The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The "tragedy of errors" represented by the
present war has already gone through too many acts,
which, if the same set of actors be kept on the stage,
are likely to be repeated until the curtain drops. The
great error in this tragedy—the great crime—we have
committed (for intentional political errors of this mag-
nitude assume at last the dark hues of crime) is the ob-
stinate persistence in that system of HALF MEASURES
which has, and ever will be, as long as adhered to, a
stumbling block in our path.
When the Russians crossed the Pruth and cast aside
the mask, we should at once boldly have crossed the
Rubicon, thrown away the scabbard, and resolutely have
declared war even " unto the knife." But what then
was done ? Diplomacy took up the pen, negotiations
were commenced, the alliance of a power proverbial for
vacillation and duplicity was eagerly sought, and the at-
tempt was made to "form a coalition of sovereigns
against the Czar, instead of forming a coalition of
peoples against despotism," of forming a permanent
European boundary of civilisation against encroaching
Vandalism and the "Knout." It were needless to say
that POLAND and HUNGARY are the boundary here im-
plied.
This was " half measure" the first.

We negotiated, made believe to arm, and war was de-
clared, without on our part any idea of war. The bar-
barians were to be scarred by the mere flutter of our
pennons and the flapping of our sails ! A powerful
fleet was despatched to the North without the indispen-
sable appliances requisite to insure its success, of either
gun-boats or troops. A splendid army was sent to the
East, but without any of the aocessaries requisite for a
campaign ; and if report speaks true, with a contract
ready signed for the means 'of its return ; so little was it
contemplated even then to strike a blow ! Hence one
of the reasons of its inactivity at Varna, where our
noble army was first decimated by inaction, mismanage-
ment, climate, and disease.

Half measure No. 2.
Still hesitating, vacillating, negotiating, instead of
not " whispering" into the ears of Austria, but loudly
calling Lombardy, and Hungary, and Poland, and Cir-
cassia, aye, and Finland also into the lists, by which a
death-blow would have been struck at the vitals of the
system against which wo professed to wage this war—
instead of acting thus openly and manfully, as became a
free and great nation to act, with a paltry deference to
the " Holy-Alliance " system, to the Metternich, or
some one's else ideas of German " conservatism " (ty-
ranny in disguise), influenced by such paltry motives,
interested and " timid councils," in an evil hour we fixed
on a middling course, and undertook, when "too late,"
an expedition which, had it been properly carried into
effect, might have struck such a blow as would have
caused the Northern Colossus to stagger on his pedestal
of ice, hut which has, as yet, only recoiled upon our-
selves. Had the Black Sea fleet not been kept for
months anchored in suicidal inactivity by the invisible
cable of diplomacy—bad that noble fleet been allowed
to do then what it has recently done so well—next or
simultaneously to destroy Odessa and secure the isthmus
of Perekop—the Crimea, cut off from its supplies, was
ours, without a further blow, without the siege of Sebas-
topol and all its "heart-rending and horrible " results,
and without the loss of the finest army that ever left our
shores.

The crowning result of half measure No. 3.
Is any further analysis required of half-a-dozen half
measures, more marking with disastrous results every
succeeding step of this wretchedly-conducted war ?
Did your space, Sir, admit, not half-a-dozen but half-a-
hundred instances, more could be adduced, all tending to
England's dishonour, to the destruction of her moral and
physical strength, and to hurry thousands and tens of
thousands of her gallant spirits off this dreary and hope-
less 'stage
And are "half measures" to be still the order of the
day ; or are they, as worthless, at length to be cast
adrift ? It is time that England should decide ere all
Europe become " Cossaque."
To prevent this greatest calamity that would befal the
human race, the national barrier must be raised between
the East and the West, between barbarism and civilisa-
sation, between despotic and liberal institutions—that
barrier extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
The Dwina and the Dnieper mark its limits on the
map of Europe thus remodelled. Sooner or later re-
modelled it must be, and by means not only of new
and better measures, but also of new and better men.
11th July, 1855. REFORM.

THE EXCESSIVE RATING OF LICENSED
VICTUALLERS 1N ST. PANCRAS.

On Tuesday afternoon an adjourned meeting of
licensed victuallers residing in the parish of St. Pancras
was held at the Somers Arms, Wilsted-street, New-road,
in connection with the appeal made by Mr. Speedy, of
the Boot, Cromer-street, against the recent assessment
of his house to the parochial rates. Mr. THURSTON, of
the Pindar of Wakefield, occupied the chair.
Mr. SPEEDY reported that his appeal, which was
fixed for Saturday last, at the Middlesex Sessions, had
been postponed till October, when, upon the advice of
his solicitor and surveyor, he anticipated a victory.
'A conversation followed upon the system of rating by
profits adopted by the parish.
The CHAIRMAN said it seemed to him that they as-
sessed large houses by their appearance, and small
houses by their business. With regard to Mr. Speedy's
case, the course adopted by the vestry was of an aggra-
vating character, because, instead of proceeding against
him by law, they might, by waiting a little, have
exercised their power of raising his assessment in the
usual way ; and it seemed to him that the trade of the
district ought to combine, and get the question settled
upon this case, as to how they should be rated in future.
In reply to a question,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the system of rating ac-
cording to profits had been introduced in a parish at the
East-end, but the licensed victuallers combined and suc-
ceeded in defeating it. It had also been defeated in St.
Mary's, Newington, but speedily abandoned by the pa-
rochial authorities.
Mr. HowLANn moved the following resolution :
"That meetings be held in the several localities to call
the attention of the trade to the particular points and
circumstances of the appeal, `H. Speedy v. Poor Rate
St. Pancras,' the decision of the justices in his favour,
and the persistence of the vestry in legal proceedings
tending to crush an individual."
Mr. RUSSELL seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously ageced to, and the meeting adjourned.

The Royal Mail steamer Great Western has sailed for
Brazil with 8,0601.
The Ocean Monarch, a Liverpool ship, built at Que-
bec, lately arrived at Liverpool from Callao, Peru, is
stated to have completed the quickest voyage, out and
home, on record. Her outward passage occupied 691
days, and her homeward, heavily laden, 78 data.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—SOUTHAMPTON; July 11.
—The Warren Hastings, a fine ship of 566 tons, belonging
to Messrs. Smith and Co., of London, and commanded
by Captain Porteous, sailed to-day for Adelaide, with
244 Government emigrants. The Chowringhee, Capt.
Ferguson, came into dock yesterday, and will leave on
Monday next for Sydney with 2591 statute adults. The
Kate has been agaln chartered by the Government Emi-
gration Commissioners, and is to be ready at South-
ampton to convey emigrants to Australia on the 9th of
August.

THE TURKISH ARMY IN TEE C.R1704'

TURKISH CAMP, KOUTSHUK-311SICOMIll
JUNE 23.
It seems as if the Turkish army was going to settle
down for some time in this pleasant valley, aboundil
in clear, ice cold water, and full of magnificent fore'
trees of every species ; the tents have been sent forf
and the greater part of the baggage still remaining
the old encampment at the so-called Turkish redoubt'
near Balaklava. The wooded ridge which sePnril
this valley from that of Baidar, and through %chi
the Woronzoff road leads forms our boundary. Tr
valley of Baidar is still for the greatest part 0011°
army only the promised land, at which they 11
look from the shady heights and from C°l °
Pieraweky's villa. The cavalry and chasseurs accar
pany Omer Pasha, indeed, nearly every day d°s:3:.
to Baidar and its neighbourhood, but tow,,,t.
evening every one returns again to his tent or green P"I,
But if we don't go down much, there are often POP.;
who come up. Boys in search of the strawberrlri.
abounding in the woods, and inhabitants of the tel° lis
lager of Koutshuk-Miskomia and Varnowka, looking
their deserted hearths, are passing daily to and fro. 0
As for the Russians in these parts they are hither
for us more myth than reality. Asted
Lately a Tartar brought an anonymous letter' '
to be from a sergeant or ensign in the Russian er"';
and addressed to his "Polish brethren," containingbe
most detailed account of all the troops outside Of °els,i.
tool. According to this account the army, not
"
ing the garrison of Sebastopol, amounts to 93,000113
This anonymous account would be rather suspini°lls if
is
it did not agree accurately enough with the accOuP
daily pouring in from other sources. of
This morning at dawn Adbul Vely Bey, "the " )3eir,
Lord of the villages of Uzembash, Upu, and Souteb
which were occupied the other day by the Turks oio.
occasion of the reconnaissance undertaken toward° 'the
dar, came with his eldest son and several villagers t°
Turkish camp, to implore Omer Pasha's assistajbo
against the Cossacks and Greek volunteers,
immediately after the withdrawal of the Turkish tre°lo(
had passed the Tshouliou, and occupied the heightsji
Uzembash, threatening the villages with a descent, ei
he had shown himself hospitable to the Turkish trlo
which came to occupy Upu, where he lives, b17e.,,01
afraid to bo denounced by one of the numerous 6.j
up to watch the Tartar population, to be plunderew"
to have his wife and remaining family carried nog' lo
The Donsky Cossacks and the Greek volunteerPo
whom the defence and protection of this part o'4o,
country had been intrusted, seem to have made for
fortable maintenance by the sympathy of the Tarter"tlo
the allies. The slightest suspicion has been snfEeielj;of
give the whole property, the family, and the pers°"the
any Tartar into their power. Great is therefore
dread to fall in the category of the "suspects." i„ntell
Of course it cannot be expected that the newly-zigei
plan of operations of the Turkish army should be che°oo
in order to save these villages from a visit of thevell
sacks. Nevertheless, Omer Pasha sent Abdul,.;
Bey to General Della Marmora, with one of his aintc)
camp, in order, if possible, to devise something by,_°frteia
both objects may be gained. According to -r-4"291
customs of hospitality, Abdul Vely Bey was non,
as a guest to Skender Pasha, who has even more :0
the usual liking for the Tartars, having an idea OP
family came originally from the Crimea.
_ _

A CRIMEAN THUNDERSTORM. 04,
.3-tAY ,00
Last night we had one of those violent thundersh"Ul
for which Crimean summers are famous. What 8"jo
me most was rather its intensity than its violence• of
other thunderstorms there are intervals between °bid'
flash of lightning—intervals of deep darkness by albs
every flash becomes so glaring and blinding. lifeoti
uninterrupted flashes of lightning impart to the 9000
to everything under it a kind of whitish, vivid, fors
too glaring light—sometbing like a magnificent Oro' of
borealis. Had it not been for the copious shasy'L 0
rain which penetrated through the sun-dried hu,„of
through sieves, and rather disturbed one's clale"iial
templation, it would have been a splendid sight. the
the least interesting part in the scene were certaili,llo
Turkish soldiers, who, having no tents, kept uP 'l'loo
the whole storm, and notwithstanding the violent 010 or
of rain, colossal' watcbfires, which formed a curiall°
trast with the white glare of the lightning, and a/bet
which they squatted, singing and laughing, ill hoOr
white, or, at any rate, once white, trousers. In an
the storm was over. ores.ol/
This morning three troops of the 10th wool
came to our valley to act under Omer Pasha., 1080
had been attached to the Sardinians, and had 'holt
withdrawn with them from the advanced position
they had occupied in the Tshonliou valley. Thia moo
pened the day before yesterday, the same day's spd
Turks withdrew from the heights near Uzembusbf

came over to this valley.
Before withdrawing the Sardinian corps, and ie
pany with it the 10th Hussars, made a dernoust24,"
towards Aitodar, which, however, did not add 014,1'10,
information. The 10th Hussars came back witli,,,;lo
and encamped for the night and the whole of Yeealge
on a clear spot where the Woronzoff-road passes yo
over the little stream which falls into the Tchelotl)
from the south, near Tchorgoun. The rest of the 60
Hussars, with the exception of the depot, which 0'33 or
in its old encampment, are likewise expected to-de
to-morrow.

Jura
u3PO'
This morning at dawn Skender Pashoo:-li° of
by Abdul Vely Bey, started with two b3"41-In:avalrft
for an expedition towards the heights of
fantry, three mountain guns, and a platoon -
order to see whether the Cossacks had made a d stcbeet
on the three Tartar villages in the Upu gorge as
had threatened to do after the withdrawal of the Irnfrbr
troops, and to assist as far as possible those of the 1114
bitants who should desire to escape with their faro'
and moveable property.
to
The troops followed the Woronzoff-road dov/P,
the bridge behind Kamara, and then branched el; le
the right on the cross-road, which leads d°ll oN
Tchorroun. Crossing over the Tchernaya, their ibe
lowed road which leads along its right bank t 4
00f
-ozerabash,
village of Koutshka. Until then no sign of the
a ,gig
was discovered. When, however, the Turkish,oo
mishers began to scale the plateau which over 01
on one side the gorge of the Upu, and descends ii
other towards the river bed of the Tshouliou, the uopri
volunteers, who occupied that position, began 111,11101
fusillade, and retired to the heights commanding ifesi
bash, where they took up a position with the nlitioo
intention of defending it. The object of the exPeto
being to assist the threatened villages rather than dhis'',
Greek valour, the Turks encamped on the plateau " so,
they had occupied when they were there before, 00
Abdul Vely Bey went down to Upu to see AbSt
family and his villagers. ft;il
Except to Uzembash, which lies at the 100,,,°,
gorge, the Russians had not come to any a
lages, but as they occupied the heights above, tm,,-01'
lagers had spent the last two days with the $ fei
Damocles suspended over them. Abdul 0,,
himselfgot the agreeable news that Prince Gortsv„ji
had given the order to arrest him. Before,
left his house to come to the Turkish army, he
slued that he could safely remain, and that n°
would be done either to him or to his fam119..,60
although he had sold a good deal of wood for the Poe"
erected works of Sebastopol, he would not trust to ,
tiov
assurances, and now he was making nrepar
carry off his family and those of the Tartars vili°„isiri.
like to follow. The Turkish troops had taken po,' eft deb
for two days, and had orders to remain for the rai
there. In the evening suddenly the order cA"-e;
march back immediately, which was done, aLl',lot
Abdul Vely Bey, who had made his arrangepled"
the next day, had to hurry off in the same wag
first time, alone with his son. l6 g
Jo_ A.'

The rest of the 10th Hussars having arrived, °lief 't
naissance was made this morning into the Vl,l oePt
Baidar. The troops started at 3 o'clock, an'ail)iee
down by the Woronzoff road. By the briclgAe ,‘'
leads over to the Baidar river the Hussars turo°l)3oor
the left towards Telion, while the rest of the ly
followed the road to Baidar, which was milititr
cupied. 0°
t 0 ta
Leaving the Turkish troops in Baidar, I Well,' go,
search of the 10th Hussars, who, I was told, 04
to the other side of the valley. I found part fsto'
at Telion, a small country house, with soi
1:13-10,
buildings, on a plateau, not far from the placladirla
the Baidar river unites with the Tchernaya, be,;"tb
to Count Marderenoff. Two troops of the'lotlA
guns, and a battalion of Chasseurs were there in jr ;erg
while another troop of the 10th had gone {Oro:0'0 vii
direction of the village of Kiouska, or Airousket, tti
Tartars call it, to explore the road which leads 1'
village up to Uzembash. de:
Shortly after I had reached the advanced tro°l
10th the order was given to retire, and the whe',oo,ho
ther with Colonel Simmons and Major Fellows, °.'40',0
as officer of the Staff to the 10th, who had one ''"11
village in order better to examine the road, retnclhor
Telion, where the horses were fed. I left the°
and returned to Baidar. 011!,0
In the afternoon General Pelissier came to vi 8,1,1 00,10
Pasha. In passing one of the small ditches syrnt ;;(1,
our valley is intersected he had a slight aoci°e-oil3".
horse fell and threw him forward, but he was ~
and mounted again immediately. reterli,i4
Towards evening the 10th Hussars, scarcely rcpt ',"
from Baidar, had a sad office to perform. A 0131;0
nightlly esteemed
ofc hnlera
Bowles, an officer excelling in his profession ell"A;00100
sally
0e
aanftderbt
hvoendrsh illness. His de°l3lfifil
y his comrades, di
quite a gloom over the whole regiment. Ere a°ooll6
to-day in a field not far from where the 10th 10
are encamped. A molitary tree, the only °lllO
whole field, marks his grave.
,Itlo
clO 010
The last three days have passed without 110/00 tte
excet in the weather, which turned to rei°,telltets
assumed a rather unsettled character ; fortuo of .00
tents have arrived, for the huts, however skillfn,.loo
strutted of green branches, cannot keep out ais 'op
ell 0
Crimean shower. • elc°t
The Turkisk troops have hitherto been ni bervi
health, but in the 10th Hussars cholera Woo°
show itself. For the last two days, however,
been no fatal case.
or
fet
' orl
CHURCH RATES, BEDFORD.—The parish °fr Stole,/
has followed the example of the parish ofPo
refused a church rate. The Rev. G. Buv°3",flie"
would not accept leis than a fourpenny rate. ce slot
en
rishioners offered to consent to one at tcy°,, jB.l r
penny. A polling therefore took place on Tar: viejfeitif
and against a fourpenny rate, when the nuni,,ue-tpaj°'
follows :—For the rate, 122 ; against it, 16;';
40 against the rate.

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all
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