The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EvENING, DECEMBER 26, 1855.

quate results. The true friends of peace—those
who are desirous of obtaining permanent tran-
quillity for Europe, and banishing " grim-visaged
war" from the face of the earth on the cheapest
and most eligible terms, are those who call on the
Western Powers to put forth all their mighty
strength, to tax their gigantic resources to the
uttermost, so that by attacking the enemy in every
vulnerable point there can no longer be either
doubt or difficulty as to the result.
In order to accomplish that great desideratum
every plan for the ensuing campaign must be care-
fully matured and decided on by France and
England. There are many points to which at-
tention must be directed, so that we may follow
lup to their legitimate consequences the successes
we have already achieved. In the South East
we occupy four important stations or bases of ope-
rations—at Sebastopol and Balaklava, at Eupa-
toria, at Yenikale and the Kertch Peninsula, and
at Kinbourn. From the former we threaten
the whole of the Crimea. We may, by simulta-
neous movements, completely surround the Rus-
sian army, and insure its capitulation or destruc-
tion. From the last we command the portals
leading to Nicolaieff and Kherson, the arsenal and
granary of Southern Russia, and totally prevent
the maritime trade through the Boug and the
Dnieper. All these positions must be ren-
dered as available as practicable to ac-
complish the great end and object of
the War, and to save our children and
Ichildren's children from the severe trials and sac-
rifices which we have been compelled to submit
to for their sake.

Nor can Asia be forgotten. The fall of Kars
has given a heavy blow and great discouragement
to the Ottoman Power in a very important point.
It is unnecessary now to consider the means by
which that serious calamity might have been
averted. It will unquestionably cost much to
regain what might have been saved at a compara-
tively trivial expense. But our present object is
not to criminate any parties, or to search out
those responsible for the past, provided the wisest
and most judicious means be adopted to retrieve
the mischief. These will require mature
and attentive consideration to devise future
measures, worthy of the great champions
of justice and civilisation, the guardians of liberty
in every land and clime where it is imperilled.
The proceedings in the Baltic and on, other
points, where very important steps may be taken,
also require careful forethought, and not an hour
should be lost in deciding on every matter that
may arise during the rapidly approaching season
for active operations. It is said, and with much
apparent truth, that a Council of War is to be
almost immediately held in Paris, for the purpose
of discussing and deciding on these all-important
matters, at which the Duke of CAMBRIDGE, Sir R.
AIRET, Sir E. LYONS, and probably other distin-
guished persons, may attend on the part of Eng-
land. This is as it should be, and we have no
doubt that the results will be in the highest de-
gree beneficial to the glorious cause which the
inhabitants of both countries, the peoples of
France and England, have so deeply at heart.
Nothing must be allowed for the forbearance of
the enemy, but every nerve strained to render
Russia harmless for many years to come.

News direct from Russia, via New York, is
pretty sure to be news indeed. However much
" domestic" considerations may predispose a cer-
tain class of American citizens to espouse the part
of Russia, nothing would seem to stimulate their
good-will to partisanship so much as flattery by
the great in that country. The trio of I
good-
natured Friends who paid the late CIAR a pop
visit on an embassy of peace had, it must be con-
fessed, a narrow escape ; but a conceited Ameri-
can exposed to Russian wile has no chance at all,
and whatever he was before is sure to reach home
half Greek and half Cossack. To be hospitably
received, courted, feted, and deferred to by a
European despot and his myrmidons, noble and
ignoble, is quite enough, and more than enough,
to turn his head. It is such a glorious recogni-
tion of the claims of Nature's (American) Nobles
to be considered net merely equal in every re-
spect to Fortune's, but superior, that the recipient
feels bound in honour to give his imagination wing,
and do his utmost to demonstrate that in the
discharge of the offices of friendship, as in every-
thing else, America can " whip the world." In-
dividuals of other countries, not excluding our
own, do not stick at a trifle in the beaten way of
friendship, but JONATIIIN sticks at nothing. The
former, when practising the easy art of lying, feel
restrained a little by European conventionalities,
not so JONATII AN. Born to rove, if he likes, un-
molested through pathless wilds, and able to whip
his weight in wild cats, no such trammels can
stay him. If he is to do Russia a good turn it
must be in his own way—so as the truth won't
at all serve her turn, he must lie for her with
as much licence as the " buffaler " browses
on the wide-spread prairies in the far west. Thus
it comes to pass, that with all the will and some
talent, he falls short of being a great artist. He
don't reflect that before a man can be a magnificent
story teller he must learn to tame his fancy, and
to respect the prejudices of those on whom he is
desirous to practise.

A fine specimen of his country, i.e., in the
opinion of those who have done their best to de-
grade it, and certainly of the class we have been
noticing, is Col. TAL P. SHAFFNER, who, it will
be seen, has, just now on his return from Russia,
favoured the Editor of a New York paper with
the results of his observation and experience.
Everywhere welcomad and hospitably entertained
during an extended tour through Russia, ho re-
turns home more Russian a greatdeal than the Russ.
The Allies don't know what a tough customer they
have to deal with. They are labouring, as they
will find to their cost, under the wildest delusions.
Instead of the War being unpopular in. Russia, it
is popular to fanaticism. Instead of forced levies
being dragged in gangs to the recruiting depot,
the conscripts rush there with ardour and devo-
tion. Instead of the nobles being dissatisfied
with the loss of their bondsmen, they are only
too happy to hand them over to the CZAR, t)
whom, " if ho required it," they are prepared to
give up cheerfully all their property in money and
estates likewise. Instead of the merchants being
in a tottering condition, they are prosperous to a
miracle. Instead of a feeling of apprehension as
to the results of the War being general, every-
body is satisfied that Russia must triumph. In-
stead of Russia' having suffered losses of conse-
quence during the last campaign, what she has
suffered have been of quite an unimportant na-
ture. Instead of her finances being embarrassed,
"with the exception of a small loan, the whole
expenses have been defrayed from the revenues
of the country. There is no lack of
means (he tells us), and as a proof of
this it is only necessary to state that the pub-
lic works (fortifications ?) which were commenced
last year are carried on with unabated vigour, and
on the same extensive scale on which they were
begun." Instead of the Church being impo-
verished by the War it is being enriched. The
effects of the War are scarcely perceptible. The

Government are making preparations for a ten
years' war. The means of the imperial family
alone are sufficient to carry it on at its present
rate for many years without calling upon the
nobles ! The mines never yielded so much, and the
principal manufactures were never so prosperous ! !
Nicolaieff is impregnable, Cronstadt an impossibi-
lity, and the Imperial family as well welded to-
gether as the fortifications!!! Everything is pa-
triotism, prosperity, piety, and brotherly love,
and presages well for a prosperous issue. The
Allies, in a word, have caught a Tartar, and are
in an everlasting fix. But enough ! A liar
without genius may suit some palates, but cer-
tainly not ours—and one with less genius and
more impudence than Col. SHA.F.FNEZ we fancy
does not exist. We are heartily sick of a fellow
who can lie neither with:decency nor humour, but
only " slick ahead."

The worse than absurd, the mischievously
foolish spirit of economy which we awhile back
showed had taken possession of the Burnley Com-
missioners still troubles them. Not content with
having resolved not to entertain any application
from their servants for an increase of salary, they
have proceeded to withhold what most people will
be of opinion they actually owed. According to
the Preston Chronicle, the Registrar of the Ceme-
tery has sent in his resignation, because, instead
of dating the commencement of his salary from
the period of his appointment, they had
arbitrarily resolved it should be dated from the
period of his entering on the duties of the office,
and that notwithstanding he had been out of
employment during the interval. Is there
no one in their respective circles to inform them
that spoliation is not economy, and that a tyrant
on a small scale cannot but be contemptible as
well as noxious ? Really the Commissioners stand
in much need of a friendly turn, and the sooner
they have it the better, if their acquaintance
would have them remain in office.

shot.

certain that Austria has promised efficacious assistance
to the allies, in the event of the Czar rejecting the
overtures of Count Esterhazy. Public opinion hourly
increases against Russia, and this reaction is all the
more painful to her as her influence over the German
press is a mystery to no one. The papers that enjoy her
patronage have for some months past felt its inconveni-
ence. The middle class shows a decided preference for
the independent press. Although peace bo ardently
desired yet few believe in it, and many conjectures are
formed as to the next campaign. We can foresee an
invasion by the allies of the Russian territory of the Bal-
tic, and which will be combined with a diversion of the
Danube. The troops of the Crimea will bo conducted
to the mouths of that river, and combine their opera-
tions with the 150,000 men that Austria can put in line.
The probable results of that double attack, which, they
say will be executed in the month of May, are discussed
with much interest. The general opinion is, that it will
be decisive, and that the issue will be as fatal to Russia
as it will be favourable to the plans respecting the resto-
ration of Poland. I cannot, of course, say how far
these conjectures aro well founded ; perhaps the public
guesses beforehand, as it usually does, the acts and even
the thoughts of the Government, but I only repeat the
rumours that circulate, and which are not mere gossip,
as they obtain credit in certain well-informed saloons.
Be this as it may, they serve, at all events, to show how
public opinion points, and for this reason I think it
worth while to mention them."

FRANCE.
PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING.
A camp of 40,000 men will be formed this win-
ter at Cherbourg.
The Patric says nothing is definitely settled with
regard to a proposed visit of the Sultan to Paris.
his Highness has accepted the Cordon of the Legion
d'Houneur, which is a great innovation on Oriental
customs.

At the present moment the Prussian Govern-
ment is trying hard to be admitted into the peace
proposit ions.
The Cabinets of England and France are just
now addressing more than one foreign State with a
view of forming a defensive alliance.
A holiday at the Bourse of Paris. No quota-
tions.

that were engaged for the Havannah Theatre. Seven-
teen of the dead bodies have been picked up and buried,
five are still missing.
We likewise learn that five individuals were drowned
who belonged to a French barque, which during the
bad weather sunk deep in the sand at the mouth of the
Guadiaro.

The Bahiana, which passed the garrison to the east-
ward on the morning of the 13th, was from London,
with military stores and horses for the Crimea.
The Northumberland (steam transport), having taken
in at the New Mole 105 tons of coals, started at nine
o'clock this morning for Spithead.