The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

LIEUT.-GEN. SIR COLIN CAMPBELL,

The following letter has been addressed to a contem-
porary :
SlR,—The Times of this day contains in one of its
leading articles a violent and unjust attack on Sir Colin
Campbell, and attributes his return home solely to the
umbrage which he is presumed to take at the elevation
to the supreme command of Sir W. Codrington, his
junior in rank as well as years. The writer alleges that
Sir Colin Campbell " has not been unrewarded," and
that he has been in a brief space of time raised from a
brigadier to a lieutenant-general.
This is not a true statement of facts ; that gallant
and distinguished officer was included in the general
brevet of 20th June, 1854, as a major-general, and still
holds that permanent rank only, which he held prior
to the war. He is, however, invested with the local
rank of lieutenant-general, being in command of a
division, to which he succeeded—all his seniors
having either fallen in action, or quitted the
scene of strife from wounds or ill health. He has
superseded no one. I have, moreover, to add, on the
authority of one of his military friends, that his return
home on leave during a portion of the winter was pro-
jected by him before the new Commander in-Chief's ap-
pointment was made known. But supposing he has '
' resolved to return (conceiving his abilities and services
have not met with their merited requital in the affront
he may consider is offered to him), is there any good
reason, I ask, why he should follow the example of
General Caurobert, as held up to him by the Times?
That officer himself was elevated over the heads of
many of his seniors to command the French army ; and,
I believe, no one ever more falsified the hopes of those
who selecte I him ; and after his suporcession his remain.
ing in a subordinate position under General Pelissier was
found inconvenient. Moreover, the latter General was
really the senior in rank, although for a certain time after
his arrival in the Crimea from Africa he was only com-
mandant of a division under General Canrobert. To him,
therefore, I conceive, merit may be due, when consent-
ing to such a position for a limited period, conscious as
he must have been of his great and universally acknow-
ledged capabilities. Should the appointment of Sir W.
Codrington be productive of great and glorious results,
no man, I am convinced, will rejoice more than Sir C.
Campbell ; but he does not deserve to be held up to the
odium of his countrymen because he is said to doubt the
propriety of the selection which ignores himself, and to
evince such doubt by his tendering his own resignation.
By acting otherwise, it might be said he acknowledged
his own inferiority in soldier-hike talent, and his unfit-
ness for high command, and admitted' the superior ca-
pacity of Sir W. Codrington—a fact yet to be proved,
and which many will not be disposed to admit until
proved.

The system of arbitrarily elevating one officer over
another's head, without any regard to fixed rules, is, I
believe, very common in the army of Prance ; but I
know that it produces the very greatest discontent and
heart-burning ; and so deep-felt was this known to be,
as actually to induce some credence to be given to
rumours that were cast on the fidelity of one officer so
aggrieved, which report the Times did not fail to give
the benefit of its enormous circulation. General Canro-
bert was a junior officer raised to supreme command,
and I hope the present imitation of the same course will
be more fortunate. None will rejoice more in the confir-
mation of the wisdom and justice of a selection that Lord
Panmure has sanctioned, and of whiCh Lord Palmerston
has accepted the responsibility, than your humble ser-
vant,

Ax Ex-CAVALRY OFFICER.

November 9.

CITY OF LONDON THEATRE.

The enterprising managers, Messrs. Johnson and Nel-
son Lee, have just concluded a most expensive engage-
ment with the following distinguished artistes for the
production of grand operas :—Mr. Augustus Braham,
Mr. Leffler, Mr. George Tedder, Mr. Stennard, &c. ;
Miss Rebecca Isaacs, Miss Dyer, Miss Stewart, &c. •
with a fall and efficient chorus, under the direction of
Mr. Frederick Kinsbury. This is in addition to their
superior dramatic company, and without any advance in
the prices of admission, thus giving the million at the
East-end an opportunity of witnessing a superior enter-
tainment. From the style in which pieces are usually
produced at this establishment, we have no doubt the
speculation will be attended with success. The operas
commence on Saturday, the 17th inst.