The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-14 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1855.

It would have been impossible to have selected
a more felicitous opportunity for a well-merited
compliment to a Crimean hero, on his return home
from the scene of his arduous labours, than that
which occurred in the entertainment given by the
inhabitants of Elgia to Lieutenant-General Sir
GEORGE BROWN on Monday last. Just as the
people congregated together, to afford a cordial
welcome to the gallant veteran, the joyous tidings
of the fall of Sebastopol was announced. It was
ascertained, beyond the possibility of doubt, that
the work in which the expected guest bad enacted
so prominent a part had been fully accomplished,
that the recompence of the perils and labours which
he had endured in his country's cause had at
length been realised. The blood which he had
himself so freely yielded, and which he had seen
so prodigally poured forth by his gallant comrades,
had not been shed in vain, and England was
about to reap the rich fruits of her children's
exploits.

It was, indeed, a glorious ovation—a moment
that might have recompensed years cf painful
toil and unhesitating self-devotion. Sir GEORGE
BROWN, after a varied and brilliant career, found
himself once more at the place of his birth saw
himself surrounded by those who felt that they
shared in the laurels which he bad so nobly
earned. Many of his elder hosts " minded the
Provost's son," with whom they had associated in
the days of boyhood, who was the daring leader
of their juvenile sports, and early displayed the
qualities by means whereof he had subsequently
acquired fame and fortune. He, too, must have
felt no ordinary pride and gratification at the,
well•merited tribute bestowed by those from whom
it was most acceptable.

In returning thanks for the kindly reception,
the veteran entered into the history of the cam-
paign in which he bad played a leading part, and
whereof he might truly have said—

" Quoram pars magna
He pointed out the reasons of the various steps
that had been taken, and gained additional credit
for himself by the ability and zeal which he dis-
played in the defence of his departed Commander.
He explained the reasons for the inactivity at
Varna, which had been so severely criticised, and
declared that the presence of the troops at Varna
was the safeguard of Silistria, the real cause
which rendered the obstinate defence by the
garrison, effectual. He then alluded to the objec-
tions raised on account of the late period at
which the expedition to the Crimea was organised.
This was in a great degree occasioned by the
difficulty in procuring the means of landing on
the enemy's soil. They had to "improvise" the
necessary appliances, and it was to the indomitable
energy of those on the spot that we are indebted
for the very successful landing at Old Fort, and
the subsequent triumphs of the War.

The Battle of the Alma required no apology.
Every one felt that Lord RAGLAN was more than
justified in so promptly " taking the bull by the
horns "—that it constituted his best title to the
substantial rewards which he himself did not live
to receive, but which the gratitude of his country
bestowed on his widow and the heir to his title.
The subseptent delay in following up the bril-
liant victory was harder to excuse. But the
guest, with a chivalrous desire to vindicate the
houoar of big leader, raad.e a strong defence

for doubtful strategy. He declared that we
should "have had one army to carry on the siege,
and another to keep off the enemy !" Although
we cannot yield an unhesitating assent to this
portion of his argument, we are not by any means
disposed to criticise it severely. The great object
has been triumphantly accomplished, and its re-
sults will be the more decisive on account of the
protracted defence and the skill and energy dis-
played by the Russians, who melted all their re-
sources in the Sebastopol crucible.

Sir GEORGE, with commendable modesty, re-
frained from touching on Inkerman—or the sol-
diers' battle—in which he achieved the greatest
glory. There he displayed the highest qualities
of an English General ; and although his broken
health prevented him from witnessing the com-
pletion of his labours, his name will ever be asso-
ciated with the glorious campaign in the Crimea,
the fall of Sebastopol, and the destruction of the
Russian feet in the Euxine.

Our Imperial Ally has already recognised the
brilliant exploit of his General in the Crimea.
He has paid the best compliment to the glorious
achievement of his valiant troops by the promotion
of their Commander. The Field-Marshal's baton
has been most wisely and gracefully conferred
on the brave PELISSIER, and every soldier who
participated in the capture of the Malakhoff,
and the subsequent fall of Sebastopol, in like
manner, shares in the honour bestowed on the
representative of the French Army.
Why has not a similar distinction been be-
stowed on General SimrsoN ? Surely he has
as well merited the favour as Lord RAGLAN, to
whom it was bestowed for not taking the Russian
;Stronghold, or rather for that which was em-
phatically the soldiers' battle—the victory at
lnkerman—which was certainly due to the stub-
born endurance of our men, the inflexible
resolution of those composing the " thin red
line," which no effort of the enemy could
break, or even cause fora moment to' bend, rather
than to the skill or judgment of the Commanders.
For that Lord RAGLAN was made a Field-Mar-
shal—for that a pension was conferred on the
successor to his title, and on his widow, when he
was himself, by the dispensation of PROVIDENCE,
placed beyond the reach of earthly honours and
rewards ! We do not complain of the recompense,
but we repeat, why should not General SIMPSON
receive a similar testimony of the approbation of
his QUEEN and country for completing the course
on which he had only entered ? Sebastopol has
fallen ! One of the main objects of the
War has been accomplished. Russia has no
longer a fleet in the Euxine, or a stronghold to
shelter vessels that may hereafter be built. Her
power has thus been materially diminished, but
not irretrievably so, and it is essential that her
pride shall have a further fall, that her humilia-
tion and discomfiture should be rendered wore
signal.

The Crimean Army must share the fate of the
Black Sea Fleet, or at least, must capitulate, and
obtain terms from the mercy of their victors. The
game is now in our own bands, and it must be duly
followed up. We have already explaiked the
vast importance of a movement either from Eupa-
toria or the Tcheterlik, by which the Russians
would be placed between two fires, and regularly
caught in an inextricable trap. In addidon to the
foregoing, the transmission of a corps to Aloushta,
would entirely surround them, and render escape
impossible. A glance at the map will show the
vast importance of such operations, how thoroughly
they would command every possible route on which
the retreating army can possibly enter. The skill
of the generals may now be best displayed in ob-
taining the most valuable fruits from the good seed
sown at Sebastopol. The first act of the sanguinary
drama is concluded, and the national plaudits and
more substantial rewards should be bestowed on
the daring actors. But more remains to he done,
and we may yet have a no less exciting scene in
the conclusion of our toils and perils. The cost
which we have paid for our acquisition and its
actual value may be judged from the facts just
announced in the French capital, viz., that—
the number of Generals now said to be killed
during the assault on Sebastopol are five, besides
ten superior officers. It is also affirmed that
Generals MACMAHON and Tnocnu have died of
their wounds, and that General BOW:MT was
killed. The names of Generals Du Lac and ST.
PAUL are also mentioned among the casualties,
and that not less than 1,200 guns of large calibre
have been found by the Allies at Sebastopol.

The speech of the Duke of ARGYLL at the
Glasgow Meet ing of the British Association last
evening is at once an honourable and a beneficial
achievement. No intelligent individual but must
rise from the perusal of it with mingled feelings
of admiration and pleasure—admiration at, the
progress and useful results of Science during the
last fifteen years, and pleasure that the claims
and objects' of Science should be so eloquently and
judiciously vindicated and defined, and the pre-
judices obstructing its progress so successfully
assailed by one comparatively so young, and yet
occupying so high and influential a position in
society as the Duke. And if to this source of
pleasure we add the satisfaction of an enlarged
conception of the wonderful works by which we
are surrounded, and of the extent of the revela-
tions made, and likely to be made, by the con-
tinuous efforts of human intelligence, we by no
means pass the boundaries of truth. It is many
a long day since a speech so suggestive, charac-
terised by so profound and reverent a philosophy,
and so well calculated to advance the interests of
Science and truth generally, was delivered.
It is by no means our intention to analyse it,
or to notice in detail its various points. The
reader will peruse for himself his Grace's exposi-
tion and illustrations of the dependence of the
arts upon the advance of Science, and of the pro-
gress made in its various departments since since
the last meeting of the s
sympathise . without an interveningexpressciohnasnnOlf
with the noble speaker in his
regret for the losses Science has
expc.
rienced in the death of some of her most gifted
sons during that period, and ponder, with par-
donable pride, over the distinguished suc-
cesses and indomitable enterprise of those
whom they• have left behind, and by
which every class of the community has been
so signally benefitted.
!(or will any remarks
of u
to
appre-
ciate otrhs bece q ulariemoi
fr required t
Science
ieon
ceen enable
on le
bhimdtlly
Governmental
assist-
ance of a pecuniary nature, as defined and urged
by the Noble Duke. To the remainder of the
speech, however, we feel justified in drawing his
particular attention.

The Noble President, it will be seen, is of
opinion that the advancement of Science mainly
depends on securing for it a better and more ac-
knowledged place in the education of the young ;
and, in accordance with this view, suggests the aid
of the Privy Council in connection with the
schools under its oversight. That such a pro-
cedure would tend to the advancement of Science
there can be no doubt, but hardly less important
results than this may be anticipated. It would,
as his GraCe
remarks, be a means of mental, train-

ing, and an instrument for the highest purposes
of education, if taught in an enlightened and re-
verent spirit. The vast extent arci grandeur of
the field in which Science exerts her energies can
hardly be opened out, however imperfectly as to
extent, to the youthful mind without enlarging its
capacity, disposing it to active inquiry, and pre-
paring it for the actual business of life. Indeed
one branch of knowledge is so dependent on an-
other that to be ignorant of one is to be im-
peded in pursuit of another. By all means, then,
we say, let the suggestion be carried out, and, if
further reasons be required, the concluding por-
tion of this admirable address will supply them.