The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 16, 1856. established, and he objected to the house interfering in the matter. Mr. G•:orge, Mr. Phillimore, and Sir R. Fergu son, severally opposed the motion. Lord PkLHERSTON observed that the question had been improperly narrowed, during the course of the debate, to a personal issue, respecting the efficiency of Baron Pennefather. The motion now brouelt forward related to the general conduct of the Irish judges, and was justified by the allegations made publicly during the last session. Concurring in the opinion that Baron Pennefather was disqualified by infirmity for his functions, he repudiated the charge that Government were sanctioning an attack of that venerable judge for the sake of creating a vacancy. The noble lord concluded by suggesting the with drawal of the motion, though promising to vote for it if pressed to a division. Sir J. V. SHELLEY briefly replied, and the house divided on the amendment for leaving out the words "in Ireland," which was negatived by a majority of 134 to 120-14. A second division was taken on the original ques tion, when the motion was carried by 132 to 121-11. SUPPLY. EXCESS OF EXPENDITURE. On the question that the house should go into a Committee of Supply, Sir HENRY WILLOUGHBY called attention to the objectionable practice of expending more than the sums voted for particular branches of the public services, and then calling upon the house to vote the excess. Mr. WILLIAM WILLIAMS suggested that, as nego tiations were going on for peace, it would be well to delay taking a vote for the whole year till the issue was known. He disclaimed all intention to cripple the preparations for renewing the war, believing the more liberal the expenditure now the cheaper would be the ultimate cost of the contest. Tile house then resolved into Committee of Supply. NAVY ESTIMATES. Sir C. Woon, in moving the estimates for the naval service, prefaced his general statement by an explanation of his improvements in the official arrangements at the Aimiralty, and its co-ordinate departments, especially as regarded book-keeping, the payment of wages, and other matters of business. Coming to the estimates of the year itself, the right hon. baronet observed : When I come to propose the votes, the house will see that I do not ask for estimates for the whole year, but I hope the house will sanction a war estimate for such a time as will cover the greatest possible delay in determin ing whether we are to have peace or war. (Hear, hear.) The best security for peace is to be ready for war. (Hear, hear.) If we show any hesitation, or any unwillingness to carry on the war, depend upon it our enemy will avail him self of it ; but show that you are firm, that you are ready, if negotiations for peace should fail, to carry on the war as it has not vet been carried on, and I believe our chance of obtaining peace will be much improved. I appeal, there fore, with confidence to every member of this house—not only to those who have so nobly supported the Government throughout this war in their endeavours to bring it to a successful end, but also to those most anxious or peace, to support us in these votes; because by so doing they will be promoting that end at which they are so earnestly aiming. The first sum to be granted was 204,000/.,for an excess of expenditure in the last year. For the active force of the navy it was intended to ask a vote of 00,000 seamen and marines—being 6,000 more than last year —and 10,000 boys. The estimate for the wages of this force was 3,237,8931., showing an increase of 352,3561. beyond the amount granted last year; but of this gross total he should require a present vote of only 2,000,000/. Not that he believed that sum would be all that, under the most favorable circum stances, would be required during the year, but he woul I take it merely on account. Sir Charles Wood then went through the various items of the estimates, IP‘ing explanations on every point, and showing a Sum total for the estimates amounting to 12,148,6411., being an increase of 291,135/. over the previous esti mate., besides the additional 204,0001. in excess, Respecting the Black Sea establishment, Sir Charles Wood trusted that important reductions would be carried on before the close of the year. On bringing forward the vote for " half pay;' the right hon. baronet took occasion to vindicate the bestowal of Rood-service pensions upon Captains Keppel and L Clarence Paget. Considering the high charac ter of the services of those officers, he trusted the committee would not consider the pensions either 1 nproperly or unfairly bestowed. With respect to t ie Transport Service, Sir Charles Wood called the .ntion of the committee to the great skill and dil Bence of the commanders of these ships, by which no less than 204,000 men had bren Las year moved without a single disaster. Sir Charles next proceeded to explain various matters connected with retirements and promo. tions in the navy, and with the pay and pensions awarded to men and officers. In conclusion, the right hon. baronet called attention to the high state THE PRESS. of efficiency of the navy and of its brilliant services during the past yesx:— I do not believe that at any period in the history of this country our naval establishment has been in a state of greater completeness and efficiency than at the present moment. Look at the improvement and development of steam power as applied to our fleet. 11 hy, last year not a single sailing ship of war appeared in the Baltic,—all were either paddlewheel or screw steamers. All the line-or , battle ships which are not screw steamers have been with drawn from the Black Sea, with one exception—that of a vessel left as a depot-ship ; and only three or four sailing line-of-battle ships are left afloat in; our ports, except as store-ships. This change has, of course, been attended with considerable expense, but it has added enormously to the efficiency of our naval force. Look, too, at our officers. Have they not deserved well of their country wherever they have been engaged in operations ? Have they not main tained, and even increased, the ancient reputation of our navy ? The Russian Black Sea fleet, it has been truly said, has been swept from the sea. 1t is true there may be two or three steamers at Nicolaieff, or in the River Don ; but every Russian ship of war in the Black Sea has been burst, sunk, or destroyed by us or by the Russians themselves. We have destroyed the vessels that were employed to convey Russian stores, and from Odessa to the Straits of Kertch, and throughout the Sea of Azoff, not a Russian ship of any size remains. Along the entire coast the destruction of stores by our fleet was enormous, ant there were performed in various instances exploits worthy of the proudest days of the British navy. The bombardment of Sweaborg was a most brilliant affair—everything inflammable was destroyed ; and though it was impossible to tell how many of the enemy were killed, yet he believed that not less than 1,000 men were blown up at one explosion:— It is said, why was not Cronstadt attacked? On this point 1 may state that we had not, with regard to small vessels, the support on which we at first calculated. An agreement had been made between the French and Eng lish Governments to send an equal number of floating batteries to the Baltic. Afterwards the French Govern. ment changed its views as to the best mode of carrying on the war, and they sent their floating batteries to the Black Sea; but, although we had the number intended, yet the whole number originally agreed upon was not sent. Should another campaign be necessary, so great had been the energy of the Government and the vigour of the Naval Executive, that no less than 350 British pennants would float in the waters of the Baltic by spring, while 100 covered the Black Sea. A discussion then ensued between Captain Scobell, Admiral Berkeley, Sir Charles Napier, and Sir Francis Baring, upon the successive votes,—the questions of retirement and bounties, and the con stitution of the Board of Admiralty, being severely handled by Sir CHARLES NAPIER. A vote of 76,000 men was taken for three months : several money votes on account were also agreed to. Upon the vote for home naval establishments, Mr. MAGUIRE called the attention of the house to the neglect of Ireland, which ha 4 a right to a fair share of patronage. The natural resources and advantages of Cork pointed it out as a harbour peculiarly suited for a naval station. Sir CHARLES WOOD could not agree with Mr. Maguire. It was not intended to have large dock yards and naval establishments in Ireland until they were wanted. Ships of war, after being fitted out or repaired at the home ports, were duly distributed over the different ports of the United Kingdom. Mr. SPOONER objected to the sums included in the estimates as allowances to Itoman Catholic chap. lains : he thought them as unreasonable as the Mavnooth grant, and at some future time would call the attention of the house to the subject. The vote, after some discussion, was agreed to, and at eleven o'clock the house resumed. CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. The Earl of CARDIGAN, on Monday, complained of certain reflections upon his professional conduct contained in the report of the commissioners, and gave notice of his intention to transmit to the War Minister an exculpatory statement, to which he trusted the noble lord would give equal publicity. The Earl of LUCAN stated that on Thursday last he had given into the hands of Lord Panmure a letter refuting and contradicting in the most positive manner that part of the report which reflected so seriously upon him personally, and upon his cavalry. He felt somewhat surprised that publicity had not been given to his letter. Lord PANMURE said it was not the intention of the commissioners to attack the character of any peer. The noble earl's letter had been referred to the com missioners, and in due time, with their rejoinder, would be laid before the house. The Earl of DERBY inquired what course would be open to any other officers whose conduct was im pugned by the Government report, and who could not vindicate themselves in Parliament. Would they be precluded from publishing their answer to any charges against them ? Lord PitiMURE could not authorise the publica tion by officers of official documents; but if any offi cer addressed an explanation to him on such points, he promised it should bo laid on the table of the house. 15. The Earl of HARDWICKE said many of those oft cers had received promotion and decoration. for their conduct. If he were one of them, and his cha racter were afterwards attacked in this manner he would tear off those decorations and return theii to the Sovereign. Lord PANMURE explained that the decoration were given fcr gallantry in action, and he hoped both Lord Cardigan and Lord Lucan would continue to wear them. The Earl of HARDWICKE was glad to have elicited the assurance that the reflections of the report were not intended to touch the honour of the noble earls as soldiers. DISCREPANCY BETWEEN DIPLOMATIC NOTES. Earl GREY, in pursuance of notice, asked Lord Clarendon, on Monday, for an explanation of the apparent contradiction between a despatch from Colonel Rose of March 25th, 1853, and another from Lord Stratford de Redcliffe of the 27th of May following. lu the first it was stated that M. Pisani, the interpreter of the English embassy at Constanti nople, bad given the substance of a note verbale pre sented to the Turkish Government by Prince Mens chikoff on the 16th a March ; the purport of the note is given on the descripticn furnished to M. Pisani by Rifaat Pacha and the Grand Vizier. In Lord Stratford's despatch his lordship states, on the authority of M. Pisani, that Rifaat Pacb a would never be brought to acknowledge the existence of such a note. Earl Grey thought the discrepancy ought to be explained, as it involved a charge against Lord De Redcliffe or 31. Pisani, or both. Lord CLARENDON could give no complete explana tion of the discrepancy, and regretted Earl Grey had brought forward the subject at this moment, as it could be of no practical use or importance. He had no doubt the Turkish Ministers were intimidated by the language of Prince Menschikoff, and were in duced by him to conceal the existence of the note from the English Ambassador, and this bad given rise to the two different statements. He had tele graphed Earl Grey's question to Constantinople, and from the answer he had received it appeared M. Pisani still maintained the truth of the assertion that the Turkish Foreign Minister at that time would not acknowledge the existence of the Russian note alluded to. Earl GREY said the explanation of Lord Clarendon had not touched the point at issue. THE CONFERENCES AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Lord PALMERSTON, on Tuesday, in answer to Mr. Layard, as to the reported exclusion of the Sardinian envoy from the conferences at Constantinople, ex plained the object of the conferences now being held by the representatives of England, France, Turkey, and Austria. The subjects related to the principali ties, the rights of the Christain subjects, and other points connected with the internal affairs of Turkey, totally unconnected with the treaty of peace. The Sardinian envoy had applied to be admitted, but the representatives of England and France stated that they had no authority to admit him, and wrote for instructions. Lord Palmerston added, that the pro ceedings had hitherto been confined to matters arising out of the fourth point, viz., the arrangements to be made for the protection of the rights and pri vileges of the non-Mussulman subjects of the Porte. THE ARMISTICE. Mr. J. EWART, on Thursday, asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether it would be lawful to despatch British ships with cargoes to Russian ports during the armistice which was about to be con cluded; and, in that case, wouid articles contraband of war, such as brimstone, lead, and saltpetre, be exempt from such permissions of shipping ? If the sailing of British ships be unlawful, might foreign ships be chartered for the purpose ; or whether the blockade of Russian ports would be soon reestab lished Lord PALMERSTON, in reply, said he should recom mend persons who wished to engage in such under takings to wait till they saw whether an armistice was agreed to ; and if so, upon what terms and conditions. THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR:— CENSURE UPON THE DISTRIBUTION OF HONOURS. Mr. LAYARD, on Thursday, gave notice that he pro• posed to defer, until that day fortnight, his resolution on the subject of the recent distribution of honours. The terms of the resolution would be as follows: That this house has observed with regret that those officers whose conduct in their respective departments has been shown by the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the supplies of the British army in the Crimea to have occasioned great and unnecessary sufferings and losses in that army, have received honours and rewards, or have been appointed to, and are still holding, responsible offices in the public service. UNSEAWORTHY VESSELS. The Earl of ia, on Thursday, pre- sented a petition from certain merchant seamen against being compelled to go to sea in unseaworthy