The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-20 00:00:00

There are two points the command of which
would confine the retreat of the Russian army—
supposing it to desire to retreat—within the limits
of the Dnieper on the west and the Moloschnija
Wodi on the east ; or, in the event of its remaining
in its present position, would limit the access of
supplies to the same area, and the effect of this
would be tantamount to the complete dispersion
and disorganisation of the whole. Except in scat-
tered parties, it would be impossible to pass through
the steppe within the abovementioned bounds, and
the survivors of such a disastrous retreat wander-
ing over the Ukraine would add the testimony of
their sufferings to the opinion which—let the Go-
vernment do what it will—is growing rapidly in
the interior of Russia as to the hopeless character
of the struggle in which the ambition of an un-
scrupulous ruler has engaged his miserable people.
The two points which would secure this result
are forced upon our attention by the conduct of
the Russians themselves during the extremely in-
structive campaigns of 1736-8. Munich and Lacy,
being without _the arm which we possess in our
dominant navy, attached the greatest importance
to the possession of Kinbourouu (by which theyse-
cured the means of transport down. the Dnieper)
and to the establishment of a line of communica-
tion along the Moloschpija Wodi. For the secure
maintenance of this Lacy built a strong fort on the
main at no great distance from Genitchi, and it
would not surprise me that the bulk of the Grena-
diers, which have recently been brought with such
hot haste to the seat of war, are established in a
fortified camp in that very locality, for the purpose
of protecting precisely the same line of commu-
nication.

If the Allied Commanders should take the same
view of the importance of those positions which
the two great Generals abovementioned enter-
tained, it is satisfactory to think that by the de-
struction of the Russian fleet our own naval forces
are rendered fully available for seeming the com-
mand of them ; in which case, we may reasonably
expect the Crimea to fall, not only without that
sacrifice of life which another pitched battle would
involve, but without the even greater lbss which
would probably be incurred by marching over the
waterless steppe to bring the enemy to action. The
English and French people may rest perfectly
satisfied that if Prince Gortschakoff once leaves
the Salghir, and pushes for Perekop, nothing more
will be requisite for the total disperson of his army
than to keep him on the route which has been
indicated above by preventing him from passing
the Dnieper at Aleschki or Berislav, and from
gaining the valley of the Moloschnija Wodi, and
so proceeding in the direction of Bakmouth.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

The annual dinner of the Association was held on
Tuesday evening, in the City Hall, which was elegantly
decorated for the occasion.

Shortly before six o'clock the Duke of Argyll en-
tered the hall, leading the Countess Campello, followed
by the Lord Provost leading Lady Lyell. His Grace
occupied the chair, and wag supported on the right by
the Countess of Campollo, Sir Charles Lyell, Mrs. Den-
nistoun, Sir David Brewster, Baron Liebig, Dr. Lyon
Playfair, Colonel Sabine, and Sir Philip Egerton ; and
on the left by Lady Lyell, the Hon. the Lord Provost,
Prince Bonaparte, Sir R. I. Murchison, Professor
Philips, Professor Rogers, and M. Daubeny. We also
observed on the platform Sir Edward Btdeher, Sir A.
Alison, Bart., Sir M. S. Stewart, Bart., M.P., Sir John
Richardson, Monckton Milnes, E•q., M.P., Professor
James Nicol, Professor Ramsay, Professor Harknes,.,
Colonel Rawlinson, W. T. Lindsay, Esq., M.P., M.
Mahmoud, Sheriff 8011, Sheriff Steel, Dr. Morton Shaw,
Captain Collinson, RN., Captain Allen, R.N., Pro-
fessor Syme, Robert Chambers, Mg., Lieut.-Colonel
Campbell, &c.
John Strang officiated as croupier.
Blessing was asked by the Rev. Dr. Robinson, of
Armagh, and the Rev. Dr. Scoresby returned thanks.
The noble CHAIRMAN gave the "Health of the Queen,"
which was drunk with all the honours. He next gave
the " Health of his Royal Highness Prince Albert."
(Great applause.)
The noble CHAIRMAN next proposed the " Health of
the Lord Provost, and Prosperity to the City of Glas-
gow." (Drunk with all the honours.)
The LORD PROVOST returned thanks.

His GRACE then proposed the healths of Prince Charles
Lucien Bonaparte, Baron Liebig, and Professor Rogers,
as the representatives of foreign science, or rather science
not British, for we looked upon the progress of America
as identical with our own. This toast was drunk with
all the honours.

Prince LUCIEN BONAPARTE, who rose to reply in be-
half of French science, was received with enthusiastic
applause. His Highness said—Understanding, as he was
sure they did, the language of the heart, he trusted they
would pardon the faultiness of the lips. (Applause.) He
had the good fortune to visit some of the principal manu-
factories in Glasgow, and was struck with the ingenuity
there displayed. He had done some good for the associa-
tion in always advocating the presence of ladies at all their
meetings, and he was glad to see so many of the fair sex
there. He had been glad to renew his acquaintance
with many distinguished men, whom be had always re-
garded with affection and esteem. None did he rejoice
more to see than his old friend and brother naturalist Sir
William Jardine, with whom he hoped soon to make a re-
view of 30,000 skins at Jardine Hall. They had arrived at
a time wbeu the alliance between the French and English
had come to a point where the interests of humanity would
make it last for over. (Cheers.) The British soldier could
;lever cross swords with the French soldiers after having
fought together at Sebastopol. (Tremendous cheering.)
Baron LIEBIG, on rising to reply, apologised for his
want of fluency in expressing himself in the English
tongue, but had only to say that he accorded his warmest
thanks in reply to all that could be said as to the success
of this meeting on the present occasion.
Professor ROGERS said—l have not words to express
myself on this occasion. I came here merely as a mem-
ber of the British Association---I have been welcomed as
a friend and a brother. (Cheers.) I feel proud to look on
the glorious achievements of the arms of Britain and
France in the East, and I pray that they may go on in
triumph till their efforts have secured to Europe a lasting
peace—my prayer that England may go ()Ras she has done,
working advances in the cause of the whole earth, and that
those who are on the other side of the Atlantic may look
to this across the waters which is a common high way
to both, with a friendly feeling, thinking not of the
gulf which separates, but the bridge which unites. In
the name of my countrymen, and on behalf of my
country, I have to thank you for the honour you have
lone me, and I hope that a sentiment of brotherhood
will long exist between us. (Great applause.)
The CHAIRMAN, in giving the toast of the University
of Cambridge, coupled with the name of Professor Sedg-
wick, said—l must now come down to the subdivisions
of the Association ; and, as we have so many distin-
guished Scotchmen among us, we must consider our-
selves as hosts on this occasion, and the strangers as our
guests. I have now to propose the University of Cam-
bridge and Professor Sedgwick. On one side of me I
see Sir Roderick Murchison, the famous geologist, who
has taken possession of a part of Wales, and made it his
own, under the name of Siluria. He is also famous in
Russia, part of which he has appropriated. And, gentle-
men, he was born on the east coast of Scotland, being,
ano
as he himself observed in one of the sections, nothing
that also
of here
Mr. Hughth leirill name
Miller. (Cheers.)
more than a fish from the old red sandstone. (Laughter
and distin-
tinguishedcheers.)i
n s Wecie nc havee,
On my other hand there is Sir C. Lyell, who has an
extensive range of scientific acquirements ; he also is a
Scotchman. (Applause.) I was long puzzled to know
why my countrymen have studied the science of geology
so earnestly, but a circumstance recently occurred
which, in a great measure, explains it. One day, as I
was walking in Edinburgh, I observed two boys
with their satchels on their backs, " trudging along un-
willingly to school." Just as they came in front of the
Castle rock, one of them said to the other, " Ay, man,
I wonder boo that castle was built." (Laughter.) He
seemed to be an amateur geologist of the same class as
my friend Professor Sedgwick. The other, who seemed