The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-31 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC ,TOURNALS. Naval and Military Intelligence.

( From the Times 6-3, this dctey.-)

It is said, on good authority, that at the be-
ginning of the year there really were people who
- had considered the contingency of actual hostilities,
who thought that, in that case, it was possible the
mortars and mortar boats just completed, at a very
great cost, might be brought into use, and who bad
gone so far as to contemplate the probability,
amounting to an absolute certainty, that in the
event of the mortars being used to any purpose
they would soon be used up. Those people who
ventured to look so far into the future strongly
recommended the Admiralty that a double reserve
of mortars, shells, and all the requisites of a bom-
bardment might be sent to the Baltic ; that is,
that for every mortar required for immediate use
two more might be in readiness. These adventu-
rous people, too, proposed that there might be
something of a workshop, as well as an arsenal,
with machinery, that might occasionally save the
nation the loss of time, the expense,
and the ridi-
culous effect of ships, great and small, continually
passing through the Sound on their way home
merely to have a crank in their machinery set
right ; or, as we have just seen, have their mortars
renewed. Unfortunately thede advisers, these Cas-
sandras of the Admiralty, as it has turned out,
• were civilians or semi-civilians, and their advice
went for nothing. The req. old British Admirals,
the sort that survives along peace, were quite of a
contrary opinion ; they pooh-pooh'd the whole
scheme. They declared there was no sort of occa-
sion fora single spare mortar to be sent-ont, and
they evidently thought nothing so good for ships
and sailors, captains and crews, as steaming
perpetually backwards and forwards, on all kinds
of pretences, or none at all, between the river
Thames and the Gulf of Finland. The real old
British Admirals carried the day, and a fleet that
cost England and France, for this season only, not
less than 20,000,0001., went out to de a day's work
—Nee beg its pardon-45 hours' work, and no more ;
to burn down an arsenal, blow up a magazine, and
then send home its only available force for fresh ,
mortars.
The British people will not stand alone in their
surprise and disappointment at the discovery that
in these days a naval victory and defeat mean the
same thing, and that it is impossible to strike more
than one blow in a season. There happen to be
some very near, very enlightened, and also very
interested spectators of the war in the North, who,
without the inspiration of the British journals, will
be quite as much surprised and disappointed as we
can possibly be. The Stockholm .Aftonblad gives
way to transports of joy at the devastation of Swea-
burg, to which it very naturally ascribes a retribu-
tive character. Its delight is all the greaten be-
cause hope has been deferred. "At length" it
says, " the cannon have spoken, and the echoes of
their voices have gladdened the Swedish hearts,
which no family compact has connected, or ever
will connect, with Muscovite cunning." But, after
dilating on the amount of destruction done, it asks,
with very pardonable anxiety,—" Will the allied
fleet be content with this achievement, without
deriving more direct results from it, without at-
tent ptieg, to take possession of the works, of which
the power of resistance, if not wholly destroyed,
must necessarily have sbeen much weakened ?
The question is impossible to answer, as nothing
has occurred to indicate the intention of the com-
manders." Then, after some fruitless specu-
lation as to a possible change of plan, it pro-
ceeds,—" In the meantime, we heartily congratu-
late the allies—we could almost say our allies
on the unexpected event, the first of the year,
and we hope now, with some degree of confi-
dence, that it will not be the last before the winter
clo-es in." The degree of confidence which we feel
ourselves on this point is by no means equal to that
of our Swedish contemporary, and if what it calls
6‘ the icy bond of neutrality that now protects the
flank of the Russian giant" is not to be melted
except by continuous and well-sustained flames,
we have little hope of a Swedish alliance for the
present, at least. We must wait till the war as-
sumes a leSs intermittent character, and the con-
querors do not think it necessary to retire from
the field of action every time they have struck a
successful blow.
Of course, nobody here is satisfied with the result,
and all sorts of people, sagacious or simple, are put-
ting their heads together to solve the problem of
an immense preparation which not only has so
little to show for itself, but turns out so helpless
and abortive. 'People are ransacking their me-
mory, or their reading, for the history of the late
war, and they are saying—old ones as well as
young ones—that they don't remember ships.
always coming back for new stores ; they don't
remember that a fleet was expected just to tem-
bard a place and then return home ; they don't
remember either that ships in the old sailing days
were so shy of forts, or that they reckoned it a
perfectly good reason for not attacking a fort, or
forcing a harbour, or attempting to cut out tire
enemy's shipping, that they were likely to suffer
some darnag • and lose some men. Certainly, on
comparing the present with the past a great change
has come over the scene in more respects than one,
and the colossal screw steamer, twice as big as the
old liner, with twice as heavy metal, twice as
swift, and infinitely more managable, after all does
very much less work than the old liner with its
crowded broadside of small guns, its clumsy build,
its sails, and its fatal tendency to become utterly
disabled.orto be becalmed just when it ought not.
Theee are numerous instances of sailing vessels
being deliberately moored, as at Algiers, not at the
distance of two miles, but at less than 200 yards
from a battery; and having done considerably more
harm .than they received. There.. are instances of
ships sailing right into the enemy's harbour, and
lighting, batteries and shipping..allait once, without
always coming cif the worst, and very seldom with-
out giving as much as they took. Now is the first
time that steam has been applied to naval warfare
on the large old scale of war. It is the time that
nautical people have long been looking forward
to as that which would solve a great - problein.
the.proelein Lein solution, and we are bound
to say that thus far steam turns out very little
better than a cowardly impostor. What does it do
for us ? It is always coming home, and showing
great prudence in keeping out of danger.; but, as
yet it doesnone of the things it was promised to
do. There was a time when naval commanders
used to say they would go anywhere, enter any
port, or stand any fire, if they could only answer
for being able to extricate themselves when they
had had enough of it. . The long-desired agent has
come, and there is hardly one ship in the fleet
without it. The only result is, that our sailors for
the first time keep their distance.
We shall be told, perhaps, as we have been told
before, that we are urging our sailors into fool-
hardy enterprises merely to satisfy the impatience
of civilians. We reply with the question, " What
has been done this year with a naval armament
which altogether has cost England for this -season
alone no less than 20,000,0001. ?" Some of that
money is for the transport of troops ; but, on the
other hand, 'the navy has its ordnance found by a
separate department, so 20,000,0001., if it does'pay
the bill, is a very fair estimate. What has been
done more than Nelson or Collingswood could have
done with the means at their command ? As for
the Black Sea, excepting the operations in the Sea
of Azoff, the fleet there has passed so completely out
of notice that many of our readers have probably for-
gotten that there is, somewhere or other in the East,
a fleet more powerful in all respects than that which
figured in the great naval review at Portsmouth two
,cars age. At this moment wecannot even say where
is is, the events of the day leaving one very little
spare attention for things that lead to no result
and come to nothing. Looking to both seas, how-
ever, it is evident that the great question of steam
versus sails has not received a very triumphant so-
lution. Could Nelson and his illustrious contem-

.; poraries and predecessors rise from their graves and
take their stand on some Finnish or Crimean head-
land—could they see the endless pother of idle
manoeuvring, the steaming to and fro, backwards
and forwards, out and back again, to bring another
in6itar or a new crank, to stop a leak in a boiler,
or mend a faulty stop-cock, and could they witness
the grand act of the season, a bombardment at the
distance of two miles, followed by a return home,
:Ind the performance ended by the middle I of
August, we are inclined-to think they Would thank
their stars that they were born_ before the days of
steam, and that their lot was cast ,in an age when
succes3 and renown were expected not •sb much
from imposing display% and here and there an in-
genious dodge for doing damage without risk, but
from the English virtues of enterprise, persever-
anrmi, and daring.

The Imperial screw transport, No. 188, arrived at
Spithead from the East yesterday. The Joseph Shep-
herd and Coronella transports went into Portsmouth
harbour yesterday. The Wye steam-vessel, fitted under
the directions of Mr. Grant, the Controller of Victuall-
ing, as a condensing vessel for the supply of the troops,
&c., at Balaklava with fresh water, left the steam fac-
tory basin yesterday for Spithead, ready to proceed to
her destination. The Perseverance screw steam-trans-
port, Captain Harris, hauled out of the steam basin
ready for service again yesterday. The Rosamond, 4,
paddle-sloop, Commander Crofton, having disembarked
her Majesty's equipages at Cowes, returned to Spithead
yesterday.

The Hamburg screw steam-transport, nearly ready to
sail from Woolwich for the Baltic, has had her orders
cancelled for that destination. The greater portion of
her cargo is to be unshipped, and it is supposed her di-
rection will be changed for the Black Sea.
Yesterday Lord Pannaure, accompanied by Mr. F.
Peel ana Mr. Monsell, of the Ordnance, went down to
Woolwich to inspect the departments of the Royal
Arsenal, and after a short stay they were conducted by
Captain Boxer to the marshes adjoining to witness a
trial of his parachutes. The public, as on other similar
occasions, were excluded.
On Tuesday last about 200 bricklayers employed in
the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich, and receiv-
ing 30s. per week, demanded an increase of 6d. per day
wages, which not being complied with they all struck.
The contractors, Kirk and Parry, not having succeeded
in arranging matters, have suspended the works for the
present.

A banquet, with a very superb testimonial of plate,
was given last night to Major-General Sir J. M. Fre-
deric Smith, R.E., at the George Hotel, Portsmouth, as
a parting souvenir on his quitting that borough for the
camp at Aldershott. The plate bore the following in-
scription :—" A testimonial of respect and esteem from
the inhabitants of the borough of Portsmouth to Major-
General Sir John Mark Frederic Smitb, R.E., K.H.
F.R.S., presented at a public banquet given at the
George Hotel, August 30, 1855.—Andrew Nance,
Mayor, Chairman."

Some time since notice was given in our columns to
the relatives and friends of men belonging to the 3d bat-
talion of the Grenadier Guards that all applications re-
specting effects and medals should be addressed to the
"Regimental Adjutant of the Grenadier Guards, Or-
derly-room, Horse-Guards." In consequence of this
notice numerous applications have been made to Capt.
Cust, the Regimental Adjutant of the Grenadier Guards,
from the friends of men in every regiment in the ser-
vice ; and we are requested, therefore, to state that all
such applications referring to men belonging to the bri-
gade of Guards must be made to the Regimental Orderly-
room of their respective regiments at the Horse Guards ;
but when referring to men belonging to any other regi-
ment in the service, they must be addressed to the War-
office.

A newly-invented canteen, by Lieutenant and Quar-
ter-master Harris, of the Royal Marines, hag been ap-
proved by the Admiralty, and they have ordered that
officer to get 1,006 made immediately, to be sent out to
the Naval Brigade and the Marines now in the Crimea.
Instead of the old water-bottle, which is of wood, tin is
substituted, and, with the mess.can and straps only
weighs 21b. 51oz. The old water-bottle, straps, and
mess-can weigh 21b. 12ioz. This new canteen will cot
one-fourth less money.
This morning the following troops will embark at
Gravesend on board two ships for India. The Earl of
Balcarres, Captain Henry Morris, 1,488 tons burden,
receives 325 men, 18 women, and 11 children, and 7
officers, for conveyance to Bombay ; they consist of the
64th, 42 men with Ensign Henry John Haldane ; and
Ensign Colin Hugh Thompson, 74th, and 58 men ; En•
sign M. A. Kirby, 78th Highlanders, with 74 privates,
7 women, and 7 children ; Major Edward Steele, Lieut.
H. S. Cooper, 83d, 42 privates, 4 women, and 1 child ;
Lieutenant H. S. Cochrane, Ensign James Creagh, 86th,
and 109 privates, with 7 women and 3 children. The
undernamed detachments will embark at the same time
on board the Trafalgar, 1,250 tons burden, Captain J.
H. Taylor :-43d Foot, Ensign Harry Gorton, Ensign
Thomas Elines, with 8 men ; and Captain William
M'Leod, 74th ; and Ensign Maileman, 84th, with 113
men, 4 women, and 5 children for conveyance to Madras.
On Wednesday afternoon Colonel Eden, the com-
mandant of Chatham garrison, made a distribution of
Crimean medals to the invalids at Fort Pitt Hospital,
Chatham. The whole of the recipients were drawn up
under the large corridor, and each man's name being
called by Mr. G. R. Dartnell, Deputy-Inspector-General
of Hospitals, his particular wounds were mentioned, and
the medal was then presented to him by Col. Eden.
Through the kindness and sympathy of Mr. Dartnell,
the principal medical officer at Fort Pitt, the museum
belonging to that establishment has been opened twice
a-week for the amusement of the invalids. Two easy
wheeled chairs have also been provided for the use of
those unable to walk about the hospital and gardens,
and the invalids are wheeled about by two of the hospital
orderlies.
The Ist division of the 123 d, County of Limerick Re-
giment, arrived at the encampment at the Curragh on
the 27th inst., and the 2d division (head-quarters) 03
Tuesday last, at 4 o'clock p.m., under the command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Dickson. Total strength, 32 officers
'and 850 rank and file. On the appearance of this fine
corps advancing from Kildare, the whole of the bands
in ramp, viz. :—the 60th Rifles, North Cork, Longford,
Westmeath, County of Down, and Dublin, proceeded to
meet, and escorted them, playing national airs. amid a
large number of spectators, to their quarters in E Square.
Captain Baynes, of the Connaught Rangers, one of
the heroes of Inkerman, arrived in Athlone on Monday
for the purpose of receiving volunteers from the Ros-
common Regiment for the 88th. On the regiment being
assembled, the officer commanding the regiment, Lieut.-
Colonel Caulfeild, addressed the men, and pointed out
to them the advantages to be gained by their joining the
line. Captain Baynes, assisted by the Quartermaster of
the Roscommon, an old Ranger, whom the colonel per-
mitted to do all he could for the Old corps, proceeded
through the ranks, and very quickly obtained upwards
of 60 smart young fellows. On the Rangers being named
a general shout was given by the regiment. Up to this
hour-6 p.m.-70 have passed. Captain Baynes has
been very successful in obtaining volunteers from several
militia regiments.

An Irish journal states that Colonel John Rowland
Smyth, C.!1., 16th Lancers, is about to leave the regi-
ment, and that he is to he succeeded by Major Pattie.
Colonel Smyth will shortly be made a Major-General.
It is understood that the head-quarters of the 12th
Labcers at Cabir, under orders for Dublin, are counter-
manded for the present.
By an order from the Horse Guards Cionmel is dis-
continued as a station for cavalry for the present.
Major-General Sir J. C. Cbatterton, K.H., acoom•
panied by the Assistant Adjutant-General, left Dublin at
an early hour on Monday morning, and proceeded to
Birr, where he inspected the Depot Battalion under the
command of Colonel Crutchley, consisting of the 21st,
57th, and 63d Regiments, who were found in a very
effective and excellent state, about 1,000 strong.
On Wednesday evening, between 4 and 5 o'clock, 5
officers and 270 men, volunteers from the Dragoon
Regiments, marched to the North Wall, Dublin, cheered
by great numbers of spectators. The draughts were
from the 2d Dragoon Guards, the 4th Dragoon Guards,
the sth Dragoon Guards, the 6th Dragoons, the Bth
Hussars, 11th Hussars, and 17th Lancers. The draughts
consisted of from 30 to 50 men from each regiment. As
the steamer left the quay the soldiers were loudly
cheered by the crowds of persons present.
An order was received on Saturday last, by Colonel
Crutchley, Commandant of the Depot Battalion at Par-
sonstown, to send officers to join their regiments in the
Crimea ; and on Monday the following officers, viz.,
Lieutenant Henderson, 21st Fusileers, Captain Wood-
all, with Ensigns Mills, Hasted, and Powell, 57th
Regiment, left the garrison en route for Liverpool, where
they expect to embark on board the Europa for the seat
of war.

About 170 of the North Riding of Yorkshire Rifle
Regiment of Militia left Richmond, Yoikshire, on Wed-
nesday last, by railway, on furlough for a month. This
permission has been granted in order to enable the men
to aid in getting in the harvest.