The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-29 00:00:00

lonian Islands to Greece, or even about

the determination of England to deliver
them up. The trust may be inconvenient, it is
true. That it has long been inconvenient there
can be little doubt whatever. Nay, it would
clearly be matter of congratulation to our Govern-
ment if they were well rid at last of a re-
sponsibility in every respect so very vexatious
of its kind as this one of the lonian Pro-
tectorate. Nevertheless, it should manifestly
be an inexorable stipulation beforehand with
France, with Russia, even with Austria, that if
transferred from the independent protectorate of
England for absorption into the sovereignty 01
Greece, the lonian Islands should be secured in
the latter character or position, namely, as con-
stituting thenceforth an integral part and parcel
of the Greek kingdom.
Let the agreement of the European Powers
to the relinquishment by England of her
Protectorate over the lonian Islands be
first of all assured—let France, and Russia,
and Austria, and the rest of the Powers of
Europe stand pledged with England to the
lasting recognition of the fact that those lonian
Islands constitute a recognised province of the
Kingdom of Greece—and then, but not earlier,
the ;English Ministry having been previously em-
powered by the British Parliament to open
negotiations leading to these among other satis-
factory results—may talk about their readiness to
hand over the lonian Islands to Greece. As mat-
ters at present stand it is seriously to be hoped
that the noble earl, her MAJESTY'S Foreign Secre-
tary, has in no way been precipitate in pledging
himself to any final course of proceeding
to this end, even though it may have been
expressed with diplomatic ambiguity con-
ditionally ! The secession of the lonian
Islands to Greece, or rather the yielding up of our
Protectorate over those Islands, with a view to
their subsequent absorption into the Kingdom of
Greece, ought to be left, as we trust and shall yet
believe that it has been left, by Earl RUSSELL, by
the PALMERSTON Cabinet, for discussion in the
two Houses of Parliament immediately after the
assembling of the Legislature early in the now fast
approaching month of February.
Meanwhile pending those inevitable discussions
in the Lords and the Commons of England, it can-
not but be interesting to cast a wistful glance of
retrospect over the recorded votes of the
Greek People in the recent plebiscite. For
AMEDEE, for Prince ALFRED or GARIBALDI,
for ALFRED or ABDEL KADER, for M`MAHON,
one vote each was recorded. For the Count de
FLANDERS, and for ALFRED Or the Duke
D'AUMALE three votes respectively. Seven for the
Duke of LEUCHTENBURG. Twelve for Prince
ALFRED or Death ! Ninety for Prince
ALFRED or the Republic. For Prince ALFRED,
simply and solely, and without any alter-
native, as King of GREECE, NINE THOUSAND AND
EIGHTY-FOUR votes were given in eagerly by the
population. Such a tribute has never before been
offered to a remote and apparently alien race. It
is hard even now to believe that it has been offered
in vain after all.

The accounts now published of the great battle
on theßappahanock will be scanned with interest.
Fredericksburg has in consequence of it become a
name which will not be forgotten in American his-
tory, for, whatever the ultimate fortune of the war,
it will be known as the spot cn which two vast
armies of the divided old Union fought one of their
greatest battles. It was not a fair stand-up fight
in the open field, however ; it was the attack and
defence of a series of the strongest works. The
position of the Confederates behind Fredericksburg,

an amphitheatre of numerous hills, par

wooded, is one of considerable natural strength,
and by the mismanagement of the %Var•office,
BURNSIDE was not enabled, as soon as he had
arrived at Fredericksburg, to cross the River,
and make his attack at once. Hence the
Confederates had had ample time to strengthen
nature by art; and the hardworking veterans of so
many Southern battles, labouring with all the
energy of confidence in Generals of proved ability,
had really made the defences almost impregnable.
Their first and outer line was the rim: this, how-
ever, it must have been well known, could be
passed as rivers always have been by armies. Still
the fighting there would delay the advance, and
increase the time for full preparation, and it was
evidently thus used. The grand defence was in the
rear of Fredericksburg.
It seems BURN SIDE was so fully aware of the
difficulties of the route to Richmond by Acquia
Creek as his base of operations, and through Frede-
ricksburg, that his own judgment was distinctly
opposed to it. But again the fatal necessity of po-
litical considerations compelled a Northern General
to obey the behests of civilians. The evil seems in-
curable. Non-military electors seem unable to com-
prehend the necessity of delay in war. Treason
and treachery begin to be whispered. Generals
must advance to action w ith the knowledge that if
they do not they shall make enemies of friends, and
that, if they do, the enemies before them in the field
will compel them to disappoint those friends.
BURNSIDE submitted to the political necessity.
The probability was, that he must sacrifice thou-
sands of men to prove to his own friends, by facts,
what he could not convince them of by reasoning;
the possibility was, a bare one, that he might succeed,
and obtain a victory where he looked for a defeat.
He made therefore the best arrangements he could.
He forced, as he doubtless expected to do, a passage
of the river without much difficulty, and found
himself on the 12th on Fredericksburg, ready to
commence on the 13th the grand attack on the
works behind it.

One reads with melancholy interest the story
of each division of the Federal army marching up
to the Balaklava and Irikerm in in the hills of Fre-
dericksburg. It was, except that it was infantry
work, most like the light cavalry feat at B ilak-
lava, or, most of all, like the attacks of the Russians
on Kars, with the grand difference, however, that
to starve the defenders was out of the question.
With the exception of General Franklin's division,
which had more opportunity for man ccuvriag on
the extreme Federal left, the Federal troops seemed
to move forward but to be mowed down. There was
no want of courage. But an instance or two of not
more than temporary disorganisation occarred ; they
were resolved to carry the murderous batteries, but
the batteries were not to he carried by any courage.
They were too well placed, and the evidence of
Confederate skill in their cmstru3tion, and of
the steadiness of Northern courag ‘, is equally
II shown by the number of killed and wounded.
Nothing appears to have been left undone on
ether side, that
brave and able men could do. The
l result Only allowed that the military man was
Tight; and that however Washington,
urgent political consi-
' derations might be at
l
to overrule ashington, they ought not
military reties
in
on Richmond is military matters.
, The aspect of
this attempt
ls. The
any-
thing but encouraging to th® ved
last
attack failed within half a score
miles of the city.
This one has failed at the climatic,
Of 60 miles.
A short time ago the communications
-rnm the
South showed that a double attack at least was ex.
Ipected. It was assumed as certain that, parallel 1710,