The Sun. — 1854-10-03 (London, England)

MENSCHIICOFF. True courage is never associated with boasting or cruelty, and we could hardly look for any striking illustration thereof from the special Plenipotentiary to the Porte, or the Commander in the blood-stained Bay of Sinope.  Looking, then, to all the circumstances, it is more than probable that, after the loss of a certain number of vessels, MENSCHIKOFF should have retired to " the bottom of the bay," or " inner harboUr," with the remainder of his ships, and that he should have threatened to destroy the nonwarlike part of the town, and even his own fleet, if terms were not accorded. But that he will attempt to do either, or that he would be obeyed,  if he issued such atrocious orders, is a very different thing. We have heard of a gentleman who, on being told that if he did not forthwith advance a certain sum of money to a rather dissipated relative, it would lead to the immediate suicide of the latter, and. who in answer " dared the rascal to do it !" Our commanders may, in like manner, dare MENSCIIIKOFF to do it, and—he will not ! They had, it appears, given him six hours to consider ; and if he does not yield unconditionally in that time, why, some of the allied vessels must only go and fetch those still holding out ; or, what may possibly be still easier, bring some guns to bear from the heights on the Russian fleet, and thus, as the Irish ballad hath it,  speedily  " Make them wise, And open their eyes To a sense of their situation!"  Under any circumstances, however, the great object of the campaign has been accomplished. Whether Sebastopol, with all its materiel and fleet, has been captured or destroyed, the Russian power has equally been subjugated in the Euxine, which is—no longer a Russian lake—but a mare clausum, against the vessels of the arrogant disturber of the general tranquillity. He can no longer threaten the Turkish capital from his stronghold, but must humbly acknowledge what, we trust, will prove to be the long-enduring strength and vitality of the qv.,ondanz " sick  man."  As on many previous occasions the valour of British soldiers has retrieved the blunders of British diplomatists. The indomitable energy of our troops has fully compensated for the mistakes (!) of our ambassadors. Austria was permitted to take possession of the Principalities from which the Russian invaders had just been expelled without a blow struck. Without even a protest the Germans were permitted to take possession of Moldavia and Wallachia, and the unfortunate inhabitants found it anything but an amelioration of their previously deplorable condi tion. Between Russian and Austrian brutality there was but little to choose. But the former had been gorged with plunder ; they had some slight consideration for those whom they had previously reduced to a state of exhaustion after the consumption of all their available resources. The latter, however, came with keen appetites to their work. A hungry set of blood-suckers replaced others already filled to repletion, and the sufferings of the ill-fated victims were materially enhanced.  But this was not all. There was a hopeful anticipation of the speedy expulsion of the Muscovite invaders. They were palpably wrongdoers ; and if the Turkish might could defend the Turkish right, they would be ignominiously driven forth from the soil they had polluted by their ill-omened presence. But the Austrians, forsooth, were invited guests. They were actually received with open arms, and suffered to obtain, without resistance, a position which they might have used with fearful effect in the event of any reverse to the Allied Powers. The obtuse stupidity of the thick-skulled soldiery has already exhibited in the clearest light the intentions of the pretended friend, who, having achieved his ends by sitnula.ted support, then proclaimed a neutrality  which would only be maintained until either side had achieved a decided and unequivocal success. Had the expedition to the Crimea failed, she would be prepared to deprecate the wrath of the Allies by violating all former promises, and either rendering treacherous assistance, or retaining for her own use what she had obtained possession of for very different purposes. Now, however, that it has succeeded beyond the most sanguine anticipatipus) she will probably be prepared to give the most fervent assurances of her sincerity, at the same time endeavouring to gain every possible advantage for herself. In the nineteenth, as in the twelfth century, she will still be— " Ever strong upon the strongest side." g• Fortune's champion, that dost never fight, But when her humourous ladyship is by To teach her safety." We must not, however, place any confidence in such faithless pledges. 'We would sooner trust Prussia herself than her slippery, but no less dangerous, rival, as well as ally. Prussia has candidly acknowledged that she looks only to German interests. Austria makes more plausible professions, but partially proves that her views are equally limited. Prussia openly evinces its proRussian tendencies. Austria exhibits more secretly, but no less certainly its anxiety to chichi the CZAR, and to prevent any humiliation of his pride or deterioration of his power. Neither have any claim to interfere in matters from which they held aloof so long as their assistance could be of a decided demonstration, any value, or when or even a determined expression of feeling, might have averted the impending hostilities; and we shall estimate at a still lower rate than at present the intellect of our diploma' tists if they listen to any proposition from either party.  The taking of Sebastopol may, and very probably will, effect a very important alteration in Austrian views. Now that Russia is no longer formidable in the Euxino, that she can no longer attempt to control the navigation or the commerce of the Danube, Austria will attempt to substitute her own " protectorate" in the neighbouring pi-ovinces. But the one would be just as pernicious while it existed, and as threatening to the univer