and the chanter. gious wreaths of smoke, which flew out to the right ang

but it cannot—it cannot be!

vineed.”’ Veronica, in a half-suppressed, softened voice, began th

piring 7 towards heaven. This time

. . : ’ an earnest though a faltering voice, ** Cheer up!’

song of joy over & repentant sinner, and he was comforted. out his wearied limbs and fell asleep—jt was the slegp of death.

marbie brow and said, ‘‘ No longer, my son, do we need to say unto thee, ‘ Cheer up!’ ”’ : After saying a few words of comfart to the poor widow, sorrow, for they knew their fellow-townsmen were awaitin their presence at the banquet. A higher joy than any which this earth can give, although it was a jos tinged with sadness, filled their hearts. The scene they had just witnessed had seemed to open another world to their gaze, And so glasses touched around the table, and kindly wishes circulated, they extended their wishes beyond this earth, even to a meeting a brighter and better world. And thus as the miner, when he issues forth from the gloomy depths of earth, welcomes the | bright light of day with the joyous chorus ‘* Cheer up, brave | hearts—cheer up!’ 89 did the old chanter and his young pupil, ‘as they thought of that brighter day which no night shall ever interrupt, sing with thankful hearts, ‘* Cheer up !”’ Happy they who can do the same! Happy they who, like Veronica Madel, have learned to ‘* overcome evil with good !””

_—aee

| Correspondence. PRADA PRR PADD LARLLLELEL_LOOOONONnn""n": Mr. Wyevan ;

Haszard's Gazette, of Wednesday last, contains some edi- torial remarks on the Jate storm, in which appears the follow- ing:—* One vessel which has gone to pieces between Country Harbour and Merigomish, is supposed to be the Bay Stella,” &e. I understand the talented editor of that paper hails from Nova Scotia, bis birthplace being Halifax.. From the juxta- position in which the places “ Country Harbour and Merigo- ‘mish” are noted, one would suppose that these two localities | were near each other, not unlike to Pownal Bay and Char- | Jottetown Harbour; and few of your readers—who will learn ‘from said talented editor’s own writing in the same paper, that he who could write himself as having addressed so special a meeting as was convened at the Mechanics’ Institute in a most gallant style !—will suppose that he is so supremely ignorant of his own country, as to make such a “ holy show” ‘of Why, sir, these two

miners’ song. ‘The mother stood by in silence, listening to the © ¢ celestial aie : the infant’s wailing was hushed ; the dying Jike the opening erash of one of the great crunonades or boy, man folded his hands upon his breast. and raised his dim, ex- bardmeyt of the siege.” Rossel could not join)

in the chorus; the sick wan did so in his place, and a sow and successful exploits of Captain Osborn, the attitude of ti seeme to him in that hour as though he heard the angels singing their

‘He no longer felt the burning pain in bis throat. He stretched

Veronica and the old schoolmaster left together this house of,

At length he exclaimed, ‘* Oh how gladly would eens vad | and let drop, as it were from solution in its embrace, g Unless I were to hear the lady pitate of shells, carcases and iron projectiles, I clapped ; repeat the very song that poor child sang I could not be con- to my horee, and rede off a9 fast os I could towards the aa e ‘as soon as my ears had recovered the shock. The noise

horrible; and, when the shells began to explode, the din

Apart from this calamitous incident, and from the dag)

Allies in the Crimea has become one of complete ivactiyj 7 The weather, we are told, continues to be remarkably fy and favourable in the highest degree for any kind of

tions that might be undertaken in the field; but nothing jg

The good chanter laid his hand in silent blessing upon the attempted—zothing thought of—the troops are butted,

the Crimean campaign of 1855 at an end. Whether oy Generals have not left off a little too soon, may be openty eavil. The Times is very angry upon this pot and rails at all the Commanders in “ good set terms ;”” but our conte. | porary is not always just in bis censure ; and in the presen ‘instance it is to be borne in mind that the Allied General, _in preparing for the winter of this year, had only the experiengy of last year to guide them. Winter overtook them in the first week of November in 1854. If it has not dune so iy 1855 the fact is only to be attributed to one of those variations ‘of the season against which it is impossible for any humay foresight to provide with exact accuracy.

i i

| |

| Let us congratulate ourselves that the army is this year 5

comfortably h used and amply fed—that it is in the highest health and discipline—and that it bids fair to be capable of any duty that may be demanded of it on the first return of spring. The correspondent from whom we have already quoted, in speaking of the present condition of the camp, furthers remarks :—* The health of our troops is excellent; the drauglits which arrive are rather younger than is desirable, but they will get expericnce and instruction during the winter, They are admirably elothed, and fed as no army was ever fed before—fresh meat, bread, and vegetables are issued to all, Heuceforth the men are to get fresh meat o:2’y three times a week, and bread only three times a week, instead of every day. On the other days they will receive pork or salt beef, and excellent biscuit. In respect of winter clothing, hutting, and feeding, our men are immeasurably better off than our Allies, and it is not unusual to see the latter eati in the English camp of the excess of our soldiers’ cooking kettles,” ‘This state of things, presenting so striking a cop. ‘trast tothe condition of the English eamp at this time last year, ought at least to be satisfactory to all who profess to feel an interest in the welfare of our gallant soldiery.

| The intelligent writer, from whose communications (penned |in the midst of the scenes he describes), we have so largely borrowed, does not think it probable that Prince Gortscha- koft will succeed in extricating himself from the critical

With a heavy heart she retarned home; and heayily will from recognizing. At last Rossel stopped before the door of a| harbours are pretty nearly opposite each other on different | position in which he is now left. “ The Russian General,”

the tears which Veronica wept that night weigh one day upon | the conscience of him who caused her to shed them. ~

The next day Veronica spent some of the money she had re- | ecived the preceding night in the purchase of oil to heal her |

wounded hand, in the hope of being soon to work as usual ; | tous and miserable family, and a man whose present state |

but alas! day after day passed on without its getting better. |

The performance of her household duties was one continued torment to her; and often when she tried to ply her bobbins, end earn a scanty meal for hey father and Jittle brother, the pain became so great that she wonJd lay her head upon the cashion, and wish it were pillowed by her mother’s a in the silent grave. '

Sometimes her futhor, to whom she had never told her suf- ferings, would ask for his favorite song: and the gentle child,

gloomy-logking house, gnd turning to the cantatrice, said, “ I wish you, my dear Veronica, to see with your gwn eyes the manner in which I employ the meney entrusted to my care. We shall find on the ground-floor of this house a most necessi-

offers a melancholy confirmation of the truth of God’s word.

Idleness, gambling, and drinking ruined his health and dissi- pated his property, He is, moreoyer, a prey to the bitterest pangs of remor.e ; and none can approach his dying bed with- out feeling in his inmost soul the truth ef the divine words, that ‘As a man soweth, so shall he also reap,’ ”’

The old man ceased to speak ; and groping his way through

suppressing her owa grief, would sing the fatal couplet which @ dark passage, at length placed hss finger on the latch of a | had cost her s» much; whilst the blind father, listening in door which opened into it, Foliowed by Veronica, he entered

| Sides of Nova Scotia. I should say they are at least one hundred and eighty miles apart, with a shore between them ‘rough enough to smash up and contain all the vessels now

‘afloat anywhere under Heaven, and of course there would be

‘room for all the pieces of the Bay Stella to find lodgings.

‘one must pass through the Gut of Canso and up the eastern coast of Nova Scotia, till you are almost in the rear of Pictou. | Verily, Nova Scotia has just cause to be proud of ber loyal, talented, gallant son—the very versatile and geographically learned editor of Haszard's Gazette.

| Qh. Town, Dee. 13, 1855, PUNCH.

e

delighted admiradion, would say he had never heard any yoice | a large room, which presented a striking contrast to the bril- |

like hers, and bless his ** dear, good child,’ Thes> were some vf her happiest moments; but oh! that was a sad, sad winter for poor Veronica.

ln thes: mountainous districts it is a common thing for a single schvol to contain from one hundred and fifty children, taught by a siugle master, It ix not, therefore, to be wonder- | ed ut if he should frequently prove unacquainted with the | peculiar capabilities of each of his pupils, unless some chance vircumstance should lead to the discovery.

'

‘* Is it possible that your hand is not yet healed?” asked M. |lay the sick man, supported by straw pillows, on which he |

Rossel, the schoolmaster of the parish and leader of the yillage | ehoir, as he gently laid his hand upon the aym of his pupil, | Veronica Madel. ‘: [t is now three weeks since yeu haye been | able t» writs. Let me sec—what have you applied to the| burn ?’’

** Some leaves of the yest-harrow,”’ she replied, unfastening the handage which confined it. The kind-hearted schoolmaster |

eyes of the strangers.

liant halls they had just quitted. A single lamp east its feeble

glimmer upon the walls, and barely served to make the miser- |

able scene which this abode of sorrow offered visible to the

years o! age, slept in a corner upon a heap of rags, but even in sleep their sickly faces spoke not of the healthful repose of happy childhood. In a bed, which was placed near the stove,

yainly sought to find repose for his wearied head. The woman received the two strangers with the mournful indifference of despair.

“ {s your husband asleep?” asked the kind-hearted old man | Considerable damage and loss of life had heen been occasioned |

in a gentle tone. **No,’’ replied the woman, ‘he is not; knows what is to become of me !”’

A pale, care-worn woman was pacing |

“eRe BEABINBR.

CHARLOTTETOWN, DECEMBER 21, 1855.

| j

the apartment, and seeking to still the cries of the infant who) —————= == FES] hung at her breast; two other children, about three or four | LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM EUROPE.

|

os

Tue Packet H. Ingram avrived in our harbour on Friday morning, carrying the English Mail, but, owing to the ice, did |not succeed in getting to the wharf till the afternoon. The intelligence from the seat of war is not very important.

| |

| by the explosion of a French siege train near Sebastopol, and

was shocked when he saw the inflamed state of the wound,| Rossel approached the sick man’s bed. ‘ How do you feel of Azoff by a portion of the British fleet. But in all respects

and being skilled in the science of healing herbs, undertook | himself to conduct its cure.

By degrees he elicited from his young pupil an gceount of ‘* and 1 shall never be better so long as I feel that piece of |

the way in whieh it had been inflicted on her, and exclaimed, indignantly, ** What a monster! thus to insult a poor child | singing her Christmas carol. But come, my child, let we hear | this song, fur | am very fond of music, and that is the reason | I was s> anxious for the office of chanter.’’

to-night, Kunkel?” ** Just as LT always do,’’ he replied, in a desponding tone ;

burning money, which I never can get rid of, sticking just there in my throat.”

“So you will persist in your idea about this burning money,”’ interrupted the chanter. ‘* Have not the doctor and

the campaign is over, and the troops comfortably housed for the winter.

The arrival of the King of Sardinia in England, was tho principal eyent of the past fortnight. The welcome given to our distinguished and popular ally, by every class in Britain,

1 told you a hundred times that the pain you feel is only the from Ifer Majesty down, appears to have been enthusiastic in

Vergnica was half afraid of singing fore so great a person- natural result of your sore throat! What is the use of mak- | the highest degree.

age; but he was so kind she could not refuse. At first her vies trembled, but it gained strength and sweetness as she proceeded ; and when she paused, the good master could not refrain from embracing her in a rapture of delight, and ex-, claiming, ** Who taught you, my child, to sing thus?”

** Nobody,”’ replied the child. ‘TI only sing to amuse my poor blind father: it is his greatest pleasure, and_it costs | nothing.”’

** Bat the inelody—the melody! and this method—how did you learn that?’

Veronica looked perplexed : at last, thinking she had eaught | the master’s meaning, she exclaimed, “* Oh, I have often heard | some of our miners singing this little air.”’

_** My ehild,’’ replied the chanter after a few moments of. mditation, ** this red-hot kreutzer, which has prevented you | from making your lace, and has caused you so much misery, das been the moans of discoverieg a precigus gift with which | you are endowed, and which will, [ trust, enable you to pro-| vide auply for your father’s wants during the remainder of | his days. f will mysolf teach you to use this gift, and shall | feel well repaid if Lam permitted hereafter to see you make a |

noble use of it.”’ | From that day forward the good Rossol gave Verenica cone |

ing yourself worse by allowing such follies to take possession of your mind ?”’

‘**T ought to know best,’’ replied the sick man ina trembling |

yoiee. *‘*I feel it there barning me continually. [long for ecld water; but when [ have swallowed it, the heat becomes more intense than before.’’

** Kunkel,’’ resumed the chanter, ‘‘ believe me this is a mere chimera. How could a piece of barning money have made its way into your throat, and retained its heat all this time ?’’

‘+ T know how it was—I know how it was ;’’ answered Kun- kel with a look of the deepest anguish. ‘It was last Christ- mas-eve, at 5 o’clock, that I first felt this burning kreutzer in my throat.” ;

++ Because just then your disease had advanced till it reached that spot,”’

‘* No, no !’’ exclaimed ‘the dying man, // there wag guother than that. Twelve years ago, at that yery same time”’ He paused and sighed deeply.

**Go on with your history,’’ said Rossel, in a smothering tone, * This young lady feels ay interest in your history, and may perhaps be able to alleviate your sufferings.’

* Qh no, no! none can alleyiate them!"’ cried Kunkel.

29

stant lessons in singing, and instructed her in all the rules of ** The agony I now suffer is a just recompense of my wicked-

the art; he also interested s:veral benevolent persons iy the |

ease of the blind slater, so that his wants and those of his family were well provided for.

Twelve years had passed away sineo that Christmas-eve whieh had byen #» full of sadness to the little Veronica. It was a fin> autumn evening, and all the citizens of Subury were to be seen hastening en yrarde tulette to the Hotel de Ville, where an evjoyment awaited them of which the inhabitants of this secluded spot had not often been permitted to partake. ‘The first eantatries of the capital, who enjoyed a European reputation, wag on this day tu give a concert in the town, as- sisted hy her brother. Listeners came from ten leagues round, and the tieket office was throyged with yet the more joyful alucrity when it bocams kuowr that the gencrous cantatrice dostined the profits of the egucert for the poor of Subury.

At the entrance of the caucert-room stoyd the gld chanter

send seo slmaster, Rossel, who filled the office of cash-keeper.

a i I ‘repentant sinner, ‘My brother, be of good cheer ; Je smiil with dolight as the money flowed into his box; and thee, even as I ho gach thas that the purchaser of the ticket chaused te 'y2 =)

ness. Oh that burning kreutzer!’’ He stopped and seemed as if listening to some sound. ‘* Did you not hear a ery out-

| side the window ?’’ he asked in a tone of anguish. ‘ That

was just the way the poor child cried out when I threw the

burning money into her hand twelve years ago !”’

| He had no sooner uttered these words thay a ery esca Veronica’s lips, and she turned deadly pale. She feltas if she were suddenly transported into the presence of the all- righteous Judge, and saw the commencemert of the great day of retribution.

| Is it possible ?’’ she exclaimed, turning with an anxious look towards her old master.

| Ile gazed upon her with a look of mingled sym thy and affection ; and after a moment’s sileace, said, * Will you for-

‘give me for having brought you here, Veronica? Will you

‘not crown the work you have done this day by saying to this

forgive

myself to be one day forgiven ?”

With tears in her eyes, Voronica placed one hand within

In the present issue our readers will find ample accounts from our latest papers,

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL. -

THE CRIMEA,

Little has recently occurred to mark the progress of events in the Crimea, With the exception of the gallant exploit of Captain Osborn in destroying the Russian stores at Gheisk, which was performed on the 13th of November, and the ter- rible explosion of the French magazine in the vicinity of ‘Sebastopol, which occurred ep the }5th of the same month, nothing of the slightest note has taken place to disturb the erenity of the winter quarters into which the Allied army seems now to be quietly and comfortably settled down,

A correspondent at Balaklava, in speaking of Captain Os- born’s success, says-—“ This news has afforded us the highest gratification. It seems that this gallant officer has succeeded in destroying, at Gheisk, fodder and grain of various kinds, piled up in stacks for the distance of no less than two miles, and that tke efforts of the 3000 Russians stationed on the spot for the protection of these prodigious stores were unayail- ing. The fire of the Vesuvius and the gunbeats, and the pre- cision of their shell and shot practice, drove those grey-coated gentry away in confusion and dismay, and they were unable to fire a shot in defence of their magazines, which our men burnt before their eyes. . Officers aud sailors are said to have displayed. great coolness and zeal in the affair, which has more unportance, perhaps, in Russian eyes than it will have in our own, bearing as it does so materially on the position of the enemy in the Crimea and their supplies during the winter. The exploit-is all the: more welcome that it was quite upex- pected, as no one imagined our gunboats would be able to remain in the Sea of Azoff after the first weck in November.”

The same graphic pen gives_us.a vivid, picture of the awful explosion of the French wagazine;—* I was riding from head- quarters reading my letters last Thursday when the explosigu

}

'says he, “must be a man of extraordinary confidence if he thinks he cap extricate his army when the spring comes from the grasp of an enemy which already elutches the whole of his coast, is established at two points in his rear, and has ‘four distinct bases of operations, with sufficient troops %

leas « : . : . : \ ek This unhappy man was the son of wealthy parents, who died | Merigomish is not very many miles beyond Pictou. about! yse them all, and to coneentrate a prodigious force on any leaving him possession of an abundance of this world’s goods, opposite Georgetown Harbour, and to reach Country Harbour |

/point ho pleases. te may err, and if he does, and the blot is hit, the result will be fatal. The Russian infantry, im | Spite of its stubborn endurance and passive courage, is not equal to either French, Sardinian, English, or Turkish troops. Every day shows us that it has no chance even ‘against the latter when they are led and officere! by Knglisue 'men or brave and skilfal Karopean soldiers. Their cavalry, in equal numbers, will be ridden down like grass whenever they stand against Eugtish or French squadrons; and not- withstanding the excellence of their artillery, compared with other arms of their service, it cannot compete with ours for an instant as regards rapidity of motion or precision of fire. Prince Gortschakoff will be a grand strategist opposed to very weak generals if he succeeds im saving bis army, ayd marcl- ing them seatheless from the Crimea.”

These opinions, founded upon observations made withia sight of the position which the Russien General now oe cupies, must be allowed to have considerable weight. Let ‘us trust that they may prove to be correct.—News of the | World.

NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOFF—

and Heaven only x ome important operations had been accomplished {n the Sea | DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWN OF GHRISK

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__ “ Off Mariopol, Nov. 5.—Yesterday, Ardent, Weser, aud | Curlew attacked the sea side of the new town (Gihrisk.) All |the marines and as many men as could be spared went inside | the lake in the gun-boats. Recruit, Cracker, Grinder, and Boxer attacked the old town. We kept up a heavy fire ‘during the morning, which was answered from rifle pits it | front of the town, and in the afternoon we linded on a spit to the left, and destroyed the eustom-house and several large buildings by fire. Some cavalry rode out and attacked out boats’ crews employed in this business, but of course to do so they had to expose themselves to a heavy fire from the ships, which they got, and no mistake; many and many an empty saddle telling sad tales of the correctness of our fire. Our men finished their work before they again embarked, as the cavalry, owing to our cover, could not remain long on the spit; and as the shades of evening began to close around us we could see the old town in a perfect blaze, showing that the other diyjsion of our squadron had also succeeded. To-da the gun-boats got close to the town, so the place was surrounded, It is a very Jarge place and well built. After shelling it for an hour, the gun-boats landed their men on the lake side, and we landed ours on this. They began to ad- vance about ten o’clock ; but as they neared the town the head-most column received such a tremendous fire that they had to fall back. They had no sooner done this when it be- came evident to us that the enemy were out in very — force, and that our men stood a cliance of being cut of. Lieat. Koss, of the Weaser, formed a junction with them, by crossing in front of the town, and this move saved them, for we could then see, as the Russians in their tarn fell back, how nearly they were surrounded. During the whole of the day our men were on the advance, and the town in sev parts in flames; all their windmills and one or two mauur factories were burnt to the groynd. Haying destroyed all we could, and seeing the necessity to keep the open ground our position, we beat a retreat at half-past two, aud embarked the men. Although the enemy had such heaps of troops ™ the town they did not care, after yesterday's experience, @ fojloyw up our retreat, or attack us in any way,”

“ Yenikale, Nov. 13.—We left Ghrisk with the idea ofet tacking Arabat, which was to have been the fiuishing stroke to this year’s operations in the Sea of Azoff; but on arriving here we find the expedition isabandoned, All the squadrom it appears, are to return to Genitchi again, except Weser al | Recruit, which are to await at Kerteh for further orders from | the commander in-chiof.” |

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