The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1855,

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The Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for
Manchester really means to bring on for discus-
sion this evening the motion of which he has
given notice respecting the negotiations lately car-
ried on at Vienna. The resolutions to which he
asks the assent of the popular branch of the Legis-
lature declares, inter alia, that the " propositions
made by the Government of Russia for giving
effect to the principle of the Third Article con-
tained elements for renewed negotiation, and may
offer the means of obtaining an honourable and a
satisfactory peace !" The similar motion in the
Lords has been adjourned by the noble advocate
of Germanism until the opinion of the House of
Commons has first been delivered on the all-im-
portant topic. We must, therefore, on behalf os
the community in general, demand that the ver-
dict of the grand inquest of the nation may b€
clearly and unequivocally expressed, so that there
may be no possibility of mistake or misconception.
However greatly we may differ from Mr. M. GIBSON
in his views respecting the War, it is but a simply
act of justice to acknowledge that ho has raiset a
distinct and intelligible issue. He has boldly
hoisted the Russian colours, and stands forward
as the mouthpiece of those ready to lick the dust
from before the footstool of the AUTOCRAT, and,
" with bated breath and deep humility," to sup-
plicate peace at any price, or on any conditions
which he may think proper to accord. There is,
we. regret to say a clique, who call themselves
Englishmen, so far devoted to the worship of
Mammon as to endure any indignity, to behold
with apathy and indifference any act of tyranny
and oppression, or even wholesale plunder, pro-
vided " trade" be not interfered with ! and
that their own profits go on accumulating.
Like their prototype, they care not, while
counting their gains, for the execration.;=
of the people, or the censures of every
right-minded person. They would be quite wil-
ling to sell their birthrights to any bidder,
and would hug the chains provided they were
sufficiently gilded. •

We regret that Mr. GIDSO).:, for whom we once
entertained a high respect, should not merely have
identified himself with this party, but even con
rented to become their leader, to express thei
un-English views in what ought to be a society o
Englishmen. But since he has thought prove,
to do so, he must have ample scope. There mus
be no preliminary objections, no special demurrers
to
prevent 'the unqualified condemnation whic,
his proposition SO eminently merits, and which,
alone can atone for the mischief
it was calculated
to produce. The man -who would strive to inter-
pose any obstacle to a fair decision on any ground
whatsoever will deserve an amplePorsutipopnorotferstie
l'
ol
censure that awaits the abetters and
the Right Honourable Gentleman.
It is more than hinted that he will not stand
so entirely alone in his views as might haveeei,
supposed,—that it is not by Messrs. BRIGHT and
Co3DEN, and the enrolleclmembers of the so-called
"Peace" Society only, that he will be supported.
Rumour says that the Peelites—who, notwith
standing their recent secession, were the honoured
guests of the First Lord of the Treasury, on the
celebration of her MAJESTY'S natal day—will cast
aside the flimsy hitherto
disguises which they have
assumed, and endeavour to chalk out a way to
office on the disgrace and ruin of their country.
It is difficult to credit such things, even of Sir
JAMES GRAHAM, or of Messrs. GLADSTONE and
HERBERT. Their antecedents, however, warranL

suspicion, and it is possible that they may have ;
high support behind the scenes. Tile teen
who struggled so energetically to prevent
the startling disclosures made before the
Sebastopol Committee, who mismanaged the
naval resources of the country, who starved the
War, and who, as it is said, caused Odessa to be
spared, to become the arsenal for supplying all the
necessities of the Russian troops in the Crimes,
may go any lengths without occasioning great
surprise. It is right, however, that they should
have the opportunity of exculpating themselves
from the serious charge. They cannot plead igno-
rance, and silence on their part will be equiva-
lent to an admission of their guilt.
But another name has been mentioned, that we
confess strikes us with unmitigated astonishment
—we had almost said consternation, It is posi-
tively asserted that Lord JOHN RUSSELL, whose
unflinching boldness of speech alone saved the
" Coalition" during the past year, and whose
withdrawal from their companionship at the com-
mencement of the session led to their overthrow,
has become a convert to the "peace,-at-any-
price" principle, and that he will seize the oppor-
tunity to declare his adhesion thereto ! Although
by no means satisfied with the proceedings of the
Noble Lord during his Austrian tour, although,
as British Plenipotentiary, he grievously disap-
pointed the expectations that had been formed
respecting his conduct, we cannot yet believe
these grave accusations. He must plead guilty
before we can call for the sentence which in such
case the voice of public opinion will infallibly pro-
nounce. But, as we have said, respecting the
Peelites, be must speak out explicitly and unmis-
takeably, and not exhibit any reserve, if he
wishes to retain any remnant of his former cha-
racter, or to prevent the creation of an impedi-
ment which will act as a perpetual bar to his
holding any office under the Crown.
We now earnestly and emphatically exhort
every representative of the people to appear in
his place, and to swell the majority against the
degrading proposition. The several constituen-
cies will have an opportunity of knowing whether
they have got " the right men in the right places."
Should their just expectations be disappointed,
they will have a speedy opportunity of avenging
the culpable violation of duty—of casting from
them those who, unworthy of the British name,
cm no longer be regarded as suitable representa-
tives fur true-hearted Britons.

It is impossible not to regret the position of
Mr. -MILNER GIBsoN. We are sure of his ability,
and entertain a strong conviction of his honesty ;
yet what national purpose his motion can serve
we are at a loss to divine. We have no doubt be
will do justice to his case, and so far he may serve
the purpose of proving that no talents can recom-
mend it to the nation ; but we would rather not
have to regard him, in the light of a special pleader.

The great misfortune of the business is that lie
and Earl GREY become practically auxiliaries to
Russia, and thereby enemies to their country.
We have not the slightest doubt that " the Man-
chester School," unintentionally and indirectly of
course, have been the cause of much bloodshed,
and will be the cause of more. They emboldened
NICHOLAS to believe that England would never go
to war ; and this, in connection with his convic-
tion of the ineradicable antipathy between Eng-
lishmen and Frenchmen, hurried him on to steps
he would not otherwise have taken. Had Messrs.
COBDEN, BRIGHT, and GIBBON demanded that if
Russia moved a soldier across the Pruth England
should declare war, NICHOLAS would not have
supposed us to be abjectly enslaved to our com-
merce. rii. ..,Lit..,. (J.e 42,7 -. . -••---- ......5..........„..
„ itm action on our Russiamsmg Government.
Lord ABERDEEN as well as NICHOLAS might have
pursued a wiser course had he not been sure 01
the praises of two or three justly popular mem-
bers and speakers. Seeing that the nation's con-
4cience did not allow it to pass by on the other
side while another nation lay wounded by the
great robber, they might have abstained from
practically abetting the murderer, by proclaiming
that they wished the injured nation to bear all
without help from England.
The struggle now, however, promises to be one
for worthier and graver objects than hitherto.
Our troops are rising to a number in the Crimea
which gives hope that the Russians there in the
&ad will soon be attacked, and Sebastopol de-
prived of supplies, and therefore soon placed in
iur power. The expulsion of Russian troops from
hat peninsula must speedily follow, and surely
ao statesman would permit her aver to tread that
dear-won ground again. Meantime both Austria
,nd Prussia have by treachery and cownrdice placed
themselves completely hori de combat. The whole
War must be conducted, to say the least, in utter
lisregard of the wishes of such practically insig-
nificant Powers. Wedged in between the fear of
the domestic retribution termed revolution, and
the cowardly fear of Russia termed prudential
considerations, they are useless for all European
purposes. Their governments and dynasties are
indeed Russian at heart. They will aid her and
damage us as much as they dare. This situation,
as our neighbours term it, compels every thinking
man to see more and more decidedly, that the
Polish alliance is the grand hope of the Western
Powers, of Turkey, and of all the peoples of
Europe, as well as that the necessities of the 'War
tre the hope of the Poles themselves. But for
the utter incapacity of our aristocratic statesmen
to devise or accept a plan worthy of the crisis, we
.oust think that our whole Cabinet and Legislature
would be of one mind. The independence of
Poland is clearly to every unbiassed judgment the
solution of the great problem of the day.
We ought, therefore, to take a calm view of
the strength of both sides. We may even tabu-
larise it. It will stand about thus :--

For Slavery and Bar-
barism.

Russia.
Prussia.

\ustria.

Coburgs and

For Independence and
Civilisation.
Fngland.
France.
Turkey.

SArdinia.

?etty German Despots, Northern Italy.

vith Leopold of BELGIUM. Hungary.

the English Aristocracy. POLAND.

Cabinet ready to clutch at any compromise
which would save their order further exposure,
and the men who won us Free Trade take no
interest, and worse than no interest, in the Free-
dom of Nations. We can almost imagine that
had they employed the same talents against the
universal aggressor which they have used to
encourage him, Europe might at this time have
been free from war.

In the ,nilitary contest there is, however, the
one great advantage to the Allies, if they would
but frankly use it, to which Russia has no coun-
terpoise—the certain hostility of Russian Poland.
Even now it requires the best half of her troops
to keep it down. Poland, though neglected,
already saves us the presence of perhaps 150,000
troops on the Danube, or in the Crimea. What
would she not do were we to proclaim her inde-
pendence as the sine qua non of peace ? Russia
would be half vanquished by the declaration
itself, while the presence of an Allied army in the
Baltic or in Bessarabia would soon enlist thousands
and tens of thousands of the finest volunteers
from the very suburbs of the Russian forts in
Poland.

It is somewhat encouraging to notice some
increasing signs of hope for Poland. The re-
cent publication in the Moniteur (the Govern-
ment organ) of the Polish addresses to LOUIS NA-
POLEON, invoking his aid as their only hopes is in
harmony with the policy which sends M. DE PER-
SIGNY to our country as Ambassador, and appoints
Count WALEWSKI to be Minister of Foreign
Affairs. It is gratifying to learn that England is
actively co-operating in the formation of the
Polish Legion in Turkey. We note, however,
with, regret the Austrian and timid policy which
denies them their national colours, and forces
them to serve under the absurd banner of a Cross
and a Crescent. To the Poles the sighs; of their
white eagle might make all the difference between
defeat and victory. If Sebastopol were to be
stormed, for instance, we may well believe that
every Pole would be lather shot down on the spot
than tarnish the honour of their national flag the
first time it floated over their heads since their
last attempt to wrench liberty from the fangs
of NICHOLAS.

There is a most admirable discussion of " the
Polish question, from the German Point of View, by
a German Statesman" (RIDGWAY), which we in-
tend shortly to notice, and which we especially
commend meantime to the study of our Court
and Cabinet, as well as of all our readers.

Of all the incidents, of the " baiting" of the
member for Aylesbury, the conduct of Sir JAMES
GRAHAM oa Friday evening last was the most
revolting. No generous mind but must have
recoiled from it in indignation and disgust. Tile
majority, probably, of the House had endeavoured,
by sheer numerical vocalisalion and the weight ..f
such authority as a long attendance in the House
can confer, to crush and utterly extinguish a
high-spirited but unaided man while in the dis-
charge of a public duty. " This was sufficiently
discreditable ; but it was left to Sir JAMES
GRAHAM to furnish the climax of a persecution
the most unchivalrous and un-English we remem-
ber to have been experienced by any man in the
House since the early days of HUME.
A. recollection of the fate of the brothers
BANDIERA should have deterred him. The pos-
sibility that he might fall into the very error the
House affected to condemn, his own share in the
transaction, and, shall we add, the defectiveness
of his memory and the burden of the proverb,
should have bid him pause. But no ; the oppor-
u i t
owAsetneinPloyed
tu
to rescue himself from odium, and cast that
odium with destructive effict on another 2 So up
be got with ponderous gravity and spoke on
the question, " Who killed CHRISTIE ?" Bringing
into play those theatrical powers which had failed
to appal the Member for Aylesbury in the Com-
mittee, he proceeded with an affecting representa-
tion of dignified remorse with his task. Com-
mencing with an eulogium on the services of the
deceased Captain, he went on to say—" He be-
lieved the first time any question was raised about
his fitness was when the Hon. Member for Ayles-
bury referred to him in the House. My only
fear," continued the Han. Baronet, "is that I
have yielded somewhat too much to clamour with
respect to this officer (?) I ordered au inquiry to
be instituted, after the debate to which 1 have
alluded, by the Commander-in-Chief on the naval
station as to whether, in his opinion, Capt. CHRISTIE
had effectively and well discharged the duties of
the post that had been assigned to him. Two faults
were alleged against him. The first related to the
discretion exercised by him with regard to the
transports outside the harbour of Balaklava, on
the day of the storm, the 14th November. Th e
second question which arose, and one to which
the hon. member had alluded, was whether Cap-
tain CHRISTIE had not made a serious mistake,
with respect to the ordering a portion of the Turk-
ish troops which were conveyed from Varna to the
Crimea to come to Balaklava instead of Eupa-
toria." For the solution of these questions, the
Hon. Baronet went on to say he thought it better
to refer to the constituted tribunal of his brother
officers than to the Sebastopol Committee.

Unfortunately for Sir JAMES, it so happens
as Mr. LAYARD, in his letter of this day to
the Times, shows, on the authority of Mr. GLAD-
STONE, that at the time Mr. LAYARD drew the
attention of the Muse to the question of Captain
CHRISTIE'S fitness, that officer had actually been
discharged, and by whom ? By Sir JAs. GRAHAM
himself ! So much for the question of the Cap-
tain's fitness having been raised by Mr. LAYARD,
and the assertion that the inquiry had been insti-
tuted after the debate ! What, however, is still
more remarkable, Mr. GLADSTONE actually took
credit to the Government for that dismissal !
Nay, further, the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer,
speaking for Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT and Sir. JAS.
GRAHAM, demanded, " Was that all ? Captain
CHRISTIE was on his way home ; he had reached
Malta, when my Right. Hon. Friend made him
return to the East, in order to take his trial by
Court-martial." This was said on the same even-
ing the Sebastopol Committee was nominated. So
much for Sir JAMES'S pretended consideration for
Captain CHRISTIE, in keeping him from the Sebas-
topol Committee. That Committee was not then
in existence ! Never surely did attempt break
down mere completely to the discomfiture of him
who made it. Every allegation proved to be
false, Sir JAMES GRAHAM stands convicted of
endeavonring to enlist public sympathy to aid him
in an attempt to crush, by a most false and unge-
nerous charge, a young, able, and high-spirited
statesman, whose worst fault was his love of
country. Let the House, with its new-born love
of correct charges, look to it

A Cabinet Council was held, and sat two hours, at
the Foreign-office, Downing•street, on Saturday after-
noon, which was attended I,y Vi, count Palmerston, the
Lord Chancellor, EArl Granvill3, the Marquis of Lans-
downe, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grob the Earl
of Clarendon, Lord John Ru,sell, Lord Panmure, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir C. Wood, the flight
Hon. Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Sir W. IVlolesworth, Vis-
count Canning, and the Earl of Harrowby.

Lik,:-; •;i_.-1
.0 A 2.4

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

VARNA, MAY 20.
All the French autl nearly all the Sardinian
troops have left Constantinople for the Crimea.
The cholera has disappeared at Constantinople.
Six thousand men are promised at once for the
Turkish Contingent.

PARIS, MANDAY, MAY 21, 8 A.M.

The Moniteur publishes a letter from General
Canrobert to the Minister of War, which says :
H.EAD QUARTERS, MAY 8.

Monsieur le Marechil,—My letter of the 4th
mentioned our brilliant combats of the Ist and
2d of May. All the attempts of the enemy to
retake the work taken by our soldiers, either by
assault or by a very heavy cannonade, which ren-
dered it very difficult to hold, have been fruitless.
We have remained masters of this position, which
now forms a vast place d'armes, the parapets of
which are henceforth cannon proof. The losses
which we suffer at present are far less sensible ;
they are occasioned only by the ihollow projectl€s
which the besieged throw in in considerable num-
bers.

BERLIN, SUNDAY, MAY 20.
Revel has been carefully reconnoitred, and
will shortly be bombarded.
The Magicienne has already thrown some shells
into the outworks.
Admiral Dundas has reconnoitred Sweaborg.

BERLIN, SATURDAY, MAY 19.
The following despatch, dated St. Petersburg,
Friday, May 18, has been received here :

Prince Gortschakoff, under date of Sebastopol,
May 12, writes :
Nothing of importance has occurred on the
different points of the Crimea.
The fire of the enemy is moderate.
The enemy has erected new batteries. We
have done likewise.

On the night between the 11th and 12th we
made a small and rather successful sortie from
Bastion 3, and spiked some English guns.

On the 12th the envnay attempted to fire a
mine under the main front of Bastion No. 4:

The explosion did us no damage.

MARSEILLES, MAY 20.

The Carmel has arrived, with Constantinople
news to May 10th. The Sultan's brother-in-law,
Mehemet Ali Paella, who had been exiled, has
returned to Constantinople.
The expedition projected against Kertch, and
which had been commenced, is abandoned, pur-
suant to orders from the Governments. The
troops which had embarked on board the vessels
were landed at Kamiesh on May 7th.

Letters from the Crimea speak of a very sharp
engagement on May Bth.
A supplement to the Presse d'Orient publishes
the on dits relative to a bloodx hato-
ofr, oetween a itussian division
and a corps of Turks and Egyptians. The Otto-
mans are said to have held the Rassians in check

during 11 hours. The arrival of some of the
allied regiments forced the Russians to retreat.
The shocks of the earthquake at Broussa have
ceased.

The French have placed two batteries on the
ground conquered on the night of the Ist before
the central bastion.

The Trieste papers of Friday laset publish the
following despatch, which we give for whatever it
may be worth :
EUPATORIA, May 4.-8,000 Russians are me-
nacing Omer Paella. Their cavalry is endeavour-
ing to cut off the Allies' communicanions by land.
The bulk of the Russian army, 150,000 strong,
having taking up a position near Si.mpheropol, is
in non-interrupted communication with Sebasto-
pol.

VIENN.A, MAY 19.

Prince Gortscbakoff yesterday communicated
to Count Buol a circular which le has received
fr)m hip Government. The Vien,),a Gazette will
publish this document.

WARSAW, MAY 11.

The Grenadier corps leaves Poland immediately
and in haste. Their known deslcination is Kieff,
but it is not doubted that, arrived there, they
will march further south. The two finest regi-
ments of the Guards are ordered to Poland.

CONST ANTINOPI MAY 10.

The commissioners who an to raise the
Turkish contingent are about, to set out. An
Imperial decree explains that the 'Moslem recruits
will be in a numerical majority- in the Turkish
army. The journals say that the troops from
Maslak are about to leave. FouriLeen war vessels
and numerous transports are I aden with pro-
visions for an expedition, to be directed, it is
said, against Odessa.

HANOVE R, MAY 20.

The King has issued an ordona lance annulling
the Constitution as settled the f ;th September,
1848, and also the Provincial El ectoral Law of
the Ist August, 1850.
The popular rights are diminish ed. to the mea-
sure of the Constitution framed by the late King
Ernest Augustus (Duke of Cumbel land).
The ordonnance states that tll3 a measure has
been taken in obedience to the del 3ree of the Fe-
deral Diet of the 12th April, 1855 , requiring the
Governments of Germany to bring the State Con-
stitutions more into harmony withi the monarchi-
cal (aristocratic) principle.
The King reserves the right of e ffecting further
changes in the State Constitution..

A telegraphic despatch from Mai irid, dated the
19th inst., says :—The Governmuz at declared to-
day to the Cortes that it had nk t received any

propositions for sending troops to.. the East.

FRANCE.,

PARIS, SUis .AY EVENING.

The Moniteur publishes addre ies which hav,
been received by the Emperor fri it a the Alderines
and Common Council of the City c f London, any,
the Mayors and Aldermen of Cain ridge, Binning-

ham, and Bristol, congratulating- hiq

li CbC4l,O t.Olll iatempt of . -
The lioniteur publishes the official return of
the Customs revenue for last month, amounting to
15,476,178 fr., being an increase of 4,441,187 fr. on
the corresponding month of 1854, and of 4,048,183 fr.
on that of 1853. The receipts for the first four
months of the present yew have- amounted to
53,834,806 fr., being an advance of 12,623,712 fr.
on the corresponding period of 1854, and of
12,495,015 f. on that of 1853.

BOURSE, MAY 19.—CLO9ING PRICES.
Cash. tr. s. End of Month.
4.ii per Cents 93 65 —f..--c.
3 per Cents 6B 65 68 75
Credit Alnbilier 785 Roman

Credit Foncier — Austrian
Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes
Piedmontese B5 Home Debt 3l

RAILWAYS-TOR CASH.

,r. c. fr.
Orleatis - Lyons .-. 1157 50
Western 650 --,- Rouen
Cate 627 50 Strasburg .. 843 75
•
Alediterraueak...,- 1085 --Havre __
Northern .-... ..... 885 -- Cherburg