The Press. — London, England, 1855-02-10 00:00:00

I FEBRUARY 10, 1855. I feel myself bound in duty to state that not only no obstacle whatever was placed in my way, but that not the slightest difficulty was made as to any one subject or recommendation, either with regard to men or measures, which I felt it my duty to submit to her Majesty. The noble eat' then recounted the negotiations with Lord Palmerston consequent on the Royal in terview : I called upon the noble viscount (Palmerston), and T found that it would have been impossible, without the con currence of some of his friends, to give me that assistance which otherwise he did not express himself disinclined to afford. I stated that I anticipated that feeling, and I named to him the two among his colleagues with whom I thought he would most readily consent and desire to act. I found that, with regard t 3 any personal considerations, he could have no objection to act in a Government with which I was connected. We went so far as to discuss the particular position in the Government in which the noble viscount should be placed, and I stated to him that I did not think it was possible for any Minister to combine with the lead of the House of Commons the duties of a labo rious department, and he agreed that pith the lead of the House of Commons the important duties of Minister for War were wholly incompatible. I was enabled, by an act of self-abnegatiou and forbearance, for which I think my right hon. friend deserves the highest credit, to state, upon the part of my right hon. friend Mr. Dis raeli, that, with regard to the lead in the House of Com mons, with which he had been honoured upon a former occasion, in the presence of the noble viscount he would waive all claim to that position, and would willingly act under the direction of a statesman of the noble viscount's ability and experience. Her Majesty, waiting the result of my interview, made her return to Windsor, and I informed the noble viscount that her Majesty would leave a messen ger in waiting to receive the result of the communication which he undertook to make to Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert. I left the noble viscount shortly before two o'clock, and at half past nine I received with con siderable surprise a note from the noble viscount. It cer t linty did surprise me to receive, after a delay of so long a time, a note merely stating that he had come to the eon elusion that if he were to join my Government he couldnot g;ve to it that support which I was good enough to think his presence would insure,—that he has communicated with Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert, but that they would write answers to me. At halfpast twelve that night I received a note from Mr. Gladstone, and between seven and eight the following morning I received one from Mr. Sidney Herbert, both written in terms of which I certainly could have no reason to complain; but I was struck with this expression in Mr. Gladstone's note, after stating that Lord Palmerston had communicated to him the wish I had expressed that he should form part of the Administration, —" I also learned from him (Lord Palmerston) that he is not of opinion that he can himself render you useful ser vice in that Administration." It was now, then, he continued, his only course to give to her Majesty his advice that she should endeavour to ascertain if she could find a more efficient Administra t on. He concluded by defending himself both from t ie charge of unduly grasping at office, and from that of shrinking from responsibility with too great timidity. The last, he said, was not his failing. It was his opinion that the great Conservative party should not prematurely and rashly undertake the responsibility of administering the affairs of the country at the present portentous crisis. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was his duty to explain his part in advising her Majesty as to the best mode of putting an end to the crisis. It was natural that the Queen should summon Lord Derby in the first instance. Lord Derby failed, and the Queen then sent to him to ask his advice on the course she should pursue. As, after the party of Lord Derby, the main instrument of the cr►s►s was Lord John Russell, he advised that he should be next applied to. Upon his failure, Lord Palmerston was requested to undertake the task, and had been urged by himself to persevere in the fo►mation of a Min• istry, at a time when the great object was to save the country from being without any Ministry at all. Had the crisis lasted longer, it would have impaired the confidence of Europe in the country, and it would have been said, that, with an unexampled unanimity among the people, the means were wanting for car• Tying on the war. The Government would rely, not only on their party, but on their opponents, and still more on the great body of the country. He entreated all, especially the representatives of that noble institution the public. press—all, in fact., in situations of influence, to say, do, and write nothing that would injure in any way the great cause. The Present was a contest between despotism and free institutions, and it behoved them to take care that the unquestionable advantage of a single command did not prove itself too powerful for liberty. The Earl of MALMESBURY congratulated the house on the termination of the crisis. He entered at some length into the discussion of our military system, observing that any tendency in the alterations in that system towards the system pursued by the navy would meet with his decided opposition. He then defended the army from the charge of being exclusively aris tocratic, and gave the number of the immediate relations of peers in several regiments, showing how few they really were. byLord PANDLURE said that he had hesitated before accepting his difficult office, but could not refuse when told that his experience would be of service to THE PRESS. the country. He pledged himself to appoint no man to any office that he did not believe the best qualified to fill it. He asked for that forbearance in the per formance of his difficult task which was never refused to those who endeavoured honestly to perform their duty. He declared that if he found himself unequal to that task, he should not lose a moment in con fessing and abandoning it. SUPPLY. On Wednesday 1,200,0001. was voted on account, and on Thursday a further sum of 1,600,0001. for the navy estimates ; the CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER explaining that these votes on account compromised no principles which might be asserted on the full vote, when the items would be discussed. NUMBERS OF THE CRIMEAN ARMY. On Thursday Mr. Gladstcne was more than once required to produce his authority for stetting that 28,000 men were tit for duty in the Crimea. The demand seemed rather to perplex the right hon. gentlemen, but Lord JOHN RUSSELL came to his assistance, observing that the current statement of only 12,000 men meant rank and file actually on duty, while the 28,000 included the cavalry, artillery, officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, and rank and file employed on other services. CONVOCATION. On Monday the Earl of Sii.krrEseußv inquired if the meeting of Convocation, fixed for the next day, was intended to be then held? The sanction of the Queen was necessary before it undertook its delibe rations, and there was no Ministry through whom that sanction could be given. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY and the Bishop of LONDON explained that it was not intended to in troduce any new business, but simply to discuss the reports of committees which had been prepared on important subjects, with the view of making them the basis of an address to her Majesty. HARBOUR OF BALAKLAVA. Admiral BERKELEY read extracts from letters re ceived tiom Admiral Lyons, in which testimony was borne to the energy of the officers under his com mand in providing boats, landing cargoes, and ar ranging for the ingress and egress of the shipping in the harbour, and especial praise was given to the pilotake of the harbour. It had been alleged that wood and hay had been left to float about the har bour, and the report admitted the fact, but explained that the hay had been damaged by salt water, so that the cattle would not eat it, and the wood—only useful for firing—had been allowed to drift, till it could be collected and distributed, as the best pre servative against pilfering THE sick and wounded landed from various ships lately at Portsmouth, and quartered in the new garri son hospital, are doing well under the skilful and un remitting attention of Dr. Lawson, Ordnance Medical Officer, and Assistant-Surgeon Henry Bishop, of the Royal Wilts Militia (a volunteer.) It will be pleasing to their friends and the service to know that the wounded are most assiduously and tenderly cared for. There are many badly wounded from Alma and Inkermann, as well as Balaklava, and these are going on very favourably towards convalescence. The dysen teric and fever invalids are much the worse looking of the whole, but all are most grateful for their treat ment at the hands of their medical attendants, and especially for the kindness of Lady Smith and Major- General Sir Frederick Smith, &L., Acting Lieute nant-Governor of Portsmouth, who go repeatedly, and with their own hands dispense liberally such luxuries as jellies, custards, blanc-mange, rusks, biscuits, buns, sponge-cakes, die. Lady Smith also gives those who can write, memorandum-books, pencils, postage-stamps, and paper to write to their friends. THE FOREIGN LEGION, it has been decided, will assemble for drill and training at Heligoland; and Lieutenant Lempriere, with a detachment of royal sappers and miners, has left Woolwich fot' that island, to erect huts, and prepare other accommoda tion for the recruits. THE ACCOUNTS OF THE STATE OF TRADE in the manufacturing towns during the past week indicate a partial increase of depression from the political crisis, but are on the whole satisfactory, since the prevailing heaviness continues to be unattended with any number of important failures. At Manchester the market has been very inactive, not only from the absence of export orders, but from the home demand having been much below expectation. At Birming ham the appearance of the iron trade seems to justify the confidence recently expressed by some of the leading manufacturers that priceNould not continue to decline. Better accounts from the United States, low stocks in Canada, and Government contracts for war purposes, have tended to promote confidence. The Nottingham advices describe no revival. Trans. actions are limited, but the state of affairs generally is not unhealthy. In the woollen districts there has been diminished firmness, and the Irish linen mar kets are again worse. THE WAR. The latest news from Sebastopol is of the 30th ult., received in Paris by telegraphic despatch, announcing that a general attack on the place was preparing and was expected to cotno otf in a few days. The wet'• ther was favorable. Despatches have also been received by the French Minister of War, communicating the following intel ligence : SEBASTOPOL, Jan. 27.—There is no firing on our side. The weather is frosty at night; very mild and fine during the day. The siege works are advancing. The army is still sickly. Prince Menschikoff has gone northwards. The Russians make constant sorties, and continue tiring upon the French lines anti pickets. Supplies are gone up to the camp in abundance. The French eighth division has arrived. The British ship Sphynx has also arrived. Lord Raglan visited lialaklava on the 24th of January•, and had an interview with Admiral Lyons; he inspected the trenches on the 25th. Jan. 28.—The weather has improved, and the troops supported with patience the unfavorable climate. The bat teries were progressing with activity. The V•oltigeurs of the Imperial Guard, under General Ulrich, had arrived. The troops were full of enthusiasm. Generals de Niel and Vaubert de Geniis had likewise arrived. The French soldiers were impatient for the assault, and General Canrobert had been obliged to moderate their ardour. The whole line was prepared to open fire. Previous advices stated that the heavy falls of snow had weakened some of the works before Sebas topol, but they had been actively repaired. The French third division have taken the place of the English in the trenches, and continue the works. A letter from the Crimea, in the Conatitutionnel, confirms the fact already stated in our own journals, that the effective strength of the English army on the 25th ult. amounted to no more than 12,0(X) men. The cavalry regiments, it is added, were reduced to 100 horses. sortie had been made on the 23rd ult. on the French lines by the Russian garrison, in which our allies suffered some severe loss. There has been a rumour in Vienna, founded on an alleged despatch from the Crimea, to the effect that the Zouaves had mutinied, and 400 men sent in chains to Constantinople, en route for Toulon. The report, however, requires authentication. General Bosquet mustered the British light divi sion on the 19th instant. Both men and officeni were highly elated with the interest the French general took in their condition and prospects. The railroad from Balaklava to the camp has been commenced. The only official despatch containing any account of the progress of the siege published in England during the week has been the following from Lord Raglan to the War Minister Before Sebastopol, Jan. 2:1, 1855. Nothing has occurred of any importance in our front; but the enemy has occasionally opened a fire upon our left attack, and Mr. Spalding, a fine young man, an acting mate of her Majesty's ship London, and in charge of the battery, was unfortunately killed by a round-shot the day before yesterday. His lose is deeply deplored. I inclose the return of casualties to the 21st instant. The weather has become milder ; but the country is still in a dreadful state from melted snow. The army is well supplied with warm clothing, and if the commissariat were adequately provided with transport, and the huts could be at once brought up, there would be no other cause of suffering than the severity of a Crimean winter, and the duties imposed of carrying on a siege in such a climate at this season of the year. RAGLAN. Constantinople letters to the 29th ult. have arrived. They report that 1,000 English and French conva lescents were about to leave on their return to the Crimea. The St. Jean d'Acrc had arrived at Con stantinople, with 000 troops on board, and three general officers. The barracks at Smyrna have been converted into hospitals, and will be provided with 2,0(X) beds. The 71st Regiment of Highlanders, and two com panies that remained of the 34th Regiment of the line, left Corfu on the 25th ult., for the Crimea, in the Medway. The English steamer, the Scamander, left Havre on Wednesday, with fifty carts, fifteen ambulances, a quantity of wooden shoes and soup-pots, 1,000 iron bedsteads, :150 boxes of sugar, 500 barrels of salt meat, and a number of ovens, coffee-mills, wheel barrows, and other articles for the (French) army of the East. It took seven days to get the large aud various cargo on board. The blockade of the Russian ports in the Black Sea has been notified. Off Odessa the Mogador and Gladiator will be stationed, while the French steamer Berthollet and the Leopard will cruise off Keffa, Kertch, Anapa, and Soudjak Kale. Orders are said to have reached Sebastopol from St,. Petersburg, commanding a peedy attack on, and the destruction of, Balaklava and Eupatoria. Osten- Saeken, supported by the Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas, would therefore, it was supposed, probably attack the allies ere long, and whilst the weather continued propitious. 131