The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-22 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MATCH 22, 1856.

The vast superiority of military and naval tri-
bunals has been a favourite topic, at the club;
devetel to either bietee'l of her I.k,JE-4T.Y'S service.
To judge from the extravagant plaudits bestowed
by the not very impartial oeatTes, the old nal.xim
of HORACE is completely reversed, and " the
gown yields to the sword" without a chance of
resistance in these matters. It is proudly asserted
that no legal quibbles can prevail—that truth is
invariably elicited by the simple but effective
process enforced, and that not only a just verdict,
but also a correct sentence, is invariably pro-
nounced. So strong, indeed, has been this feeling
that we have almost anticipated a "Trinity-house
oration" from a Field-Marshal or some other high
military authority in support of a new and com-
prehensive scheme of legal reform, which would
abolish law and lawyers, Courts of Equity and
Common Law, and place the entire country under
the jurisdiction of these model Courts-Martial.
The Windsor trials, and some others of recent oc-
currence, have not materially advanced the system
in popular favour ; but, as our military critics
assure us, " public opinion is altogether astray in
these matters, and the case of Lieutenant PERRY,
beyond all others, demonstrated the peculiar ad-
vantages of the system—which, indeed, prevents
the impossibility of any persons acmsed, whether
innocent or guilty, escaping with impunity."
Another case respecting the practice of the
Secret Preliminary Courts of Inquiry has just
come to light (although of more than seven years'
standing), which certainly will not improve the
general estimate respecting Military Justice (!)
even when administered under the highest auspices.
It was by mere accident that the " profane vul-
gar" heard anything of the matter, which had
been whispered in the clubs for several years, and
it was only the speech of Sir De LACY EVANS in
the 'louse of Coramons—whie,h, under some very..
extraordinary and powerftil influence—he after-
wards retracted, apologisin't:,, unconditionally for
everything asserted, to any and every one who
thought proper to demand explanations. Amongst
others, claimants for redress, was Lieutenant-
Colonel CavEmersn, who, being too late for the
general answer, thought proper to publish a va-
riety of letters, some of them reflecting on M,jor
General HALL, who, feeling his character at:-
grieved, has made a statement of the entire
transaction, • which certainly car:i©s on the face of
it all the marks of authenticity.

It appears that in November, 1847, some ma-
lignant scoundrel, who had not the pluck or nrln_
liness to sustain in person the charges which his
malice induced him to prefer, forwarded certain
grave charges against General HALL, who was
then Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the Ist
Regiment of Life Guards. In place of disregard-
ing the whispered and disgraceful insinuation, the
Duke of WELLINGTON received and acted on it,
as if it were a bond fide straightforward accusa-
tion, and officially ordered General HILL to reply
to the charges therein contained. This reply
seems to have been satisfactory, for nothing more
on that part of the case is mentioned, and the
letter appears to have been given up to the party
so basely traduced. It is almost needless to add
thattheinjnred officer adopted immediate measures
to satisfy himself as to the identity of his accuser,
and obtained evidence which induced him to sup-
pose that he had ascertained the party beyond the
possibility of doubt. Whether he was right in
that conjecture we shall not discuss, for it is not
our object to attack indiciduals, but merely the
vatic. Belierring that he had found out his

assailant he placed the proofs before the Duke of
WELLING 'TON, who ordered that "nothing further
should be, done in the business," and that " in
order to amid public scandal and injury to the
service, the matter should not be talked of, either
by General BALL or by tite officers who had neces-
sarily been, made acquainted with it." To
these orders General BALL submitted, and the
papers and evidence were deposited in the con-
fidential department of the Horse Guards.
The following year 1248 General HALL was
formally arraigned on a, series of 21 charges of
a more serious character.. An inquiry was held
after the lapse of several years, and it was not
until shortly before the Hitting of the Court that
the accused discovered that the sole founda-
tion for all the annoyance, trouble, and expense
to which he had been. subjected was another
anonymous letter similar to that which had pre-
viously been refuted and manifestly in the same
handwriting. He was fully acquitted by the dis-
tinguished officers to whom the investigation was
entrusted, who spoke severely, but truly, of " the
base and unworthy persecutions " which led
thereto.
Now the Duke of WELLINGTON must either
have known the secret calumniator or not. If he
did so, we unhesitatingly say, it was unworthy of
his high position to tolerate so vile and degrading
a practice as secret accusations, or to screen the
party preferring thetn, who, by refusing to come
publicly forward, proved that he was actuated by
private malice rather than a zeal for public
justice. If, on the contrary, he was ignora,nt of
the name, rank or position of the accuser, it re-
flects even more strongly on the system, which
could subject an officer of high standing to such
vexation on the charge of some vile and cowardly
.coundrel. In any case the public scandal so ear-
nestly deprecated has arrived. The unanimous
feeling of the people will be one of disgust and in-
dignation that such things are possible, and that
there should be found persons to talk of " the
superiority " ((xen save the mark) of such a
system.

The resolution adopted by the Metropolitan
Board of Works, on the motion of Mr. WILKIN-
SON, to the effect, " that it be referred to the
Committee of Works and Improvements to take
into consideration and report upon a comprehen-
sive plan for making, widening, and improving
streets, roads, and ways for facilitating the pas.
sage and traffic between different parts of the
metropolis," will meet, we are persuaded, with
the general concurrence of the ratepayers.
Undoubtedly the purification of the me'L,ropoli,
is the primary task of the Board, to which all
others must give place ; but pending the prepara-
tion of a plan of intercepting sewage by the Engi-
neer of the Board, to whom it has been entrusted,
no impediment exists that we are aware of to
have warranted the Board in giving the " go by"
to the important question of improving our
thoroughfares. The Committee of Works appear
to have been in the singular position of an elected
body without instructions, and when to this
anomaly are added the facts that a considerable
period may possibly elapse before a satisfactory
plan can be hit on, the subject being invested
with many difficulties, and that a growing desire
exists in the public mind to have the reproach
tnd inconvenience of narrow and olyztfucted
thoroughfares removed, it will be admitted the
subject was not referred to the Committee sooner
than was desirable.

By the term comprehensive we, of course, un-
lerstand a plan of a general nature, on which all
local imp,7ovements will be dependent, and which
will not necessarily involve th) levying of a very
heavy taxation. One great &Inger the Board will
have to guard against is, the running tooler of
two or more great schemes in a manner calculated
to di:=!gust the taxpayer by the heaviness of the
rates thereby imposed upon him. The sewerage
of London alone will involve a serious sum, and
the improvements sought cannot b 4 executed with-
out a heavy outlay. The more judicious policy,
therefore, as it appears to us, will be not to press
the latter too hastily, but, having initiated a
(grand scheme, see to its being carried out with
judgment and discretion, trusting to the good
sense and national pride of the Londoners.
Already the improvements which have been ef-
fected, and are still taking place, in the French
capital are having their effect ; and when the
indications of a great scheme, which will really
add to the beauty and promote the traffic
of the metropolis, become sufficiently obvious for
appreciation, but little difficulty is likely to be
experienced is carrying it out to a successful
issue.

It is on this ground only—the danger to which
we have referred—that 'we refrain from any expres-
sion of regret at the rejection of the amendment
referring to the consideration of the Committee the
"providing or securing open spaces for the health
and recreation, or otherwise, of the inhabitants."
Such provision is highly necessary, and many will
be disposed to think it only of secondary impor-
tance to the sewerage. This, however, apparently
notbeing the general opinion, it was doubtless wise
to defer the consideration of this important sub-
ject to a future period. If, however, there should
be a danger of losing any existing places of re-
creation, the case will be different, and we cannot
but think it will he the imperative duty of the
Board to take the most effectual measures to meet
it. The cAution of Mr. TAYLOR in connection with
the Committee, we may add, is one which should
not be overlooked ; unless all proposals for im-
provement are brought before the Board to receive
their sinction in the first-instinde; the CoMmittee
is lik@ly enough, sooner or later, to dominate over
the Board. This is an event which should be
carefully guarded against, as a violation of the
principle on which the Board is constructed, and
a mortal. blow to its usefulness and other claims
to consideration.

If we said the British Government has incurred
the displeasure of President PIERCE and Mr.
MARCY, rather by what it has refrained from
doing than by what it has done, we don't know
that we should fall into much error, but on the
contrary incline to think would pretty accurately
describe the truth.

If one thing is more clear than another from a
perusal of the correspondence between the two
Governments now laid before the public, it is this,
viz., that on the part of our Government there
existed the sincerest desire to avoid giving occa-
sion of offence to the United States Government
in the matter of Foreign Enlistment, and on the
part of the latter a no less sincere desire to find
such occasion, or, shall we add, invent it. What
are the circumstances of the case ? The British
Government having resolved on a foolish, but cer-
tainly not a criminal act, to wit, availing themselves
of the offers of volunteers in the United States.,
adopted such measures as it deemed necessary to
Make its readiness to accept such offers known in
these States, and for receiving such persons as
should present themselves at an appointed place
in one of the British possessions, at the same time
issuing the most stringent instructions to its
agents to guard against any violation of the
United States law. That it was sincere in issuing