The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-03 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1854.

Many conflicting rumours are circulated re-
specting the state of affairs in the Crimea and be-
fore Sebastopol. The absence of official intelli-
gence, the perverse and obstinate silence of the
Government, not only allows a priority of several
days to the exaggerated statements of Prince MEN-
SCEIIKOFF, properly dressed up to suit the Russian
taste, but enables interested speculators to invent
plausible narratives for the purpose of influencing
the money market, and the prices of the national
securities. It would appear as if, henceforward,
we were to be dependent for every particle of in-
telligence from the seat of war to " private enter-
prise, "—that her MAJESTY'S Ministers were to
receive large salaries for doing little, a system that
apparently suits their complaints as well as it did
that of Mr. SAMUEL WELLER.
Thus it is that the accounts respecting the
magnitude of the reverses sustained by the Allies
I.°'n the attack under General LIPEANDI have
been so sturdily insisted on, notwithstanding the
poi:erfnl reasons for supposing that, if not wholly
u trite, they were at least " gross exaggerations,"
and that any contest that could have taken place
was merely an affair of outposts,something in
the direction of Eu
at •
Light Dragoons or
detPachor(lia, against a squadron of
g
reinforcements of the Russians
to watch the advancing
This is the more
probable, from the circumstance
with the heavy loss of the English,
Tethahevaatirythe defeat,
, has been
so prominently put forward.
back of the party, until they could rel:re falling
i
ance from the French cavalry in their immaesdsiisatte-
neighbourhood, would, as we know from ex e
tience, be quite sufficient to induce the Russians'
to claim a very decided and important victory.
If the affair took place at Balaklava, it must
have been known before the departure of the
Trent, and it is equally certain that, however
closely the Government may shroud itself in mys-
tery, a matter so important as the capture of even
a single redoubt in our lines, or even the pen-
dency of a short conflict, must have leaked out
from some of the crew or passengers of that veils],
*ld been already announced in this country.
Any material damage to the English or Fren,al
'lest, which rests on the same authority, woad
undoubtedly have been known. But that is

Should even the Russian statements be partially
verified, there would be nothing to shake our
opinion as to the final result, which might be de-
layed for a few days, but could not be averted.
The outside estimate of the reinforcements do not
exceed 30,000 men, and probably less than half
the number would be much nearer the truth.
But the Allies have already received a much
greater accession to their numbers, while others
are en route, whose co-operation may speedily be
anticipated. The Allied Forces now in the
Crimea of English, French, and Turks, including
the marines and seamen that have been drafted
from the Fleet, in consequence of the blockading of
the entrance to the harbour of Sebastopol, amount
to at least 100,000 fighting men, the best,
perhaps, that could be found in the world,
while those of the enemy are not merely deficient
in quality, but in numbers. We have, in fact,
every advantage now on our side, and nothing,
humanly speaking, can prevent the capture of the
Russian stronghold. If the alleged 30,000 under
LIPRA-NDI were doubled it would not avert the
certain consummation.

Meanwhile, the Russians are finding abundant
occupation in other quarters. The Turks are car-
rying the war into the enemy's country, and thus
creating a diversion in favour of their Allies in the
Crimea. SADYK PASHA has marched on the
Danube, and ACEMET PASHA. has received orders
to join him with ten thousand men, while TS/KAN-
DER BEY at the same time entered the Dobrudscha.
In consequence of this important and daring
movement Prince GORTSCHAKOFF (the General,
not the Diplomatist) had suspended the marching
of the Russian troops, who were en route for the
Crimea, and ordered those who had not as yet
crossed the Dniester to take up a position on the
Pruth and the Danube. This step should long
since have been taken. The double attack would
have paralysed the Muscovites, and prevented the
arrival of reinforcements under LIPRANDI and
others.

It seems difficult to account for their previous
want of co-operation, that there should have
been no Turkish advance for nearly six weeks
after the battle of the Alma. We can only attri-
bute the delay to difficulties created by
the occupants of the Principalities, to the
Austrian Generals and officers in Wallachia, whe
appear by no means disposed to act in accordance
with the views and professions of the Government
at Vienna. But why should we wonder that 6(
Turks should be inactive, more especially thus(
who were not in active communication with the
Allied Commanders. Why is it that nothing has
hitherto been attempted against Odessa—that the
troops concentrated in that garrison have bee]:
permitted tosremain totally inactive? The block-
ing up the harbour of Sebastopol would have
allowed a strong squadron to be detached foi
that service, or, if it were deemed more de-
sirable, to the neighbourhood of Perekop,
where they might have greatly impeded the ap-
proaching reinforcements. But nothing of any-
kind was done either at Odessa or Perekop, or
elsewhere than at Sebastopol—where, although
the Agamemnon, Retribution, Ville de Paris,
and others rendered important services, the
larger proportion of the Allieci Fleets were com-
paratively inactive—in fact, more ornamental than
useful. These are matters that must hereafter
be explained. For the present we must be con-
tented to accept patiently the tidings obtained by
" private enterprise," or the crumbs of intelli-
game suffered to drop from' the Ministerial
table. When Parliament has assembled, Lord
ABERDEEN can no longer exhibit the same con-
temptuous indifference for public opinion. Then
he must make up his mind either to satisfy the
very natural anxieties of the community, or to
set his house ta order and render a final account
of his stewardship.

The Moniteur contains a semi-official explana-
tion of the significant words " in spite of timid
counsels," contained in the Imperial letter of con-
dolence addressed to the widow of the gallant ST.
ARNAUD, and which had been strongly commented
on by the journals of France and England. It
declares that they had " served as a text to
erroneous interpretations," and " that the only
aim was to throw out in stronger relief the energy
of Marshal ST. ARNAUD, by contrasting it with
those very natural differences of opinion, which,
on the eve of so important a decision, had mani-
fested themselves in the councils of the French
Army and Fleet." This is an attempt to divert
the obloquy that naturally attached to some of
the English authorities, Ministers and diploma-
tists, we believe, rather than Generals cr Admi-
rals. The EMPEROR did not wish to be taken as
censuring those with whom be had entered into a
cordial alliance ; and, therefore, the attempt
was made to limit its application to the
conduct of his own subjects, on which
he had an undoubted right to comment
severely. The " cap,", however, so accurately
fitted some English heads, that it was forthwith
appropriated, and the justice of the condemnation
universally recognised. We have indeed suffered
under deplorably " timid counsels" from the very
commencement of the crisis. It was " timid
counsels" and the parrot cry of " Peace, peace,
peace," "Peace at any price, or on any condi-
tions,"—by the heads of the English Govern-
ment, that induced the CZAR to despatch the ar-
rogant MENSCHIKOFF
with insolent messages to
the SULTAN, and induced him to follow it up with
the unwarrantable invasion of the Danubian
Principalities. It was " timid counsels" that
ss:rmitted the diplomatists to persevere in their
u sclera discussions, while the Moslems were de-
f,ending, their territories against the unscrupulous
iggression—thas allowed the bloodshed on the
Danube and the massacre at Sinope, the chief
Iperpetrators whereof have already been fearfully
apunished
Ifto rwtalsiei, sharetimid counsels"itithe sa sanguinary aarfyt
after
awnasr-
was proclaimed, kept our army and navy idly
lc coking on, while beleaguered Silist* was
an. ziously looking for the much-required.
assist-
arm s, and OSIER PACHA was expecting the period
whei i the Allies would shake off the disgraceful
sloth and apathy so painfully perceptible, and

which led to the inglorious termination of the
lives of so many of our gallant fellows. And it
was " timid counsels" that, the earlier part of the
year having been so deplorably wasted, would
have refrained from any decided movement until
the ensuing spring.
If the shaft were not directed against English
Ministers and diplomatists, all must admit that,
though discharged at random, it struck right "
the clout." The truth of the satire was percepti-
ble to the most superficial observer, and in accord-
ance with the adage, "The greater the truth the
greater the libel," the more painfully it rankled in
the wounds of the victims. If he did not mean it
for the English, he ought to have meant it, and
the reproach was but too fully merited to justify
complaint.
We rejoice, however, that it has-been uttered.
It proves bend the possibility of doubt the real
feeling of our illustrious Ally. It shows that he at
least is the advocate for deeds of manly daring, and
that he thought the highest praise which he could
bestow on the departed hero had been earned by the
energy and determination which induced him to
over-rule the more cautious opinions, the more
" timid counsels" that urged the adoption of a
Fabian policy, and argued in favour of procrasti-
nation. The salutary lesson will not, we trust,
be misapplied. It will be profitable alike to the
French, towards whom it was directed, and the
English, who, like Royal pupils, see the stripes,
merited by their negligence, bestowed on more
plebeian shoulders. If the French urgers of
" timid counsels" wince with pain, their English
supporters should blush for very shame, and avoid
the course that rendered the well-merited casti-
gation indispensable. After this strong expression
of the Imperial feeling, who will dare to propose
the abandonment of the -Crimea or the return of
the Allied Forces to winter quarters at Scutari ?
Who would be dastardlY enough to support the
withdrawal from the noble enterprise in which
the Western warriors, "in spite of timid coun-
sels," so boldly entered, or advocate a retrograde
movement ? The words must therefore prove
beneficial, under any circumstances, and their
utterance will not be the least boon conferred by
the Emperor of the FRENCH on his English Allies,
or on the just and honourable cause he has so
ardently and so efficiently espoused.

It was stated a few days back that both the
French and our own Government had decided on
building a lot of bomb-proof floating batteries,
and a description of the style of thing, the arma-
ment and material, was given. We might have
doubted the prudence of ,giving publicity to any
new contrivances put id hand by Government
for next season's campaign, but the press hav-
ing made the thing notorious, no great harm
can be done by our alluding to the subject,
which we do because it is a good introduction for
ill we wish to say, while there is time before
us for the adoption of better principles, or the im-
provement of those which "Pour l'entente
cordiale," we accept from our ally. Can anybody
for a moment doubt, if a premium had been
offered, or an opportunity afforded, that plans
would not have flocked in and tenders been offered
for undertaking, in less than six months, a goodly
number of bomb-proof contrivances, from which
the authorities might choose, and, if necessary,
improve upon—vessels which should have com-
bined such a share of the necesary desiderated
strength, power, speed, security, and sea-going
qualifications, combined with heavy armament,
as were compatible with light draught of water
and safety ? If we are rightly informed there
11 is a great doubt if a screw, with the small
draught of water, can be made to drive
these huge monsters at more than a snail's pace,
even in a calm, but that there is ample room, as
well as time, for improvement in that the most
important particular. Why not combine paddles
with the screw, by way of auxiliary ? The
paddles might be so constructed as to be unshipped
at pleasure when going into action, while the
screw could work the vessel in safety. We have
been led to look into this matter, not from any
desire to criticise the proposition of our ally, and
the willing accordance of our own Government,
but, because it is a string of the same fiddle we
have been playing on since last April, when
we advocated the building of peculiar vessels
adapted for shoal water, and the models of which
were the Nix and Salamander, already well-
proved efficient craft, and which very two vessels
Are about, in this very month of November, to be
,ixchauged for the frigate Thetis. We have, we
trust, a proper respect for our naval authorities,
and do not stint our applause for their exertions
whenever due, but we cannot consent to shut our
eyes where error is palpable, or to hold our hands
when we think we have information from better
sources than generally belongs to public offices,
where if one man more talented than another hits
upon anything good—sees an error, or thinks he
could suggest an improvement—he shrinks for
good reasons from trying to enlighten his superior.
In the Departments of War, or, in other words,
Army, Navy, or Ordnance, there is extreme
jealousy of civil suggestions. The cold shoulder
of seniors in rank is given to persons who have
courage to come forward with plans, and it rarely
happens that the most approved and useful inven-
tions are taken up by the authorities unless urged
through the press, lectures, or experiments. The
inventor is, as it were, forced upon the attention
of his superiors. If this be so with persons of
their own professions, how much more so is it
likely to be with civilians t What, may we not
ask, have been the inventions in the march of
improvement of this, the 19th century, which
have emanated from our various Boards of Ad-
miralty ? Steam, when suggested to them some
forty years by the elder BRUNEL, they would not
listen to. It is true he only then proposed
steam-tugs for towing men-of-war. Had the Ad-
miralty of that day anything to do with establish-
ing the system which settled transatlantic
steaming 7 Not a bit ; so far from it, the
Gcrvernment threw cold water on the first suc-
cessful experiment of the Great Western—refused
a modicum even of that assistance their which
they have since granted to others to the extent of
nearly one million sterling per annum, who followed
in their wake, and learned their lessons from
them.

Who had to do with the scientific part of this
splendid and most important experiment ?
BRUNEL the younger. MArsuisnay and FIELD and
PATTERSON helped, it is true, and were assisted by
a naval officer, Captain CLAXTON, but in a civil ca-
pacity. What, again, had the Admiralty to do
in forwarding the same experiment ? It was not
until long after the same parties had settled that
the third enormous ship, the Great Britain, should
be propelled by this power, now the most pro-
minent in forming a perfect man-of-war, that
they consented to build the Rattler, and allow
the same BRUNEL to arrange for the screw and
engines.
In gunnery, too, what has the Ordnance done ?
fa Mr. LANCASTER not a civilian ? Do we owe
the Rifles of the day, so much talked of, to pro-
fessional ability ? Who invented detonating locks
and powder ? We might, iu fact, go on from
one important branch of each service to another,
heaping instance on instance. But our object is to
open the eyes and senses of the authorities to the
fact, that from this, the middle of the 19th cen-
tury, to its end, and to all time afterwards, as
long as England is a nation, and the free press
one of its estates, they must not be regardless of
ftivil engineering talent, which has shone, and is
shining in this country most particularly, many
legrees above anything that ever sprang from
the schools of the service.
Rumours have reached us of there being a
strong opinion among men of money and mercan-
tile standing, that Cronstadt might have been,
with proper floating batteries, and next season
may- be, effectually bombarded, and its forts de-
stroyed. It is even whispered that there are men
who would contract to do it. That there are
engineers who would undertake to plan vessels
equal to the work—and our object is to impress
upon the public the duty of forcing the authorities
by the expression of opinion not to disregard
any well-digested plan, which civilians are pre-
pared to back with their moneys, because it does
not originate with the War Department.

THE ALLEGED CAPTURE OF LORD DUNKELLIN.—
We believe we may state with confidence that the
family of this young nobleman have been specially
favoured by the Government with the intelligence
that there is no truth whatever in the statement that
Lord Dunkellin had fallen into the hands of the
Russians. Other news equally satisfactory, and of
larger importance, must also have been received by
the Government, Last they do not choose to communi-
cate it even to their organs. We shall see if it will
ooze out in a few days.—Morning Post.
The Scotsman states that cholera has almost entirely
disappeared from Edinburgh, only three cases and one
death having been reported during the last four days.
POST-OFFICE APPOINTMENT.-Mr. Trollope,. son of
the celebrated female novelist of that name, has been ap-
pointed surveyor of Belfast post-office district. The
gentleman who previously filled this important post has
been pensioned at the salary of 5001. a year. —Cork Con-
stitution.

MR. GEORGE HIIDSON.—A petition was filed in the
Bankruptcy Court yesterday against Mr. George Hod-
snnon a bill of exchange for 1,1001. Mr. Hudson, how-
ever, states that it has been paid and the impression is
that the case will not be maintained.

SPECIE.—The specie received by the Peninsular and
Oriental steamer Candia amounts to 236,2281., the prin-
cipal portion being gold from Calcutta and Madras. The
total is large, but arrivals of gold from India have been
anticipated for some time.

The Austrian Correspondence has a telegraphic de-
spatch of the 28th from Milan, to the effect that the
business done in silks was very lively, consequent on the
receipt of large orders from Lyons and America.
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.—This
company have advertised the issue of 7 per cent. bonds
for 600,0001. one-third of which are offered in London.
We read in the Edinburgh Guardian :—Alexander
Smith has been appointed assistant to the Astronomer
Royal for Scotland ; her Majesty, during her late ♦isit
to Edinburgh, being graciously_ pleased to signify in this
way her approbation of the young poet's astronomical
descriptions.
HINT TO THE MARRIED.---" I have heard," says Mr.
Henry, " of a married couple, who, though they were
both of a hasty temper, yet lived comfortably together
by simply oleserving a rule on which they had mutually
agreed—Never to be both angry together."
THE RUSSIANS IN 1807.—Lord Byron, writing to a
friend in the year 1807, says :—" Sad news has just
arrived—Russians beat. A bad set—eat nothing but
oil, consequently must melt before a hard fire."

The Lord Chancellor of Ireland has been pleased to
appoint Acheson Thompson, Esq., Annavorna, Flurry
Bridge, to the commission of the peace for the county
Louth. at the recommendation of Lord Bellew, lieute-
nant of the county.
THE NEW TOWN HALL AND CORN EXCHANGE AT
LOUGHBOROUGH.-Monday last was the day appointed
for the ceremony of laying the first stone of the new
Town Hall and Corn Exchange, in Loughborough.
SHROPSHIRE MILITIA.—The adjutant and permanent
staff of this force have subscribed the liberal sum of 51.
15s. to the Patriotic Fund, which was, on Monday last,
transmitted direct to the secretaries of the commission
in London.

The suing paid into the Paris Savings Bank last week
amounted to 446,117 f., from 3,690 depositors, of whom
518 were new. The reimbursements were 408,918 f.
The receipts of the Caisse de Retraites for the last f
irt-
Light were 125,2321., and 2,096 depositors, including
new accounts.

THE MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART AT MARL-
BOROUGH HOUSE.—The numbers attending, &c., during
the month of October were as follows :-7,320 persons
on the public days, and admitted free ' • 646 persons on
the students' days, and admitted as students on the pay-
ment of 6d. eaca, besides the registered students of all
classes and schools. The museum is now open free on
Saturdays for the convenience of schools, &c.
THE LEEDS STATUE TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.
—lt has been resolved by the subscribers to this testi-
monial that, pending the completion of the magnificent
Town-hall, the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wel-
lington, to be erected in Leeds, shall be temporarily
rathatr
e bribed.—Douglas
i etn shall.
placed in the grounds of the Infirmary.
REMOVAL OF IRISH PAUPERS.—Yesterday a return
was issued of the number of paupers removed to Ireland.
In the year ending the 25th March last, from the Metro-
politan districts, 1,693 were removed ; and from Liver-
pool, 4,545. In the preceding year, 1,252 were removed
from the Metropolitan districts, and 5,043 from Liver-
pool. The return extends over a period of 6 years.
The Rev. E. A. Verity, 8.D., incumbent of Haberg-
ham, Lancashire, has been appointed missionary of the
Patagonian Society at Cranmer, West Falkland.
BALLOT.—In the ballot-box alone is the pill to be found
sleep the briber and the
Old Author quaintly remarks :—" Avoid argu-
izdgitaos
Jerrold.
aerlroonict long
In spinning yarns among silks and
satins, a man is sure to be worsted and twisted. And
when a man is worsted and twisted, he may consider
himself wound up,'
THE ORDNANCE.—The office of barrack-master of the
with ladies.
Regent's Park Barracks has become vacant by the de-
mise of Captain Phillips, an old and distinguished officer,
who died a few days since at the advance d age of 77.
The appointment of his successor rests with tie Master-
General of the Ordnance.
We learn from Belfast that Mr. Davison, M.P., was
on Thursday last seized with serious illness, and for
some time his life was considered in danger. According
to the latest accounts, the honourable gentleman is so
much better that apprehension of a fatal result has
passed away.
Lord Haddo, M.P., is still in Alexandria, and defers
his departure for the upper country on account of the
mildness of the climate. Said Paella has not only placed
a magnificent boat entirely at his disposal for his voyage
up the Nile, but has also given orders to all his officials
throughout the country to grant to him whatever ha may
be in peed of.

COUNTY COURTS.—We are glad to be able to announce
that the Lords of the Treasury have ordered a reduction
of the fees for searching in t ,e Registry Office.
THE MAGISTRACY IN IRELAND.—The Earl of Wick-
low, lord-lieutenant for the county, has been pleased to
appoint Robert bolt Truell, E,q., of Clonmannen, to be
a deputy-lieutenant for the county Wicklow, in the
room of the late Lieut. Colonel Acton.

SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday.—The Royal Mail Com-
pany's steam-ship La Plata (Captain Weller) took her
departure with the West India, Pacific, and Mexican
mails this afternoon. She has on board 165 passengers.
Amongst them are the Right Rev, the Bishop of Rir-
badoes, Le Vicomte de Garbuno, French Minister at
Mexico ; Sir James and Lady Hassam, Dr. James
Forbes, British Consul at Havannah ; Le Comte de
Maus, Lieutenant Carter, and Ensigns Mullins and
Rowland. Her specie amounts to 5,0001., and she
had on freight quicksilver value 5,9501., and a full
cargo. The next mails from the West Indies and
Pacific will arrive by the Tamar. The Royal Mail
Company's steams-ship Severn will convey the Brazi-
lian and River Plate Mails from this port on the 9th
instant. The homeward portion of this mail is ex-
pected about the 13th instant. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamship Madrid is shortly ex-
pected with the next homeward portion of the Penin-
sular mails. Tfis United States Mail steam-ship Union
is expected in the course of to-morrow with mails
and passengers en route from New York to llavre.
BANKRUPTCY COURT.--RESISNATION OF MR. POL-
LOCK.—The resignation of Mr. Pollock, registrar in
Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque's court, is confirmed. It
is stated that he was anxious to resign in consequence
of the heavy list of cases for the ensuing winter, and the
delicate state of his health. Although another registrar
cannot he appointed the commissioners have the power
to elect a deputy registrar ; and if this appointment is
filled up, it is to be hoped that it will be given to one
of the hard-working employees yvho wiil be competent to
discharge the duty.
Some idea may lbe formed of the magnitude of the
amount of stores of winter clothing sent out, when we
state that upwards of 70,000 pairs of worsted socks,
90,000 woollen jerseys, 50,000 pairs of flannel drawers,
and 80,000 pans of gloves have been sent to the army
under Lord Raglan, and still further supplies of the
same articles will be sent. Arrangements have also
been made to send out 25,000 great coats, which will
be an addition to the great coat already possessed by
each man ; and the army clothiers, with a zeal for
the welfare of the public service which does them
great credit, have, at the request of the Government,
completed 30,000 additional suits of winter clothing,
which will all leave this country before the middle of the
month,