The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-05 00:00:00

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COLB(]JUV'S (JPV]TED

Spencer's Travels in European Turkey is noticed
in an excellent article, headed " Turkey, its Defence's
and its Enemies." After stating that of the five dis-
tinct nationalities of which the inhabitants of Turkey
in Europe are composed, viz., Slavonians, Albanians,
Greeks, Asiatic Turks, and Roumani, forming a popu-
lation of about fifteen millions, the Osmanli or pure
Turks, of the Lrece, of Othman number, but from
700,000 to 600,000, the writer offers the following
interesting remark :
" The gradual but certain diminution in the race of
Othwan is a singular fact, attested by every traveller
who has visited the Turkish empire, and it is presumed,
by statistical writers, that if these people continue to ad=
here to the laws of the Koran, polygamy, and the other
causes which have contributed to produce these results,
they will become extinct at no very distant period. It
must therefore be evident to the impartial reader,
however desirous he may bo for the preservation of
tho Turkish empire, that it is nearly impossible
for a nationality so weak in numerical: force, so indo-
lent, and incapable as that of the Asiatic Turk
in the present day, to continue its rule in these provinces
for any lengthened period, however countenanced and
supported by the western powers."
The Spanish and French accounts of the battle of
Trafalgar are handled roughly in this number by
Lieutenant Marsh of the Royal Marines. In the
" Cruise of the Flame," a clever suggestion is made
of arming the small coast and river steamers, in case
of emergency, with Congreve rockets, the efficacy of
which would appear to be tremendous. The abomi-
nable dress and equipments, as at present existing, of
the British infantry soldier are again properly on the
lapis. The shako, alias " Father of a Pot;" the stiff
dog-collar machine of a stock ; the coarse, scanty,
brick-dust coloured coatce, patched over with whi:e
tape, like scarlet fever combined with leprosy; the
unsightly " lavenders ;" the superabundance of heavy,
pipe-clayed belts; the awkward disposition of the
ill-secured pouch—may they speedily give place to
improved convenience and comeliness. The "Life of
Jean Lafitte," " Mr. Singsby's Yacht," " Adventures
of an English Soldier in Mexico," and " War in
Africa," are continued, together with "British Con-
quests in India," and the usual monthly amount of
military information is appended. From the " Editor's
Portfolio" we extract the following just remarks :

" THE DESERTER AND THE- BRAND.

" The universal indignation aroused by the late order
for regimental surgeons to undertake the odious duty of
branding the deserter, has compelled the authorities,
much against their own inclination, to suspend its exe-
cution. It was absurd to suppose that it could ever be
carried out; for though we believe there is no gentle-
man holding her Majesty's commission, in any depart-
ment of the service, so rash, or so criminal, as to refuse
obedience to a mandate of his superiors, and thus set an
example of insubordination to the inferior grades, we
have no doubt that the moral resistance evoked would
have had its effect, and have driven the executive to that
step now yielded to the unanimous demand of the press.
As it is, does it not seem time to consider whether a
practice so repugnant to the common feelings of hu-
manity, so revolting in its character and object, should
not be altogether abolished. We are little inclined to
that faha sentiment which expends all its sympathies on
the guilty and the wicked; and the man who deserts
his colours, the soldier who forsakes his post, betraying
the sacred duty he owes to his Sovereign and his

cry, more especially excites our abhorrence. But to in-
flict this brand is to dishonour the service—to treat a
human being, and one who should be taught to take an
honourabie pride in his profession, as we should scorn to
treat a dog. The soldier is to be raised, elevated—not
degraded; and though punishments •arp unfortunately
indispensable, they should be niade such as would ex-
cite shame, without overwhelming with infamy. Let us
hope that a time is coming when the soldier will be
more justly considered; and when it will not be thought
necessary, as an incentive to discipline, to visit even his
worst dereliction with a penalty at once harrowing and
degrading."
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