The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOU.R.NALS.

(From the Times of this day.)
If peace had been concluded at Vienna upon the
terms which were proffered to the acceptance of
Russia bt, the representatives of the allied Powers,
no doubt great differences of opinion would have
been expressed in this country as to the value of a
_ peace so obtained. The political adversaries of the
present Administration and the more excited par-
y, titans and promoters of the present war would
.f, lave denounced any such compromise as that which
/vas recently proposed as a base surrender of the
honour sof this nation_ and a shortsighted bargain for
aholiow peace. Men of more moderate opinions
might have thought that the results of the, war, if
it had bema thus terminated, bore no adequate pro-
, x)rtion to 'lie spirit in which it was begun, and to
t he sacrifice git has already cost us ; while the
-fluence of Russia would have been
p ewer and in
r, ither augmen,qid than diminished by the energetic
re sistance she ha s hitherto opposed to the fornaid-
at, le combination
arrayed against her. Nor could
mt ich reliance have been placed upon -the terms
th. =selves which Ole Vienna Conference was in-
duL cod to offer, for, asord Malmesburk observed
on. - Tuesday evening, we! could have no material
guE. ;rantee for the litnitatiim of, the naval force of
Rn isia, and if, as would probably have been the
oaa ), she violated or evaded her engageinent in that
nos?;p ect, the rest of Europe could obtain no redress
w it beou t a fresh appeal to arms. On the other hand,
th .e Par tisans of peace would have gained strength
by • the _recovery of that inestimable blessing, and
a t ionsi d!erable portion of the community would not
ha ve twalted very closely at the natnre of the con-
ceg sions: which procured-for them a cessation of the
bu, :glens thrown by war upon the country.
1 lat, although these differences of opinion would
hay 'e histantly manifested themselves upon the,
con, ilmion of peace, we apprehend that the extent
to a 'hi the allied Powers were disposed to carry
their c oncessions can now be viewed in only ono
light. They have shown their desire for the ter-
minal ie )n of this contest to have been so sincere that
they u 'ould even have signed a treaty of peace
which t hrew upon Russia none of the burdens or
humiliations of defeat. They asked for no cession
of tern tory ; they left-even the forts of Sebastopol
untoud led by negotiation ; did not raise the ques-
tion of an indemnity either to Turkey or themselves
for the expenses of the war, and were content to
restore matters to very nearly the state they were
in bafoi re these hostilities began. Greater forbear-
ance at al moderatiOn were never shown to an enemy
and : in assailant, especially when it is remembered
that th e whole strength of that enemy is defensive,
and that we have absolutely nothing to apprehend
from . the forces of Russia against ourselves. These
prop osals have, however, been made in vain, and
the . Russian Plenipotentiaries rejected them as per-
empt o rily as if they had involved any serious sacri-
fice c )f the dighity or the interests of their sovereign.
Can .n aything demonstrate with more irresistible
evide2 ce that the sole cause of the duration of the
weir lie ss in the obstinate and inveterate resistance
of . Rue sia to the fairest terms of peace, that the re-
spo nsi bility of prolonging the war rests altogether
will a the enemy, and that we have no alternative
left but to employ force to compel the Russian Ge-
yen tmemt to make peace on such terms as justice
and the public security may demand ?
T, ie task is a difficult one, and it may be long
befo: mo we bring it to a successful termination; but
this country is not wont to relax in its efforts to
obtai r a great political object, and our stubborn
endu rs snce and resolution have before this accom-
plish.,3C I far greater labours than those. The hope
of tern iinating the war by a compromise is at an
end ; I tenceforth it becomes a trial of strength
betwee n Russia and the Powers, which can
only b 4 3 terminated by the exhaustion of one or
other of the belligerents. It is needless to add
that,. h, aving carried our offers of concession to the
utmost 'limits of forbearance, we cannot for an in-
stant; r(3cede from the position we have henceforth
to de fe:nd, and that to make peace on any other
term; would be to surrender to the universal
ascen da,ncy of Russia all those interests which it is
our o bject to protect from her rapacity and her
ambitdon. We may have underrated the strength
of our opponent in the earlier stages of-this con-
flict, fa r the failure of the Russian armies in their
first op erations on the Danube gave the world too
low an opinion of their skill and courage. But, if
the power of Russia be greater than was at first
suppose 3d, the more urgent is the necessity to re-
duce it within limits which shall cease to threaten
the And ependence of other countries.
As 'the rejection by Russia of the moderate
terms .offered by the Allied Powers is a decisive
justification of the war in which France and
England are engaged, so also this event ought, on
every 'principle of logic and good faith, to exercise
a decisi ye influence on the policy of the German
Courts. They have testified- from tie cOmmeilce-
meat of these disputes the strongest desire to bring
them to an amicable termination—Prussia by keep-
ing alto ,gether aloof from the qudrrel, and Austria
by agreeing to take a more active, part in this
strugglo' if peace could not be obtained by other
means which have now been tried and exhausted.
Next to Russia herself, who is the prime mover
and so ;'e original cause of these calamities, it is
impossible to doubt that the principal author of
the present distressing state of Europe is the
King.. of Prussia. Had ho firmly adhered to the
priumples which he formally adopted in the
Protocols of Vienna ; had ho laboured, in
conjunction with Austria, to maintain the
union and the dignity of the Germanic Confedera-
tion ; had he called out the military forces of his
kingdom ' • and had he made the Russian Govern-
ment feel that the continuance of this war would
place it in direct opposition to the whole of Europe,
it is impossible to doubt that peace would before
this haw been restored, if, indeed, thp war had ever
begun. But, the secession of Prussia and the divi-
sion of Germany have enabled Russia, as yet, to
paralyse Austria and to resist the Western Powers,
even v,then their demands were reduced to the most
limited .conditions on which a negotiation could be
conducted. If there were either honesty or judg-
ment in the councils of Prussia, these facts could
not be without weight even upon her ; but, in the
condition to which that Court is now reduced, fear
alone will regulate its conduct.

Tho position of Austria is altogether different.
She has participated in and has presided over the
Conference, which was opened at her solicitation.
She has agreed to the last in those terms which
Russia has rejected. She has proclaimed her in-
tention to the world by her Notes, and bound her-
self by treaty to prosecute the alliance with the
belligerent Powers to the complete attainment of
their common object. She has assembled for this
purpose one of the finest armies in Europe, amount-
ing certainly to 500,000 effective men ; and she
has now acquired the certainty that Russia will not
submit to any terms of peace affording valid secu-
rities to Europe, except upon compulsion. The case
to which all her policy and all her preparations
hare been tending for the last 18 months is now
complete. One bold stroke may place her at the
head of public opinion in Germany, may rivet the
alliance with France by indissoluble ties, and may
transfer to the young Emperor of Austria an influ-
ence in Europe hardly inferior to that enjoyed by the
late Emperor Nicholas in the best part of his
life. To hold such dards, and not to play them—
to have such a prize within reach, and not to
clutch it—to feel the power of rendering such a
service to mankind, and not to do it—are errors
which overshadow the remainder of an existence,
and render the most conspicuous positions in the
world the least honourable and the least to be
desired. It is here, most especially, that the
remarkable moderation of the terms proposed by
the Plenipotentiaries of the Western Court tells
with irresistible effect. The more moderate they
were the stronger is the obligation of Austria to
support them, for the more cordial and sincere was
her own assent to them ; and, as the French and
English Governments will now forthwith proceed
to call upon the Cabinet of Vienna to enter upon
the fulfilment of the stipulations of the treaty of
the 2d of December, it is impossible for that Court
to recede with honour from the engagement to take
effectual measures for the attainment of the object
of the alliance, which all pacific, means have failed
to accomplish.

(From, the Times of this day.)

It is now seriously propounded in various quar-
ters that England is incapable of making war. We
have seen it argued with much philosophy and
practical illustration that in proportion as we have
become more free, more constitutional, and more
commercial, we have lost that unity of purpose,
that warmth of sentiment, and that keenness of
action necessary to military success. Every man
now does that which is right in his own
eyes, and a very delightful state it is, but
it is not the political organisation that pros-
pe in war. We may operate powerfully as
rs
individuals, or by force of public opinion, or by the
of power.
the So_
influence of parties and classes, of schools and
societies, but while these several forces are
uatatwork
in their own directions, they pull against
another, and the result is a great loss
him,
binister is his one
The man to carry on war. with effect
:lot;
dra
attehr.theca'sesata
r:.? lei! . n
1, , In must
it be e
mh e..
solute over alhlutnihe-
p i whore , :ecg'
ranwvn
ai hsuse
taar 3
bye : the word
but, Lt
wu:
dvbieeepreasirtments concerned in the war,
ail;
Wartahr i thus
Minister
countryMinisterowf iwa t e 0 s
an Emperor we shall but waste
much Is the
willf or Now, nobody.
Emperor, but without
act very
our millions of money and our myriads of men.
The be able to -
freely Ell the CO
home as
nlrffaudeF-in.Ohief .at the
.._ . .

It is not a very agreeable task to trace the defi-
ciencies of a Minister who did his best in a season
of difficulty. The Duke of Newcastle found his
department in a state of disorganisation ; he found
the Horse Guards insubordinate, the Ord-
nance under a chief 3,000 miles distant;
and the Commissariat reduced to the lowest
ebb, obliged to collect a staff from the colonies,
and eke them out with Treasury clerk, Custom-
house officers, and policemen, while it was charged
with the custody of all kinds of stores and the pur-
chase of everything wanted for the army. He found
the Medical Department insufficient, disorganised,
and without the means of supplying its wants. He
found no Ambulance Corps, no Transport Service,
except only such as the Commissariat might be
authorised to raise, in addition to its other dutieg,
at the order of the Commander of the Forces. He
found that, while at home it had been resolved that
the war should be prosecuted with the greatest vi-
gour, it was tho general opinion of the army and
navy in the East, including their highest officers,
that nothing was to be done. There was hardly a
difficulty, physical or moral, he had not to encoun-
ter. Does he, then, stand excused ? No, certainly
not. Shortcomings in politics and in war admit of
no excuse. It is inexcusable to be beaten. It is
inexcusable to allow delays that cost *the lives of
thousands, and ruin or damage a great cause. Rif;
inexcusable to stand at the helm and not to see the
rock of danger. It is inexcusable to be supreme
in authority and not in energy, intelligence, and
power. Failures are faults in war. What can ex-
cuse a man for falling into an ambuscade and losing
his life ? What can excuse him for losing the lives
of his countrymen by tens of thousands ? A. man
who undertakes nothing may be excused if he does
nothing. The Duke of Newcastle undertook the
conduct of the war, so far as England was con-
cerned. He asked the confidence of thirty million
people, and he failed. His task was difficult. That
is no novelty in war. Of course, he was aware of
this when, having the choice of the Colonies and
the War, he chose the latter. On this point even
he has not been taken by surprise, and has there-
fore no excuse if he has failed.

TOTAL LOSS BY FIRE OF THE TRA.NII-
PORT SCREW STEAM SHIP CRCESUB.

A serious loss was made known yesterday at the Ad-
miralty, by the receipt of telegraphic communications
from Genoa, announcing the burning of the General
Screw-Steam Shipping Company's iron sorew-steamer
Crcesus, which had been chartered by the English Go-
vernment for the transport service, numbered 191, an d
was under the command of Capt. T. V. Hall. The 1111=
fortunate catastrophe took place about 11 miles S. E. of
Genoa, on Tuesday
buirioerfnaincgco.unTtshenCtaortcesthhueayscewrceasbesuoeiln;ietrheee.f
the line fleet of iron screw steamers which were built fo r
the company about two years since, by Messrs. Mar e
and Co., at Blackwell. She was upwards of 2,000 tons,
was put on the Australian line, and returned from Mel-
bourne about three months ago. She was then taker slip
by the English Government, and took out the Rs lel
Wilts Militia, from Portsmouth to Corfu. On die rem-
barking the troops there, she was ordered to Ms ilta,
where she arrived on the 3d of April, and on bi Ping
coaled, proceeded with other transports to Spenzia, .for
the purpose of conveying the Sardinian troops for service
in the Crimea. She was then ordered to Genoa, and in
the course of Monday the first detachment of the arm y,
eemombparrkisoindgontlabeosatradff.,
.3s7heoffialaceorse,hiapnpded22o9s rank- and nadndfd e,a
large quantity of stores and ammunition.
I the .`p de-
parture rtehfeofr°ll.(lwig Constantinople.(T ue
sd a)
the Government had placed at the dispo:
he conting cut,
Rethett:iEbasu.t
iar-
dinian authorities for the ofconveyancaert
Tmhoern
otherin
and it is reported took their
tion • Jason, No. 84 (sistel.:!, :P ~,,,,ciaspe ,
gsh!vessels took
of hewrirdice-h
s No. 9, and
No. '74 ; Cleopatra, No. I°' ' ''''
of the Crcesus)
about the same period, were hierclt2mPajesty's shfoli;
Harkaway.
it appears that the fire b k
ro e out
ceived of the loss,
shortly after the ill-fated ship
amongst the stores,
rapid was the work of destruction had
mthpeany
that
left Genoa, and so
tlleprogress of
all attempts to stay . the flames or, save
According to the
the vessel proved fruitless. Her condition being provi-
dentially observed, the other transports sent their boats
whole
This oi fs thethe soldiersthirl
steamerand crew e
ea
of
to her aid, and, with. those belonging
pre
haveburning shiplostw;ith":
served, with the exception of ' •
one sailor. six of the troops and
the last two months, two b
the Mauritius, which was yfire, viz., the Crcesus and
dry-dock at destroyed while lying in the
tered by the Preach Southampton,and one, the Natal, char-
Cadiz. The company Government, by going ashore near '
are severe sufferers by these de-
plorable disasters
, as the ships, in addition to earning a
considerable sum per month, were not insured to their
value. The Crcesus cost 93,0001., and was only in-
sured for 57,000/. in the room at Lloyd's and the prin-
cipal insurance offices. The Government paid the cora-
-1 Pally 5,0001. a month for her services.

o::
THE MAIM—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday, April 25.
—The United States' mail steam-ship Hermann, Capt.
E. Higgins, sailed to-day, with the British, French, and
German mails for the United States, 278 passengers,
and a fair average cargo. The steam-ship p
i nt Union,ed 0 I
New York, is hourly expected on her way to Havre.
The Royal mail steam-ship
La Pata a
is
out the next West India, Pacific, and Mexican mails of
the 2d proximo. The Atrato, with the homeward mails
from the same quarter, may be looked for about the 30th
sl-sah p
inst. The departure of the Peninsular mails on the 27th
inst. will be deferred in consequence of the non-arrival
of the Iberia, and it is probable that no mail-ship will'
leave for those perts.ll-atil the 74 proximo.: