The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1855.

OFFICIAL DESPATOFI. FROM FIELD-
MARSHAL LORD I?AOLAN.

(Filo' LAST EVENING'S GIZETTIL)
WAR DEPARTMENT, JAN. 12.
His Grac© the Duke of Newcastle has this day received
a despatch, of which the following is a copy, addressed to
his Grace by Field-Marshal the Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
Before Sebastopol, Doc. 30, 1854.
My Lord Duke,—Since I wrote to your Grace on the
26th the weather has been somewhat more propitious, but
the state of the ground is hardly more satisfactory.
The 18th Regiment has arrived; and I have likewise the
honour to inform you that we are daily receiving vast sup-
plies of ammunition, warm clothing, and huts for the
army. The utmost efforts will be made to disembark all
those stores ; but the difficulty of effecting this desirable
object is very great, owing to the very limited extent of
the harbour, its crowded state, and the narrow entrance
to the town, and want of space on the beach, the rocks on
the north side rising directly out of the water, and there
being, consequently, no accommodation but on one side.
The Russians continue to withdraw from the Valley of
the Tchernaya, whilst they have constructed defensive
works on the heights above, which would imply a diffi-
culty of maintaining their troops in the field.
A reconnaissance was sent out this morning by General
Canrobert towards the river, in co-operation with a por-
tion of Major-General Sir Colin Campbell's force on the ex-
tierne right or 13.1.11avis, the result of which is not yet

known.
I enclose a list of casualties from the 25th to the 23th.
I have, &c.,

RAGLAN.

His Grace tke Duke of Newcastle, &c.

WAR-OFFICE, Jex. 12.

Theßight Honourable the Secretary-at-War has received
from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle the following list of
casualties amongst the non-commissioned officers and pri-
vs tes, in the forces under the command of Field-Marshal
the Lord Raglan, G.C.8., from the 25th to the 28th De-
cember, 1854, both inclusive.

RETURN OF CASUALTIES FROM 25TH TO 28na
DECEMBER, 1854, INCLUSIVE.
20th Regiment of Foot-1 rank and file killed; 2 rank
and file wounded
41st Regiment —1 rank and file wounded
44th Regiment —1 rank and file wounded
55th Regiment-1 rank and file killed; 1 rank and file
wounded
57th Regiment-1 serjoant, 1 rank and file, missing
Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade-2 rank and file wounded
Sappers and Miners-1 rank and file wounded
Total-2 rank and file killed; 8 rank and file,
wounded; 1 serjeant, 1 rank and file, missing.
J. B. BUCKNALL ESTCOURT,
Adjutant-General.

RETURN OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
AND MEN KILLED FROM 25TE TO 28Th DE-
CEAIBER, 1254, INCLUSIVE.
KILLED.
DECEMBER 25.
20th Regiment of Foot.
Private George Drudge.
55th Regiment of Foot.
Private D,tniel O'Connors.
J. B. BUCKNALL ESTCOITRT,
Adjutaut-Ger eral.

RETURN OF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
AND MEN WOUNDED AND MISSING FROM
THE 25TH TO 28TH DEC., 1851, INCLUSIVE.
WOUNDED.
DEC. 25.
20th Regiment of Foot.
Private James Duggan, slightly
Private Martin Donlan, slightly
55th Regiment of Foot.
Private Philip Parker, slightly

DEC. 2G.
Ist Ba'Aalion Rifle Brigade.
Private Thomas Bray, slightly

Dec. 27.
44% Regiment of Foot.
Private Jo'in Porter, severely.
Sapporo and Miners.
Private Robert McFarlane, severely.

DEO. 2S.
41st Regiment of Foot.
Private Francis Markey, severely.
Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade.
Corporal William Foakins, slightly.

MISSING.
DEC. 26.
57th Regiment of Foot.
Serjeant Thomas Holden
Private Hugh King.
J. B. BUCKNALL BSTCOURT,
Ad j utant-General.

and a half ago. The Scotland'made her number to her
on off the Start.

A WATERLOO-MAN'S WIDOW.

An earnest appeal has been made to us on behalf of
a widow named Mary Bolton, aged 80, whose husband
served nearly 25 years in the 11th Dragoons, and was
twice wounded and received two medals, one for Sala-
manca and one for Waterloo. He served during the
whole of the Peninsular campaign, and was accompanied
by his wife. This poor woman is desirous of being re-
ceived into the Cambridge Asylum for soldiers' widows.
Proxies in her favour or any contributions for her will
be received by the Rev. Charlton Lane, the Incumbent
of St. Mark's, Kennington. At a time when so much
sympathy is excited for the widows of the soldiers who
have fallen in the Crimea, it is to be hoped that the
destitute widow of a Waterloo soldier will not be for-
gotten.

have interdicted themselves from asking any thing for
themselves, when once their task shall have been
finished. On the other hand, the well-known cha-
racter of the' Czar, his immense preparations, the
language -of his representives on various occa-

sions, and quite recently of his minister at Tienna—
all warrants our incredulity. Is it true, is it possible
that Prince Gortschakoff can have accepted without
reserve the conditions which he declared to be unrea-

sonable •n the evening of the 28th of December ? The
following is what we believe to be the real state of

things. On the 28th of December the interpretation
of the four guarantees, such as they are understood at
present by France, England, and Austria, was read
non-officially, and, as a matter of information to
the Russian ambassador by Count de Buol, Prince
Gortschakoff took copious notes of the document thus
communicated, but not handed to him ; he asked for
and obtained a fortnight to write to his government on
the subject. It was clearly understood that on January
14 he was to declare by a yes or no whether Russia
accepted or refused the four guarantees with their in-
terpretation. No discussion was to be admitted on that
interpretation, and, in case of refusal on the part of
Russia, the alliance of Austria with the Western powers
was to become offensive from the 14th of January.
Prince Gortschakoff, whilst transmitting to his Govern-
ment the conditions of the powers, declared them to
be unreasonable. A week after, and when scarcely
one half of the time allowed had expired, Prince
IGortschakoff came and announced to M. de Buol

that he was authorised to accept the four guarantees
modifying slightly the interpretation of one or perhaps
of two of them. Ee added that if the representatives
of the allied powers considered themselves empowered to
enter into communication with him on these bases, he

had the necessary power to treat, and could commence
the definitive negotiations at once. According to what

had been agreed to on the 28th December, therepresen•
tatives of France and England could, when Count Buol

communicated to them the answer of the Russian Minis-
ter, have given a simple refusal to accept it, as they had
a right to treat as a refusal on the part of Russia an ac-
ceptance, which was not without reserve or limit. We
believe that Austria requested of them not to make use
of that right immediately. On one hand it could have
been observed that the interpretation given by Russia
to the four guarantees did not differ sensibly from the
interpretation decided on amongst the three allied
powers ; and, on the other, the delay accorded to Russia
to reply had still a week to run. There consequently
did not appear to be any inconvenience for the ambas-
sadors, in place of replying by an immediate and irre-
vocable refusal to take, on the offer of Russia, the in-
structions of their courts. It is that course which was
adopted. Oar letters state that the English and French
ambassadors have written to their Governments for in•

structions, and, should it be necessary, for the necessary
powers to treat. Such are the facts, if we are well-in-
formed, and they have not the proportions which the
imagination of news-makers at once attributed to
them. They constitute merely for the policy of France
and of her allies, a great moral success. It is already
an enormous step to have brought Russia to accept
in their substance these four guarantees, in which
M. de Nesselrode had beheld the destruction of her
power and the ruin of her honour. But the question
which occupies every mind at present is to know if we
are nearer to peace. To that question only one man can
reply, and he is the Emperor Nicholas. If he be sincere,
if the declarations of his ambassador do not conceal any
duplicity, if the negotiations be asked for sincerely, and
will be carried on in the same spirit, peace may issue
from the conferences to be perhaps opened at Vienna.
But is there not some snare in the offers of Prince Gort-
schakoff ? Three things authorise us to call in doubt
the sincerity of Russia ; the unexplained rapidity of a
complete change in the opinions, language, and declara-
tions of the Czar ; the evident interest of Russia-to pro-
long the discord which exists at present between the
two great German Powers, and which every pacific step
on the part of Russia aggravates by furnishing to Prus-
sia the arguments which she wants ; and lastly, a deci-
sive strategical reason. The Russian Government con-
ceals as much as it can from publicity the movements of
its troops, and few persons take the trouble of following
in the map even those which come to the knowledge of
the public journals. The persona who are acquainted
with the measures taken by Russia since the signature of
the treaty of December 2, and the prospect of a
contest with Austria, will understand of what im-
portance would be the delay of a month at present
to the Czar. It may be remembered that the con-
centration of the Austrian forces in Transylvania placed
the Russian troops in so false a position that the Em-
peror Nicholas was obliged to make up his mind to eva-
cuate the principalities. Russia now seeks to render to
Austria what she has done to her. In order not to be
taken in, the rear by the large forces which Russia has
assembled in Poland, ,en the Pilica, and the Upper
Vistula; the Austrian army has extendectits left beyona-
measure, and it was found necessary to create in the
greatest haste the entrenched camps of Cracow and
Lemberg, in order to protect Gallioia. With the im-
perial guard concentrated at Warsaw, the corps of
Livoniathewer and e
s and Potir
anitinde: Russiaan can in factdthereserve in a few daysswhicharein
Thethrow g r e
al sto,poooi on
titeo.wi thhee road
A Austrian
oiaVn Vienna.
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which occupies the principalities, and the centre of which
is in Transylvania, from giving assistance to Gallicia,
whilst leaving some divisions to hold firm against the
Russian corps which guard Bessarabia and the banks of
the Prath. Since December 2, Russia has been making
every exertion to form, without stripping the Danube,
a new army to menace the Upper Dniester, and the
headquarters of which are at Kiew. These two armies,
the army of Poland, intended to be marched from the
north to the south, and the army of Podolia, intended
to be marched from the east to the west, and which
would so place between two fires the Austrian army,
are to be placed under the command of Prince Paskie-
witsch. General Hess would be obliged to provide
against both at the same time, and a battle gained or a
march concealed would open to one of the two Russian
armies the road to Vienna. What Russia wants in order
to be able to strike this grand blow is to have assembled
in Podolia sufficient forces ; she has so completely
stripped her army of the Danube to defend Sebastopol
land Odessa, that she has as yet been able to collect
around Kiew not more than 80,000 men. She requires
from 120,000 to 150,000 to act efficiently. Did she
hope, by pretending to negotiate, to gain time for the
troops which are on their march from all sides to arrive
in Podolia It is for better-informed persons to say."

Another article on the same subject from the
Constitutionnel says :
" The four guarantees were accompanied with reserves
which are set forth in article 1 of the treaty of Vienna
war continues in the East ; Russia has not supported a
long conflict ; she is not exhausted ; and yet, her am-
bassador, accepting the four guarantees with reserves,
demands to take them for the bases of a treaty of
peace ! What is to be thought of this war ? Wonld
it be very solid and very durable ? If anything can
instruct us exactly as to the real intentions of Russia,
it is assuredly the despatch of M. de Nesselrode, dated
26th August, addressed to Prince Gortschakoff : We
regret not to be able to act on these communications.
We believe that we have exhausted the measure of con-
cessious compatible with our honour ; and our inten-
tions seriously pacific, not having been favourably re•
ceived, it only reinaias to us to abandon to the even-
tualities of war the task of fixing the definitive bases
of negotiations. We will wait until equitable conditions
shall permit us to conciliate our wishes for peace with our
dignity and political interests.' It seems to us that the
veil is rent asunder by such language as this. The
Emperor Nicholas makes known t hathe is not seriously
inclined for peace, unless his situation in the Eastbe main-
tamed ; and he adds that the four guarantees being con-
trary to his dignity and his policy, war alone can fix the
definitive bases of the negotiation. In good French,
does not all that mean that the four guarantees accepted
by Prince Gortschakoff as the basis of a pacification, are,
iu the eyes of Russian diplomacy, only a provisional
basis, and that the peaceable intentions at present mani-
fested by the Czar are not serious I The least that such
declarations authorise us to say is, that every man of
sense has reasonably the right to ask himself if the offer
to negotiate peace, made by Russia, be a trick or an act
of sincerity ? Is it a trick to gain time ? Time will
not be gained ; everything marches with the same step
at Paris, London, and Vienna ; and the Czar will find
himself after as before, in presence of the same calm
and the same resolution. Is it a trick to deceive
Europe ? It will deceive no one. European loyalty
which might be surprised in 11163 by the acceptance with
the double understanding of the, Vienna note, will only
receive the Muscovite propositions supported by gua-
rantees of real value. Is it ail act of sincerity ? God
grant it may be 1 Everybody has need of peace, and
greater need of security ; and AIM Czar would deserve
praise for having resolved on-justice. But even in that
case we should be less moved by peace as a result
than as the glorification of'reach policy. Peace we
are sure to have in any case; eWe cannot understand
those who would beg for it as a concession from the
magnanimity of the Czar. Peace is the right of Europe
and the world ; accepted or iinposed we shall have it ;
and when three powers like France, England, and
Austria unite to conquer it, it would require a strange
failure of mind or heart to doubt of its certain and solid
establishment. What would especially strike us, if the
offer of Russia should be sincere, would be homage ren-
dered in the face of the world to the prudence, modera-
tion, and firmness of France. When the Emperor sent
the fleet to Salamis, he was alone—alone with good
sense, equity, and courage. Three months after he had
the support of England ; four months after that of Aus-
tria ; six months after that of Prussia ; and at present
he has that of Russia. After all the kings and all the
peoples, the Emperor Nicholas would say to Napoleon
111. Sire—You are right ; your policy was from
the first moment true, moderate, loyal, in conformity
with the principles of justice, civilisation, and Christi-
anity ; founded not on personal views or private ambi-
tion, but on the interest, exactly, equitably appreciated,
of Europe ; and the proof is that I, who am en-
lightened and subjugated by so much wisdom—l, who
have my forts full of fleets, my provinces of soldiers—I
accept this policy in the face of God and men as the
basis of a treaty of peace.' Such is what the de-
claration of Prince Gortschakoff signifies, if the Czar be