The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

"THE TRANSPORT SERVICE IN THE BOSPHORUS.

" All transports, upon their arrival in the Bosphorus,
were placed tinder the orders of Rear-Admiral Boxer. This
officer had been specially selected for this duty by Sir James
Graham on account of his professional character and expe-
rience in matters connected with the embarkation and ais-
emb akation of troops. He was placed, in the first instance,
under the orders of Vice-Admiral Dundas ; but a separate
power was 'afterwards given to him within the limits of
the Bosphorus, subject always to his reporting to the naval
commander-in-chief.

" As early as the Bth cf September Rear-Admiral Boxer
applied for a ship to be attached to himself, with an expe-
rienced master, three gixid warrant officers, and a small
gang of artificers and mechanics. A compliance with this
requ. st would, he said, obviate delay and. unnecessary ex-
pense in works which could otherwise only be executed by
hired artificers. To this applicatiOn the Board of Admi-
ralty replied, that ' the service being temporary they were
not prepared to senjoi out a receiving-ship, with its esta-
blishment.' On the oth Nov. he repeated his application,
but before it had been received the board had reconsidered
its dc vision, and had ordered a vessel, i he Melampus; to be
got ready for this service. The Melampusaccorlinglysailed
in December. Sir J. Graham says he regrets that the first
application was not acceded to; and when the hurricane
of the 14th Nov., with all its disastrous consequences, is
remembered, it is obvious that this unfortunate decision
may have increaded the difficulties of that deplorable crisis,
and may have subjected Re ,r-Admiral Boxer to some of
the charges brought against him.
" It must be Observed, however, thatßear-Admiral Boxer
had permitted Commanderßorlase, on accouflt of his know-
ledge in gunnery, to join theforces in theCtirnea, although
this officer—having been for three years in the Turkish
service—had been specially chosen to assist him. The rear-
admiral thus lost the person best fitted to communicate
with the Turkish authorities at a time when his assistance
would have been most useful.

" Under such disad vantages he was required to repair the
damages of the hurricane, and to forward to the Crimea
supplies of every kind iu lieu of those which had been lost.
Deputy Commissary-General Smith, anxious tolfulfil the
(woes of his office, thought that vessels were delayed fur
coaling and watering, and that they were left in positions
where the 'loading was rendered unnecessarily difficult.
This mismanagement he ascribed to Adwiral Boxer.
Hence differences arose between them, and both Lord
Raglan and Mr. Commissary-General Filder were even-
tually applied to on the matter.
"Your committee are of opinion that there was some
unnecessary detention of transports at ConstAntinople, and
that the arrangements for coaling were very deficient ; but
as they have not been able to examine Admiral Boxer
they canuut pronounce an opinion as to his share of respon-
sibility. His letters in the appendix show that he exerted
himsel strenuously to discharge duties for which it is ad-
mitted that his means were inadequate, and, if he failed
under these difficulties, his subsequent endeavours iu the
harbour of Balaklava appeared to have been successful.