The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 334, 12 January 1856, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday. January 0. .Vednesdav last was appoint by Ilis .^cellency and kc.pt by the people of this heMkment as a puolic Holiday, in celebration of the news of the Fail"of Ssbaslopo ana oi :? s occupation by the allied armies 1 .Oft such aa occasion *ye i\ iQ \ more than ev : er that we^-ea part of the Great British /•,„- ]>i.-e._ jhe anxiety with which news of Uh'•v..r is expected, and the enthusiasm with which any successes are greeted L v the

various colonies of England, atlbrd. the most gratifying proof of the unanimity and loyalty of the widely-scattered members of the British empire. The conquest of Sevastopol is no mere empty victory. Notwithstanding all the losses and hardships suffered by the allies ; and notwithstanding the despondency which at times led the English nation almost to despair of gaining their end ; the English and French armies have gained in one year's campaigning more solid success than is generally obtained after years of warfare. At the beginning of a serious war, we are not conversant enough with the necessary disasters and hardships consequent upon a campaign to allow for any delay or check in the victorious march of our armies. We know that none can excel our soldiers in valour ; we forget that other nations have generals of equal, if not greater, experience than our own. But after all, three pitched battles fought and won,—-the proudest fortress of Southern Russia destroyed although defended by the whole available resources of the Empire;—the Black Sea fleet of Russia totally destroyed;—her armies either in full retreat from the Crimea, or cut off by the allies ; the whole southern seaboard of the vast empire strictly blockaded ; —her commerce ruined ; —the victorious prestige of her name failing among her people and her soldiers ;—surely these are sufficient proofs of the energy and success of the allies in the Black Sea' both by sea and land. The gigantic efforts made in the Black Sea have not crippled the resources of the allies elsewhere. The Russian shores of the Baltic have been as closely blockaded as those of the Black Sea, and one of the chief fortresses of the Gulf of Finland has been laid in ashes. Even the White Sea has not escaped ; an English squadron watches the northern ports of Russia, and her possessions in the East have been evacuated in fear of the allied fleet cruising in those waters. Turn which way she will Russia has to confront a foe. The war is brought home to her own doors on all sides : and her resources are, according to many authentic accounts, already failing. There is no doubt but that the disaster which the Government can no longer conceal from the worn out people will have double effect in dispiriting those who believed that they were going on in one uninterrupted course of success : while, on the other hand, the malter-of-fact truthfulness of our General's despatches and the readiness of the English press to dilate upon and magnify every check in the progress of the allies, leaves no doubt upon the mind of the nation as to the truth of the advantages reported to them ; and the whole country appears eager to ursre on to the uttermost the prosecution of°a just and necessary war to a triumphant termination. What Russia may now do we cannot of course say; the next mail will probably bring us intelligence' of the fate of the Russian army. Looking, however, to antecedents, w e cannot think that Russia will yet accept such terms as the Allies will feel it their d-ity to offer. The Kuipire will require to be thoroughly humbled, before the safe'.y of the neighbouring- States and the balance of power in Europe can be looked on as secure.

We regret to have to record an accident to the steamer " Alma," while crossing the bar at Su/nner on Wednesday last. "The extuil of the damage we have not been able at present to ascertain.

Jlie remainder of Mack.-nzift's .sentence has been remitted by \lh Excellency Ui« Governor. \Va understand that his cas" was br-m^H before His Excellency by the bheriH wih a- recommendation to inorcv and that His li>:<.-eUer»cy look into consideru-

tion .Mackenzie's evident imperfect knowledge of the English language which may have operated to his prejudice at the t|viol, and also the fact that the long confineijhent to which he had been subjected and the prospect of a still longer imprisonment had had an injurous effect upon his health. We understand that Mackenzie has, since his liberation, paid his passage money to Melbourne.