The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-25 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1854.

On Saturday we announced the arrival at Mar-
seilles, On the previous day, of the City of Lon-
don, transport ship, bringing advices from Con-
stantinople of the 13th, and from Balaklava,
including official despatches from Lord RAGLAN,
to the 10th instant. These despatches were most
anxiously looked for. The preceding had only
been carried on to the 28th ultimo, at which time
the English commander had established himself
at Balaklava, and was making the most energetic
preparations for the siege, which it was generally
supposed would be commenced within less than a
week. Twelve days had, however, elapsed previ-
ous to the sailing of the City of London, and
some explanations were doubtless offered as to
the reason for the extraordinary delay, and as to
the probable time when the bombardment of the
beleaguered town would really begin. Lieutenant
KIRBY, the bearer of these important documents,
arrived in London, on Sunday evening,
and forthwith delivered his interesting charge
at the War-office. We had every reason to
suppose that they would have been given to the
public on the following day, in pursuance of the
voluntary promise of the Duke of NEWCASTLS.
Monday; however, passed over without any
notice ; Tuesday passed in like Manner ; and
even the Gazette was published without any
allusion whatsoever. We trust that some expla-
nation will be afforded on this matter, to show
why it was that the salutary precedent should be
disregarded, which led to the publication of a
Gazette _&traordinary on the Bth inst., when the
despatches of Lord RAGLAN and Admiral DuernAs
were puLlislied. _Notwithstanding their arrival
on a Sunday, and also the additional despatches
to the 28th ult., which appeared in the Gazette
of the I(ith, there was then no such vexatious
procrastinations as in the present instance, and it
is only fair that any cause which prevents the
allaying Qf the public anxiety for such a time
should 4 Inaa, known,
so that the blame should
be removed from the quarter on which it now
rests. We have already pointed out the evil con-
sequences.a permitting the unchecked circulation
of false or exaggerated reports. The " cooked "
accounts of the AUTOCRAT are suffered to go forth
to the world without contradiction; designing men
are permitted to influence the price of the national
securities`; persons desirous of making bona fide
investments are discouraged ; and all in cense-
quence of the observance of some ridiculous eti-
quette or red-tapist absurdity. Should any rule
exist preventing the immediate publication of au-
thentic Intelligence we have no doubt that it
would, under the present exciting circumstances,
be completely abolished or materially modified.

It is now announced in the Moniteur " that the
trenches were opened on the night of the 9th,
that the Allies were within seven hundred
metres of Sebastopol, that earthworks were
still (on the 13th) being thrown up, and that
it was thought the firing would commence
on the 15th !" It was also added that "the
Russians continued to fire without effect, and that
they had' attempted various sorties without re-
suit." "„The Vienna Lloyd," contained similar

accounts to the same day (the 13th), with the ad-
dition that "the English batteries were ready,
tholgh still masked, as the French were not suit
ficiently advanced." It also stated that "it was
not for a moment doubted that Sebastopol must
fall !" We believe that there cannot be much
difficulty on the subject. The only questions
arise from the tardiness and apathy of our own
Government, which seems as if its Councils were
still influenced by a faithful friend of the CzAR,
anxious to let him off' as easily as possible under
the peculiar circumstances of the case. These
may serve to encourage the foe, and to dispirit
our own countrymen ; but they cannot affect the
ultimate fate of the town, which, humanly speaking,

appears certain.
But what is to be done with it when captured ?
When this stronghold, with all its stores mid
the remnant of the Russian navy, are actually in
our hands—we cannot relinquish the prize so
dearly purchased—we cannot be contented with
the destruction of these fortifications. If the
CZAR, should be permitted, under any circum-
stances, to retain possession of the Crimea, we
should again, and probably at no very distant
date, have the work again to do. We could not
prevent him from rebuilding these threatening
fortifications, from renewing his navy. He is
now actuated by even stronger motives than
ambition or cupidity. He is possessed by a
deadly hatred of those by whom his pride was so
deeply humiliated and his power depreciated.
Now that the tables have been so completely
turned, we have his own example to refer to,
and none can object to our right to demand ma-
terial guarantees for the permanent tranquillity
of Europe. He must never agaia be permitted
to menace Constantinople, or to hold possession
of any stronghold on the Euxine. The indepen-
dence of Georgia and Circassia must be main-
tained, for it was to the gallant and protracted
struggle of the Caucasian warriors, under their
Prophet-Chief SCHAMYL, that we have been in-
debtdd for being saved from many serious cora-

plications.
With the Crimea, Bessarabia should be restored
to its ancient allegiance ; and, if NICHOLAS still
persists in refusing to accept the conditions which
we are entitled to dictate, the whole of Southern
Russia may be dealt with. In driving his troops
from these territories, we are only sending him
back to the original boundaries of his empire—
depriving him of the unconscientious acquisitions
made by his predecessors. He will be still suf-
ficiently strongfor the protection of Russia Proper,
although no longer capable of terrifying his neigh-
bours or cheeking the progress of liberal opinions.
One wing will have been closely clipped—the
other, by which he is enabled to menace the
Baltic Powers, must share its fate. The various
provinces abutting on that sea, Finland,
Esthonia, Livonia, &se., offer fair marks for our
operations, when the possession of a suitable
armament of gun-boats enable our fleets to act
effectively against his strongholds in the Gulf of
Finland, against Sweaborg and Helsingfors, Revel
and aronstadt, and possibly even St. Petersburg
itself. We have learned that formidable blows
are to be inflicted, not against the centre but the
extremities of Russia, and we should profit by the
experience thus acquired.

We revert to the awful tragedy of the IrEANK-
LENT Expedition, consisting of 136 souls. A small
portion only of the dreadful scone is before us.
A. mete moiety of the gallant band of adventurers
is ac4ounted for. Point Sir Charles Ogle is the
restirg-place of- Bente, awl Montreal Island of
others. We refrain from harrowing the feelings
of our readers by repeating the condition in which
their honoured remains were found. We would
spare them and their friends such a recital.
There is, however, a blood-stain somewhere. Has
every effort been made for the rescue of this noble
band, we ask ?—for let it be distinctly understood
that there were many noble souls involved in the
fate of FRA.NKLIN—CROZIER, FITZJAMES, STAN-
LEY, GOODSIR, are the names of officers well known
for their talents and acquirements. Many a tear
for years to come will be shed over the memory
of those brave men.

Even our own pen, stern as "Time" has made
us—for we were acquainted with some of the gal-
-1 lani crew—loses somewhat of its steadiness' as we
write.' Peace, everlasting peace, to them ! Has
every effort, we repeat, been made for the rescue
of this noble band ? Too happy should we be to
answer yes ; but no. The authorities at home—
and by the authorities we mean not only the
Board of Admiralty, but the Colonial Board—
have sacrificed the FRANKLIN Expedition to a
perverse attachment to their own special views,
imbibed from one of the most prejudiced
of men, the late Sir JOHN BARROW. We have
several times warned the authorities against
large sea expeditions, and urged small land
journeys in the prosecution of Polar research.
Dr. KING, the accomplished Polar traveller, who
went down the Great Fish River in search of Sir
J. Ross, in 1833-4-5, published, at the time the
search for FRANKLIN was under consideration, a
pamphlet, entitled " Polar Sea Expeditions, and
Polar Land Journeys." Every newspaper in Eng-
land supported us in urging Dr. KING'S views of
a Polar Land Journey down the Great Fish Rivei",
in lieu of FRANKLIN'S Polar Sea Expedition.
And when he found the Board of Admiralty were
determined to send out FRANKLIN by sea, ho sub-
mitted to Lord STANLEY (now Lord DERI3Y), the
then Colonial Secretary, a plan for descending the
Great Fish River overland, so as to act in concert
with Sir J. FRANKLIN by sea.
And when the fate of FRANKLIN became serious,
Dr. KING implored! first the Colonial Board, and
then the Board of Admiralty, in the most forcible
language that man could pen, to allow him to go
by the Great Fish River to the rescue of the FRANK-
MN party. He maintained from the moment
FRANKLIN started that he would be wrecked, where
in all probability he has been wrecked, on
the western land of North Somerset, and that
he would make fur the Great Fish River,
in expectation of help from brume. Poor creatures !
' Help from home ! Only ono polar friend held
out a helping hand. Earl GREY'S answer to Dr.
KING'S powerful appeal, as well as the appeal
itself, on record. Admiration for the one and
condemnation for the other document, the , wasby-
word at the time of every well-thinking man ; but
now a blot is stamped upon the answer of Earl
GREY which lie will never be able to efface.
The Board of Admiralty slit ltered themselves
under the cloak of a council, called the " Arctic
Council," who were made, not only once, but
twice, to report the utter impossibility of FRANKLIN
being anywhere in the neighbourhood of the
Great Fish River. The refusal of Dr. KING'S
first offer bears date the 3d of March, 1848, and
the second offer the 28th February, 1850. What
part did Sir JOHN FRANKLIN'S old companion, Sir
GEORGE BACK, take in this decision of the Arctic
Council, fur he was one of its members ? We
are acquainted with a print entitled the " Arctic
Council," portraits of the members of the
council called together under that name
—let each man now tell his own tale.
We cannot put a permanent value on that
council until we know this. What monster evil
haunts the imagination of Sir GEORGE BACK, that
he should ever and anon lead us from that mag-
nificent river, teeming with every kind of animal
life, even up to the great human family ?
We think w©
see the poor fellows at Point Sir
Charles Ogle
and Montreal Island, daily looking
up the Great Fish
R
assistance. The springoivfelr
1850
on
wasexpneocttatthioenfirosft
spring journey they had made to the Great Fish
of 1848, surely the spring
River. The spring
of 1849 also, found them on
the banks
of that stream. They were evidently
on the look

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