Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-14
THE MORALE OF THE ENGLISH ARMY.

The Constantinople correspondent of the London
Times, in letter dated September 10th, writes as
follows
If any thing could defeat enterprise so necessary
and hopeful it would be the tone in which it has been
discussed during the last few weeks To pretend that
expedition is popular would be to assert what must be
contradcted by every private letter written from the
of There can be purpose served by any conceal
men and the effect produced by the dependency and
gloomy predictions of the officers has been great upon
the people of the country it is better that the public at
home should know what is secret here The delays
which have occurred the aeness of the season. and the
sickness Of the army have impaired the confidence which
few months ago was inspired by novelty and excite
ment That each of these drawbacks may well inspire
consideration is not be denied but they are INSULT
cent to justify the tone of complaint and recrminaon
which has recently prevailed. For month before the
sailing Of the expedition nothing heard but presages
of woe. The fleets would be destroyed by tempests or
betrayed by ogs; cholera would break with tenfod
vruence during the crowded voyage the ground would
be too hard for throwing entertainments too soft for
the transport Of artery the troops would perish for
want of water or be swept away by the Of
tumn. That any evil effect will practically follow SO for
as regards the officers who express these opinions not
probable Place them In front of an enemy and these
plaintive predictions will be forgotten; they will fight
with the innate courage which has always marked the
two nations. But with the the case is different
Military discipline generates implicit reliance on the
opinions as well instructive obedience to the COM
mands Of superors; and has been taken to con-
officers In fact the probability and the certainty
Of failure has been the subject of conversation
every where and no small part of the army has been
brought to consider itself fororn hope sent on des
perate enterprise to satisfy the demands Of an ignorant
public, to shelter failing Ministry, and to gain popu
larty for an nrm throne. No less has been the effect
on the people among whom we live. Speak to Turk
about the expedition and he will throw up his head and
suck in his breath as he always does when he wishes to
express increduy or contempt The Greeks are full of
hope that the tide will turn and their mount once
in the ascendant under the shelter of the inypcbe
Russians II is sad that rockets have been sent up along
the coast by these people and the Bulgarans to notify
the the fleets have taken But the tale seems i'm
probable and even incomprehensible. Whatever may
be the extent Of the assistance opposition we may re-
ceve from the natives Of this country it is most certain
that expectation prevails of some disaster the allied
armies and it is equally certain that such feeling has
arisen from the imprudenty expressed msgivings Of
class of men with whom open criticism is default in
duty We wait with anxiety the dongs Of the armament
In the Black Sea and Of the statesmen in the various
ptals but thing should be avoided 1t is possible
that negotiations may bring this affair to satisfactory
end it is also probable that the force which has sailed
from Varna will perform with credit the duties which
England expects. Either diplomacy or war may effect
the objects of the world and Of civilization but ttleis to
be expected from either when the other nterferes with it,
1t is to be hoped that the dpomatists will not hamper
the Generals the doings the Generals enveuom the
negotiations Should the Gar be disposed to submit on
armisce might be advisable but still there should be
proof of his good faith in the offer before the expe
don is ordered back port and the great event of the
war deferred to another year"