The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-16 00:00:00

TILE BRITISH AR KY.

(Front the Times' Oorrespondent) ,
CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, MAY 3.
At no period.of my acquaintance with the
:British army
have I ever.kriown the officers to be in such a state of pro-
found dissatisfaction as they are at present. The indecent
.haste with which the.reddctione were-announced, the in-.
justice of the: order relating to horses, and the mode in
which the instructions have been conveyed to them,
rankle in their hearts. Nothing. else is talked of, or appa-
rently thought of, by all clasaeS of officers. The ink is not
dry on the Treaty, the news of its ratification is not re-
ceived, and set, the army is at since made the victim of
the most pinching, niggardly, told economy. They are, as
t were, told that their day is over—that their services are
ef so little consequence that the authorities can afford to
lisregard their feeling. If the smallest conceivable per-
ion of the good wishes uttered for the temporal and
eternal happiness of "they" should ever be realised,, I
cannot well imagine more miserable beings than "they"
wilt be. In the army it is always "they." "Have you
seen the general orders?" " No. Is there anything in
them ?" " Yes ; they' have Made 'Jones, and ' they' are
;oing to send home the supernumeraries at once," and so
on. Some of the reductions aro of coarse unavoidable,
bUt the cases of individual hardship and ingratitude are
iot the less striking and painful. While the struggle was .
still going on nothing was too good for the army—the
country felt for- its sufferings and admired its calm endur-
ance. From the .highest to the lowest intklatel there
was but one sentiment, anskeasas' expression of feeling. The
Government. at first sueSnie and supereilioets,_becime
elSCrgatio and sympathising., Oise does not know whether
the admiration of the country fdr the army after the Alma
and Inkerman, or its efferveeceuce of pity, sorrow, and aid
when rued() aware of the condition of its countrymen,
was the stronger or more touching and genuine. Thu
country cannot be in the least degree aware of the in-
,lignation the bitter resentment,: and the sense of in-
jury which a few words have caused among those she has
praised and honoured. The officers of the Line, the Com-
missariat, the Chaplains, the Land Transport Corps, Bre-
vet-Majors, ex-Staff Officers,—ene and all utter the same
complaints. Scarcely was the_ intelligence of peace known
before the private soldiers were deprived of their extra
od. a-day. There was no respite even to the end of the
month, or of the week. Then come the colonels acting as
brigadiers, who are sent back to their regiments without a
single word to comfort them. There are only three colo-
nels of regiments out here who have served with their regi-
ments from the beginning of the war,—namely, Colonel
Adams, C. 8., 35th Regiment; Colonel W. O'Grady Haly,
0.8., 47th Regiment; and Colonel Waddy, C. 8., 50th
Regiment. The first two receive rewards for distinguished
services, and all three are Commanders of the Bath. Col.
aelamshas been in command of a brigade, but he is now
sent back to his regiment. Is it intended to send all the
brigadiers back to their regiments in the same way ! It
would appear so, inasmuch as Brigadier Trollope has al-
ready received orders to rejoin the 62d Regiment as cola-
eel. The services of some of these officers would seem to
merit better treatment, and even a little sliow.of regret
for the necessity of acting so economically might have re-
conciled:men to the exioncies of their position. In the
lower grades of the service the action of the reduction has
been most unjust. A number of most deserving non-com-
missioned officers—sergeants major, troop-sergeants, Arc.—
have received commissions as cornets iu the Land Trans.
port Corps ; they have associated with commissioned ofil-
care, and have been put to expense in preparing for their
rank. These men are to be " degraded" to the ranks. But
that is not all. The vacancies caused by their promotion
were 'filled up by the senior serj ants, who became ser-
;eaa's-major and troop-Fe jeants, Ssc., and these men are
pushed back to the rank they formerly held, and are de-
prived of their just promotion. Individual cases of this
eind, of which I am aware, are really painful in their
leteils. As to the horse question, it is difficult to say whe-.
thor it is most irritating to the army or injurious to the
public interests. We shall absolutely leave behind us,
if the present absurd regulations are persisted in,
many thousand mules and horses for the use of the.
Russians. Why, in Heaven's name, not rather give
them to our old allies, the Turks, most of whose country
horses in Bulgaria and the shores of Asia Minor we have
bought up, so that the inhabitants are seriously inconve-
nienced for want of them ? The Russians already know
our difficulties ; they laughingly tell us that they are going
to mount a few regiments of Cossacks on our horses at 10s.
a-head, and say they will give a pound for a good hunter.
No doubt these animals will be paraded all over Russia as
trophies, and will be exhibited as signal evidences of the
straits to which the British arty was reduced, so that it
was obliged to leave its horses behind it ! Now. remember
that it was only a few weeks ago the officers of this army
wore strictly "ordered" to provide themselves forthwith
with the regulation number of bat animals, &c., and then
the harshness of this new regulation is the more apparent.
The country cannot wish, for the sake of a few thousand
pounds, to create discontent in the whole army. The offi-
ors say "It is fair enough for them to say they' won't
take our horses, but it is very unfair to say they will give
us no compensation." As to Lord Panmure's assertion
respecting the cost of transport being 471. or 671. per ani-
mal, it has excited the liveliest merriment among the ship-
owners and captains out sere, and the officers who know
anything about its =
The principal events since my last letter will be found
detailed below, but there is very little of incident to re-
cord. It will be seen by reference to general orders that
a considerable number of regiments have received orders
—some for Gibraltar, and others for Malta. The French
embarkation conti&ues vigorously, and we have succeeded
in getting two regiments away. General Windham has
been for some time back at Kertch. Major Staunton,
R.E., has left Balaklava, and it is supposed that he is en-
gaged on the Russo-Turkish boundary question.
WEDNESDAY.

The orders last night inform us that the Russian autho-
rities have promised to preserve sot upulously the burial-
places of our departed soldiers. The graveyards ate now
well defined, and they have been decorated with great care
by the officers and men, with whom indeed it appears to
be a labour of love to raise fitting monuments to their
dead comrades. The bodies of the officers of the Guards
who fell at Inkerman have been dog up, and were removed
some time ago to Cathcart's-hill. The burial-ground of the
Light Division, and particularly of the 77th Regi meat, is
very creditable to the taste and good feeling of the army.
In connection with this subject, I. rosy ask you to insert
the following notice, which was drawn up at a meeting of
the chaplains of the army, held at the Rer. Mr. Egan's
quarters last Saturday :
"MEMORIAL CHURCH AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
" It has been determined, with the approval and sup-
port of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to erect a church at
Constantinople for the perpetual worship of Almighty God
as the fittest monument to commemorate the officers and
soldiers of the British army who have been lost to us
during the late campaign.
" This measure, which has been undertaken for the es-
pecial benefit of our own countrymen, while affording a
witness of the true faith to the Nfahoine.lan, will also pre-
sent to every other race and communion an example of the
manner in which the pure doctrines of Christianity are
taught by the Reformed Church of England
" It is proposed to have the names of all the officers and
their several regiments, with the number of men who have
nobly died in the fulfilment of their duty, inscribed in
some conspicuous place iu the church.
" A subscription list has been opened in support of this
project, and to those who have survived the dangers of the
late war it will afford a fitting opportunity to make a
thankoffering to Almighty God, and at the same time to
exhibit a sympathy with surviving relatives, and an af-
fectionate remembrance of fallen friends and comrade!.

Subscriptions will be received by the RM. the Chap-
lains of Divisions and Brigades ; by the Treasurer, F. S.
Carpenter, Esq., Assistant-Cornmissary-General, Belak-
lava ; by Sir John Kirkland, army agent, 80,
London ; and by the 11ev. H. W. M. Egan, M.A., Princi-
pal Chaplain, Head-quarters."
I omitted to mention the death of the Rev. Mr. Strick-
land, Roman Catholic chaplain, who died of fever caught
in the French hospitals, where he was discharging his
duties with his usual zeal and devotion. His remains lie
on Cathcart's-hill, and his funeral was attended by a great
number of officers, without any distinction of creed. The
health of our troops, in spite of some cases of scurvy, is
excellent, and the French are in a much better condition
than they were. They are shifting their camps towards
Kamiosh, and the plateau of Inkerman is nearly bare.
THURSDAY.
The horse fair, held yesterday at Mackenzie's Farm, has
proved a most utter failure. The Russians are so sure of
being able to provide themselves with horses for next to
nothing, that they are in no hurry to bid till the time of
departure draws nigh, and the screw is put upon the Eng-
lish. Some hundreds of officers went up yesterday to the
fair, and there was a considerable attendance of Russian
officers on the ground, but they came to look, and not to
buy. Their largest offers ranged from 4/. to 61. In one in-
stance, however, 401. was given for a fine English mare.
Horses and ponies were at a ruinous discount. Some
mules and bat animals were sold for ss. and 10s. a-piece.
Some had cost probably 50, and others 100 times as much.
I know of three mules being sold for 7s. fid., and have
heard that 14 mules were sold for it. Our officers were
greatly annoyed at the offers which were made to them.
In one instance a gentleman had sent up his horse in charge
of his servant, with a card, masked in French, " The price
of this horse is 501." A Russian officer took the card,
scratched out the 0, and coolly offered five imperials for
the animal. They told us they never paid more than 100
roubles for their best chargers, and that all they wanted
were English stallions and mares for breeding. What is
to be done with the ponies, extra chargers, and bat ani-
mals no one knows, unless private speculators do some-
thing for the army. Several attempts have been made
to outer into contracts, but the merchants naturally
desire that some one should be responsible before
they send up vessels, and individual officers have
an equally natural aversion to becoming liable for such
large amounts as would he involved in the undertaking.
For the information of Lord Panumre, however, it may
be observed that the agent of a very large shipowner says
he will undertake to carry horses to
.England at 201. a-head
in steamers, and at 151. a-head in sailing vessels ! Many
of the animals out here in the Land Transport Corps
could not be replaced in England under 401. or 50/., so
that it would be worth the expense to send them home, if
there is any need for them. There is some faint talk about
regiments being marched in England from station to sta-
tion, instead of being carried by rail. This change will
not be carried out. The stcr s, materials, carts and waggoes
of three complete divisions or battalions—l don't know
which—of the Land Transport Corps, are packed up and
in readiness to be seat to
.Cantid,.. No men, mules, or
horses will be sent with this materiel, except a few per-
sons to take charge of it. From the Crimea to Canada is
a long stretch, but an army provided with fast and power-
ful steamers thinks very little of the distance, and those
regiments which are nutter orders for the latter station are
delighted with the prospect of eteiaping Malta or the West
Indies, and of enjoying the hospitality and Sporting re-
creations of that country, iu a fine climate and amid kind
friends, after the trials and rude existence of war.
Colonel M`Murdo is going or has gone to Sinope in the'
Napoleon, to superintend the breaking up of the establish-
ment of the Land Transport Corps, which has existed
there for some time. The sawmill erected there has been
very useful, although it was sent out "teo late," and there
is it, large accumulation of fine planks there. Colonel
M`Murdo has made some tolerably successful offers to
Open a market in the neighbourhood of Sinope for the sale
of cart mules, and hopes to be able to get rid of a good

•
On Thursday the whole population in the valleys out-
ride the Russian lines began their mournful procession.
They left their homes silently. The old men, women, and
children were placed on the arabas, above the pile of
cushions which seem to constitute all their household fur-
niture. Many of them cried bitterly. Several of these
poor pilgrims were so exhausted from illness or old age
that there was little chance of their ever seeing the land
they seek to gain. Each araba was drawn by two small
bullocks or oxen, led by the head of the family ; the elder
children kept by his side or followed on foot -The women,
closely veiled, in spite of their grief, looked around with
wonder at the marvels which Balaklava presented, and
were for a time beguiled from thoughts of their abandoned
dwellings in- Biouk, Miskornia, Varnutka, B Alder, Upu,
Ozembash, or Tchuliu ; but as the sea opened upon them,
and they found themselves among strangers, the sense of
theii position came back to thew with redoubled force,
and they seemed lost in despair. The procession which I
saw was about a mile in length, and was formed of arabas
iu single file, as close to each other as they could pack.
The head of the train was drawn up by the water's edge
in the harbour, and the extremity extended far beyond
the limits of the town. lam informed that there was a
large encampment of the same poor creatures near Damara
last night, and that they would make their way into Ba-
laklava as soon as their predecessors had cleared away. I
also saw several families who had taken refuge in the camp
of the head-quarters of the Transport Corps last night. As
there were no houses for their reception, nen, women, and
children-slept in the streets of Balaklava under arabas. In
the morning they found that the Turkish Colonel who en-
perintended the emigration, and who was evidently un-
prepared for its magnitude, bad only one small vessel ready
.for them ;-but he succeeded' in hiring two small Turkish
sailing vessels in addition. The women and children were
sent on board till these ships were full, and then the
Turkish and Tartar authorities applied to Admiral Fre-
inantle• but he had received no previous intimation, and
could do nothing at the moment. However, he wrote to
Sir W. Codrington, on the subject, and, as he is a humane
man, he will no doubt do all he can to assist these Tartars.
When I left Balaklava yesterday there was every prospect
of their spending another night in the streets and on the
hill sides, nor did their stock of provisions appear very
ample. Hitherto, the French have given rations, such as
they could spare, to a certain number of Tartars in the
valley of Baidar, in return for their servi :es as wood car-
riers and ttrabajees. They are a docile, k.nd-hearted, gen-
tle race, and are much superior in appearance to the Tar-
tars I saw at Kertch and Eupatoria. They ha o all fine teeth
and eyes. Many of the men are very well lcokiug, and the
old men are exceedingly dignified in aspect, and possess
great native ease and good breeding. The young women
possess graceful forms, and are believed to be very pretty,
but they are not often seen unveiled, and the old women
do not display the least traces of beauty. I have never
seen anywhere childrenimore lively and handsome in face
than some who were among tho emigrants yesterday. As
I was riding through the street some Russian officers
passed, and gave signs of dissatisfaction at the proceedings
of the Tartars. The latter were very abject in their bows
as their masters passed them. And this is the end of one
of the conquering races of the world ! Whether the Tar-
tars deserved their fate, or have been treated badly by
fortune, one cannot but feel pity for them, if they are pun-
ished for the crimes of their ancestors. They carne into
the Crimea as conquerors, and they leave it as exiles. It
is said that they are going to colonise the Dobrudacha, or to
settle at Rustchuk and Kostendje. The first-natned place
is but a pestiferous mares ; it is a grave to those who visit
it, and I sincerely trust that these poor Tar tars, in whom
we ought to take a great interest, for we have broughtupon
them this aggravation of the evils of their position, will not
:be doomed to such misery and certain death as they will find
in the Dobrudacha. The number of families ready to emi-
grate is stated to be 1,500. They declare that all the Tartars
in the Crimea would follow their example if they could, and
it is worthy the attention of the allied Governments
to inquire whether facilities should not be offered to
save these unfortunate people from the fate which impends
over them. The Tartars declare -the Russians hate them
on account of their sympathies with the Allies, and that
they will exact a terrible revenge when we are gone. The
Tartars still rejoice over the Alma; they rub their hands
with delight at the very name, but it has been to them an
unhappy victory.

Although the expectation of a large and generous brevet
on her Majesty's birthday somewhat assuages the angry
feelings with N 7.1) ich the reductions are regarded, the dis-
satisfaction of which I have spoken has not subsided.
Where all of the officers affected by the reductions com-
plain with asperity of the injustice done to them it is not
my duty to indicate isolated cases in which there are broad
grounds of complaint, and it is probable that if I were to
cite particular instances, they would be capped by the
citation of larger and more unjustifiable injuries. Not
only do Brigadiers Stauutoni Adams, Trollope, Van Strau-
benzee, Spencer, and others return to their regiments.
but it is even expected that Major-General Garrett, the
General commanding the Light Division, will go back to
the command of the 46th Regiment. Colonel Lysons, of
the 23d, who has for some time served as Brigadier of the
2d Brigade, Light Division, is said to have been appointed
on the distinct un lerstanding that bis services in that
capacity were not to constitute any claim for promotion,
and there are several other senior colonels of regiments in
a position somewhat similar. The junior Lieutenant-
Colonels who will have to retire if the rumours so largely
circulated, and generally believed, are well founded, have
reasons to regret the promotion they have received, for it
has caused them to be placed on half-pay when they had
jut begun to entertain hopes that they might command
their regiments. Had they remained as senior majors or
captains they would hive been safe, and their military
career would have been uninterrupted by the fatal
break, " half-pay." Many officers desirous of seeing
active service, and gaining promotion by exposure in
the field, find that all their efforts have been futile.
They have with great exertion and expenditure
effected exchanges with officers of the regiments out here,
and now they find their services disregarded.
The third paragraph of the general orders, on Tuesday,
has given rise to the hope that there will be a large brevet
to the senior officers, who are trembling on the verge of
half-pay.

Se-veial contracts have been entered into for the supply
of fresh meat to the divisions of the army from the interior
of the Crimea. The Fourth Division has already enjoyed
the results of the arrangement in the shape of some very
good beef. The cattle are of two descriptions—small plump
shorthorns, and large lean longhorns ; but the meat of the
latter is very good. There are very few sheep to be had—
indeed I have not seen any whatever. Our canteen people
have dispo=ed of their extra stock to the Rlssians at remu-
nerative prices. Mrs. Seacole, with whose name one land-
mark in the Crimea will always be identified, has made
the grand tour by Bakshi-Serai and bimpheropol, and has
managed to leave some of her stock behind her. The
Sultan has sent her a medal, but she is anxiously expect-
ing the English Government to decorate her with the
Crimean riband and its metallic appendage, to which she
lays claim, for " services rendered in the field." I saw
the good old woman actively engaged in succouring the
wounded after the Battle of the Tchernaya, and she was
ou the ground iu front of the camps on September the Bth,
with a huge plum-pudding, wine, and other creature com-
forts, to give gratuitously to those who stood in need of
them. The number of navvies and Land Transport Corps
men who have been cured by her of their headaches,
stomach-aches, fevers, and other maladies, rendered the
doctors almost jealous of her. Mrs. Seacole's partner is
named Day, and the wags of the camp have irreverently
termed the firm " Night and Day," iu allusion to the fine
mahogany hue of the warm-hearted West Indian.

BURIAL PLACES IN THE CRIMEA.

The following has been published in the Crimea :
GENEHAL ORDER.

Head-quarters, April 29, 1856.
No. 2. It will be agreeable to the army to know
that it is the honourable wish and intention of the
Russian authorities to preserve scrupulously the burial-
places and monuments of those of our countrymen who
have died in the Crimea.

"The terms used in the despatch are, that the Impe-
rial Government will consider this a `sacred' duty,
and General Luders, in an order to the Ru-sian army,
mentions "that he is persuaded that after the evacua-
tion of the positions occupied by the Allies, all the troops
•Nhich remain in the Crimea will regard with respect
the tombs and monuments of those who have died on
the field of battle."

THE NEW MILITARY HOSPITAL. SOUTHAMPTON,
May 15.—The foundation stone of this hospital will be
laid by her Majesty the Queen on Monday next. The
corporation of this port will be present on the occasion,
tud will present an address to her Majesty. They will
.eave Southampton by a steam boat chartered for the
occasion, and atter the ceremony will make a trip round
the Isle of Wight. In the evening a display of firewor ks
will take pla,:e.

[ PEUCE 4D. STAMPED SD•

THE CRIMEAN commiesioN.

( From the Times of this day.)

Sir Richard Airey has acted throughout the Chelsea in-
quiry in mint and various characters, and on Wednesday
concluded his performances by summing up strongly in
his own favour.' Could persons in the position in which
the Quartermaster-General is presumed to stand, assume
to themselves the functions of judge as well as the liabili-
ties <f the accused, no doubt acquittals would largely pre-
dominate in the administration of justice. The truth,
however, is, Sir Richard Airey has not been on his trial at
all. While Colonel Tulloch was present—that is, while
the cases of Lords Lucau and Cardigan were before the
Court, there was some pretence for saying that an inquiry
.was afoot. There was at least a man present who was, to
a certain degree, in a position to challenge the misstate-
ments, to correct the exaggerations, to refresh the lagging
memories of that Praetorian band of witnesse) who came
forward to testify in behalf of their chiefs. At the best,
Colonel Tulloch had difficulties to contend against of a
most trying kind—the dead were buried, the starving time
was over—the war was at au end. Well nigh every man
in the court was the sworn adherent of 'his opponents.
Whether it was professional symPathy, whether fear for
their own prospects in the service if they opposed their su-
perior officers, or whatever the reason may have been,
almost every man who came before the Court appeared in
the light of an adverse witness to Colonel Tulloch. Lord
Lucan, whose case was first heard, endeavoured to brow-
beat the Vornmissiouer ; he addressed him and spoke of
him to the Court in the most unbecoming and insolent
manner; nor dist he desist from this course until it became
obvious, oven to his apprehension, that by the violence of
hie conduct he was damaging his own case. Nor is Sir
Richard Airey free from the same charge. But for Lord
Lucau's behaviour, we would have .written that nothing
could be more offensive or unbecoming than Sir Richard
Airey's manner to Colonel Tulloch during the earlier part
of the inquiry. As the holes in his own coat, however,
became more apparent, Sir Richard Airey, too,
saw fit to abate somewhat of the flippancy of his previous
manner, until in the end we find him speaking of the Com-
missioners, and especially of his old adversary Colonel Tul-
loch, almost in terms of respect. All this may pass as un-
important enough, for certainly the court at Chelsea has
not been convened to inquire into mere questions of punc-
tilio ; but, still, observations of this kind way help us to
the measure of men's minds and of their characters. When
they can scarcely restrain the ebulitions of .their temper
under circumstances where self-restraint is so highly ne-
cessary to their own interests, we may judge what their
conduct weed have been when they were under no such
restraint, and in the possession of what was for the time
irresponsible power. We should add to the list of difficul-
ties which surrounded Col. Tulloch, that his colleague, Sir
J. M',Niell, had taken a different view of his position as
Commissioner. Sir J. M'Neill's idea is, that he was sent
out to the Crimea to make a report upon certain facts as
he might find them upon inquiry. He inquired, he ascer-
tained the facts, and he matte his report. There it is, im-
pugn it who will Sir J. APNeisl is of opinion that he has
dune his duty, he adheres to his act, and there is an end
of the matter as far us he is concerned. We can as well
understand that a gentleman should take this view of the
case as that he should adopt the other one upon which Col.
Tulloch acted, until his unfortunate illness compelled him
to retire from the scone.

We have now a few remarks to offer upon the evidence
which Sir Richard Airey has produced, and upon his
favourable conclusion as to his own conduct. His explana-
tion, or statement—call it by whet name you will—must be
taken for as much as it is worth ; that is, we accept it as a
prisoner's defence—as a defendant's view of his own actsaud
rights. Sir R. Airey's statement, wo say, supported by the
evidence of his JWD witnesses, is a pure ex parte statement.
It is not, therefore, without value, but has just that
value which must be attached to unchellenged, unsifted
assertions. We have, on the one hand, the allega-
tions of the Commissioners, supported by the evidence of
the Crimean witnesses, and illustrated by their own ob-
servations on the spot. Ou the other hand, we have these
statements from Sir Richard Airey and his friends, many
of which are diametrically opposed to the conclusions of
the report and to the evidence attached to it. O❑ which
side lies the truth ?—that is the question, and the Court
at Chelsea has done nothiug whatever to resolve it. There
is, however, a point on which Sir Richard Airey insisted
at great length in the course of his statement, and on which
he app, ars to have laid great stress—that is, that the testi-
mony of the Commissioners was not to be received because
they had not been deputed ad hoc ; they had, as he said,
exceeded their power's. Now, if General Airey had been
a sharp lawyer, arguing some nice point of law before the
Queen's Bench in banco, this objection ►night have passel
muster. His position, however, is entirely different. He
was en officer in a high and responsible command—he h.s
been charged with incapacity and negligence in the dia.
charge of his duty—he has himself asked for the oppor-
tunity of offering explanations: It would have better be-
come him, then, to proceed to the points at issue at once
than to fritter away his time and the time of the Court in
frivolous discussions as to whether or no the Queen's Com-
missioners had in some degree exceeded their powers. If
they hail exceeded their powers, would General Airey
therefore have been whitewashed in reputation 2 Clearly
not. In such an inquiry as this the atinused must answer
the charges brought against him ; it Will avail him little
to dispute the jurisdiction of his accusers. Throughout
Sir Richard Airey has conducted his case in the Same pet-
tifogging spirit. On Wednesday he endeavoured to taint
the character of the Crimean report by asking the Judge-
Advocate to read the first sentence, which proved his
point. There General Airey would have stopped, and the
Judge-Advocate was compelled to remind him that the
concluding sentences entirely negatived the inference
which ho had se disingenuously drawn from the first mu-
tilated phrase.
If we cannot say much for the spirit in which Sir
Richard Airey conducted his case, neither can wo affirm
that we have been convinced by his arguments. We well
take his case as he sums it up, and pugs it himself to the
Court. As ho says, the charges of the Commissioners have
now mainly resolved themselves into two heads. First,
there is the statement that there was not sufficient care or
forethought displayed in hutting the horses. This charge
General Airey considers as disposed of in the sense favour.
able to the accused. We doubt if he will find 100 men
out of the Hall of Chelsea Hospital, and unconnected with
the ruling military clique, who will be of the same opi-
nion. Then he says that the Commissioners denounced
certain irregularities in the issue departments. No doubt
they did. General Airey's great argument in his own fa-
vour—his cheval de bataitle, as one may say—is this :
Until it can be proved that the Quartermaster-General
placed hindrances and obstacles in the way of issue, he is
not only free from blame, but entitled to the highest mili-
tary rewards which the Sovereign can bestow upon hint
at this stage of the career. Now, is this so ? Is it suffi-
cient that an officer should have displayed these passive
virtures, and must we therefore promote hide to a niche in
our Walhalla ? Alas ! we cannot but remember that of
an army which lost but 3,000 men by the shot of the
enemy upwards of 20,000 perished by causes which were
more or less under the control of men in Sir Richard
Airey's position. They did nothing, and he did nothing.
That is just what his present defence anounts to, taking
it at the best, but we do not therefore feel inclined to
wreathe laurels for his brows, and bid pipe and tabor
strike up, " See the conquering hero comes !"