Balaklava itself was but a very insignificant place indeed, but it would gain importance henceforward, and be the base of our supplies.

The "town" of Balaklava and its old ports had very quickly been silenced by a few shots from one of our ships; and when our army appeared on the heights, we found that communication with the fleets was already open.

But having taken it, we were graciously permitted by the French to retain it, and with it the right side of the allied line. I believe that in those days the French could see as far through a milestone as most people. Anyhow, with Balaklava and the right we chose much sorrow, and an amount of suffering to our troops that not even the pen of Kinglake has overdrawn.

* * * * *

A glance or two at the plan ([p. 294]) will give the reader as good an idea of Sebastopol's outer and inner harbour as pages of text can.

The following brief sentences, however, from the pen of General Sir Edward Hamley, K.C.B.,* may be read with interest:—"The roadstead of Sebastopol is a creek about four miles long from the point where it breaks, nearly at right angles, the coast-line to its extremity where the Tchernaya flows into it. It maintains a great depth throughout, even close to the shore. On the points that mark the entrance stood two forts—that on the north named Constantine; on the south, Alexander.

* This gentleman's succinct and clever book, "The War in the Crimea." Lecky and Co., publishers.

"After entering the roadstead ...... and about a mile from the entrance, the inner or man-o'-war harbour ran for a mile and a half into the southern shore. On the two points that mark this inlet stood two other forts, Nicholas and Paul. On the west shore of this inner creek stood the city of Sebastopol.

"The plateau or plain where the allied armies stood—the Upland—was marked off from the Tchernaya by a wall of cliff, which, following up that stream southward for about a mile from its mouth, turns round south-west and defines the valley of Balaklava, passing about a mile north of that place, and joining the sea-cliffs."

The Malakoff, the Redan, and Mamelon are all seen on the plan.