The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

" The land had rest for forty years" are the words in which
we are told Cu high authority that such is the period in
which nations usually cease to profit by the bitterest expe-
rience. Yesterday was the fortieth anniversary of the battle
of Waterloo, an 1 it was observed by the Renee of Commons
in an appropriate, though singular manner. In comparative
leisure, and with returning confidence, the house listened to
the sad story of a campaign without precedent in the annals
of war. Ere this there have been large armaments and dis-
tant expeditions ; the multitudes of Western Europe, ere
this, have flocked to the East, perishing on the way, to res-
cue for orthodox hands the guardianship of the holy places.
What was new in the narrative read last night in tho House
of Commons w 4s, that it related to the conduct of an expedi-
tion in 'which the magnitude, the distance, the boldness, and
the chivalry of a crusade ere repeated in an era when
life is precious and humanity is a law of States
and of nations in an advanced state of civilise
tion, under a constitutional government, with unbounded
wealth, ingenuity, and resources, aided by such fleets, such
engines, such stores, as even the author of " Jerusalem De-
livered" could never have imagined. The story tells how, in
spite of all these means and appliances—in spite of forty years.
preparation—in spite of a vast amount of practised skill and
theoretic intelligence brought to our aid, we nevertheless
broke down utterly and in all points save one —viz., in that
rude, personal prowess, which the savage may passess in com-
mon with the most accomplished soldier. We know not how
we can epitomise in a few words a history which its authors have
with difficulty compressed into seven columns of this journal,
and which has been our principal topic for the greater part of a
year. We may, however, say that on a careful perusal we
cannot find ourselves contradicted or discredited on any
single point; we are not convicted of a single crag.
aeration ; and the truthfulness of our correspon-
dents has been fully established. We may add, that
whereas a certain section of the late Cabinet, in resisting the
appointment of a committee of inquiry, confidently and re-
peatedly
alleged that the inquiry would dbe continually
checked by the fear of compromising our ally, and the alliance
itself would be endangered, the committee own no such fear
and betray no such restriction. They have learnt all that
they could desire, without offending the most delicate sus.
ceptibility.
We have no wish whatever to revive the controversies that
should now be merged in a common desire to reform our civil
and military administration. But, as the cause of free com-
ment and public opinion itself is at stake, we will just remind
all who read this report of the sort of battle we had to fight
last year. The information which we published from the seat
of
tatwar ear.
is, from Gallipoli Varna, from the Crimea, and
radoadn tnali
theca
ne !ph
iOcr et
res haen Bd ossop hf
oor tit
ha: zash I'deeint iettgeednetoraibeagravermephinet,
that such things could not possibly be, that everything bad
been done that could be done from England, that there was
an abundance of supply, a plurality of superintendence, and
an excess of regularity ; and, finally. that the official reports
showed everything going on well. It was intimated that to
produce startling effects was a trick of our trade, that the
cleverest c\)rrespondent could only describe what could be
seen by one;pair of eyes, and was no judge of that .vast order
and method ruling the whole mass outwardly go
The report before us, though studiou.sly safe and mild, fur.-
nishes an- ample reply to the ready assumptions on which
wo were so often rashly contradicted. It is now established
on the best possible authority that the chiefs of depart-
rnents at home did not know either their own proper
functions or the duties of their subordinates that
they clashed with one another, that they fell into irre-
gular action, employing informal agency and private corm-
spondonce—either certain to be slighted and disobeyed. It
is established that the duties of the Secretary of War and of
the Secretary at War under the new system were never laid
down ; that the Board of Ordnance, deprived of its thief and
of an importantmember of the Board, was left not only without
proper authority, and intelligence, but in a state of utter disor-
ganisation, n )t knowing what it could do, and how it was to
act, so as to entail not only an anomalous interference of the
War Minister, but, what was more serious still, internal con-
troversy, delay, and confusion in sending out clothing and
other supplies. It is established that frequent requisitions
for steamers, artificers, and other things of pressing necessity
were disregarded at home, under the false and very foolish
idea that the want was transitory, as the war must soon
be brought to an end. It is established that the replies
sent from home to the representations from the spot were
in a spirit of caution and economy much more suitable
to a time of profound peace than a great war. It is esta-
blished that at the very moment when the conductors of the
war at home were assuring us there was a vast superabund-
ance of all things wanted either in the field, the Camp, or the
hospital, there was the most fearful dearth, the things being
either wanting or inaccessible. When the army was ham-,
pered by routine, and it appeared to be thought better thou-
sands should starve than that forms should not be 'properly
filled ; when, too, this routine had defenders at home, it now
appears that in some instances for months no accounts were
really kept, and the stores were squandered utterly without
check. It appears that officials, proved and reported in-
competent, were nevertheless retained in their places, to
continue their reign of disorder. It appears that officers
cent to make inquiry reported everything right, when
everything was wrong; and that, while Lord Raglan's own
Staff was employed in imposing upon him a false
account of the condition of the army, the camp, the road,
the harbour, and the hospitals, as a very natural consequence,
the only opportunity the Government had of learning the
truth was the correspondence in the newspapers, which. un-
fortunately for them, the army, and the nation, they did not
wholly believe.
It certainly does occur to us also, as one reads the report,
that free institutions arc tried hr war. The principal danger,
however, is not exactly that which occurs to some minds—viz.,
t le excessive liberty of comment assumed by the public. • With-
out this liberty, and without this plainness of speech, we can-
not, for the life of us, see what chance there was of these evils
and disorders ever being remedied, or so much as known.
The greatest danger is that of divided authority, inde-
pendent action, and such a want both of definite rules and
supreme authority that, while some generously volunteer,
others are afraid to assume their full responsibility, and.
others again find they can sit still and do nothing without in-
curring either penalty or exposure. While an Ambassador,
a Military Commandant, a Medical Superintendent, and a
Medical Commissioner of Inquiry, and we know not who be-
sides, had full power at Scutari to do everything and spend
any sum of money, there was, in fact, nobody who would
venture to spend sixpence out of the way, except Miss
Nightingale and the administrator of our own Fund. The
harbour of Balaklava was at least in three direrent hands—
the Senior Captain, the Master of Transports, and the har-
bourmaster,—while the Compaissary-aeueral was the man
actually chargeable with the landing of the stores and their
conveyance to the camp. Here again was another dohateaLle
ground ; but here we must stop, for the " road to the camp"
will lead us too far from our present limits. But ppeAbig___
is very clear. There is now no excuse for undefined duties
and divided authority. There is no reason why the functions
of every officer and the range of every department should not
now bo laid down with the utmost exactness, and left on re-
cord for the guidance of the present and future campaigns,
Whatever delusion Ministers were in as to the duration of the
war last year, we now know that it is wisa to make up our
minds to 20 years at least, and that we are much more likely
to shorten the war by an over than by an under-estini
Timm.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

A Malta letter of the 13th inst. contains the following
news connected with the navy and army :
" The latest arrival here is that of the screw steam-frigate
Malacca, with the gun-boats Boxer, Clinker, and Fancy. The
Royal Artillery who was on board the Malacca and Gorgon
have been landed.
" The first three gun-boats, Jasper, Grinder, and Cracker,
which arrived in company with the Gorgon, are under repairs
in our dockyard, and will not be ready for sea until the end of
the week. The screw steam-transport Armenian (225), with
ammunition, arrived on Monday, from Liverpool and Kings-
town, and left on the same day for the Crimea. The screw
steam-transport Simla (113), belonging to the Peninsular and
Oriental Company, came in from Southampton shortly after-
wards. The Simla left yesterday for the East. The screw
steam-transport Oscar (15S) entered our port yesterday from
Gibraltar with stores. The Independionte S, anish steamer,
English transport, has also arrived from Gibraltar, with S 6
horses and '25 muleteers, and left for the Crimea. From
Balaklava and Constantinople the screw steam-stransport
John Bowes (159) and the sailing transport Blake (33) came
in yesterday. The screw steam-transport Jura and Lady Rus-
sell sailing transport (57) a'so came in yesterday from Bala-
klava and Koslow.
The fol'owing vessels, with French troops, Sze , have arrived
from Marseilles, on their war to the scat of war, since the
10th instant :—Calcutta, English screw steamer, with 67
officers and men and 93 horses ; Betty, Sardinian brig, with
18 soldiers and 31 borseS ; Ville de Nice screw steamer, with
provisions, and 34 Frenchmen as passengers ; Marie Louise,
with 19 soldiers and 2S horses ; Isabella Croll, English
steamer, with provisions, and 92 horses ; Notre Dame de
Fouriere, French barque, 26 soldiers and 31 horses ; Gange,
French steamer, with 25 officers and men, and 221 porters
for employment at Kamiesh ; Loire, English screw steamer,
with ammunition and 40 horses ; Jenne Basquaire, French
brig, 19 soldiers and 2S horses.
The Imperieuse, 51, screw-frigate, Captain R. B. Watson,
C. 8., will leave Portsmouth about the end of the week for
the Baltic Fleet, offering another opportunity for the friends
of officers and men of forwarding parcels and papers.

TIIE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
The Peninsular steam transport left Portsmouth harbour
on Sunday evening for the Thames. The Lucifer paddle-
wheel steam-vessel was placed in No. 6 dock at Portsmouth
yesterday, to be repaired for recommission. The Julia sailing
transport left Portsmouth yesterday for Southampton. Tho
seamen apprentices' training brigs Rolla and Scalark left
Portsmouth yesterday, to cruise outside for the benefit of the(
novices.

The steam-ship Oneida, though announced to sail on Satur-
day evening from Kingstown, did not start until half-past 12
on Sunday, As the noble vessel steamed out of harbour the
troops on board were loudly cheered by the groups on shore,
and the cheers were warmly returned from the ship. The
Oneida sill call at Gibraltar and Malta on her passage to the
Ca imea.