The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-18 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1855.

We had hoped that the unanimous and cordial
approbation of our gallant Allies, of the Govern-
ment, the Army, and the people of France, had
finally disposed of the unwarrantable and virulent
libels against the English General and the English
troops engaged in the attack on the Redan on the
ever-memorable Bth of September—that although
there might be no express recantation there would
at least have been no repetition of those wanton
and outrageous calumnies on brave and devoted
men who had nobly served their country in the
hour of trial, and earned for themselves the admi-
ration and gratitude of every disinterested and
unprejudiced person throughout the length and
breadth of the land. This reasonable expectation
was enhanced by perceiving that the journal which
had taken a prominent part in their publica-
tion maintained a remarkable and signifi-
cant silence from the time of the appearance
of the admirable letter of Mr. JAMES AYTOUN,
which completely overthrew the false assumptions
and carping criticisms on which they had been
criginally founded. Our respected correspondent
told us truly that " everywhere in Paris the
highest praise was not only given to the determi-
nation and bravery of our soldiers, but that the
French public attributed to the heroic resistance
of our soldiers the success of the day as much ds
to those employed directly in the taking of the
Malakhoff !" lie also showed that the Redan
was not expected to be taken On that occasion.
All that was required or intended was that the
Russian attention shuald be diverted fer a certain
period while the captors of the Malakhoff were
strengthening their position; and firmly establish-
ing themselves in the fortress which they had
When they had done so, the
gailAntly won.
Great Redae, the Redan of Careening Bay,
and the Central and Quarantine Bastions
Inuit share the fate of " the key of Sebas-
topol," and fall into the hands of the Allies
with comparatively little logs. Far more than
was demanded was performed. In place of a
8iu,,10 hour, one hour and fifty-six minutes were
occupied in tho attack on the Great Redan, and
the result was that two hours and a half had
elapsed before the enemy could attempt the re-
capture of the 111,alakhoff. The time thus obtained
was turned to the best advantage—not a minute
was wasted or misapplied by the gallant escaladers.
The Malakhoff was held as firmly as it bad been
vigorously acquired, and the following day the
great prize of the contest, Sebastopol itself, with
all the southern outworks and defences, was in the
hands of the besiegers !

There was no " humitiation," to England
or the English in this. Never had the honour
of our standard been more nobly maintained—
never had English soldiers displayed in a higher
degree that stubborn and enduring valour for
which, their forefathers had been distinguished for
a long succession of ages ! And that valour was
duly
appreciated by friend and foe, with one ex-
ception. The supposed failure was a prize for
the managers of "the grumbling shop" at
Printing House-square ; and even before the hilt
particulars of the terrible conflict were or could
be known in this country, a determined onslaught
was opened on (general Srmrsozz with that reek-
which the Titne3 has acquired
less malevolence for
an unhappy nouorie
Nay more, it was not
merely the General who experienced the conse•
iluenqS of its direful wrath. The very soldiers
who had fought with such nritinching resolution
were also r
W
..--ogety libelled, and something like
cowardice and insubordination attributed to
those who had freely and willingly shed their blood
in their country's cause

The Times recently, in a very
extraordinary
article on the subject of consistency, professed it-
self to bo "a Journali4t, not a pone.” It, holc-
ever, on all 'possible 9Deasiw„,,
seeks to establish
the attribute of "infallibility;" and when once the
fi,,t has gone farth,hewever:raShly orunwarran t-
ably, it seek 3 to abide by its first a
du-gment. It
bai done iU the Peceutiait.4iiPl4ll,llll44;:al,

opened the assault with fresh vigour, or rather
additional acerbity. We should, however, be

well contented to let the controversy rest as it is,
satisfied of the unanimous verdict of every right-
minded man, were it not for a very startling
assertion put forward this day in its leader. It
professes to have had a direct communication from ,
Government, and, mirabile dicta, to the effect
that if its stringent comments were no longer put
forward General SIMPSON would be offered as a
sacrifice at its shrine ! Lest it may be supposed
that we have in any degree exaggerated
its meaning, we quote its own language :—" At
the first outbreak of national feeling the Govern-
inent was alarmed. We were asked to refrain
from further comments on the untoward event,
and were assured that General SIMPSON would at
once yield to another the command which he was
clearly unfit to hold. If not recalled, he would
be advised in a friendly manner to resign. He
was an old and respected officer, and, if not capable
of the highest command, might yet be allowed to
retire quietly."

Now there can be no doubt as to the obvious
interpretation of this statement. It is manifestly
intended to convey the impression that an autho-
rised emissary from the Government made a com-
munication to the Times of the intended recall of
General SIMPSON for the purpose of bespeaking
its indulgence and forbearance. If this bold as-
sertion have any adequate foundation, the party
or parties who adopted a course so unworthy are
totally unfit for the high positions which it is
more than hinted that they occupy. They un-
fairly and unjustly yielded, not to popular cla-
mour, but to the vindictive feeling of a single
journal, which, emboldened by its temporary suc-
cess against one of our most distinguished Generals,
has endeavoured to secure a new victim. It might
have been anticipated that the glorious termina-
tion of the military career of one whom it assailed
as fiercely and wantonly as it now does the gal-
lant SIMPSON might have taught it a salutary
lesson of caution. But no ! Oblivious of the
great discredit cast on it in the case of Lord
GOUGH, it has resumed its unwarrantable attacks
on the British General, who has not considered it
his chief duty to propitiate the manager or the
correspondent of the Times !
For ourselves we totally discredit the statement,
and we call upon the Times to prove its
accuracy. It has for the nonce made a direct
assertion, which is capable of substantive proof.
A Parliamentary inquiry has already been held
on a similar statement, which it did not venture
to support when the proper time arrived. But
should the Times now shrink from what it has
asserted it must submit to be regarded as a
wilful and deliberate slanderer. If it can sustain
ifs allegation a Minister must be unfit for his
situation ! This is the dilemma in which it has
just placed itself by its audacity.
There is only one other point in its laboured
article worthy of notice. It says, speaking of
General SIMPSON, "Is he deemed competent by
the Government—aro the comments and criticisms
of the Nation" (i. e. the Times), " ignorant or
calumnious?? Then, let Lord PALMERSTON and Lord
PANMURE express their approval !" Does the
Times think that expression at all called for ? Has
it not been conveyed in the clearest and most
unequivocal terms in his promotion to the rank
of General, and his nomination as Knight Grand
Cross of the Bath. No words could convey more
forcibly the high and cordial approbation of his
SOVEREIGN, the Premier, and the War Minister,
than these great, but scarcely adequate, rewards
for his meritorious and distinguished services.

It is singular that almost every change in the
fortunes of the War reacts in favour of Russia
with some of our English politicians. The miseries
of the mismanaged winter campaign, the termina-
tion of the Vienna Conferences, and even the re-
cent fall of Sebastopol, became successively occa-
sions of desertion to the COBDEN and BRIGHT
policy. Such men as GRAHAM, GLADSTONE, and
LAING fell off one after another to the party who
thought the Vienna Note an adequate protection
for Turkey and all Europe against Muscovite am-
bition. We do not wish to impute consciously
unworthy motives to our statesmen, but the
general observer cannot refuse to see that certain
very strong party or commercial motives did exist
at each juncture, which would prompt to precisely
the course actually taken. It did so happen
that a peace policy was a seemly name for an
attack by the Opposition upon the Government
which had superseded it ; and that it was a good
cry, when railway speculators and manufacturers
were disposed to attribute all their disappoint-
ments to the prosecution of the War. From the
country at large these attempts have received but
little encouragement, yet they have been perse-
veringly made as occasion has offered ; or rather
everything has been converted into an occasion for
them. The last attempt is, we hope, now effec,
tually nipped in the bud. The avowed organ of
the Tories, after several of their leaders had shows
that they were too real Conservatives to sell their
English soula for plaCe, conies forward itself to
oppose asking peace of Russia because we have
taken southern Sebastopol. It is deeply to be
regretted that some members of the Con-
servative cause in the House of Commons
should of late have pursued so negative a policy.
They may be assured that the country will not in
time of war place in, power a leader who has not
heart enough to declare himself boldly for War or
Peace. Englishmen must now have Mr. COBDEN
or Lord PALMERSTON. A trimmer to whatever
course will
upset a rival Minister is not the man
for the hour. It is not to read of party battles
that the papers are daily sought for by our readers.
But for the deluding effects on Russia we should
feel perfectly indifferent to all these endeavours
to change the country's policy. Combined how-
declining the
ever, with that of " sparing" the enemy in the
even of Polish
Baltic and the Black Sea, of
the enemy to think that care will be
alli-
ance of Poland and a
must lead
taken not to injure her seriously.
Legion,
tlg e mustleast, were
ap-
peartahveerye as if the affairs of Bomar, d
to Russia ,
Sweaborg,
arranged as to satisfy this intentionally so
ilelsingfors, and Odessa,
was most coun-
try and France with the show of something done,
while all that was done left what
make the place valu-
able untouched, or, as in the case of Sweaborg,
only enabled the enemy to ma
invul-
nerable to the next attack.
accounts all
concur that next spring the arsenals
will be bomb-proof ; and what an adequate supply
recent
of Svreabore
of mortars might have utterly destroyed
summer will now be far more difficult to deal with
with the party next. All this, combined this
advo-
cacy of Peace, must encourage Russia to prolong Utmost: the War to the She has always relied
na,ucli on diplomacy and political quite as
combi-
nations as on-her sword, and it cannot
she heats of all -our be doubted
that peace politicians'
in the Style most a.greeable, to er °Pea-- doingc
Her
chief hope, we fear, is"through a quarter we will
not name just now.

Tile grand argument of the last converts, or
' perverts, rather, is, that we have now got all we
want. Russian prestige is gone in the,East ; her
navY
Black ii is limited to annihilation ; the
• . e.a!
Piinpipalities havielmaloinsinmoleared ; the trea-

ties with Turkey are cancelled ; all the original
grounds of the War are valid no longer ; we have
gained every demand—why incur farther waste
of blood and treasure ?

Now, we may ask, is it wished to stop ex-
actly where we are ? Is half Sebastopol and the
whole Crimea to be left intact to Russia ? Is she
to be left in command of the principal mouth of
the Danube ? Is Nicolaieff to become as mischie-
vous a nurse of gun-boats as Sebastopol was of
three-deckers Louking only at the Ease is it
meant that we are to offer peace after having done
an amount of mischief considerable indeed, but
which, if we give up things as they are, would as
certainly be repaired again, as the conquering
policy of Russia would remain unchanged ? if
this be not meant, what is meant Russia cer-
tainly will not occupy the Principalities again for
some years to come, but as certainly she would
lay her plans again to be mistress of Constanti-
nople at the first opportunity. Even Mr. BRIGHT
cannot doubt it, much less Mr. DISRAELI. Is
this, then, we ask, the purpose for which we have
embarked in so great a War 7
We might ask, too, .whether it is likely Russia
would make peace on any terms which could he ac-
cepted. Inevitably one of the first must be pecu-
niary indemnity to Turkey first and chiefly, and
then to the other Allies. Sha made Turkey pay
last time on far less reasonable grounds, of course
she herself must be made to pay now ; the neces-
sity, too, of strengthening the finances of the coun-
try to which we have lent money to resist the
aggressor, and of enfeebling those of the
aggressor himself, is too obvious to need argu-
ment. If Russia did not think indemnity too
I humiliating for Turkey, she must not think it too
humiliating for herself. Is it then believed that
Russia is so far brought to her senses yet ?
Would she listen to proposals at all which
should assume that the Allies were conquerors ?
Would the Old Muscovites allow her to do so ?
We think she has not suffered enough yet even to
cede all that we have already conquered. She
would retain liberty to harass Persia, Turkey,
and Circassia, in Asia ; she would restore her
Black Sea Fleet, and would infest the Danube as
before. What, indeed, seems most certain of all
is that proposals from the Allies must damage
their own cause. Russia would at once tell her
serfs, and would probably believe, that she had
worn us out. She would boast everywhere her
own power to weary any civilised enemy, and
laugh at the idea of magnanimity on our part.
Indeed it is not likely that a people so universally
and unscrupulously cunning can ever conceive
what magnanimity or forbearance means. With
such a race it seems to us useless to talk of peace
until the utter annihilation of all its maritime ra-
j sources at least have convinced them that they
are hopelessly worsted. But for our wretchedly
administered Admiralty this might have been
done, we believe, already ; it may easily be done
' in another campaign.

In these remarks we have avoided all advertence
to the emancipation of Poland and Finland,
though as firmly as ever believing that this, and
the strengthening of Sweden, should be the ulti-
mate aim of the War. We think, even taking
things as they stand in the East, to think of the
Allies proposing peace, would be a suicidal folly.
Russia and all the East would regard it as a con-
fession of practical defeat.

Half the secr9t of success lies in having distinct
notions of what you are aiming at, and then pur-
suing your object patiently, prudently, and per-
severingly ; and perhaps tie reason why we have
made so little progress in the art of dealing satis-
factorily with our criminal population is that we
hare had no sufficiently definite ideas as to what
ought to be aimed at, and when we fortuitously
verged on the right track lacked 'patience to enter
fairly into it, and pursued our way in what we
may be permitted to designate a zigzag parallel.
The most summary mode of dealing with
offenders, so far at least as they are individually
concerned, is to hang them. Of course a nation
blessed with such an extraordinary degree of
practical good sense as the English took to it
kindly. Never talk of Draconic legislation if you
are a good Englishman and hate everything
foreign—talk of the legislation of the times of
GEORGE the Third. It will serve your turn, you
may rely on it. " You shockheaded fellow," the
benevolent moralist might in those good old times
be heard exclaiming, peering wildly through
that tumbledown fence, let them sheep alone or
you'll be hanged. You top-booted, drab great-
coated, flaxen-headed, and blue-eyed Saxon, with
that suspicious Yorkshire leer of yours, it's a fine
animal and has capital points ; but don't do it.--
leave the animal where it is (however much it
may hurt you to see it), starving in the penfold,
or you'll be hanged. You nice young man, so
clever at caligraphy, and so well up in your cate-
chism and white neckcloths—practice doubtless
niakes perfect, but it's a dangerous thing to carry
he art you love into the higher regions of poly-
:rapby ; stay where you are or you'll be hanged.
You poor shivering wretch, with whatever heart
you've got, but certainly possessed of thin pan-
taloons, keep your eye out of your fat friend's
pantry or you'll infallibly he hanged. You poor
down-trodden, draggle-tailed woman, with that
squalling bit of human misery at your bosom, and
the pangs of desertion, keener than of hunger, at
your heart, don't indulge in the womanly weak-
ness of gazing at the linen-draper's window, for if
you are tempted to steal that cotton rag of a
handkerchief it won't be my Lord High Chancel-
lor's fault if your miserable baby is not speedily
an orphan, and its " mammy " strung up by the
neck. But it wouldn't do. The system worked
well enough for the hangman, but not for society.
The judge's hatter was called upon for more hats,
the cordwainer for more rope, the poetaster for
more ballads, the Lisbon merchant for more
oranges, St. Sepulchre's bell for more tolls, and
one who shall be nameless for more souls. Sheep-
stealing, horse-stealing, housebreaking, area-sneak-
ing, and shoplifting grew rifer than ever in the
calendar.

Slowly came a reaction. Hanging wouldn't do.
The blood shed at the scaffold for the above
offences only' produced a more plentiful crop.
What was left but imprisonment and transporta-
tion. They
ware acted upox and answered much
better than hanging ;
sirable. Imprisonment kept the reprobates for a
time out of pus'
chief, but when they got out there
they were—at it again.
Transportation answered
better for us at home, b
to be in I)erpetual fear of having his dwelling or
person plundered and his throat
tthhreoaCtolsoenviesrtedd.idaw' t likehat
social Sinbad. with these
was to be done by the
inveterate " old men" or crime ? The burden
grepwhimlanortehraonp, and
and
more
ourlln colonialto brethren to no-
tions of resistance. With many
the philanthropy
was as real a% it wa-4 discriminating ; in some it
was maudlin ; in some it was simply selfish ; in
any case, af.e c
t • the frightful past, which cannot
be recalled without a patriotic pang, it was to be
respected. Tli e gaol chaplain stirred up his ears
as the Eureko, of the uncassocked Samaritan
heralded tlu advent of education—the promulga-
tion of the dc,..tr,'ne that the culprit was capable