ever ceased. On the morning of the 8th
the cannonade began with the day, and was delivered more rapidly and
fiercely than before. Meanwhile preparations were made for the assault.

The assault on the English side was unsuccessful; the same bad
generalship which marred the actions of the English so frequently
throughout the war, threw its fatal influence over their efforts on the
terrible day of the 8th of September. The French would also have failed,
in all probability, had they not effected a surprise, by suddenly
seizing the Malakoff, the key of the defence, at a moment when the
Russians felt secure that no attack would be made. The French with great
courage and adroitness secured the advantage gained, and that advantage
was decisive of the contest. The Russians, after a vain struggle,
retreated from Southern Sebastopol, having lost a multitude of slain,
and leaving vast spoil in the hands of the captors.

The tidings of this result was spread by the electric wire and by
the press until all Europe caught the exultation and rejoiced
everywhere--except in the courts of Naples and Athens, and among the
members of the Greek church, who, wherever they were scattered, showed
the utmost sympathy for Russian tyranny and bigotry.

During September, the allies gathered the spoils of war from the
conquered city. October and November afforded fine weather for military
operations, but nothing of importance was done by the allied commanders
from the basis of operations before Sebastopol; while the Russians still
lay in strength beyond the Tchernaya, and held Northern Sebastopol in
greater strength than ever.

General Simpson resigned his command, in obedience to the popular
opinion at home; and General Codrington, a general of less than two
years standing, assumed the important post. Discord among the allied
commanders, and intrigues in the French foreign-office and the imperial
court of France, paralyzed the vigorous purposes of the English cabinet.
The French emperor wished to conciliate his brother autocrat of Russia,
and was unwilling to strike a blow which in proportion as it humbled
Russia exalted England. A fear lest any glory or influence in the East
should accrue to England swayed the French ministry. Napoleon had other
designs which England was less likely to favour than was Alexander II.,
and the policy adopted was to gain an ally in the enemy which England
aided him to subdue.

A second winter encampment before Seb