The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-20 00:00:00

TOGETHER, WITH A LIST OF THE

KILLED AND WOUNDED.

Orders received by all News Agents, and at " THE
SUN" OFFICE, 112, Strand, London.

g --e-frimpi,* 114,4

LONDON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1854.

Further news from the Crimea. And this time
real " netcs ;" that is, to say, the information is
carried forward five additional days, and we are
now in possession of advices to the Bth instant,
while those previously received only extended
to the 3d. It will thus be seen that Lord RAG-
LAN, or the officers at the Crimea, are not respon-
sible for the delays that have taken place in the
transmission of intelligence—that, on the con-
trary, despatches were sent in due course on the
Bth instant. Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE it
was that, with that profound contempt for public
opinion of which he has recently given so many
striking proofs—that love of mystery, which is
regarded as an important part of the diplomatic
character, did not think it worth his while to avail
himself of the Electric Telegraph, or to send a
Tatar to Bucharest or Belgrade, or any point
where the telegraph is in operation. Thus it was
that the public anxiety was strained to so great a
degree of intensity, that such general excitement
prevailed amongst persons of all classes and ranks
in society. The Noble diplomatist should learn that
such conduct is not merely vexatious, buthighly cul-
pable. He thereby permits Russia to obtain the pri-
ority-, and to circulate its highly embellished, if nut ut-
terly false, statements throughout Europe for
days before any antidote can be received in the
shape of authentic tidings. This may be fraught
with very serious results. Other nations, misled
by erroneous accounts, may take steps hostile to
the interests of the Western Powers, which they
would afterwards gladly recall. We all recollect
how Austria committed itself by the congratula-
tions forwarded to France on the successes in the
Crimea, when the false rumours respecting the
fall of Sebastopol induced FRANCIS JOSEPH to
suppose that the power of his brother Emperor in
the Euxine had been permanently crippled.
Equally unfounded rumours may have a similar
effect on other Sovereigns, who may be induced to
commit themselves as greatly in favour of
NICHOLAS as FRANCIS JOSEPH did against him.
If any such result should follow, should un-
questionably be ascribed to the
gross
A.nabassador negligence
d.
g
an culpable apathy of the English
at Constantinople.
It may be said that there was nothing to re-
quire the despatch of a special messenger or a.
communication through the electric telegraph—
that the intelligence was not sufficiently important
o warrant the outlay. "We cannot, how-
ever, admit the argument. Anything that
would have appeased tke public curiosity
and satisfied the craving for authentic intelli-
gence would have been well worth the cost,
which would not constitute any very formidable
addition to the expenses of the war, which we

hope and believe the AUTOCRAT will speedily be
required to defray. Even the negative testi-
mony that would prevent tho circulation of
false reports would 4 be of vast importance

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to the community. We do not, however, propose
a private subscription to remedy these la,ches.
The Government should do its own work ; and
there is no reason why the communications may
not be materially expedited--first, by more fre-
quent telegraphic despatches ; and, secondly, by
placing a number of steamers, such as the Vivid,
&c., on the line between Constantinople and Mar-
seilles, so as to have arrivals, during the continu-
ance of the war, at least twice a week at the
latter port, without any delays during the passage.
The present advices have been received per the
Pharamond, which left Constantinople on the
10th, and reached Marseilles yesterday. We hear
from Balaklava to the Bth instant. At that
time " the siege works were fully protected by
entrenchments against attacks, and that the ma-
teriel amounted to 400 guns." No offensive
movement had been made during the interval
by Prince MENSCUIROFF. It was expected that
the firing would shortly commence, and that a
breach would be effected within 48 hours. 131-
laklava had been completely- fortified, and our
position was so strong that it could be maintained
against any possible attack that could be made,
even if the Russian forces were quadrupled.
The arrangements are said to be so perfect as
to leave no possible doubt of speedy and com-
plete success.
The defenders of Sebastopol are said to
be completely disheartened since their un-
expected defeat on the Alma, where, it is
said, they have lost between 7,000 and 8,000
men. Should anything be accomplished worthy
of a telegraphic communication, in the opinion of
Lord STRATFORD, we may have tidings in another
day or two. The present intelligence was twelve
days coming, and experience has shown that it
might be received in seven, or at the farthest
eight, days.

But for the all-absorbing military struggle in
which we are now engaged, the political one in
Denmark would have most deeply interested the
English public. And even now, while we await
in breathless suspense the next authentic tidings
from Sebastopol, we by no means forget the battle
of another kind at Copenhagen. They are indeed
parts of one great whole. The Danish King and
the traitors by whom he has surrounded himself
are but fighting in another form the Russian
battle. Their object is to secure a reversion to
the great Northern Barbarian of the state which
is the key almost of the Baltic, and also to sub-
vert its liberties all ready to the hand of a Czar.
MENSCHIKOFF in the Crimea and OERSTED in Den-
mark are almost equally the tools of NICHO-
LAS. The chief difference is that the one
is working openly for him, the other covertly ;
one would have secured for him, by violence as
well as by intrigue, the substantial power in
Turkey ; the other, with his Monarch, is aiming,
by a coup d'etat and the illegal subversion of a
constitution, to place ultimately the free and
brave Danes at the feet of the CZIR of Russia.
We trust that the unworthy Monarch and his
advisers have overshot the mark in their attempt
to subvert the constitution of 1848 ; a constitu-
tion as moderate as any Tory in this country could
desire. Probably all will depend upon the mili-
tary. The whole civil population are unanimous
against the illegal edict of July, which proposed
to do away with the House of Representatives,
and to bestow upon a biennial council of notables
very limited political powers. Public demon-
strations of several kinds, some even threatening
to the hypocritical King himself, have fully re-
vealed to the Cabinet that they havo not the
slightest chance with the population ; that should
they dismiss the present Parliament they would
have one even more unanimous in determination
to eject them from office. It is stated that the
military are being concentrated around the seat
of deliberations, but there is not the slightest
symptom at present of the representatives being
overawed. We trust this arises not only from
courage and a sense of duty to their country, but
also from a knowledge that the soldiers share with
the people the Danish love of liberty, and that
though they might 'kw relied on to protect the
person of the SOVEREIGN from popular violence,
yet they may be equally relied on to do no vio-
lence themselves to the constitutional representa-
tives of their father-land.
The Parliament itself has taken a noble and
decided stand. With not one dissenting voice it
carried a proposition to appoint a commission to
draw up an indictment against the Ministry. The
more eminent clergy, many of whom had been
elected as members, were unanimous in condem-
nation of the illegal and demoralising conduct of the
Ministry ; the speech of Bishop MONRA 13, a man
of 'great influence, who had been driven from his
bishopric for anti-Ministerial conduct last year,
was received with loud and even tumultuous
cheering. The address to the KING, which was
very moderate in tone, for the Danish Commons,
like ours in their dealings with CHARLES 1., seem
able to combine formal deference to Royalty,
with a firm determination to assert their rights,
was carried with one dissentient, and he opposed
it only as being of too negative a cha-
racter. But it was on the 14th that
the grand struggle took place, and, as our
readers will have seen, most decisive was the
victory of the Danish and constitutional party.
The second and final reading of the motion came
on, to appoint a council of nine to draw up articles
of impeachment against the Ministry for issuing
the illegal ordinance of July, and for financial
delinquencies, and it was carried by 80 to G,
although, of course, the whole power of the Go-
vernment was unscrupulously employed to obtain
a different result. Tf things can only take their
legal course, the Ministry must of course be driven
ignominiously from office, and, it is to be hoped,
driven into banishment also, or confined to a
prison. Mon who will lend themselves to the
subversion of a nation's liberties, and abet
the illegal schemes of a Monarch aiming at
despotic power ought, for example's sake, to suffer
the milder punishment which the advancing civi-
lisation of the North and West has substituted for
the scaffold.

The Danes, whose blood England so largely
shares, are a race naturally destined for free in-
stitutions, and all free countries must sympathise
with them in the present crisis ; but in addition
to this, the independence of the little kingdom is
a subject of European concern. The Sound dues,
about which so much has been said, are, in fact,
but a tribute to its weakness. It were probably
better that a tax paid as a kind of charity, by
powers who could so easily refuse it, should be
done away. It is pauperising to Denmark, and a
burden on the Baltic trade. The chief concern
of Europe is that the inlet to the great
Scandinavian Sea should belong neither
to Sweden, Russia, Germany, nor Denmark,
but to all the commercial world, and this
is best secured by the thorough iudepond-
ence of all the Baltic States. If Sweden trembles
b Deefno rmeartkh e b
oCwzsa rtto
him,if , Prussiaiie
will em embraces e him,
long have if
power to make the whole of that inland sea one
vast Sebastopol. We hope the news is
on its way
from this latter place, which will materially affect
the position of all the Scandinavian States, Sebas-

topol captured now, means Sweaborg, Ileisingfor
Cr* _istadt, Revel, and St. Petersburg itself cap-
tured next spring ; and, we trust, Poland restored
to nationality, the same or the following year.
The DAICIO3 take an interest in the tidings we are
waiting for, hardly inferior to our own. They
know that the liberation of the Black Sea is but
the precursor of the liberation of the Baltic, and
that Turkish freedom is most intimately connected
with Danish freedom. Nothing, indeed, is more
certain than that the first great successful blow at
the chief patron of tyranny will raise a European
hurrah which will make the ears of every despot
tingle. Could all natons but utter their feelings at
the " coming event," it would resemble the shout
at the acquittal of the seven bishops, which even
Royal ears could not misunderstand. The only
wonder is how the infatuated Danish Monarch,
with his Ministers, dare attempt to confiscate his
subjects' liberties at the very time when England
and France were pouring forth their blood and
treasure that the nations might be flee; and while
the fleets engaged in this holy war were floating
i❑ Danish waters.

The Courts-Martial on the Arctic Navigators
have been brought to a conclusion. Captains
M'CLunE and KELLETT, Commander RICH A RDS,
and Sir EDWARD BELCHER, were required to
answer, before a naval tribunal, for the abandon-
ment of the vessels entrusted to their respective
charges. The cases respecting the three first
mentioned distinguished officers was merely formal.
They had acted under the orders of superior
officers, and, indeed, had no option whatsoever.
The discoverer of the North-West passage, was
more critically circumstanced than the
others. Only four of his men volunteered
to remain, while it would have taken at
least twenty men to bring the vessel home.
The Investigator had been actually in the ice no
less than two years and nine months ; her extri-
cation was hopelesP, and Captain M'CLunE and
his brave followers well deserved "the highest
commendation for their exertions," an addition
which the Court very properly appended to its
verdict.

In Captain KELLETT'S and Commander
RICHARDS' case there was comparatively no re-
sponsiblity. These gallant officers had the di-
rect orders of Sir EDWARD BELCIIER, who did not
think proper to consult them on the matter.
That officer acted ex mere motto, on his own
sole authority, without according the slighest
weight to the opinions of men who,
although under his command, were just
as competent as himself to arrive at a sound
conclusion. This rather arrogant self-suf-
ficiency led to the result which might have been
different if the advice of his coadjutors had been
asked and taken into consideration. The distin-
guished officers were, of course, fully and honour-
ably acquitted, and, as in the case of Captain
M'CLURE, a short complimentary address was
made by the President of the Court to each on
receiving back the swords they had worn with so
much honour to themselves, and satisfaction and
advantage to their country.
Sir EDWARD BELCIIER was also acquitted, but
not quite so clearly or satisfactorily. The finding
was qualified by a declaration that "he should,
if circumstances admitted, have conferred with
Captain KELLETT." He was simply "acquitted,"
without the words " fully" or "honourably"
being inserted in the finding, and his sword was
returned without a single word of any kind from
the President. These were trivial but unequivo-
cal indications that all was not as it should be,
and that, although Sir EDWARD BELCIIER, had not
violated his instructions, or exceeded the discre-
tion reposed in him, he might have acted more
efficiently and judiciously. There was not sufficient
to warrant a direct censure, nor was there any-
thing to call for a compliment on his services.
Ho was on his trial, and he received the benefit of
the doubt.

It will be in the recollection of our readers,
that we by no means approved of the appointment
of Sir EDWARD BELCHER to this command. We
pointed out the high qualifications and pre-emi-
nent claims of Captain PENNY to the situation.
He it was who had discovered the first traces of
FRANKLIN ; and had there boon no jealousy of a
person merely in the merchant service, who could
not attach the magical initials R.N. to his name,
the doubts and fears of the nation might long
since have been set at rest. Ho was decidedly the '
fittest man for the undertaking ; but, an un-
fortunately he did not hold a coinanission
from " ►ly Lords," his pre-eminent merits could
not be recognised or acknowledged. It was
a matter of life and death, but like rival physi-
cians quarrelling over a sick-bed, everything
but " etiquette" was disregarded. Capt. AUSTEN
would not receive advice from a merchant cap-
tain, and FRANKLIN and his brave companions
were abandoned to their fate, and such a fate, in
these dreary and inhospitable regions.
Red-tapism prevailed. PENNY would not be
appointed, and again we behold a similar result.
Even Captain KznnErr would not be suffered to
intrude on the councils of Sir E. BELCIIBR,
and our ships are abandoned, and, what
is far worse, the bravo COLLINSON and his
companions left to bravo their trials alone. Will
men over profit by experience? Will the A.d-
miralty deign to lay aside its crotchets, and for
once act, in a matter of such vital importance, in
accordance with the dictates of common sense,
father than official precedents, or ridiculous
"etiquette." Can "My Lords," or any of their
subordinates, emancipate themselves from their
"red-tape" fetters, which seem even more binding
than " adamantine chrsins."

SIR BULWEE LYTTON- AND J3IS CHEAP

EDITIONS.

To THE EDITOR OP THE BUN.

SIR, —A libellous statement liutaing-been issued by
Messrs. S. Low and Son, in their Publishers' Circular
of the ICth instant, to the effect that —" It is currently
reported that the agreetnerkt between Sir Bulwer Lytton
and Mr. Routledge has been rescinded," we lose not a
moment in asking you to permit us, through the medium
of your widely-circulated columns, to give a most un-
qualified denial to Messrs. S. Low and Son's unwarrant-
able assertion. So far from there being the slightest
truth in thisattack upon our house, we most positively
and unequivocally assert, that not only does our agree-
ment wish Sir Bulwer Lytton remain intact, but that we
have fulfilled every engagement we entered into with
him. We have communicated with Sir Bulwer Lytton,
who is at present absent from town, but immediately
that we are in receipt of his answer we shall make it
public. We may also be allowed to add that, se far
from the issue of Sir Bulwer Lytton's works not answer-
ing, as Messrs. S. Low and Son bare insinuated, the
circulation has been quite equal to our expectations.—
We sae, Sir, your obedient servants,
GEO. ROUTLEDGE and CO.
2, Farringdon-street, Oct. 19, 1854.

COLLISIONS AT SEA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —The melancholy fate of the Arctic steamer re-
minds us of an expedient that has been resorted to by
seamen of old, to stop a leak of a magnitude similar to
that by \which the Arctic foundered.
To stop such a leak, a sail should be brought over it ;
to do thi a, the bights of two ropes, weighted, should be
passed u, ider the bow and keel and brought to the leak,
one rope abaft it and the other before it. The ends of
the ropes. should then be bent to the clews of the sail ;
two ropes should else be bent to the oaring cringlee.
The sail sr) prepared should be put overboard ; the ropes
leading m vier the keel being hauled upon, will bring the
sail into tolerably close contact with the planking
around t'ae leak ; iu this position of the sail it can, by
slinging a man and putting him overboard with some
wooden battens of suitable length and substance, nails
and bar amer, be secured around the margin of the leak,
whi,eh :may be at, or little below the water line.
Whe, i there are many passengers, as was the case in
the sc,tic, they should be sent over to the side, with
weigh As that can be transported, opposite the leak, so as
to giv e .the vessel a heel, that the leak may be brought
furtlif r out of the water for the purpose of securing the
sail. The Arctic was injured on the starboard bow ;
the pa ,a3engers should have assembled on the port
I quarto'.
The, eak, as described, being to a great extent
stopped„ the damage can be sufficiently repaired, by
plar.kin g over all, to enable the vessel to proceed on
her voy age,.
From the increase of shipping a collision is of
daily oc cur rence ; would it not, therefore, be well for
passenge ir ships to be prepared with some convenient
means b er stopping a leak ready for immediate use, in
the eves it of such aa accident as that which has befallen
the Arc tic
Oet( A- Per 19th.

A NAVAL OFFICER.