MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 23 



union between science and commerce. The advantages to science in such 

 instances as that which has formed the special subject of our comments, 

 needs no further explanation. The advantages to commercial bodies, 

 though less obvious, are equally certain. It is no small matter that these 

 associations are enabled, without any offensive intrusion, to acquire the 

 character of patrons of science ; that the world is ready to acknowledge 

 itself their debtor for assistance not promised in their original constitution. 

 The exhibition of beneficial power without any prospect of immediate pecu- 

 niary advantage, removes the mercenary element which might seem to be 

 ingrafted in their original formation, and commerce thus acquires dignity 

 from its friendly union with science. Communicated by Prof. Airy, Astron- 

 omer Royal to the London Times. 



THE MILITARY RESOURCES OF FRANCE EMPLOYED IN THE 



RUSSIAN WAR. 



A French official document, of unusual interest, has recently been pub- 

 lished by Marshal Vaillant, the minister of war, giving a detailed account 

 of all the supplies furnished by France, in men and materials, for carrying on 

 the late war on the part of that nation with Russia. The following is the 

 substance of the facts presented, divested as much as possible, of abstract 

 numerical statements. The results furnish a most striking illustration of 

 the increased efficiency and power which a modern military force derives, 

 through its appropriation of the various improved processes which have been 

 primarily developed for the benefit of commerce and the industrial arts. 



The French draw a very useful line between the personel and the materiel 

 of an army, words which succinctly denote the men who are to serve, and 

 the supplies which render the service possible. We have no equally con- 

 venient terms in English. The statistics of the report in question, are di- 

 vided into four departments, the Personel, Materiel, Accessories and Trans- 

 port. 



Personel. France sent over, to engage in the war against Russia, 

 309,268 soldiers, and 41,974 horses, of which numbers about one sixth em- 

 barked from Algeria, and the rest from France. Of these, about 70,000 

 were killed, died, or returned missing on various accounts. There were 

 146,000 French soldiers in and near the Crimea on the day when the treaty 

 of peace was signed. Of the horses, 9,000 returned to France, and the 

 greater part of the balance were sold to the Turkish government. 



In three months, the large French army entirely left the Crimea, although 

 double that time was allowed bv the terms of the Treaty of Peace. 



r t/ 



Materiel. The munitions and supplies for two years and a half of sen-ice 

 for such an army, at such a distance, \vere necessarily vast comprising, as 

 they did, battle and siege weapons of all kinds ; the food, forage, clothing, 

 tents, and harness for horses and men ; the tools and implements required 

 for encamping, rather than for fighting ; and the ambulances, medicines, and 

 other requirements for the sick and the wounded. 



The great guns, howitzers, and mortars, were not less than 644 in num- 

 ber; besides 603 contributed by the marine, and 1-10 Turkish, of various 



