The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-31 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1855.

The division of Monday evening has virtually
relieved the country from the incubus of an effete
and incapable Government. So far it must be
productive of the most beneficial results. But
some thing more is required ! Who shall cleanse
the Augean stables of the Horse Guards ? Who
shall select the most efficient and experienced
Generals to replace some of those who have proved
themselves inadequate to the grave emergency in
which they were placed 1 Who is there with
sufficient moral courage to grapple with the
Hydra-headed system, to abolish redtapism in one
of its strongest holds—the Military department ?
Until we find some one with courage to plan, and
resolution and power to exeoute these important
reformations, we can scarcely hope for a more
vigorous aid efficient carrying on of the War—or
an auspicious termination to the winter campaign
in the Crimea. The mistakes of the Civil De-
partment at home may materially impair the
General in command. But unless he be duly
qualified for his position—unless he be com-
petent to discharge its important duties,
in the most satisfactory manner no exer-
tions of the authorities at home can compen-
sate for what at least must be regarded as a de-
plorably defective arrangement.

It is not our desire unnecessarily to assail any
General or officer in her MAJESTY'S service.
Nothing but an overwhelming sense of duty
could induce us to direct public attention to the
conduct of Lord RAGLAN for the purpose of exhi-
biting the important interrogatory—Has he proved
himself qualified for the high office he holds ?
Can we entrust the health and lives of our gal-
lant fellows to his uncontrolled management, or
rather mismanagement ? These are painful in-
quiries ; but they must be answered. The va-
rious wounds must be probed in every part. We
cannot afford, even if uninfluenced by any higher
motives, to allow our brave defenders to perish
at the rate of one hundred per diem from sheer
mismanagement, to say nothing of the more ter-
rible mortality occasioned by the neglect of the
most ordinary precautions.

Lord RAGLAN (against whose personal bravery
we would not utter a single word, who has the
sturdy courage possessed by the vast majority of
English officers, aye, and soldiers) may be looked
on as a perfect illustration of the prevailing, and,
we would add, obnoxious system. He had great
experience as a General, not in the field, but in
the closet. He made an excellent Military Secre-
tary, and would probably have made a very fair
Commander-in-Chief, who would carry on matters
smoothly according to the old jog-trot system.
It did not, however, by any means follow
that he world be highly distinguished in the
field. Indeed his capacity for supreme com-
mand was a matter involved in the deepest mys-
tery. Ile cannot he said to have taken au autive
part in any practical struggle since the battle of
Waterloo, whero, as an Aide-de-camp to the Duke
Of WELLINGTON, he proved himself to be an excel-
lent messenger, perfectly qualified to deliver the
orders of the Chief, but giving no evidence of his
capacity for framing such orders, or playing out
the great game of war, in which ho was merely an
humble instrument.

Lord RAGLAN was, in fact, born to Staff ap-
pointments. He WAS the youngest, we believe
the tenth, son of a Duke of immense possessions
and corresponding influence. But, in order to
maintain the dignity and weight of the elder
brand), he was sent to fight his way in the world,
so that while his fortunate brother was placed in
the enjoyment of some eighty or a hundred thou-
sand per annum, he received a poor ton thousand
pounds—sufficient, however, to purchase the
various grades of promotion which family influ-
ence could not attain.

The title of honour ITA's, however, not merely
a feather in his cap. It conferred more sub-
stantial advantages. The young Nobleman who
entered the army a raw boy of sixteen spe3dily
was placed on the staff of the Commander-in-
Chief (for the system was then analogous to that
now in operation), and it is unnece3s try to say
that promotion rapidly followed. It wa& with
the pen, however, rather than the sword, by
which lie shone. He was first Military Secretary,
afterwards Secretary to the Embassy at Paris,
Secretary to the Master-General of the Ordnance,
and Secretary to several Commanders-in-Chief.
Closely connected with the Duke of WELLINGTON
by marriage he had great influence with that
illustrious General, and for many years was vir-
tually Commander-in-Chief. We believe that he
would have been far better qualified for the
office of Commander-in-Chief than its present
occupant—Lord HARDINGE-but that constitutes
no reason why he should be transferred from
duties for which he was fully qualified to others
of still greater importame for which he was totally
incompetent. The letting down the injured vanity
of a Peer has been rather too dearly purchased
by the sacrifice of some hundreds of British officers,
and thousands, aye, tens of thousands, of British
soldiers.

There must, then, be a clean sweep at the Horse
Guards, the Germanism whereof has become pro-
verbial. Lord HARDINGE has, in many- respects,
occasioned deepdissatisfaction. There inust also be
a radical change at the Crimea. The victories
which have there been achieved may emphatically
be termed "soldiers' triumphs." We conquered
not by the skill of leaders, but by the determined
and unshrinking valour of the men. The-Duke
of CAMBRIDGE, who has just returned, has
emphatically declared that "it has not been a war
of Generalship," that " the campaign has
been a soldiers', and nothing but a soldiers', cam-
paign." What further evidence can be required ?
How can we doubt the deliberate statement of a
witness in every respect so unimpeachable ? What-
ever Ministry may be formed, its first and most
important duty will be to effect a complete change
at the Horse Guards, and to select the best man
that can be obtained for the supreme command
in the Crimea. Oh for but three months of
Sir CHARLES NAPIER. Ho would, indeed, redeem
the character of the nation, and teach our Allies,
as well as our opponents, to respect the skill of
British generals as highly as the valour of British
soldiers.

We must patiently await the promised explaila,.
Lions by the nominal head of the Government to-
morrow evening before the results of the present
crisis can be known. It is quite clear that the