The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-03 00:00:00

TEE FORTIFICATIONS OF SEBASTOPOL.

The following letter has been addressed to the editor
of the Times:—
Sir,—ln his examination yesterday by the committee
for inquiring into the state of the army before Sebastopol,
Sir John Burgoyne broadly stated that theßussian works
before that place were not constructed according to my
system of fortification. As this statement was made
under an evident misconception—which is, I dare say,
shared by many others—of what I did propose, perhaps
you will allow me to state as briefly as I can in what
my system really corldsts.
My first proposal was to do away entirely with all
bastions, raveling, and all that complicated system of
outworks, which are not only so enormously expensive,
but have always hitherto proved to be only traps to in-
sure the defeat of the besieged, and, according to the ad-
mission of engineers themselves, render the reduction of
every fortified place a matter f certainty within 21 or
31 days, as the case may be.
suplpnly of glieuouf
nts. this
Tlhepy trocpoossedlittotlseu—bsotnitlyutel27. unlimited
posed to place these behind a simple paptp of
tea : TI
till 821 1:
1,000 guns consequently cost only 30,0001.,eatnd Iwoefaoprttuhlhde.
besiegers. .
consequently
been have not had
enablework itnhesmuctho nouvmerbemarstcahnadndi n overpower the position
e fiasre
time too
wall, or wet ditch should be placed
such as a concealed
over
.eehinh
was O nsem other
a which condition
wgs , that s r eaqaobstacle nixed
p wheno
f thes
oemrg
ptroopleareeepduipn
have
eg
ethone
cheaper T h
et
hitea.mun Russians
Imayneessr at
f effective—only ctive o n 1 y i t moat
tbbheaetdwbeees subduedni e
gthe r
ses et couldh geun fires
naooebntfadkstl
ahttnohseotpec.opkall,tadTtcwa coehwh.
ekilnyi neogr paa
sr tsyo,
aexypede
was nefolected in this instance.
availrylolliattirgetogatrhreisofnu:lteost
employ,extent, hinays
been obliged to a recourse to sorties, and
stsole, when a material one would $ a living ob-
time of peace, and that have been both
It is, perhaps, a misnomer
prin-
ciples a system of fortification.
It is a mere application
se
but it certainly is on these sense to the defence of !places,
principles, and these only,
that the defence of
; and so Sebastopol has hitherto been con-
ductedeven in my
Ownmind, literallyis this the case that I never,
alteration or improvement have been able to suggest an
in the line and mode of de-
fence adopted
by the Russians.
It is possible,
indeed probable, that the defenders of
Seba,top I o never heard of me or of my works, but I feel
convinced that it is because they, in 1854, have come to
the same conclusion that I arrived at 10 years ago that
the place did not fall into the harOs of the Allies, as Sir
John Burgoyne expected it would, in October last. And
it appears to me to be equally certain that almost all the
mistakes that have been made have arisen from our en-
gineers expecting that the Beige would be conducted on
both sides according to the antiquated principles taught
in our schools.
It is too late now to remedy this error as far as Sebaa-
topol is concerned, but though the lesson has been some-
what rudely taught us, we shall have no reason to regret
the price it has cost us if we avail ourselves, as we should
do, of the experience we are thus gaining.
Your obedient servant,

J. tERGUBSON.
-30,10061714)14% 31.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.
under ma management of Mr. Buck/tone.
THIS EVENING.
Will be performed THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. Charactera by
/deem Sims- Reeves, Weiss, Manvers, and Farquharson; Miss H,
Gordon, and Mrs. Sim.tßeeves.
.After which. a new Extravaganza, called THE NEW HAY-
MARKET SPRING MEETING, 1855.
To conchae wi:h A fuss IN THE DARK.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. CifAura KW.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY.
To be followed by THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal
character by Mr. C. Kean.
To conclude with (17th time) a Romance, in two ts. entitled
THE MULETEER OF TOLEDO; or, King, Queen. aacn Knaye.
d

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Dtrectress, Madame Celesta.
THIS EVENING,
Wiil be performed KING O'N'EIL Characters by Messrs. C
Selby, Garden, Parcel e, J. Bland, L. 'Murray, &c,. Mrs. L. Mur-
ray, Miss Wyndham, &c.
To conclude with A NEW EDITION' OF THE FAIRY TALES
OF MOTHER GOOSE, with numerous highly-coloured Illustrations.

RIVAL OLYMPIC. THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed THE WELCH GIRL. Characters by Messrs.
Emery, Leslie, and Danvers; Miss Stephens, and Miss Ternan.
After which, the Cornedietta„ called LAW FOR L DIES. Cha_
messrs. A. Wigan, G. Vining, 11. Cooper, Lanvers, and
racters by
Miss Castletoss.
oby the Fairy Extravaganza, called TBE YELLOW
DWARF AND THE ICING OF THE GOLD MINES.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs.
THIS EVENING,

will be performed Donlzettl's Opera of THE DAUGHTER OF
TEE REGIMENT.
After which, KING QUEER AND HIS DAUGHTERS THREE.
To conclude with THE WATERMAN.

ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke.
Second night of a Grand Hibernian Ballet !
THIS EVENING.
The interesting Equestrian Drama by Nelson Lee, called, THE
FIELD AGAINST THE FAVOURITE I
After which, the SCENES In the CIRCLE, including Mr. W.
Cooke's Dwarf Elephants.
To conclude with a Grand Ballet, by Mrs. G. Healey, called, THE
LAKES OF KILLARNEY.
A new Military Act Drop, painted by Fenton, has been added to
the Embellishments.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West. Acting Manager, Mr. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director.
w. Cooke. jun.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON Immo&
Tits DAT _-3[orninc 33 min.after 2 f Evening 48min.aft. 2
To-Mositoir7-Morning 6 mindifter 3 j EvLning24min. aft. 3

WEATHER.—Bus Onica, May. 3.
TWAILIKOMBTIEB, TN MS BRAD&
sA—highest since noon yesterilay.
40—lowest this morning and during the night.
57—this day. at noon.
B...aomrrica, 29•72—a fall of nearly half an inch since
Tuesday.
tra u, N.N.E.—Light breeze, with very fine, sunshiny
weather.

_

_~

L

Ufl

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1855.

The petition of the members of the Nationa'
and Constitutional Association to the House of
Commons, now in course of signature, is a re-
markable document. As a literary composition,
notwithstanding its striking merits, it may be open
to criticism. The abettors of the men, and of the
system it so ominously arraigns, may take excep-
tion to its length and redundancies, and sneer at
the occasional quaintness of its style, but it is,
nevertheless, a document of unusual weight and
of even historic importance. Such a petition
could only have been written, at all events
adopted, at a critical period, and under the pres-
sure of intolerable grievances. Its :very defects
as a composition invest it, in fact, with a deeper
interest, and drive further home its barbed truths.
Broaching no subversive theories, but thoroughly
constitutional in tone, the petition carries with it
the conviction not only that its allegations in the
main are correct, but also that its originators are
plain, middle-class men, earnestly discharging
what they conceive to be an imperative duty in
the consciousness of general sympathy with their
views and objects. How correct their impres-
sions are as to both particulars the petition itself
will sufficiently demonstrate.

Adverting at the outset to the bitter feelings
with which they have regarded the late disasters,
the petitioners state that these feelings have been
intensified by the conviction that the disasters
in question have not been unavoidable, but have
arisen from the guilt and folly of their rulers—from
the prostitution of various offices of the State—
the misapplication and waste of the resources of
the country—the appointments of senility and in-
capacity—the vicious preference shown by certain
families to their kindred and supporters—the cor-
ruption, extravagance, and mismanagement of
Governmental departments, and the absence of
forethought, economy, and order, in the conduct
of the public service. A vivid, and, in the main,
a correct picture is next drawn, of what has been
witnessed in connection with the war. Irresolu- •
tion, timidity, and treachery at the head of affairs,
where decision, courage, and sincerity were impe-
ratively required. A noble and costly fleet frus-
trated thereby in its chief objects, and a gallant
army wasted by delay and pestilence, hurried off
without provision` and preparation, at the worst
possibl? time, to probably the least eligible spot,
on a most desperate mission. " Neither order nor
regulation in transports, in supplies, in victuals,
in clothing, in shelter for our troops, but,
un-
heard-of neglect and waste, the consequences of
which have been that our soldiers have filled the
field with their carcases; roads they made not, shel-
ter they found not, victuals, -
• 2clothing, and
medicine they had not ; graves alone they
had tvhen hands could he spared to dig them
So, now, when the fierceness of the struggle has
come, our numbers are scanty and our men en-
feebled, while the strength of the foe is increased
daily." Public honours, it is next asserted, they
have seen made void and inglorious by being un-
worthily bestowed, while the doctrine of M
teria 1 responsibility has been derided, and power
continues to be exercised without responsibility to
Parliament or the . Crown. Tile heart of tho
people, it, is said,. is turned away by reason of
these things, and: the enemies of Great Britain
tfhltal)b—her alliance is spurned, and her name
degraded)

The
Petitioners, therefore, declare they have no
e
confid
ow
the existing Government, which, in
their opitkiou, ' •
t nothing, but rather becomes
omt ear worse, so t7l/petitioners grow seriously
a.
alarmed for the ef:t.
and honour of the country,
as well as its prospefsy;tenidverting to the blame
being laid on the
represent themselves, an its tbooYi Government Who
it is pointedly enough remarkedt d instruments,
true "that we believe evil rule hat
this is so far
rs
perpetuated by an evil system, aia""u alone be
groan
it ;" for which reason, it is added, « out of
wa
honourable House to amend the Bypartapour
change the rulers." The petitioners next declarea
and
their respect for constituted authority, but slik
mit there are times when the vcice arta
must be heard crying, Govern us more wisely ?
and that it is possible "submission may become a
and order the worst disorder,"
nei"Zraixtitiotersthen go on to state that they}
invade the prerogative of the,
gc,ges of the aristocraq, since
ne.
corrupt- and factious
iiiitud iffiztitit 1 • '
mime Wm