Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-10-20
From the London Times, Sept. q.

From the London Times Sept. 2l
IT. as there is great reason to apprehend, the return
OF portion of the forces from the Baltic and the
tenor of Sir Charles Napers last dispatches indicate
the determination of the present naval campaign in
the North of Europe it must be acknowledged that
the results of these operations fall much below what
was expected from the gigantic naval armament
which sailed few months ago from the Downs
There is an obvious disproporton between prepara-
tlons OF such magnitude and the effects produced by
them upon the power of the enemy and, with
view to the more efficient conduct of the next cam
paign, even more than for the purpose Of nnavaing
recrmnation, it is desirable that the causes of this
disappointment should be fully considered and under
stood. Mistakes have, of course been committed
some from want of knowledge, some from want of
Judgment and some from want of resolution but,
on the other hand an amount of experience has
been gained in this peculiar warfare which ought to
render the recurrence of such blunders impossible
another year. More, we think might have been eff
ected, but until the operations in the Black sea have
accomplished the grand ect of the destruction of
Sebasopo the campaign in the Baltic matter
OF secondary interest," and is to be regretted that by
lar the powerful of two fleets, especially in
steam line battle Ships has been employed through
out the summer where there least work to be
performed.
The allied powers had two objects to accomplish
in the Baltic The first to shut up the whole
naval power of Russia, to prevent every vessel.of-
war from leaving her ports to give battle to the
Russian fleet with success if her eighteen lne-of-
battle ships venured beyond the shelter of her land
batteries The second was to blockade and threaten
her coasts, and to attack and destroy her fortifca.
tions whenever they were thought to be assailable
by naval artillery The first of these objects has
been completely, and second partially, effected but
the question is, whether the Admiralty exercised
sound judgment in the means they employed. For
the purpose OF obtaining the mastery of the Baltic,
and of fighting the Russian feet if it came out the
armament appears to have been considerably greater
than requisite; and while it contained several
frst-cass Ships such the Duke of wellington the
st. Jean d'Acre, and the, Neptune, which could
scarcely be brough through the Belt from their
draught of water and i'll adapted to such
navigation, there strange and lamentable de-
ficiencY in steamers of light draught, such as those
which have been constructed within the last few
weeks when it is loo late TO them. The naval
department of the Admiralty performed its duty to
perfection in sending to sea the vessels which were
ordered for commission but we cannot say as much
for the political and straegical ability shown in the
direction and use of these gigantic weapons.
1t is due TO Sir Charles Napier to add that before
the commencement of the war, and before his own
appointment to the command of the feet he had
strongly urged upon the Admiralty the necessity of
providing steam gunboas in large numbers; and that
upon taking the command he also desired that d.
vision of troops should embark with the expedition
Yet the gunboats were not prepared, and the French
division of troops had to be sent out in supplemental
ry ships in the month of August. The result has
shown that Bomarsund could as well have been ia
ken by 1000 men and the marines and seamen of
the fleet, by the IL, 900 who afterwards sent
there and this was known to be the opinion of the
most competent persons before the expedition started
more serious charge against the ministers of the
Crown, who are responsible for the direction of the
war, 49, that they appear to have sent the fleet to sea
without any deliberate plan of campaign. They
armed very powerful squadron, they placed in com
mand of it officer who had great reputation for
skill and DARING and they left him to make the best
use he could of his forces. Had Sir James Graham
more accurately considered qchat he proposed to do
instead of making registering speech al the Reform
Club, he would have adapted his means more judi
ciously to the end he had in view.
But these remarks not confined to the naval
administration at home and until the attack on
Bomarsund was resolved upon and gallanty execu-
ted, Sir Charles Napier seems to have had as little
notion of systematic operations as the First Lord of
the Admiralty. In particular, no serious attempt
made to bring the Russian fortresses in the Bal
tic to the test of severe naval cannonade. The
first attacks on Bomarsund and on Hango Udde or
Gustafsvarn, in the month of June, were lombard
ments by the steamers throwing hollow shot at long
range, which could produce effect the solid
walls In attacking places fortified with stone fac
ngs, the fire which is harmless at 1000 yards be-
comes destructive at 500, and would be irresistible
at $50. If there be water to float ship within
very short range of the enemys batteries, it is pro-
bable that the nearer she approached the less she
would suffer, and the shorleI would be the contest
At Sweaborg, we believe, the batteries are princi
pally hewn in the solid rock, and therefore
assaabIe in front but at Cronstadt or Hango the
experiment should have been tried. The Russians
themselves have shown their opinion by blow
ing up Gusafsvarn as soon as the fall of Bomarsund
was known. combined attack on fortress OF the
first class, such Cronsadt undoubtedly s demands
extensive preparations and great fOrethought IN the
government at home to be guided In the hour OF &C.
ton by military genius. The attack on Copenhagen
succeeded because Nelson refused to the signal of
his superior officer ordering him to retreat; and is
in that dauntless spirit that the trophies of the
British navy have been won.
THEODORE PARKER.-Somebody in the Boston
Transcript, writing from Jerusalem in Virginia, tells
the following good story, illustrating at once the i'm
portance of the letter 3D." and the bad odor of abo-
ltionism in the Old Dominion
Theodore D. Parker Esq merchant in Boston,
happened, few weeks since, to be guest for one
night at Knapps hotel in this place After tea,
he was enjoying the GOODNESS of the evening on the
piazza he noticed gentleman in the office who was
examining the book of arrivals, and who afterwards
walked up and down the piazza scanning him Mr.
P \ verv closely Some 10 Is minutes PASSED in
this way, when the stranger broke the silence by ad-
dressing him.
"Ts your name Parker, sir ?'
eyes, Sr.'
Theodore Parker g" ss
eyes, sir"
"Do you come from Boston, sir =
'Yes, sir"
"'Tben, sir, with look as if the identity of the
individual were fairly established) 81 suppose that
YOU are the man who goes about in New England,
vilIifving the institutions of the South :"
"Oh, no, no :" answered the astouished Mr.. Par
ker, before whose eyes bag of feathers and Kettles
of tar danced momentary pas dc aerf ~ am ne
odore d. Parker am a merchant OF boston am
not the Minister whom you speak ot"
"Ah that alters the case then.' responded the
chivalric Virginian, in mder tone; sBut allow me