The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-18 00:00:00

maging to the ambition of Russia than the burning Of
Moscow, or indeed any circumstance on record since
the days of • PETER I. Russia built up a fabric for

which thousands of human lives and millions of trea-

sure have been sacrificed, upon which all hopes of
future conquest were based, and which formed indeed
the main point of contest. This has been shattered
at a blow ; the dream of years has been demolished,
and a far more material guarantee acquired for the
future peace of Europe than would have been gained
by negotiations at Vienna, however apparently willing
Russia may have been to make concessions.
If is not very easy to estimate the difficulties with
which the allied armies have had to contend, though
all accounts concur in representing them of the most
formidable character. Sebastopol was deemed by those
best acquainted with its natural position and immense
resources to be impregnable, and nothing had been
spared which skill could devise or despotic will could
effect to render it so. Viewed, therefore, in this
respect, the success of the besiegerS is entitled to our
warmest congratulations ; but when viewed with
reference to its important results upon the position of
Russia as the disturber of the peace of Europe, the
advantage can hardly be over-estimated,
From the 'accounts which have reached us by means
of the electric telegraph, it appears that the Russian
General Prince GORTSCHAKOFF had made preparations
for the 'evacuation of the town, which liestn the south
side of the harbour, as far back as the end of August ;
for "General SIMPSON, in his aespiiten of the Ist of
September, mentions the eiretimgtagee of the Russian
general availing himself of the Iciiidge of rafts which
had been conPtructed Actose the harbour to the north
side, to effect the removal stokes. He must there-
fore have anticipate; k at least endeavoured to proViae
against, the success of the 'Mlles in their assault on the
Malakhoff. This was no ,doubt owing to the convic-
tion that his position has become untenable, and that,
notwithstanding the 'determination evinced for so
long a period by the Russian soldiers, the distress
occasioned 'by the cutting off the supplies was
operating with deadly effect. Up to the last they
boasted of `their inexhaustible means of defence, but
that' which haddestroyed the courage of the besieged
roused the 'courage of the besiegers, and the
Malakhoff Was carried with a -determination to
win at .atiYhazard. We know the result. The fierce
assault 'of 'the Bth, which outrivailed all former dis-
plays of daring hardihood, left the Malakhoff in the
hands 'Of the assailants, and the next morning found
the great object of all the contest deserted by its de-
fenders. There is a melanehCly list of killed and
wounded, the price of the victory ; but the victory.
itself, in its influence upon 'thc'war, is beyond all price.'
The Malakhoff was the keyleSebastopol, and Sebas-
topol was the key to Russian supremacy in the Black
Sea. They have fallen, anit.with them the hopes of a
-guccession of Russian Autetirds.

Ve are not yet in possession of sufficient details 'to
i'forrn an opinion as to the designs of the Russian
'.General, although it is pre:tended that his movement
:;-:s purely of a strategotical Character, substituting the
-Sebastopol of the uoath'fbr Ithat of the south. !This is
mere pretence. The aUael on the Tchernaya was
evidently the desileratevesource of an army inlear of
annihilation, and the evacuation of Sebastophlis of a
similar character. *The-town, the arsenal; the -maga-
2ines, and everything, available for occupation and
defence, were on the ground which has been aban-
doned ; while the !noith side, to which tlelßussians
have retreated, contains,caily a few forts and batteries,
which were, no donbt, valuable as outworks, but of
little importance in .themselves. The Rnsiians, with
all their advantages; lave been overmatch d, and the
victory is in the lands,ef the Allies ; and we have :no
doubt that the skill and energy displayed ,by Marshal
PELISSIER will very -soon result in the complete
expulsion of the Russians from the Crimea.
We observeby: the papers that the Frenclik-EmPERou
Antivr2ti 44,1-th.PhNg-itickg4433C.462,tk
triumph, as a re'.?soma was celebrated in'Paris on
Thursday, and again throughout France on Sunday
' last. This is aB it -.Should be ; and we must that our
rulers will not .be, neglectful of their .duty in this
respect. It would.bea disgrace to our precession as
a Christian nation if the opportunity 13e-irlowed to
pass without a -solemn acknowledgmentet'that over-
ruling Providence,.hrwhose mercy we have.been per-
mitted to be victors, in the struggle. The-cause was
one of truth and
,justice against tyranny and
oppression, of right: against wrong, of liberty against
slavery. It was .a.-contest in which the Mightiest
powers of the -world -were putting forth: 0.11 their
strength, in whieh-thelives and fortunes ofthousands
were perilled, on •tho-success of which depended the
:advance of civilisation, or its almost total .axtinction ;
and, therefore, we ;have abundant cause for thanks-
;giving for that boundless mercy which haF4,pennitlied
all to triumph.