The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

SPI.RIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

• THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR.
(From the Times of this day.)
e last official accounts from the Crimea happily confirm
the ;previous statements, that the rigour of the winter is
already past, that the health and condition of the allied armies
are improving, that supplies of all kinds are abundant, and
that: Lord Raglan and General•Canrobert have under their
con-Inland an effective army of at least 190,0 f 0 men, inured
to tbe perils of war by the hardships they have surmounted,
and f ready to execute with the utmost gallantry any operations
iu vbich they may be engaged. Thus far, our confidence in
the 'strength of the allied forces and in their ability to enter
nix m a fresh campaign is revived ; but, on the other hand, we
are led to consider with increasing solicitude the _nature of the
eat erprise they are carrying on, and the apparent absence of
that vigour and promptitude of command which is indispen-
sal Ile to success. What are the strategical plans of the gene-
ra commanding these armies ? What are the prospects of
bri ngiog to a prosperous result the operations of the siege?
W; rat means are they prepared to adopt in order to encoun-
ter and defeat the vast and varied resources which the enemy,,
wi th indefatigable energy and great skill, is ready to turn
ag: Oust us ? To these questions we may be told that no
an swer can be given until we learn the results of the
reE xilutions taken by the last council of war. But
we: cannot shut our eyes to the fact that no indication has
ye'; been given of any connected system of action, that
s invention and originality of resource displayed in this
siege have hitherto been altogether on the side of the Rus-
sia ass, and that some considerable portion of an interval of
th ae which is absolutely irretrievable and invaluable to the
Al lied armies has already escaped without a single blow being
sts uck.

Let us first consider this state of things with reference to
th ; siege, properly so called, of Sebastopol. It is known,
from the attack made by the French on the night of the 23d
of February, and from the despatch of General Canrobert of
the 17th of March, that the Russians have succeeded in estab-
lishi ag themselves in positions between our own lines and the
original outworks of the town. The General speaks of "an
attack directed on the 14th of March against a first line of
Russian ambuscades at the parallel opened before the hillock
on which the Russians have established their new work in
front of the Malakhoff Tower," This hillock or niamelon,
which is, we believe, the same known by our men as Gor-
don'.%-bill, has now become one of the principal objects of the
French attack, but no impression has yet been made upon it,
although it effectually protects the Alalakhoff Tower behind
it. En fact, in this extraordinary siege the common order
of thdngs is inverted, for, instead of the besieging army
working up to the walls of the town by regular ap-
proacilaes, in this case we find the besieged garrison throw-
ing o at fresh works which bring them closer to our lines, and
the s•rx‘ce between the two Antagonists is progressively nar-
rowed, not by our drawing nearer to the works of the enemy,
but 1)y the enemy advancing his works to inset ours. Hence
the fre4plent postponements and disappointments of the hope
that wur fire would shortly open on some important front of
the Oa ae. On the other hand, it appears, that ono battery,
built by the French, but armed and manned hy British troops,
has boon pushed forward so as to command 4 portion of the
great ':harbour; and one of the Russian steapaers of war, the
Gron tonossetz, has been sunk by our fire. From the extreme
proxi in ity of the outposts, which arc in some places within
200 3am] s, a constant fire is kept up by riflemen stationed in
pits ,for shelter, and the hand-to-hand combats of the French
with the garrison are frequent and murderous. -This
is a. ' state of things which cannot continue much
long or ; and, whether the plan of the assault be
pers evened in or abandoned, nothing is to be gained
by a more protracted delay of that, fire for which
such -vast and laborious preparations have been made. Tl:e
next r4ep in the operations must depend on the result of the
general bombardment ; but until that pohit 'is decided no-
thing- relse will be attempted. Let that be tried, since every-
thing laq in readiness for it ; but, should the .`result prove less
complei.,e than was at one time anticipated by the engineers
of the- ,army, a totally different plan of operations must be
resorte d to.

As tl m season is now returned at which an army in the
Crime's. can take the field, we look with far greater confidence
to a ka dicious and enterprising plan of strategical movements
than to a persistence in the siege. The whole coast of the
Grim( is open to the conveyance of troops to any point by
the Er seam fleet. The distances from one place to another are
incon siclerable. The Turks, under Omer Paella, already hold
one a trong position on the flank of the Russians at Eupatoria.
Another corps d'armee might operate with the utmost
facility on their rear from Kaffa to Kara-su; and we are
wholly unable to conceive the grounds on which an army
capalak of conquering• any force that can be brought to
meet in the , field should remain penned up in an
intrencled camp which is literally beleaguered by the
enemy. That of all positions the least advantage-
ous 23111 the most insecure. For, even if we suppose
that Sebastopol itself fell under our bombardment,
until'-we have beaten the Russian army in the field we should
be urn ble to hold our conquest, and might be exposed to at-
tack :from the whole force of the enemy outside the walls.
There is reason to believe that the 2d division of the Russian
army, under General Paniutin, is already on its march south
of Pero kop, and it is impossible to doubt that large reinforce-
ments are on their way. the vitil question for us is whether
the allied Generals can anticipate their arrival, and employ
with, erect those short but decisive moments which mark the
open inf ; of this campaign..
_ _

Public opinion and the energy, of this nation were not un-
duly ea :cited last autumn to urge upon the-Government the
necessity of reinforcing the army after the battle of Inkorman,
and cesupplying those numerous deficiencies which had mani-
fested. -themselves in every branch of the service. The subse-
quent' debates in Parliament, and the disclosures before the
Com) nAtee of Inquiry, have most fully ratified that appeal.
Wei to net flatter ourselves that public opinion can either dis-
cern er direct with unerring sagacity the complicated move-
ments of an army, depending, as they _do, on a thousand
caustis which are only known to the officers command-
ing on the spot. But this consideration reduces the
whole question to one of confidence in those officers.
The -soldiers have, by common consent, done their
work. mobly. They held the unarmed redoubt at Inkerman
against: a myriad foes, they laboured through the winter in
the teen ches, and the ...turning spring him the survivors, at
loona, ~,'that glorious army fresh and eager for battle. It is
for the' generals of the Allied armies to direct this energy to
victory. They cannot expect to remain where they are.
They cannot expect to succeed in any operation of import-
ance 'fa:v confining themselves within an intrenched camp.
Nay, th.e very soil around the camp and the ports, infected
by the.. continued presence of so large a body of men and the
sad r mnains below - its surface, will drive us off as summer
advances with its pestilential exhalations. A stationary in-
vasioi t and a siege in which the besiegers are more completely
invested
than the garrison, are contradictions in terms, and
every 'day we lose at this crisis will increase our difficulties
hereafter. The situation in which the generals now End
themselves is precisely that which they had to anticipate
throu shout the winter, and they ought therpfore to be pre-
pared to meet it. Their aforesight, their vigour, and their
resourot,s aro now upon their trial, and we cannot entirely
conceal our apprehensions that the same apathy or irresolu-
tion which left the army tl;ronghout the winter to struggle
again:it incalculable evils may defer till it be too late those
movements in the Bad which alone hold out &fair prospect of
ultimate success.

STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
( Front the Morning Herald of thi.i day.)
Lord Ellenborough's review last night of the war policy of
the last and present Government, and of our position with
reference to the great question of the age, was marked by
that originality and power, and that command of the subject,
which he commonly brings to every discussion. "Wo had
at the commencement of this war," observed the noble lord,
with striking force, "an indulgent Parliament and an enthu-
siastic people ; we have now a discontented people and an in-
quiring Parliament ;" and with consummate ability he indi-
cated. the causes which have induced this unhappy change,
and indicated with merciless distinctness the authors of our
national calamities and embarrassments.

We shall not follow Lord Ellenborough in his bill of indict-
ment—it is drawn up with a completeness which renders
comment superfluous—and if there be one fact more generally
understood and recognised than another, it is, that under
existing management things must go from bad to worse, if
the state of affairs at home and abroad admits of degree.
England has never been engaged in a war in which the
people took from the first so great an interest as this ; from
the first it has been popular, and notwithstanding the sacri-
fices, the losses, and the management, popular it contines to
be. No_ Ministry ever undertook the conduct of a war under
auspices more favourable than the first Coalition. They bad
the hearty support of Parliament and of the country ; they
had no factious difficulties to surmout—their • course was
clear before them—at least as clear as any course can be to
clouded or warped intellects; they had ample time to ()Maki
the fullest information of the nature of the undertakirg they
were about to engage in, and of the enemy they were about
to encounter; they slighted their opportunities—they have
made shipwreck of asplendid expedition, and have bequeathed
its remains to be the sport of their presumptuous successors:
The Parlianient that was indulgent has naturally become in-
quiring—the popular enthusiasm has naturally changed to
moody diecontent,
_ . _ _

Lora Ellenborough complained of the length of the adjourn-
ment, and contrasted its duration with the trifling amount of
public business transacted since the commencement of the
session. His lordship seems to forgot, however, that- Lord
Palmerston's Government is essentially a Government on suf-
ferance ; that every species of shift and manoeuvre is resorted
to, hi order to prolong its precarious and shambling exist-
ence. Anything .to gain time. The chapter of accidents is
the chapter of their existence ; and, in the present aspect of
Europe a great many events may be pressed into sixteen
days. They have taken seven or eight days of grace, and
few will be found to deny that they stood in frightful need of
them. _ _ _

There is one portion of Lord Ellenborough's speech which
we confess disagreeably surprises us. It is that which treats
of the purpose of the expedition to the Crimea, and its pro-
bable results. Our space does not permit us on this occasion
to traverse fully his lordship's opinions on this subject, but
we shall take au early opportunity of referring to them at
length. Lord Ellenborough is of opinion that the invasion
of the Crimea was from first to last a mistake; that the allies
will never take Sebastopol ; that, even if they did, its posses-
sion would be impossible, and the razing of it absurd, with-
out an army of 100,00 men to occupy the isthmus and keep
the passes to the eastward. We answer, if Sebastopol be
not razed, the Russian supremacy in the Black Sea is undis-
turbed, and if undisturbed, we have gone to war and lost an
army literally for nothing. The maintenance of Sebastopol
as a great naval arsenal is essential to the extension of Rus-
sian power in the south—once reduced and dismantled, a
small force would easily prevent its reconstruction. Russia
knows this well, and therefore sho makes a deadly stand
against the besieging armies. No man of Lord Ellenborough's
abilities can take up any view of a subject without investing
it with interest, if not with importance ; but we are quite
satisfied that his reasoning in this matter is fallacious, or that
it can only be maintained by denying ab time the acknow-
edged object of our enterprise.

THE VIENNA CONFERENCES.
(Front the Daily News of this day.)
o see little
communications
for .uiprospect Vienna,
of
toAraccgorhdningnutsosoelulrismost recent
t understood
peace at present, and to expect to be in England by the 14th
of April. We may add that some of the most sincere and in-
timate allies of Ministers express no regret at this state of
affairs, but, on the contrary, freely express their conviction
that any peace made now would be precarious and uncertain.
Respecting the course that will be pursued by Russia little
doubt seems to be felt in any quarter. How Austria will act
is a more puzzling inquiry. M. Drouyn de l'Hu
on his way to that capital.
_At least
soonstahyes
other
r.ilfo it i
hand, t uwre—l
ei sa
it.no
fromp r pro immediately eae
rd
ellimabrtedsioaurtel2; to Vienna.
deemed indispensable that the diplomatfc champions of
twhahtenCoiutnist
Nesselrode is already
France and Russia should have a personal reneontre in the
lists at Vienna, matters may be said to look serious. Russia
must entertain a strong
conviction that the wavering faith of
Austria is assailable ; France that its precious ally requires to
be narrowly watched. The ready concession by Russia of
those points which most affect the personal interests of Aus-
tria, and the 'confidence with which Russia leaves the garri-
Sons of Poland to be occupied principally by its Asiatic troops,
had already pointed to the same conclusion. • .
But, whatever courso Austria may see At to adopt, the War

must go on until Russia gives' a sufficient guarantee for the
security and tranquillity of Europe. And with • reference to
this consideration, it cannot be too often repented that nothing
short of the dismantling and cession of Sebastopol by Russia
can be accepted as a guarantee. The allegation that if Russia
consents to the diminution of its naval force in the -Black Sea,
Sebastobol may be left standing, cannot bear examination.
Sebastopol is of no use to Russia except for the purpose
of aggression. Unless Russia is allowed to maintain a
powerful fleet in the hartour of Sebastopol, that fortress
can afford ro protection to Odessa or the harbours in
the Sea of Azoff. As a safe -4SiluMlo4apy fleet that
Russia may have constructed .101,erof ya the docks of
Nicolaieff and smuggled into elaastinpl3l4:thitt fortress is a
permanent menace not only to Cenetantinte, but to the com-
merce and navigation of the:Daniite.:flV CI. aig.as the Crimea,
with Sebastopol at its south-Wdetern suite, Isiteld by Russia,
that power commands the 'Bladif-fielilstopoln in the
, m.the, Euxie what
Algiers of the Czars must necesearity.l4ehat
Algiers in the hands of the Depi, wan, nAp Mediterranean.
The fleets of the Algerines were repeitedlY siveettfron.t the seas
by the levies of France and Englan,d—ameidiment for the
future was solemnly promised by the reigning Dey after
every such infliction—and yet the • Algtrines were never
brought to abandon their piratical courses permanently, un-
til France took Algiers into its own hands. In like manner
Russia, after every defeat inflicted upon it by the European
Powers, will promise to desist from its ambitious scheme of
making the Euxine a Russian lake, and annexing all the ter-
ritories that surround it ; but -Until the Crimea has been
wrested from Russia, that *eject will be;tesiuned as soon as
time has,alleviated the smaa of cha..stieement.'-
DeZenda est Carthago. , §ebn.itoPol- must come down, and
the Russians must be driven out of the Crimea, notwith-
standing the strenuous efforts of the English and the Euro-
pean aristocracy to avert that catastrophe. And these ob..
jects are not to be attained !by pounding away at the south
side of Sebastopol only. Everything that can be learned of
the natural and artificial strength of that stronghold in-
creases the certainty that it can never be taken until it is
completely invested—and it cannot be completely invested
until the Crimea has been cleared of the Russian army that
now keeps the field there. The language held upon this sub-
ject by Sir. De Lacy Evans in the House of Commons last
night is as weighty as it is true. The gallant General told
the House that the best way to wage war successfully is to
concentrate our forces upon one point, instead of scattering
them over remote and isolated localities ; that the real struggle
with Russia will take place in the Euxine, and that the
greater part of our forces ought to be directed thither ; that
recruits for the army before Sebastopol, and steamers of light
draught and gun-boats for the Sea of Azoff ought to be sent
off without delay. If Ministers listen to this advice from an
able and experienced veteran, and act upon it with intelli-
g,ence and promptitude, they may yet redeem their short.
comings; if not, they may rest assured that any Government
who conclude a peace, before Sebastopol has been wrested
from Russia and dismantled, may make up tfieir minds to
undergo the heaviest penalties an indignant nation can inflict
upon them.

APPEAL OF THE HOLY SYNOD TO THE
RUSSIAN NATION.

The following is the appeal noticed yesterday in The
Sun as having been iesued by the Ecclesiastical Synod
styling itself "Thrice Holy," and which is directed Ly
an aide-de-camp of the Russian Emperor. The appeal
was published ten days since at St. Petersburg, and is
to be placed, therefore, to the account of the new go-
vernment :

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Through the grace, gift, and power communicated by the
supreme head, our Lord and God Jesus Christ the thrice Holy
Synod of all the Itussias appeals to the faithful and pious chil-
dren of the Russian orthodox church.
May the Lord of the Church, our Saviour Jesus Christ, and
the spirit of grace that dwells in it, the distributor of the
spirit, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole
family in heaven and on earth is named (Ephes. iii., 15), God
glorified in the Holy Trinity, bless you, well-belovd children
of the church,-for your holy and pious sentiments of religious
z*l, for your devotion to the throne of the Czars, and foryour
love of our orthodox native country, sentiments that you have
manifested on all occasions during the present contest. He
will remember all your sacrifices for religion, the throne, and
the country. (Psalm xx., 3.)
You know how unjust is this war waged against your coun-
try, because the great Czar and Emperor Nicholas Pavlovitch,
of happy, worthy, glorious, and eternal memory, in the name
of his sacred duty as defender of orthodoxy, required of the
Ottoman Porte to re-establish the abused rights of the holy
orthodox Eastern church, and to deliver our co-religionists
from their terrible sufferings.

You know also that, to the astonishment of all, the enemies
of the er,ss of Christ found a support from the two Western
Powers, who, assuming the name of Christians, and having
been in no respect offended by Russia, have with rage brought
fire and sword to its territory.
Their legions, like those of infidels, have insulted the sacred
things of our religion.

It was Holy Saturday, and those most sacred hours, con-
secrated to prayers on the sepulchre itself of the Lord, which
they selected for attacking Odessa—that city defended by
God. Again they rushed like sacrilegious wretches against
the peaceful convent of Solovetzk. They demolished' the tem-
ples of God situated defenceless on the coast. They have not
been ashamed to pillage and destroy the property of unfor-
tunate unarmed inhabitants.

. But, by the will of God, tho great and strong defender of
truth and justice, the crimes of our enemies have not profited
them ; and iu their frequent reverses, in the terrible tempests
of the Black Sea which haye engulphed their vessels, in the
mortal maladies that have decimated their armies, the action
of the puissant hand of the Lord fighting for us has been
visible.

Notwithstanding all this the enemies, irritated by the loss
of their armies, are collecting others more formidable ; they
seek to extend their unjust alliance, and are preparing them-
selves for fresh hostilities against the Russian territory. The
safety of Russia requires her to augment her defence by means
of a temporary
_levy en rnasse.

By the month of the Lord's anointed, now dwelling in
celestial light, God has called our country to fresh sacrifices,to
new struggles.

Russia has not provoked the contest, she was called to it.
Let the Lord's will be done I God is against the aggressor t
We hope and believe that be who said, " I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall nob-prevail against it''
(Matt. xvi. IS), is now fighting. for his holZ church ; he will
defend and save it.

We hope and believe that He, in whose hand is the heart
of kings. (Proverbs xxi. 1) will himself guide, for the good of
his church, the heart of the pious autocrat, our Czar and
Emperor of all the Russias, Alexander, Nicolaievitch, that
He will lend him his succour, that He will defend him and
bless his undertakings.
Wo hope and believe that He who fixes the bounds of
earthly kingdoms, and who has chosen the empire of Russia
for establishing in it the 'centre of His church, will pro
nounce His judgment against all them that lay their hands
on his inheritance. (Jerem. xii. 14.)
Full of this faith and hope, dearly beloved children of the
church and -the country, hasten to execute your present,
your sacred mission. Be not terrified on account of your
enemies ; remember your Lord, who is great and terrible ;
with the faith you have in Him, arm and fight for your
brethren. (Nehem. iv. 14.)
" Urged on by cupidity, they will invade your dwellings,
but we arm to save our souls and our laws, and the Lord
himself will scatter their forces before you." (Matthew iii,
24, 22.)

Our God will fight for us" (Nehem. iv., 20) within the
limits even of our own country. Orthodox Russians, the
church is menaced with sacrilegious deeds on the part of our
enemies. So long as a breath of life shall remain to you, you
will not allow the mother of your souls, the pledge of your
salvation, theguarcliau of your religion, of that religion which
alone can save, and without which no one will see the divine
kingdom, to be insulted. Your ancestors, commanded by
Prince Demetrius Donskol, of glorious memory, watered
with their blood the land of Russia, wrested From a foreign
yoke • under the ordefs of Mininn and Pojarski„ they saved
our holy religion and legitimate throne ; your fathers, led by
Alexander the Well• Beloved, defended their cotratry against
innumerable foreign forces. Now that a similar act presents
itself to you, you will not fail to show yourselves worthy of
your ancestors and fathers.

It is in you, men of the nobility, it is in the subthre expres-
sion of your sentiments before the monarch—it is in your
solemn vows t) offer up as sacrifices to God, the Czar, and
the country, all your property, and even your lives, that we
see with joy the sempiternal spirit of the old orthodox Rus-
sian nobility. May the blessing of the Most High permit you
to fulfil your duty, and may your new exploqs at the head of
the Russian army testify, in the sight of the nations, that the
spirit of Pojarski is your hereditary quality.
It 'is in you, citizen class, devoted from time httmemorial
to religion and the Czar, and always ready to make sacrifices
in behalf of the country, that the spirit of Minima reisides, the
spirit of strength and zeal, according to the law of our fore-
fathers in the holy cause of God.

Inhabitants of the plains and hamlets, you who a-re arming
for the defence of the church; the throne, and our native
land, oppose to those impious legions your powerfid Russian
breasts, in which beat hearts devoted to the faith of your
ancestors, and the orthodox autocrat But, while'preparng
for the combat, put above all things your trust in' G'od, who
gives invincible strength to those who execute his =will, and
remember that hat most terrifies our enemies is your holy
religion, your pure conscience, your obedience to the supreme
authority as to God himself, to your masters and chiefs as if
they were your fat&rs. It is in that obedience, so agree.
able to God, that all the strength of the RUssian Empire

Fathers and mothers, you have before your eyes a sub-
lime example in the august imperial family. ' The Grand
Dukes, blessed by their august parents, hastened to repair
to the field of battle for your personal defence, for the de-
fence of your religion and families. Is it for you to hesi-
tate now in sending your children at the demand of the
Czar ? Lead them thither yourselves. Say to them
Children, place yourselves there for the defence of our
pommon mother, the divine church ; and for our foster-
mother, the Russian soil ; your parents hero below bless
you, and the church will pray for you. Our heavenly
Father Himself will give you a supernatural strength for
accomplishing your holy mission."
Pastors of souls, spiritual fathers of the defenders of the
church and the throne, by your prayers and supplications at
all times (Eph. vi. 18), watch. sedulously over your flocks ;
strergthen them by the omnipotence of the divine word ;
inspire them with the conviction that the present war is an
ancient war against the Prince of Darkness, the spirit whieb
still worketh on the children of disobedience. (Eph. 22.)
In girding on the armour of God, according to the words
of the apostle, gird up equally the souls Confided to your
care with the strength, faith, and hope in the mercy of the
Lord.

Orthodox Russians, we call down on all of you on this
solemn occasion, well pleasing to clod, the blessing of the
God of the strong, the protection of the Quern of Heaven,
and the support of all the saints, our intercessors with God.
Deign, oh, Almighty God ! to cast a look of compassion
on the well-beloved children of the church. To Thee they
lift up their souls and hearts, and from Thee alone they ex-
pect their salvation. Take under Thy protection the most
our Czar and Emperor of all the Hussies,
pious autocrat,-
Alexander yieolaievitch ; imbue him with Thy force, glory,
and honer: crown with success both him and his Christian
arraio. Behold, Lord, the sincere sacrifices offered up to
,n,„ by the children of Thy church, who aro ready to die
for the glorifying of Thy holy name ; cover with Thy Pro-
tection the defenders of the Holy Religion ; receive them
from the field of battle into Thy eternal kingdom, and admit
them loth the number of the blessed martyrs !
Deign, lastly, to grant safety to the Russian empire, that'
has always remained faithful to Thee, and grant it Thy
assistance and grace.
May the orthodox church and all its children join us in our
prayers, and repeat with us with their mouths and hearts :
"In Thee, 0 Lord, have I trusted, let me never be con-
founded."

LIVERPOOL, March 30.—1 n consequence of the United
States' mail steamer Pacific being detained in New
York for repairs, the fine American steamer Nashville,
Captain Berry; has-been appointed to take her place in
the voyage from this port on. the 7th of