The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-29 00:00:00

CONDUCT OF TEE WAR.

(From the Press of this day. )
The temper of the public mind at this moment is peon-
liar. The silence of expectation is just yielding to the
mutterings of discontent. Men are beginning to openly
wonder how it is that after months of preparatiou for
war we still hear nothing of actual hostilities, and -that
our Euxine fleet in particular has remained idle, though
opportunities of attack did not seem wanting to a vigilant
commander. There has been a disposition in some quar-
ters to blame Admiral Dundas for this inaction. We are
sure the reproach is unjust. We are perfectly satisfied that
he has acted throughout in strict obedience to his
orders, and that the Government alone is to blame for
that delay which has proved so serviceable to Russia.
It could.not be the Admiral's fault that he was detained
at Constantinople for want of coals, though it might
very well be the fault of that particular officer of the
Admiralty whose place it was to see that the supply
was amply sufficient for the requirements of the fleet.
The insinuations against this distinguished commander
would, indeed, be unworthy notice if they did not indi-
cate the dissatisfaction with which the country is be-
ginning to regard the conduct of the war. The Ministers
can be no strangers to this feeling, and we believe there
are some among them so unscrupulous as to be anxious
to shift from themselves the responsibility of their acts,
and to care little on whose head the storm of popular
rage may break, so that they escape its effects.
While the country is impatiently expecting some de-
cisive results from the delaration of war, each depart-
ment of administration, obedient to its presiding influ-
ence, exercises its ingenuity in devising hindrances to a
real and vigorous prosecution of hostilities. At the
moment for action it is discovered that in each there is
something wanting. Our troops are delayed for want
of transports, and reach a foreign shore at last wanting
common necessaries ; and our naval commanders; when
bent on some dashing exploit, look into their instructions
and find they want power to act. It is even doubtful
whether the prizes which have been taken will be con-
strued under the Ministerial orders to be prizes at all,
and whether they will not be set free with abundant
apologies for the " mistake" committed in their capture.
We are, in fact, talking as if we were at war, and
acting as if we were at peace. Instead of a sea-fight, we
have an exchange of commercial civilities. The recent
orders in Council must in some way or other have been
concerted with the 'Russian Court, as substantially the
same regulations to extend the time for the free passage
of ships on oiie side 'and the other, and to carry on trade
between the two countries in neutral bottoms, were pub-
lished almost simultaneously in London and St. Peters-
burg. We profess to be anxious to engage the German
States in an alliance against our foe, yet we make it di-
rectly their interest to preserve neutrahty by throwing
the whole trade with Russia, 'which we allow to remain
open, in their hands.
It is a fact strikingly significative of the disposition of
our Government that up to this date our hostility has
been confined to show merely. It is now everywhere
asked—Why is this ? How long is it to last I How long
are we to make war as if it were a military masquerade
to fence with buttons on our foils, and fire blank car-
tridges? We may have peace or war, but we cannot
have both. Their dutiesardeeimrraencodnscailapbelrev.ading
energy'
The organisation of war
and a happy audacity that exults in surmounting diffi-
culties. There must be present in a War Minister the
talent which inspirits others—the hardy resolve—the
ad
ni
die • ' some-
thing" b u
divininogf
thgeeneniusth—ustihasemfowrhesicighhteatnhat,:pdlo anso—r
where shall we look for these qualitiesin Lord Abe-
rdeen's Cabinet ?
It is mere folly or cowardice to encourage the idea
that commercial relations can be maintained between
countries whose Governments are really at enmity.
Should hostilities commence in earnest, the delusion
would be scattered in an instant, and that it is now
favoured is only another proof that the Government is
playing the country false, and that itffet hopes that the
Turkish empire may be overthrown-by Greek insurrec-
tion or Russian victory, before the Czar has felt the
force of our arms. On this supposition, and on this
only, the conduct of our Government is intelligible.
The delay at the War-office—the evasions of the Colo-
nial Secretary—the issue of the orders in Council—the
emptiness of the Exchequer—the inaction of our forces
—all are explained.

THE " DESTINY" OF AMERICA AND

CUBA.

( From the Press of this day )
It is not many months since Mr. Everett, after he
had ceased to hold office, addiessed to Lord John Russell
`a letter in reference to American progress in general,
and especially in the direction of Cuba, the "lone star"
of the Carrib Sea. In that letter, which was lengthy,
measured even by the standard of American state papers,
Mr. Everett expressed " wonder" that the nations of
Europe, instead of viewing with admiration " the beau-
tiful" extension and expansion of American power now
in the ccurse of development by annexation, should re-
gard it rather with an eye of jealousy. This pro-
cess, which Mr. Everett looks upon as the gradual
fulfilment of manifest " destiny," has certainly more
charms for the American than the European spec-
tator—than the Sovereign of Spain, for example.
Still Mr. Everett need neither be angry nor
alarmed ' • for, as 'the great Frederick said, " Fortune
favours large battalions," so " Destiny" will declare on
the strongest side. That our transatlantic cousins have
shown-patience and a long-suffering endurance of wrong
none can deny ; for the injuries and indignities systema-
tically heaped upon them by the Cuban authorities are
positively countless. There was the violent deaths of
General Lopzz and many of his followers, while the libe-
ration of the survivors from imprisonment was only pro-
cured after several months' endurance of that " hope de-
ferred" which is so galling to the spirit of the brave and
the free. Then there was poor Smith, the steward of
the steamer Crescent City, the authorities would not allow
him to land, and he always wished to go on shore ; and
this was " a difficulty" which was constantly recurring,
for the steamer plied between New Orleans and
Havannah. We suppose the prohibition must have in-
flamed his desire to an extent which was injurious to
health, for a paragraph lately went the round of the
papers stating that "Smith, the steward of the Crescent
City, was dead." Peace be to his ashes ! It was not
written in the roll of "Destiny" that the enforcement
of his right of way over the island, at the cannon's
marl, was to be a step in the " beautiful development "
of the process of annexation.
Again, there was the proposal by France and England
that America should enter into a tripartite treaty with
them, for the purpose of preventing any power wresting
the island from-Spain, and this was certainly a direct
provocation to its seizure ; for nothing is more likely to
incite a spirited nation to instant aggression than an in-
timation that it will be vigorously resisted. Even this
provocation America withstood, and those indignities_
were endured, if not in absolute silence, at least without
active retaliation.
But now at this particular juncture a variety of com-
binations seem to point to a path along which patience
may march to reap its reward. "A difficulty" exceed-
ing all the others in magnitude and complexity has re-
cently occurred between the two Governments. An Ame-
rican vessel called the Black Warrior was detained by
the Spanish authorities at Havannah, for an alleged
violation of the regulations of the port. As soon as the
news reached Washington, the President, by inspiration
(there was not time for the receipt of accurate informa-
tion), knew that it was an outrage of the gravest nature
calling for large reparation. to obtain which be resorted_
.
to instant action. Directions were hastily ei!3iied to
dderntlaie AndommeprilcoansatMisfamoitsitoeor
for
a mission it would require no wizard to predict, after
ethilea'uiwiprridoangvna. as
v °Hari -do
feworiedle,.tSol'onule was likely to discharge such
sufficient to
couched
t allh e
his duels and strange misconduct in society. Of course,
I
dhdemandsomdms namingieon.cfeudii,bvyiz,
6O , Oao
Isn
.
preposterous demand in terms so insulting that even in
its fallen state editstient pride of Castile for a moment
was roused, rea head, and a befitting answer was
returned.
Here for the present, the affair rests, but a hundred
and fifty years ago something not unlike it occurred.
It is recorded in a certain " History of John Bull"
that John, Nick- Frog, and Lewis Baboon, treated old
Lord Strutt ill, and commenced surveying his park be-
fore he was dead, for tlte purpose of dividing it amongst
themselves afterwards ; but the alliance turned out badly
for all parties, and we trust the respectable portion of
America will learn wisdom from the fact, and will not
alloy themselves with the Locos-focos, or whatever the ex-
treme democrats, who are so aptly and ably represented
by M. Soule, are called, to perpetrate a great wrong on
a decaying nation. The possession of Cuba, even if it
were peaceably acquired, might itself be a "difficulty"
greater than that of the Black Warrior. The very name
is ominous. America may one day have millions of
"black warriors" within her bounds.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—MAIL ARRANGEMENTS...—.
GENERAL POST-OFFICE; April, 1854.—The General Screw
Steam• Shipping Company having abandoned their con.
tract,with her Majesty's Government for the monthly
-.conveyance of mails to and from the Cape of Good Hope
and India, the following arrangements will be made far
the transmission of the correspondence hitherto .con'
veyed by those packets.- The correspondence for Ines
and Ceylon will be, sent by the overland route, Pia
Egypt. All letters, and newspapers addressed to the
Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, and Ascension will, for
the presentz be forwarded by private ship, as opPortu"
nities offer ; and such letters and • newspapers will 1)*
liable to the ship letter rates of postage, viz. :-Bd. the
half ounce for letters, and ld. each for,. nowsPaPeros-
which rates must; in all cases, be paid in-advance.andT4ite
transmission of printed books to- Cape Towtliiiepresent
suspended. at a low rate of postage, for
Suspended. Letters, &c., for Mauritius_ also,
._ will_
.for
the present be forwarded by the overland mail, in which
case they will be left at Ceylon -for conveyance to their
destination by any opportunity that may
ilo ccur, By the
discontinuance of the Cape. packets, mas for the Cape
de Verde Islands can be forward. ed only once a month,
viz., by the Bratfl. pAckets, leaving Southampton on the
9,tb, of each month.
`AlstifiadAßLES' HALL.—Namea of gentlemen who
passed their erainidatilln in the --science and praCtiee of
niedibine, -and received certificates to practice, on Tlxitrt
day, April 27, 1854 -Henry:— Pratt, Montreid, Canada;
Septimus Briggg Fag; &instable, Beds ; Ebenezer
Walker Kern, Wakefielr,• John William Hayward,
Liverpool ; Henry Gristock Trend, Bridge Water, Somer.
Congleton, Cheshire ; John
set ; Charles Beresford
Robert Kealy, Gosport, Hants ; Arthur Sharpe, Bar-
ford, Warwick ; James Seaton, Leeds ; Richard Sumner
Fowler-; William Gardiner, Xoldgreen, near Hudders-
field ; Patrick M'Losky, ItothWell; NOrthimptonehira ;
George Goody, Bunsley
Hugh D, Ines, H,E,1.C.8,,
Bengal.