The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-08 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1855.

What do the army and the people of France
think of the failure of the English attack on the
Redan on the Bth of September? We know
from the admirable article in the Moniteur, which
we transferred to our impression of the 24th ult.,
the impression that prevails in the very highest
quarters respecting the great gallantry and effi-
ciency of the English troops .then as on all pre-
vious occasions. We have also seen the generous
encomium bestowed by Marshal PELISSIER on his
Allies, pointing out, too, that there had been
a French as well as an English failure on that
memorable day. It may, however, and even has
been asserted that these laudatory expressions
were attributable rather to politeness than to a
very accurate view of what had taken place,
and that in the Palace of Truth a more
homely and leas pleasing estimate might
be heard of the skill of British Officers and the
conduct. and bravery of the soldiers ! Very
stringent criticisms have been offered in this
country respecting the arrangements for the
attack, and the conduct of a large proportion of
those actually engaged.

It is not unnatural that there should be an ex-
pression of discontent at our own repulse while
our Allies so fully accomplished their task, and,
as asserted by many persons assuming to speak
ex cathedra, monopolised the whole glory of the
capture of the beleaguered City ! While such an
impression is abroad in this country it is par-
ticularly desirable to know whether it has ex-
tended beyond .the Channel, and been participated
in by any large or influential section of our Allies.
Hence tho importance of the answer to the inter-
rogatory with which we commenced this article.
" What do the army and people of France
think of the failure of the English attack on the
Redan on the Bth ultimo ?"

We rejoice to be enabled to produce unexcep-
tionable testimony on this interesting topic—tes-
timony that must be regarded as conclusive by
every disinterested and unprejudiced person. We
earnestly commend the admirable letter of Pro-
fessor AYTOITN, which will be found in another
part of this day's impression, to the attentive
perusal of our friends and of the community at
large. It is indeed well worthy of perusal, and
will, we trust, remove any apprehensions that the
honour of old England had been tarnished before
Sebastopol, or that we were not entitled to share
in some degree the laurels so profusely gathered
by our bravo Allies on the ever-memorable Bth
of September.
It is naturally a source of considerable gratifi-
cation to ourselves to find that the view which we
put forward, and have continued to maintain, has
been so completely and unequivocally corroborated
by a witness in every respect so trustworthy as
Professor AYTOUN—testimony that convinces us
that the voice of France is universally uplifted in
favour of our gallant men, who receive ample jus-
tice from those whose training and education emi-
nently qualify them to form a correct judgment
on such points. The explanation which has been
given by our distinguished countryman is, as he
declares, universally recognised in Paris. 'We
see, from the reported conversation of General
Peerssran, what it was that ho required. He
wished that, from the moment of taking the
Malakhoff by a coup de main, the Russian atten-
tion should be distracted, oven for a singlo
hour, to afford the opportunity of strengthening
Lis position, and thus enabling him to retain the
possession of the glorious priz3. For that he
sent forward his own troops to assault the Redan
of Careening Bay, and the Central and Quaran-
tine Bastions. They failed, like our own, but not
until the great object for which they were made
had been accomplished. Nobly did our brave
fellows,' albeit that many of them were " mere
boys," as they were contemptuously termed, dis-
charge their arduous and terrible duty. Not
only did they proceed across the two hundred
yards that intervened between their trenches
and the Redan, under a tremendous enfi-
lading fire of artillery,good
but they made
their footing, and for nearly two hours-1 hour
56 minutes--maintained their deiiperate position,
and that notwithstanding the
absence of that
sapport which they naturally
anticipated, but
which was withheld, in order to prevent a greater
amount of carnage than that which
actually took
place. It is unquestionably
a deplorable exigency I
that requires the sacrifice of brave men, that de- j

votes them to almost certain death ; but it is one
of the terrible necessities of war, to which all
must submit.

We cannot resist republishing a portion of our
article on the subject which appeared in The Sun
of the 28th ult. Our esteemed correspondent will
from that perceive that we rendered from the
beginning full justice to our gallant countrymen ;
and that we did not fall into the error which he so
justly condemns, and accorded the praise which
had been so nobly earned by the daring escaladers
of the Redan. It is as follows :

" It was unquestionably the close approaches of
the French lines that enabled our gallant Allies
to possess themselves so rapidly of the Malakhoff,
the 'key' which speedily opened up Sebas-
topol, with all its accumulated stores, to the
besieging force. It was the open sesame,'
which rendered admission easy, and placed the
vast treasures of the forty (thousand) thieves' at
the mercy of the possessors of the charm. The
incessant and terrible bombardment maintained
from the sth instant to the very moment of the
onslaught had not merely thrown the Russians
into confusion, but had compelled them to take
shelter in the bomb-proof casements. The French
storming party had but a few yards of. open
ground to cross. It was merely the business of a
few seconds, and the forlorn hope' had esta-
blished itself within the defences before the Rus-
sians were sufficiently aroused from their astonish-
ment to offer a serious resistance to their daring
assailants. Then, indeed, they fought fiercely—
desperately. But the first coup had been inflicted,
and it fully verified the apophthegm. It was
even more than half the battle.' The Russians
could never recover their lost ground, or succeed
even for a moment in dislodging the vigorous
escaladers. The capture of the Malakhoff was but
the work of a few minutes. In less than a quarter
of an hour after the time appointed for the at-
tack the tricolour was floating proudly over the
Round Tower, gave the anxiously-looked-for sig-
nal that the time had arrived for the Britons to
' strike home,' and to test their power against
the defences of the Great Redan, and up to that
'line the losses of the conquerors of the Male.-
!;:hoff had been comparatively trivial when the
magnitude of the undertaking and its vast con-
4equences are taken into consideration.

"The awful bloodshed was chiefly occasioned
by the attacks on the two Redans, and on the Oen-
ral and Quarantine Bastions—all of which were
unsuccessful. There considerable spaces should
necessarily be traversed under concentrated fires
:.)efore the assailants got at their work—and ter-
rible losses were inflicted before a single ladder
could be planted, or an attempt to scale the
Crowning batteries. General Simpson has been
censured for not having had his advances as
forward as those of Our brave Allies. It was,
'►owever, a necessity of his position. It was im-
possible for him to do so. The ground was CoPII-
- by a flanking fire, and the working par-
,ies would have been annihilated in the front
trenches had they even the power of constructing
them, or found them ready made for their use.
It is easy for those who live at home at ease' to
criticise the arrangements made by those who had
`.o bear the brunt of the encounter, and who freely
Ind lavishly shed their blood in their country's
cause.

"Besides, although nominally the several attacks
failed, they accomplished all that was required—
viz., to create such a diversion as would enable
our brave Allies fully to establish themselves in
the Malakhoff, and to prevent the Russians from
directing their whole attention and their entire
force against the great prize of the day. While
the various onslaughts were taking place, the
victors had the opportunity of establishing them-
4elves in their position, which they nobly and man-
fully yielded against the repeated and energetic
attacks of the Russians, who bravely, but vainly,
strove to regain that which they knew to be de-
cisive of the fate of the entire city. Let us, then,
not be disposed to treat in a captious spirit the
brilliant deeds that have conferred so much
honour on the Western Powers generally, or on
vague guesses, or inadequate data, to condemn
those of whom their country may well be proud."

The interesting spectacle of a country fallen
into almost unexampled decay rising from its
ruins, and struggling with some degreo of success
towards a new development, has for some time
past been exhibited in Egypt. At the present
day we are happy to perceive indications of in-
creasing vitality, and a brighter prospect than
ever of this Turkish province assuming its right-
ful position in the fields of commerce and civilisa-
tion. The land of the PHARAOHS and the
PTOLEMYS, whose history is suggestive of the
grandest and most awe-inspiring associations in
connection with human progress—the land whose
amazing fertility, immense resources, and utter
prostration have for ages been the subject of
poetry and song, has attracted the serious atten-
tion of the politicians of France and England, and
been subjected to the survey of the engineer, who
wants but capital to make her the highway of
nations, and thereby elevate her to a position in
which she may rival her former greatness, and be of
essential service to the cause of liberty and civili-
sation so long and seriously menaced by Russian

aggression.
In former times the Mediterranean and Red
Seas were connected by means of a canal, which,
owing to various causes, has long ceased to exist.
The vast importance of.such a communication was
not likely to escape the keen eye of modern enter-
prise, and the feasibility of re-uniting these seas
by the same means has of late years been the
subject of considerable discussion. The results
are that, after several preliminary surveys, it has
been agreed on all hands that the cutting of a
canal through the Isthmus of Suez is not only a
desirable but a perfectly practicable scheme, and
two plans for its construction have been
offered. The levels of the two seas are, it ap-
pears, nearly the same, and the engineering diffi-
culties so trivial that a canal, 30 leagues in length,
0 feet width, and with a depth of water 30
feet below in
lo
w
water in the Mediterranean, with
30
ofeo s
t 1 ,osfo 0
aboutton s
all the udcessary works, and available for the pas_
burden, may be cons
nage of steam-frigates
constructed
half the amount and
decvl easstelsa
tithe
as much as
London to York, or about fivei
expended on the railway from
in order to obtain the power to make the line.
was disblirsed in law and Parliamentary expenses
These plans are known as the direct and indi•
rect lines, the former of which not is the
only
most feasible, but is also the most likely to be
adopted, a concession having been granted for its
formation, by the Viceroy of Egypt, to M. FER-
DINAND DE LESSEPS, late Minister Plenipotentiary
of France to Rome. The superiority of this line
consists not only in its directness and the coun7
tenance given to it by his Highness SAID PACIIA,
but also in the facilities it offers for commerce,
and the fewer engineering difficulties to be encoun-
tered in its construction. The indirect line,
which has its point of departure at Alexandria,
joins the Nile below Cairo, and terminates at
Suez, /would, for instance, have to bridge the Nile
at a point where that river is more than a
mile in breadth, an undertaking, it must be

admitted, suggestive of a frightful expenditure. Or
supposing the river were not crossed by a bridge
the canal would be in constant danger of being
choked up by the alluvial deposits, and would
greatly interfere with the existing syste-n of
canals so necessary to the irrigation of Egypt,
while vessels sailing along it would have great
difficulty in crossing when the strong currents set
in, and-the easterly or southerly winds prevailed.
The direct line commencing at Pelusium and ter-
minating at Suez, without being liable to any of
these objections, has the positive merit of offering
a useful harbour and twelve miles of existing
water communication. At ten leagues distance
from Pelusium it would merge in " the Bitter
Lakes," which, filled as they are with the waters
of the Arabian Gulf, would also serve as an inex-
haustible reservoir for theservice of the canal. The
main obstacles to be contended against would, it ap-
pears, be in the vicinity of two mountains where a
short detour would be necessary,involving,however,
only a cutting 70 feet in depth, including the
depth of the canal. The mode in which M. DE
LESSEPS proposes to carry out this plan is by the
joint capital and exertions of all commercial na-
tions who may see fit to lend their aid, the canal
being intended for the advantage of all, and a
guarantee of its neutrality by the respective
countries being a primary consideration.
The advantages offered by the scheme are vast
and manifold. To this country they are of the
first importance. The five hundred millions of the
population of India and China would be brought
nearer to Europe, and consequently to us, by seve-
ral thousand miles. In the voyage from London
or Liverpool to Bombay, via Suez, as compared
with the Cape, there would be a saving of
8,550 miles, the result of which would be a
large increase of commercial activity, not
only arising from more rapid communication, but
also from a reduction in freight and other charges,
and the opening out of new, and the increased
demand from, old markets. In a military point
of view the advantages offered by the canal are
immense, since it would enable us to send out
troops from Bombay in twenty-one days, and to
Ceylon or Madras in about twenty-eight days, in-
stead of four or five months as at present,
a diminution of time which might involve the sal-
vation of our dominions in the East. To other
European nations, and to America, it holds out
advantages sufficiently great to insure their sup-
port, and its inviolability as a neutral point of
communication. With respect to France the
adoption of the plan would remove the
only ground of difference that can be foreseen
between us, and might possibly lead to a recipro-
cation of good offices iu relation to a similar
scheme elsewhere.

Taking all these things into consideration, and
more especially the security it would give us in the
possession of our Indian Empire, to which the
eyes of Russia have long been enviously directed,
we cannot but wish M. DE LnSSEPS success in his
splendid undertaking.

COURT CIRCULAR.

BALMORAL, Ocr. 5.

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Princess
Royal and Princess Alice, and attended by the Duchess
of Wellington, the lion. Beatrice Byng,.and Sir George
Grey, rode out yesterday afternoon.

OCTOBER 6.

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by their Royal
Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal,
and attended by her Grace the Duchess of Wellington
and the Hoxi. Beatrice Byng, drove out yesterday after-
noon.

His Royal Highness the Prince went out deer-stalking.

Dertpatcbes were sent from the Colonial-office on Sa-
turday to the Governor of Gibraltar.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

The Earl of Clarendon came to town on Saturday
morning, from the Grove, near Watford, Harts, and was
engaged all the day at the Foreign office, in Downing-
street. The noble earl left in the evening, to return to
the Grove. The same night a Queen's messenger was
sent off with despatches for the British Ambassador at
Constantinople. Despatches were also forwarded to the
General of the British forces at the Crimea, and to Ad-
miral Sir Edmund Lyons, commanding in the Black
Sea, from Lord Panmure and the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty.

Viscount Palmerston was to come to town yesterday,
from Broadiands, near Romsey, in order to attend the
Cabinet Council to be held this afternoon at the Foreign-
office.

Sir Charles Wood and Lady Mary have left the Admi-
ralty, on a visit to the Marquis of Lansdowne, at Bo-
woocl-park, Wilts, where a distinguished party is
assembled.

The Duke of Argyll is staying with the Duke and
Duchess of Sutherland, at Dunrohin Castle, N.B.
Sir William Molesworth is sojourning at Brighton,
but will come to town to-day, to assist at the meeting of
the Cabinet.
The Earl of Flarrowby will come down to tuwn to-day
from Sandon-hall.

Sir George Grey will continue in attendance on the
Queen, and will not be in town until the 20th inst.
Lord Panmure bas been able, during the week, to
attend daily at the War Department, although only re-
cently recovered from an attack of gout. The noble
lord was detained up to a late hour on Saturday even-
ing-, on a pressure of business at the War department.
The Lord Chancellor will come to town to-day, from
his seat in Kent.

The Earl Granville is expected in town early in the
present week from Paris. The noble earl, after a brief
sojourn in town, will proceed to Staffordshire.

Her Majesi,y has intimated her gracious pleasure that
the congratulatory address from the Town Council of
Bristol on the fall of Sebastopol should be forwarded to
her through the Secretary of State for the Homo Depart-
ment.

The Duke of Cambridge will leave town this morning
for Knowsley, near Present, on a visit to the Earl and
Countess of. Derby. The Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess Mary have deferred their visit to Knowsley
until the week after next.

The Duchess of Kent will leave Abcrgeldie on
Monday next for Fropnore, intending to pass one night
en route south.

The Duchess of Cambridge received the Duke of Cam-
bridge, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, and a select party
to dinner on Saturday evening at Cambridge Cottage,
Kew.

The Emperor and Empress of the French visited the
Exposition of Industry on Saturday, accompanied by
General Caurohert.

Lord Wbarncliffe, who is staying at Wortley Hall,
continues in indifferent health.

Lriri James Stuart has arrived at Cardiff, where his
Lordship will remain some days longer.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have ar-
rived at Stanwick Park, near Richmond, from Alnwick
Castle.
The Dnke and Duchess of Beaufort have arrived at
Gopsall Hall, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Howe.
The Earl of Lonsdale has gone on a visit to the
Continent.

Lord and Lady John Russell have returned to Pem-
broke Lodge, Richmond Park, from visiting the Duke
and Duchess of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey.
NEWSPAPER POSTAL LANY.—In the next session of
Parliament an attempt will he made to alter the present
postal law, so as to enable newspapers stamped at So.
inerset House to be sent to the British colonies without
the additional charge. •
The accounts received from Coblenz of the " complete
understanding between the King of Prussia, the King of
Wuitemberg, the Prince Regent of Baden, the Duke of
_Nassau, &c.," have produced no very agreeable impres-
sion in the highest Austrian circles.
A letter from Marseilles, of the fith instant, states
tobhanar
ttkheBe:
60otnEb
boar
goaalnirs(dih
ttmilitary e
they
operatives
bhwea ernirnalmexpected there
convey them directly to Kamiesch. ewdihaitcehlyisemto-
A Berlin correspondent of the Augsburg Gazette writes
that the Prussian Government is about to send troops to
the Hohenzollern Principalities which lie between the
territcry of Baden and Wurtembere•
The liner Austerlitz, the screw transport: Saone, and
the gun-boat Bombe returned to Cherbourg on the 6th,
from the Baltic.
A serious accident has befallen Mr. Richard P: Long,
son of the member for North Wilts, one of his eyes
having been accidentally destroyed by a shot from the
gun of one of the keepers.
LYCEUM' THEATRE.—On Saturday morning the Great
Wizard of the North invited the whole of the children
of the Licensed Vlicltlieialelehris School
children
renap tope is veryahredtathaotrtorancgthivlse
and at the termination of the entertain.perform-
mflenndtsern
some
sw-eatmeats. The same favour,ented each child with a glass of
presented enjoyate e
ithemselves,r.
Wine, a bun, and
we understand, is to be extended to many similar in.
Anderson are
areThneoswe
an:lieournlniinogg
I'
theelf meetrn ealoafct attractive enter-
tainmentfessor in the metropolis, and are always both fully
and fashionably attended.