The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-10 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Slit--J have long and ardently admired the princi-
ples which you advocate, and never was more sur-
prised than in perusing the letter of Captain Reynolds
in your paper of the 3,1 instant, refusing the patronage
of a generous public, and basely submitting to the
tyranny of a Court, determined to support through
thick and thin a code of laws quite unadapted for re-
gulating the conduct of free men.
From the way in which he or his friend Harvey
commenced the campaign I certainly did expect better
things, but since be has slavishly placed his neck under
the feet of his oppressors, I think it would be much better
that the public should forget the object whom they
intended to favour, and endeavour to confer a favour
upon many deserting men, who I -doubt not, will thank-
fully receive any assistance from such an influencial
source. I am, your's most obediently,
Edinburgh, Nov. 6th, 1840. SENEX.

CASE OF CAPTAIN REYNOLDS.

7'o THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Never within the memory of that veracious per-
sonsge, "tile oldest inhabitant," has the affairs of one
individual created such universal interest as the late affair
of Captain Reynolds. Scarcely bad the unlooked-for re-
sult of the Court-martial been announced, through the
columns of The Sun, than subscriptions were opened in
various parts of this city ; hundreds, aye thousands, of
persons had generously subscribed their monies, and a me-
morial was actually preparing to be presented to Parlia-
ment, praying them to cause an inquiry to be instituted
into the conduct of Lord Cardigan; and another memo-
rial to the Queen, praying her to restore Captainfßeynolds
to his rank and honours in her service—when lo I the
letter, signed R. A. Reynolds, makes its appearance—and
a purer specimen of crawling, craven-hearted servility—a
more slave-like submission to tyranny and oppression, or a
more perfect piece of heartless ingratitude to the public,
who bad so warmly taken up his cause, never was penned.
I suppose the " authorities" at the Horse Guards, finding
their injustice and partiality had raised such an universal
storm of indignation throughout the country, had become
a leetle alarmed for the consequences, and, doubtless, this
letter, intended to divert the public attention from them-
selves, was concocted by their direction, the signing of
which by Captain Reynolds, is, perhaps, to be the price of
his restoration to the army. But, good God! %1 hat is the
condition of the army ? When such base and servile sub.
mission is required of the senior captains of regiments,
the public may easily imagine the condition of private sot.
diers under such officers. The condition of the army
must and will be investigated in the ensuing Session of
Parliament, and though this Captain Reynolds is incapable
of appreciating the value of public sympathy, it does not fol-
low that it may be the case of future Reynoidses. At all
events, the public will not give up their right of interfering
to put an end to the tyranny and oppression of such mush-
room officers as my Lord Cardigan, whose being a core-
netted duellist, coupled with his amiable disposition (?),
apprars to be his only qualification for the rank he holds
in the army.
It is said—" There is but one step in the human eh.
racter from the tyrant to the slave." Captain Reynolds,
by his letter, has proved his capacity fur the one, and pro-
bably this affair, after all, might only have prevented his
playing the other part.
It is really painful to observe the slavish and unmanly
submission, on the one band, and the ingratitude on the
other, cf Captain Reynoids ; and, since he has proved
himself incapable of appreciating the value of public
sympathy, the subscriptions, I hope, will be directed to
some more worthy object. Ten guineas, the amount of a
shilling subscription raised at the Albion Tavern in a few
days, have been paid over to the treasurer of the Bristol
General Hospital, and I have no doubt the other sub-
scriptions (for there have been many in this city) will be
applied to some equally laudable purpose, perhaps not
forgetting some of the objects of political or clerical per-
secution—if you would point out some of the most worthy ;
at all events, none of it will now find its way to Captain
Reynolds, who, by his insolent ingratitude to the public,
whose servant lie really was, has lost an opportunity, not of
being compensated for the loss of his commission, for I
believe it was the determination of the public to have re-
sorted to every legal means for its restoration, nor to
have rested till it had been obtained, but of handing down
to his posterity a splendid service of plate—a monument
of the public appreciation of his independence, and an
heir-loom, of which brighter and better men than him-
self might justly be proud.
I am, Sir, your's very respectfully,
Bristol, Nov. 9.