The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TILE PUBLIC JOU.RNALS.

..-(From at Times of this day.)
If peace had been concluded at. Vienna upon the
terms which were proffered
,to the acceptance of
Russia by the representatives of the allied Powers,
no doubt great differences of opinion would have
been expressed in this country as to the value of a
peace so obtained. The political adversaries of the
present Administration and the more excited par-
tisans and promoters of the s present war would
have denounced any such compromise as that which
was recently proposed as a base surrender of the
honour of this nation and a shortsighted bargain for
a hollow peace. Men of more moderate opinions
might have thought that the results of the war, if
it had been thus terminated, bore no adequate pro-
portion to the spirit in which it was begun, and to
the sacrifices it has already cost us ; while the
power and influence of Russia would have been
rather augmented than diminished by the energetic
resistance she has hitherto opposed to the formid-
able combination arrayed against her. Nor could
.much reliance have been placed upon the terms
themselves which the Vienna Conference was in-
duced to offer, for, as Lord Malmesbury observed
on Tuesday evening, we could have no Material
guarantee for the limitation,of the naval force of
Russia, and if, as would probably, have been the
case, she violated or evaded her engagement in that
respect, the rest of Europe could obtain no redress
without a fresh appeal to arms. On the other hand,
the partisans of peace would have gained strength
by the recovery of that inestimable blessing, and
a considerable portion of the community would not
have looked very closely at the nature of the con-
cessions which procured for them a cessation of the
burdens thrown by war upon the country.
But, although these differences of opinion would
have instantly manifested themselves upon the
conclusion of peace, we apprehend that the extent
to which theallied Powers were disposed to carry
their concessions can now be viewed in only one
light. They have shown their desire for the' ter-
mination of this contest to have been so sincere that
they would even have signed a treaty of peace
which threw upon Russia none of the burdens or
humiliations of defeat. They asked for no cession
of territory ; they left even the forts of Sebastopol
untouched by negotiation ; did not raise the ques-
tion of an indemnity either to Turkey or themselves
for the expenses of the war, and were content to
restore matters to very nearly the state they were
in before these hostilities began. Greater forbear-
ance and moderation were never shown to an enemy
and an assailant, especially when .it is remembered
that the whole strength of that enemy is defensive,
and that we have absolutely nothing to' apprehend
from the forces of Russia against ourselves. These
proposals have, however, been made in vain, and
the Russian Plenipotentiaries rejected them as per-
emptorily as if they had involved any serious sacri-
fice of the dignity or the interests of their sovereign.
Can anything demonstrate with more irresistible
evidence that the sole cause of the duration of the
war lies in the obstinate and inveterate resistance
of Russia to the fairest terms of peace, that the re-
sponsibility of prolonging the war rests altogether
with the enemy, and that we have no alternative
left but to employ force to compel the Russian Go-
vernment to make peace on such terms as justice
and the public security may demand ?
The task is a difficult one, and it may be long
before we bring it to a successful termination • but
this country is not wont to relax in its efforts to
obtain a great political object, and our stubborn
endurance and resolution have before this accom-
plished far greater labours than these. The hope
of terminating the war by a compromise is at an
end ; henceforth it becomes a trial of strength
between Russia and the Allied Powers, which can
only be terminated by the exhaustion of one or
other of the belligerents. It is needless to add
that, having carried our oilers of concession to the
utmost limits of forbearance, we cannot for an in-
stant recede from the position we have henceforth
to defend, and that to make peace on any other
terms would be to surrender to the universal
ascendancy of Russia all those interests which it is
our object to protect from her rapacity and ber
ambition. We may have underrated the strength
of our opponent in the earlier stages of this con-
flict, for the failure of the Russian armies in their
first operations on the Danube gave the world too
low an opinion of their skill and courage. But, if
the power of Russia be greater than was at first
supposed, the more urgent is the necessity to re-
duce it within limits wich shall cease to threaten
the independence of other countries.
As the rejection by Russia of the moderate
terms offered by the Allied Powers is a decisive
justification of the war in which ,France and ,
England are engaged, so also this event ought, on '
every principle of logic and good faith, to exercise
a decisive influence on the policy of the German
Courts. They have testified from the commence-
ment of these disputes the strongest desire to bring
them to an amicable termination—Prussia by keep-
ing altogether aloof from the quarrel, and Austria
by agreeing to take a more active part in this
(
struggle, if peace could not bo obtained by other
means which have now been tried and exhausted.
Next to Russia herself, who is the prime mover
and solo original cause of these calamities, it is
impossible to doubt that the principal author of
the present distressing state of Europe is the
King of Prussia. Had be firmly adhered to the
principles
which he formally adopted in the
,
Protocols of Vienna ; had lie laboured, in
conjunction with Austria', to maintain the,
union and the dignity of the Germania Confedera-
tion ; had he called out the military forces of his
kingdom ; and bad he made the Russian Govern-
ment feel the continuance of this war would
place it in direct opposition to the whole of Europe,
it is impossible to doubt that peace would before
this have been restored, if, indeed, the war had ever
begun. But the secession of Prussia and the divi-
sion of Germany have enabled Russia, as yet, to
paralyse Austria and to resist the Western Powers,
even when their demands were reduced to the most
limited conditions on which a negotiation could be
conducted. If there were either honesty or judg-
ment in the councils of Prussia, these facts could
not be without weight even upon her ; but, in the
condition to which that Court is now reduced, fear
alone will regulate its conduct. •
The position of Austria is altogether different.
She has participated in and has presided over the
Conference, which was (wiled at her solicitation.
She has agreed to the last in those terms which
Russia has rejected. She has proclaimed her in-
tention to the world by her Notes, and bound her-
self by treaty to prosecute the alliance with the
belligerent Powers to the complete attainment of
their common object. She has assembled for this
purpose one of the finest armies in Europe, amount-
ing certainly to 500,000 effective men ; and she
has now acquired the certainty that Russia will not
submit to any terms of peace affording valid secu-
rities to Europe, except upon compulsion. The case
to whiCh all her policy and all her preparations
have been tending for the last 18 months is now
complete. Qne bold stroke may place her at the
head of public opinion in Germany, may rivet the
alliance with France by indissoluble ties, and may
transfer to the young Emperor of Austria an influ-
ence in Europe hardly inferior to that enjoyedby the
late Emperor Nicholas in the best part of his
life. To hold such cards, and not to play them—
to have such a prize within reach, and not to
clutch it—to feel the power of rendering Such a
service to mankind, and not to do it—are errors
which overshadow the remainder of an existence,
and render the most conspicuous positions in the
world the least honourable and the least to be
desired. It is here, most especially, that the
remarkable moderation of the terms proposed by
the Plenipotentiaries of the Western Court tells
with irresistible effect. The more moderate they
were the stronger is. the obligation of Austria .to
support them, for the more cordial and sincere was
her own assent to them ; • and, as the French and
English Governments will now forthwith proceed
to call upon the Cabinet of Vienna to enter upon
the fulfilment of the stipulations "of the treaty of
the 2d of December, it is impossible for that Court
to recede with honour from the engagement to take
effectual measures for the attainment of the object
of the alliance, which all pacific means have failed
to accomplish.

success.
Evoerrybymtai
(Prom Me Times of this day.)
It is now seriously propounded in various quar-
ters that England is incapable of making war. We
have seen it argued with much philosophy and
practical illustration that in proportion as wehave
become more free, more constitutional, and more
commercial, we have lost that unity of purpose,
that warmth
o panr da
tstethaatte
powerfully
againstit
is, ss
but oa
one
s
action necessary to military
now does that which fitfulg in his own
eyes,
iannd
war.a very
We dmelaiyg
pros-
persit is not the political organisation that
individuals, or by force of public opinion,
power.
influence of'
parties and classes, of schools and
societies, but while these several forces are at work
pull
in their own directions, they
another, and the result is a great loss of
The man to carry on war with effect must be he
w'eotardt !bca'sesat
realm ."
mealnlinr the' eSmo--
War Minister is his hum-
pwihreotawnhsearye ,th"OL
absolute over all the
vereign is absolute ; the
ble servant, but, under him,
departments concerned in the war, Now, nobody
naosbotdhye
who will an
ianwtharis cmouinhitsrtyerwishes for. a myerecor,. but *without
War Minister of an Emperor we shall but waste
our Millions of money and our myriads of men.
firjateasrm'us_t be able to command at
TheQm :Valr
il gIY the Commander-in-Chief at the

_ .
It is not a very agreeable task to trace the
,defi-
cieucies of a Minister who did his best in a season
of difficulty.. The Duke of Newcastle found his
department, in a state of disorganisation ; he found
the Horse Guards insubordinate, .the Ord-
nance . under .a chief 3,000 Miles distant,
and the, Commissariat reduced -to 'the lowest
ebb, obliged to collect a staff from the colonies,
and eke them out with Treasury Clerk, Custom-
house officers, and policemen, while it' was dinged
with the custody of all kinds of stores and, the pur-
' chase 'of everything wanted for the army. He found
the Medical Departuient insufficient, disorganised,
and without the means of supplying its wants. He
found. no Ambulance Corps, no Transport Service,
except only such as the Commissariat might be
authorised to raise, in addition to its other duties,
at the order of the Commander of the Forces. He
found that, while at home it had been resolved that
the war should be prosecuted with the greatest vi-
gour, it was the general opinion of the army and
navy in the East:.ineluding their highest officers,
that nothing was to he, done. There was hardly a
difficulty, physical or moral, he had not to encoun-
ter. Does he, then, stand excused ? No, certainly
not. Shortcomings in,pelitics and in war adthit of
no excuse. It is inexcusable to be beaten. It is
inexcusable' to allow delays that cost the lives of
thousands, and ruin or damage a great cause. It is
inexcusable to stand at the helm and not to see the
rock of danger. It is inexcusable to be supreme
in authority and not in energy, intelligence, and
power.• Failures are faults in•wax. What can ex-
cuse a man for falling into an ambuscade and losing
his life ? What can-excuse him for losing ,the lives
of his countrymen by t€'ns of thousands ? A man
who undertakes nothing ,may be excused if lie does
nothing.. The Duke of Newcastle undertook the
conduct of the war, so far as England 'was .con-
cerned. Ile asked the confiaence of thirty million
people, and he failed. His tack was difficult. That
is no novelty in war. Of course, lie was aware of
this when, having the choice o.f the Colonies and
the War, he chose the latter. OA this-point even
he has not been taken by surprise, and has there-
fore no excuse if he has failed. ,•

TOTAL LOSS BY FIRE OP TYE TRANS-
PORT SCREW STEAM-SHIP CRCESUS.

A serious loss was made known yesterday at the Ad-
miralty, by the receipt of telegraphic coznen.unications
from Genoa, announcing the burning Of the.
,General
Screw-Steam Shipping Company's iron screw-steamer
Cicesus, which had been chartered by the English Go-
vernment for the transport service, numbered. 191, aid
was under the command of Capt. T. V. Hall. The tin.-
fortunate catastrophe took place about 11 miles S.E. of
Genoa, on Tuesday morning. The Crcesus was one of
the fine fleet of iron screw steamers which were built for
the company about two years since, by Messrs. Mare
and Co., at Blackwall. She was upwards of 2,000 tons,
was put on the Australian line, and returned from Mel-
bourne about three months ago. She was then taken up
by the English Government, and took out the Royal
Wilts Militia, from Portsmouth to Corfu. On 'disem-
barking the troops there, she was ordered to Malta,
where she arrived on the 3d of April, and on being
coaled, proceeded with other transports to Spezzia, for
the purpose of conveying the Sardinian troops for service
in the Crimea. She was then ordered to Genoa, and in
the course of Monday the first detachment of the army,
comprising the staff, 37 officers, and 209 rank and Lis,►
embarked on board. She also shipped 25 mules, azia a

large quantity of Stores::
hoaeuturnmmtgli:jt,iehtsaitoytn,lhaahviel,
Retribu-
-
. On the following (Tuesday) morning she to hich
parture for Constantinople. The other vessels w_i
the Government had placed at the disposal of the Sar-
dinian authorities for the conveyance of the contingent,
and it is reported took their
work of
for tblabkee:eernrEadaeorue-suett.
that the fire broke ftyhdteab
seiplele-r:ea st
Nie ill:. s : :
and
about the same peri,ioda,ppears
the progress of the II
HNtioaonr.k,-734Jvissyco.nie,siootp;o:rsa:84sivosirtos.tieyri3as:ierrno
According to the brief accounts
rapid was the ship had
destruction that
alceleti
atetdee
amongstnr
attempts
,ttt.
sbb i 331::
:to:
'the vessel proved fruitless. Her conditionfames or save
provi-
dentially observed, the other transports being provi-
to her aid,, and, with those belonging sent their boata
whole of the soldiers and crew to the Crcesus, the
preserved, with the ex • of the shi
one sailor. exception of six burning
P were
of the troops and
This is the third steamer • . . _
the last two months, the company have
the Mauritius, • by fire, viz th - C W
dry-d st which was
ock at Southampton,., e rcesns and
destroyed white lying in the
tered by the French and one, the Natal, char-
C •
adiz. Government, by going ashore near
The company
plorable
considerable disasters,
sum as the ships, in addition to earning a
value. Th per month, were not insured to their
e Crcesus cost 93 0 , 00/., and was only in-
aured for 57,000/. in h . ei„.,1"....,__
ice t o_, room at Lloyd's and the prin-
pat;ys":o7oalr. a offices.taoat The Government paid the com-
b for her services. .

THE MAILS.--SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday,,, April 25.
—The United States' mail steam-ship Hermann, Capt.
B. Higgins, sailed to-day, with the British, French, and
German, mails for the United States, 278 passengers,
and a fair average-cargo. The steam-ship Union, from
New York, is hourly expected on her way to Havre.
The Royal mail steam-ship La P:ata is.appointedtotake
:ont the next West India, Pacific, and Nl4ieark wigs of
the 2drPrnidnio. ..T.ltif:trato, With the hernewardinails
from the same quarter, may be looked for about the 30th
inst. The departure of the Peninsular mails on the 27th
inst. will be deferred in consequence of the -non-arrival
of
.the Iberia, and it is probable that no mail-ship Pi ill
leave for- tam NFts until the 7th Proximo