The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-27 00:00:00

ROYAL OLYIIPIC TtiE \TUE.

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THIS EVENING,
THE BATTLE of THE ALMA!

After which, the SCENES in the ARENA!

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1854

The Speech of the Emperor NAPOLEON the
Third at the opening of the Legislative Session of
1855 is an instructive and deeply interesting
document. We look forward with intense anxiety
to the views and feelings of our distinguished
ally, not from any doubt that he will be found
wanting in the existing emergency, or from any
supposition that he will exhibit any deficiency,
but rather that by the nobility of his sentiments
and expressions he may inspire our rather apa-
thetic Ministers with a portion of his fire and
energy. We gladly hail the terms that testify
the closeness of his union with our own country—
that prove that old jealousies have vanished for
ever, that Waterloo has been fully avenged at the
Alma and Inkerman, and that the only rivalry
hereafter to be displayed will be which of the
nations can best promote the sacred cause in which
they are engaged,. and -the glorious emulation of
chivalrous hearts burning to distinguish them-
selves in the presence of worthy witnesses, whose
praise would indeed be sweet, as coming from
congenial spirits, capable of thoroughly appreciating
the deeds accomplished.

The EMPKROR speaks of the great events that
have taken place since their last meeting. He
speaks exultingly, and well he may, of the result
of the appeal which he made to the country to
provide for the expenses of the War—a response
which was highly honourable to the people, and
which indeed afforded a striking contrast to the
humiliating failure of our own Financial Minister
at the time. It is true that the causes of that
failure were clearly perceptible—that the red-tape
fetters in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer
suffered himself to be bound crippled his,exertions
and paralysed his energies. But still, when we
look to the glorious response returned by the
French to the appeal of their Sovereign, we cannot
help repining at the blunders that placed the
English character in a light so very unfavourable.
The EMPEROR speaks of the alliance concluded
with Austria, " defensive now, to be offensive,
..
perhaps, soon, which unites his cause with
France and England," and expresses a hope that
ho may next year, if peace should not then be re-
established, give the same thanks which he so
cordially and gracefully bestows on England and
the English army, to give to Austria,' and to that
Germany whose union and prosperity he desired.
There is a significant silence as to Prussia—a
silence truly ominous, but which has been well
merited by the vacillation of that CLICQUOT and
his scarcely concealed pro-Russian tendencies.
But it is of England and the English that he
speaks with the utmost enthusiasm. He grace-
fully alludes to the triumphs achieved in the Bal-
tic as well as in the Black Sea—of the " two
great battles that have shed lustre on their flag,"
and the striking testimony afforded of the inti-
macy of the connection with Engli,nd in the "vote
of thanks passed by the Parliament of the United
Kingdom to the generals and soldiers of France.
This honourable tribute honourable alike to
those by whom it was rendered and to those by
whom it was received, has been thoroughly appre- 1
ciated, and will, we trust, go far to cement, and i
render indissoluble, the union so happily subsist-
ing. On this point the Emperor has pecu-
liarly felicitous in tone and expression. " What
ties, indeed," he asks, " what ties can be more
binding than the names of the victories belong-
ing to the two armies, and recalling a glory in
common—when the same uneasiness and the
same hope agitate the two countries, and when
the same intentions animate the two Govern-
ments upon every point of the globe ?
Thus the alliance with England is not the effect
of a fleeting interest or a policy of circum-
stances ; it is the union of two powerful nations,
associated together to obtain the triumph of a
cause in which for more than a century were in-
volved their greatness, the interests of Civilisation,
and at the same time the liberty of Europe. Join
with me, then, upon this solemn occasion in thank-
ing, in the name of France, the Parliament for
its cordial and hearty demonstration, and the
English army and its worthy chief for their valiant
co-operation." It is indeed "no fleeting interest,
no policy of circumstances," that bind those who
have shed the best blood of their respective chil-
dren in the sacred cause of Truth and Justice ; and
as the motives that have drawn them together are
pure, So we hope will the union be eternal.
It is expressive of gratitude to the army and
navy of France. Of the former, he says—" Epi-
demy, incendiarism, tempests, and privations—a
town unceasingly provisioned, defended by for-
midable artillery by sea and land—tWo enemies'
armies superior in number—nothing could weaken
its courage or arrest its ardour. Every one has
nobly done his duty, from the Marshal, who ap-
peared to compel death to wait until he had con-
quered, down to the soldier and the sailor, whose
last cry in expiring was an aspiration for France,
an acclamation for the chosen of the country"—
adding, "Let ue, then, declare it together, the
army and the fleet have merited well of their
country."

The French Army, now composed of 581,000
soldiers, and 113,000 horses, and the Navy of
02,000 sailors afloat, are t• be fully kept up to
the standard. For that purpose he asks for a
levy of 140,000 men ! This is, indeed, proving
himself to be in earnest, while at the same time
he suggests an amelioration in the condition of
the old soldiers who re-engage. An example
which we should do well to follow, and to which
we shall again allude. He also asks authority to
raise a fresh National Loan, the resources from
which are to be kept apart for, and solely applied to
race!, the exigencies of the war. Here, too, is a prece-
dent for:Mr. GLADSTONE, which he might judiciously
follow, before the disgusted and indignant People,
enraged at his perverse adhesion to his crotchet,
hurl himself and his more obstinate colleagues
from power.

The Speech is indeed a model in many respects,
and it is couched in terms of graceful eloquence,
that adds to its intrinsic excellence. All will
concur in the Imperial aspirations respecting the
Western Powers, and be prepared to exclaim of
their alliance, Esto perpetua.

The Polish question must be no longer burked.
The press of the country and the representatives
of the country must do their duty towards it.
The too-late policy has been the very instrument
of all our reverses. It has sacrificed half our
army destroyed half the utility of our navy, and

made fools of us in our diplomacy. We really
.'lnnot afford to daily in the same disastrous style
Stu Poland. if the war colitia-L,e, it
continue long if we mean to take Sebastopol ; if
we are to make a lasting peace, which is impos-
sible while Warsaw is the western capital of
Russia, then it is essential for the Allies to come
out boldly for Poland. We have pressed this fact
on our country before ; we have called attention
to the remarkable letter to the Emperor of
FRANCE, coinciding as it does on the main ques-
tion so thoroughly with our views, sad we believe
the time is come when it behoves the independent
and patriotic press of the country to force Poland
on the attention of the Government, by forcing i t
on the attention of the people.

We honestly believe that every day which pro-
crastinates the formation of a Polish Legion under
the Polish banners, and the proclamation of a
reconstituted Poland as the conditio sine qua non
of peace is so much perverse and fatal loss of time.
We believe that the postponement of these two
things, sure to be necessary if the War lasts, will
only be atoned for by British blood, and by
British dishonour. Heavy military losses, and
heavy loans and taxes will brand the dilatory and
temporising incapables who hold the rudder of the
State, down to a late posterity, with deserved dis-
grace. It will not fail to be recorded by the
future historian that England and France, war-
ring against the ungovernable and dangerous am-
bition of Russia—both of them having always
lamented the fate of Poland, and having fostered
her exiles—jointly needing aid in their righteous
contest—that England and France declined to
evoke the people who panted to be led against
their oppressors ; that they were bamboozled—
we can find no better word—by such degraded
selfish Powers as Austria and Prussia ; and that,
when they might have paralysed half the legions
of Russia by unfurling the Polish colours in their
sight, and might have reinforced their own by the
most legitimate of helps, they turned their backs
on the brave and the eager, and preferred the
help of mercenaries. Yes, it will be recorded
that England's Cabinet asked leave to hire merce-
nary " varlets," when thousands of brave Poles
were ready as hearty volunteers.
Not only is the proposed Foreign Legion an in-
sult to Englishmen : ii is an insult to Poland.
Her right to fight against Russia is even more
clear and incontestible than our own. It is pru-
dence and generosity for us to interfere to rescue
Turkey, but for Poland to attack Russia is but
the prostrated victim's seizing a favourable oppor-
tunity to stab his murderous assailant. Every
instinct of our nature sanctifies every wound a
Pole can inflict on Russia, and the great strife
would be doubly consecrated by the presence of a
Polish Legion. The blood of that murdered coun-
try has long cried from the ground ; nor will its
avenging furies give rest to Europe till the great
murderer receives his due, and his feet are driven
from the neck of his victim.

If we now be content with mercenary blood,
with mere executioners for hire, in place of patriots
fighting for their country's independence, why,
then, we deserve to lose ; and we only pray that
a merciful HEATILN may not visit us with the
ill success which our measures deserve. No
Foreign Legion ought to be tolerated till
Poland has done its uttermost. A set of lazy
Germans, fellows who, if Mr. COBDEN be correct,
are so mean as to approve our o_lll3o universally,
and yet are unwilling to spend a kreutzer, or fire
a shot for it—creatures who dare not bray loud
enough to wake their petty rulers from their nail
tral or Russian slumbers—for such soldiers, if
♦hay deserve the name, to stand beside the heroes
of the Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman 1 Why,
they could be trusted to defend no position, to
resist no Russian charge.

And for what, forsooth, are we to lose the in-
valuable and righteous aid of Poland ? To avoid
offending Austria and Prussia 1 But they dare
not be offended. They dare not declare war
against us. War ! Why war against the Allies
means to them explosion and dismemberment ;
their people would not endure it. They would then
be but too happy to remain quiescent. The pro-
bability is that decision on our part would imme-
diately decide them. They would make a virtue
of necessity, and soon become loud in assertion of
the necessity of a restored Poland to trim the
balance of Europe. If they showed any res-
tiveness, a hint on the Rhine, in Lom-
bardy, or in Hungary, would soon bring
these conscience-made cowards to their senses.
Austria, however, we feel confident, must
retain much of METTERNICH'S opinions, so openly
expressed at the Treaty of Vienna, as to the utility
to her of an independent Polish nation. We can-
not think she would regret to part with Gallicia,
and the more recent acquisition of Cracow on
that condition. We do not entertain the least
doubt that the proclamation of a "fifth point "
would sooner than anything else harmonise the
political creed of all Western and Middle Europe.
A bold policy is the only ~,,r,_, one with wily in-
triguers. One practical step in advance is worth
t bureau full of protocols. May it not be once
more taken too late. Poland cannot with impu-
nity be trifled with. England will not be trifled
with by men whose chief argument is a threat of
resignation ; nor may our brave soldiers be tri-
fled with. We may imagine the coolness with
which, needing, as they do, reinforcements, they
would receive the despot's mercenaries; but we can
imagine also the enthusiastic hurrahs with which
both French and English would welcome a Polish
Legion and a Polish flag to the lines of Sebasto-
pol--it would be new life to our army and the
presage of tip speedy storming of the town.

,S 'R JOHN BURGOYNE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIIIES.

Sir,—Would you be kind enough to publish the fol-
lowing extract from Lord Wellington's de3patch to Earl
Bathurst, dat(rd October 26, 1812
" The officer': at the head of the artillery and engineer
departments--Lieutenant-Colonel Robe, and Lieut.-
Colonel Burgoyne, and Lieutenant• Colonel Dickson,
who commands the reserve artillery—rendered me every
assistance, anti the failure of success is not to be attri-
buted to them.."

This, Sir, wars written by the man who had just been
obliged to rais.3 the siege of Burgos, and would not be
in a mood to praise officers from custom or etiquette;
It disposes, I am inclined to think, of your corres-
p.)ndent's letti!cr of yesterday on Sir John Burgoyne.
'File truth is, the Duke explains that he could have
taken the fort,,css long before but for the paucity of the
roans allowed_ him ; and, as it was, he was only com-
pelled to raise the silage from "strategetical considera-
tions."
Allow me to add, that Sir John Burgoyne was also
c,mcerned in tine sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz,
and St. Sebastian, which were successful.—l am, Sir,
y )ur obedient sf,rvant,

GURWOODIENSIS.

THE ARMY.— —A return has been ordered of all officers
under the rank: of field officers, now on haltpay, who
are willing to si ,rve, and the number who are fit for
active service, Fin d also the number and rank of all such
officers who have applied to be placed upon active
service. This return was ordered on Saturday last, on
the motion of M:r.. Macartney.
THE CRIMEA W ARMY FUND.—Among the many
Fevonable and appropriate gifts to this excellent fund
is one from the roost noble the Marquis of Breadalbane,
who has given c I.4ections to Mr. Cram, of Nutford-place,
w;ne and spirit. ?merchant, to forward from his callars
four puncheons f fine Scotch whiskey, for the use of
the Highland Jig-ade in the Crimea. It is understood
t'llt this gene'', ma contribution is to be consigned to Sir
Colin Campbell„ -the brave and esteemed chief of this
gallant corps.