The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-27 00:00:00

must, indeed, be of an adamantine quality, i
very different from that of which the
fortifications of Bomargund were constructed.
The speedy, and almost bloodless, capture of that
stronghold proved beyond the possibility of doubt
the impossibility of almost any fortress long re-
sisting an attack energetically and judiciously
conducted with all the appliances of modern
science, and we cannot suppose that Sebastopol
will prove any exception to the general rule.
Never was a more powerful attack organised
against any town, and, humanly speaking, the
result cannot be doubted.

The Russians, however, have not been idle
during the interval so kindly allowed by the pro-
crastination of the Allied Commanders. They
have exhibited the greatest activity in throwing
up new works, and preparing themselves in every
way for the conflict. As one side of the town
was uninvested, and communications with the sur-
rounding country without obstruction or impedi-
ment, it is obvious that they could get in rein-
forcements or supplies at their pleasure, or, what
is perhaps no less important, that the garrison
could at any time it thought proper effect its escape
from the falling town. These are important
advantages to allow the enemy. We have no
doubt, however, that the English and French
Generals have maturely considered the matter in
all its varied aspects, and that there are satisfac-
tory reasons, although still unknown to us, for
the course which they have adopted in this re-
spect. There is one point connected with it at
which every person of ordinary humanity must
rejoice, namely, that the partial investment will
afford ample opportunities to the women and
children, the sick, the aged, and the infirm to
escape from the horrors of the siege and the fear-
ful scenes that invariably attend a successful
storming of a town, given up even for a brief
period to the control -of men infuriated by the
stubborn resistance offered, and the blood of their
comrades that had been freely poured forth on
every side. That these awful trials may be spared
to the great majority of females and children is
truly gratifying.
Meanwhile we find that reinforcements are still
being sent without cessation to the Crimea.
The second convoy of the expedition, men, horses,
and materiel, had been safely landed, and the
Ottoman Government had, at the request of the
Allied Generals, sent an additional reinforcement
of 16,000 troops to the seat of war. This cer-
tainly does not lend any sanction to the sinister
rumours respecting the contemplated withdrawal
of the forces as soon as the destruction of Sebas-
topol and the Russian ships and stores had been
accomplished. It rather looks like a firm deter-
mination to retain possession of the land we have
so nobly won—and to free the inhabitants from
the hateful despotism under which they have suf-
fered for so many years. Sebastopol once cap-
tured, the main (although not, the sole) object of
the expedition accomplished, the Allies can
easily drive the Russian troops from the entire
Peninsula, and the Isthmus of Perekop being
held by our men, and all access by sea cut off by
a portion of the fleet, the main body can obtain
excellent winter-quarters amongst the sympathis-
ing population, and be in readiness fur any desti-
nation in the early spring. If there was the
slightest intention of evacuating the Crimea, the
Generals would not desire any addition to the
numbers to be brought back to Constantinople.
They have quite sufficient force for the operations
against Sebastopol, and the despatch of new auxi-
larks satisfactorily proves that the wiser and
more judicious course is here presented, and that
we mean to hold the Crimea—if not the whole of
Southern Russia—as a material guarantee for the
good behaviour of the Aurocrur. He himself
has set the example, and he cannot feel surprised
if those whom he has driven to arms should fol-
low the precedent.

We have all heard that "a place not to be
mentioned to ears polite" is "paved with good in-
tentions." The meaning of the adage is, that the
best projects, if not judiciously and prudently
carried out, may be productive of very injurious
results. Not a day elapses but the accuracy of
this principle receives additional corroboration,
and a new and very powerful illustration was
afforded at the Middlesex Sessions even within
the present week.

On Tuesday last the court was occupied the
greater part of the day in trying two cases of in-
decent assault, one of which, according to the
technical expression, completely " broke down ;"
and in the other, the jury without hesitation, re-
turned a verdict of " not guilty." It appeared
that the prosecutions had been instituted by a
society calling itself " The Associate Institute fur
Improving and Enforcing the Laws for the Protec-
tion of Women." On the conclusion of the second
case, the Assistant-Judge, Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, a
gentleman who, despite some occasional eccentricity,
possesses great experience and knowledge, sound
judgment, and unquestioned integrity, com-
mented in strong but well-merited terms of com-
plaint against the proceedings of this body of
volunteer prosecutors. He said that a case of
the same kind was tried before him at the last
session at Westminster, and the first he had now
tried was more disgusting, if possible, than that
to which he had just alluded, and which was
also prosecuted by this society. If they
raked up such cases and prosecuted them, as they
did, without instructions, no man would be safe
from the accusation of the vilest of women. With
respect to the last case, he would make this observa-
tion, which, of course, he had abstained from
making before the verdict cf the jury was returned,
that the last answer he had received from the
father of the girl was, that he had given no in-
structions for the prosecution, but that this
society, or rather the solicitor, had taken up the
case through seeing it in the newspapers. Now,
he wished to know what right the society, how-
ever laudable its objects might be, had to prose-
cute without instructions, merely for the sake •f
costs ? and he would say this, that a man was in-
dicted for obtaining money by false pretences, in
get ting money paid to hi ru for a prosecution which he
had taken up without instructions ; and, if there had
been money obtained in these instance; there having
been no instructions given, that man's fate would
have been staring the Society in the face. He
had no great notion at all of volunteer prosecu-
tors ; this society might be an admirably con-
ducted one, but it became a nuisance if it took up
these prosecutions for the mere sake of costs.
These two cases and another had occurred in about
a fortnight, and it ought to be discontinued. He
should not allow the costs.

After this refusal, a surgeon who had been sub-
pamaed to attend as a witness, although not exa-
mined, applied for his expenses ; and the Learned
Sergeant finding that he had no remedy against
the Society, granted them on the ground that it
would be very unfair that a professional man who
had no alternative, but was compelled to attend
under a heavy penalty, should suffer through
the proceedings of this Society, but added that
there would be no more such disgraceful proceed-
ings—an aspiration in which every right-minded
man must heartily join ; for, however excellent
the motives of those who lent the sanction of
their names to the Society and supported it by
their subscriptions, it is manifest that it had not
beensomee Very judiciously conducted, and that at least
cases have been very improperly brought
forward
and innocent persons thereby exposed to
serious annoyance,
nco nvenience, and expense,
in consequence of sp, inconvenience,
we have no hesitation in
designating, as c, the illegal and unjustifiable con-
duct of the Society."

On the following day a very
eminent and able
barrister came forward, and made a severe, and