The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-26 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1854,

In our impression of yesterday we extracted
from the second edition of the Morning Post tele-
graphic despatches from St. Petersburg, to the
effect that on the 17th the Allies had at length
opened their fire, that the bombardment lasted
the entire day, and that the garrison had 500
killed and wounded, amongst whom was Admiral
KORNILOFF, who was stated to have been killed on
the 18th. By way of Vienna, it was also stated
that the bombardment had commenced on the
16th. As we are deprived of any reliable infor-
mation through the culpable laches of our own
Government, we must, it appears, be contented
with receiving quantum raleat that which is ob-
tained from Russian sources. It is quite obvious
that if similar activity were exhibited on our own
side we might have trustworthy tidings from the
seat of war, in London and Paris, just as early
as it could be obtained at St. Peters-
burg,
unfortunately, however, it would
seem as if everything in this country
were to be left to "private enterprise"—that the
authorities expected another subscription to be
opened for the purpose of expediting communica-
tions with the Crimea. If individuals are to sup-
ply the omissions and backslidings of the authori-
ties by providing from their own private resources
nurses and inelical comforts, and even chaplains
for the sick and wounded soldiers, we may rea-
sonably anticipate that our postal communications
will in like manner be neglected until a fund be
obtained by voluntary contributions to provide
for the culpable deficiencies. Possibly we may be
asked in a short time to send out Generals and
Admirals not so much given to procrastination
as those nominated by the Government, and that
the thanks of the War Minister
may be given to
those who come forward in such a cause If we
are obliged to-receive every portion of intelligence
with distrust—if its probability must bee can-
vassed. in the first instance, and time
and
opportunity be afforded to speculators :on the
Stock Exchange to realise enormous profits
at the expense of the community, we must be
contented with attributing the evil to those juatly
responsible, and considering that we have only to
thank our " red-tape" system for the untoward
result. _

- -
We may, in the present instance, lend an easy
credence to the statement that the bombardment
had actually commenced on the 17th inst. It is
a fact which the Russians would, if possible,
deny ; and when it has been acknowledged by their
c.,,...
official organs it has received "confirmation strong
...: as proofs of Hely Writ." We may also believe
''.. that at least tlOO Ranians were placed "AQI.3 de

~. -,,.-


combat" during the first day, and that Admiral
KORNILOFF was one of the slain. But there we
must stop ; and as to the other details, as well as
the " embellishments" respecting " the fire being
feeble on the land side," or " the fortifications
towards the sea having suffered very little,"
we must totally disregard them, and patiently

await the time when authentic news can
be obtained from our own Generals, or rather
from the correspondents of the different journals,
who, notwithstanding the discouragement they
receive from the authorities, fearlessly and effi

ciently discharge their onerous and important
duties. The withholding the last despatches of
Lord RAGLAN, which arrived on Sunday last at
the War-office, proves, beyond the possibility
of doubt, the manner in which the public would
be treated and the natural anxiety of the people
disregarded, if we were wholly dependent for in-
formation on the scraps doled forth from the
War-office--" the crumbs that might be suffered
to fall from the official table."

We may also the more freely believe the opening
of the fire on the 17th, inasmuch as we already
know that on the 13th everything was in readiness
on the English side, and that our Allies would
shortly be prepared to follow suit. On that day
" the Allies were within 700 metres of Sebasto-
pol," and " the English batteries were ready,
though still masked, as the French were not suf-
ficiently advanced." It was therefore generally
thought that the firing would commence on the 15th
inst., and wereally cannot conceive any pretexts for
further procrastination on the part of the com-
manders.

It is true that they have, by their dilatoriness,
allowed time for the arrival of the expected rein-
forcements ; and that, in consequence, another
formidable battle may have to be fought before
the capture of Sebastopol. But such a lesson has
already been taught to the Russians, as to the
steady determination and invincible bravery of
the Allied troops, that they will scarcely venture
to attack when all the advantages of position are
with the adversary, who so speedily and decidedly
routed them under such very different circum-
stances. Should they screw their courage to the
striking place, should they indeed venture on an
attack, we cannot, for a moment, doubt the re-
sult. We have implicit confidence in the Allied
Troops ; when they are allowed to meet the enemy,
there will be no shortcomings on their part ;
and we may safely rely on all that the
most unflinching valour can achieve. Any on-
slaught on them will only recoil on the heads of
those by whom it was attempted, and might lead
to very important results in our favour, so far as
the possession of the whole peninsula is con-
cerned.

We must, therefore, for the present, rest con-
tented with what we actually know. As the fire
has been opened under every possible advantage,
and when sufficient time had been allowed to
place everything en regle, we can join in the anti-
cipations of those who doubted not for a moment
that Sebastopol must fall ; and it is by no means
improbable that the tidings of its capture:are:even
at this moment speeding forward to appease the
anxieties and gladden the hearts of the peoples of
France and England.
As to the alleged recapture of Eupatoria, it
is, if true (a matter that may be seriously ques-
tioned), a point of the most trivial consequence,
which can exercise no influence whatsoever on the
results of the campaign. We did not garrison it
with the view of defending it ; and, when by the
flank movement on Balaklava we made that port
the pivot of our operations, Eupatoria became
worse than useless, an encumbrance rather than a
benefit. The only mistake was that we did not
long since withdraw Captain BROCK and his
gallant followers ; and as they have got off with-
out loss of life, we should have nothing to regret
if the Russian statements were strictly accurate.

From the clear statement given by Dr. RAE
there can remain no possible doubt respecting the
fate of a portion of the expedition under Sir JOHN
FRANKLIN. It is but too painfully certain that a
considerable number of men, about forty, of the
officers and crews of the Erebus and Terror, were
met by a party of Esquimaux sometime about the
spring of 1850, and that these unfortunate men
afterwards perished miserably from the combined
influences of cold and hunger. A horrible aug
gestion has been added, which we would fain hope
to be unfounded. We must recollect that none
of the Esquimaux with whom Dr. RAE conversed,
and from whom he obtained his information, had
seen the " Kabloonans," or whites, nor had they
ever been at the spot where the bodies were found,
but had their information from those who had
been there, and who had seen the party when
travelling. We may easily imagine on what in-
sufficient data these ignorant men might arrive
at the conclusion that "our wretched countrymen
had been driven to the last resource—Cannibal-
ism—as a means of prolonging existence." We
know the tendency to exaggeration that exists in
all uneducated minds—how easily the slight-
est indications might be tortured into this
fearful opinion. It seems certain that many
of the bodies, those who first perished, were duly
buried by the survivors. It was not until their
strength had failed, when their own deaths were
impending, that the remains of their unfortunate
comrades were suffered to rest on the spots where
they had sunk under their protracted anguish.
Then comes the " mutilation." But might not
that have been inflicted by wild beasts, or more
savage beings of an unknown tribe ? The nature
of that mutilation should be strictly inquired into
from some of those who had seen the bodies, and
trustworthy information obtained. In like manner
too, as to " the contents of the kettles," by which
the accuracy of the awful surmise has been
strengthened. Our lamented countrymen might
have had some food remaining which the Esqui-
maux discoverers could not recognise, and which
they might therefore erroneously suppose to be
the flesh of their fellow-men.

If it were for nothing else but to remove this
harrowing supposition, it would be essential to
send another party to follow out the glue thus
obtained. Nor would the task be so very diffi-
cult now that we know the exact spot on which
the researches should be instituted, and could
trace the footsteps of the unfortunate party up to
the very spot where the accident happened that
deprived them of their vessels. But there are
additional and irresistible reasons for carrying out
this search. The gallant COLLINSON and his com-
panions must be succoured. We cannot again
afford to trifle with the lives of those who freely
and willingly engaged in a task so arduous,
encountering such fearful dangers and certain
privations. No degree of red-tapism, would sate
the Admiralty from the universal reprobation and
unmitigated disgust which any degree of indiffe-
renasubject would necessarily excite.
Thece on
intelligencesuch
gallant just obtained from these
men strengthens the desire to send
them the assistance that by this time may be
urgently required, although at the latest date to
which these accounts extend—the 27th August,
1852, twenty-six months since—all was going
well with the good ship and the
trusty crew.

Officers and men were in good health and condi-
tion for the arduous duties they had still to
accomplish. There had been no sickness worth
speaking of on board. The previous winter had
been comparatively mild, and game was obtained
to such an extent as to materially improve the
regular diet of all the men as well as officers.
But much may occur within three years, and it
will be nearly that time from the date of the last
communication before assistance can be afforded
o the adventurous seamen. The casualties that
may occur during these three winters must be
provided for ; and, as Sir EDWARD BELOREx came
home without ascertaining the position of the
Enterprise or her crew, we must supply the defi-
ciency to the best of our ability.
But, in addition to this powerful motive, we must
recollect that the fate of nearly one hundred of those
engaged in Sir JOHN FRANKLIN'S expedition is
still unknown. There were 138 men (officers and
crews) borne on the books of the ill-fated vessels.
Only forty, or thereabouts, were seen travelling
by the Esquimaux ; and it is by no means impro-
bable that those who survived the loss of their
ships might have separated into two or more
divisions, who would pursue different routes.
Many reasons might induce them to adopt such a
determination. The scantiness of game, which
could not be found in sufficient quantities to sup-
port the whole number, might lead them to
scatter in its pursuit. Besides, they might
naturally look forward to assistance from home ;
and the more widely they were distributed the
greater the prospect of meeting some of those
charged with the much-required succours. Any
one who met the relieving party would set them
on the trail of the others, so that all would be
assisted in their dire extremity. Any expense
and labour that could be incurred would be am-
ply recompensed, if only a single man of the ad-
venturous body were restored to his disconsolate
friends, and it is not impossible that some one or
more might have received shelter and protection
from the neighbouring tribes.
Besides, of the party actually seen, it is at least
possible that some survived and joined a wander-
ing party of Esquimaux. Forty were seen travel-
ling southward over the ice at the time they pur-
chased the small seal from the natives. Only
thirty-five bodies were discovered, thirty on the
mainland, and five on the small island. What,
then, became of the remaining five 7 This is, in-
, deed, an important and an interesting point.
That they, or some of them, survived the period
- of extreme destitution, is established by the fact
that " shots were heard, and fresh bones and
feathers of geese were noticed near the scene of

the sad event." With " abundance of ammuni-
tion," these men could have recruited their
strength and maintained themselves during the
summer, and they might very possibly have fallen
in with natives who would render them aid in re-
turn for their services. Besides, there are the books,
possibly journals, and other articles, which Dr.
RAE thinks might certainly be recovered, and
which alone would repay the expenses of the
search. An expeditioi should therefore be or-
ganised to start at the earliest possible moment,
and be provided with every requisite for insuring
the assistance of the natives, so as to ascertain
all the details, and dispel the mists is which this
truly deplorable transaction is still involved.

Sir JOHN TROLLOPS has verified by personal
observations abroad what we asserted from the
best information obtained at home—that the
Cousins Royal of Germany are not Germany. The
worthy baronet has been traversing the land of the
Austrians and Prussians, and other smaller do-
mains besides, and he returns with a heartier love
of his native land and her Constitutional Govern-
ment ; and Conservative as he is, member of a
DERBY Government as he was, and would like to
be again, what must he do but lecture the yeo-
manry of Lincolnshire on the blessings of a Go-
vernment which must obey the will of the people,
and on the duty of the Allies to resuscitate Poland?
What would CASTLERF..A.GII have thought of such
Toryism and such Tory foreign policy. If the
Whigs do not move on the Tories will certainly
do more than tread on their heels : they
will trip them up. He was quite indignant
to find intelligent Ger Mans declaring to
him that their rulers were one thing and
the people another ; that the former passed for
Germany, and being married to Russia, and
bought many of them by Russian gold, placed
Germany before Europe in its present dishonour-
able position ; but that the people, the real
Germany, were all hearty for the Allies against
the CZAR. It is gratifying to notice the liberalising
effect of the actual sight of despotism and suppression
of popular opinion upon our honest English-hearted
Tories. Sir JOHN comes home from it to elicit
democratic cheers from Lincolnshire farmers, and
to denounce the rulers 'who govern by armies in
opposition to the will of their subjects. We
iodine to think some Members of our Cabinet,
presuming of course that, like Sir JOHN,
they are sound Englishmen at th, bottom,
might take a few weeks' schooling in the
houses of Prussia and Austria with advantage.
They, too, might learn that Prussia and
Austria ought nct to be dealt with as represented
by FREDERICK WILLIAM and FRANCIS JOSEPH ;
and that a policy which should compel those
Royal worthies to do their duty to their subjects
and to Europe would carry both those countries
with it.

But there was no part of Sir JOHN'S remarks
which was more enthusiastically cheered than his
demand that Poland should be restored and con-
stituted the Eastern barrier of Europe. Think
of the " agricultural mind" responding with loud
cheers to such a proposal. It would have done
good to the heart of Prince CZ ARTOEYSKI to have
sat beside Sir JOHN, and to have heard those
cheers of the English farmers. He would have
thought it an omen for good indeed. He may
have supposed that English towns were gene-
rally hearty enough in the cause of his nation,
but to have seen how easy it was to touch
the hearts cf our country population with
the same theme, would have drawn from him
the language of ENEAS when ho beheld his coun-
try's calamities depicted on the tapestry of Car-
thage. Ho must see that his words are now
verifying themselves everywhere. Even the
European journal has deigned to advert to the
subject, though with an intimation of the ignorance
of those who are unappalled by its difficulty. To
the same journal, however, Russian granite was
but the other day an equal difficulty. The Trea-
sury journal, however, comes out with it as the
safest policy for Austria to proclaim Polish na-
tionality, and to restore its Constitution to Hun-
gary. The forwer would indeed be a less bitter
draught for Austrian pride than the latter. Her
traditions are rather in its favour than otherwise.
MARIA. THERESA was, as is well known, an unwil-
ling accomplice in the first dismemberment of
Poland ; and Austria, if forced into a war with
Russia, could, without wounding her pride, de-
clare for the resuscitation of Poland.

But to give way to Hungary after having for
centuries endeavoured to subvert its liberties by
fraud, and having succeeded at last by the down-
right treason of calling in a foreign sword, and
basely murdering her noble patriots, would be
much more humiliating ; it would be to ratify
the verdict of Hungary, indeed of all civilisation,
on the basenessof supplicating help from the Czin
against freemen, and on the cowardly and cruel
murders of Arad. Probably, the certainty that
Poland restored must be followed by concession to
Hungary will deter Austria more than anything
else from entertaining the question. The former
might be represented as a magnanimous and Euro-
pean policy ; but the latter would be a mortifying
concession to those whom she has wronged but