The Sun. — 1854-12-20 (London, England)

THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—The Duke of Newcastle, with a strange presumption told his brother lords that, except Lord Hardinge, no officer of capacity and experience remained in England with whom he could consult to avoid the errors he had committed as a War Minister—all were in the Crimea! He must now be taught that there are officers still in England with sagacity heroic roey thea n introductionni a makes E ng. enough to see through his incapacity, and with indignation enough to rebuke the grovelling spirit which has dictated the degradationwen of foreign soldiers to fight, our• battles at the very moment h the Bt steam of the country and blood the from armyiuk. bn: a o England snort and start like a warhorse in the 'midst of carnage. I will not say that the German Legion in the last war were not good and trusty soldiers—their cavalry was excellent but, despite of the Duke of Richmond's generous eulogium, I will, with Lord Efienborough, say, that neither they, nor any foreign troops, were able to equal tire fighting of the British soldier. That legion was well composed ;it was, indeed, a national force, with high moral motives, and with the gentlemen of their own country as officers ; they were thus presented in the best possible form that foreigners could assume in another nation's service ; and gallant things they cou'd and did do ; but emulate the terrible fighting of the British soldier they could not. And shall a mere mercenary band, picked up for gold, without national feeling—poor miserable hirelings, sellinc, their limbs and lives, aye I their very souls for lucre —ready, without a cause, if paid, to murder, to slay, or be slain, and, of course, ready to change sides for higher pay if good occasion offer— shall such varlets stand in the line beside our noble soldiers who fight shouting " England ' England'!" and dying murmur, " We have done our duty ?" When did German or Switzer, Prussian or Austrian, stand before the gallant French in equal battle ? And those brilliant, fierce, impetuous French, could even they sustain the might and terror of British battle, though, glorious soldiers that they are and ever have been, they returned to the combat as unceasingly as waves boating against rocks? Such as they are indeed fit and worthy to stand abreast with the unconquerable " red line that never yields," and, together, they will trample in the dust any troops in the world that presume to oppose them. But let them not be shamed by finding a hired third-rate selection from inferior sources between themselves and their British comrades. Let them not be, told to depend up on the dressedforeigners—poor frauds, like the camels of Semiramie, accoutred as elephants, and sure to leave dark silent gaps where loudest shouts and fiercest fires should stream forth iu the hour of need. Shall the stern infantry of lukerman, striding in blood ; shall the proud cavalry of Balaklava—those noble horsemen who accepted, not an order, but a doubtful sign only, to go bounding on as it were to the open jaws of death ; shall they have as comrades the refuse hirelings of Germany and Switzerland ? God forbid ! You, sir, say that the Ministers will go out if the country refus -is to accept their degrading measure. So let it be. Let them slink away, while the universal shout arises of "jGod and our right."—L am, sir, your obedient servant, W. NAIII3II, Lieutenant-General.  The Sumroo, a fine ship of 1,000 tons, under the command of Captain Henderson, arrived in the Southamp• ton Docks yesterday afternoon to take on board wooden houses for the French troops in the Crimea. The Swiftsure, Captain Price, of 1,800 tons, is expected for the same purpose in a day or two, and several other ships of large tonnage have been engaged to follow as soon as possible. As soon as ready for sea they will be towed across the Bay of Biscay and to their destination ,by French war•steamers, which are to come to South, ampton for the purpose. Several French officers have arrived at Southampton, who are specially deputed by the French Minister of War to superintend the embarkation and despatch of these houses, which are being manufactured at Gloucester. The quantity ordered will.prvvido accommodation fvr PM() men,