The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1863.

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A scurrilous poster used to be industriously
placarded about the streets of London, some five or
six years ago, asking, in very large type—the
writer of it, perhaps, thought most pertinently,
though hundreds of thousands of other people
could not but think, on the other hand, most im
pertinently—ls LORD CARDIGAN A HERO ? Well,
after so long an interval has elapsed an authorita-
tive, it should even be said official, answer has been
vouchsafed at last to that flagrant, nay, insolent
inquiry. The answer has been vouchsafed at last,
and it comes to us from the lip f the Lord
Chief Justice. "Is Lord CARDIGAN a Hero r
sneeringly have asked his traducers, sneeringly
above all, has asked his arch-traducer, the Hon.
Colonel CALTHORPE. YES ! HE IS A HERO !
That is the reply given yesterday in the Court
of Queen's Bench, in the midst of the earnest
applause of the people who heard the judgment—
that is the re-,)y given at length to Colonel CAL-
THORPE, and to those congenially hearkening to
his baseless aspersions—that is the reply given
yesterday in the Court of Queen's Bench by the
Lord Chief Justice of England ! And nobly
did Sir ALEXANDER COCKBURN preface his
unaffected tribute of admiration to the Leader of the
famous Light Cavalry Charge at Balaklava, by say-
ing, with a fine and scornful irony, " Those who
criticise the conduct of men placed in such trying
circumstances would do well to ask themselves how
they would have acted in a similar state of things.
(Subdued expression of applause.) And when we
think what was the state of things in the scene of
action on that memorable day—when we make
allowance for the confusion which must have
existed--when we reflect that the line which the
earl led so gallantly up to that battery was all
but struck down and annil,ilated by that awful
fire, and that a mere handful of men remained,
who were at that dreadful moment in immi-
nent peril of utter destruction—and when we
consider that their only chance of saving them-
selves, and of avoiding a mere idle sacrifice of brave
and valuable lives was to get away (as every man
there seems to have done as quickly as possible) from
spot where it was idle and hopeless to remain,—
henall these circumstances are taken into consi-
deration, and we reflect further on the confusion
which mast have existed in the midst of such
appalling danger, and appears to have existed
even among those who have now come forward
to support the censures upon the conduct or
Lord CARDIGAN, we cannot but think that
though no doubt his conduct
as a general
is open to criticism, it ought to b a
to gennerous and
liberal criticism, not one which seeks
on his courage, or his honour as an offieeratig ma
(Re-
newed expressions of applause). I repeat I cannot
help rejoicing—as the reputation and honour of every
one who took, part in that great scene ought to be
dear to US ail—(repeated applause)—l rejoice that
this opportunity has been afforded of setting the
noble earl rzght in the estznzeion, not only of his own
profession, but of his countrymen in general." And
How—is it now sneeringly asked by Colonel CAL-
THORPE and congenial spirits, say men like Mr.
ALEXANDER KINGLAKE, the member for Bridge-
water, men who are so fond of flinging idly
about them these detestable imputations upon the
physical courage of individuals whose personal
valour one would think has been placed by events
far beyond the reach of even one momentary
doubt, individuals like the Earl of CARDIGAN and
the Emperor NAPOLEON lll.—How, it may now be
sneeringly asked by Colonel CALTHORPE and
friends, How has the noble Earl's character b.eL
really "put right," as the Lord Chief-Justice
presses it, in the estimation of his broths' 601- 11
diers and of his fellow countrymen generally ?