lovely view; our men will, I think, pick up wonderfully here, and when our draughts come out we shall be a respectable force again. The lines round Balaclava are very strong and some parts quite impregnable. Sir Colin Campbell, who is in command here, has certainly done his duty admirably in strengthening the place; still, we have hardly garrison enough. Two thousand more men would make the place quite strong against any number of assailants. Fogs are the only things we have to fear; they are very prevalent here in the spring, and under cover of one of them the enemy might advance in force and surprise us. But an attack under such circumstances is a difficult and a very dangerous thing for an assailant. Columns lose their way, fire into each other, and easily cause a panic among themselves. A surprise, however, is the enemy's only chance against Balaclava. We are enjoying to-day the most delightful spring weather imaginable, and this, joined with the delightful spot we are hutted and encamped on, makes one feel as cheery and light-hearted as possible. I hope, however, never again to pass a winter like the last. None but those who experienced it can have the slightest idea of it. However, it is all over now, and the recollection of it only enhances the pleasure of the present. But depend upon it the late Government have a heavy account to answer for. They have been to this army, owing to utter want of forethought, and the gross and utter ignorance they have shown in conducting a war, a far greater enemy to us than the Russians; they have killed more men by hundreds than the enemy have; they have, in short, done what I deem it impossible for a Russian army to do — annihilated the finest little British army that ever faced an enemy. While all this was going on I never expressed my opinion to a soul; I used even to drive away the thoughts whenever they occurred for fear of indulging them, and thereb}'" dispiriting myself and those around me; besides, I don't approve of abusing authority, but now that these matters are all gone by, and the Ministry with them.
I do not think there is any harm in expressing one's opinion a little. I have given up the Paymastership and left Balaclava, and without much regret, for the confinement of my poky little cottage, after living for nearly a whole year, morning, noon, and night, in the open air, did not agree with me.... And now God bless you, my dear William, and bring us soon together again; with best love to Julia and the children. — Ever your affectionate brother,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
My dear Mother, — I am afraid it is a long time since I last wrote to you, but I have been seized with a sad fit of laziness, brought about by our delightful position at Balaclava — delightful in two ways, from its local beauty and the charming weather we have had, and, secondly, from the easy life we have been leading down here. No trenches and plenty of good living; our men and officers are all in huts and as comfortable as possible. Balaclava no longer looks the dirty miserable hole it was in winter; the ships are well arranged in the snug little harbour; ample wharves have been constructed; shopkeepers turned out of the town to the bazaar, a mile off, the railway all but finished, and roads constructed to the heights as good as possible; the sick in the army are recovering fast, in short, everything is en bon train again. Our preparations for recommencing the siege look very healthy; everything seems quite ready, and why the bombardment is delayed we cannot make out. A day has been frequently named and as often postponed for some reason, but whenever we do commence the fire on both sides will be perfectly terrific, it will be far beyond anything yet attempted in warfare. The French and ourselves open with upwards of 500 pieces, including 107 mortars, and such pieces! — many of them 68pounders and some 25^of the mortars 13 inch. I was
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