The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 25.—This time last year
we were in the midst of uncertainty as to the re-
sult of the negotiations that were still pending
between the Western Powers and Russia ; and the
public in general, which had for many years been
in the enjoyment of peace, could scarcely believe
in imminent war. Great lardships have since then
been undergone, and bloody battles fought, by the
brave sons of old England and their gallant
allies, the French. Alma and Inkertnan are
new stars in the annals of the British army,
but many a brave man has breathed his last.
Unhealthy Bulgaria and the dreary Crimea are
their resting-places. This is Christmas-day—the
time of. joyful merrymaking and social meeting.
The soldier in the Crimea thinks of home, and
round many a hearth husband, son, or father is
missing, both in lordly hall and humble cottage.
This is Christmas-day—and the armies of England
awl France still gaze upon the battlements of
Sebastopol, whose walls frown unshaken on the
besiegers (if such a term can be applied to the
armies that have invested the sauthern side of the
town). Sebastopol is not besieged, neither is it
invested. A bombardment, accompanied by partial
siege-works, has not proved sufficient to reduce the
great Russian stronghold. Sebastopol has in:Mallen
this year. The armies are to winter on the bleak
heights that surround it, and the campaign in the
Crimea may be said to have only commenced. The
winter season will scarcely permit of active mili-
tary operations, and we must look forward to the
spring for a war in the Crimea, such as will surpass
in interest the greatest military events of the early
part of this century. In the meanwhile the Allied
armies are exposed to great hardships, and must
continue to suffer severely until the necessary
winter accommodations which are being sent out by
a zealous and active Government have arrived. I
regret to say that a groat number of sick arrive
almost daily, and that the hospitals at Scutari are
crowded. Diarrhoea, dysentery, typhus fever, and
cholera make great ravages amongst our small and
gallant force. The hardships the soldier has to go
through in the Crimea are truly dreadful ; and, in
speaking of these trials, it must not be disguised
that our allies, the French—thanks to a well-
organised system—are infinitely better off. Our
general commissariat arrangements, as also the
medical department, and, indeed, all the system
for provisioning a large.force and attending to the
wants of the men in the field, are organised in a very
unpractical manner. This is mainly traceable to
our inexperience in providing for the wants of a
body of 30,000 or 40,000 men in the field. The
French, who are 'accustomed to such a state of
things, outwit us in the regularity and precision
with which they manage all these departments.
With them everything works by military routine ;
whereas with us a more civil organisation throws
greater weight and responsibility upon individuals,
and has the effect of checking the working of a re-
gularly organised system. Our ambulance arrange-
ments, also, are not so good as theirs. To intro-
duce changes and reforms int) these departments
time and practical experience are necessary ; and
as the war continues no doubt our system for pro-
viding for the wants of the army will also improve
thanks to the goodwill and energy of the Govern-
ment. In justice, it must be admitted that the
individual exertions of all the commissariat officers
are very great, and that they are most active in j
the discharge of their harassing duties.
The Metropolitan arrived here the day before
yesterday, with detachments of troops (700 men)
and a largo staff of medical officers. They pro-
ceeded ahnost immediately to the Crimea. The
Golden Fleece and the Beagle arrived from the
Crimea, with sick.-

Adniiralfiuiaas_Daa arrived here, on his way to
England. _
The Robert Lowe came i$ yesterday with troops
;

drafts for for different regiments. Last week 42 Pro-
testant sisters and hospital nurses arrived. They
are for the present staying at Therapia, until ar-
rangements have been made for their reception at
the Scutari hospitals.
A large party of navvies had arrived. After
staying a short time hero they proceeded imme-
diately to Balaklava to commence operations.
The last troops, forming part of the Bth division
of the French army, passed through the Bosphorus
last week, on their way to the Crimea. The
Trident, French steamer, has arrived from Toulon,
with troops, ammunition, and field-pieces, also the
Amsterdam, with French troops. The 10th French
regiment of light infantry, and the 50th of the line
arrived by the St. Louis on Tuesday last. The
loss of the French transport Giovaue Inno3ente
(No. 443), laden with stores for the French cca
missariat has just been reported. She was wrecked
in the Sea of Marmora, off Buyuk-Tchekaledji.
The steamer Ainia has been sent down to the
rescue.

Lord Stratford de Redcliffe has addre:=sed a cir-
cular to all the British Consuls in the Levant in-
forming them of the important decrees issued by
the Sultan for effecting various salutary reforms
in the administration of the laws ; doing away with
a number of long existing abuses, and abolishing
the trade in slaves in Georgia and Circassia ; and
urging on the consular agents to give every assist-
ance by advice and exhortations to the Turkish
authorities, who, in carrying into execution the
said decrees, will, in all probability, have to con-
tend with long-established prejudices and national
tradition&