The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—Your article on this subject was exceedingly op-
portune. Of course the trial itself ought not to be pre-
judged in any way. But it is precisely while a trial of the
kind is pending, and while, therefore, public attentian is
being directed to the subj-ict, that the two following points
ought to be considered :—One refers to the constitution of
courts-martial in general ; the other to the question whether
the points put in issue at the present court-martial were
sufficiently compz ehensive to insure that the real charge
should be investigated and settled, and substantial justice
done. Passing over the first point for the present, and
confining myself to a general -view of the second, I would
beg to point out that the parties really aggrieved by the
prisoner, or the representatives of the aggrieved parties,
ought to be allowed by they law to prosecute, or at least to
consent to settle the form of what is in reality the indict-
ment brought against him. I refer not to Colonel Crawley
in particular, and merely mention him as representing the
defendant in such cases. There i, a very prevalent opinion
abroad that courts-martial, where a superior officer is the
defendant, and an inferior or a non-oommissioned officer or
a private soldier is the aggrieved party—are intended
chiefly to exonerate and whitewash the former, and that
the latter stands no fair chance. The constitution of
courts-martial is the worst possible for o;etting at truth
through the medium of evidence and doing justice upon
the merits. It is to be hoped that the pen ding trial of
Colonel Crawley, end how it may, will be instrumental
bringing about a salutary reform.—
/ am, Sir, yours obe-
diently, ONE or THE PITBLIC,

THE COMING WINTER,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,_Severe winters invariably follow the class of
h which has chart;Ncterised the present autumn•
Highwinds have prevaile,i, with excess of rain, and the
ernigaptherer
ture above the aver..lge- Parallel seasons to the
present
occurred iu 1837.8, 184-5, 1854-5, and 1860-1.
temperature
In 18.18, a great frost set in (~pan. 1) ; this continued two
months. On Jan. 20 the thernio.tneter was at 3 deg. below
zero. In February the Thames at, d the Severn were par-
tially frozen over.

welenksl.B4,s, hard weather
March
wasth began
ecold on F
estonreel.c.':, aenvednlaesxtceededfoinugr
the memorable cold March of 1837. OL' the 13th of that
month
the thermometer stood 11 dug. Fahre
In 1845, severe trust commenced on Jan. 16, and February
was the coldest ever known in England ; Feb. .18 registered
26 deg. below freezing point. This frost continued six
weeks. Feb. 19, Thames and Severn again partia,43r frczen
over,
In I`6o, intensely cold weather set in on Dec. 17> Bn.ll
continued with great severity until th© third week in
January. Christmas-day found the thernionacter.2 deg,
below zero,
1 he prevailing weather throughout the autumn periods of
the above years partook of similar description to the present
autumn—warm, rainy, and boisterous.
I am of opinion, therefore, that we shall have a winter of
most intense frost. Whether its advent will be in December,
or deferred till atter Christmas, cannot now be stated; bu
the longer the inclement season which I anticipate i!3
layed, the greater will be, I apprehend, its unremittivg
severity.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Trioxis L. PLANT,
Member of the British Meteorological Society.
Birmingham, Nov, 24, 1863.