The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-01 00:00:00

LONDON,. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1856.

' So, after all, the German Legion is to be dis-
banded. . The project of a select body guard of
foreign mercenaries of the favoured race has been
relactantly abandoned. But still they are not
sent off empty-handed. " The Prince's Pets"
have received solid advantages not bestowed on
the mere English, and it now appears that they
are to obtain further benefits, which those who
have-borne the brunt of the conflict would ear-
nestly, but fruitlessly, desire. Those who have
scarcely smelt
.powder, certainly none fired in
anger, have been•better treated than veterans who
proridly bp-ar war medals with' four clasps on their
stalwart breasts, and .•
who endured with
invincible fortitude all the privations and
fatigues that cost the lives of so many
of their valiant brethren, and permitted but a
small pr-t ortien of the original number to return
to their native land. The former were merely
"playing at soldiers." An•agreeable trip to the
Mediterranean was their most onerous duty, and
while the British soldiers were braving death in
the trenches, or rushing boldly to " the imminent
deadly breach," they were enjoying themselves at
the wine shops of Malta or Corfu.

The same good fortune, or rather unblushing
" nepotism," was manifested from the very begin-
ning of .their career. It would seem as if, ac-
.eording to official estimation, one German was
worth four Englishmen, for the bounty he ac
tually received was quadruple that which any
native of the United Kingdom could obtain. The
men, when enlisted, were equipped in the most
efficient manner. An Enfield Rifle was placed in
everyhand, and all other camp or fighting requisites
were supplied with pram., liberality. They were
stationed first at Shorncliffe, then up the Medi-
terranean, having neither, to, endure hardships nor
to encounter fatigua or clinger • either from the
enemy or from sickly stafions. On their return

they were ..again quartered ,in the most eligible
localities, until th.ir insolent treatment of British
soldiers--men who could exhibit war med I,ls,
which they could not spew—provoked the retalia-
tion, which proved that they were likely to come
off snood best in the affrays which were rendered
of daily,occurrence.

On discharge the Germar.,3 received a clear
yeal's pay, besides a free Passage to their re-
,
spective homes or to some British colony selected
. by themselves; while our own militia were turned
off, in many instances, naked and penniless, with-
..!
1 . out receiving the full amount of the bounty
that.
- . bad been promised at the time of their enlistment.
Even the privates of the Land Transport Corps_
s.. ,
one, of the most efficient and valuable bodies of
a' men in the British service, who had worked hard
1. in tbe Crimea—were discharged with. a paltry
::.• pound each, while the Germans received from
i • •
' 181. to "3/
'. . ...' '

nut, as if 'there was not sufficient. encourage-
meta for .the fortunate mercenaries, it appears
that all who tvidl, to volunteer—and wa suspect
few will rject the offer—are to be sent out to
form a military colony at the CApe, where each
man will receive a fr,:e grant of land, so as to
render hitu Perfectly independent and comfortable
for the remainder:of life. The married men
'will be allowed: to take out their wives and fami-
lies, and the single Itare fullpermission to' marry '
.where and when they think proper.
Now,,
Limy be 1-111 very well to •
•
•
obtain military
colonists, who shall oppose an organised force to
the aggressions of dangerous and teatlesa neigh-
bours. But why, we ask, are w© to
found a
German colony with English money ? why
are
we to send out men who owe no allegiance to the
throne of Great Britain, and who, when they
have obtained all they can hope to obtain, will be

prepared to sever the connection at the earliest
possible moment ? Are there no English veterans,
men who have well and faithfully served their
country, and rendered unquestionable proo of their
fidelity, who would eagerly grasp at the opportu
nity ? .A reduction in the army is to be effected
next year. Soldiers of the line, who entered for
limited service, will be discharged, to say nothing
of the immense number of militiamen who have
been turned off to earn their livelihood as they
best can. Would not a selection of the most
meritorious of these men have made as trustworthy
colonists as the German Legion taken en masse ?
Would they not to a man have rejoiced in ob-
taining the favour granted to the Germans, and
have they not higher claims on England than any
foreign mercenaries whatsoever ?

These are matteis on whiclA no second opinion
can be entertained by any true-hearted Bri-
ton.. Ho must regard with disgust and in-
dignation the gross and palpable favour-
itism displayed towards the pets. Surely Eng-
land should be kept for the English, and not
for the Germans. The backstairs, and under-
hand influence may be carried a leetle too far.
The operation can scarcely be carried out without
expense, and we earnestly trust the House of
Commons may closely scrutinise every item, and
refuse to sanction the outlay even of a single
shilling in furtherance of a scheme so unfair to
the veterans of the British Army.

ALEXANDER NICOL AIEVITCII has at last arrived
at Moscow, there to receive at the hands of the
Chief Hierarch of the Greek Church the crowns
of All the Russias. As a matter of course, his
entry into the capital of olden Russia, under such
circumstances, was heralded with all the pomp
and solemnity the mighty arbiter of the fate of
countless myriads of semi-civilised, semi-savage,
and, we regret to add, civilised men deemed ne-
cessary for the occasion. When an Autocrat gives
his orders, what is to stand in the way of their
execution ? S 3 after mid-day the guns, being
duly charged, were duly discharged by the ap-
pointed individuals ; the salvo of artillery aroused
the appointed ringers to their task, and the
equally obedient bells, with their clappers,
shook the steeples, and caused both earth and
air to vibrate with their outrageous con-
cussion. The anxious and well-drilled in-
habitants of Moscow line the streets to view
the imposing impression, and the numerous
actors, together with the still more numerous
spectators, hurry to their respective posts. Three
hours have elapsed, and still amid the maddening
clangour the appearance of the Imperial visitor is

patiently looked for. In a few minutes more the

procession leaves the Petrovsky Palace. First
comes a "Maitre de Police," with twelve mounted
!Jens d'armes to clear tho way ; next the EMPEROR'S
body guar,l, in their magnificent uniforms, squa-
drons of Cossacks of the Black Sea, and of the re-
giment of the Guards, the representatives of the
heut noblesse on horseback, all in uniform ; the
representatives of the Asiatic populations which
acknowledge the sovereignty of Russia, with valets,

lacqueys, and runners of the Court—altogether a
very picturesque, if not a very reflective and en
lightened, multitude. Next come masters of ce-
remonies, and others of the same imposing tribe,
with their badges of office. After these, who but
ALEXANDERNICOL 4IEVITCH on horseback, attended
by the Minister of his Household, the Minister of
War and his aides-de-camp. To whom succeed the
princes of the blood, also on horseback, the Em-
press, the Empress Mother, the Grand Duchess
and the Princess of Oldenburg, in their carriages,
followed by their ladies of honour, and they
in their turn by squadrons of Cuirassiers, which
close the procession.

In this state the Imperial CZAR makes his entry
into Moscow, and is hailed by a fresh salvo of
guns and received by the Military Governor of
the ancient capital at the head of his employes,
Onward moves the procession until it reaches the
appointed spot where the magistrates and submis-
sive burghers are to welcome their new mister.
On again and the marshal and the nobility of the
Government of Moscow have their turn ; and
again. on until the procession reaches the gate of
the Resurrection, where the Civil Governor and
the civil authorities of the city (Moscow must be
abundantly governed, what with military and civil
magnates and officials) wait to greet the high and
mighty source of their authority. This duty duly
discharged, a religious spectacle of the rarest in-
terest, considering who are the actors, is pres 3n tel
to the much-favoured spectators. The EMPEROR
gets off his horse, the Princes dismount from their
horses, and the Empresses, Duchesses, and the
Princess leave their carriages, and all of them pros-
trate themselves before the image of Our Lady of
Iberia ! Far be it from us to offer, in the least
dogmatically, any suggestion of ours by way of im-
prove:nent of the ceremonial ; but, until better in-
formed by some eloquent JEAMES who knows all

about it, we may remark, in our humble opinion,
Our Lady of Siberia might have answered—for
humane purposes at all events—better. From

his homage of the Ingage of Our Lady of Iberia

at the Resurrection-gate, the procession repairs to

;he gate of the S tviour 1 Here there is no image

:o be wDrsbipped, though the need would seem to

be the greater ; but what has the ruler to whose

pride and ambition so many hundreds of thousands

conscripts owed their death on the steppes of

- -
Russia, and at Sebastopol, to do with the SA-

viour ? But let us.hasten on with the procession
as it passes through the decorated streets, and by,.
the.crowds of clergy collected.in all pomp at the
gates' of their churches, until, amid the roar of
great guns, the frantic pealing of bells, and the
loud acclaim of the multitude, the EMPEROR and
Royal Family reach the Cathedral of the Assueep.
lion, and enter its sacred precincts. The ceremonial
observances here are enough to make the mouth
water. Canticle "succeeds to the clash of sabres, and
the clash of sabres to canticle. Relics are brought
out to be kissed, and images pointed out to be
worshipped ; and what with osculation and pros-
tration the Imperial Family have a hard time of
it. Not an image, nor a relic, but exacts one or
other, or both those processes in its honour ;
and all that ,is . left us is to hope they
ate "a happy family," and, contrary to
Russian usage, are : 'kept sweet and clean.
It would. have been -strange indeed, if, while
beneUriOg' e 'sainted relics and conse-
crated images of depar..el worth, the Holy Czars
of Russia failed to receive their incon.iostible
meed of boinlge. They did not. Havin4 visited
two cathedrals, the Imperial family, with the
EMPEROR at their head, repaired to a thirid-I;he
Cathedral of S. Michael, and there dd

y pris-

trated themselv,s before the tombs of

is MA-

JESTY'S ancestors. These ceremonials o
MAJESTY repaired to the Imperial palace, ai

sr, his
d thete

we leave him about as much fatigued asle
much more saddened. To us this sort o
is very mournful. Sc many men—su,

is, and

F thing

slaves. SJ much pomp, and such need f
manisation. Such pretences to pio'Ly, a
fraud at heart. Such a system of sup

11 very
()r -

Ld suc h

tlrstition

under the name of Christianity. Such blei
against HEAVEN, and such treason agairi

sphemy

3t man.

, •
Such priestly sycophancy, and such a aqua:

tdering