The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-24 00:00:00

THE WEATIIER.—Sux On:cA, Nov. 21.

TIIEEMOMSTEB, IN THE SAADI.
43 highest since noon yesterday.
39 —,owest this morning and during the night.
43—this day-, at noon.
BAItOMETEB, 29.78.
77"trrp, N.—Light breeze, with dull weather in the
morning, and fine in the afternoon.

j

It is true that we shook off the " nightmare"
by which we have so long been oppressed—that
we determined, even at the eleventh hour, to d;1-
play a degree of zeal and energy as remarkable as
our former apathy and inactivity. We must
direct all our thoughts exclusively to one point—
to send. the necessary reinforcements to the
Crimea—so as to insure not only the safety of
the French and English troops, but the attain-
ment of the object in which they are engaged,
viz,—the capture of Sebastopol, and the com-
plete overthrow of Muscovite power in the
Euxine.

The character—the influence—the safety—

the honour of the Western Powers are all in-
volved in this result. We know that our Allies
will perform their part—that NAPOLEON will not
spare his cohorts in such a cause. But, can we
hang back while France is so enthusiastically
rushing to the rescue ? Can we, without shame,
:Teak of a few hundreds, or thousands at the
most, while our faithful Ally is devoting her tens
of thousands to the cause ? Are we to sacrifice
all that is dear to the nation to the fiscal
and financial hobbies of any Minister, however
plausible. No, there is a duty imperative on the
English people from which they must not shrink
t the present crisis. They must make the voice
of public opinion heard within the inmost recesses
of Downing-street. They must convince oven
the " dear " and excellent ABERDEEN himself, as
well as his devoted followers, that the time for

temporising has gone by, and that there is but one
t•ourse now to pursue—namely, to conquer without
reference to the outlay. There are plenty of
men ready to array themselves under the
union-jack; there are abundance of trained sol-
diers at home and in the colonies whose places
may easily be supplied by new men, of whom there
will be no dearth. The exuberant " loyalty,"
we shall use a stronger phrase, " patriotism," of
the inhabitants will prevent any necessity for the
services thus dispensed with. Every citizen will
constitute himself a defender of the peace. The
nilitary will never be required, or if such a de-
sand should possibly arise there ;will be pleuty
volunteeis not only willing but anxious
-o come forward. Every British citizen will
to his duty according to his vocation ; whether
he demand be in person or in purse there will
:}e no backsliding or hanging back. The young
tnd vigorous, who have no peculiar ties to bind
hem to home, will stake their lives in the noble
eause. Those who have " given hostages to For-
Tune" in the shape of wives and children, will
mot scruple to work harder and fare more coarsely,
o strain every nerve, and submit to every priva-
Qon, cutting off every superfluity, in order to
I-inn-kph. Let them then proclaim their unflina-
ing determination on these points, and strengthen
:110 more vigorous and energetic party, to
;hake off the incubus by which the nation
so long been oppressed, and from which
Lt should at length oudeavonr to emancipate itself.
l-france is sending out 100,000 men. Why
hould not Great Britain raise and send out an
dual body of men ? We can do it if we like.
ti we do not, it will be owing to our crawling
;financial policy, not to any lack of spirit or de-
erinination in the sacred cause in which we have
,3mbarked.

It is at all times satisfaetory to be enabled to
')estow merited praise on our naval or military

authorities. The matters placed under their con
trot and management, at all times of vast import

Ince, are peculiarly so at the present moment,
vlisn not merely the interests, but the lionolir

And safety of the country, depend on the energy

uid efficiency of its gallant defenders by land and

by water. That the members of both branches of
,he United Service will now, as they ever have
lone, discharge the arduous and perilous duties
confided to their charge with ability, fidelity, and
zeal, and -without reference to personal or in-
terested motives, we are fully convinced. But it
is only just and reasonable to bestow substantial
rewards where they have been fairly earned, and
to depart from the ordinary routine, in order t•
promote those who have particularly distingaished
themselves on any groat occasions. it may be
very well during " the piping times of peace" to
insist on stringent rules and regulations, to
prevent any undue exhibition of favouritism.
But when we are engaged in actual hostili-
ties when men have ample opportunities
of displaying their qualifications, each step
should ever be given to the most deserving,
and detur digniori should be the motto inscribed
on each commission. Even the most disinterested
and efficient officers will be animated to further
exertions when they know that their services will
be fairly appreciated, and that those who have

deserved well of their country will receive
unequivocal marks of its gratitude. Perhaps
nothing contributed more powerfully to the
efficiency of the armies of France, under the
great NAPOLEON, than the feeling impressed on
the mind of every man—from the highest general
to the humblest soldier—that the eye of the
EMPEROR was at all times upon him, and that
however lowly his position, or obscure his origin,
he might eventually be elevated to the highest
rank if he greatly distinguished himself, and
afforded unequivocal proofs of his fitness for the
station to which he aspired. Excite the emula-
tion of officers and men, and the duty will not
only be properly, but brilliantly performed ; that
is, indeed, the best mode of stimulating every
man to the highest acts of heroism.
The promotions which it was our pleasing duty

Co record in our impression of Wednesday will
be received with cordial approbation by
the community. Every one of the gallant
officers thus distinguished had nobly earned

his promotion, which will have the -effect of
stimulating others to similar efforts. -The trans-
mission of blank commissions to the Admirals, to
he filled up with the names of those who had
distinguished themselves during the action, was
also a judicious as well as a liberal proceeding.
We wish, however, that it had gone a little fur-
ther, and that the principle should be extended
to all grades in the service. Why, for instance,
should there not be the power of promoting a
Post-Captain who had exhibited pre-eminent qua-
lities during the action to be an Admiral, or even
advancing an Admiral to still higher rank ? We
are convinced that the promotion of Sir EDMUND
LYONS to be aVice-Admiral, or even a full Admiral,
would be hailed with universal joy throughout the
country. The ordinary rules have been set aside
in the ease of Lord Itaokazz, and we believe that
there was net a single dissentient voice to the
well-merited reward of his distinguished services.
Why, we ask, should similar promotion not be
given to other Generals, aid to Admirals, accord-
ing to their respective merits? We could mention
many who have already nobly earned such distinc-
tion, but omit doing so, as it might be invidious
to particularise where a// have deserved so well of
their country.
According to the present rules, promotion,
save by seniority, ceases in the navy the moment
an officer becomes a post-captain. From that
time forth, however great his qualifications, he
' cannot be promoted out of his turn. If a second
NELSON were found, his services in command
could not be made available except by recalling
all senior officers. The man on whom the hopes
of the nation rested, who was unanimously re-
garded as the fittest to command, must be
under the direction of any senior captain. This,
as we have stated, is all very well in time of
peace, but it should certainly be modified to suit
the exigencies of the present crisis.
In like manner there should be the power of
promoting officers- of the engineers and artillery
in actual service. At present, however great the
deserts of such officers, none can be advanced even
a single step. Even Captain MAUDE, who earned
;olden opinions from all parties with whom he
swearavecdomfrpoenea mtheblyanding in the Crimea, until he
nition of his distinguishead
ft
ehrarti
on;
mo pe pr
iotrotrui
on iutsy
o+l3.lataeinseverity of his wounds to
o
give way, cannot
single step as a recog-
nition
e ern. a fforWedreedg
Nasvervices.
But to return to the
sailorsh as
from the forreoecfta s tttrol ae
I is
to
the quarterdeck—of allowing those qualified
' for a higher station to become coramissioned
4 dams. We we wall aware of th
e . proja-