The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-03 00:00:00

Then, again, look at the Ordnance. A ball of pecu-
liar construction, calculated to be to the Artillery what
the Minid rifle is to the soldiers, is discovered, and
proved, by experiments on their own ground, to be what
it pretends to be. How does that board, which num-
bers amongst its members the Papist Mr. Monsell—
how, we ask, floes that board deal with this invaluable
invention ? Why, instead of appropriating it with
eagerness it discourages the inventor, and rejects his
offers. Then again we would ask—when were the ten-
ders for the ambulance conveyances sent in ? Was it not
at least seven months ago ? When was the contract signed
—was it not little more than seven days ago ? The
Times politely invites Lord Raglan and General Canro-
bert to commence active operations in the field, and ,
urges them not to delay them till the Russian reinforce-
ments arrive. We do not pretend to affirm what means
the French general may have for conducting such opera-
tions, but this we know, that if he attempt them he must
attempt them alone ; for as was the case at Varna, so is
now the ease at Sebastopol- -our army has not the means
of moving It is indeed worse off now in those matters
than it was then. "It was not,".as Lord Panmuee told
the House of Lords on the 23d of February, " till it was
a certained, beyond the possibilityof doubt, that the
army would have to winter in the Crimea," that any steps
were taken by Lord Aberdeen's Government to pro-
vide for that contingency. And now we suppose that
no steps will he taken to reduce Sebastopol, in the only
way it can now be reduced, until " it is ascertained, be-
yond the possibility of doubt," that the Russians will
alt have peace on any t eine. Thus, ample time will be
afforded to the Russians to make every elevated spot
of ground a fortress, and every height an entrenched
camp, within 50 miles of Sebastopol. The truth, we
believe to be, that at this very moment, the Ministry
have asked the welfare of the country on the success of
the negotiations at Vienna. ' All their actions indicate
it but too plainly. Their preparations are not such
as if they real), clatemplated the continuance of the
war. The budget is postponed till after Easter. The
holidays are nearly double their usual length. It seems
evident that they hope by the time of their ending that
the main difficulties at Vienna will be got over, and that
they will be able to meet Parliament with a positive
assurance of peace ; meanwhile, should rumours of thalr
probable concessions creep out, they are saved from
inconvenient questions as well as from inconvenient
motions. We expect at their hands an insecure and
inglorious peace. No ;we are wrong ;we honestly
confess we do not expect peace ; but we shall be
agreeable surprised if it turn out that they have not
sought to obtain it by offering unsafe and dishonourable
terms ; and whatever reliance we may have on the
loyetut6 of the French Emperor, still ho can hardly be
expected to stand out singly against the urgent pressing,
of his ally to concede. His intended visit to this coun-
try is curiously timed. Is it not meant to occupy the
public mind, and to withdraw its attention from too
close an analysis of the accepted terms of peace, which
the Ministers dread will not satisfy the reasonable ex-
pectations of the nation.

Wo shrewdly suspect that we have here penetrated
the secret views of our readers. Will they be able to
carry them out ! We much doubt it—we incline to
think that the more they concede to Russia at Vienna,
the more evidently they expose their own want of confi-
dence in their strength, the less likely will the Russian
plenipotentiaries be to accept their terms. We do not
believe that the spirit of Nicholas is extinguished in
Muscovite councils. The more humble, therefore, we
are in our conduct and language at Vienna, the more
inclined will Russia be to fulfil her designs, and carry
out successfully that policy which the Sovereigns of the
House of Romanoff have never ceased to pursue, and
have accumulated the most gigantic preparations to
realise.

If Russia be resolved at all events to carry on the
war, then no terms, however degrading, which can be
offerei to her, will be of any avail. But if, on the other
hand, she be really desirous of peace, then will she
accept such terms as can be conceded with honour and
safety, provided they are firmly maintained. But if the
Allies betray any undue desire to terminate the contest
by unexpected and unworthy concessions, then will such
timid policy only serve as a temptation to Russia to
persevere, to shuffle out of what she may have already
conceded, and at last to insist on such terms as even
our Ministers will not dare to concede.
If, unhappily, these views should turn out to be too
correct, then will these Ministers repeat the very same
blunder whereby they first involved us in war. Want
of firmness in the original negotiations drifted us into
war, and it is much to be feared that want of firmness
may now be equally the cause of its prolongation. Thus
f
will the truth of the proverb have a fresh
ls live but
exemplifica-
tion, " wise men profit by their errors, but fools
to repeat them." .

THE CIVIL SERVANTS OF THE PUBLIC.
( From the Derbyshire CoOier. )
Mr. Lindsay, the member for Tynemouth, is well
known as an enterprising and successful man of busi-
ness. As any man is worth listening to when e speaks
of what he understands, so even were Lind hay a
authority than he undoubtedly is on the subject of ships
and shipping, his opinion on the administrative system
of the Transport Service would be deserving of the best
attention of Parliament and the country. He calculates
that the aggregate tonnage of steamers engaged by Go-
vernment for the transport service amounts to 150,000
torte, and that of sailing Teasels to 100,009 tons, amount.
_