The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-19 00:00:00

SMALL ARMS COMMITTEE, WOOLWICH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As a foreigner, I had an impression, very gene-
rally entertained amongst my countrymen, that I should
experience delays and difficulites in laying my invention
before this committee.
On the contrary, my application, which was for the
trial of a revolving rifle on a new principle, was not only
attended to promptly, but its merits examined with in-
terest.

The result, I regret to add, was unsuccessful ; but
having received every attention from the Secretary and
Board that any person could reasonably expect, I wish,
through your impartial journal, to make known to
foreigners in general that if their inventions have merit
the gentlemen composing the committee are both capable
and willing to appreciate, and, if practicable, to adopt
diem.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient
servant, H. GE UHART.
5, New-road, Whitechapel, Feb. 17.

LORDS RAGLAN AND LUCAN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE !SUN.

SIR,—As you were pleased to notice in your paper of
yesterday a letter which I addressed to the editor of the
United Service Magazine, with reference to the manner
in which so many brave men of our light cavalry had
been sacrificed at Balaklava, I am desirous of explaining
that, although Lord Raglan cannot escape from the re-
sponsibility of having issued the original order for that
charge, Lord Lucian cannot be altogether absolved from
blame as regards the mode of its execution, having had
one of two alternatives—either its execution in teto, or
not at all. That is to say, that he should have advanced
himself with the whole of the cavalry as ordered, or
waited a few minutes until he reported to Lord Raglan
the unaccountable error into which he had fallenjn iesu-
ing such an order under the impression that the enemy
were in full retreat. But Lord Lucan did neither the
one nor the other when be sent only one lerigade to per-
form a duty which be had himself been ordered to exe-
cute with the whole of the cavalry.
If this principle of subdividing orders is adopted as
an improvement in modem warfare, it must lead to in-
terminable confusion—as Lord Cardigan, acting on this
might have detackea -..• .1 hi Wig.a.,
and his next in command in like manner might subdivide
his force, which would certainly have the advantage, in
this case, of diminishing the amount of sacrifice of the
lives of our regimental officers and soldiers, though not
of adding to the professional reputation of our general
officers.

I have thought it necessary to trouble yon with these
few lines of explanation, as I find that Mr. H. Berkeley
has given notice of his intention to bring the subject
before the House of Commons on Thursday next. The
more, therefore, the facts of the case are exposed in their
proper light, the greater the chance of justice and of the
adoption of such precautionary measures as may provide
in future against catastrophes of a similar nature, and
such sufferings and privations as our troops have lately
undergone in the Crimea, owing to the most unpardon-
able incapacity and mismanagement.—l have the honour
to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. S. LILLIE.
Pall-mall, Feb. 17.