The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-25 00:00:00

d' armee, which had been conveyed in car-
riages of the country and in the lightest
possible order was "to be immediately followed
by the 3d corps." The Russians had, therefore,
probably obtained a great addition of strength on
or before the 13th, and they would also, most
probably, avail themselves thereof—for they hal
nearly gone to the full length of their tether,
and could look for no further assistance for a con-
siderable period, until the formation of snow-roads,
which could not be anticipated for many weeks.
The sea would, however, remain open to France
and England. They might at any time receive
further reinforcements, and there was every pro-
bability that the veterans who had so greatly dis-
tinguished themselves under 031111 t PACHA would
not remain inactive, but that if prevented by Aus-
trian treachery from creating a diversion in Bes-
sarabia, they would be ready for service in the Crimea
either with the Allied Forces before Sebastopol, or
where they might be even more useful at Perekop
cutting off supplies, and keeping the Muscovite
rats in the trap into which they had entered !
A subsequent attack on the besieging army at
or about the time specified is therefore by no
means improbable. We must, however, remem-
ber that we have had intelligence from Prince
MisNscztiKoPr, whose despatches are generally
founded on fact, which makes no mention of mach
a contest—a matter that could scarcely be omitted,
if of a serious character. It would, therefore,
seem, if it occurred at all, to have been only a
mere sortie of the garrison, which the Russian
Commander would not think it Rozessary to allude
to at length. The circumstance that it was on
the French lines would show that it must have
been a sortie from the town, inasmuch as the
position of the Allies is such that any attack from
the open country must be made on the English in
the first instance.

But whether the report be accurate or other-
wise, our duty, as well as that of France, is per-
fectly clear. It is comprised in the expression—
Reinforcements, reinforcements, reinforcements !
We must spare no exertion—no outlay—to ac-
complish this great, this paramount object. Every
available man must be transmitted to the seat of
war, and we must be content to leave the defence
of the country to its local bands and militia, as
we may do so without the slightest apprehension.
France, too, having trained and disciplined men
ready, will be enabled to send them without a
, moment's delay—England supplying, as in tie
case of the Baltic expedition, a portion of the
transports required for the operation. It is said
that some divisions are destined for the Danube.
Be it so. France can spare enough for both ser-
♦ices. But under any circumstances the para-
mount claims of the Crimea must not be forgotten.
That is the first demand on the resources of both
countries—one that will not be rejected or
evaded.

In one of the recent brave cavalry charges at
Balaklava our men found the loose grey-coats of
the Russian horse soldier his best protection
against their sabres ; and :hitherto Russia itself
has found in the " neutral" despots who hang
about her western frontiers her mist efficient
safeguard. By their good help she has parried
some of her greatest dangers, and, under cover of
their folds, has been able to wield her undistraeted
strength against the Crimean. vindicaters of the
common rights of Europe. ',She has been enabled
through Prussia to turn her produce into money
for paying her troops ; and, through Austria, to
send those troops where tatey could best resist
and annoy, even by their o\rn defeats, the forces
of the Allies. On these terois we seem likely to
get through one campaiva. From Transyl-
vania to Lapland a grey-coa,t neutrality is the
curse of Europe's cause, and the shield of her
enemy. Is this to last tiumugh another cam-
paign, or is the thing to be torn to shreds before
next spring f We think our Houses of Parli
went are unworthy of their rank amongst the
governors of the world if the; y do not insist on
neutrality being exchanged for hostility or co-
operation.

We hear sometimes of the right of nations to
be neutral, if it please them, -in a contest between
neighbours. But that doctrine has its limitations.
If the quarrel be on a subject exclusively concern-
ing the belligerent powers, it were unreasonable,
perhaps, to ask more of neig,hbour nations than
neutrality, or, at most, an expression of opinion.
But when those nations form part of one great
confederation, whose rights az .e also menaced in
the attack made upon another's , the ease is wholly
altered. No mean has a r ight to be neutral
while robbery and murder aro being perpretrated
before his eyes. He is an :accomplice, if ho be
not a helper of the wronged. If his sole thought
be self-protection, and much. more if he attempt
to baffle tie officers of justice who would bring
the miscreant to justice, he must endure the doom
of the coward or the abetto: rof felony. Now,
we ask, is there an honest Englishman who does
not view tie conduct of all the neutrals conter-
minous with Russia in this ligh t ? Can we refuse
to believe that they all wish tl ie great BARABBAS
of the day to escape from justice ? Would they
not all sincerely " congratul ate" the Russian
representatives at their severaJl. Courts were the
Allied troops really " driven. into the sea," and
their ships sent to its bottom. ? These wretched
Governments stand like so many PILATES,
washing their effeminate yet; despotic hands,
and proclaiming their innoa:ence, while they
are worse than conniving ast all the efforts
of the wrong-doer to crush the 'indicators of inter-
national justice. We know what to think of
cowards who stand by while a villain assaults, and
halt kills a policeman doing hie duty, and we also
know what to think of these dastard " neutrals,"
who see complacently the armies of the Allies
decimated by their own victories while bringing
to terms the violater of the public peace.
Whatever be the leanings of the German Go-
vernments, and the Sca,ndinaarian powers too, the
interest of their people is conspicuously the same
as ours. One of these oontenriptible neutrals is of
course the brother-in-law of the great thief, as
well as a brother thief, and sharer in the grand
Polish robbery ; another has bound himself to him
by the oaths of a CATALINE in a, bloody Hungarian
conspiracy. Both of them are fs3 edged. to his cause
by guilty bonds ; yet even they must but too
often feel their degraded positi en. They must,
as Governments, have many wishes that they
could rise to the dignity of hons)sty and indepen-
dence. But their subjects—they can have but one
wish. On them the Russian yi )ke must be, and
is, an intolerable burden. From Sweden and
Denmark, to Prussia, Hungary,, Italy, and five-
sixths of the Austrian domiations, the people
groan under a despotism more or less irksome,
and are almost in rebellion age,;nst the degrada-
tion inflicted on them by their rulers. Swedes,
Danes, and Prussians, at least, :are unmistakeably
as hostile to the Czan as tEeir Monarchs are
friendly, or afraid. Austria, d, indeed, nearly
all Germany, have such obvi:us commercial inte-
rests at stake in the freedom of the Danube and
the Black Sea, and the removal, of Russia from
the Danube, that it is not even denied.
Let, then, these tottering powers understand
their rrmition. he chief offic ors of their armies