The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

case, and if these were wanting the exemption
from punishment would also be withdrawn.

Now, the statement or disclosure given in is
clearly inaccurate. The bands purchased for
Dr. GRIFFITHS had been disposed of by Sir
JOHN DEAN PAUL in March, 1854, and the
proceeds thereof (and of other securities)
were placed into his separate account. It
is difficult to imagine how this could have been
without the knowledge of his partners, but it is
positively asserted that such was the case. Other
bonds were afterwards purchased to replace those
improperly applied. But the offence had
been previously committed, and could not
have been got rid of in that way. Now,
the disclosure applied merely to the substi-
tuted bonds, and it has been fairly urged that it
is a totally different case, and one not coming
within the provisions of the statute. That must be
decided by the Court. It is a nice question, and
on the result will depend the fate of Messrs.
STRAHAN and BATES—that of Sir JOHN DEAN
PAUL seems to be clearly settled. He, at least,
will have to expiate his enormous guilt.

A tardy, and by no means adequate, measure +of
relief has been afforded to the (very near) relatives
of officers killed in action, or dying in consequence
of wounds received in action, since the commence-
ment of the War with Russia.' It may, however,
although by no means sufficient to meet either
the justice or exigency of the case, be regarded as
a step -in the right direction, for which the Go-
vernment, hampered as it is on such points, is
entitled to considerable credit. The great prin-
ciple for which we have long contended is thereby
distinctly recognised, and it is scarcely possible to
doubt that it will speedily produce its legitimate
fruits, so as to leave scarcely any well-grounded .
cause of complaint.
The object of the present Royal Warrant is to
remedy the grievous injustice arising out of the ob-
jectionable system of promotion by purchase. It was
felt that a serious injury was inflicted on the fami-
lies of officers whohad paid a regulation price, vary-
! ing from 4501. to 6,1751., for their commissions,
without taking into account the enormous pre-
miums privately paid, with the connivance,
although without the direct sanction of the mili-
tary authorities. The money was paid into the
public Exchequer, and it was therefore peculiarly
illiberal—a harsher term might, perhaps, fairly be
applied—on the part of the State to confiscate
• that money, when the party had nobly sacrificed
his life in its service, and to add the miseries and
privations of poverty to the irreparable loss of a
loving husband and kind father.

But there was something more than " liberntito
concerned in the question at issue. We are told
that " we should be just before we are generous,"
and the claim is founded on the purest and most
unromantic justice. The State own order its
military servants into the most drlngerous posi-
tions, and it is their duty not to slirink from, or
hesitate at, any peril. We have heard of a fear-
ful description of " Military Arithmetic," in
which it may be necessary to devote to almost
certain destruction a body of men. The victims
are greatly to be pitied. Their surviving relatives
are entitled to the utmost sympathy of the com-
munity ! But it is a portion of the stern realities
of war, which cannot be averted, and no man
can possibly make a great General who cannot
steel his heart to such occurrences. But how
will this sacrifice be increased if it implies also
the Tobberij of the victim, or rather of his helpless
family. We do not, of course, for a moment
sup' lose that a man could be selected for a very
peril ous duty merely because the State would pro-
fit ltrgely by his death. But such things have
happened in the olden times, and we should care-
fully avoid the possibility of any sinister influence
in th e choice of a party for such service.
The first objectionable point in the new Royal
Warrant is, that it unduly mixes up questions
of generosity and justice. It will not act
ably to any claimant unless he or she be
within i the limits which would give a claim to
the sc-called " compassionate" allowances. If the
widovr or other applicant be left in. " wealthy
circun 'stances '' no allowance will be made,
althott:gh that allowance be merely the return of
the sum actually paid by the wealthy husband,
son, .or brother. The nation cannot act justly
if the party be rich—or generously, if he
or she be poor. The name of the " Compas-
sionates Fund " becomes a mere mockery when the
return " shall in no case exceed the price actually
paid fo r the purchase of his commission, or cora-

mission a."

We shall have more to say on this point, to
show how utterly inadequate is the proposed re-
lief. We must, however, admit that as a first
step it, is valuable, and perhaps quite as much as
could ibo anticipated at the hands of the Govern-
ment.

The despatch from General WILLIAMS to the
Earl of CLARENDON, announcing the defeat of the
Russiars at Kars, and which will be found in
another. column, will be perused with much in-
terest and satisfaction also, though it does not
confirm the rumour that the Russians, diaheart6
ened by their losses, had, determined to* raise the
siege.

The 9!urkish army, it will be seen, under the
directioli of its able leader, and countenanced and
support( xl by a few gallant Englishmen, redeemed
the lost prestige of the Turkish army, and by a
brilliant victory afforded unmistakeable proof that
under worthy auspices the Ottoman soldier is able
and really to repeat those manifestations of heroic
valour toad resolution which threw such a lustre
over the defence of Silistria. General Mune-
voFF, it appears, with the bulk of his army,
attacked[ their entrenched position on the heights
above Kars, and on the opposite side of the river,
at day-dawn on the 29th ult., the date of the
despatch, and WEVA driven off with immense loss.
With what determination the conflict was waged
al
hours,
o fromurtt,
wbat fellows. For
on either side, and with what glorious results c%
nearly
the part of 4,he besieged,
msaeyv seven mortal
be
gathered
and with
.out a moment's intermission, the work of
destru'Jtion was carried on with unflinching
ene'zgy, at the expiration which
of period the
'waffled enemy, weary of profitless assaults and
the Turkish forces
the greatest disorder, leaving
utterly disheartened, was compelled to retreat in
in the possession of the field, and 2,500
slain and
4,000 'muskets behind to attest the severity of
away with
• his defeat, besides carrying him the
greater portion of some 5,000 men wounded on
the occasion. A 'victory so brilliant and so &-
rious to all concerned it was greatly to be desired
might prove to have been decisive, and to have.
removed all cause for apprehension as to the fate
of Kars.

The. reader will have observed that the despatch
was written on the day of battle, probably while
the tumultuous flight of the enemy was still in
View, which would account for the non-confirma-
tion of the report, if correct, to which we have
previously alluded. Of course, under such cix-
cumstances, while everything was to be hoped by
the victors, nothing of a positive nature as to the
intentions of the Russian General could be
known) none in all likelihood existing,