in one of the mortar batteries yesterday looking at the practice, which was perfect. It is grand to witness the firing of these gigantic engines, and then to watch the progress of the enormous bomb till it bursts in one of the enemy's works. We are always on the alert down here for fear the enemy should make an attack upon this place by way of a diversion, and if he were to succeed a most serious affair it would be for us. A surprise is the only thing we are at all anxious about, for within if miles of our front runs a circular range of hills, behind which the enemy might collect during the night any amount of force he happened to have at his disposal, and then at break of day make an attack under very favourable circumstances, by avoiding under cover of the darkness the distant fire of our guns. To guard against this, we have to turn out at three in the morning and march to the lines, so as to be in position well before break of day. Our lines and position are excessively strong, and I do not think the enemy would have a chance in broad daylight. By the time you get this you wall have learnt the result of the Vienna Conferences,^^ which I need not tell you we are as anxious as you can be at home to have decided one way or the other. It will be a great point gained to know what we are to look forward to, although I must say that I think peace would be by far the most rational termination to this very serious war. The French, and ourselves especially, have gained a fair amount of glory in the actions we have fought, and the Russians also on their side, in their noble defence of Sebastopol.
April 9. — Our batteries have at last opened their fires; they began at daylight this morning and have been pounding away ever since. They say the assault will take place to-morrow morning, but I cannot vouch for this; anyhow, I do not think our Brigade will take any part in it. We shall have to be on the look out here for an attack while the siege is going on; our position is just now stronger than ever, for it has been raining incessantly all day, so the valley in our front is so flooded as to render it almost impossible for artillery to mancEUvre in it.... — Your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson. Balaclava, April 9.
To his Sister
My dear Minny, — I have treated all your numerous letters with shameful neglect, and have been sadly idle, but the change of our camp from the heights down to Balaclava has been so agreeable, the weather so fine, and the scenery so enjoyable, that we have one and all of us given ourselves up to its enjoyments and become completely lazy. You would like just to have one little peep at this pretty spot, looking down as we do from our high ground upon the quaint little harbour completely land-locked, and looking as if it would not hold a dozen fishing-boats, yet containing the finest fleet of merchant vessels ever collected together. Then between it and the sea is another high hill covered with the ruins of an old Genoese fort, and beyond one of the loveliest bays in the world, surrounded with cliffs 1500 feet high. The sunsets here are beautiful, and the light thrown on these rocks equals in beauty anything that I have witnessed in Switzerland. It is curious to see such fine scenery without a single tree to embellish it, but there is not one to be seen, although our view extends 12 or 14 miles, the hills being covered with nothing better than shrubs. The siege of Troy has now recommenced, but I cannot discover that we are making any great progress. I feel sure that this place never will fall unless we march into the country, fight a battle with the army outside and drive them away, and then by investing both sides of the harbour reduce the town by cutting off all supplies. In the meantime it is possible that peace may come, and I really think that that would be the best solution of our difficulties, and by the time you get this the result of the Vienna Congress will be known to you. You
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]