The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-07 00:00:00

JULY 7, 1855. rourbings in ittliantent. THE LATE LORD RAGLAN. The following most gracious message from her Majesty was on Tuesday communicated to both houses: Victoria Regina.—Her Majesty, taking into considera tion the great and brilliant services performed by the late Fitzroy James Henry Lord Raglan, Field-Marshal in her Majesty's Army and Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's Forces at the seat of war in the East, in the course of hostilities which have taken place in the Crimea, and being desirous, in respect of these and of other distin guished merits, to confer some signal mark of her Ma jesty's favour upon his widow, Emily Harriett Lady Raglan, upon his son and successor to the title, Richard Henry Lord Raglan, and upon the next survivinr , heir male of the body of the said Richard Henry Lo rd ° Raglan, re commends to her faithful Commons the adoption of such measures as may be necessary for the accomplishment of that purpose. _ _ In the Lords, Lord PANMURE, after r'counting the services of Lord Raglan;in the Peninsula, at Waterloo, and during the peace in the administration of the army, alluded to his conduct in the latter capacity in terms of the highest praise, from his own personal experience. What he had achieved in the present war their lordships well knew, but they did not know what the Government were able so fully toappreciate— the signal success with which Lord Raglan conducted the intercourse between the allied armies, and pro moted the community of feeling and unity of action between the two forces, without which no united operations could prosper. After a warm panegyric on the general character of the deceased nobleman, he concluded by moving an address to her Majesty, which was of course the echo of her own. The Earl of DERBY adverted in terms of feeling to the death of Lord Raglan, by disease and pesti lence, at a moment of regret and disappointment. It was singular, he added, that a man of military services so extensive and important should have had so few opportunities of exhibiting his qualities for supreme command. Those qualities were neverthe less perceived by the farseeing eye of the Duke of Wellington, who gave him his unceasing friendship and his entire confidence. When at last he volun teered to lead the British army in a campaign hastily conceived, with insufficient means and inadequate supplies, it was not then known, nor would be per haps till the occurrences had become matter of history, what obstacles and impediments he bad sur mounted before be could obtain the success which had crowned thus far the efforts of the allied armies. After a further panegyric on the private and official character of Lord Raglan, Lord Derby expressed his deep sense of the title which he had left, for an an acknowledgment of his services and disinterested ness. _ _ _ Lord HARDINGE added the testimony of his long personal experience to the high qualities of Lord Raglan, saying that all who were capable of judging agreed that the management of the army could not have been in better hands. . _ The Duke of CAMBRIDGE praised the tact with which Lord Raglan had conducted our association with our allies, so as to bring the proceedings of the two armies into a satisfactory condition. He could speak personally as to the difficulties of the position, which were far greater than were imagined. Not but what we were met by the leaders of our allies with perfect cordiality ; but such were the difficulties of divided command that, unless Lord Raglan had been possessed of peculiar capabilities for getting over them, we should not have been able to rejoice in the entirely cordial alliance which existed at present. The Earl of CARDIGAN gave his personal experience in testifying to the kindness, urbanity, and impar• tiality of Lord Raglan. The whole army lamented his loss as irreparable, and the troops at Alma had witnessed with enthusiasm the cool velour with which their leader had passed the river amid a shower of balls, and placed the artillery in a position to keep up an effective fire against the enemy. The Earl of GALLOWAY said that Lord Raglan was killed by the ingratitude of his countrymen, and the coldness and neglect of the Government. He adverted to the silence of the Government when Lord Raglan's position as Master of the Ordnance was severely commented upon ; thought that he had been thrust out of that office, and that inferior services had been rewarded with higher titles. The Duke of BEAUFORT, though he admitted that the Government had not done all they could to sup port Lord Raglan, deplored these statements. Both the Sovereign and the Government bad given their confidence to Lord Raglan, who would have been deeply grieved to have heard such a speech as that just made. Earl GRANVILLE said that, though the country, like other free countries, was at times a severe task master, it was just and generous in its final judg ments. Lord Raglan had borne in silence the charges witicu bail no fewadatiion in fact, and iu every des- THE PRESS. patch had expressed the utmost fairness to all—to our allies more especially. After the Earl of ELLESMERE and Lord BROUGHAM had added their weed of praise, the address was agreed to unanimously. In the Commons, Lord Parattusrox commenced by lamenting that it was not Lord Raglan's fate to be able to listen to the national thanks, or to receive with his own hands the national bounty. After re ferring to the business habits of the house, by explaining the precedents by which such grants were regulated, he enlarged on Lord Raglan's cha racter and services, more especially with regard to his success in cementing the alliance between Eng land and France. He had not only inspired his own men and officers with feelings of cordiality towards their allies, but had inspired in the troops of those allies a perfect conviction that there was an entire oblivion of the differences of the past. Great as must have been his grief at the sufferings during the winter, he had at length the satisfaction of seeing himself at the head of one of the finest armies which England had ever sent into the field, though his last hours may have been embittered by the thought that be was not destined to witness the realisation of the ardent hopes which had cheered so many a dark and gloomy hour. He concluded by moving resolutions granting the pensions to Lady Raglan and her son. Mr. DISRAELI : I rise to second the resolution of the noble lord, and I doubt not it will receive the unanimous acceptation and approbation of the house. Half a century of public service, always noble, sometimes illustrious, cannot be permitted to pass away without the record and recognition of a nation's gratitude. (Cheers.) The career of Lord Raglan was re markable. Forty years ago he sealed with his blood the close of a triumphant struggle against universal empire. After so long an interval it has been his fate to give his life to his country in order to avert the menace of a new and overwhelming dominion. Tne qualities of Lord Raglan were remarkable, and it may be doubted whether they can be easily supplied. What most distinguished him, perhaps, was an elevation and serenity of mind, which invested him as it were with a heroic and classical repose, which per mitted him to bring to the management of men and to the transaction of great affairs the magic influence of character. and which in his case often accomplished results which are usually achieved by the inspiration of genius. (Cheers.) Never was there an instance where valour of the highest temper was so happily and so signally blended with so dis ciplined a discretion. Courage and caution were never so united, and each quality in so high a degree. Over the tomb of departed greatness criticism should be mute, yet we may be permitted to observe that the course of events has already sanctioned the judgment of this commander with respect to those difficulties with which it was his hard fate to cope, and which the country recollects he neither chose nor created. May those who follow him encounter happier fortunes ! They cannot meet a more glorious end. There is nothing more admirable than self-sacrifice to public duty. This was the principle which guided the life of Somerset. This was the principle hallowed his end. (Cheers.) I feel great pride in seconding the resolution. Sir DE LACY EVANS had witnessed Lord Raglan's gallantry half a century ago, and could have wished that he bad had opportunities at an early period of his life of discharging the duties of supreme com mand. There was scarcely an instance of a com mander who at the desire of his Government bad taken charge suddenly of so momentous an opera tion, without the supplies and reserves which were undoubtedly necessary. He had also the disadvant age of being cut off in the midst of his great enter prise. If the same fate had befallen the glorious chiefs who had preceded him, the world might not have given them credit for the ability which now attached to their memory. Admiral WALCOT, on behalf of the navy, added a few words of admiration and esteem. Lord JOHN RUSSELL followed in the same course, as the personal friend of Lord Raglan for many years. Mr. M. Gummi thought the time not inopportune for adverting to the Austrian propositions and the proceedings at Kertch—in which some vain attempts were made to interrupt him, as out of order. Lord PALMERSTON said that there were times and seasons for all things, and declined to say a word on the subject. The resolutions were then agreed to nem. con. INCREASE OF PAY TO THE ARMY ON SERVICE. The Earl of ELLINBOROUGH, on Thursday, raised some objections to the Government plan of increasing the pay of the army. There would be many appli cants for it who were not on the field of battle; the expense would be very great; and unless it was paid into the soldiers' hands it would be little likely to tempt recruits. He would have preferred a relaxa tion of the strict rules of the medical examination of recruits, and of the conditions of obtaining pensions. Lord PANDIURE answered that he had already de cided on modifying his measure so far as to allow the soldier to receive at once sixpence out of the shilling additional pay as a field allowance, permit ting him, as in the navy, to allot any portion of it to his family, if he thought proper. lie did mot intend 633 to reduce the bounty now paid, which bad only been once increased, and which would under the old system have been increased two or three times. As for the restrictions, they were only enforced when it was for the manifest good of the service. Some further conversation followed, and the subject dropped. NAVAL CADETS. The Earl of HARDWICKE, on Thursday, complained of the inefficiency of the system of naval education on board ship, and urgently recommended the estab lishment of naval schools at which the boys migli; be instructed before they were sent to sea, where their duties materially interfered with their lessons. After Lord COLCHESTER 1114 supported this opinion, Earl GRANVILLE said that the education on board ship was by no means so deficient as bad been stated, though he admitted that in time of wox it was not so easy to find opportunities for study. Jje pro mised that the subject should receive proper attention. THE POLICE IN HYDE-PARE. The discussion of the conduct of the polies pro duced something like a scene in the Commons op Thursday. Mr. Roebuck began by presenting a petition from a person who had been quietly seated in a tobacconist's shop, when an inspector entered, and made some insolent remark. He was answered with the same insolence, whereupon he struck right and left, and wounded the petitioner, who had bees unable to obtain redress from the commissioners. Sir G. Grey said that he would make inquiry, sad remove any obstruction to justice, if snob were put in the way by the commissioners. Mr. J. G. Philli more then asked if any special inquiry was to be instituted on the conduct of the police last Sunday, Sir G. Grey replying in the negative. Mr. T. Dun combe rose to present several petitions from persons who had been injured, and proceeded to comment upon them, alleging that the forms of the house permitted his doing so on petitioners "praying for immediate redress." This brought on a question of order; and, though the Speaker decided against him, Mr. Duncombe persisted in making his speech on a motion for adjourning the house. He gave several instances of gross brutality, said that the police lia4 acted like ruffians, and that, though the Sunday Bill was withdrawn, the people would not be satisfied without redress. There was a threat held out that unless some notice was taken of these complaints they would again muster in Hyde-park on Sunday, and if interfered with would go armed the neat time. The best thing the Government could do peat Sunday would be to close the park. Sir 0. Grey complained of the sweeping nature of the charges, and that no policeman was identified in them. He believed the threat just held out to be a gross wrong on the temper and character of the people of the metropolis. If, however, they went to Hyde park to molest the peaceable inhabitants, it would be the duty of the Government and the police to see that these last were properly protected. Mr. Duncombe laid his petitions on table, hoping they might be printed for the benefit of the Govern ment. SUNDAY TRADING VILL. This bill was withdrawn by Lord R. GROSVENVE on Monday, who said that he did not like to be mobbed and bullied out of his bill, of which the intention was to provide as unrestricted a holiday as possible for the hardworked thousands of the me tropolis. As, however, the entire object of his hill had been misconceived—that it was a measure pecu liarly liable to misrepresenlation and ridicule—con sidering likewise the lateness of the session, he thought that it, would not be right to keep up the existing irritation upon the bare chance of passing the bill. This brought on a charge against Sir G. Grey, for improper orders to the police on the preceding day. The Hoax SECRETARY defended himself by saying that, while no man more entirely approved of the recreation of the people on Sundays, it was not his duty to allow that recreation to be interfered with by monster meetings. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE made some strong observations on the conduct of the police, which he said was shameful, and brought on • most unseemly conflict between them and some soldiers, who interposed on behalf of women they were ill-using. Mr. WILKINSON and Mr. W. J. Fox confirmed this statement of the misconduct of the police, who, how ever, found a defender in Mr. G. 'VERNON, who was, an eyewitness, be said, for two hours, and felt bound to say that nothing could be more good-humoured than these general conflicts. Before the discussion closed, Mr. RoKeucs pointed out the impolicy of the house entering upon a line of conduct which could be thus thrust aside by an ebullition of popular feeling. EDUCATION BILLS. On Monday night, or rather on Tuesday morning, the promoters of th 3 three education bills withdrew them one after another. Sir J. PAKINoToN began, saying that he trusted the subject would receive very early attention next session, and that he believed