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a

discredit has been thus cast upon these other. These gentlemen are easily led to consider wise valuable institutions, and it is only won- the proposal as a slight upon themselves— derful that they bave been still to so great an almost an insult. It seems like doubting extent confided in. A Bill for the purpose of their vigilance or their honesty !

As to remedying their defects was proposed to the making themselves pecuniarily responsible, House of Commons by the Chancellor of the that is out of the question.

But mo

ly Exchequer in the Session of 1853, but met responsible they consider themselves, to the with such vigorous opposition from the trus- extent at least of taking every reasonable pretees and managers generally of the local caution in superintending the receipt and safe banks, as to have been withdrawn for the transmission of the money by their clerk," and time-only, we trust, to be introduced again so forth. The only and the all-sufficient reply at an early period, and enacted into law, at to this (and it forms the substance of the least as regards its essential principle. This many hundred petitions that were presented principle was the proposal to the trustees and against the Bill last year from as many sets managers of all savings' banks of this simple of trustees and managers) is this : It is not alternative-either that they should undertake moral, but pecuniary responsibility that the themselves to be responsible for the money poor depositors ought to have. If you, genreceived by them or their clerk from the de- tlemen, are willing to give it, no one doubts positors from the time of its being paid into your solvency; it will be accepted as all-suffithe bank until it is remitted to the National cient. But if you refuse this, in the name of Debt Office, or allow a Government clerk or justice, of honesty, and of that benevolence agent alone to receive it, in which case the for which credit is given you in having underGovernment would\ itself undertake the re- taken your gratuitous office, do not stand in sponsibility throughout. Surely there ought the way of the offer which is now made to the not to be two opinions upon the justice-nay depositors, of full Government security for the necessity-of enforcing one or other of every farthing they may bring into the bank, these alternatives

. Every one must admit upon the one indispensable condition of course, that the poor man who brings his hard-earned that the Government shall receive the money savings to the bank should have unquestion for which it offers to be responsible. Your able security afforded him for his deposit. very refusal indicates a latent suspicion of the Well then, who is to give this ? The trustees possibility of loss. Do you persist in throwand managers ? But that, it is said, they ing this risk (which you will not incur yourwill not listen to. The Government? But selves) on the poor depositor, whom you then surely the Government must itself re-induce, by the advertisement of your names ceive the money from the depositor through as 'trustees,' to trust you with his money? an agent of its own. The battle which the In 'Heaven's name let the gentlemen of trustees and managers generally have been England either accept this trust in literal fighting, is to retain the receipt of the money earnest, and give their bond as well as their for themselves or their clerks, and to throw names for its fulfilment; or allow the Gothe responsibility for its safe transmission to vernment to take the money from the deposithe National Debt Office on the Government, tors directly, and give them its all-sufficient or on nobody!

security in return! We cannot believe that There is nothing wonderful in the struggle they will persist in lending their names to a made for this end-and hitherto with success delusion--a sham responsibility, which proves --throughout the length and breadth of the at a pinch to be none at all—or resist the beland. The salaried officers of the existing nevolent purpose of the Government to subbanks are under the impression that by the stitute in its place a system of unimpeachable proposed change their services will be dis- security for these almost sacred deposits—the pensed with—a mistake, we believe, because small savings of the industrious and provident as clerks will be still everywhere required, we poor! think they are most likely to be continued in The truth is that these banks have outgrown their offices by the Government under the their general character, and are no longer to be new arrangement : however, such being their considered private associations of a quasi impression, they find no difficulty in organiz- charitable nature, got up by benevolent pering, by intercommunication, a general oppo- sons for the collection and safe custody of the sition to it, or in rousing the susceptibilities little savings of their neighbours. They are, of the volunteer trustees and managers, with or ought to be, considered public institutions, whom they are in constant intercourse, and branches of the National Debt Office, for the who are themselves naturally unwilling to investment in Government Securities of the part with the small patronage and influence deposits of the industrious classes. The time which their position no doubt assumed from has been when the publication of a list of the most benevolent motives) confers on them. respected names, as trustees, was essential to

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inspire the confidence of these classes in the ed to retain from the depositors whatever persafety of their deposits; but they are more centage, they please. It would, we are conenlightened at present; and the disclosures vinced, be a false economy in the Guvernment made public of late as to the legal irresponsi- to cut down the interest paid on the savingsbility of these nominal trustees, and the con- banks' fund. It must be remembered that sequent losses entailed on the depositors in the maximum amount of each deposit is by several banks, have changed the current of the Bill brought to a very low amount (only general feeling on the subject. We cannot 1001.), and that by the clauses intended to doubt that if two savings-banks were opened prevent one person holding more than this as in any part of the country, the one without nominal trustee for others, as well as through any list of trustees or managers, but avowedly the facilities offered for the investment in the & Government office, pledging the faith of the funds of all deposits above 60l., the deposiState for all money paid in, the other with a tors will be confined individually to very showy list of wealthy trustees, but likewise small sums, and will in future be confined exwith a clear understanding (printed on the clusively to the poorer classes, who might, fly-leaf of the deposit-books) that they are not with sound policy, be encouraged in habits of (and that nobody is) responsible for the safe economy, even at some pecuniary sacrifice on conveyance of the money paid into the Govern- the part of the State. It should be recolment, it does not, we say, admit of a doubt lected, too, that the State charges 34 and 4 that the first would not only be generally pre- per cent. on its loans to the wealthy classes, ferred, but in all probability exclusively resort on the very best security, and may therefore ed to by the neighbourhood; and this consi- well afford to pay rather more than 3 per deration ought to be conclusive, since, surely, cent. to its poor creditors. Looking also to

. with a view to encourage to the utmost the the vast saving in the cost of crime and indiaccumulation of such savings, the best and gence which must be occasioned by the the most acceptable security that can be pro- habitual accumulation of small savings among vided ought to-be the one preferred by the the poorer classes of society, a few thousands Legislature, and by all who have this import- a year might be wisely risked in its encourageant object at heart. With respect to some of the minor points It is

very desirable that in making the conof the late Government Bill a difference of siderable alteration now unavoidable in the opinion may fairly arise. The question of re- system of savings'- banks the opportunity

. quiring each depositor's book to be produced should be taken of consolidating all the Acts periodically for examination is one of these. relating to them into one statute; and we It is well known that great indisposition is would urge the same likewise with respect to felt by many depositors to attend on fixed the Friendly Society Acts. Indeed, the Comdays, or do any thing that may allow their mittee of the House of Commons which sat friends to ascertain how much money they upon the last subject in the past session were possess in the bank. It might answer every evidently prepared to recommend such a conpurpose if an annual statement of his account solidation, if time had allowed its preparawere sent by post to each depositor; or (as is tion. If, as we trust will be the case, the Lepractised already in some badks) that each gislature should carry at once into effect the depositor should have a letter and number remaining improvements here suggested in entered on his book, and a statement of all the laws which relate to these valuable provithe accounts under his particular letter being dent institutions, we shall entertain sanguine annually forwarded to him, he would be ena- hopes as to the result. The higher and weal

to check his own account without betray- thier classes will no doubt, in the active spirit ing to any one about him which it is. of benevolence which characterises the age,

There is, of course, a very general objection do their best, by advice, explanation, and asraised to the proposed reduction of interest sistance, to encourage their poorer neighbours, payable to depositors, and still more to the friends, and workpeople, to avail themselves fixing a maximum limit to the expenses of of the advantages thus offered to them. We the bank. The principle of a fixed net inte scarcely see what should prevent any adult rest on all deposits is, we think, the true one; individual of the industrious classes from bebut surely this need not be lower than 3 per coming a member of a friendly society whieh cent. Five shilliugs per cent. additional shall ensure bim medical aid and a mainteought to defray the cost of management un-nance'in sickness, and a respectable funeral der a proper system, though, of course, it will on his death-the holder of an assured Gonot pay for the building of the magnificent vernment Annuity in his old age; and also of premises and excessive salaries which have an annually-increasing fund in the savingsnot been unfrequently furnished under the bank, for ultimate investment, perhaps, in old system, in which the managers are allow-some active business, or to be bequeathed as a

bled,

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future provision for his widow or children. J on the Danube or in the Crimea. The place All this is within the reach of every frugal has no historic traditions. Its inhabitants and prudent person who prefers to present are chiefly, if not exclusively, engaged in gratification the consciousness of a secure trade, or connected with the Imperial military provision against the wants of the future; the and naval establishments. The claims of certainty of an independent maintenance in humanity might have been amply satisfied by the evening of his days; and the reasonable summoning the garrison to lay down their prospect of an improvement in his position of arms and to surrender the government stores life.

and public granaries, and in the event of a refusal by giving the inhabitants sufficient time to depart with their property before commencing a bombardment or an assault.

After the place had been taken or destroyed ART. VIII.-A Month in the Camp before -which we presume it would have been

Sebastopol. By a Non-Combatant. Lon- without much difficulty-two or three ships don, 1855.

of war, stationed in its secure anchorage,

would have prevented the reconstruction of It will be our object in the following pages to any new defences, and, to a certain extenty place before our readers, as far as we are able, the passage of any fresh troops. It is imposà truthful history of the expedition of the sible to overrate the importance this check allied armies to the East. To assist us in do- upon the movements of the enemy would ing so we have availed ourselves of origi- have been to the allies. From the vast granal documents and journals kept on the naries of Odessa the Russian armies have spot, and we believe that we shall be able to been supplied. It has served as a resting throw some light upon events which are still place and has furnished the means of transobscure or misunderstood. In venturing to port to those reinforcements which have been criticise any portion of our operations, we are poured into the Crimea and are now arrayed not unmindful of the military maxim attribut-against us. Our attack

upon

it was ill coned under various forms to so many great ceived and ill executed. The threats we had commanders, that war consists of a series of vauntingly made were not fulfilled. The allied blunders, the victory remaining with him who fleets retired having but half accomplished commits the fewest.? At the same time we their object, as announced to the Russian consider that we have a full right, without commander—the destruction of the batteries exposing ourselves to the charge of faction or and the ships in the harbour. Some pretext presumption, to comment upon and examine was thus afforded to the enemy to boast that the movements of our army, and the results we had been driven away by the vigour of hitherto attained by the expedition in which his defence. For the first time we were made we are engaged.

aware of the merits of the Russian artillery. War having, on the 27th March, been de-Our own navy bear willing testimony to the clared against Russia, the allied fleets, already skill and courage with which the batteries in the Baltic and Black Seas, were free to were defended, and readily admit that the attack the enemy. The first act of hostility honours conferred upon the officers who comof any importance in which we engaged was manded in them were well bestowed. the ill-executed and useless bombardment of On the 12th of May the Tiger, whilst cruisOdessa. The reason assigned for this mea- ing off Odessa in a thick fog, grounded about sure was unnecessary and absurd. The firing four miles from the town. As soon as she upon a flag of truce, however gross the viola- was observed, the Russians opened a fire upon tion of the law of nations, was not needed as her with field guns. Her commander, Capan excuse or a justification for a well conducted tain Giffard, having been mortally wounded, attack upon so important a town. Had it the officers and crew surrendered themselves been so, we should have been engaged in an prisoners of war, no effort having, it seems, act of revenge, and not of war. Odessa is | been made to destroy the ship or to escape

in both a commercial and military depot—the her boats, although two English armed steamgreat storehouse of southern Russia." Its gra- ers were known to be near. Even the flags naries, which in time of peace supply half and ship's papers were allowed to fall into the Europe with corn, furnish in time of war the enemy's hands, and furnished him with the means of subsistence to vast armies.' As a first trophies of the war. There is reason to bestation, therefore, midway between the Prin- lieve that the heavy guns were subsequently cipalities and the southern Provinces of Rus- removed from the wreck and turned against sia, its destruction becomes almost a necessity us at Sebastopol. before military operations can with any pros- It would appear that up to this time the pect of speedy success be undertaken either | British Government had decided upon no de

might e

finite plan of operations, although they had ! his army to wage an unequal warfare on the despatched troops from this country to the Danube, whilst our own remained inactive at Mediterranean. They had neglected to obtain Gallipoli and Scutari; Ministers, therefore, any information as to the strength and posi- 1 yielding as usual to the popular feeling, detion of the Ottoman troops under Omar cided upon taking one more step in advance, Pasha; they remained in almost complete and our troops were ordered to Varna. Notignorance of the nature of the momentous withstanding repeated and most urgent restruggle then taking place on the frontiers of monstrances, every measure necessary to fit the Principalities. It was not until months our army for a campaign had been neglected. after hostilities had actually broken out be- On the arrival of our troops at Gallipoli it tween the Czar and the Porte, that Sir John was found that no preparation whatever had Burgoyne was sent to Bulgaria to report to been made for their reception. The want of the British Government upon the state of the boats for landing, of commissariat, and of Turkish

army. The condition of the Ottoman proper interpreters to communicate with the troops, so different from that of English sol- authorities and the inhabitants of the country, diers, and the numerical superiority of the caused great delays and embarrassment, which Russian forces, led him to anticipate not only were, it will be remembered, severely com

speedy fall of the fortresses on the Danube, mented upon in England. It might bave but the advance of the enemy upon Adrian- been hoped that the results of this culpable • ople. Convinced that Omar Pasha could not neglect would have proved a warning for the

meet the Russians in the field without running future; but so far from such having been the the almost inevitable risk of a defeat, which case, our army was hurried to Varna without

end in the total destruction of his army any better arrangements for its disembarkation and an uninterrupted march upon the capital, or its future employment. Ministers had been he not only advised the abandonment of the forewarned, that, owing to the presence of line of the Danube, but even expressed his two vast armies, the northern provinces of doubt as to the possibility of the Turkish Turkey in Europe were destitute of almost all commander being able to hold that of the necessary supplies, as well as of the means of Balkan. The danger appeared to him so im- transport absolutely required by an army minent that he recommended immediate mea- entering upon a campaign. The fatal nature of sures for the defence of Constantinople and the climate in the neighbourhood of Varna was the Dardanelles. He suggested for that pur- especially pointed out to them. The wooded pose a line of defences across the Tauric valleys and marshy lakes near the town are Chersonese. It was, we have reason to believe, the hotbeds of the most pernicious fevers; and the urgency of the danger to the Turkish it was foreseen that if the pestilence which capital, as represented by Sir John Burgoyne, then threatened Europe were unfortunately to which induced the Emperor of the French to fall upon the British army, it would on such send without delay a body of troops to Gal- a spot show itself with tenfold virulence. We lipoli.

have been credibly informed that before a Notwithstanding the anticipations of Sir position for encamping our troops was selected, John Burgoyne, founded, no doubt, upon an a German doctor, who had been long conaccurate estimate of the numbers and condi- nected with the Turkish quarantine establishtion of the Turkish troops, though not upon ments in Bulgaria, and was consequently well a sufficient knowledge of their peculiar cha- acquainted with the climate of most parts of racter, and of the qualities of their able com- that province, was requested to frame a sanimander, the fortresses and works on the tary map of the country. On this map,

whilst Danube were held with extraordinary courage many places were indicated as "très malsain, and determination, and the Russians were Devna and the neighbourhood of Varna were

attack upon
them.

denoted pestilentieux'! These localities were Up to this time we had merely thought of chosen for the encampments of our devoted guarding the capital against a coup-de-main; troops, who were landed without any means the possibility of a war, if we were to judge of transport to enable them, even if required, by their deeds, appears scarcely to bave been to move ten miles into the interior! contemplated by the Government; on the

It has been said that the presence of the contrary, they still acted as if they entertained | allied armies at Varna encouraged the Turks

their heroic defence of Silistria, and comdisplayed by the Ottoman troops at Kalafat, pelled the Russians to raise the siege; the Citate, Giurgero, and Silistria had excited moral effect of our presence thus avoiding general sympathy and admiration, and the the necessity of an advance. Admitting this people of this country began to perceive that assertion to be true, it is no justification of although making professions of alliance and the conduct of those who sent our troops friendship to the Sultan, we were permitting there with the express intention of giving

foiled in every

more than hopes of peace. But the courage / in med

effective aid to the Ottoman army, but with | French were ready and sailed_from Varna out the means of making a forward move two days before us.

With the Turkisb squament or of entering upon a campaign. The dron they were to await us off Cape Tarkan. sudden raising of the siege of Silistria, to In the meanwhile Sir Edmund Lyons, Lord whatever cause it may be attributed, was to Raglan, General Caprobert, and several of the us a matter of equal surprise and congratu- officers of the staff of each army, proceeded lation.

in the Agamemnon, the Samson, and Caradoc, The terrible history of the visitation of the to examine the western shores of the Crimea, cholera amongst our troops will be fresh in with a view to find a suitable spot for landing the memory of our readers. The British the allied armies. A previous survey had army had been reduced, not only by this been made of the same coast by a detachment scourge, but by a prolonged state of inactivity, of the British and French fleets. The enemy and by the enervating effects of the pestilent had observed from our movements that attenclimate of the valleys in which they were en- tion had been especially directed to the cainped, to a state of despondency-we might mouths of the Alma, Katsba, and Belbec almost write despair-which it would be diffi- rivers ; accordingly, the Terrible,' on revisitcult to describe. A regiment consisted of but ing the coast a short time after, found troops three or four hundred weak, sickly men. assembled and works commenced at all these Those who had been the strongest, tottered places. under the weight of their knapsacks. With: All idea of attempting a landing to the a sad countenance our soldiers wandered south of Sebastopol bad been abandoned, the through the silent camp, or sat listlessly precipitous nature of the southern coast forwatching the mournful processions which bidding any safe anchorage except in the never ceased moving towards the spreading small harbour of Balaklava, into which, if grave-yards.

Those who yet lingered on even weakly defended, it would be almost imprayed to be led, at whatever risk, against possible to force an entrance. The deep bays the

enemy, rather than be left to die an in- in Cape Chersonese were too near to Sebasglorious death.

topol. It remained, therefore, to find a suitaMinisters were pressed anew by the popular ble spot to the north of the town. clamour; they felt that another effort was In choosing a place for landing, two things necessary to save themselves from the result were essential—a low shelving beach, proof their uncertaiu and tardy policy. They tected as far as possible from the prevailing hastily, to judge again by their conduct, de- winds, and an adequate supply of fresh water, termined upon an expedition to the Crimea. not only at the point of disembarkation, but At length the orders to prepare for embarka- at regular intervals on the road to Sebastopol tion were communicated to the allied armies. for the troops during their projected march. The prospect of speedily facing the enemy The coast between Sebastopol and the small had the effect which might have been antici- stream of the Bulganac is formed by high pated on British troops. The general despond- cliffs of earth opening into narrow valleys ency was turned to hope. Men who had where the Belbec, Katsha, and Alma fall into been scarcely able to drag their weary limbs the sea. The mouths of these rivers would from tent to tent, gained almost instantaneous have afforded suitable landing places, but it strength, and the voice of merriment and the was of the utmost importance to disembark bustle of preparation were once more heard our troops——the greater part of which had not in a camp which for weeks had been sad and been under fire before-without exposing them silent as the grave.

to loss when unable to offer any resistance to It was not, however, until the 7th of Sep- the enemy. To the north of the Bulganac tember that the allied fleets sailed for the the undulating steppe subsides into a low Crimea. There had been numerous causes of champagne country. Here and there, as it delay. The means of embarkation and dis- approaches the coast, it falls even below the embarkation had not been provided. We level of the sea, which has encroached upon had deferred to the last moment the construc- the land during the tides caused by heavy tion of the proper boats for landing our artil- gales from the south, forming extensive lakes lery and cavalry. Through the exertions

Through the exertions of or lagunes, separated from the maiu by narSir Edmund Lyons, who proceeded to Con- row banks of sand and shingle thrown up by stantinople and personally superintended and the waves. A small bay, near one of these hastened the arrangements, the English troops lakes, about twenty miles to the south of Euwere at length enabled to embark-an ope- patoria, was chosen as the most favourable ration which was effected without accident spot for the disembarkation of the allied ar. through the admirable management of the mies. officers and seamen of the fleet. Owing, how- On the morning of the 11th of September ever, to some backwardness on our part, the the French and Turkish squadrons-twenty