The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-09 00:00:00

THE BATTLE AND VICTORY
OF THE ALMA.

Never within the memory of the present gene-
ration has there been witnessed such anxiety for
authentic intelligence as was yesterday perceptible
amongst all classes and ranks in society. Not
even when we were engaged in a life-and-death
struggle with a nobler foe than my to whom we
can be opposed, so long as the auspicious alliance
—the entente cordiale—between France and Eng-
land is maintained—was there greater excitement
manifested for trustworthy accounts from the seat
of war. It was known that Lord BURGURRSH
had arrived—that the despatches from Lord RA.CI--
LAN and Admiral DIINDAS had been delivered
t the Office of the War Department yesterday
morning—that full particulars of the glorious but
sanguinary victory of the Alma was actually in
London, details respecting which there could be
no doubt, for they were elf led by the honoured
name of " RAGLAN"—the General who has added
new laurels to those still verdant, that encircled
his brow. The meagre and unsatisfactory accounts
transmitted by Lord STATFORD DR REDCLIFFR
had merely served to stimulate public curiosity.
They told us that a splendid triumph had been
achieved by the combined arms of France and
England, that the troops of both nations, actuated
by a noble spirit of emulation, had proved them-
selves worthy descendants of their most illustri-
ous progenitors, and given new proofs of their "in-
vincibility," by all the world beside. But they
also showed that the triumph was dearly pur-
chased—that a fearful carnage had taken place,
and that the blood of the bravest and best of
either country had been the enormous price paid
for the daring and brilliant exploit !
But there our information ended. The details
were looked forwarded to with intense excite-
ment. We naturally desired to know how the
" day had been .won," who sustained the " brunt
of the battle," who had peculiarly distinguished
themselves—for there was an universal reliance,
which was more than justified, that there would
be no failure. All, then, were looking for the
publication of the despatches containing these
heart-thrilling accounts.

But many were actuated by still higher motives.
They awaited the tidings of the fate of those in
witom every thought was concentrated. Hus-
bands, parents, children, brothers, lovers, relatives,
friends were engaged. The joy and exultation
might be largely diluted--nay, might be changed
into the deepest mourning, and for that, with sick-
ening anxiety and sinking hearts they were abiding
the fearful verdict that would tell them whether
the verdict was for them to be one of joy or sorrow
—of pure and unalloyed gratification or bitter and
comfortless grief. The publication of the Gazette
_Extraordinary would either appease their anxiety
or confirm their most gloomy forebodings, and
although the greatest expedition was displayed, still
the "momentsfiew heavily on their leaden wings."
We strove to the best of our ability to remove
these heart-reading cases within an incredibly
short space of time from the publication of the
earliest copy of the Gazette. It was copied in
extenso into our columns, and a new edition of
The Sun was published at half
-past one o'clock
yesterday, which, within less than hours was
followed by another edition, containing three
.lespatches from Admiral Dundas, of the 21st,
23d, and 24th September respectively, we may,
therefore, with some pride, declare that in ,c
OUT
vocation" we have not been found wanting
but have honestly and fairly discharged our dut,J
to friends, subscribers, and the community -
at
large.

We shall not, at such a moment, while the
wounds are yet bleeding, intrude on the sacred
sorrows of those who have lost friends or relatives
in the fearful encounter. We shall merely say to
the afflicted—Be of good comfort ; your country
deeply sympathises with your sufferings ; will
comfort those who need it ; and, so far as prac-
ticable, supply the want of husband, parent, and
son, to the widow, the fatherless, or the childless.
All mourn for the departed, who have nobly
erished in the discharge of their arduous and
important duty, and whose names will—
during the existence of the British nation--
be inseparably associated with the honourable
Victory of the Alma, the first decisive humiliation
of the pride and diminution of the power of the
AtrroenAT, the blow that demonstrated the total