pretty sight to see them; they were about as thick as a good snowstorm. They are, however, the only wild beasts I have seen in this country, and knowing your predilection for the entomological world I have had serious thoughts of sending you a squashed specimen in a letter, but I am afraid it might seriously affect the amount of postage. My mother wrote to me in a great state of alarm the other day to know how I managed to get on with such a small number of linen shirts; tell her I have not worn a linen shirt for four months, nor would I do so now for anything. I invariably wear and sleep in flannel shirts, which are decidedly the most healthy; however, pray thank her for thinking about it, and when we go into winter quarters I shall perhaps write home for a few. Our thoughts and hopes are anxiously directed towards an expedition of some kind or other, and preparations are no doubt going on, which I will let you know more about when they are a little matured. You have no idea of the delight with which we should hail the news of our departure to the Crimea or Odessa, for we have no wish to return to England without having done something; and the dullness and monotony of our life for the last few months will considerably enhance the pleasure of an expedition of some kind. We manage to live very well as regards food, and are well supplied with everything excepting butter and eggs, which we cannot get at all; and milk is also a luxury we very seldom get. I am not quite sure, however, that you would be fully alive to the merits of our ration beef; it is so perfectly hard that we can very seldom eat it, and they do not give us mutton above once a fortnight; but we make very good soup with the beef by the aid of some onions and rice, and have very often chicken boiled with rice, or as curry. On the whole, we live uncommonly well, and are as fat as pigs; and the soundness with which everybody sleeps at night is quite delightful. I have been writing sad stuff to you, my dear Minny, but I have really very
little to write about, for we do and see little or nothing. This is a most uninteresting country, for although very pretty in many respects it is almost a desert. There is no town but dirty, filthy Varna, and no point of interest to go and visit, so you will see I have not much of interest to communicate. Pray give me full accounts of Hampton Court, your rooms and how you like them, and any little gossip concerning your new abode which you may think of. Give my kindest love to Ella, and tell her I think of her incessantly; poor darling, how I long to see her again I Talk to me a great deal about her and the boys ^^ when you write.... — Ever your affectionate brother,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
Ship Kangaroo, Eupatoria Bay,
Thursday, September 14, 1854.
My dear Mother, — I have just time to tell you in a few words what is going on here. We are in the act of disembarking. The French have already landed a few troops, and have hoisted their flag on shore; a few Cossacks are watching us a little way inland; there is no opposition. We passed Eupatoria yesterday, and are now well into the Bay, close inshore about 20 or 2$ miles from vSebastopol, and directly south of some salt lakes close to the sea, which you will see marked in any good map. We have recovered from our sickness, and are all in excellent health and the highest spirits. The sight of this magnificent fleet, numbering upwards of 200 sail, is magnificent. The whole affair is really more like a pleasure trip than anj'-thing else, and if you were to hear all the laughing and joking that is incessantly going on, and the utter coolness with which everybody views the whole affair, you would fancy yourself just about to land at Boulogne with a charming Continental tour in prospect. I must soon get ready
1 854] BATTLE OF THE ALMA loi for landing.... — Believe me ever your affectionate son, Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
Balaclava, September 21, 1854.
My dear Mother, — Excuse this scrawl. I am lying flat on my stomach in front of the bivouac fire on the well-fought field of battle on the river Alma, which must plead my excuse for this illegible scrawl.... We remained at the spot where we disembarked till Tuesday the 19th, to get our troops landed and organise our transport. On that day we marched about