The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

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ADMIRAL SAUNDERS DUNDAS.

(From the LiFeipool Albion.)
Admiral Dundas, it seems, has for some time back
virtually anticipated his own deprivation of the Bal-
tic command, for he said he would not actively re-
sume it. He considered the operations proposed by
the Admiralty for the next Baltic expedition to be per-
fectly futile, regarded Cronstadt as quite impregnable,
and that it would be the sheerest waste of time, men,
and materiel to attack it ; Helsingfors as in precisely
the same category ; and, moreover, it is said that he
dit:approves of the war in principle and policy, and
deems all operations in the) Baltic to he alike un-
warranted,
needless, and preposterous. Not only this,
but, it is now added, that he acted against his better
judgment when he assailed Sweaborg; that he knew
and said the assault would prove the partial, result-
less, and abortive thing it has turned out ; that the
fortresses, the real strength of the plaoe, would be
easily made stronger than ever, as they have been ;
and, lastly, he is reputed to have made as little secret
of his opinions on all these points as did his prede-
cessor, Sir C. Napier, on certain points the year be-
fore. We believe there is small doubt now that when
the true story of the attack on Sweaborg comes to
be told, it will differ as much from the gazetted nar-
rative as the amended version current in January,
1856, of the Bala,klava charge differed from
that told by Lord Cardigan at the Lord
Mayor's banquet the preceding winter. There is
this rather essential difference, that the sea captain nut

.....
only did not seek to take credit for what he had no
done, but was anxious to decline much of the credit he
indisputably earned, and which his friends would force
upon him ; whereas the noble horseman, who incessantly
blew his own trumpet, was insatiate of praise for wholly
unattempted and impossible performances. Of course,
with Admiral Dundee's opinions, it was not to be thought
of that he should proceed to the Baltic again. But then
arise for the public two most important questions—First,
Are these opinions attributed to him founded in fact 1
proposed
Co p
osredians taavdatl,
campaign,ilei is n g f o rfso,r Scc
the . , i
coming p reg neapbrle ie
g? , Ins
the
Baltic, with our countless fleets of stupendous battle-
ships and shot-proof floating batteries, and all the un-
precedented accessories to suceess—is this campaign
certain, or even remotely likely, in the opinion of the
admiral who conducted the last, to be like that last and
the one preceding it—namely, something only to sigh
over or to laugh at? Secondly, if such be the admiral's
opinion, why did he—we will not say avow it, for we
believe he did avow it—hut why did he not immediately
throw up his command 1 This he might have done
long ago, without detriment to the service, for the
season was one of stagnation. But to do it
now, on the very eve of the renewal of active
hostilities, is, to say the least, a very curious pro-
ceeding. Not less curious, however, is the conduct
of Ministers if they knew, as of course they must
or ought to have done, the opinion of the gallant ad-
miral, and did not instantly relieve him from so false a
position, fraught with obvious detriment to the efficiency
and prestige of the navy. What must the navy, what
must the nation, what must the Czar, think of an expe-
dition from the command of which two admirals in suc-
cession retire I—one partly in disgust at the Admiralty
and the Admiralty disgusted with him ; the other in
disgust with the enterprise itself. But the instance now
before us need, perhaps, excite little astonishment after
all. It is but of a piece with the proceedings of those
who led us into the war, and then backed out of it.
Rightly was it surmised that when certain Russians
were expelled the Cabinet they left others behind them
equally friendly to the enemy. Dundas, as a non fight-
ing admiral, was always supposed to be a protege of
that clique, as opposed to Napier, who would have
fought if he were allowed. The last "action" of Dundas
now seemingly justifies the appreciation of his Peelite
admirers. Perhaps, however, we are labouring under
a delusion all this while, for we see that Admiral Lyons
and Dundas are to assist at the forthcoming Council of
War at Paris. This is, indeed, the crowning coupe of
the whole inexplicability, only there is one consideration
gives us pause : which Dundas is it —he of the Baltic or
of the Black Sea ? As far as the enemy need care, we
believe it does not much matter ; and of course it mat-
ters as little to the country which has such very discreet
guardians of its honour in a war of all others that needed
and admitted of deeds worthy of the antique fame of our
flag.
_.-----......

120 of the Medical Staff Corps, who have been per-
fected in their respective duties as stewards, assistant
stewards, and hospital orderlies, will quit their depot,
Chatham, to-morrow, to embark at Deptford on board
the. Earl of Aberdeen-70 to Scutari, and 50 to Malta.
Stall Captain S. G. Bunhurry and Assistant Staff-Cap-
thin Richard S. Colo having the eommand of this essen-
tial part of the service.