The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.

Lessee and Manager, Mr. Win. Cooke.
THIS EVENING,
105th time, the BATTLE of the ALMA ! to which will shortly be
added, the Battles of Balaklava and of Inkerman.
After which, the Brilliant SCENES of EQUITATION in the
CIRCLE.
To conclude with (the last week) the Grand. Commie Pantomime
called GULLIVER and the LILLIPUTIANS ; or, Harlequin and
Britannia.
On FRIDAY. aFREE BENEFIT in aid of the" Times"' Fund for
the Relief of the Sick and wounded Soldiers.

Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W
West. Acting Manger, A r. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director
Mr. W. Cooke, jun.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDO t.
THIS DAT —Morning 26 min.after 4 f Evening 46 inin.aft. 4
To-ifozaow - Morning 6 min.after 5 I Evening 24 min.aft. 5

THE WEATHER.—Sino 077102, Feb. 20.

TEERMOMETEB, IN THE SEADE.
36—highest since noon ydsterday.
27—lowest this morning and during the night.
31—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 29'77.
WIND, N.E.—Light, with fine sunshiny frosty weather,

- ~40,70414.1,111.
4,71-"tvii-t.e" •

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1855.

Committee or commission ? That is the ques-
tion—one, too, of no ordinary importance, for on
the decision will depend the estimate which the
nation may form of the energy, independence,
and manliness of its representatives—of the
amount of confidence that may be reposed in the
Commons House of Parliament 1 That inquiry
is essential is now admitted on every side. Even
tine buiii.ters yri-u, in other offices considered it
not merely unnecessary, but unconstitutional,
have entirely changed their minds, and ask for
the more rapid action that may possibly attend a
Government commission. If, however, the pro-
ceedings of an independent and fairly-appointed
committee are slow they are unquestionably sure ;
and the nation has some reason to hope that the
evidence elicited will not be garbled or mutilated
—that even if the inferences be inaccurate or
unconnected, the facts from which they are de-
duced will at least be correctly given, so that
. every unprejudiced man may be enabled to draw
his own conclusions on correct data.
If, then, the nature of the contemplated
investigation were still doubtful —if there
had been no deliberate decision on the point
that the reputation and character of the
representative branch of the Legislature would
not be seriously compromised by any with-
,: drawal from the position it solemnly and delibe-
rately assumed, with full notice that in so doing
• it was passing a vote of censure, or, at least, of a
total want of confidence not only in individual
members of the Cabinet, but in the entire Govern-
ment—we should still insist on a Parliamentary
inquiry as the only one likely to prove effectual
or to bring forth adequate fruits in due season.
When, however, we look to all the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the case—when we consider the
disgrace that would fall on those whom we desire
to respect, by abandoning their well-considered
and just decision, our astonishment is increased
at the hardihood of the Minister who could de-
mand, and the servility and degradation of those
who could concede, a humiliation in every respect
so deplorable. Then, indeed, would the body
which we have been accustomed to regard as the
" first society of gentlemen in the world " change
its designation, and become, instead, the laughing-
stock of Europe.
The Whig panacea for all grievances has un-
fortunately become too notorious to excite any
degree of enthusiasm in the country—to enkindle
even a gleam of hope in the heart of the veriest
tyro. Whenever it was necessary to make things
pleasant for a time—to get rid of a well-founded
torrent of popular indignation, or shelve an incon-
venient question to a more convenient period—a
Commission was appointed. Some three or more
gentlemen, thoroughly versed in " red-tapism,"
and clamouring for a participation in " the
loaves and fishes" were selected. A couple of
- secret chaps were added as Secretary and Assis-
. taut-Secretary, and then the subject was quietly in-
terred until a monum.ent was constructed in the shape
ofavolurninous bluebook, which recorded the names
and virtues
of the deceased, but could not restore
the slightest degree
The wishes of those
of the long-suspended vitality.
sion were paramount, and
who appointed the Commis-
no inconvenient matter
was suffered to ooze out by the discreet officials.
The TADPOLES and TAPEItt, et hoc genus omne,
were accustomed to regard the appointment not
merely as getting rid for a time of an inconvenient
topic, but, what in their eyes was of greater im-
portance,
a means of lessening the amount of
competition among the would-be Government
ouvriers, filling the gaping mouths of some hungry
expectants, and thus reducing the number of the
" waiters on PROVIDENCB."
-Under existing circumstances, it is the duty of
Government to act, not to talk—to determine,
rather than investigate. It is not " sayings," but
"aloings," that are required. The present rather
'than the future must be looked to. Immediate
~energetic action is required. But still that will
. diSeense with the necessity of the Parlia-
,l - neutitry investigation. The two must proceed
•
-1 - rOtprtesit. The Prime Minister, representing the
t('
"i•-*; Exelltive, must act, but that should be done
•
. ou.t any attempted evasion of his responsibi-
Parliament must investigate, but not by
delegation of
its powers to others.
If Lord
...AQLAN be
incompetent, it is for the

Minister to recall him, and. substitute a more
efficient General in his place—not to send a
kind of hybrid animal to watch, report, and
" recommend." If General SIMPSON be
better calculated to bring the War to a
satisfactory conclusion than Lord RAGLAN,
by all means endow him with ample powers
and unfettered. authority. But why should we
keep a general merely to control and direct a gang
of scavengers, when the real authority has passed
from him. History tells us that the Sicilian
tyrant, when deposed from his high condition, be-
came a pedagogue, because still there was the
semblance of authority to console him in his fall.
But surely Lord RAGLAN does not require such a
break to his fall. It would be far better for the
respectable old gentleman to return to the Ord-
nance Department and resume the pen, with
which he was so familiar, and in wielding which
no errors could be inflicted, no oversights de-
plored.

The guardians of the public purse last night
unhesitatingly accepted the bill drawn by her
MAJESTY'S Government. The full number of
men demanded was at once graited, and the
trifling amount of 7,353,8041. voted for the ne-
cessary expenditure, without a single dissentient
voice. No niggardliness of disposition, no undue
economy, can therefore be charged against the
British nation. There has been no undue
cutting down of estimates—not the slightest

symptom of parsimony. There is therefore
the less excuse for any failure on the part of the
Executive when everything that can be wished
for is dealt forth with such profuse and unsparing
liberality. Surely we have a right to look for
efficiency and utility on the part of the various
officials whose labours are so generously remu-
nerated. It may be expected that they will at
length think it consistent with their positions to
meet their paymasters—the public—with civility,
and to expedite every reasonable application, in
place of snubbing the applicants. It is no
longer desirable that the various depart-
ments should become mere machines, that
cannot be influenced by any exigencies—that they
should look only to form to the total neglect' of
substance—that they should eschew the possession
of anything approximating to mind or reasoning
power.
We have, however, seen some deplorable in-
stances of the untoward consequences of the total
absence of a directing will, and the iron despotism
of routine. It was at one time felicitously remarked
that " established rules were admirable servants, but
most despotic and tyrannical masters ;" and even
that despotism may be rendered mote intolerable,
that tyranny more grinding, by the hauteur and
insolence of those charged with their administra-
tion. When profound contempt is palpably
manifested in the curtness of the written replies
and the indifference and apathy of the verbal
communications, no independent man will subject
himself to snch contumelious treatment, or come
unnecessarily into contact with those who seem to
pride themselves on the total avoidance of every-
thing approaching to gentlemanly feeling.
The case of the " green coffee," which was so
long and wantonly served out to the troops in
the Crimea, and which furnishes a striking illus-
tration of the system in operation, not merely in
one but in many departments, was last night
alluded to. The explanation given on the sub-
ject by Mr. WILSON only places the grie-
vance in a stronger light, and aggravated
the misconduct of those justly responsible for the
evil. It appeared that unroasted coffee was pre-
ferred by the troops :in the Kafir war as more
convenient to carry, and in better condition.
Ergo, it should be sent in the same way to the
Crimea, where the partieshad no conveniences either
for roasting or grinding, and where, in fact, it
became worse than useless, merely tantalising the
men, who saw a valuable addition to their com-
forts lost by the misconduct of the parties whose
duty it was to look after their comforts. Some
excuse might be made if the evil were corrected
immediately on discovery, but, in place
of that, many valuable months passed
away without alteration or improvement,
and it was not until late in December that any
coffee fit for use was sent off ; although "My
Lords " were not, even at the last moment,
" aware" of there being any deficiency. There
must, then, be a complete and searching reform in
'all these departments—a reform recommended by
independent Members of Parliament, and not by
persons thoroughly imbued with the objectionable
spirit, and prejudiced in favour of every red-
tapist form and practice.

The present system of purchasing commissions
in the army totters to its fall. The results
of its operation during the present War have
been so disastrous that everywhere public feeling
is excited against it. Go to what quarter you
will and be sure you'll find it—alone or in con-
nection with the sufferings of the army before Se-
bastopol—the subject of animadversion. If you
ride in a metropolitan omnibus the chances are
ten to one you have to listen to its condemnation.
If you resort to "nine inn" the subject of
conversation is sure, before long, to be the same.
If you travel you may make up your mind to
listen to Jeremiads against its advocates and those
who have benefitted by it ; and if you rest, stay
in what town you may, you will find the subject
still uppermost, and the feeling the same.
Not only in this manner, however, but also in
a more indisputable one, is expression being given
to the universal feeling. In many of our pro-
vincial towns public meetings are either being
announced or are in contemplation on the sub-
ject. Foremost among these we may mention
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, one of the most public-
spirited towns in the kingdom. There a requisi-
tion, signed by a large number of the most re-
spectable and influential citizens, begging the
Mayor to call a public meeting of the
inhabitants of the borough to consider the
system in question, has been immediately re-
sponded to by his Worship, and on Thursday
next, we doubt not, it will be shown, as it can be
beyond dispute, that the system is what the re-
quisitionists describe it to be—" injurious to
the service, paralysing in its effects, and un-
just to the private soldier." The example thus
set cannot be too extensively imitated. Every-
where public feeling should have a similar ex-
pression, and be followed, as we suppose it will,
at Newcastle by petitions to Parliament. The
system is too bad to admit of a successful de-
fence, but it suits a powerful class too well to be
givonup
away,
of its condemnation. Tt must
be swept
ceome the logitimaiCr
remwiasrsdioonfsum)iluistatrybekrneoalfstieer b d g ee:
zeal, and good conduct, and then we shall have
officers more generally worthy of our soldiers,
and offer to both a more substantial stimulus than
fame alone to emulation, whether in patient en-
durance and readiness of resource at all times, or
in intelligent bravery in the shock of battle.

DEPARTURE OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

Lord John Russell, accompanied by his daugh-
ter, left. London by the South Eastern Railway
this morning at ten minutes past eight, via Calais,
on his mission to Vienna. The noble lord ap-
peared 'in excellent health and spirits.

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