The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

marrt partner whose name was not given to the
public. Mr. SPOONER. deals in money. It is his
trade and calling ; and what would he think of
the argument, that because ho had made a tem-
porary advance, and thus enabled the bor-
rower "to conduct for a time his business in
such a manner as to establish the reputation
of the House, and attract the confidence of the
public," that he should be therefore liable to the
fall extent of his large fortune for the integrity
and solvency of his debtor ? And yet the effect
will be precisely the same in one case as the other.
Credit of one kind will beget that of another de-
scription, and enable the fortunate party who
obtains it to gain the confidence of the mercantile
community. The true test will be, has the party
obtained credit on the supposed liability of any
other person ? If not, no just complaint can be
put forward by any one who chooses to trust him.
The argumtnt of Mr. MINTZ was of a similar
description, and the same answer is equally appli-
cable thereto. The Hon. Gentleman is himself at
the head of a great establishment, and is there
fore strongly interested in averting the competi-
tion that may arise under an improved commer-
cial code. We do not wish to impute improper
or selfish motives, but "plod volumns facile cre-
dimus" is a time-honoured apophthegm. " The
wish" is often " father to the thought," and men
are easily persuaded when their private interests
are coincident with the course advocated. So it is
with Messrs. SPOO/4ER and MUNTZ, and many of
the other opponents of the present bill.
As to the supposition that frauds may be per-
petrated under the proposed law it is perfectly
illusory. There have been frauds, there are pro-
bably frauds at this moment in course of perpetra-
tion, and there will be frauds to the end of the
chapter. But the new code will offer no additional
facilities for that purpose. On the contrary, if
properly and judiciously worked, it will render
them more easy of detection and less injurious in
their results. As Mr. LOWE truly stated, " they
could only attempt' to check fraud by checking
freedom of action,l That freedom of action is
the great object of the present bill. It is what is
required by the trading community, and which,
when carried, will greatly conduce to its advan-
tage.

certainty than by sending all our gun-boats to
the Baltic at once.

.that rendered them unavailing in alvni_ohldegree,
and so loudly invoke the aid of justice,
that it would be madness in Government
to refuse it. No tampering with documents, no
withholding of names, can be permitted. Be the
traitor who he may, and the cost of proclaiming
his treason what it may, he must be made known,
and the risk, if any-, encountered. No evil could
well be greater than a mock inquiry, which would
offer a premium henceforth to treason in our
midst, and deal a great discouragement to honest
men who have their country's interests at heart.

It seems, too, that Russia is insinuating diffi-
culties about the Sea of Azoff as well as Nicolaieff.
The latter she tried to save by applying the ces-
sation of marine arsenals to the " shores" of the
Black Sea, but it is hoped the Allies have
not consented to the modification ;
on the other hand, it is reported that they
have not insisted on the neutralisation of the
Sea of Azoff ! After what the Allied Fleets
accomplished there last summer it may be hoped
that, with such proof of the capacity of that
shallow sea to contain a most efficient naval force,
no such folly, or crime rather, can have been per-
petrated ; a gun-boat fleet might be built and
mustered there, which could cover the landing
of troops from any number of transports. In
the Black Sea, at least, the work ought to be
thorough. The East coast must be free Circassian
territory, and not a fort must be allowed to
threaten the traders of any nation. It is a disgrace
indeed to withdraw and leave the Crimea, and a
single foot of Bessarabia in Russian hands. To us
it seems scandalous to have invited the Sardinians
to the country held by their forefathers, to have
saddled them with a heavy loan, and to have re-
paid them, with nothing but the debt, and the
empty honour. But we forget—Austria was re-
warded by having the Sardinian army removed
where she was afraid it might be the nucleus of
Italian liberty, should the War drift to a question
of nationalities. Clever, truly !

The more we learn of the fall of Kars the- More
imperative seems to us the necessity for the most
rigid and thorough investigation. It is not
merely the loss of an important strategic position
at a critical period which renders an inquiry ne-
cessary, but the loss of that position, to all human
appearance, by treachery—by the act of some
unseen and unknown traitor, who
.revels in secu-
rity, and anticipates, if he has not already ob-
tained, the reward of his villany. It is more :
it is the sacrifice of an important strategic posi-
tion by treachery, at a critical period, when least
of all it could be afforded, and with it of the in-
terests of civilisation, and of the superhuman
exertions and endurance of one of the most able
and chivalrous soldiers that ever adorned our
military annals, and of a garrison whose gallantry
has never yet been surpassed.

The main object will now be to prevent the
advantages from being frittered away in committee.
From what we have already seen, we may safely
confide in Mr. LOWE, and believe that we shall
ultimately obtain a commercial code highly bene-
ficial to the industrious population of the country.

Let the reader but turn to the report of the
speech of Dr. SANDWITH, yesterday, at Hull,
which will be found in another column, and, how-
ever desirous he may have been of an investigation
before, we are strangely deceived if his desire
is not-greatly increased by mingled wrath and
admiration. That "gallant old chief, who, though
he lost his city, never lost a battle," how proud
one feels of him ! As her Majesty's Commis-
sioner, without authority as general, see him on
his arrival at Erzeroum. He finds the army he
looked for dissolved, the enemy at the gates of
the province, and knavery at head-quarters. He
gathers the officials around him, and sternly tells
them he will have no more of their peculations.
The knaves crouch at his feet, and, presto, are
his servants to command. For many long
months his labours are incessant and of the most
arduous description. He has, like the Israelites,
to make bricks without straw. The money he
requires jingles in the harems of the rascally
pashas at Constantinople. General MOURAVIEFF
threatens Kars with 40,000 Russians. Four
forced marches over a distance of 100 miles and
" the Commissioner " is at Kars, which, by his
provident care and the exertions of Colonel LAKE,
Captain THOMPSON, and Major TEESDALE, his
worthy lieutenants, lie finds changed from an
insignificant fortress to one impregnable, save to
famine, and the once neglected and discouraged
garrison full of martial ardour and ready to do
anything for " VEELIAMS PACHA.” The enemy
arrive, and the ragged garrison, with their gal-
lant old chief, sally out to meet him. " Thank
Gan," they exclaim, " they have come at last !
Aye, 40,000 of them, and the men of Kars are
but 17,000 in number ! On come the Russians—
clown they fall by thousands before that iron
storm. To it they go hand to hand—three
hours have elapsed, and the 40,000 Russians are
in full retreat, a retreat that would have been an
irretrievable rout had " VEELIAMS PACHA" been
sufficiently provided with cavalry. As it is the
Russians are reorganised and th© leaguer com-
mences. The brave garrison are full of confidence,
and the gallant WILLIAMS longs for supplies that
are not forthcoming. Day after day, and week
after week, pass away and his longing re-
mains ungratified. All that human skill and
energy can do is done by him, and the brave
garrison look up to him as their com-
mander, instead of their incompetent chief.
Week after week passes by, and Kars is still
inviolate, but unrelieved. The .faint-hearted
whisper " surrender," they are taught to hold
their peace. Desertion is rendered dangerous—
detected treachery is death—an iron will controls
all within the walls. Still no supplies. The roar
of artillery is heard, the Russian army
marches to the assault. The garrison eagerly
rush forth to meet them, and for seven
mortal hours rage like lions in the fray. The
Russians are in the batteries—they do not escape
the eye of her MAJESTY'S Commissioner—he has
them driven out at the point of the bayonet, with
clubbed rifles, with daggers, and with stone.
Onward and onward ccme the serried columns,
and down they go before the grapeshot of the
garrison. The Russians fight with all the
fury of desperation, but when the seventh

If Parliament chose to gag itself, the Press
will not, at least the independent portion of it.
[t is, indeed, too bad that our representatives
should not represent us at the present important
crisis, and not demand for us the information
by which we could influence, as needed, the ope-
rations of our servants. Nothing but knavery
needs concealment, and why in the world should
the terms to be insisted on by our Ministers be
kept in the dark ? As we are not permitted to
know from authority, what can we do but express
our opinion on "rumours," and " opinions," and
a communications" from Vienna, Berlin, St.
Petersburg, Belgium, and all other pro-Russian
sources ; they may be baseless, but whether they
be or not, the remarks of the Press may aid in
expressing the views of the people of this country
on the varying phases of the great question of the
day. If Ministers will not hear Parliament, they
cannot prevent the people's organs from being

heard.
We have repeatedly expressed our conviction
that Russia is already very nearly ruined, and
would probably be quite so by another and a real
campaign ; that she in consequence sincerely
desires peace rather than to enter afresh on the
conflict without somenewadvantage. It is, however,
by no means at variance with this opinion
that she may be aiming at such an advantage ;
and that if gained she may prefer trying her
chance of war another year. Her wish to sow
dissension between the Allies has been often sus-
pected, is quite compatible with her professions,
and the tone of the journals under Russion cen-
sorship or inspiration quite confirms the suspicion.
The Northern Bee, for instance, dwells on the
mutual admiration of the French and Russians.
" The French nation loves and respects the Rus-
sians, admires their courage and self-denial, and
takes every opportunity of expressing its syn -
pathy." This style of writing is common in
the Russianised journals ; and the effort is strenu-
ously made to represent the Asiatic half of the War
as an attempt on the part of England to secure her
Indian possessions. It were needless to show
the folly of leaving Asia Minor and that road to
Constantinople open to Russia, now that she has
been checkmated in the provinces and the Black
Sea ; still, the insidious diligence with which such
representations are made, the bare possibility that
they may have had something to do with the in-
famous mystery of Kars, coupled with the bestow-
ment of all, the caresses on the French, so far as

they go, point to underhand work. We do not
believe our gallant allies across the Channel will be
misled ; it is but little credit to them to gain the
laudations of the crafty Satan of this European
War, and, susceptible as they are, we can hardly
think they covet Russian praises, or will want

the penetration to detect their motive. Franc')
must see in the English Press and English
speeches but one dominant idea, that of reducing
the absorber and oppressor of nations to an inno-
cuous position. We hardly think of the Persians
and Herat, but all England would bllza with
bonfires if Poland were emancipated, and Warsaw
no longer a continental Sebastopol. JOHN BULL
grudges Russia an escapo from our preparations
for next campaign,' becaase he feels he could do
much more yet for Europe. India, he knows, 'is
safe enough.

'Our has elapsed they turn
_and flee.

It We

then saw," says Dr. SANDWITH, " every shop-
keeper, tailor, shoemaker, and saddler in the
place issue out, armed with their muskets and
guns, and firing into the retreating soldiery.
The very women brought us ammunition in their
aprons, and assisted us in every way, crying out
" We pray for you," " We will help you," " May
Gon sharpen your swords." So utter was the
Russian rout, that a few cavalry would have
put an end to the siege. Unfortu-
nately there were none—every grain of
barley having been consumed. Still no reinforce-
ments nor supplies were forthcoming, and the
Russian General gathered together his shattered
and dispirited army, and the leaguer was re-
newed. Vainly did General WILLIAMS implore
assistance ; his requests were unregarded, and
none but delusive hopes held out to him. Still
he did not flinch—nor could treason nor the
enemy wrest the stronghold from him.
It was only Famine that could do that,
.and at :last Famine came ! and for many
weeks urged its sap on the citadel. Then were
to be seen men eating strange food, women and
children, after imploring vainly for aid,-falling
by the way side and expiring—the sentinel drop-
ping down dead at his post from exhaustion, and
the hospitals full of sick and dying. Human per-
severance, however, has its limits, and at last all
Lope of relief gone, and nothing remaining but a
scanty pro-vision for three days, General 'WILLIAMS
sought an interview with the Russian General, and
dictate the terms of capitulation. A heroism
and an endurance like this blacken the treason

Correspondence from Vienna is also suggestive
of apprehension ; we learn from thence that many
well-informed persons strongly suspect the inten-

tions of Russia, and think she is rather driving
at gaining time than a peace. They often ex-
press their hope that the Allies will not grant a
long armistice ; Russia has proposeda term of four
months, a proposal in itself suspicious enough,
since it would tide her over the formidable part
of the year, and leave to the Allies but a frag-
ment of a campaign ;—one commenced, too, after
the Paralysing effects of long inaction. Even if
peace be obtained a long armistice will give
scope to all her serpent-like devices, and defraud
us of half its advantages. In four spring months
she could refurnish her arsenals and complete
her defences, and, if she thought it advantageous,
would break off on some trivial point of detail
perhaps, and put us to renewed expense and
trouble. A short armistice, and one which con-
tinues au effectuai, blockade, is the only one which
ought tq) be tolerated. If Russia has not at the
end of a fortnight acceded to the terms reqUired
by the Allies, negotiations ought afterwards not
for one moment to interrupt "operations ;" and
we trust Lord DERRY will repeat that demand with
irresistible firmness at the close of the fortnight.

Both commercially and politically, it is important
we should promptly know whether we are or
are not to fight. More public and private pecu-
niary loss would be sustained by prolonged uu-

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY igv.Elgik:lr4 FF,RRIJAIIV 9, 1A56.

THE FATE OF FR4NKLEV .I";.TILL-

LIFE.

--~----

TO THE. EDITOR. OF THE SUE.

Sint,•—The Admiralty has under consideration a Polar
San Expedition, as well as a Polar Land J..urney. The
partisans of the Polar Sea Expedition found their hopes
that the Erebus and. Terror are stranded or frozen in
within an area of 200 miles north of King William
Laud. In the words of a powerful cotemporary, "We
protest against this Polar Sea Expedition with the full
earnestness of deep conviction."

The Polar Land Journey is proposed by a traveller
of known ability, in whom lye have great confidence.
We have carefully read his letter to the Admiralty. We
find it was to carry out the views of the Government,
and not views of his own, that led the gallant Franklin
and his 137 devoted followers into the Polar Sea. It is
a-suredly then the sacred duty of the Government to do
all they can to heal the wound the nation has received in
the tragedy of the Franklin Expedition, of which they
are the a:akors.

Dr. King proposes to search not an area of 200 miles
of terra incognita, but'a spot of the earth on which be
has already stood, a hiding-place, or " cache," as it is
called, of his own making, at Montreal Island ; a cache
known to Franklin ; a cache as well known to the Arctic
traveller as the Parry Sandstone which led to the escape
of Sir Robert M'Clure from his icy prison.
Dr. King proposes, if the Government will give him
1,0001., to search this cache. He states his reason for
believing that the history of the Franklin Expedition is
deposited in this cache, and we do not hesitate to record
our belief also. If the Government entertain Dr. King's
plan, then what is the risk ? Dr. King's own life, for
his party are to consist of Iroquois Indians. It has been
known for the last 20 years that Dr. King's crew was to
be selected from the Iroquois tribes, and it will be in re-
collection that it was the Iroquois that the Hudson Bay.
Company employed in their late expedition down Great,
Fish River. And what is the expense ? One thousand
pounds.

More than two millions of money have been squan-
dered by the Government in searching for the
party they despatc:ied on their " forlorn hope," and this
vast waste of money was at a period too late to save
their lives. It is admitted on all hands that if Dr.
King's entreaties to the Government had been listened
to our gallant countrymen would have been restored to
their families and friends ; and now that the horrible
story brought home by Dr. Rae, and in which he im-
plicitly believes, of the manner in which they met
their death, is within our power to contradict,
the Government are hesitating to commission Dr. ICing,-
at a cost of 1,000/., to go and disprove, if possible, the
guilt which otherwise lies at their door.

The wound the nation ha 3 received in this matter
will ever be an open wound until King Cache is searched.
I arc, &e., INVESTIGATOR,
London, Feb. 8,185 g.

TOLLS OAT SHIPPING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sra,--The gunner of Cowes . Castle levies a toll of
4s. CI on every foreign ship that anchors in Cowes
Roads, ls. 6d. on all English ships, and ls, on every
little coaster that adverbo winds or tides obliges to cast
anchor there. It is said that this toll is paid to the
castle for the protection the craft receives from its gnus.
There may, perhaps, have been some justice in this in
former days, but surely cannot be any now, as all the
guns have been removed to Portsmouth, and the gunner
has been superannuated ; nay, more, the Castle is .no
longer in the hands of the Crown, having been let for
a club bongo to the Royal Yacht Squadron. This toll
may appear but a trifling one for a ship to pay, but to
your humble servant's little smack it is often a weekly
tax, which he hopes your publishing to the powers above
will. relieve him from.—l.am, Sir, yours,
Off Jack, Feb. 8.

A COAtiNG'SKIPPER.

SHOEBLACK MEETING.

About 150 boys of the red, blue, and yellow brigades
of Shoeblacks assembled on Thursday evening, at St.
Martin's-hall, to witness the presentation of medals to
the deservings, boys in each society. The hall was deco-
rated with banners and - regimental flags, and was
crowded at an early hour by a large assemblage of
ladies and gentlemen.
Among those present were—the Earl of Shaftesbury,
Lord C. Russell, Vice•Chanceller Sir W. P. Wood, the
Hon. Captain Maude, Mr..D. W. Harvey, Lord Gort,
Rev. W, W. Champneys, Mr. G. Moore, Rev. W. Cad-
man, Rev. J. Jenkinson, Dr. Crawford, Mr. R. Hanbury,
&c. A letter was received from. Sir R. W. Carden, ex-
pressing his great regret that an engagement at the last
moment prevented his attendance ; also another letter to
the stole effect from the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, of EdinlowrA.
When the boys, who were all dressed in new and bright
coloured uniforms, had finished their tea grace was said
by the Rev. W. Caiman, the president of the Yellow
Society. Some preliminary remarks having boon rustle
by Lord C. Russell, who occupied the chair until the ar-
rival of the Earl of Shaftesbury, the meeting was addressed
by Vice-Chancellor Sir W. P. Wood in a practical and
humorous speech, which greatly pleased the boys. - The
Rev. W. W. Charnpneys then addressed the boys, giving
numerous anecdotes illustrative of the advantages of ho-
nesty and other virtues. When the Earl of Shaftesbury
arrived the boys of the three societies sang a hymn in
chorus, after which Mr. Macgregor explained that medals
were about to be given to the best boys in each division
of the societies. No person should incourage boys to
beg by giving them money in the streets, but should
send them to a ragged school, from which, if they be.
hayed well, they would be admitted into the Shoeblack
Society, and easily earn from 10s. to 15s. a-week. Three
. shoeblacks, to be rewarded from the red brigade, were
then called up. The treasurer, Mr. Fowler, said that
there were 54 boys in this the oldest of the societies.
During last year they earned 1,5001. The first boy to be
rewarded had earned during the year .411., and, hav-
ing paid 91. for his sister's outfit to America, 31. for
his clothes, 101. to his mother, and 101. to the so-
ciety's funds, he had now 151. laid up in the savings
bank. Four boys had left last week as sailors for
the Black Sea fleet, and very many were now in the
navy and army, and in respectable situations, who were
homeless and destitute until rescued by the Shoeblack
Society. Mr. Ware explained the merits of two boys
from the blue• brigade, under the management of the
Rev. W. Chainpneys, and Mr. Snape, the hon. secre-
tary of both the Red and Yellow Societies, introduced
those of the latter body appointed for decoration. One
ref these had earned 11/. in six months. A Shoeblack
Society had just been formed in Now York. The
medals were preser.ted by the Red Society to each of
the boys, through the Earl. of Shaftesbury, who placed
them on the boys' breasts amid loud cheering. Tte
meeting having been addressed by Mr. J. Payne, a
vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr. W.
Taylor, and seconded by Mr. Haldane, and the pro.
ceedings terminated by singing the national anthem.