The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-10 00:00:00

THE COFFEE TRADE.

(From the Times of this day.)
The great mystery of the unroasted coffee supplied to
Gur troops in the Crimea is explained in a letter which
we publish this day. It may be remembered that the
distribution of unroasted coffee to cur poor soldiers was
announced in the letter of our special correspondent in
the Crimea. Thereupon a commercial firm in the city,
actuated, we believe, by none but the most honourable
motives, made all offer to the Government to remedy
the defect by supplying the troops with the beery pro-
perly roasted at cost price. Their application was met,
after a due period of official delay, by an intimation that
" My Lords were not aware that coffee in an unroasted
condition was supplied to the troops, and that such an
occurrence was impossible, inasmuch as there were large
establishments for roasting coffee in the various depart-
, ments," &c. This reason, however satisfactory it might
appear to the authorities at home, seems not to have
convinced the soldiers before Sebastopol that the
green coffee berries which were distributed fur their
use every three or four days were actually roasted.
Now, from the letter of our correspondent "N.M.," who
comes forward—as he has a perfect right to do—to de-
fend Lord Raglan, it appears that we have the benefit of
the General's testimony in our favour as to the fact.
Lord Raglan knew that t'ie coffee berries were unroasted,
and took official notice of it. Our correspondent writes
—" Ilas Lord Raglan, by neglect, even by silence, con-
nived at such folly ?" The answer follows :—" Early in
October, by Lord Raglan's desire, Mr. Filder, the head
of the Commissariat, wrote to the home authorities,
complaining of the practice, and pointing out its injurious
tendency. Up to the 20th of January no answer to the
remonstrance had been received, nor had any roasted
coffee arrived in the Crimea." Thus, then, we have ad- '
vanced one step in the solution of this question. The
Commander-in-Chief is mot to blame ; the Commissary-
General, too, would doubtless wish to wash his hands of
all responsibility, and would triumphantly point to his
letter, should his share in the transaction be called in
question. It is somebody at home, not somebody
in the Crimea, who is to blame. Now, who is this
somebody ? There is somebody at home who can give
us information as to the whereabouts of this other
somebody who has been guilty of so flagrant a
breach of duty. We trust the public will not let
the matter rest until it is properly cleared up, and
the guilty person dealt with according to his
deserts. We do not quarrel with those who abuse us
for the course we have adopted in exposing the mis-
management of the Crimean army ; let them abuse the
Times to their hearts' content, but let them not throw
difficulties in the way when we are endeavouring to find
out the source of an acknowledged neglect. Lord Rag-
lan and Mr. Commissary Filder are upen our side at
least this time. Up to the 20th of January, be it re-
membered, no answer to their remonstrance bad arrived
nor had any roasted coffee been received in the Crimea.

But, when our correspondent "N. M." gravely fol
lows up this valuable information with the question
" Could Lord Raglan have done any more ?"—we almost
suspect that he is indulging in dry jocularity either at
his or our expense. Astonishing as such an effort may
appear, ws cannot but think that Lord Raglan might
have done one thing more—namely, have issued an order,
which it would have taken him but two minutes to
write, or perhaps five seconds to sign, directing the
Commissary to have the coffee roasted forthwith. Surely
there were a fow idle Turks about the camp who could
rcast coffee, if they could do nothing else. Surely the
bulk of the coffee might even have been transmitted to
Constantinople and brought back again in a condition
fit for human use. It was as rational to distribute to
the soldiers unroasted coffee as it was in Mr. Bumble to
"relieve" his dying pauper with five shillings' worth of
Dutch cheese.

The following is the letter referred to above :
Sir,—General accusations are difficult to meet. It is
easier to say that Lord Raglan has done his duty badly
than t,) prove that he has done it well. But your paper
of to-day refers to a distinct and specific charge. Who
is responsible for the unroasted coffee ? Has Lord Rag-
lan, by neglect—even by silence—connived at such
folly ? Early in October, and by Lord Raglan's desire,
Mr. Filder, the head of the Commissariat, wrote to the
home authorities complaining of the practice, and point-
ing out its injurious tendency. Up to the 20th of Jan.
no answer to the remonstrance had been received, nor
had any roasted coffee arrived in the Crimea. Could
Lord Raglan have done more ? Is it wholly improbable
that, in examining other specified and definite charges,
we shall find as striking remains of the "ancient good-
ness" of the man as your columns have told of the
"ancient courage" of the soldier ?

Feb. 9.

Yours, &c.,
N. M.

frIABK.ET NE WS-(THIS DAY.)

COVENT GARDEN.

About an average business was transacted here today,
as follows :

FRUIT.—Pine apples, English, 5s to 7s per lb ' • apricots,
Os to Os per doz. ; hot-house grapes, 5s Od to lOs Od per lb ;
foreign ditto, 10d to is 8d ; melons, Os Oct to Os each
peaches, Os Od to Os ; nectarines, Os Od to Os per dozen ;
apples, 4s 6d to lOs Od per bushel ; pears, 7s Oct to
6s Od per half sieve; Orleans plums and green gages Os to
Os Oct ' per punnet • ditto, Os to Os Od, and common plums,
3s 0 to Os Od per half sieve ; cherries, Od to Os per pound ;
lemons, 6d to is per doz.; oranges, 3s 6d to lOs per 100; fil-
berts, 05s per 100 lbs ; cobnuts, 180 s to Os ; almonds,
Os to Os per lb. ; walnuts, Od to Od per 100; figs, is Od
to 2s Gd per lb.

VEGETABLEb.—Savoy cabbages, 9d to is 6d per dozen;
red ditto. 2s to 3s (Id per dozen ; French beans, Os 0.1
to Os per half sieve ; brocoli, is Od to 2s per bundle;
potatoes, 8.3 s to 120 s per ton ' • vegetable inarrow,ol each ;
peas, Os Od to Os Od per bush.; broad beans, 9d to is per half
sieve ; turnips, 4d to Gd per bunch ; carrots, 7d to-10d per
bunch; cucumbers, 23 Od to 3s Oci each; garlic, 6d to
Os 8d per pcund ; spinach, Is Gd to 3s Oct per sieve;
onions, 2s Gd to 4s Od per bush. ; Spanish ditto, is to 3s
per doz. ; leeks, 2d to 4d per bunch ; shallots, 4d to 6d ;
horse-radish, 2s Od to 5s Od per bundle ; parsley, 4d
to Gil per bunch ; celery, is Oct to 2s Od per
bunch ; endive, is Oct to 2s per score ; beet, Oa 6d to is
per doz. ; parsnips, is Od to 2s Oct per dozen ; small
salad, 3d to Od per punnet ; mushrooms, is 3d to 18 Gil per
pottle ; artichokes, 4s to Os per doz. ; cabbage lettuces, Is
Gd to 2s per score ; sorrel, 6d to is per half sieve ;
radishes 9d to is per dozen hands ; tomatoes, 3s Oct to 4s
'
Oil per half zieve • chillies, is to is 6d per 160; Brussels
sprouts,
,18 Od to 2s Od per half sieve ; capsicums, is to 2s
per 100.