The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-02 00:00:00

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.

"This place fills up an hiatus which the Crystal Palace leaves
wanting. Vocal and instrrnental music of the first order, and a
display of fireworks which exceeds all imagination, area fitting
does to a day at the Crystal Palace."
DANSON'S COLOSSAL PANORAMA of CHUSAN:

Splendid and Extensive Menagerie and Marine Aquarinnl-I.7nr,
veiled Military Band.

VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT,

in which Miss Poole, Miss Ransford. and Mr. Manvers sing
several National and Patriotic Songs—All the Amusing Novelties
of the Gardens in succession. concluding with the " Feast, of Lan-
terns," and a most magnificent display of Fireworks by Southby
♦dmission One Shilling. A splendid Pavilion for Dancing has been
rested. Full Quadrille Band, &c.

ASTI.EY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.

Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.

3 cense without a parallel I—Triumphant and brilliant career of the

Cossicks !
2nd Night of a new Mythological Equestrian Melodramatic Ballet

I'Actiori.

tad appearance of Herr Chi:IWO-if:7le first Rope Dancer In the

universe.
THIS EVENING,

The War Spectacle, THE COSSACKS; or, Vive la France.
After which, the novel and skilful SCENES in the CIRCLE, by
Professors of the first class, developing in perfection the high school
of the art of Equitation. The whole invented and arranged by Mr.
William Cooke.
HERR CHRISTOFF, the first Rope Dancer in the universe.
The wonderful BROTHERS FRANCISCO, in their incomprehen-
sible and astonishing performances.

The whole to conclude with, 2nd time, a new Equestrian Melo-
dramatic Ballet, by Mrs. S. G. Healey, called THE KNIGHT AND
THE WATER LILY ; 'or, Love among the Mermaids.
Boca-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TBIA DAY —Morning 2 min.after 7 I Evening 27 min.aft. 7
To-3foanow—Morning 52 min.after 7 1 Evening 26 Min.aft. 8

TEE WEATHER.—Sum Onias, Aua.
THEB.MONETNE, IN THE SHADE.
72—highest since noon on Saturday.
54—lowest this morning and during the night..
72—this day, at noon.
BAROMWTEB, 29.78.
WIND, N.W. to W.N.W.—Fresh breeze, with heavy
clouds and sunshine.

esp

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1854,

There are two countries of Europe now en-
deavouring to " settle down" into quietude, after
having each of them but just emerged from a
revolution. Spain and Greece—kingdoms situated
at opposite extremities of the Mediterranean.
This occurs, moreover, at the very time when a
general war is agitating the whole political system
of the eastern hemisphere. The latest advice.
from Madrid inform us that General ESPARTERO
had just entered that capital for the purpose of
reorganising a Constitutional Government. The
most recent despatches from Athens acquaint us
with the arrival in that capital of M. MAVROCOR-
DATO, entrusted with precisely the same onerous
responsibility. The coincidence of events—in
certain respects—is sufficiently curious. ESPAR-
TERO has been carried by the successes of others
to the very summit of authority over the Spanish
Administration. MATROCORDATO, in the same
way, has been carried by the successes of
others to the supreme height of power over
the Greek Government. The military rising at
Madrid took place while ESPARTERO was still
quietly secluded in his private residence at Lo-
grono. The diplomatic movement at Athens was
triumphantly accomplished while MAVROCORDA TO
was calmly sojourning at Paris, in his capacity as
ambassador. What was achieved for the latter
by the sagacity of Mr. WYSE and Baron ROUEN,
was effected for the former by Don DOMINGO
DITLCE and Don LEOPOLD O'DO_NNELL. In both
instances the evils which the people—here in
Spain, there in Greece—have been rid of, were
evils brought upon the two countries by the
duplicity, the weakness, the folly, and infatuation
of the reigning Sovereigns. Insomuch that it can
scarcely be doubted that it must have been with a
sense of guilt and abasement, and with a poignant
knowledge of having been egregiouslyoutwitted, or
crushingly defeated, in all their nefarious designs
against the liberties of the race entrusted to the
governance of each, that the other day Queen
ISABELLA gave audience to General ESPARTERO,
and King OTIIO to M.
MAVROCORDATO.
There is this glarin difference, however, between
the diplomatic coup at Athens and the Spanish
insurrection. That whereas, in the instance of
Greece, all the good that hasu been done for the
country by the late movement has been accom-
plished through foreign agency,
through the saga-
city, as we have said, of Mr. %sit and of Baron
Rourmr, followed by the sudden landing of Eng-
lish and French troops at the Pirazms--__ whatever
benefit has been secured to Spain by the
move-
ment in that country has been obtained through
the daring and patriotism of the sons of her own
soil, through the civism, and the valour, and the de-
cision of SERRANO, DULCE, and O'DONNELL. The
contrast is one that augurs well for Spain. The
successful leaders of her new and not least glo-
rious revolution have well earned those " highest
military honours," which report now says is about
to be conferred upon them by the councils of the
land to which they have opened up the path
of emancipation. The Marshal's baton is, in truth,
but the due of both DULCE and O'DoNNELL.
They risked everything upon the hazard of a great
rising, and they have succeeded. They have suc-
ceeded in putting
an end to a Government con-
ducted by mendacious impostors and unprincipled
adventurers. They have
brought about the dis-
grace of SARTORIUS and his colleagues, and the
downfall of Queen CroersiTNA. and the MUN. OZ I
family; and, with all this, the poisibility, of good ill-
the future for the Spanish population. Precisely
as the adroit diplomacy of Mr. Wrsz and his

French colleague at Athens, prepared the way for
the crushing out of the Russian conspiracy fos-
tered under the patronage of OTHO and AM:ELIA—
a hydra of political calamities, all the heads of

which were struck off at a single blow by the
fact of the Anglo-French occupation.

The question now is—both at Athens and at
Madrid--like an echo of the old inquiry, "Under
which king, BENZONIAN ?" The power of King
OTHo is doomed: So likewise is that of Queen
ISABELLA. All that can be effected in behalf of
each respectively by MAVROCORDATO and ESPAR-
TERO—iS to delay for a little while longer the
inevitable hour either of quiet abdication or of
violent expatriation. The alternative is before
Onto. It is before ISABELLA. The necessity for
its acceptance may, we repeat, just possibly
be postponed for a while by ESPARTERO and
MAVROCORDA TO. Neither of them can altogether
dissipate it. The downfall of both OTHO and
ISABELLA we believe to be no longer merely
"looming in the future," but to be here—close
at hand! Whence it follows that the question is,
at this moment of supreme emergency (for Spain
and Greece), Who are to be their successors ? It
is the double problem now remaining to be solved
in the midst of all the disturbance and confusion
of a general war among the great Powers of
Christendom.

There is a delusion very prevalent amongst
officers of both branches of her MAJESTY'S ser-
vice, and in which they frequently endeavour to
obtain the participation of civilians. They will
gravely insist that the " Court-Martial " is the
oest tribunal in the world, and that it invariably
administers impartial justice, without fear or pre-
judice, favour or affection. Strange as the
assertion may be, it is put forward in per-
fect good faith, and with a strong convic-
tion of its truth and acouracy ; and any in-
credulity on the part of the audience occa-
sionally excites the ire of the gallant veterans to
an extent very unpleasant to the sceptic. Obser-
vations are made, in no measured language, on the
ignorance which could alone lead to any doubt or
difficulty on facts so notorious, and hints are given
as to a mode of terminating the argument that
speedily enforces belief. In truth, the advocate
of the ordinary tribunals is seldom sufficiently well
acquainted with the proceedings of these model
courts to venture on any very positive assertion in
reference thereto. He cannot speak of his own
knowledge, and is, therefore, generally compelled
to yield to his more energetic and more boisterous
antagonist.
Now, however, something is known of the mode
of administering what we suppose is designated
" justice" by the military tribunals, but to which
we should feel disposed to apply a very different
term. We have had ample opportunities of
judging for ourselves, during the series of court-
martials in which Lieutenant PERRY has recently
been engaged, as to the most approved mode of
" crushing an obnoxious junior." We see the
nature of the practice, if there be anything at all
of established practice, and consequently are able
to reply to these statements by specific instances
of unfair and arbitrary conduct.
We do not complain of the first inquiry into
the conduct of Lieutenant PERRY. Ha had in-
flicted a personal injury on a brother offi-
cer, and it was just and expedient that a strict
and searching investigation should take place into
all the circumstances connected with the untoward
transaction. It might have been well for the
prosecutor (Lieutenant-Colonel GARRETT) and
others if it had only been brought before a court
of inquiry, where, the proceedings being carried
on with closed doors, nothing would have come to
light of the pleasing diversions of the high-
spirited officers of the 46th. The full and com-
plete acquittal of the unfortunate young officer
would not have answered the purpose. His quiet
and economical habits did not suit the* gallant
46th. That the selected " butt" should turn on
his oppressor—that he should vindicate his out-
raged honour by striking to the earth the man
by whom he was insulted, was too bad. Nothing
but his ignominious expulsion from the service
would suffice, and for that the sentence of a gene-
, ral Court-Martial was indispensable. A. formal
complaint was therefore preferred, the accusations
prepared, and the prisoner, who had been kept
in close custody in a small inconvenient room,
was placed upon his trial.
Had the injunctions of the Court with respect
to the non-publication of the proceedingS been re-
spected matters would have gone on in the ordi-
nary course. Poor PERRY would have been
quietly extinguished, and Col. GARRETT would
have been contented with the injury inflicted on
the intended victim. Fortunately, however, for
the ends of justice—aye, and for the well-being
of the service itself—the order wa.sbdisregarded,
and public'attention was at once excited by the
extraordinary nature of the transactions brought
to light. The order itself was a mere brutum ful-
men, which the parties• by whom it was made had
no power to enforce. Such an order may be
made by the civil tribunal, but it is only so on
very rare occasions, and where the ends of justice
may be prejudiced by a premature publication.
Had there been any reasonable probability of such
a result, we are convinced that the good feeling
of our brother journalists would have required
but the slightest intimation of the fact. A
courteous request might have been attended to,
even though there had been no possibility of
evil consequences. But it was manifest that no
injury could be occasioned, and the impudent as-
suimption of power which did not exist could not
be tolerated. The fourth estate was not subjected
to Martial-Law, nor amenable to the ukases of a
military tribunal. The proceedings were, there-
fore, very properly reported, and thence it is that
we hear of a second and third Court-Martial
growing out of the same transaction.
The first matter worthy of notice, appears to
be the appearance of Lieutenant-Colonel GAR-
RETT, the person at whose instance the trial was
instituted, appearing as prosecutor. A very short
time showed the animus by which he was actu-
ated. The intense desire, in every way, to pre-
judice the cause of the youthful prisoner was
plainly perceptible from the very commencement.
The contemptuous tone in which he indulged
showed that he participated in the feelings of those
whose gross ill-treatment of Lieut. PERRY led to
these painful events. Now, we contend that it is no.
right to placea "commanding" officer in such a posi

tion with respect to one of his subalterns. The
very position as a prosecutor naturally creates a

bias in the mind. A personal collision is very

probable, and angry feelings may be excited, that
would render a change of regiment indispensable,

even in the event of a full and complete acquittal
—a triumphant justification of the conduct of the

accused. Besides, the appearance of a " com-
mander " in that position induces a strong leaning

amongst the judges, whose chief object is to sup-
port authority, and who would consider any strong
observations in reference to such a person as little
better than " rank blasphemy." We have already

seen one of the manifold evils of this course iu
the third Court-Martial, which was partially occa-
aioued by the fact of Lieutenant-Colonel GARRETT
being placed in so anomalous a position in the
two former trials.
The next point to be noticed was the refusal to
recognise any responsible adviser or assistant to
the prisoner. Rules that require to be, and are
so frequently strained, in order to admit of an
escape from their stringency, must be unwise and
injudicious, and should be forthwith rescinded.
What a farce it is to admit " a friend" to as
advocate, while a regular practitioner is exclact ude d.
The more eminent the Counsel, the better. It is
paying a very left-handed compliment to these
model tribunal, to suppose that they could be
influenced to do what is wrong by the talent or
ability of the person appearing for the prisoner.
Such fallacious notions were once entertained, but
they have been completely dispelled ; and we be.
iieve there is not a single person throughout the
length and breadth of the land ; that impeaches
the accuracy of the principle on which the Pri-

soners' Counsel Bill was framed, or that its aciop;
tion has not promoted the cause of justice.
• We may hereafter point out other evils con.;
nected with Court-Martials, but time and space

alike force us to conclude our present observatioili.