The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-20 00:00:00

lung Avis.
_

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1849.

Poland is hay.ing a bitter revenge in the embar-
rassments accumulating round her despoilers.
Russia, at the very moment when her ambition
seemed to be trembling on the verge of its realisation
in regard to the territorial absorption of Moldo-
Wallachia, finds the smouldering patriotiam of
Lithuania kindling again into a flame, the tranquillity
of Cracow endangered, and the indomitable Cossacks
themselves worsted among the mountains of Tran-
sylvania. Turkey threatens to sound the alarm to
the serfs slumbering on the shores of the Black Sea.
Hungary threatens to ring tle tocsin of emancipation
for the races who are groaning under the despotism
of the CZAR on the western frontiers of his domi-
nions. In one direction the evil arises from a flagrant
attempt 'at spoliation—namely, in regard to the
Danubian Principalities; in the other it originates
frotn..the cruel assistance afforded to the Viennese
Government in endeavouring to smother the rising
freedom of the Hungarians.
Prussia, in like manner, when apparently on the
eve of rising to the apogee of her strength and glory,
finds herself compelled sullenly and reluctantly to
retrograde in her aspirations. At the very instant
when the Imperial Crown of Germany :seems to be
descending upon the head of her SOVEREIGN, she
beholds that SOVEREIGN, under the restraints of his
position, forced to reject the diadem so long coveted,
and at last obsequiously laid at his feet by the depu-
tation from Frankfort. Even with the complicity of
the twenty-seven subordinate powers of the Confede-
ration which have recently bound themselves together
in a kind of Sonderbuni, FREDERICK WILHELM IV.
finds himself, like CJESAR and CaostwELL, compelled to
refuse the Imperial purple placed at his disposal. Ilis-
torians tell us that when OLIVER, at the gates of Par-
liament, entered his carriage, after refusing the royal
title and insignia, submitted to his acceptance by the
Commons, he fainted away with chagrin, in spite of
all his constitutional courage. We can imagine that
even the bluff descendant of the great FREDERICK
must have experienced some such overpowering emo-
tions of disappointment, *hen he repelled the call of
the Central- Diet in such hesitating and ambiguous
language.

Austria is, nevertheless, amongst all the despoilers
of Poland, the most encompassed
at the present time
with retributive dangers and calamities.
Scarcely has
she had time to exult over thze:yucces
of the greatest of all her warriors, RADyz
she has to mourn over the disasters which , whenses
have
almost simultaneously befallen one of her most
vaunted but incompetent soldiers the infamous
desolator of Vienna—WisruscsiGßATz. The vie.
torious campaign against the Piedmontese has been
quickly followed by the calamitous campaign against
the Hungarians. The march of the German con.
querors across the frontiers of Lombardy has occurred
nearly in the same breath with the flight of the
German conquered across the boundaries of Wal-
lachia. And, together with the rather alarming tri-
umphs of the Magyars, the Viennese Cabinet has had
to deal with the portentous events which, on the
banks of the Blaine, have threatened to separate
Austria from the rest of the Teutonic family.
Grievous, however, as are the perils in the direction
of Frankfort, they are as nothing in imminence, and
scarcely anything in importance, when contrasted
with the•occurrences of the present campaign against
Hungarian independence. With the continuance
of the late advantages on the side of KOSSUTH and
his Polish officers—there; in fact, appears to be an in-
creasing probability of the disruption of the whole

incongruous empire, obedient to the House of
Hapsburg. To prevent this, if possible, the Minis-
ters of FRANCIS JOSEPH are now endeavouring to
counteract the ill-effects of the military incompetence
of Prince WINDIECHGRATZ—' first of all, by super-
seding him with WELDEN (just as England has
recently superseded GOUGH with NAPIER) ; and,
secondly, by calling upon Russia to aid her more
extensively with troops and ammunition.
Against this possible coalition of these two gigantic
despotisms there is one obstruction which may
prove an effectual shield to the Hungarians. The
very lust of territory, which is bringing the
present vengeance upon Austria and upon Russia
may be the means of disparting their hitherto
united efforts, and of frittering away their hitherto
irresistible vigour. The AUTOCRAT has, in the weak-
ness of Moldo- Wallachia, and in the threatening
attitude of Turkey, a lure which he can scarcely be
expected to forego* for the sake of affording practical
assistance to the policy of SCHWARTZENBURG.
Austria again finds, in the events now transpiring
in Italy, unanswerable reasons for the direction of a
large proportion of her energies upon Lombardy,
and through Lombardy upon the Central States
of the Roman peninsula. Her armies will con-
sequently remain dissevered, and she will
scarcely feel disposed to withdraw her greatest
Captain, RADRTZKY, from the scene in which his
abilities had so materially tended towards the
realisation of the designs of the Kansa. In all this,
consequently, we are fain to recognise a guarantee
for the fair trial of the game of war between the
Hungarians and their oppressors. GOD grant that
these conflicting interests on the side of Italy and
Turkey, of Frankfort and Moldo-Wallachia, may con-
tinue so long as to prevent a coalition of force against
the heroic patriots of Hungary—a coalition so dispro-
portioned in vigour as to preclude the possibility of the
continuance of the present struggle towards their
emancipation I If additional farces are not brought
to bear against Hungary she must inevitably and
very speedily have conquered her independence.
Every additional dispatch from the seat of war brings
to us the most encouraging accounts of the advantages
gained by the insurgents over the Imperialists. On
every point the latter have been beaten by the
superior tactics and nobler valour of the Hungarians.
Both wings of the great army of Austria have been
repulsed : the left has been routed and driven through
Transylvania into the Turkish provinces ; the right
has been ineffectually striving to take the city of
Comorn by assault, and has at length been compelled
to hasten from its walls for the purpose of obstructing
the passage of DEMBINSKI. The centre, under
the command of WINDISCHGRATZ, after receiving
a terrific blow at Waitzen, is already in full retreat.
So that before the arrival of WELDEN from Vienna it
is not improbable that the scattered corps of the
Austrians would have fallen back to within a brief
distance of Raab. Under existing circumstances the
capital of Hungary cannot remain much longer in
' the possession of Absolutism. The guns of Buda
cannot compensate for the enmity of the inhabi-
tants on the opposite banks of the Danube. And,
supposing the latest rumour to be correct, namely,
that DEMBINSKI had crossed the Danube near
Waitzen, and was marching directly to-
, wards Weissenborg—there is every prospect
that Buda as well as Pesth, that Gran as
well as Comorn, will soon be in the possession
of the Hungarians. In that event—with RADETZKY
detained in Lombardy, with NICHOLAS engaged in
Wallachia, with SCHWARTZENBURG preoccupied by
the difficulties at Frankfort—KossuTu might dic-
tate the terms of pacification within sight of Vienna,
To that end every generous heart will continue to
breath forth its aspirations.

We are happy to learn that efforts are about to be
made to obtain, through the intervention of Parlia-
ment, some redress of the grievances to which the
junior medical officers of her MAJESTY'S navy are
subject; though, at the same time, we cannot but
express our regret that the Board of Admiralty
should thus tacitly acknowledge its inability or un
willingness to give that attention and consideration,
which it undoubtedly deserves, to this important
branch of the service.

It has long been a matter of surprise that the
complaints, loud and deep, which have emanated,
from time to time, from this neglected body of gen-
tlemen, have hitherto been disregarded by these
whose duty it was to have given them at least
some show of consideration; we hope, however, that
the time is now come when these remonstrances will
be listened to with becoming attention, and prover
inquirit s set on foot. We have then little doubt that
the grievances, which have been so long, and so
patiently borne, will meet with some kind of redress
and reformation ; for, indeed, no branch of her
Majesty's service needs this so much as that of
which we are now writing. Let any one consider
a moment the position of the naval assistant-sur-
geon, and he will see the truth of our remarks.
He enters the service at twenty-two or twenty-
three years of age, and looks forward
to the higher responsibi•ity of the office of surgeon
at the end of seven or eight years. His capability,
not merely in his present rank, but in the higher to
which he aspires, depends in a great degree on the
devotion of a large portion of his time to purposes of
self-improvement ; he may at any moment be called
upon to treat the most difficult cases, to combat the
most formidable epidemics, to dress the most serious
wounds, and to perform the most unusual operations,
without those advantages which medical men ordi-
narily possess, of unlimited access to books, and of
obtaining the advice and assistance, in all diffi-
culties and emergencies, of the most dis in-
guished and scientific men. Tbus placed in
situations of unwonted responsibility, and at the
same time left to his own resources in a much greater
degree than any other professional man, what is his
position At the mature age of 30 or 31 years he
finds himself surrounded by boys of from 14 to 16
years of age, all of whom are engaged in the acqui-
sition of an elementary education, and compelled to
mess and associate with them! Ile finds himself the
only officer of adult age who is excluded from the
general officers' mess, and his position as gun-room
officer makes him ineligible to possess a cabin,
the only place of bona fide retirement for the pur-
poses of study. How then is he to keep
pace with the rapid march of medical
science? It is not even possible for him to retain
unimpaired the varied knowledge acquired in the
schools, and no system of checks, or re-examinations
in passing to the higher grades, will compensate for
that self culture, of which, during a long term of
years, he is thus deprived.
The Royal College of Edinburgh lately received
from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
authority to recommend once in three years one of
their licentiates as a candidate for a naval medical
appointment. In 1847, which was the first
year after they received this privilege, no candi-
date presented himself, and in 1848 only one
such candidate came forward ; while on both
occasions extensive publicity had been given of the
intention of the Royal College to recommend. These
are ominous facts, and deserve the serious considera-
tion of the Admiralty Board, for they clearly and
undeniably demonstrate, that a disinclination exists
on the part of licentiates, and especially of those of
them who are distinguished by superior talent and
education, to enter the naval medical service, and
doubtless their reluctance proceeds mainly from the
unmerited degradation to which they are subjected
in the earlier portion of their career.

---
Tux ROYAL BOUNTY has been more generously
distributed of late than heretofore. The National
Gratitude is now•a•days evinced with greater discri-
mindtion than in "the good oil times," when men,
who had devoted their whole lives to the advancement
of science or to the cultivation of literature, were passed
over unnoticed and unrewarded. Very recently- we
have seen the Prime Minister providing for two of
the children of the unfortunate and lamented Haydon.
And whenever the Government betrays any remark-
able remissness in failing to recompense any of our
distinguished but neglected countrymen, the people
assume to themselves the duty of approral and cam-
_

* 'low intently the thoughts of the Autocrat are ins-
pinged upon the seizure of the Danubian provinces, and how
earnestly his ambitic n is turned towards the acquisition of
Constantinople, may be learnt in five minutes by a glance
at the debit- in e House of Commons on Thursday, March
22,1849. This debate which, it will be remembered, was
on the occasion of Lord Dudley Stuart's motion respect-
ing the occupation of Moldavia and Wallachia by Rus-
sian troops, has just been reprinted in the form of a
pamphlet. tiro. Pp. 33. E. Detkins:, London, 1849.