The Express. — London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

..... tiesof 110 . 1 = 111 . 1 can imiska to have M sok II NB It ypeater scale even wit Climatal; lad II mega be_ orld, therefore that in *is Tempest moIIIMI Irelleapalted. But the bon- and gallant smMMnias moms le Irma lbel Bawls hod is the Bailie 27 sell et Ills owl? or NI 114.11is e eel semasses and m o n wads in sharre ; sad X en bed set bad • powerful diet la MN Bolas we she'll lam had lhst Rue man feet sass lag the seem, crippliag ear ereamerce, and whir ria=robares ; and tbeselses it is unjust to illy Ms bus been does, when we have shut up rat naval force is its own ports during dies die of the season Is which it could peg te sea, Mel thereby saved this country from Ihe gent fammesaimmen which would have &Mtn from the romp of MSS mein of that first. With regard then be map milltei7 opoillises It is plain that if we wished M rig Russia be Memo it was accessary to strike • Mew elsewhere. Weald the boa. and palest gentleman have bad es seed an army bate the steppes of outral Rune, sad whisk would have peas wandering about here nog am when as blow could have bees strut& which would lave produced a decisive result ? We West have gained • victory in central Asia sad vet h sve bees no neater to • decisive result. Weft* a different course, and endeavourel to strike • blow where the null would have been greatest if we succeeded. We uedettnek this war to Mud Turkey against the agree- WA of Mini!. We did not make war. as has been said, bemuse we preferred Mussulmen t 3 Christie's. but because we 'visite,' to prevent the you regions of the Turkish em pire from falling:unlit the dominion of Russia. Where, thee, did the dale( danger lie? In the Black Sea. (Hear, hear.) It us manifest that Austria had such an interest in pro tinting Turkey from • formidable invasion by land, that we might safely have the defence of her land frontier to the, combined armies of Turkey (whose army, by the bye, aloes withstood the attacks of Russia for • whole year) and Austria. But it we. clear that the great power of Rives eseiset Turkey lay in Sebastopol. There she had • great Oust which gave bet every power in the Black Sea, and • great arsenal from which that feet could dart like lightning upon Constantinople. There wee con. isentrated the power of Russia in the Black Sea, sod there It was that something was vs be done, if we were to do anything. (Hear, hear) The difficulties have cer tainly been greater than was anticipated. (Hear, hear.) I will not enter now into • discussion es to whether or not thins difficulties have been i ted by want of proper sr rangemenqa or by bad management, but the house ought, I think, to show some indulgence towards the errors of men who had no experience of the duties they were suddenly • celled on to perform, and which ex perience would have enabled them to have discharged with greater success. It has been said that we have an academy where staff officers can learn their duty; but learning their duty at an academy, end learning their duty by actual practice in the field, are two very dif ferent things. (Hear, bur.) Foreign armies on the Con tinent Lays a great advantage over the army of England. The bulk of those armies are always in their own territory ; they are kept together in large bodies, and are engaged in large operations during the summer; and mimic war teaches theta practically the duties of • campaign. The tint time that our army has had such an ad vantage wee in small numbers at Chobham last year, and we ought not hutily to condemn men who having lever had an opportunity to practise there duties, were called on to perform them under circumstances of unparalleled difficulty. (Hear, hear.) So much for the policy of the government in the conduct of the war. I contend that if we had confined ourselves to a naval war it would have been of imperative inutility, while if we en gaged in military operations, those operations ought to have Men directed to the point, and the only point, when an effectual blow could be struck against the adversary with whom we are engaged. An ho nourable gentleman has made a suggestion which is well deserving of consideration. Ile his the hardship upon military officers returning to this country sufferieg from 'cued@ or infirmities contracted in the service, and who have net, as naval albums Mee, the advent's* of hos pitals to which they can be takes. Whether the go moots of the military authorities will admit of this sugges tion Wort carried out I canni.t say, but it is one d lag of considerstaioe. (Hear, hear.) My hen. friend behinu me reminds me that when a military officer is wounded in IMirlfiril, by the regulations he has given to him u a gratuity a year's pay, which is intended to afford him the means of obtaiaiag such medical uaistance as he ✓equires. The hon. member for Lambeth, as usual, has ondensud the custom of having household troops, and declares that there boo use in having • body of Gouda, who receive higher pay, and lisle greater privileges than the net of the army. Now, we are often told that we ought to imitate the system of foreign armies, and that our military operations have not been successful bemuse we hive not followed their 'amble. But if there is any arrangement in forties armies which prevails more than another, it is that there should be one corps which possesses greater pnvdeges than the rest of the army. So much so is that the case, that in the French army the Imperial Guard has been reorganised, and I had the satisfaction not long um of 'Meg 13,00 magnificent soldiers of the Imperial Guard in the gardens of the Tuileries. In the Russian, the PllllB4ao, and the French armies there is to be Sound • body of trove which correspond to oar Brigade of Guards. As to the manner in which dem troops of ours have done their duty— (loud cheers)--even one ksows wherever a desrerate resistance was to be made M the enemy, or a dangerous service to be perfumed, there yes were sure to fad a brigade of Guards. (Loud churl.) This beings me to the observations of my hon. friend be hind me with regard to the Household Cavalry, which be mys ase of so au, mad that they could not be employed is this war, became the men were toe teen and the horse, too unwieldy. Does my hon. friend knot Waterloo, and that thou 'magnificent troops, by the very weight and strength of the men and hones, orerbne eve Wing that was opposed to them at Waterloo —(bear, hea r -- sad that even in the Peninsula they were employed wit h gust sums. They have not been sent to the Crimea, Maus it is • distant place, and the eaters of the ground dm not require troops of that description. My he.. friend the member for Lambeth has also said that be le sorry not te see in the estimates any plus lee the consolidation of the different departments of the War-offiee. The feet is, that no consoli dation could prevent the keeping of • number of Seeks to take Mugs of the accounts of the army, 110 d no Gee has ever imagined that by placing all the departments ander the control of the Minister for War there would be no necessity for separate offices, although when the proposed establishment of the civil department of the army is com plete, each of the different offices, and the whole of them, will be placed under his control as a whole. The honourable sisembar for Inverness his said that we begs. this war without any land transport service. He is mistakes. We began the war, certainly, without • upstate corps for land transport; but the thane port service was placed under the commissariat. It was found, however, that these visa much inconvenience in the combination of two departments of • different nature, one of which was charged with procuring and cueing sup plies to the troops, and the other with transporting than. But we had 4,000 or 6,000 horse" sad mules at Varna, specially provided for the transport service of the army. It was not possible to carry them to the Crimea at the time the troops were sent, and from circumstances which arose they could net be sent afterwards. The arrangement we are now g is not the earning out for the first time of the means o proposin f land transport, bia4thoes means having before been under the commissariat, we pupae to transfer them to a separate establishment, whose Widen it will be to perform those services ; and we believe great advantages will be derived from the consolidation of these services in • particular department. An observation has also been made, sir, on the calamity which betel • number of horses who died for want of forage ' • and this has been ascribed to the neglect on the part of thine who ought to have provided it. The hon. gentleman, perhaps, was sot aware that, in the unfortunate hurricane in which the Prince was lost, we lost 20 days' forage for all the animals in the camp. In true ports wrecked in that storm we lost forage that would have supplied all the animals for 20 days. The loss war a levers nee; and for some time it was my &Senn to replace it. On account of the badness of the seeds, geseddilkeity was found in bringing up anything Irma tkoMdemlthearruseceas sequence of which was ' that whilst there wee of supplies in the port , those in the = l a t h s Vises Ibex were intended, suffered the greatest At vial Of them. I have been asked, sir, what pep= boasimads in raising a foreign corps ? In the slily god deo 1111111.111 we urged the necessity of poising • bill to etgawe is II raise foreign troops; and I especially antrea Pbe lame to consent to it, in order that we might, without loss of time, enlist these troops to go to the assistance of our own in the Crimea. It is perfectly true that we have not as yet succeeded is getting • single sea —and why ? (Hear, hear.) I must tell the house the truth, however unpleasant it may be. The reason why has been the language used. (Hear.) I am forced to my the language used in the debates in this and the other hose of parliament has created such feelings of resentment and indiination on the continent of Europe—(hear, hear) —that those persons who before had accepted letters of settee to raise men in Germany threw them up. (Hear) De titmice imposed on government of not giving half wkle tee Akers also tended greatly to impede us. I Le a m g Mist if • clause had not been inserted pro of half-pay to the officers—if language die aset kind—(hear, hear) —talking of the of Ilammu_ ry amp al ism and Germany, and arousing lie Motional Wks of the eminent against us, had not limmumd, no doubt at this time we would have bad a very di eat story to tell. (Hear.) It has not, however, altered ii.,___ka n , d do polled the continent towards our cause ; _•°M . ll . _. alekiiel Is right; we wish her to succeed; bat , '"c las lugs? bald towards other nationalithn, we moot take service. ' would not have made this statement, which mabe considered to convey a reproach on members of this the e th er house of parliament, but it is the true rases, mil Ism Isteed to tell it. The hon. member for Devoe =very natural question ; he said that we gave to non-commissioned officers, those commis- Illes fireelved coasidseable expense, and he asked whether parvisica cam made to enable thou gallant men to U test a r Us* moue attending their outfit? I fear be studied the estimates ; if he looks to pegs four, Mill find a sum of five thousand pounds proposed to be Irrespecially to enable thou tallest men to meet at ilk see. (Hear, hear.) As • proof that we are lVslWfal of the services of the son-commissioned mud those to whom commissions have not been ' r , then is • lees list of non-cosuaiselousd dicers e la whom good service gratuities for life are Seib be Rim, amounting to over two thousand in the same list with the good service pen- alliiiidicers. Goe hon. gentlemaa has sheaved that tin *Mien seat to hospital are, on account of the loss ef their knapsacks, frequently deprived of their halves and forks, sad other necessaries essential to their ocenfort. An order has been given to purchase at Mementos a large number of knives and forks for the hospital at Scutari, for the soldiers who come unprovided. The hon. member for Aylesbury sail it wag eseential • proper supply of tents should be pro vided far the army for the ensuing campaign. That has been duly attended to, and they will be furnished with tents of • sufficiently substantial damription ; notold teats, but new ones, perfectly fit for the MOOD. It is true, the French are provided with teats anti mow portable, yet I venture to say they are by no maim as well adapted to Protect the 'oldie's from the weather; they are conveaient for light 'trek*, easily menial, sad easily pat up; but but the Fir rich officers felt se Mosey their inferiority to our tents, that the Preaehassand seat to Franco for tents en our model, feeliag thatiffieyafforded • better protection in such weather as bistros's were exposed to. The hon. gentleman also made • mogestbm as to the supply of light cavalry. It is perfectly Ise that if a supply of light ca valry could be obtained boa Alia Minor, it would be better to go there than to brim them from India, from whence the expense and difficulties of transport are so great. And after all, cavalry, p• -haps, might not be so well adapted to service as • boi.y raised in • neighbouring country, and accustomed to the character of the (*entry. A suggestion was made, that we ought to bring distinguis' led °Meta like Major Outram or Major Edwards§ from India. My right hon. friend the President of the Board of Control would have • word to say to that. India must be protected as well as Sebastopol attacked. These officers occupy posts of great importance in India. The Governor- General would not like the government at home to deprive him of able officers on whose abilities he could count if cir cumstances arose which required India to be defended as well as the Crimea to be invaded. I need not point out to the house that many circumstances might arise in which it would be necessary for the Governor-General to employ mean§ to defend our frontiers in that quarter. The bon. member for East Surrey (Mr. Drummond) wished to know what better arrangements would be established by sending and distributing clothing to our troops la the Crimea. That is • subject to which the government felt it their duty to give their earliest attention. We know the great import ance not only of sending out—for abundance of everything was sent—but it is fully as important to make arrangements by which the things when sent out may reach the men or hurries for which they are intended. That is where the defection has existed; for as mach ammunition, forage, and everything necessary was despatched from this country as could possibly be required. It will be found, when the subject is looked into, that there was never sent from this country so large a force in so short a time so win equipped, and so wall provided with everything necessity for the comfort of the 1 officers and men, and the purposes of the service for which they were destined, as the army that left this coun try in the course of the year that has just closed. The defection arose in the want of arrangement for their receiving what was sent for them. There was, I think, sir, great truth and farce in an obi ion made by the member for North Warwickshire (Mr. New degate), in answer to the attacks made on the aristocracy— in that I auppoeis we must include the gentry—(hear, hear) —it includes the nobility mid gentry—in answer to the charge that the army would not have been so unfortunate if the great number of high officers bad not been belonging to the aristocracy. He made an admirably reply. There where the system has broken down, there were evils have arisen from want of capacity, want of energy, want of intellect and vigour for the performance of duties, it was in those departments where the gentry were not, the noblemen ware not, but which were filled by persons belonging to the other classes of the community, the commissariat, the medical, end transport services. The honourable member expressed • hope that the new clothing would be provided in time for the ensuing campaign. I can assure him that meets will be taken to ensues the effectual despatch of clothes of the proper kind in proper time. I think these are all the observations that have Isis made. No one dis putes the importance of having a lop awl effective army— no one raised objections to the almonat of force, but only wished it effective. I trust that begone this and the opening of the next campaign govennust will have bees able to organise a sufficient army of nerve to enable it to bring into the fi eld an army sufficient to cope with any difficulties it may have to contend with. I am perfectly 'abetted that army will vindicate the honour and maintain the Interests of their country, if It should be necessary to continue the war. The experience of the last few months will enable as to correct errors which have been com mitted • and, by re -arranging and re-organising the different arms of the minute, bring into the field, an army which the country may well be proud of, and whose services will deserve the thanks and acknowledgments of this house. (" Hear," end cheers.) Colonel SIBTRORP expressed his disapprobation of a noble lord whose political elsmeter halbsteld have thought bad been sufficiently essessesil Wag oat to Vienna to patch up a pesos, of whisk he bed suassly say hope that it would be one at all creditable to thiessissifq. If that noble lord should return, he (Colonel fliblbseg) begat to God he would take any part in polities% lib eenatry again. (A laugh.) The gallant colonel then bon le praise the laamiashire Militia Regiment, to whirl be belonged, and avowed hie loyal resolution to exert hisssidf la defence of the throne, laws, and religion of this realm The vote having been agreed to, tegeiber with the fol lowing vote of 7,000,0001. for the pay of tbe troops, further discussion was postponed, and the chairman (at 20 minutes put 1 o'clock) ordered to report proper. NEWSPAPER, ate., POSTAGE AND STAMP DUTIES. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved in eemmittee the following resolutions That It is expedient to Pepsi the exemptieet of newspapers from postage duty ; it=t7e on newspapers and printed books and papers by gest MN Of postage not 'residing one gamy he wiry Nor maws in weight, and for any fru itiest' pert of fOtt SOWS j that it is expedient to alter and amend the laws relating to the stamp duties on news men. the printing and publishing of newspapers, and and giving securities in connexion therewith, miir4ll regulation of the duties of postage on printed I Vlcsolutions were speed to without remark. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1855. upon them will be much better employed It the present time on Election Committees. Let all the earnest and sensible men who are anxious to see a new spirit breathed into our administrative Go- vernment, combine in their respective localities to promote the interests of able and trustworthy candi dates for seats in Parliament. The men who are most wanted at the moment are those of the LINDSAY and PETO clue, whose competency Government has reluctantly recognised by in yoking their aid for the construction of rail ways, and for the expediting of transports. There are amongst us many who are familiar with the organisation of labour on a large scale—many who have practically teamed the art of finance in great combinations of capital. It is alleged that these men have not leisure to attend to the affairs of the State. This is a mistake. The landed aristocracy are not singular in belonging to "families." Our ' merchant and manufacturer princes have " families" also, one or more members of which can be spared for the service of the State, while the others continue to manage those enterprises, which are as valuable and as enduring properties as the broad acres of any family that dates from before the CONQUEROR. And these Industrial magnates have cultivated their minds at least as much as the aristocracy. There are libraries, the properties of private individuals, in the manu facturing districts, which would put to the blush the collections of the aristocracy. Ask our painters who are their best customers? There ON in the great industrial middle-class robust and cultivated minds, who have hitherto wasted their time in scribbling for reviews and local papers; or in acting on election committees of men infinitely less capable and reliable than themselves ; or in cramming poor creatures who occupy seats is the House of Commons to make a show in some impor tant debate. At a crisis like the present it is the duty of such men to come forward, toes into some lumber room the puppets whose strings they have contented themselves with drawing, and take upon themselves the honour and responsibility of serving the country. Unless such men come forward to assert the rights of themselves and their class, there is not the remotest chance of an infusion of new blood into the adminis trative ranks. The old stagers confess this them selves. They complain that all our prominent states men grow old, and that no younger generation is rising up to take their place. This deficiency of official aptitude in the young of their class they attri bute to the loss of the nomination boroughs. They say that when peers or wealthy landowneis had such bo roughs at their disposal, they sought out young men of talent to fill them, and that thus reserves of prac tised statesmen were formed in anticipation of emer gencies. But what kind of men did these borough proprietors select? There was the father of the present Marquis of LANSDOWNE—one of the least prejudiced of his class. In filling up ono of his boroughs, he had a choice between BENTHAM (BENTHAM in all the full-fledged vigour of manhood, before exclusion from active life and repeated disappointments had rendered him crotchetty and eccentric) and a man like BARRE.. And Lord SHELBURNE preferred the glib.tongued jobber to the man of the most powerful, the most comprehensive, the meet practical intellect of his day. Such were the fruits of the nomination borough system; such were the "statesmen" it produced. But even had the system been better, it has passed away, as all things earthly must pus away in turn. The country can no more revert to nomination boroughs than the mature man can resume the cha racteristics of boyhood. We must acquiesce in the necessity of our position, and work as we best may with the materials placed at our disposal. Aid this can only be by our best men laying aside their overweening fastidiousness, and asserting their claims to popular confidence; by the electors recol lecting that the choice of a member of Parliament is at least as important a matter as the choice of book-keeper or clerk; and by the hereditary holders of high offices in the State accepting, on a footing of perfect equality, the co-operation of the able and judicious, though plebeian, representatives of the people.—Daily News. SUPPLY-REPORT. Mr. BOUVERFE brought ap thra rrport on the voter pawed on Friday. Agreed to. MARINE FORCES. Leave was given to bring is a bill for the regulation of her Majesty's marine foram CoNIOLIDATID FUND _(8,000,0001.) BILL. This bill was read a mond ties& INTRAMURAL BURIALS (IRELAND) Re. Sir 3. YOUNG obtaiseel leave to bring in a bill on this subject; also ono to amend the Welt poor laws. PRIVATE BILLS. Mr. SOTHEROir;;veltEatiltriCard of Trade sltoild present to the house a report on private bills for harbours, dm., the same as with respect to railway talc—Agreed to The holies adjourned at 20 minutes to 2 o'clock. ARMY CLOTHING AT THE CALIISA.—On Thursday Bereeford is to more is the Route of Comnone, for • seam chewing the number sad description of articles of Maim supplied by the government Knee the let of Oelgher,lB64, for the troops serving inns Crimea ; by what degettment sestracted for ; the pries of each article ; how eseplllK, by pablie tender or otherwise ; the name. of the peaks supplying the urns, whether completed within the ens time or not; if not, whether the lucid Ike for new pedmaumee or delay hasimen EXTENSION OF THE TIME OP SERVICE IN THE Azxv.—The sat, brought in by the present government, to amend the act for limiting the time of service in the army, has been printed. It provides that after the peeing sf the act any person may be enlisted to serve her Majeety, sr Is the forces of the But India Company, for any nth term, not exceeding ten years in the infantry or 12 years in the cavalry or artillery, or other ordnance corps, se may be pre. scribed by her Majesty in Council; and say soldier may remigap for snob tens as may se be authorised, provided the teem for whisk be le so engaged with the tans of hie nevi* under his int enlitnient, do tot exceed the period et 21 yens in the infantry as artillery, or other ordnance saps, or 24 years in the cavalry. THE MEDICAL COMMISSION POE THE EABT.—Dr. Sutherland (sot Dr. Southwood Smith, as stated yesterday by the Times), and Dr. Gavin, proceed on Thursday next, via Marseilles to the East, being the two medical unfair grs one appoi nted—the former to superintend the sanitary arrangements at Balaclava, the latter at &start. They will be assompaided by the third commissioner, Mr. Robert Rawlinem, civil engineer, long associated with the late Board of Health, sad known by hie elaborate reports on the hygienic eesilition of many of the principal towns in Fair land. The sphere of his duties will extend over the whole area of our firendras. including Smyrna se well u Con stantinople and the Crimea ; and he will chiefly devote himself to the segadeation of the labour which his brother sesiadeelesen will require in the hos pital, sad elsewhere, as well also as to the supervision of everything connected with what may be celled the ley sr seneedieal services of the oosantiseiesers. Mr. Rawlins. wM take with him as his secretary Mr. Taylor, • minor brother of Mr. Ton Taylor. The expo. Ste entlinities of Liverpool have readily consented to place M the titassel of the commission a large portion of their waiter/ MA including the officer charged with the removal st Weems, is that town, so that a brigade of skilled ece omen end the nenseary apparatus under kis control may OM be expected to be at work wherever needed, whether Is the imp, the harbour, or the vicinage of the hospitals. Reis Admiral Clads, C. 8., Rear Admiral Plum ridge, and Rear Admiral Eden had interviews with the First Lord yesterday, at the Admiralty. The new Transport Board will be esesposed of a naval officer ms chairman, and • mesehees mp a radonsa se army officer as commissioners. CapiekLesei who last twenty years has been at the Ina Ike swine, and Commander Gilmore, on mid 11) as= for the position of *grata. ;he 4ExVre%L. Morticing's!' iniondoTair• 7 ll;l.Rproia --- "l:libici Evening pow, mac be of tie Moo. 10, Bouverinotraa. b 7 Two *bank oa the asy of publication. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam Ette—lAtentag. 4h. Se Afternoon. eh. Stet. To-nossow—MonnAg. Sh. Mt Afternoon, .412. »• LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20. LATEST NEWS FROM ABROAD A RUSSIAN FORCED LOAN. (BY INTW(ATJONAL TILIGIAPH.) WARSAW, Fin. 17. An imperial nkate has appeared, decreeing a forced loan. All lauded property is to pay fifteen silver roubles per acre. Fresh contributions of provisions are also ordered, four times larger than ,at first. —Daily News. The Mon ii 4 sir of yesterday sontains the following : CONSTANTINOPLE, Fan. 8. The news from the Crimea is highly satisfactory. The weather continued favourable. The Bier, works were nearly finished, and it was positively asoer tamed that the number of the reinforcements received by the enemy had been greatly exag gerated. The fine weather here continues; the winds are southerly and all the vessels. that were in the Darda nelles are coming up. The Breslaw and Inflexible have arrived here from Algiers, after a passage of eleven days. The Louis XIV., coming from Toulon, was two day. before them. The temperature is ex ceedingly mild.—Daily News. 1 VABNA, Fsa. 12. Ismail Puha leaves today for the Crimea with a contingent of Ottoman troops. The Russians have tried in vain to disturb the Allies at Eupatoria. The position of the Turks is made stronger every day.—Daily News. Zbe Court. The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Princes. Alia, doors out in a sledge yesterday morning. The Hon. Mary Seymour, the Hon. Matilda Paget, and Lord Alfred Paget followed in a second sledge. Captain the Hon. D. de Hoe attended on horseback. Prince Albert visited the Wellington Barracks yesterday for the purpose of seeing some of the wounded men of the Grenadier Guards, of which regiment his Royal Biennials colonel, lately returned from the Crimea. The Prince afterwards presided at a meeting of the Royal Commission of the Patriotic Punt, held in the Palace at Westminster. His Royal Highness, attended by his Equerry in Waiting, arrived at three o'clock. The other commissioners propene were Earl Grey, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Hardwick., Lord Seymour, Lord Colchester. Lord Seaton, Lord St. Leopards, the Right Hon. H. Lowry Corp, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, the Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, Bir Hew D. Reel, Mr. J. Ball, M.P., Mr. T. Basing, M.P., Mr. Hubbard, and Mr. Boyle Roche. Captain B. G. Fishboume, R.N., and Captain I. H. Lefroy, R.A., secretaries, attended. The meeting broke up at 20 minutes before 6 o'clock. A report will be shortly prepared for publication. The Queen bad a dinner party in the evening. The company included Prince Nicholas of Nassau, the Portu guese Minister (Count de Lavradio), Earl Grey, Lady Caro line Barrington, Viscount and Viscountess Canning, Lord and Lady Wodehoutr, Lord Staten, and Lord George Lennox. The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance is the Palace during dinner. Despatches for the Governors of Ceylon and Hong Kong were sent lutsvening front the Colonial-office. Despatches were received yesterday from the Governon of the West India colonies. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. Present, the Lord President, the Dan of the Arches Court, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, Sir J. Pattoon, and Sir E. Ryan. A petition from New South Wales, " Otto Baldwin," for leave to appeal, and a peti- tion from Bengal, "Oungadhar Seal v. Jeddesiony Dowse," to extend time for appeal. Were disposed of. An appeal from the Admiralty Court, " Shuichi v. Otter " (theOskee), was commenced. LENT PREACHERS The following is a list of divines appointed to preach before her ldajesty in the ensuing season of Lent: Feb. 21. AshWedneeday Dun of the Chapel, Lord Bishop of London. 23. Friday 26. Sunday Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. 28. Wednesday March Y. Friday Ray. Dr. Wellesley. 4. Sunday Lord Bishop of Salisbury. 7. Wednesday 0: Friday - Dean of Lincoln, Dr. Ward. 11. Sunday Lord Bishop of Carlisle. 14. Wednesday 16. Friday 18. Saaday Lord Bishop of Ripon. 21. Wednesday 23. Fridwy 26. SuMsy Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. 28 . Wawlioday 30. F April 1. Pallinaday 4. Wellesday 6. Good Friday.... Dean of Lichfield. Hon. and Rev. Dr. Howard. IL 3111at-Dav . Lord Almoner. BitkAULBANE, Lord Chamberlain. Siaohn Forbes has resigned the appointment to the civil hospital •t Smythe. THE WANT OF NEW MEN. Ma. COP POCK'S visits to the Treasury have of late been suspiciously frequent ; and his appearance there is u ominous of election storms u the appearance Of the petrel at sea is of physical storms. A dissolution in the midst of a war, which his been so mismanaged that every nerve must be strained to set the nation right again in the eyes of the world, appears indeed sufficiently incredible. Yet the temper of the old Parliament has become so moody and wayward that Lord P.u.staasToN may find it necessary to try his chance with a new one. Besides, Lord PALMERSTON can imarcely be said to have a personal following in the existing House of Commons, and a general elec tion whilst he is Premier will be pretty sure to give him one. The likelihood of an early dissolution is suffi ciently strong to make it incumbent on the indepen dent liberals throughout the country to be on the alert. It is better to incur a little extra trouble even with the risk of its being thrown away, than to be caught napping. Upon the character and composition of the next House of Commons may depend the future fate of England. We yesterday endeavoured to show that the capabilities of the Reform Act of 1831, for good, have not yet been completely realised, because our administrative Government has not yet been adapted to the change in the political circumstances of the country wrought by that measure. We may now add that the electoral body have not yet availed themselves of the power placed in their hands by the Reform Act to mead a better clam of members to Parliament. For this the con stituencies are not exclusively to blame. It is true that, with every disposition to promote measures that may put a check upon corruption and other abuses at elections, one is at times tempted to get impatient at the "petitionary vehemence" with which electors implore the Legislature to make them virtuous by act of parliament. If the electors are sincere in their professions of desire to put an end to corruption and intimidation, and otherelectoral abuses, cannot they of themselves give up these bad practices, even though there be no effective law to prevent them ? Still the great obstacle in the way of returning proper members to the Home of Commons is the ' want of proper candidates. How are the electors to know who are the men able and willing to serve them well, if these men do not come forward to offer their services ? There are many able men among us, ambitions of entering upon a Parliamentary career, who fastidiously hang back, under an impression that their services ought to be courted. If they persist in hiding their light under a bushel, how are men to know that it is there? It is true that there is something disagree able to a high-minded man in being obliged to come forward to sue for leave to serve his country, and to advertise his own good qualities. There is something disagreeable in having to compete with quacks or jobbers. But this is one of the necessities of eleo torsi government—one of the disagreeables by which we purchase its benefits. If the right men do not offer themselves, the electors must of necessity put up with the next best—or even with worse. Self assertion is the duty of able and honest men in popular governments. We hear frequent sneers at the composition of vestries, and even of the House of Commons ; but these sneers come with a bad grace from the men who, by superciliously stand iog aloof, leave the people no better choioe. When the right men present themselves—men who with principle and information combine courage and activity—they have uniformly been preferred. And when the people get hold of such a mao, they cling to him through good report and bad report. _ _ We hear from various quarters proposals for Associations ; the House of Commons may be made the best Association for amending the faults of oar Executive. Associations are only, in the far greater number of instances, mere pretexts for finding jobs for a numerous paid staff. The labour and skin in organisation so often wasted THE WAR. The Post Post Gazette of Frankfort publishes a letter from Poem (misdated) Feb. 17, in which we read, "The rumour runs in military circles that orders to assume the offensive have been received from St Petersburg. However this may be, the army of Poland has again been set in motion within the last few days, and the troops previously withdrawn from the frontiers of Galicia are again marching towards the south. The main army seems es if it were about to take up its position on the right bank of the Vis tula, along the frontiers of Gallicia and the Buko wine. On this side there will only remain a corps of 30,000 men at the central point of Czentochau." Letters from Constantinople, of the Bth, reached London last night at a late hoar. Our own cor respondence from the Crimea is by some accident delayed. We learn, however, from private letters, that on the sth the weather was still very fine, and the situation of the troops, in respect of food, cloth ing, and shelter, was much improved. General Osten-Sacken had attacked the position of our Turkish allies at Eupatoria, but without success. We yesterday published some particulars respect ing the new military convention with the Porte, under which a force is to be raised by the British government in Turkey. It will be seen by our report of last night's proceedings iu the House of Lords that the convention is not yet ratified. The want of this formality, however, will not delay the execution of the measure ; and Col. Mundy, we are informed, is receiving at the War Department the names of officers desirous of serving in the new corps. Our Paris contemporaries are just now publishing letters from the French camp, the writers of which bear very high testimony to the valour, patience, and good conduct of the Turkish common soldier. Gen. Canrobert, it is stated, holds their military qualities in high esteem, and has written an official letter to Osman Pacha to that effect. This praise is not given in ignorance. There are eight Turkish battalions serving with the French: viz., three at the defile of Balakrava, three at Kherson, and cwo in front of Gen. Canrobert's headquarters. Unofficial intelligence from the Russian positions in the Crimea seldom reaches the west. The Vienna and Berlin papers, nevertheless, favoured by the set tlement of Germans in Russia, are occasionally able to publish a letter, throwing light upon the situation of the enemy. The Oat Deutsche Post of Vienna publishes two such communications. The first, from St. Petersburg, is to the following effect : Tho situation of the allied armies in the Crimea is not so , bad as the Eosin's journals affirm. Their effective amounts to 120,000 men—French, Foglia), and Turks. The vic tualling of this force becomes easier every day. The French in particular, who form the most numerous portion of the army, are amply provisioned in every respect. The allies have collected in ,the Crimea the finest war risaft , risi ever seen. This is the reason why we at St. Petersburg are so anxious about the fate of Sebastopol, notwithstanding the confidence so ostentatiously displayed. The Emperor is much irritated against the officers of the staff, who de clared last year that the disembarkation of more than 40,000 men in the Crimea was impossible ; sad hence it was deemed sufficient to augment the army by a third. It has been raised to 100,000 men now, aad possesses an excellent body of cavalry ; but a large portion of the latter has been necessarily withdrawn, on account et the scarcity of fodder and the great difficulties in the way of the commiseariat— difficulties which prevent a larger number of troops being seat thither. From Simpheropol to Sebastopol the way lies across salt steppes devoid of vegetation, and you are obliged to carry water with you for man and beast. Nearly 7,000 draught horses have already died along that route, end they now use oxen instead. It is, therefore, impos sible to support an army in the Crimes, unless one has tins sea ; and if the allies succeed in cutting off the commu nications of the Russian army by land, albeit for a very short period, the fate of Sebastopol will be soon decided. They are making unheard-off efforts for the spring cam paign, and every day we expect extraordinary measures. No one desires a peace prejudicial to Russia, and more especially because the war is considered over all the empire as a holy one. They will cheerfully give up to Austri► the protectorate of the Principalities, because they feel sure of getting it back again before long, provided Russia's power remain intact. We consider the free navigation of the Danube a mere verbal order, with whioh Russia will wil. Tingly comply. The main point is Ms domination of Me Black Sea. 'lids domination was the first cause of the war, and it will be defended to the very last. The Black Sea lost, all is loot ; but the Black Sea saved, all is saved. Such is the rallying cry of Russian policy. The Oat. Deutsche Zeitung publishes an Odes letter with news from Sebastopol, which, although only of the 23rd ult., is interesting on account el l its source. On the 22nd the Russian generals bald a council of war, at which General Osten.Sacksais proposition for keeping on the defensive met with the :opposition. He • ' that it -- to warmest, , urged . was DIM advantageous to remain on the defensive, since the allies were so strongly intrenched as to render a suc cessful attack almost impossible, and that they would be therefore forced to take the offensive themselves. Admiral Stansikovitch now commands in Sebastopol. The frost has carried off a great many victims. It is stated that sixty men, of the Greek-Sclavonic volunteer legion, had been frozen to death while on the much to Perekop, and the Ist brigade of the Grenadier Guards, which were also marching to Nicolalef, and which are to be at Sebastopol by the end of the month, have also met with heavy loss. They complain a good deal at Sebastopol of the way in which the troops are lodged. Although it had been long known beforehand what number of troops would arrive, they nevertheless neglected to make due preparations, and whole regiments are obliged in consequence to bivonack in the open air during the present temperature. THE CZAR'S Waiting the text of the manifesto of which we published an analysis in yesterday's Express, letters from Vienna speak of explanations alleged to have been made respecting it by Prince Gortchakoff. The prince has had interviews on the subject with Count Baol and Count Arnim, and has assured them, it is said, that the measure does not partake of the character of a menace, but is simply an act of self defence, rendered necessary by the constantly extend ing coalition which the Western Powers seek to form in Europe against Russia. A ukase hu been published at Bt. Petersburg, which suspends the action of the civil code, as far as regards the army and navy, and even the civil employh attached thereto, until the war is at an end. The Gazette de &leaie speaks of a coming circular from M. de Nemelrode, in which "the Russian cabinet makes known the resolve of the Czar to continue the preparations for war with all possible energy, but, at the same time, to show himself disposed to peace, if, in the projected conference at Vienna, a settlement honourable to Russia is proposed." GENERAL ORDERS IN THE BRITISH ARMY AT TEE CRIMEA. _, The following are given in the Crimean correspon dence of the Port: I. ORNERAL ORDER. " With the view to relieve commanding officers and others from the business of the savings bank, without in any degree depriving the soldiers of the advantage of depositing their savings at interest, the Commander of the Forces, with the concurrence of the Secretary at Wu, directs the temporary suspension of the savings bank regulations from the 31st March, 1865. " Commanding officers will cause all savings bank docu meats to be forwarded immediately after the 31st March to the officers commanding the depots at home, and report to the Secretary at War when this shall have been done. " All moneys actually deposited will continue to bear the usual interest, and instructions will be tent by the Secre tary at War to officers commanding regiments as to the manner in which soldiers' remittances from abroad shall be made through the regimental pay li,ta to the savings bank at the depot: "A correct list of the Dakar.% due to depositors on the day of suspension is to be re .ained by the commanding of ficer, who is at liberty v., sanction, in special oases, the w ith drawal of sums ''Await up to. thatidate. taking the soldier's receipt in dur.ticate, one to be retained, and one V; be forwarded to the ',repot. " • statement rit casualties amongst depositor' nteht be! forwarded mor,thly to the depot. "The tutus of the sergeant', corporals, and privet& soldiers reeoramended for gratuities for gallant conduct in the field, under the royal warrant of 4th Dumber, 1864, will be forwarded to the depot : with direction" that the al amounts shall be credited in their account in Ags gs saviogs bank, and bear interest until the men are ai -1 charged." Chief, rb d , a ir y , : be 1, 1 a , m .:, r d , es q ittveadtebdy theto i Secre t ssuo ~,,, I :; iw r the la i: L fo o r r m d a s ti c o o n ni o ro f i t u h i e on G es e ' nVioefr:rhl:Cr ffioumeeimj'eajonts;il;:airt. the ry naetceWstaaryt °that:Cull:mat sewn such non-committioutd th the army in the Ent, to the authorities At the Mint for the immediate prepareion of the medal which Sr P.:entity bat herngraeioinly pleased to command shall be 0°64:7 0 ( 3 is way be recommended u oLc e e r re p a ie n l d d. so m l i d n ie b n o for this distinction, and that, when emnpleted, thu medals ge Lo rv id n t 1,4;1an , may be supplied upon requisition of the Cl+seral Command. in Chief. "lam to add, that Mr. Sydney Herbert hes requested that the medal shall be similar to that now grntetl. to soldicrs as a reward for good conduct, with the exception that, in lien of the inscription, ' For long service and good conduct,' which now appears thereon, the words, 'For dig. tieguished conduct in the field' may be substituted; and, farther, that, with a view of remedying the defect which now exists in the shank by which the existing modal; are attached to the ribbon by which they are Bul -1 pended, ie all future issues the shank may he formed of silver, rounded, and et greater strength, so le I.) guard against the probability of a loss of the medal, either by breaking, or cutting through the ribboa to which it iv at tached.—l am, 6:1., (Signed) "B. IiAWEi. " The Adjutant-General of the Forces, Horse Guards." MEDICAL RELIEF FOR THE ARMY.-CIR CULAR FROG[ THE WAR DEPARTMENT. The following circular has been addressed to the Governors of the principal hospitals and dispensaries War Department, Feb. 17. Gentlemen,—l am desired by Lord Panmure to request your immediate and earnest consideration of a subjsct which at this mment engages his lordship's most anxious atten tion—namely, the best means of rendering the vast profes sional resources of Great Britain, and snore particularly of the metropolis, available for the medical relief of the British army at the seat of war. Lord Panmure is well aware that members of the medical profession, over, forward in a CMG of humanity, no lees than of patriotism, would not be wanting to respond to any appeal which might be addreued to them by the government, bet his lordship is of ,opinioa that the present necessities of the army call for medical as sistance of an order which can only be insured by Selection from individuals who have already given proof of their poi , session of the requisite skill, and whose antecedents guaran tee their experience ; such individuals must be looked for first in the medical - •'• • - - boepitala. " I am directed by Lord Pacmure to request your al4 and concurrence in his organisation of a special civil medical staff to assist the military medical staff of the army at the east of war. His lordship consider, that this could be best effected by your selection of two or more medical gi ntle men for the posts of physician and surgeon, of four or more other gentlemen of a junior standing as assistant physi cians and surgeons, and of such proportion of advanced medical pupils as you may deem necessary to perform the duty of dressers ; but his lordship considers that such an arrangement will fail to secure, the services of the most highly qualified of your officers unless you can at the same time, by an internal and private arrangement of your esta blishment, protect the gentlemen selscted from &permanent professional lose resulting from their humans exertions. This can probably be effected only by declaring that such offices as may be held by gentlemen volunteering to proceed to the seat of war on temporary furloughs from the esta blishments to which they belong shall not be declared vacant daring their absence ; but that their duties shall be provi sionally performed by other gentlemen especially appointed far the purpose, and that they shall be reinstated in such offices on their return. " The remuneration which Lord Nomura would prom's for these officers would be that already fixed for the civil medical officers at Smyrna, which are es follow—via., phy elite! 6 a sne ditto. d a B u r u g t e h o s 1 ,2 , d l. , h 2 i p s . w l e l r d be ready;icm t assistant i e d r i & U tl e y , s in u s g u ge u s e t t i e o d ns to you ad m d a t y ha d t es t i o re m to ee m t a th k e e o c n ue th o a f t h ge e n ad, tle an me d lam nwho may give up private practice to proceed to the East, it is his lordship's intention to propose that the salary to be paid by the government shall be continued for one year from ' the termination of the engagement, which it is hoped will enable those who may find their private practice wholly or p h t p o se be be ar fo w re it t h he le y ss ca in n co r n e v co e : reco ver a t i ly .. P t a h " : i d ate in r to val o t t h h a e t r h m l m a yd. - ----- of the great metropolitan Lord Panmure proposes that tho hospitals to be con ducted by the civil staff shall be Si much as poexible distinct from and apart from those in charge of the military staff; nevertheless, he proposes to give local medical rank to the gentlemen so engaged. Lard Palmer. is well aware that in the psesent in fected state of the great hospital at Scutari a local removal of the sick is greatly to be wished. This subject presents many practical difficulties, but his attention has been given to the means of overcoming them; and he trusts that the infection in question wiU not remain to augment the diffi culty of the duty." FRANCE. (PLOY SHY CODZYSPONDYNT OF TED DAILY NIBS.) PARIS, MONDAY EVINING. It is the almost universal belief to-day that the Emperor is really going to the Crimea. Thursday, the 22nd, is positively mentioned as the day fixed for his departure. The only private information I have received on the subject, bey osd the details which I gave you yesterday, is that eo lately as Saturday last several ladies of honour received an intimation that they might be expected to accompany the Em press to Constantinople, and they were re quested to say whether the state of their health or any other private reason would be likely to prevent them from undertaking such a journey. Thus it is con firmed that, should the expedition take place, her Majesty will accompany the Emperor as far on his way as the Turkish capital. The single allusion to the matter hitherto ventured upon by the Parisian press is contained in the Press., of this evening, which says, in its Bourse article—alluding to a recovery of in Coneola this day, after a fall of i—" The London speculators still regarded as altogether improbable the news which so greatly affected the Paris Bourse last week, and which has again influenced quotations to-day." General Niel returned from the Crimea yesterday afternoon at two o'clock, and bad a private interview with the Emperor almost immediately. His return was one of the events which his Majesty awaited before making his final decision, and it is thought that the result of the conversation with the General has been to strengthen Louis Napoleon's original de termination. The article in Saturday's Moniteur, which I represented as mysterious and manifestly in complete, is now understood to be a preface to the official announcement of the departure. It is sug gested—and the suggestion seems to me probable— that the various statements in that article referring to the condition of the country, and the disposition of the people, were intended as refutations of the arguments pat forth by the Emperor's iriends and advisers, with a view to dissuade him from his pro ject. Several political arrests have been made within the last day or two, and the rumour runs that these arrests have been made by ministers on purpose to alarm the Emperor, and yet, if passible, divert him from his purpose. There are great hopes now of an amicable under standing with Prussia. Indeed, it is thought that the treaty is on the point of being &ivied, if not signed already. The Bourse was affected by the report of the Em peror's approaching departure for the Crimea. he Bente fell 40c., closing at 63fr. 70c. Credit Mobilier fell 15fr. With the exception of St. Germain and Itouen and Havre, which rose 2fr. 50c. each, the rail ways fell:—Grand Central, 71r. 50c. Lyons and Mediterranean, sfr. Northern, 3fr. 75c.; and the other lines from lfr. 2fr. 50c. The Austrian railway was in favour, and rose 3fr. 75c. General de LAmarmora, who is to command, the Piedmontese expedition, has arrived in Paris. 'run MURDER AT CIIATUAIL—The girl Law hay. ing recovered sufficiently from her wounds for examination before the magistrates, was yesterday brought before the county bench at Rochester. The evident:, adduced was substantially the same as that given Qr. the coroner's inqui sition, and at its close the prisoner was committed for trial on the doub:e charge of murder and robbery. The assists will commence on the 12th Mar ch, '1 • THE NEW RETURN OF NEWSPAPER' STAMPS. The return of newspaper stamps j net boned given the following results: First Quarter. Second Quit Om Daily News . 319,191 346,044 Morning Herald . 303,000 299,000 Morning Post . . 203,000 226,000 Morning Chronicle . 162,600 186,000 Express . . 177,133 198,369 Globs . . . 176,000 196,000 Sun . . . . 168,000 192,000 Standard . . . 103,000 104,000