The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-11 00:00:00

takeably as the Times would wish us to believe,
he should have received the thanks of Parliament,
or been advanced to one of the proudest titles
that can be borne by a British subject, that of a
K.C.B. ; or that, if he hung wilfully back at
Alma, he should, in common with poor CATHCART,
whom nobody will accuse of poltroonery, have
received the tribute of respect of his experienced
leader, nor had special notice been taken of his judi-
cious arrangements of the reserve at Inkerman.
We have no private or personal objects to pie-
mote either in vindicating or damaging the repu.
tation of this gallant soldier. We seek not his
promotion, nor have we any special favourite
whom we would desire to substitute in his
place. What we have said has been wrung
from us by a sense of justice, and a tho-
rough conviction that, whenever the fortune
of war may cast the onus on Sir RICHARD
ENGLAND, he will show himself inferior to none
in all the qualifications of a general, and more
particularly in the personal daring and pluck,
which is the especial characteristic of the British
soldier, and the absence whereof would be, indeed,
a matter for astonishment.

We are truly rejoiced to be enabled to direct
attention to an announcement which we have ex-
tracted from the Inverness Couritr, to the effect
that all differences have been adjusted
between the Inverness and Elgin Junction and
Great North of Scotland Railway Companies, and
that they have, even at the eleventh hour, agreed
to an amicable apportionment of the disputed terri-
tory between Nairn and Huntly. This is as it should
be. Nothing is, or can be, more injurious to the
interests alike of the companies and the com-
munity in general than those internecine con-
iiets. We are aware that it requires
a considerable amount of magnanimity to make
the concessions that may be required on either
side ; and that too frequently the most im-
portant interests have been sacrificed rather
than assent to such moderate views. Tho Direc-
tors of these Companies have, however, acted
differently—and by so doing have entitled
themselves to the thanks of the com-
munity, and, what is at the present mo-
ment of greater consequence, the consideration
of Parliament. Their conduct will, we have no
doubt, be duly appreciated, and receive the ample
allowances it so eminently merits.

LATEST NEWS.

THE SIEGE OF SEB.ASTOPOL.

We have received the follow ing from our cor-

respondent at Marseilles :

"MAUSEILLES, SATURDAY EVENING.
" The Thabor, with dates from Constantinople
of the 30th ult., arrived here at noon to-day.
" She brings intelligince from Balaklava down
to the 2Gth ult., at which time the weather in

the Crimea was wet and stormy.
" The Russian fire against tho French position
was very violent, but fresh guns were being dis-
embarked and quantities of ammunition.
" The Russians made incessant sorties, but ti]e
French repulsed them all, and wero advancing.
" The French outposts had been pushed much
nearer to Sebastopol.

The Russians worn constructing huts for their

,roopa in the valley of the Chernaya."

The following telegraphic summary of the news
brought by the Thabor has been received in

Paris

MARSEILLES, SATURDAY EVENING.

" It is positively asserted that at a Council of
War, held on the 28th ult., Goneral Canrobert
had decided that a great battle should be fought
on the 2,1 of December. The army was full of
enthusiasm.

" The fire of the batteries against Sebastopol
had beei resumed with vigour, the last parallel
had been finished, and the works had reached
within a hundred metres of the place.

"A geleral assault was considered as very near.
"On the 23d, after a sudden attack, the English

surprised and spiked 16 Russian guns:,

The Minister of War has received the following
despatch from the General-in-Chief of the army of

the East :

" BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Nov. 20.
"The weather has decidedly set in for rain, which
interferes greatly with every description of convey-
ance, and with our operations before tho place.
Nevertheless, the construction of our new batteries
and the modifications which we are making in our
old ones proceed rapidly enough. It is not cold,
and the Russian army must suffer more than we do
from the rain. The bringing up of its supplies by
roads which have become very difficult is a work of
great labour. We, on the contrary, aro largely
provided. The fleet is in safe shelter."

In an anticipated sitting the German Diet has
to-day acceded unanimously, with the exception
•f one voice, which abstained from voting, to the
additional article of the Treaty of Berlin of the
20th of April.

A correspondent writes from Frankfort, De-

cember 7:—
" Public opinion takes the liveliest interest in
the success of every proceeding which tends to
bring Germany and the Western Powers together
more completely, and on this account it has warmly
applauded the conclusion of the Treaty of the 2d
of December. No one doubts but that the Diot
will give its assent to the additional article, and to
all the measures proposed by Austria.
" Prussia has pronounced in this sense, aid she
will draw with her all those States whose policy
has as yet been hesitating.
"It is believed that the decision will be made
before the end of the week."

bofor• Sebastopol up to that dato.

BERLIN, SUNDAY.
A telegraphic despatch from St. Petersburg,
dated yesterday, announces that Prince Menschi-

koff, in a report to the. Emperor dated December
1, states that nothing of importance had occurred

THE GERMAN DIET.
BERLIN, MONDAY, DEC. 11.
The Germanic Diet unanimously adhered on
Saturday to the additional article of the treaty of
the 20th April.

thereby secured on the side of Ger.
Austria is