The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

THE ATTACK ON THE

RED AN •

We have the best authority for stating that
up to three o'clock this afternoon no further in-
formation than that already published in The San
of yesterday, in connection with the recent attack
on the Redan Battery, has been received at the
War-office.

The rumour, therefore, respecting the despatch
said to have been received by the Government,
containing the names of several officers killed, and
also stating the loss of troops to amount to
4,000 is totally devoid of truth, so far at least 23
the actual knowledge of the Government is con-
cerned.

It was impossible to suppose that the elaborate
Report of the Select Committee on the State of the
Army before Sebastopol could be quietly shelved,
or that some means would not be adopted to bring
well-merited punishment on the heads of those
legally and morally responsible for the fearful
disasters therein set forth, and established beyond
the possibility of doubt, by the evidence produced
before the committee, and now in the hands of
Parliament and. the country. On Mr. ROEBUCK
the duty naturally devolved of taking the initiative,
not only as the party on whose motion the Com-
mittee was obtained, but also/ as its Chairman,
under whose auspices the important inquiry was
cmducted ; and he has not shrunk from the
arduous task. Last night the Honourable and
Learned Gentleman gave notice that, on the 3d
July, he would move the following resolution :--
" That this House, deeply lamenting the sufferings
of our army in the Crimea during the winter cam-
paign last year, and considering, in accord-
ance with the Committee, that the conduct of
every member of the Government engaged in
the management of the war was the first and
chief cause of those sufferings, this House does
hereby censure the conduct of every member of
the Cabinet."

This is a direct and positive censure, not only
on the ABERDEEN Government, but on every
one of its members—on every man who neglected
the obvious duties imposed on him by his position
as a member of the Cabinet, and tacitly connived
at the gross mismanagement or culpable indiffer-
ence of those whose apathy and indifference or
inefficiency, if not positive leaning to Russia,
produced these truly melancholy results. It
aims, therefore, not merely at the Peelites who
have alreadyretired, but at Lords PALMERSTON and
JouN RUSSELL—at every member of the existirg
Ministry with the exception of Lord PANMIIRE, Sir
G. C. LEWIS, and Mr. V. SMITH, who were se-
lected to fill the vacancies occasioned by the secession
of Lord ABERDEEN, the Duke Of NEWCASTLE, Sir
JAMES GRAHAM, and Messrs. GLADSTONE and
SIDNEY HERBERT ; and should it be carried, it is
difficult to conceive how any of the inculpated
members can retain the positions which they now
occupy.

But, as we have already stated, the House cf
Commons is not necessarily limited to the diluted
and too lenient Report. It has the evidence
placed before it in extenso, and is therefore just
as competent to form its own judgment as the
Committee. It is not in the position merely of
a common law judge, who must pass his sentence
strictly in accordance with the verdict of
the jury, but rather of a Lord Chancellor,
who, while acting on the facts brought under
his notice by a Master, may yet pronounce a
judgment much more vigorous and energetic than
the conclusions arrived at by the subordinate
officer to whose care the inquiry into the various
circumstances was entrusted. In like manner
Mr. ROEBUCK may, if he think fit, take exceptions
to the Report, and, in calling for the judgment of
the full court, insist on the views which he brought
forward with remarkable energy and force before
the Committee. The conduct of the Commander-
in-Chief—Lord RAGLAN—is still open to com-
ment, and the General who " did not keep the
Administration duly informed of the actual con-
dition of the army under his command," who had
not the "head to conceive what was necessary,
or the hand to execute the thing needed, even if
it had been foreseen," may not yet escape with
impunity from the consequences of his inefficiency
r apathy.
But without travelling beyond the Report, there
sufficient to call for the punishment of every
member of the late Cabinet. Disastrous results
of mismanagement, the sufferings and privations
of our gallant army, the losses of so many valua-
ble lives, the worse than useless expenditure of so
many millions of public money, are all detailed,
and if in every instance these evils are not traced,
to their respective sources—if the Committee re-
frain from explaining the causes
in every in-
stance, striking
chiefly at the minor fry,
while the Leviathian culprits are treated with
.-,-reater consideration, they have yet distinctly
declared that "the suffering of the army resulted
mainly from the circumstances under which the

expedition to the Crimea was undertaken and
executed." Adding, "that the Administration
which ordered that expedition had no adequate
information as to the amount of forces in the Cri-
mea. They were not acquainted with the strength
of the fortresses to be attacked, or with the re-
sources of the country to be invaded. They hoped
and expected the expedition to be immediately
successful, and as they did not foresee the proba-
bility of a protracted struggle they made no pro-
rsion for a winter campaign ! "

What heavier censure could be inflicted than
this ? The heavier, too, from the manifest bias of
the Committee, and its leaning to the side of the
Government. We cannot for a moment suppose
that the Committee will shrink from supporting
those to whose hands it delegated the arduous
and important duty, and we earnestly hope that
Lord RAGLAN may not escape without such notice
as will insure the immediate appointment of a
more vigorous and energetic Commander to lead
the troops to the triumphs which their bravery
will be certain to achieve, if they are only allowed
fair play and a clear field.

Thp nation must not suffer itself to be dispirited
on account of the temporary reverse sustained on
Monday. It is true that our own troops, as well
as our gallant allies, have suffered very severely
—that many brave and distinguished men have
perished—we shall not say without any adequate
equivalent, for what could be an equivalent?—but
without any compensation, however trivial, for their
irreparable less. It is true that almost for the first
time the French and English have completely
failed in attaining the object on which they had
set their hearts, but we must submit patiently to
the fortune of war, or rather bow reverently to
the will of the MOST HIGH.

It is impossible, in any war, to hope that all
things can be couleur derose—that every movement
can be invariably successful. But so great, al-
most miraculous, have been our previous triumphs,
that we have begun to expect too much from our
troops whenever matters are left in their hands,
and they are allowed to meet the enemy hand to
hand. The despondency following any failure is,
therefore, in the inverse ratio of our previous
hopes, and we read with too great dismay of the
deplorable losses sustained in the first defeat ex-
perienced by the Allied Armies.
All that can as yet be known is that on Mon-
day morning—a glorious anniversary in the-Bri-
tish annals—a combined movement was decided
on against the chief outworks of Sebastopol, the
Redan and the Malakhoff ; that the assault on the
former was entrusted to the British, while
the French undertook the dangerous on-
slaught on the key to the defences of the
Russian stronghold. Both were repelled, and
with fearful destruction of human life. It is
said, and we believe but too truly, that we have
lost no less than 4,000 in killed and wounded,
including from 60 to 70 officers. The destruc-
tion in the French ranks has been scarcely less
deplorable. We have to deplore the deaths of Sir
JOHN CAMPBELL, Lieutenant-Colonels YEA and
SHADFORTH, and the severe, if not fatal, wounds
of Brigadier YORKE and General JONES. While our
Allies are said to have also lost two of their brave
and experienced Generals, and many gallant officers.
Still painful as the weighty infliction may be, we
must not despond, but firmly resolve to avenge
the deplorable destrnetiop of so many of our faith-

ful defenders, and to exact more onerous terms
from the despot, whose insatiable ambition and
grasping cupidity has been the primary cause of
these heartrending calamities.
At first the assault was successful ; the assail-
ants obtained a footing within the works ; but
they found that the enemy, with direful skill,
had availed themselves of the temporary respite
accorded to increase the obstacles to the occupation
of the Redan. When the British troops had fought
their way into the fort they found a new and unex-
pected impediment which they had not the materials
to pass. They were exposed to a murderous fire
not only from the defenders of the position, but
the guns of the Malakhoff and neighbouring re-
doubts were also turned against them, and the
carnage was truly terrific, while they mai&ained
their ground with the firm and unflinching reso-
lution for which Englishmen have so greatly
distinguished themselves on all occasions. Even-
tually they retreated in good order to their own
trenches ; and it is, at least, some consolation
that, although they have been foiled, they
have not been thrown back from any position they
had previously achieved. We must, therefore,
as we have said, bear our heavy trial with forti-
tude and submission, in the earnest hope that a
time may speedily arrive when we shall retrieve
all disasters, and accomplish the objects on which
the hearts of the people are so earnestly set.

The speeches and resolutions at the great meet-
ing at Sheffield on Wednesday last, on the subject
of Administrative Reform, were of a highly satis-
factory nature, and very encouraging to the ad-
vocates and proraoters of the movement.

In the first place, both speakers and requisi-
tionists gave unmistakeable proof of being
thoroughly in earnest in the work in hand, and
determined to persevere until it was accomplished ;
and, in the second, they exhibited a thorough
appreciation of the nature of the reform require],
and of the means by which it may best he achieved.
Fervid as,was the tone of the meeting, there was no
room left for doubt as to its aims, and these were
eminently practical and constitutional. Thus,
while in the first resolution " the disasters to
which the country has been subjected in the con-
duct of the present war" are ascribed "to the
inefficient and practically irresponsible manage-
ment of the various departments of the State, ag-
gravated by an undue amount of secresy, and
urgently demand a thorough change in the Ad-
ministrative system," in the second the remedy is
indicated. It is "to be sought in the introduc-
tion of enlarged experience and practical ability
into the service of the State ;" and this not to the
exclusion or sole advantage of any particular class
—for, in the words of the resolution, "while they
disclaimed every desire of excluding the aristocra-
tical classes from participation in the councils
of the Crown, they felt it their duty to protest
against the pretensions of any section of the com-
munity to monopolise the functions of administra-
tion." This, it must be confessed, is clear enough,
and to the purpose.

The remedy being thus indicated, we come to
the best modo of application. How well this is
in the main understood and felt may be gathered
from the general agreement to sink the question
of the suffrage " for that night only," so that all
risk of disturbing the unanimity of the meeting
might be obviated ; and this agreement, it should
be understood, was come to by an audience the
great majority of which was in favour of an ex-
tension of the suffrage. In the same spirit the
remarks of Alderman CARR on this head
were received—" Let them throw down the
apple of discord let them throw aside
the Tories who had come to help them—
let them turn away from the Whigs who had
come to assist them, and the result would be
failure—let them complicate the question with
get nothing—let them
suffrage and they would

go on in a straight line for reform in the Admi-
nistration and they would get it." Equally to
the purpose and well-received was the reprobation,
by another speaker, of an old, degrading, and in-
jurious practice, to which we recently drew at-
tention, that of constituents seeking places through
their representatives from Ministers. It was
well said " If you wish your members to be inde-
pendent men you must not ask them to go and
cringe to Ministers for places," for, from cringing
for favours to subserviency, more or less modified,
the step, we make bold to affirm, is inevitable.
The men of Sheffield, it will be seen, have ac-
quitted themselves manfully, and it is to be hoped
that the universal feeling will everywhere find
interpreters as outspoken, and guides no less judi-
cious, than at that place. Administrative Reform,
now sailing right royally to port, will, in that case,
soon make it.

THE HANGO MASSACRE.

RUSSIAN VERSION.

The following appears in the Journal de St. Peters-
burg. of the 13th :

" The Commander of the Forces in Finland, Adjutant-
General von Berg, reports a very successful skirmish which
took place not far from Hang° Udd, between our volunteers
of the second battalion of the King of Prussia's Grenadier
Regiment and a part of the crow of the English frigate Cos-
sack. The affitir took place as follows :—On June 5, at noon,
the frigate Cossack appeared in the roads off Hango Udd, and
sent off a boat, which came ashore in the vicinity of the tele-
graph, and landed a small party under the command of some
officers there. Ensign Sswertschkoff, of the King of Prussia's
Grenadier Regiment, to whom this portion of the coast is en-
trusted, having been early informed of this enterprise of the
enemy, concentrated some men of his detachment behind a
building opposite the lauding-place, and another portion,
under the sub-officer, Peter Pawloff, he detached along the
beach to cut off the retreat of the English. The enemy, at-
tacked on a sudden, defended himself but feebly, and laid
down his arms. The success of this affair must be ascribed
to the coolness and the foresight of Ensign Sswertschkoff.
" The loss of the enemy amounts to five killed ; there were
taken prisoners, one officer, one surgeon, one marine (garde
viarin), and eight sailors, of which latter four were wounded.
" In addition to the above our troops made spoil of the flag
of the boat, seven muskets, and seven cutlasses. The boat
itself, with one cannon on board, was sunk.
" On the following morning the English frigate came in
close to llango Udd, and fired at the buildings for about one
hour and a half, but without doing them any great harm."

THE NEW RUSSIAN JOURNAL AT
BRUSSELS.

We have received the specimen number of Le .ford, a
journal intended to appear daily at Brussels, as the advocate
of Russian interests.

The number in question—issued on Wednesday evening—
commences with a long article setting forth the objects of the
journal, and its general character. While openly avowing the
end of its existence to be the defence of Russia, a denial is
given of the statement that it is the direct organ of the Mus-
covite Government. True its projectors are chiefly Russians,
but " we did not know that a journal to be impartial, and
other than an organ of the Russian Government, must neces-.
sarily originate with Englishmen or Frenchmen." The aim of
the journal is to dispel existing prejudices against Russia ; to
correct the misstatements of travellers ; to prove that Russia
is abreast in the walks of civilisation with the other countries
of Europe, and that it contains elements of social order, which
cannot but be of the greatest service in other nations.

In succeeding pages of the journal we find communications
from London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburg, &c.
There is also an article written to palliate the liango mas-
sacre, and offering by its bitterness an amusing comment
upon the sugary promises of the programme. The " London
Correspondent" sends a communication, purporting to be the
copy of a placard distributed over the United Kingdom,
headed " Why continue the war?" and urging an instant
acceptance of the Russian terms. The handbill in question,
if it exists in England at all, was probably issued by the Peace
Society; but we meet it for the first time in the columns of
Le 11-ord. The letter from St. Petersburg chiefly consists of
a recital of the movements of the Imperial Family. Taking
this as a " specimen number," Le Nord is a respectable pro-
duction, but not calculated, either iu its leading article,
columns or in its correspondence, to create in the minds of
English and French readers any profound admiration of Rus-
sian literature or Russian enterprise.

The regular issue of Le .Yord commences on July 1.

TEE FRENCH DESPATCHES.

The Moniteur of yesterday publishes the following
despatch from General Pelissier, giving an account of
the attack on the Mamelon :

" Head-quarters, June 9,

" Monsieur le Marechal,—l had hoped to have been able
to complete by a detailed report the news of the storming
and occupation by our troops of the Kamtsehatka Redoubt
(Mamelon Vert) and of the Volliynia and Selinghinsk
Redoubts (Careening Bay), forming the principal exterior
defences of Sebastopol—news which was forwarded to you by
my telegraphic despatches of the 7th and Bth of June ; but
General Bosquet has not yet been enabled to collect the mul-
titudinous incidents which are requisite to send a report of
this brilliant combat, which assumed the proportions of a
battle. I confine myself therefore to-day to sending you a
summary, postponing the definitive report till the next mail.
"On the 7th of June, at half-past 6, I gave from the Vic-
toria Redoubt, where I had established myself with my staff,
the order for a simultaneous attack against the redoubt of the
Mamelon Vert and of the Careenage, according to arrangements
respecting which I had previously given instructions to Ge-
neral Bosquet ; while our allies on their side advanced against
the so-called Quarries,' which was the point of attack agreed
upon for them.
"The troops engaged belonged to the division of Camou,
Mayran, Dulac, and Brunet. They were supported by two
battalions—one of Grenadiers, the other of Gendarmes of the
Imperial Guard—and by a regiment forming part of the divi-
sion of the Turkish army under the orders of Omer Pasha,
posted in reserve on the right.
" The intrepidity with which our soldiers traversed the
considerable distance which separated them from the re-
doubts, the invincible energy with which they fought, under a
hail of balls and bullets, to force an entrance and there main-
tain themselves against the renewed attacks of the enemy,
who in numbers returned to the charge, offered a most grand
and stirring military spectacle.
" One hour after the commencement of this struggle,
which will remain one of the most glorious episodes of war
fruitful in great military events, our eagles were definitively
planted upon the three conquered redoubts, 62 guns fell into
our hands, with 400 prisoners, of which number 14 were
officers.

" Our allies, following the combined plan of operations, had
carried the works of the Quarries with the same vigour and
the same success. They maintained themselves there during
the whole of the night, under a terrible fire, and despite fre-
quent sorties by a portion of the garrison, with that indomit-
able firmness which is one attic salient traits of their military
character.

"Daybreak fond us both, after a night of agitation and
intermittent fighting, established in our respective conquests,
busily employed making final arrangements and constructing
batteries against the place.

" I need not point out to you, M. le Mondial, the import-
ance of the results obtained ; they are considerable as well in
a material point of view as with regard to their moral effect
and the security of our future operations. The siege opera-
tions on the right, which were behiudhand, are now as far
advanced as those on the left. The enemy is shut up on all
sides in the town, and when the redoubts we have captured
are armed and placed ill a good state of defence, it will be im-
possible for them to attempt those great sorties which might,
in determined cases, compromise our siege works, and even
our ports of Kamiesh and Balaklava.
" Successes of this value, achieved by such efforts, are not
to be obtained without considerable sacrifices. To-day,
during a suspension of arms, we render the last duty to the
fallen, and I cannot yet make out a list of the killed or
wounded. I will send you shortly a full and detailed official
report on the subject.
" I can already point out some who met a glorious death,
and who excited our lively admiration and regret. Colonel
de Brancion was killed while planting the eagle of the 50th
Regiment on the Kamtschatka Redoubt. Colonel Hardy fell
while leading on the B'.ith. I regret to add that the day after
the victory, to which he greatly contributed, General do
Lavarande, still young and full of promise, was killed by a
cannon ball.

"We continue to reconnoitre the country on the Tehernaya,
pushing forward our cavalry, supported by infantry. On the
night between the sth and 6th a squadron or the 6th Dragoons
surprised some Russian videttes just at moon-rise and sabred
them,

" The news from the Sea of Azoff is excellent ; the allied
flotillas have destroyed immense stores of provisions at Gheisk,
Marioupol, and Taganrog. The material losses of the enemy
arc incalculable.

" Altogether the situation of affairs is excellent ; the ardour
of the allied armies is really extraordinary ; hope, founded
upon success, is general. I have the firm conviction that it
will not be deceived.

" PELISSIFIt."
The Moniteur also publishes the following order of the
day, addressed by General Pelissier to his troops :
" Soldiers,—The combat of the 7th of June is a brilliant
victory, from the eclat it throws upon our arms and from the
greatness of the results obtained. You have deserved well
of the Emperor.

" By courage and intrepidity you have captured from the
enemy the three redoubts, armed with a powerful artillery,
which formed the principal external defence of the town ; 62
guns have remained in our hands ; 400 prisoners, of whom 14
arc officers, are in our power.

A later order of the day will proclaim to the army and
to our country the names of the corps that took a glorious
part in this struggle and the names of those among you to
whom the reward of valour is due.
" I content myself to-day with telling you that your task
has been nobly done. In concert with our bravo allies, we
have made a decisive step in advance towards the objectwhich,
you may rest assured, our persevering efforts will not
.fail to
attain.
" Soldiers ! My confidence iu you is unlimited, and your
Commander-in-Chief is proud to think that you place yours
in him. " The Commander-in-Chief,
" PELISSIER.
" Head-quarters before Sebastopol, June 8."

APOTHECARIES'-HALL.—Names of gentlemen who
passed their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and rece:ved certificates to practise, on Thurs-
day, June 21 :—David Kay, Bradford, Yorkshire ;
Frederick Holmes, Catton, Yorkshire; Jephtha Thomas
Hussey, Hindley, Lancashire ; Wm. 117uods Harding,
Brompton, Kent.
The Duke and Duchess de Montpensier embarked at
Carthagena, for Italy, oz._ the 15th inst.
It is related that the Western Powers, in order to give
the Austrian Government a proof of their displeasure,
will desire the Porte to request the Austrian army of
occupation to leave the Danubian Principalities.
The Genoa Corriere Mercantile of the 19th inst. states,
on the authority of letters from Turin, that the Western
Powers will enter into no negotiation for peace, until the
military operations in the Crimea have been attended
with some result.