The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In a late number of the Examiner appears a letter
signed "Au Officer of Hal f a Century's Service,' commenting
with groat displeasure at the flattering terms in which the
oonduct of the Highland Brigade at Alma has been noticed
by the press generally, and states that "le is tired read-
ing of the gallantry of these kilted warriors," that from his
own knowledge these and all such testimonies to the
valour of these mountaineers aro mere sham, having no
truth except in the imagination, referring the editorsto the
small loss they suffered compared with the Guards as a
proof that they had no claim to the distinction. There is
in the "Officer's" letter so much of jealousy that the most
careless reader must detect it, and would of itself bo the
best defence the press could offer for granting tribute
where it was so justly due. With your permission, I can-
not resist reminding him that Highland soldiers never
yet faced an enemy without carrying off the palm
of distinction, and, while the fiery blood of the Celt runs
in their veins, will continuo to bo victorious in any con-
quest with an equal number of any nation in the world.
The Highlanders have served in every quarter of the globe,
at any rate wherever there was any fighting going ou, and
on every occasion where they have took part, they have
had the special thauks of the Commander-in Chief. From
Assaye to Alma their military prestige has remained untar-
nished, as their advance has been as irresistible as the tor-
rents of their own mountains. The " Officer " calls atten-
tion to the absence of any mention being made of the High-
land brigade in Lord Raglan's despatch. Such an overlook
ou the part of his lordship may be correct, but if the corres-
pondent of the Morning Herald is to be credited, Lord
Raglan is said to have ridden to where they stood, and
expressed his admiration of Sir Colin Campbell and
his brigade. If the gallant officer is to be bound
by despatches, I will refer him to the two last
despatches of Wellington—Toulouse and Waterloo—of the
three regiments he particularised in the first, two of them
(the 42and 79th) were Highlanders—and the last para-
graph of his despatch from the latter, says, "I must par-
ticularly notice the gallantry of the 28th and 42d, 79th and
92d, Regiments. Now, of these four, three were High-
landers, and that an action where almost all the British
army were engaged • and this testimony is from one not
given to flattery. lam averse to the mentioning invidi-
ously of one regiment more than another, but where that
is done by the representatives of the public press, I cannot
admit that a person, because he feels annoyed at the no-
tice, is justified in impugning the veracity of these gentle-
men, and, in doing so, cast a sinister reflection at the regi-
ment so mentioned. lam astonished that an officer of 50
years' service should rest so much opinion in favour of
regiments whose loss is greatest as a criterion of their
superior gallantry. I believe he will not find many bro-
ther officals of the same way of thinking ; but if he pins
his faith on that fact, he will find that the Highland regi-
ments will furnish him with mortal rolls that ought to
satisfy him ; for instance, at Assaye, the 74th Highlanders
had 11 officers and 111 rank killed ; at Toulouse the 70th
had 5 officers killed, and at Waterloo the 92d and 42d
were reduced to a few hundreds. It would have been
more generous of the "officer" to abstain from rushing
into print with his rancour. He must be consoled by the
fact, that the " Highlanders are still the same savages"
when fighting as they were when their English friends first
made their acquaintance. It would also appear, from the
following paragraph, which I take from the Times, Oct.
12, folio 7, that the Russians did not anticipate their fury
at such a rate, and could not believe that they were
men :—" The Highlanders behaved with distinguished
courage, never firing a shot until close upon the Russian
regiments, when they gave them a volley and charged ;
the enemy fell back, but at a little distance rallied, and,
lowering their bayonets, advanced a few feet as if to
charge. With joy the gallant Scots acoepted the challenge,
and charged at them, but their mere aspect was enough;
the Russians, throwing off their packs, fled. The High-
landers' appearance, it is said, was so imposing that they
seem to have been taken for cavalry, as a large squa.faess
was
formed to receive them." That the Highlanders dash in
much in their favour is unquestionable, a well
this last engagement as at Killiecrankie.s The tlfornin9
Herald's correspondent also says of them !;--enee with ra-
t l"
High-
landers, by not firing, were enabled to
pidity ; the enemy's cannon had hardly
range before they were out of it again; consequently,
of theaidme
to get their
their loss was slight compared with the regiments
Lord Mahon in fig
his
ing is not unlike that given of them
same division." This description of thei mode of
byopposed to Sir John
r History of of England, when they were f
Cope at Proetonp the length I have
bedient servant,
written at--I am, anssir. Apo
, your logis
A HIGHLANDER.
our
or
14, Upper Islington-terra() , NOV., 1854.

—The rectory of St. Maryle-
bone, in the
DEATH or
diocesePnSlo'Rfll4o.ndon, has become vacant by
the death of the Rev. Dr. John Hume Spry (institute,
The benefice, which is worth 1,7001. a-year, h
1815).
in the gift of the Crown. By Dr. Spry's death, a canonry
in Canterbury Cathedral also becomes vacant ; it i,
worth 1,0001. a-year, and is in the gift of the Crown.
ASYLUM FOR FEMALE ORPHANS, WESTMINSTER-ROAD.
—Yesterday, the Rev. M. Anderson, M.A., delivered
a most impressive sermon at St. Paul's, Herne-hill,
in aid of the funds of this charity. The funds at the
present time were very low, and the ordinary receipts
last year only amounted to 3,6381., while the expendi-
ture was 4,1421., thus leaving a large balance against the
asylum. At the close of the rev. gentleman's discourse,
a collection W 45 made, which amounted to 6V.