The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-03 00:00:00

TOGETHER WITH A LIST OP THE

KILLED AND WOUNDED.

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car Vii.

C~C

LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1854.

Many conflicting rumours are circulated re-
specting the state of affairs in the Crimea and be-
fere Sebastopol. The absence of official intelli-
gence, the perverse and obstinate silence of the
Government, not only allows a priority of several
days to the exaggerated statements of Prince MEN-
SCRIKOFF, properly dressed up to suit the Russian
taste, but enables interested speculators to invent
plausible narratives for the purpose of influencing
the money market, and the prices of the national
securities. It would appear as if, henceforward,
we were to be dependent for every particle of in-
telligence from the seat of war to "private enter-
prise, "—that her AlaJesn's Ministers were to
receive large salaries for doing little, a system that
apparently suits their complaints as well as it did
that of Mr. SAMUEL WELLER.
Thus it is that the accounts respecting the
magnitude of the reverses sustained by the Allies
from the attack under General LIPRANDI have
been so sturdily insisted on, notwithstanding the
Powerful reasons for supposing that, if not wholly
nutrne, they were at least " gross exaggerations,"
and that any contest that could have taken place
was
merely an affair of outposts, or something in
the direction of
Light Dragoons Eupatoria, against a squadron of
Pons detached to watch the advancing
reinforcements of the Russians. This is the more
probable, from the circumstance that the defeat,
with the heavy loss of the English cavalry, has been
so prominently put forward. The mere falling
tack of the party, until they
could receive assist-
ance from the French cavalry in their immediate
from expe-
neighbourhood, would, as we know
rienoe, be quite sufficient to induce the Russians
to claim a very decided and important victory.
If the affair took place at Balaklava, itmust
have been known before the departure of
the
Trent, and it is equally cortain that, however
closely the Government may shroud itself in mys-
tery, a matter so important as the capture of even
a tingle redoubt in our lines, or even the pen-
denoy of a short conflict, must have leaked out
from some of the crew or passengers of that vessel,
and been already announced in this country.
Any material damage to the English or French
Fleet, which rests on. the same authority, would
undoubtedly But that is
have 'peen known.

manifsfitly untrue ; and we may therefore dismiss
las traworthy of credence the other portions of
tb'ase unauthenticated Russian reports.

From all that has yet transpired, it appears
that the siege goes on without interruption, and
with fearful damage not only to the armed de-
fenders, but also to non-combatants. The state of
Affairs within the devoted city is truly awful:
deed bodies scattered about the streets in every
direction in numbers sufficient to breed a pesti-
lence ; while the unfortunate inhabitants are so
terribly harassed as to be unable to find
time even to bury their dead ! to
remove the harrowing scenes of human suffering
patent to every eye, and which afford such heart-
rending commentaries on the results arising from
the arrogance and vain glory, the ambition and
cupidity of a single man ! Heavy, indeed, will
be the retribution that must fall on the head of
the guilty when the day of reckoning arrives—
a day which, although tardily, is certainly ap-
proaching. Then will NICHOLAS have to render
a heavy account of the blood that has been so
lavishly shed, the misery and affliction endured in
consequence of his atrocious misconduct, and his
secret abettors, those who encourage his perverse
and obstinate resolution, by sympathy and private
support, cannot be permitted to escape with im-
punity.

Should even the Russian statements be partially
verified, there would be nothing to shake our
opinion as to the final result, which might be de-
layed for a few days, but could not be averted.
The outside estimate of the reinforcements do not
exceed 30,000 men, and probably less than half
the number would be much nearer the truth.
But the Allies have already received a much
greater accession to their numbers, while others
are en route, whose co-operation may speedily be
anticipated. The Allied Forces now in the
Crimea of English, French, and Turks, including
the marines and seamen that have been drafted
from the Fleet, in consequence of the blockading of
the entrance to the harbour of Sebastopol, amount
to at least 100,000 fighting men, the best,
perhaps, that could be found in the world,
while those of the enemy are not merely deficient
in quality, but in numbers. We have, in fact,_
every advantage now on our side, and nothing,
humanly speaking, can prevent the capture of the
Russian stronghold. If the alleged 30, 000 under
LIPRANDI were doubled it would not avert the
certain consummation.

Meanwhile, the Russians are finding abundant
occupation in other quarters. The Turks are car-
rying the war into the enemy's country, and thus
creating a diversion in favour of their Allies in the
Crimea. SADYK PASS♦ has marched on the
Danube, and ACHMET PASHA has received orders
to join him with ten thousand men, while IsKAN-
DERBEY at the same time entered the Dobrudscha.
In consequence of this important and daring
movement Prince GORTSCHAKOFF (the General,
not the Diplomatist) had suspended the marching
of the Russian troops, who were en route for the
Crimea, and ordered those who had not as yet
crossed the Dniester to take up a position on the
Pruth and the Danube. This step should long
since have been taken. The double attack would
have paralysed the Muscovites, and prevented the
arrival of reinforcements under LIPRANDI and
others.

It seems difficult to account for their previous
want of co-operation, that there should have
been no Turkish advance for nearly six weeks
after the battle of the Alma. We can only attri-
bute the delay to difficulties created by
the occupants of the Principalities, to the
Austrian Generals and officers in Wallachia, who
appear by no means disposed to act in accordance
with the views and professions of the Government
at Vienna. But why should we wonder that the
Turks should be inactive, more especially those
who were not in active communication with the
Allied Commanders. Why is it that nothing has
hitherto been attempted against Odessa—that the
troops concentrated in that garrison have been
permitted to remain totally inactive? The block-
ing up the harbour of Sebastopol would have
allowed a strong squadron to be detached for
that service, or, if it were deemed more de-
sirable, to the neighbourhood of Perekop,
where they might have greatly impeded the ap-
proaching reinforcements. But nothing of any
kind was done either at Odessa or Perekop, or
elsewhere than at Sebastopol—where, although
the Agamemnon, Retribution, Ville de Paris,
and others rendered important services, the
larger proportion of the Allied Fleets were com-
paratively inactive—in fact, more ornamental than
useful. These are matters that must hereafter
be explained. For the present we must be con-
tented to accept patiently the tidings obtained by
" private enterprise," or the crumbs of intern-
gexce suffered to drop from the Ministerial
table. When Parliament has assembled, Lord
ABERDEEN can no longer exhibit the same con-
temptuous indifference for public opinion. Then
he must make up his mind either to satisfy the
very natural anxieties of the community, or to
set his house in order and render a final account
of his stewardship.

The Moniteur contains a semi-official explana-
tion of the significant words " in spite of timid
counsels," contained in the Imperial letter of con-
dolence addressed to the widow of the gallant ST.
ARNAUD, and which had been strongly commented
on by the journals of France and England. It
declares that they had " served as a text to
erroneous interpretations," and " that the only
aim was to throw out in stronger relief the energy
of Marshal ST. ARNAUD, by contrasting it with
those very natural differences of opinion, which,
on the eve of so important a decision, had mani-
fested themselves in the councils of the French
Army and Fleet." This is an attempt to divert
the obloquy that naturally attached to some of
the English authorities, Ministets and
diploma-
tists, we believe, rather than Generals or Admi-
rals. The EMPEROR did not wish to be taken as
censuring those with whom he had entered into a
cordial alliance ; and, therefore, the attempt
was made to limit its application to the
conduct of his own subjects, on which
he had an undoubted right to comment
severely. The " cap," however, so accurately
fitted some English heads, that it was forthwith
appropriated, and the justice of the condemnation
universally recognised. We have indeed suffered
under deplorably " timid counsels" from the vary
commencement of the crisis. 1t was " timid
counsels" and the parrot cry of " Peace, peace,
p eace, " "
Peace at any price, or on any condi-
tions,"—bythe heads of the English Govern-
ment,
hat induced the CZAR to despatch the ar-
rogant MENSCIIIKOFF with insolent messages to
the SULTAN, and induced him to follow it up with
the unwarrantable invasion of the Danubian
Principalities. It was " timid counsels" that
permitted the diplomatists to persevere in their
useless discussions, wl&e the Moslems were de-
fending their territories against the unscrupulous
Iggression—that allowed the bloodshed on the ,
Danube and the massacre at Sinope, the chief
perpetrators whereof have already been fearfully
punished for
proclaimed,
share in the sanguinary trans-
action. It was " timid counsels" that, after war
was kept our army and navy idly
looking
anxiously on,while beleaguered Silistrip, was
looking
for the much-required assist-
ance,h e atnhde ACriets PACES was expecting the period
wsloth and apathy so psahakinfule
lyoff
et
pdt sbgl
er o ea fnu ld

which led to the inglorious termination of the
lives of so many of our gallant fellows. And it
was " timid counsels" that, the earlier part of the
year having been so deplorably wasted, would
have refrained from any decided movement until
the ensuing spring.
If the shaft were not directed against English
Ministers and diplomatists, all must admit that,
though discharged at random, it struck right "
the clout." The truth of the satire was percepti-
ble to the most superficial observer, and in accord-
ance with the adage, " The greater the truth the
greater the libel," the more painfully it rankled in
the wounds of the victims. If he did not mean it
for the English, he ought to have meant it, and
the reproach was but too fully merited to justify
complaint.
We rejoice, however, that it has been uttered.
It proves beyond the possibility of doubt the real
feeling of our illustrious Ally. It shows that he at
least is the advocate for deeds of manlydaring, and
that he thought the highest praise which he could
bestow on the departed hero had been earned by the
energy and determination which induced him to
over-rule the more cautious opinions, the more
" timid counsels" that urged the adoption of a
Fabian policy, and argued in favour of procrasti-
nation. The salutary lesson will not, we trust,
be misapplied. It will be profitable alike to the
French, towards whom it was directed, and the
English, who, like Royal pupils, see the stripes,
merited by their negligence, bestowed on more
plebeian shoulders. If the French urgers of
"timid counsels" wince with pain, their English
supporters should blush for very shame, and avoid
the course that rendered the well-merited casti-
gation indispensable. After this strong expression
of the Imperial feeling, who will dare to propose
the abandonment of the Crimea or the return of
the Allied Forces to winter quarters at Scutari ?
Who would be dastardly enough to support the
withdrawal from the noble enterprise in which
the Western warriors, "in spite of timid coun-
sels," so boldly entered, or advocate a retrograde
movement ? The words must therefore prove
beneficial, under any circumstances, and their
utterance will not be the least boon conferred by
the Emperor of the FRENCH on his English Allies,
or on the just and honourable cause he has so
ardently and so efficiently espoused.

It was stated a few days back that both the
French and our own Government had decided on
building a lot of bomb-proof floating batteries,
and a description of the style of thing, the arma-
ment and material, was given. We might have
doubted the prudence of giving publicity to any
new contrivances put in hand by Government
for next season's campaign, but the press hav-
ing made the thing notorious, no great harm
can be done by our alluding to the subject,
which we do because it is a good introduction for
all we wish to say, while there is time before
us for the adoption of better principles, or the im-
provement of those which " pour r entente
cordiale," we accept from our ally. Can anybody
for a moment doubt, if a premium had been
offered, or an opportunity afforded, that plans
would not have flocked in and tenders been offered
for undertaking, in less than six months, a goodly
number of bomb-proof contrivances, from which
the authorities might choose, and, if necessary,
improve upon—vessels which should have com-
bined such a share of the necesary desiderated
strength, power, speed, security, and sea-going
qualifications, combined with heavy armament,
as were compatible with light draught of water
and safety ? If we are rightly informed there
is a great doubt if a screw, with the small
draught of water, can be made to drive
these huge monsters at more than a snail's pace,
even in a calm, but that there is ample room, as
well as time, for improvement in that the most
important particular. Why not combine paddles
with the screw, by way of auxiliary ? The
paddles might be so constructed as to be unshipped
at pleasure when going into action, while the
screw could work the vessel in safety. We have
been led to look into this matter, not from any
desire to criticise the proposition of our ally, and
the willing accordance of our own Government,
but, because it is a string of the same fiddle we
have been playing on since last April, when
we advocated the building of peculiar vessels
Adapted for shoal water, and the moctels of which
were the Nix and Salamander, already well-
proved efficient craft, and which very two vessels
ire about, in this very month of November, to be
exchanged for the frigate Thetis. We have, we
trust, a proper respect for our naval authorities,
and do not stint our applause for their exertions
whenever due, but we cannot consent to shut our
eyes where error is palpable, or to hold our hands
when we think we have information from better
sources than generally belongs to public offices,
where if one man more talented than another hits
upon anything good—sees an error, or thinks he
could suggest an improvement—he shrinks for
good reasons from trying to enlighten his superior.
In the Departments of War, or, in other words,
Army, Navy, or Ordnance, there is extreme
jealousy of civil suggestions. The cold shoulder
of seniors in rank is given to persons who have
courage to come forward with plans, and it rarely
happens that the most approved and useful inven-
tions are taken up by the authorities unless urged
through the press, lectures, or experiments. The
inventor is, as it were, forced upon the attention
of his superiors. If this be so with persons of
their own professions, how much more so is it
likely to be with civilians ? What, may we not
ask, have been the inventions in the march of
improvement of this, the 19th century, which
have emanated from our various Boards of Ad-
miralty ? Steam, when suggested to them some
forty years by the elder BRUNEL, they would not
listen to. It is true he only then proposed
steam-tugs for towing men-of-war. Had the Ad-
miralty of that day anything to do with establish-
ing the system which settled transatlantic
steaming ? Not a bit ;so far from it, the
Government threw cold water on the first suc-
cessful experiment of the Great Western—refused
a modicum even of that assistance then which
they have since granted to others to the extent of
nearly one million sterling per annum, who followed
in their wake, and learned their lessons from
them.

Who bad to do with the scientific part of this
splendid and most important experiment
BRUNEL the younger. MAUDSLAY and FIELD and
Parraßsox helped, it is true, and were assisted by
a naval officer, Captain CLAXTON, but in a civil ca-
pacity. What, again, had the Admiralty to do
in forwarding the same experiment ? It was not
until long after the same parties had settled that
the third enormous ship, the Great Britain, should
be propelled by this power, now the most pro-
minent in forming a perfect man-of-war, that
they consented to build the Rattler, and allow
the same BRUNEL to arrange for the screw and
engines.
In gunnery, too, what has the Ordnance done ?
fa Mr. LANCASTER not a civilian ? Do we owe
the Rifles of the day, so much talked of, to pro-
fessional ability ? Who invented detonating locks
and powder ? We might, in fact, go on from
one important branch of each service to another,
heaping instance on instance. But our object is to
open the eyes and senses of the authorities to the
fact, that from this, the middle of the 19th cen-
tury, to its end, and to all time afterwards, as
long as England is a nation, and the free press
one of its estates, they regardlessmtlstnotbeand is
of
civil engineering talent, which has shone,
shining in this country most particularly, many
degrees above anything that ever sprang from
the schools of the service.

Rumours have reached us of there being a
I
! strong opinion among men of money
and inercan-
tile standing, that Cronstadt might have been,
with proper floating batteries, and next season
may be, effectually bombarded, and its forts de-
stroyed. It is even whispered that there are men
who would contract to do it. That there are
engineers who would undertake to plan vessels
equal to the work—and our object is to impress
upon the public the duty of forcing the authorities
by the expression of opinion not to disregard
any well-digested plan, which civilians are pre-
pared to back with their moneys, because it does
not originate with the War Department.