The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-03 00:00:00

" Sayings and doings" are very different things,
and. we should scarcely anticipate any extra-
ordinary bravery from a man who had acted the
part of a " bully" with so much unction before the

commencement of hostilities. If he were, as a
naval writer, we believe " Tom Cringle," describes
some of our West India population, when he
declares that " Badian really. too brave," he would
have sallied forth against his assailants, and at
least sold his fleet and men to the best advantage.
But when he skulked for months behind the
batteries, without daring to " sport his bunting"
on the Euzino—when the most valorous ex-

ploit adventured on was the massacre of Sinope—

we cannot form a very high estimate of his
bravery, or that of the second in command, Ad-

miral MENSCHIICOFF. True courage is never
associated with boasting or cruelty, and we could
hardly look for any striking illustration thereof
from the special Plenipotentiary to the Porte, or
the Commander in the blood-stained Bay of
Sinope.

Looking, then, to all the circumstances, it is
more than probable that, after the loss of a certain
number of vessels, MENSCHIKOFF should have re-
tired to " the bottom of the bay," or " inner har-
boUr," with the remainder of his ships, and that
he should have threatened to destroy the non-
warlike part of the town, and even his own fleet,
if terms were not accorded. But that he will
attempt to do either, or that he would be obeyed,

if he issued such atrocious orders, is a very diffe-
rent thing. We have heard of a gentleman who,
on being told that if he did not forthwith advance
a certain sum of money to a rather dissipated
relative, it would lead to the immediate suicide of
the latter, and. who in answer " dared the rascal
to do it !" Our commanders may, in like man-
ner, dare MENSCIIIKOFF to do it, and—he will
not ! They had, it appears, given him six hours
to consider ; and if he does not yield uncondi-
tionally in that time, why, some of the allied
vessels must only go and fetch those still holding
out ; or, what may possibly be still easier, bring
some guns to bear from the heights on the Rus-
sian fleet, and thus, as the Irish ballad hath it,

speedily

" Make them wise,
And open their eyes
To a sense of their situation!"

Under any circumstances, however, the great
object of the campaign has been accomplished.
Whether Sebastopol, with all its materiel and fleet,
has been captured or destroyed, the Russian
power has equally been subjugated in the Euxine,
which is—no longer a Russian lake—but a mare
clausum, against the vessels of the arrogant dis-
turber of the general tranquillity. He can no
longer threaten the Turkish capital from his
stronghold, but must humbly acknowledge what,
we trust, will prove to be the long-enduring
strength and vitality of the qv.,ondanz " sick

man."

As on many previous occasions the valour of
British soldiers has retrieved the blunders of
British diplomatists. The indomitable energy of
our troops has fully compensated for the mis-
takes (!) of our ambassadors. Austria was per-
mitted to take possession of the Principalities
from which the Russian invaders had just been
expelled without a blow struck. Without even a
protest the Germans were permitted to take pos-
session of Moldavia and Wallachia, and the un-
fortunate inhabitants found it anything but an
amelioration of their previously deplorable condi-

tion. Between Russian and Austrian brutality
there was but little to choose. But the former
had been gorged with plunder ; they had some
slight consideration for those whom they had pre-
viously reduced to a state of exhaustion after the
consumption of all their available resources. The
latter, however, came with keen appetites to their
work. A hungry set of blood-suckers replaced
others already filled to repletion, and the suffer-
ings of the ill-fated victims were materially en-
hanced.

But this was not all. There was a hopeful
anticipation of the speedy expulsion of the Mus-
covite invaders. They were palpably wrong-
doers ; and if the Turkish might could defend the
Turkish right, they would be ignominiously driven
forth from the soil they had polluted by their
ill-omened presence. But the Austrians, forsooth,
were invited guests. They were actually received
with open arms, and suffered to obtain, without
resistance, a position which they might have used
with fearful effect in the event of any reverse to
the Allied Powers. The obtuse stupidity of the
thick-skulled soldiery has already exhibited in the
clearest light the intentions of the pretended
friend, who, having achieved his ends by sitnu-
la.ted support, then proclaimed a neutrality

which would only be maintained until either side
had achieved a decided and unequivocal success.
Had the expedition to the Crimea failed, she would
be prepared to deprecate the wrath of the Allies
by violating all former promises, and either ren-
dering treacherous assistance, or retaining for her
own use what she had obtained possession of for
very different purposes. Now, however, that it
has succeeded beyond the most sanguine anticipa-
tipus) she will probably be prepared to give the
most fervent assurances of her sincerity, at the
same time endeavouring to gain every possible ad-
vantage for herself. In the nineteenth, as in the
twelfth century, she will still be—
" Ever strong upon the strongest side."
g• Fortune's champion, that dost never fight,
But when her humourous ladyship is by
To teach her safety."
We must not, however, place any confidence in
such faithless pledges. 'We would sooner trust Prussia
herself than her slippery, but no less dangerous,
rival, as well as ally. Prussia has candidly ac-
knowledged that she looks only to German
interests. Austria makes more plausible profes-
sions, but partially proves that her views are
equally limited. Prussia openly evinces its pro-
Russian tendencies. Austria exhibits more
secretly, but no less certainly its anxiety to chichi
the CZAR, and to prevent any humiliation of his
pride or deterioration of his power. Neither have
any claim to interfere in matters from which they
held aloof so long as their assistance could be of
a decided demonstration,
any value, or when
or even a determined expression of feeling,
might have averted the impending hosti-
lities; and we shall estimate at a still lower
rate than at present the intellect of our diploma-
' tists if they listen to any proposition from either
party.

The taking of Sebastopol may,
and very pro-
bably will, effect a very important alteration in
Austrian views. Now that Russia is no longer
formidable in the Euxino, that she can no longer
attempt to control the navigation or the commerce
of the Danube, Austria will attempt to substitute
her own " protectorate" in the neighbouring pi-o-
vinces. But the one would be just as pernicious
while it existed, and as threatening to the univer-