The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-20 00:00:00

topol captured now, means Sweaborg, Helsingfor
Creastadt, Revel, and St. Petersburg itself cap-
tured next spring ; and, we trust, Poland restored
to nationality, the same or the following year.
The Danes take :In interest in the tidings we are
waiting for, hardly inferior to our own. They
know that the liberation of the Black Sea is but
the precursor of the liberation of the Baltic, and
that Turkish freedom is most intimately connected
with Danish freedom. Nothing, indeed, is more
certain than that the first great successful blow at
the chief patron of tyranny will raise a European
hurrah which will make the ears of every despot
tingle. Could all natons but utter their feelings at
the " coming event," it would resemble the shout
at the acquittal of the seven bishops, which even
Royal ears could not misunderstand. The only
wonder is how the infatuated Danish Monarch,
with his Ministers, dare attempt to confiscate his
subjects' liberties at the very time when England
and France were pouring forth their blood and
treasure that the nations might be free; and while
the fleets engaged in this holy war were floating
in Danish waters.

The Courts-Martial on the Arctic Navigators

have been brought to a conclusion. Captains
M'CLERE and KELLETT, Commander RICHARDS,
and Sir EDWARD BELCHER, were required to
answer, before a naval tribunal, for the abandon-
ment of the vessels entrusted to their respective
charges. The cases respecting the three first
mentioned distinguished officers was merely formal.
They had acted under the orders of superior
officers, and, indeed, had no option whatsoever.
The discoverer of the North-West passage, was
more critically circumstanced than the
others. Only four of his men volunteered
'to remain, while it would have taken at
least twenty men to bring the vessel home.
The Investigator bad been actually in the ice no
less than two years and nine months ; her extri-
cation vas hopclesT, and Captain 111`atiRs and
his brave followers well 'deserved " the highest
commendation for their exertions," an addition
i which the Court very properly alpendecl to it.,
I verdict. _ _ ... .

In Captain KELLETT's and COMlllawler
Ilicu.t-a,Ds case there was comparatively no re-

sponsiblity. These gallant officers had the di-
rect orders of Sir EDWARD BELCHER, who did not
think proper to consult them on the matter,
That officer acted ex mero moti6; on his owl

sole authority, without according the slighest
weight to the opinions of men who,
.although under his command, were just
as competent as himself to arrive at a sound
conclusion. This rather arrogant sclf-suf-

EDITIONS.

TO TDB EDITOR OP THE SUN.

fi&ency led to the result which might have been
different if the advice of his coadjutors had been
asked and taken into consideration. The distin-
guished officers were, of course, fully and honour-
ably acquitted, and, as in the case of Captain
M'CLI;RE, a short complimentary address was
made by the President of the Court to each on
receiving back the swords they had worn with so
much honour to themselves, and satisfaction and
advantage to their country.
Sir EDWARD BELCHER was also acquitted, but
not quite so clearly or satisfactorily. The finding
was qualified by a declaration that "he should,
if circumstances admitted, have conferred with
Captain KELLETT." He was simply "acquitted,"
without the words "fully" or "honourably"
being inserted in the finding, and his sword was
returned without a single word of any kind from
the President. These were trivial but unequivo-
cal indications that all was not as it should be,
and that, although Sir EDWARD BELCHER had not
violated his instructions, or exceeded the discre-
tion reposed in him, he might have acted more
efficiently and judiciously. There was not sufficient
to warrant a direct censure, nor was there any-
thing to call for a compliment on his services.
He was on his trial, and ho received the benefit of
the doubt.
It will be in the recollection of our readers,
that we by no means approved of the appointment
of Sir EDWARD BELCHER to this command. We
pointed out the high qualifications and pre-emi-
nent claims of Captain PENNY to the situation.
He it was who had discovered the first traces of
FRANKLIN ; and had there been no jealousy of a
person merely in the merchant service, who could
not attach the magical initials R.N. to his name,
the doubts and fears of the nation might long
since have been set at rest. He was decidedly the
fittest man for the undertaking ; but, as un-
fortunately he did not hold a commission
from " My Lords," his pro-eminent merits could
not be recognised or acknowledged. It was
a matter of life and death, but like rival physi-
cians quarrelling over a sick-bed, everything
but " etiquette" was disregarded. Capt. AUSTEN
would not receive advice from a merchant cap-
tain, and FRANKLIN and his brave companions
were abandoned to their fate, and such a fate, in
these dreary and inhospitable regions.
Red-tapism prevailed. PENNY would not be
appointed, and again we behold a similar result.
Even Captain KELLETT would not be suffered to
intrude on the councils of Sir E. BELCHER,
and our ships are abandoned, and, what
is far worse, the brave CoLLINsoN and his
companions left to brave their trials alone. Will
men ever profit by experience ? Will the Ad-
miralty deign to lay aside its crotchets, and for
once act, in a matter of such vital importance, in
accordance with the dictates of common sense,
rather than official precedents, or ridiculous
"etiquette." Can "My Lords," or any of their
subordinates, emancipate themselves from their
"red-tape" fetters, which seem even more binding
than " adamantine chains."

SIB BULWER LYTTON AND HIS CHEAP

SIR,—A libellous statement having been issued by
Messrs. S. Low and Son, in their Publishers' Circular
of the 16th instant, to the effect that —" It is currently
reported that the agreement between Sir Bulwer Lytton
and Mr. Routledge has been rescinded," we lose not'a
moment in asking you to permit us, through the medium
of your widely-circulated columns, to give a most un-
qualified denial to Messrs. S. Low and Son's unwarrant-
able assertion. So far from there being the slightest
truth in this attack upon our house, we most positively
and unequivocally assert, that not only does our agree-
ment with Sir Bulwer Lytton remain intact, but that we
have fulfilled every engagement we entered into with
him. We have communicated with Sir Bulwer Lytton,
.who is at present absent from town, but immediately
that we are in receipt of his answer we shall make it
public. We may also be allowed to add that, se far
from the issue of Sir Bulwer Lytton's works not answer-
ing, as Messrs. S. Low and Son have insinuated, the
circulation has been quite equal to our expectations.—
We are, Sir, your obedient servants,
GEO. ROITTLEDGE and CO,
2, Farringdon-street, Oct. 19, 1854.