The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-23 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, oCTOI3Eit 23, 1855.

THE OPINION IN PARIS OF GENERAL

SIMPSON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BEN.

Sir,—ln my last letter, published in your number of
the 9th inst., I pointed out in what manner the English
troops were necessary for the reduction of Sebastopol—
how, by the two hours during which they occupied the
attention of the greater pars of the Russian army, they
gave time to the French to 'fortify themselves in the
Malakhoff, and by that means to resist the utmost efforts
of the Russians to drive them out after the attack of the
English on the Redan had been finally repulsed.
Some persons will, perhaps, be apt to exclaim, the
English soldiers have been sacrificed to those of the
French. While the French have had all the glory, the
poor English troops have been exposed to a perfectly
desperate and hopeless attack, merely to facilitate the
success of their allies.
I confess to have viewed the question at first in
this light myself, and to have blamed General Simpson
for having given in to such a plan. But I have been
satisfied, with the reasoning of my French military
friends, that this was absolutely necessary.
" It was necessary," say they, " that we, the French,
should attack the Malakhoff, because your army was
not sufficiently strong for this. We have at least four
men to your one. Therefore, the less important part
was necessarily assigned to you. Had the two armies
been under a single commander-in-chief, the case would
have been different. We should then have had at least
ten thousand English engaged with the French iu the
assault of the Malakhoff, and their place before the Re-
dart filled up with ten thousand Frenchmen. We
should then have seen the Zouave and the Highlander
storming the same breach, shoulder to shoulder, and
the French and English Guards rivalling each other
in steadiness and intrepidity. Such a state of things
would be infinitely better for both armies, and it
would excite amongst the soldiers of both a generous
emulation, under which emotion nothing would be too
difficult, and everything possible. Such ought to be the
position of the allied armies, but, unfortunately, your
orgueil Britannique will not allow this. You cannot ex-
pect that we will place our army, four times as nume-
rous as yours, under the command of the English Gene-
ral, and your national dignity, it seems, would be
wounded by your army being under the command-in-
chief of a Marshal of France. All the movements of
the allied armies have been hampered and confused by
this divided command. Sebastopol would probably
have been taken long before the Bth of September last
had one head directed the whole movements of the
united troops.
" Lord Raglan, although a brave and gallant soldier,
and a perfect gentleman in his intercourse with our
,fficers, was jealous to a degree of anything interfering
with his independent command ; and be was on this
account, perhaps, the worst General which the Eng-
lish Government could have sent out to command
a small English army acting with a large French one.
That complete success has at length crowned the efforts
of the allied forces is to be attributed in a great measure
to the character of General Simpson. He does not ap-
pear to be actuated by the absurd morgue of the other
English Generals. Without considering his own vanity he
gives in to the plan best suited to promote the common
cause ; and it is evident that he and Pelissier are on the
nest of terms, and act cordially together. We in France

consider that the plan of the last attack on Sebastopol
vas admirably arranged in all its details, as well in the
assault on the Malakhoff as in the fated attacks on the

Redan by the English, and the Centre Bastion by th♦
French under General de Sallee ; and we consider that
General Simpson is entitled to his full share of credit in

the concoction and arrangements of this plan, as he
and Pelissier formed it betwixt them. We regard the
vituperation of the Times and his correspondent
against General Simpson as silly and ridiculous in
the extreme. Those personages seem to proceed in

total ignorance of the real plan and intentions of the
generals, which was a combined movement, and not se-
veral isolated ones, as they (the Tinter and his correspon-
dent) foolishly appear to have supposed. How could
General Simpson have acted differently on that occasion!
ft was necessary for him to conceal from his men that
the attack on the Redan was hopeless as a separate as-
sault, although contributing so much to the final resulb ;
for the soldiers would not have put into action that
dogged determination which gave the French two hours
of respite. We are of opinion," continued my French
friends, "that General Simpson was perfectly justified in
concealing this from the soldiers employed in the assault,
and in not sending further reinforcements to the troops

engaged in the Redan, as this could have only served to
prolong unnecessarily a hopeless attack, and to cause a
greater loss. The hour asked for by General Pelissier had
been obtained, and the Malakboff was secured to the
French beyond the power, of the Russians to retake it. As
to the men who fell in the assault of the Redan, how can

they be said to have been sacrificed more than any of the
ether soldiers killed en that day ? The English engaged
did their duty in the most gallant manner, and what
signified it if they fell in an unsuccessful attack on the
Redan, or in a successful one on the Malakhoff, if that

unsuccessful attack contributed a 3 much to the trium-
phant result as the successful one ?

" This is the point of view in which the matter ought
,o be shown, both to your army and the British public.

It is the true one, and it will satisfy the justifiable pride
. . . .

and national jealousy of both. The Times, with some
)f the other English journals, together with their eorre-
Tondents, we are sorry to say, are doing all in their

power to wound the feelings of your snldiere, to sow

jealousy and distrust between them and their officers,
and thus to do tho greatest injury to the common cause.
On this side the Channel they would soon be reduced to

order, but the liberty of the press, of which you Eng-
lish are so proud, prevents this, wa suppose, in your
country."

I have now given the opinion in Paris as to the con-
duct of Gen. Simpson on the Bth of September. He is
certainly not looked upon as a brilliant officer, but he is
considered as a judicious one, and the best, perhaps,
that could be placed at the head of the English army
so long as that army is under a separate command, and
this on account of his good sense and conciliatory dispo-
sition, which prevents him from opposing his personal
dignity as General of an independent army to the plans
of General Pelissier, when he considers those plans con-
ducive to the common interest.

But there is one point upon which there is a general
outcry an France—that is upon the divided command.

Indeed, the same feeling exists in England upon this

subject amongst all judicious military men, I cannot

conceive what feeling of national dignity should induce

our Government not to give in to a policy so evidently
dictated by com►aon sense. We cannot be a great mili-
tary nation as long as we are a free people. To be
so we must give up our liberty. Without a forced con-

scription, which the people of England would not sub-
mit to, we can never raise the great armies which exist
. _

in France, Austria, and Russia, and other despotic
countries, and that, nothwithstanding our population,
from their natural courage, stamina, and hardihood, is

the population of all others best fitted to form first-rate

soldiers. Why, therefore, foolishly attempt to rival
France by bringing an independent army into the field.
We ought, I say, to content ourselves with maintaining
in the East a small but perfectly disciplined and ap-
pointed force, such as that which fought at the Alma,

and to place this army under the command-in•chief of

the French General. Such an army as this would per-
fectly support the honour of the British military cha-

ranter. This sort of thing has been repeated again and

again during our history. During the seven years' war

;he English contingent was under the. command-in-

chief of the Duke of Brunswick, and during the reign of
Charles, a small English army was placed under the

command of Turenne. On both occasions the foreign
journals were loud in their praise of the valour and dis-
cipline of the English troops.

'What prevents the same thing being done now when
he alliance betwixt France and England is closer and

more cordial than that which has ever hitherto existed

betwixt England and any other nation ? There is no

disgrace, but the contrary, in our admitting frankly that
our free constitution does not admit of our raising and
maintaining a large military force. And wa could com-

pensate the French by supplying them with transports,
and keeping up a larger naval force than the French
could bring into action. Besides, we could share with

them the additional expense to which they were put by
bringing into the field a larger army than ours.
It is generally believed here that the French Empe-
ror proposed to our Government that if they would place
the English army under the command-in-chief of a
French general he would place his fleet under the com-
mand-in-chief of an English admiral ; and that, if this
arrangement was entered into, he would augment to a
great degree his army in the East. But, according to
p ablic report, this offer was re aed 115 the English M

nisterg, who wished to have the importance of directing
an independent army, and thus to share with the French
Government in the honour of directing a great war.
All our misfortunes since the battle of the Alma have
proceeded from the absurd policy of our Government in
keeping up a separate command, and attempting to make
ourlittle army vie at all points with the great French one.
This is impossible. Notwithstanding that the French
army in the East is four times as numerous as ours, it
is only a fourth part of the army at home, and from
which it is recruited. From this home army the old
and disciplined soldiers are sent to the Qrimea, while
the young conscripts are kept at home. We, on the con-
trary, have our whole regular force abrond, and the
gaps caused by disease and the sword are filled up by
undisciplined raw bop, and that even with the greatest
difficulty. In fact, the more numerous our army be-
comei, the worse are the materials of which it will be
composed. We may be compared in this respect to a
poor family attempting to rival a rich one in splendour
and ostentation.

It has been, I repeat, owing to our separate command
,that all the disasters of our army have arisen since the
battle of the Alma. It was our separate command that
')laced us at Inkerman by ourselves in a position which
forced us to maintain, during nearly a whole day, single.
handed, a combat with four times our numbers. It was
our separate command which, during last winter, in-
duced us to undertake a part of the siege infinitely be-
yond oxr strength, and which had the effect of decimat-
ingapur little army by disease, caused principally by
.Over work. And it is owing to our separate. 43.9wtrukudi,
that, any tire last occasion,-Alle the-French (according
to the Times) were reaping all the glory, the English
were employed at a subordinate part of the attack,
merely to facilitate the French operations. •

In short, as long as we keep up our separate com-
mand, we may be compared to the d warf in alliance with
the giant, who got all the wounds, while his big comrade
had all the glory.--I remain, &c.,
Paris, Oct. 9, 1855. JAMES AYTOUN.

FURTHER OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA. 1N
THE MILLBANK PENITENTIARY.

Yesterday Mr. Bedford, coroner for Westminster, and
a highly respectable jury, assembled in the Millbank
Penitentiary, to inquire touching and concerning the
death of Henry Edwards, late an inmate, aged 63, who
died from Asiatic cholera, the awful disease having again
made its appearance in the gaol within the last few days.
The unfortunate man's being the third death from the
epidemic during the past week.
It appeared from the evidence of chief warder Sa-
muel .Finn that the deceased was admitted to the gaol
on the 7th of September last from the Staffordshire
county prison, having been sentenced to four years' impri-
sonment at the assizes for receiving three bags and four
fowls, knowing the same to have been stolen. On a pre-
vious occasion he had been imprisoned five months for
horse-stealine. He was described as a married man, and
having six children. When admitted he was reported
in good health, but he was taken seriously ill on last
Friday, and removed to the infirmary, where he died on
the following day.
John Horne, warder, deposed that be received the de-
ceased on his admissionC on 7th Sept. He complained of
slight indisposition on the following day, the Bth ult.,
for which he received from the doctor some medicine,
and he then continued well up to the time of his last
seizure. On Thursday last he complained of slight loose-
ness of the bowels, but there appeared nothing serious in
his else, as he was enabled to continue at his work.
However, when the surgeon went his rounds, the de-
ceased's case was brought under his *notice, and he had
some medicine prescribed, two doses of which he took
the same evening. • Upon his proceeding to the de-
ceased's cell the following morning, at a quarter past 6,
he coniplained of great looseness of the bowels during
the night, and witness perceiving that he had been sick
and purged immediately rang the tower bell, and the de-
ceased was instantly removed to the infirmary. Witness
asked him why he did not give the alarm to the patrol
by putting out his board during the night, so as to attract
the patrol's attention ; when he replied he did not think
it worth while. He (witness) explained that there was
a small board in each cell door, which the prisoner could
push out if he was taken ill, or required anything during
the night, and the chief warder further explained that
there was a warder up and down the lobbies every 15
minutes, to see a'l was right.
William Rendail, assistant warder in the infirmary,
proved the deceased's being admitted to the infirmary on
the Friday, suffering from Asiatic cholera. The usual
remedies were applied, but be gradually sank, and ex-
pired at five o'clock on the following (Saturday) evening.
The witness further, in reply to the jury, admitted that
the decea-ed was not seen by Mr. Hatfield, the surgeon,
until upwards of an hour after his admission to the in-
firmary. In the meantime the usual remedies resorted
to in such cases were applied, and afterwards he had
everything he could be got to take, in the shape of port
wine, &c.
Mr. George Hatfield, resident surgeon, stated that the
deceased died from Asiatic cholera, and explained that
always in such cases certain remedies were tried in the
first place, which the warders were quite competent to
administer before the arrival of the medical officer.
Shortly after his admission to the infiamary the deceased
got into the usual collapse and rapidly sank, the case,
considering the other deaths which bad taken place,
being rather severe in its character. There bad been
seven cases of Asiatic cholera during the present out-
break, and the case under inquiry made the third death.
By the Jury—He could not account locally for the
disease, nor could he say how it came that these pri-
soner's were more particularly attacked by it than any
other. Certainly the site was bad, as in the first place
it was very low, and then its contiguity to the River
made the building damp and unhealthy. Singular to say,
the disease had always on previous occasions commenced
its ravages within the walls of the gaol ; but this sea-
son, when it came exceedingly late, the disease had
showed itself a week previous in the district of Chelsea.
The greatest precautions to avert the dreadful scourge
had been, adopted for some months past in the gaol, and
the water bad been brought from the artesian wells at
Trafalgar-square. Since the disease had appeared the
warders had been cautioned to be more vigilant, and
each prisoner had a certain quantity of rum per day.
The diet of the sick, and, indeed, the prison generally,
was under the surveillance of the medical officer?.
A Juror said it indeed was somewhat extraordinary
that while there was not a trace last season outside the
walls of the prison of the disease, it was raging violently
within. He considered that the situation of the prison
or the diet must be improper in some way or other.
The Coronet, in ably summing up, remarked that he
Was glad to see the jury willing in all such cases to make
a strict investigation into the general discipline of the
prison, for it was for such purposes they were assembled
together on such painful occasions.
After some further observations from the learned
coroner, the jury returned a verdict simply of " Death
from Asiatic cholera," and the investigation terminated.

DETERMINED CASE OF SELF-DESTRUC.

TION.

KENDAL, Oct. 19.—Yesterday morning a moat pain-
ful sensation was created through Ambleside by the
report that Mr. Bryan Robinson, of Rock Cottage,
farmer, had committed suicide.
It appears that about half-past six o'clock the house-
keeper of the deceased, Ann Butler, who bad just got
up, on passing the room heard Mr. Robinson groan.
She tried the door, but it was fast, and she received no
answer to her inquiries. Neither she nor her two fel-
low-servants were willing to break open the door lest
their master should be offended if merely disturbed in
his sleep ; but about nine o'clock their anxiety became
so great that they asked a neighbour, Mr. Miles Clarke,
to get in at the window of the deceased's bed-room. Mr..
Clarke did so, and found Mr. Robinson lying dead upon
the floor with his throat cut. He was undressed, and
had a penknife stained with blood in his hand, with
which the fatal act had been committed. It appears,
from the housekeeper's evidence at the inquest held be-
fore R. Wilson, Esq., that the deceased had been sub-
ject to fits of insanity, and was then under medical
treatment. He was sometimes much dejected, and at
other times in exuberant spirits. Deceased was in good
circumstances, and is well known as having
been a car-
rier between Kendal and Ambleside. A verdict of Tem-
porary Insanity was returned.

MARYLEBONE LITERARY INSTITUTION.—La,st evening
the session was opened under very favourable auspices.
A conversazione, numerously attended both by ladies
and gentlemen, was given by the members of the institu-
tion, who seem to be making unusual efforts to retrieve
the falling fortunes of the undertaking. Like
many
other similar institutions, that of Marylebone has, to
speak plainly; " outrun the constable." Whether through
want of sympathy abroad, or mismanagement at home,
we are unable to say, but the labours of the committee
of management do not appear, judging from the observa-
tions which fell from Mr. Jacob Bell in his address to
the visitors, to have been appreciated. Last night the
rooms of the institution were filled with numerous art-
contributions, microscopes, stereoscopes, and some other
objects of interest in a mixed assembly. In the lecture-
hall of the house, however, a very pretty collection of
pictures by modern painters had been brought together,
the most prominent of which was the famous picture of
" The Horse-Fair," by Rosa Bonheur, on a reduced
scale. This exquisite specimen of modern art attracted
ts
the chief attention of the visitors, and from i concepl
tion, its treatment, and its admirable taste, it wel
merited the honour it received. We have no hesitation
in saying that this picture is the greatest triumph of
modern art with which we are at all acquainted. The
re-union was agreeable, and well attended, and, in our
judgment, might be repeated at intervals with consider-
able advantage to the institution.

STATE OF NAPLES.

(From, the Time.? Oorrespo2zdent.)

NAPLES, Oct. 13,—Even at this late hour I must
advert to the strong feeling of disappointment and
ridicule with which the intelligence of the pacifi-
cation between our Court and that of Naples has
been received. " Your Government has been com-
pletely taken in, while his Majesty of the Two
Sicilies has gained a complete triumph." This is
the language with which we English are greeted at
every step ; and, pursuing the Neapolitan line of
argument, there seems to be too much, reason for
the reproof. " You have been insulted over and
over again,* say they. "Your interests and your
friendships have been in a hundred ways post-
poned to those of Russia. You storm in Parliament
and rave in the press, and send out your broad-
sides to demand satisfaction. For the moment
the eyes of Europe are upon the little kingdom
of Naples. Poor King Bomba, what can' he
do ? King Bomba arms. lie is well backed.
He does not show the white feather ; but still,
at the very last moment, he avoids all danger
of a collision by removing, in a manner rather
friendly than otherwise' his DireCtor of Police
It was a mere matter of inference, however, for
many, many days, that this removal was intended
as a satisfaction to the British Legation, and it was
comparatively but yesterday that a note was sent
to our Minister, implying that the act might be re-
garded as the amende honorable. Even had such
an intimation been given at the very earliest mo-
ment, the grace of:the act' wOuld'llave 'been n+ d=
-tralised Altiigethor by -the-2 conteratiortailrottr
rnoval of Prince Ischitella and the Duke de Oesario
from the Royal favour. Supposing this to be the
conclusion of the whole affair, it would appear
that our Government had cut a most humiliating
figure in this transaction, had been defied, and
then pacified by a doubtful and reluctant satis
faction. What, however, shall be said when it
is known that Mazza is still the ruling spirit of
the police ; that he so told his myrmidons in an
address in public after his fictitious fall ; that
he was seen as lately as October 5 walking in front
of the Royal Palace dressed in his official uni-
form, and that he then paid his Majesty a visit ?
These things being so, it is .clear that the British
Government has been laughed at and insulted, and
that, as soon as the hurrahs for the capture of Se-
bastopol kad ceased to resound, things returned to
their original position. As Austria is guide and
!counsellor of King Bombe, so it is just Austria
which has made England draw her horns in. We
fear to offend a faithless friend, and thus Austria
may be said to be mistress of the position in Europe.
But why, am I continually asked, did your Govern-
ment enter on an affair which it either feared or
was indisposed to carry out ; surely it must have
known, what all the world knows, that the relations
between Naples and Austria are of the most inti-
mate character ? It is much to be regretted that all
recent interference in this country has consisted in
first bullying and then withdrawing, and that the in-
fluence of England in the Two Sicilies isat the lowest
ebb. As a proof of the friendly feeling towards the
allies I may mention the following fact ; the Bri-
tish Government-engaged some time since upwards
of 100 muleteers at Messina to accompany the mules
they had purchased to the Crimea. They have
lately returned to Messina in a British vessel. Six
'of these men went off to Reggio, where they re-
sided, but on arriving they were arrested and
beaten. The fact will be inquired into, and I
therefore forbear to say more. No additional
changes have been made in the Ministry, though
there has been great talk, and lists have been
handielabout. Ischitella lately declined an invita-
tion to dine with his Majesty, so that unless a
better feeling ensue it is scarcely likely that he
will form one of a new Government. The quarrel
between the British and the Neapolitan Govern-
ment is, of course, perfectly distinct from that of
the Sovereign with his people ; and, whatever turn
the former might have taken, the position of this
country would have remained the same in regard
to itself. As it is, public feeling has become yet
more irritated. A certain amount of desperation
has taken the place of that hope which the expected
approach of an allied fleet had produced, and,
wearied by oppression, there are numbers who
at all hazards would attempt to grasp at liberty.
The universal feeling is that of impatience of the
Bourbons. "We will not have them," is the gene-
ral voice ; and there is a daily and growing feeling
in favour of Murat leit is something to rally to ;
the name, if not the man, attracts ; the French
connexion attracts ; and, while the Mazzinians as
a party are defunct, all others seem disposed to
unite in calling upon the sort of Gioachimo. In
this state of agitation and suspense, of mutual dis-
trust and detestation, nothing is being done, and
people are ever waiting for a change.
I wish to call your particular attention to the
projected railway between Naples and Brindisi. It
has been regarded as a most desirable object, but
one difficult and doubtful in its accomplishment. I
think, however, that it may now be considered as
assured. The preparatory works have already
commenced, and the inauguration of the first
step will probably take place in the middle of
next month by the Hereditary Prince. I regret
to state that some details with which I had been
favoured by the Concessionaries are not by me,
but I may state that the plans and measurements
have received the Royal approbation, and that the
Royal consent has been obtained for the commence-
ment of the road. 51,000 shares have been already
disposed of, and the demands are`continual. The
company have a splendid suite of rooms in the
Strada Constantinopoli, and -your correspondent
was received with much attention and shown every
part of the establishment, which presented all the
appearance of serious and arduous work. When
completed—and public opinion rises daily in its
favour—it will be one of the most magnificent and
useful works in the Peninsula.
The treaty between this country and the United
States has just been signed, and Mr. Owen, I
am informed, considers that he has introduced
some entirely new points and privileges, which
I will mention. The indirect commerce has been
conceded. Soldiers are not to be billetted on
American citizens. There was a necessity for such
an article, for it has certainly happened that sol-
diers have been billetted on a British subject.
An important substitution has been made of some
word comprising " warehouses" for the term
" abitazioni," which wore formerly excluded by
treaty from search, except by the decision of a
tribunate legate. This last phrase, too, has been
changed for the more definite phrase "autoritd
guidiziaria," for under an absolute Government
anything may be " legale." To a request for an
extension of religious privileges, I am told that
it was answered, that the subject must not even
be discussed ; that no treaty could be concluded
on such grounds ; that there was the most per-
fect practical liberty in this kingdom, and that
it was impossible to bring forward ono Madiai
case in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. So
that, unsupported by the Prussian or the British
Minister, Mr. Owen felt himself compelled to de-
sist. Mr. Owen has derived much assistance from
merchants and others well informed on the subject
in drawing up his treaty, and he has not thought
it a condescension to consult them.
Great purchases have been made in grain, and at
the advanced price of 23A carlini the tomolo. No
decree has been issued for its exportation, and I
understand that it has not been pressed for. There
has, however, been a general expectation that it
would be conceded. Cheap bread is, however, a
most important means of keeping the Neapolitan
Lazzaroni loyal and tranquil.
The "Scala Franca" has been promised—a most
important concession to commerce, and a disposi-
tion manifests itself to liberalise the tariff. A com-
mercial commission has been long sitting.
Cholera has been on the increase ; 25 deaths
a-day are acknowledged.