The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-23

that concerns the civil administra&,on Of the army.
foundation Of the whole measure that the War ofaoe
should be merged in this now department OF state,
OF inshcr that the War ONCE should be extendei
Sna sa'soa ~ Tvs lunysions and dignity; 90 ~ 70 In.
to the country all the various branches which arc
now scattered in half dozen different Offices from
Pail mall TO Downing street. II ia obvious that ono
ONCE efficiently constituted and conducted, is far
simpler and more powerful engine Of government
than these disconnected and coordinate fragments
OF administration. Mr.. Ellice pointed out with
great clearness the true posito Of the question,
and we sincerely hope that the government will not
commit the folly OF attempting halt measure when
complete and defnitive arrangement can alone
prove satisfactory to the country.
Lord John was equally reserved on the question OF
peIst ms, as affected by this new arrangement,
although considerations Of this nature are apt to
have more influence on great public measures than
the public willingly beasve. We apprehend. how.
ever, that the Duke of Newcastle will retain the De-
paltment OF War; to which he has already devoted
80 much labor and attention. The Duke was I'M
questionably entitled to free choice of either
moiety Of his former duties, for he has held them
both with credit. AT the present moment there
might have been some disadvantage in abruptly
transferring the business of the acmy to Minister
less familiar with the details of the present exped
ton; and we Cannot he surprised that the Duke has
selected the more arduous and exciting OF the two
posts. The government has therefore to provide IT.
/ self with Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Lord John Russell himself has left honorable ira
ditions IN the Colonial Department, and we ques-
ton whether he has succeeded equally well in any
other branch of the public service, although he has
tried them nearly all. Everybody would see him
resume that Office with pleasure, and it has been
! strongly urged upon him by his colleagues; but the
leader ship OF the House or Commons is too arduous
task t. be easily united to laborious Office in the
COVE nment and the of health and strousth,
1 probable that Lord John will decline accept
duties which he knows by experience to be iaces-
| nj alH fhos ap1l, fla Xrht
party who were unavodably left out when the pre-
sent administration was formed, Sir George Grey
is, perhaps, the most eminent, aud although he
has peculiar acquaintance with it's duties we
entertain little doubt that the seals of the Colonial
Department Will be otere 10 him. Without ADDING
materially to the strength of the government, Sir
George Grey is deservedly regarded by men Of all
parties with respect and esteem; and the House of
Commons will view with satisfaction bis return to
the font row of the Ministerial benches. Other
notifications Of the government may possibly arise
out Of this change in the War Department, for,
although war minister is to be appointed, no new
place will be created unless the concurrent and
superfuous post of the present Secretary at War be
retained. But on these particulars it s premature
TO enter until we have learnt more accurately and
completely the nature of the arrangements which
are to be adopted.
Aspect OF News from the Seat OF War.
from the London News June 81
All the struggling items Of war news that come
dropping in are of nature to strengthen che belief
lies. The Moniter confirms the account of the
repulse sustained by the Russians in their assault
upon Silistria. Dispatches from Lesser Wallacha
announce another victory gained by the Turks at
Slatina event which is calculated to accelerate
the movements of the Russians in that quarter, pre-
viously summoned to fall back for the purpose of
auglnentng the numbers brought to bear upon Siis-
tria. The latest intelligence positively atirms the
departure of the first detachment Of the British
troops for varna; and from another quarter we hear
of the preparations making in Varna Tor their reoep
tion But it is not from the west Of the EuxiHe alone
that we hear OF indications OF conscious weakness on
the part OF the Russian.
The abandonment and destruction of their forts
on the Crcassian coast, and the attempts OF some
Of the gans to fall back through Mngrelia upon
Tifis, are followed by futterng movements, march
ings and cOuntermarchngs throughout Georgia.
that show the existence Of doubts ut headquarters
as to whether will be expedient or safe to leave so
large fraction Of the Russian army in an outpost
where its communications with Russia cap SO easily
be interrupted by the Caucasian nn0untaineers. In
the East as in the West, in the South as in the
North, all the movements Of the Russians denote
not only painful consciousness that they can only
stand on the defensive against the storm of war
their Emperor has coDjured up but misgivings to
their ability TO maintain successfully even mere
defensive attitude. The obvious rresoluticn, hcsi
taton, and vacillation that peryade the Russian
councils of war all so many invitations to the
allies to strike at once, and strike home.
With affairs in such position, the question what
policy is likely 20 be adopted by the extremely
pic'ous, professingly friendly, Powers of Central
| Europe, grows every moment in prac ;ical import
| ance. The words Of the Austrian and Prussian
governments are utterly valuelcss; actions, from
which their real leaning might be inferred there
none the only is to every involuntary
and unguarded expression sign that escapes from
them of this nature are the recently published
programme ofthe proceedings of the Diet at Frank.
fort and the tone generally adopted by the Aus
the two great Powers of the German Confede-
ration are treating their lesser brethren very
cavalierly. Both Austria and Prussia have given
the minor Powers Of the Confederation unequivo-
Cay to understand that the Diet, composed Of all
their representatives, is merely what would have
been called, under the dncien regime in France,
lat de justice to register the edicts of the two larger
governments. Prussia, with characteristic blunder-
ing faulty goes further and seeks to prove in due
logical form, that the war in the East being not
simply war of the Confederation but war which
calls all Europe into play, the articles of the funda-
mental compact upon which the Confederation rests
do not apply to it, and that consequently the minor
states have right to voice in the decision what
part Germany is to take. The language addressed
by the Prussan Cabinet to the Diet translated into
intelhglble language is simply" Austria and Prus.
sa having made up their minds it is not the part of
the minor states OF the Confede ration to argue or
demonstrate, but to obey"
This dictatorial language need surprise no one;
as long ago as the time of the Congress Of Verona
graceless caricaturist foretod how it would be- by
representing the Emperor eff Austria and the King
of Prussia their pockets stuffed with little medi-
atised piinces-seated at council table, with the
surviving little potentates of Germany below it,
struggling in vain to get peep at what is going on,
but Knocked down as soon as they showed them
selves The minor German sovereigns will have to
do what Austria and Prussia bid them. AS to what
Prussia will bid them do, if the King and Court are
allowed to have their own way nobody any longer
affects to have the slightest doubt. But Austria?
Well, Austria has newspaper press, of which
the more honest and intelligent members have
embraced various occasions to show that they
perfectly understand the true interest of their
country at the present crisis, and are anxious no.
nestly to express their opinion, as far as they can
do 30 with safety. The language of these cramped
ana fetteIed journals is at this moment peculiarly
ty to escape them Of urging the necessity of open
jlg and keeping free the navigation of the Danube
Taking up this ground, they skilfully avail them
selves OF the protestatons Of their court that Rus
STA must lie compelled to evacuate the Danubian
Prncipalities. But further they dare not go, land
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