The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-02 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1854.

The most sanguine anticipations that have
hitherto been indulged in respecting the probable
proceedings of the Allied Forces in the Crimea
have been far surpassed by the glorious reality.
Never have the troops of France and England
acted more nobly, or achieved a more brilliant

triumph, or rather series of triumphs, than on
the recent occasion when they heaped humiliation
on the head of the un conscientious disturber of
the peace of nations, and destroyed the means of
future aggression. We are literally astounded
by the magnitude and importance of the events
that have occurred.

The extraordinary rapidity with which results
have been attained within a few days, which in

byegone times it would have taken as many months
to accomplish, seems almost incredible; and yet we
have every reason to believe that not only has there
beena.c,omplete victory in apitched battle, in which
no less than one hundred thousand men were en-
gaged, but that it was succeeded by a no less decisive
and sanguinary encounter within a few days, and
that within a week from the forward movement,
and eleven days from disembarkation, the great
object of the campaign was accomplished. Sebas-
topol itself had fallen (!), and with all its stores
and munitions of war—nay, more, with the en-
tire navy floating in its waters--was in the hands
of the Allies ! Within a fortnight from the pe-
riod when the Union Jack and Tricolour were dis-

played at Varna were they riding triumphantly
above the Russian Eagles on the citadel and bat-
teries of Sebastopol ! What was the most
speedy exploit of former ages to this ? How
fully are the gallant Allies entitled to
paraphrase the boast of C-ESAR by exclaiming,
" Venimus, vidimus, vicimus."
With so much to tell it is difficult to decide
on what point to commence—how to narrate the

glories of our gallant troops, who have not
merely fully maintained but enhanced the

glories of the British name, while their brethren
of " La Belle France" proved themselves worthy
descendants of the heroes of Jena and Marengo.
Even " The Sun of Austerlitz" shone not on
braver or more efficient soldiers. Neither could

fail in the presence of the others. There was a
noble emulation that insured a triumph, and the
honourable feeling was experienced by the
humblest men in the respective ranks.
The first battle took place, as had been anticipated,
on the 20th inst. The heights above Alma, where
an entrenched camp had been formed by the
Russians, was the scene of the sanguinary encoun-
ter. The whole of the Muscovite force in the
Crimea (including the garrison of Sebastopol) was
probably engaged. Lord RAGLAN estimates the
numbers of the enemy at from forty-five to fifty
thousand men. It is quite clear that this com-
prised nearly, if not all, their strength, and that
the expected reinforcements must have arrived.
Prince MENSCHIKOFF manifestly set his all upon
the cast. But in vain. The Allies
arrived
about one o'clock iu the afternoon of the 20th.
The attack was forthwith commenced, and the
victory was achieved an hour and a half before
sunset, or about half-past 4 o'clock p.m.

Of this there can bo no possible doubt.
It rests on the highest official authority,

There is not only a telegraphic despatch

from Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, but also

one from Lord RAGLAN, the one confir•

matory of the other. These most important and
highly interesting despatei.es will be found in, ex-

tenso in another part of this day's impression, and
we must say that the Duke of NEWCASTLE has
entitled himself to the thanks of the community
for the promptitude with which he gave to the
country the intelligence respecting which such
intense anxiety had been excited. We can easily
conceive the desperate character of the conflict,
when within so short a time—about three or three
and a half hours strong a position,