26 AUGUST 1854, Page 12

TO FIRE TILE TOWER GUNS. ,

TIAE capture of liomersund was announced to the inhabitants of the French capital by the „firing of 19,1 09, no firing of guns in the b)gliali capital ; andAtseilige,{Onen,hm,been noticed, as if it showed that the French C overnmeu; is rem heagtdy concerned in the war than the. English. Now we do sielt tee .tibat zeal for the success of 'firing guns at the Ilomarsund.Cortina* Baltic is proved by firing guns at nothing in London. The.snd4mi explosion of gunpowder without a definite object is no More,ap- propriate as a testimony of national triumph or joy than any defter which fools may make. The success was announced soon enough to the public ; it is good so far as it goes; but it is not enough for that public emotion which can 'alone Juitify the firing of guns. Anything of that sort is silly unless it be for a practical lair- pose ; and such an act can have but one purpose. When a great multitude has 'a common jay, or a common anxiety, there is a general desire to be sure that everybody is intent upon the object of thought at the same moment. When guns are fired, we all know that we are all thinking alike; and the strength of national purpose is increased by that satisfaction of a national' instinct. The taking of itomaisiind, however, was no sufficient occasion for that raising of the whole country,' and probably there Will be but

two or three occasions on which it will be appiOjiriate. • •

• First, the taking Of Sebastopol; which would be practically de- priving Russia of the keys of Turkey, and accomplishing the great act of justice for which the war was commenced. Secondly, the taking of Cronstadt or of St. Petersburg ; which would be to take the keys of our enemy's castle, in order that We 'might go in and teach bins his Place. Thirdly, the conclusion or peace, on 'terniii securing a material guarantee for a better observance of law and order than we have

had while Russia was at large. '