The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-19 00:00:00

faioy,if they can_ so be met, than to re;oti fa.rniF,silez
recuil upon those by whom tiiey have beet►
hurled !

What was the gravamen of the charge last night
preferred against him ? That he had declared
that Captain CHRISTIE, now unfortunately de-
ceased, was apparently an old and an ailing man,
and thus unfit for the discharge of the duties en-
trusted to his charge. The deplorable calamities
which occurred at Balaklava, and the numerous
complaints preferred against the gallant Captain
would have justified any member of Parliament in
speaking of the system which led to such infelicitous
appointments. But Mr. LAYARD did not act on
mere hearsay. He spoke of that which he had
seen with his own eyes, and of which he had heard
unexceptionable witnesses speak in the strongest
terms. Had there been any misapprehension, he
would at once have corrected it on any proper
application. But he would not condescend to
notice communications couched in improper
terms. When Captain CHRISTIE wrote to him,
he at once forwarded a reply to the direction in-
dicated by that officer, and in doing so he made
every concession that could reasonably be required
at his hands..

The most ridiculous part of the transaction
was the manner in which Sir JAMES GRAHAM,
who had ordered a Court-martial on Captain
CHRISTIE, tried to show that it was really
an act of kindness to the accused, and that he
himself was one of his best friends, actuated only
by the kindest feelings towards him. Thus it
was that, with a tragical air, and, as he declares,
fixing his eye on Mr. LAYARD, he announced to
the Committee that Captain CHRISTIE had died of
"a broken heart." If there were anything of the
sort it was he himself who had occasioned it—not
Mr. LAYARD. No man ever yet died because it
was said that he was a few years older than he
really was. If we are to credit Sir J. GRAHAM,
he either yielded to clamour to the extent of sacri-
ficing an innocent victim, or he used his official
power to prevent the attendance of a witness
before the Select Committee of the House of Com-
mons. We leave the Knight of Netherby to
select either of these alternatives—to say on which
horn of the dilemma he pleases to be tossed.

But none of these attacks in the House will
check the great cause of Administrative Reform,
which has made greater progress than any modern
question within a similar time. Nor will the
petty refusals of provincial DOGBERRYS who, like
the Mayor of Liverpool, venture to refuse
the request of their most distinguished townsmen
to cunvene a meeting to discuss the topic. It
has flourished, and will flourish, despite such op-
positions ; and the nation will, if the first move-
ment be energetically followed up, achieve the
important object on which it Lai set its heart,
and speedily see " the right men in the right
places."

If General CANROBERT Las not earned a high
military reputation while in command of the
French forces before Sebastopol, in his resigna-
tion of that command he has nobly vindica,ted the
honourable nature of the ambition by which he is
actuated, and has set an example worthy of imi-
tation by co:nmanding officers in all time to come.
The second bombardment of Sebastopol having
failed of success, he appears to have reviewed his
position with au unflattering eye ; and, having
arrived at the conclusion that, entrusted as he
was with the command of a splendid army, its
signal want of success must be attributable, in
some degree, to his personal inability to dis-
charge its duties as their almost unprecedented
responsibility demanded, he at once determined
on the course he would pursue. He sent home
his resignation, and the Emperor accepted it. So
far well ; but the crowning merit of the act was
involved in the request that accompanied it. If
he could not serve his country in the highest com-
mand, his abilities might be useful in a lower.
Such a trust he, therefore, felt. it his duty to re-
quest should be consigned to him. The noble-
ness of this procedure w ill appear from his desire,
that his subordinate, General PELISSIER, should
be his successor. What generosity and patriotism
prompted the suggestion those only who can
realise his position can adequately appreciate.
Of his successor's military talent report speaks
highly. Trained in a stern school, under Marshal
BITGEA TM, General PELISSIER has the reputation
of being one of the most resolute and able
of the Marshal's distinguished pupils. Whether
lie will confirm the high opinion entertained of
him it is impossible to predict. A good divisional
officer may make an indifferent commander-in-
chief, and vice versa. But it is not less true that,
without opportunity, the highest genius cannot
be developed. For our part, we are disposed to
entertain a confident reliance in his ability.
Personally, he may be far inferior to General
CANROBERT. He may not possess his amiability
of feeling and rough good humour, but he is not
likely to be less attentive to the welfare of his
troops—a duty to which his predecessor was
always attentive, and he is sure to inspire them
with his own indomitable resolution.

With the splendid army now in the Crimea
what, under such circumstances, may not be
effected, provided the English army is similarly
led ? This, however, is impossible so long as
Lord RAGLAN is Commander-in-Chief. How long
is he to continue so ? Will the proud patrician
disdain to follow the example of the noble plebeian,
whose retirement has covered him with honour,
and throw up his command ? Or will the Go-
vernment be compelled to withdraw him, however
reluctant they may be to do so ? We shall -see.
But this we must say, that the guilt of that man,
or that body of men, on whom the responsibility
of haz trding the success of the Allied Armies in
the Crimea, by continuing his lordship in com-
mand, may rest, will be such as to make thought-
ful men shudder, and to call for a public "im-
peachment." To Lord RAGLAN we would say,
resign at once ! or to Lord PALmEnsToN—bid
him !

We beg to draw attention to a letter signed
"A Commander, R.N.," which appears in another,
parl.of our impression, and relates to war destruc-
tive inventions. The writer justly complains of
the discouragement experienced by inventors in
official quarters, and of the almost insuperable
difficulties they-have to combat whose inventions
run counter to existing establishments. He fur-
ther suggests the formation of a commission for
the purpose of examining inventions that are of
vital importance to England in her war with
Russia, and in the propriety of this we fully
concur, provided " the members of the commis-
sion be thoroughly competent to the duty required
of them, and undertake it in a spirit of good feel-
ing, and with a desire to assist, rather than put
down, an inventor who may submit his scheme for
examination," and that the inventor, in case of
failure, be made to defray the costs of the experi-
ment. Without the former conditions can, to
some extent, be secured, the greatest invention
may be pronounced absurd, and the efforts of the
most brilliant inventor be rendered useless, while
without the last proviso the public money would
inevitably be wasted. The confident assertion
that our costliest ships may be destroyed by an
expenditure on each of twenty pounds worth of
explosive material is sufficiently startling to call
for the prompt adoption of our correspondent's
recommendation.

The Archbishop of Canterbury will preach to-morrox
(Sunday) at St. Michael's. Church, Pimlico, in aid of the
funds of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of
the Chest, Brompton.
INSPECTION OF THE HOUSEHOLD TROOPS.—This morn•
log there was the usual inspection of the household
troops, by Prince Albert, in St. James's Park.
TAE LETTER-CARRIERS' New UNIFOE3I.—This morn.
clothes, but this
mg the letter-carritrs appeared as usual in their new
faced with adopted.
hitherto 'year the pattern differs from that
They now wear a scarlet frock coat,
upon the collar of which is worked a
distinguishin
It is the intention
toted. Altogether the bearer hat with the letters G. P. O. Y r
etberntlecockatie a glazed felt one is Eubsti-
cotange is a decided improvement.
issue gratuitous of her Majesty's Government to
Paris UtAver,al ExhibiLs to
working men visiting the
dater to
the
tileDdEetaTt. I ih
ofor LLor9ditiDdep:lauilAvi7"2Y--We have to record-
the
estates
day at his residence, in ti; ' '.l. :tnnihaeors:Zrt irr:edt . onTNlVieendonteL
lord, who was borniti :17:107,
daughter of
the sixth Earl of Shafte-bury,
lie is succeeded in the the present earl.
Virm. F. Spencer T'llllBonby, by the Hu.