The Russian Government has declined to release Lieutenant Geneste and
his fellow prisoners, with what justice may be seen by the correspondence which has now been published. The ori- ginal account of the affair at Hango was founded mainly on the statement of the seaman Brown, which has since been proved to have been in several respects inaccurate. But although the Russian Government insists strongly on the disproof of Brown's assertions; it does not appear that the further evidence ad- duced demands any qualification of the language used in Eng- land when this massacre was first heard of. The statement of Lieutenant Geneste himself is now before the world, and every- where out of Russia it will carry conviction of its truth. It is net necessary to discuss whether that officer's conduct was in all respects minutely conformable to the laws of war. Even if it be admitted that his advance of fifty yards upon hostile ground Was not essential to the due performance of his mission, and there- fore could not properly be covered by the flag of truce, still such a momentary and trivial indiscretion cannot justify the butch- ery which followed it. Surely it was the part of humanity to Warn back the Lieutenant and his followers, or, at any rate, to show the superior force which lay in ambush all around, and thus secure a surrender without bloodshed. But no ! the Russians had set their hearts on carnage, and they took care to do nothing by which they might be disappointed of their prey. The innate barbarity of their race here burst, at an unguarded moment; through the thin external varnish by which it is usually concealed. The sol- diers at Itango were savages, and they did according to their kind ; mid it is the painful conviction of this truth that renders Prince Dollorouki so anxious to pervert and disguise the facts. From the Crimea the report is still that nothing has been done, but that some great operation may be expected shortly. From the Baltic we hear of the destruction, by Captain YelVerton, of buildings and military stores on the island of Kotka; bat' of the. main body of the fleet we only know that its movements appear to indicate an important purpose. The Queen's review of 3000 ser- lieeable Swiss and German soldiers at Shorneliffa is an encouraging event ; and it is spoken of in a tone quite opposite to that in which the Foreign legion was at first denounCed. In time this measure of the much-bused Administration of the Duke of Newcastle and
Sidney Herbert will supply for the war a numerous, brave, highly-disciplined, and, for some duties, incomparable force.
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