The Sun. — London, England, 1855-07-20 00:00:00

, d f. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 20 1855 sew thought of he recollected hearing ; caw officers speak of the inadequacy of our forces, an d 1:e greatness of the se se . ; said then, as' ha rations that were to be carried on, a H. rm were absolutoly aaid now, that even if our presen nigh a still greater artny annihilated, the country would war. The French to consummate the objects of th fr 'w (Cheers.) They Go vernment had done their duty • A0b1 , 9- d innt position—a deed un exampled sent out 200,000 men to a' furnished with exarepled in the history of the e. rid— an d all the materials of war. (Hoer-) tit the slightest check was magnified is this country . The a a.cles the other day on the Belau and Malakhoff h ad failed fverybody seemed to think lose • thearmy was at an end, though ley not one inch of g round they previously and he believed th e y had even gained more of the public mind ought e sleneh7 (Hear, hear.) Tills sta te Corrected ; war could not be carried on without interru i ion or w ithout more or le ss illeuccess. (Hear.) Let tint to • of it, look back the last war. the public attention was ixe on the termination which was most glorious Jll'1 1, . ifferent periods of it how t any immeasurably more dies +ay , were th e event s in han the pre thing that had occarreC or " likely to occur, e d to raise the siege, or se nt war. Suppose the veO si oblig convert it into a block ie. proper. They could e denieel that they could not withdraw their forces if ti' thought oae d s hip, and ravage put a large part of their "" h‘e(Hear.) They should show, territory north and however, that the ,i:ViTersiest in carrying on the war, euine hopes that, in case the and if they did se, he las e s : . t:tal break of the vast empire war should be continues of Russia might be effece would state briefly the reasons Captain GLADSTOY . ag ainst the motion of the hon. that induced him to vc : s i l ,p effield. He could not now vote and let-red member fe roposed to be passed on the late for the , nsure tha .t , ee w ,ion, because after what had already and prey Adrain,- ar the appearance of vindictive taken pi it would vote for it because there was no Hess. lie to could nceedi ..0 g. ( Hear.) .. precedent . wen: , k , ‘ee e.eered that the whole of the late Ad- Mr- up to be considered blameable, and. he •_ could ~ut' admit that one member only should be subjected t o c ensure. He charged the Aberdeen Administration with want of foresight—want of candour—want of deter mination —want of preparation—want of knowledge, and e specially with want of business-like knowledge. He (Mr. Muntz) did not find it possible to vote against the motion, and he did not like the ambiguous course of voting for the previous question ; therefore he thought it was the best plan to vote for the motion, and that he should do. (Hear.) Mr. S. HERBERT asked for a patient and indulgent hearing from the house while he addressed it on a subject in which he was peculiarly interested. (Hear.) It was his intention to vote against the motion of his hon. and gallant friend opposite (General Peel), and he would tell the house - why in a very few minutes. (Hear, hear.) He stood in a peculiar position, and in one personally different from that of most members of the house ; he stood, in the words of the hon. and learned gentlemen in the position of one against whom counts of an indictment had been brought forward. (Hear.) It was said that he and his right hon. friends attempted to burke the appointment of the com mittee, and that they were afraid of an investigation ; but it could not be said that when the investigation had closed,, they shrunk from the judgment of the House of Commons on the evidence laid before it. (Hear, hear.) They were justified in asking, after all the accusations that had been brought against them, on what grounds it appeared that they, when Ministers of the Crown, were culpable and neglectful of the interests of the country. (Hear, hear.) It was said by the right hon. member for Droitwitch that they were not discussing the policy of the expedition to Sebastopol —but he (Mr. S. Herbert) certainly thought that the report contained not only an opinion respecting, but a strong con demnation of, that policy. The right hon. baronet was therefore entirely illogical in saying that the committee was not to meddle with that policy. and that they were not to touch upon it in the debate. When the discussion on the motion of the committee took place, they warned the house of the danger that would arise from an investigation of this description. They said they should either give criti cal opinions on the policy of the French Government and the manipulations of the French army, or else, avoiding those questions, they would come to no conclusion, or come to a conclusion on insufficient evidence that would be un just, and made attacks upon men who would not have an opportunity of facing their accusers. (Haar, hear.) The right hon. gentleman the member for Droitwich said that he would not consent to be a member of the committee un less the inquiry was intended to be a searching one. But had it been a searching inquiry? 'Why, in the first sentence of the report the committee expressed their regret that per sons were left labouring under imputations with regard to which they could not pronounce any decisive opinion. He believed the members of the committee were honestly de sirous of performing their duty. The hon. and learned chairman of the committee discharged his duties with great assiduity, and no complaint could be made against him for submitting a motion to the house, for nothing could be more constitutional than to ask the opinion of the house on the report. He quite dissented from the doctrine of the right hon. member for Droitwich, that no offensive move ment should be made in a defensive war. The Duke of Wel lington went to defend Spain. According to the right hon. baronet he ought never to have entered France. For a ma ritime country like Englandengaged in a war with a country like Russia, at an immense distance, it could not be denied that the natural and most effective way of conducting it would be by maritime blockade. But in this particular me such a plan of warfare was impossible; the object was eo de fend Turkey, and for this purpose it was necessary to enteron military operations. No point of the Russian empire offered so many chances of success orso manyrewards as Sebastopol, at which a blow struck would be felt as affecting a vital point. He must say further that before the house adopted this resolution, and passed a vote of censure upon the con duct of those who originated the expedition, they ought to reflect what its effect would be upon the army of the Cri mea. If they thought the expedition would ultimately be successful lot the house admit it ; but if, on the other hand, they wished to blame those who originated it, let them first consider what effect the blame would have upon the fe.:lings of the men who were now engaged in the expedition. Those men knew nothing about party intrigues ; they looked upon the decision of the house as the verdict of the country, and he need not anticipate what their feelings would he when they should hear that Parliament had pronounced their labours to be all in vain. (Hear, hear.) He had entered at some length into this point, because he did not wish to shrink from taking his share of the responsi bility attached to the expedition. (Hear, hear.) If it had so far failed, he had the satisfaction of knowing that the late Government did their best to insure its success. He admitted that there were failures, that great errors were committed, but Le thought these failures would have been remedied earlier if there had not been a: much exag geration as to reader it almost impossible to get r.',; the truth ; but still he must repeat that every effort that human foresight could suggest was made to insure the strength and efficient organisation of the army in the field. The late Government had great difficulties to contend with, but he trusted those who came after them found many of the difficulties cleared away, and that they were now Vigo rously acting to insure the public service. He was at a loss, then, to discover what good was to result from passing a vote of censure upon all the usenabses of the late GOT ern men t . It might have the effect of excluding men of capa city and experience from the public service in future, but that would be a positive injury rather than a good to the country. However, he was quite ready to submit to the decision of the house, and if the house tleter mined to censure him for the failure of the past, ho should have the consolation of knowing that he had done his utmost to succeed. (Cheers.) He said, then, that he trusted to the justice of the louse and if they gave du e weight to the considerations h e h a d taken the liberty to suggest to them, he should not fear their verdict. He ap pealed to their justice to look to the whole case, suit to weigh well the evidence upon which the report was founded ; but, whatever the result might be, he would not shrink from a decision upon the main question. He would not give the ge-by to the decision of the committee, but ho should vote against the previous question, because loon's characters were implicated in the original resolu tiou, and upon that resolution the house should pronounce a distinct Opinion—aye or no. (Cheers.) Mr. E. ELLICE (Coventry) said he thought the time of the house would be touch better occupied with a thorough examination of the measures soon to bo laid on the table - for the reorganisation of the War Departments than in passing resolutions condemnatory of the members of the late Government. (Heel-, hear.) Sir G. GREY was ready to accept his full share of responsibility as a member of Lord Aberdeen's Govern ment. But the motion was directed, according to Mr. Roebuck, specially against Lord Palmerston. But it was no secret that whoa that gentleman proposed the commit. tee it was directed against those members of the Govern ment who had special charge of the war departments, and it was no secret either that overtures were made to the other members of the Government that if they would turn out their colleagues the remaining members should have ample support, in reconstructing the Administration. Those offers were refused, and the Ministry went out of enice together. Now it was proposed to pass a special vote of censure upon Lord Pihnerston, though the East of Derby, with all those circumstances full in view, hail se lected him as the leader of his intended Government in that house. The Government would have supported a direct negative to this vote, but as the great majority of the members of the committee were in favour of the pre vious question, the Government was prepared to agree with them, Lord J. MANNERS urged_ upon the Government to come to a direct vote, and not to take shelter unde r th e . previous question. Lord PALMERSTON said—At that late hour of the night it is not my intention to occupy the house for any great length of time ; but I must be allowed to. say that I think this motion is one of the most extraordinary which has ever been inade within the walls of Parliament, whether we consider the time at which it is made, or the manner in which persons are brought within its scope. For myself, I am far from wishing to disclaim that full responsibility , which the hon. and learned member for Sheffield and those wile act with him wish to affix upon every Member of the Government of Lord Aberdeen, for every act which that, Government performed, or failed to perform. I am ready to acknowledge, without distinction of offizers, that if any, one member of the Government can be sleewn to have been guilty of gross neglect of the duties of hi:, office, that you are entitled to call upon the other members of the Government to account for not having, either by their advice or remonstrance, endeavoured to oh tainachange of thatcourseof conduct which is deserving of censure. But the manner in which the hon. and !culled member for Slieffiele wishes on the present occasion to fix .. the responsibility and to accompany it by the censure of this house is certainly somewhat singular and remarkehle. When I say that every member of a Government is DAS wer able collectively for the conduct of that Government, there must be, in common sense, some distinction between those who have perticalar departments to administer and the degree in which blame May attach to others who, have bibenocoupied by. the business of their' own departMents, and who cannot be supposed to have exercised Any int oqe ..n=o; which 'would in fact_have been improper, in the do - - leartenents of his colleagues, with which h e was totally uncoil. netted. In this case, what was the committee appointed to inquire jute ? It was the conduct of departments cha.rged with administering to the wants of • the array. Those -depart ' Men+e were the-Secretary of State for War, the Secretary at-War, andAhe Admiteety, which were particularly en gaged in the conduct of the war. No doubt the head of the Government was, by virtue of . his office, entitled to that degree of ifiterference with the conduct of the members of the Governineet which the other colleagues would/1 ( 0 m ., exercised with respect to special departments. Whatethee, was the opinion of the committee after ail- the ineetiry which it hail made ? That opinioii has been pronounced by the ben: stmt lettened gentlemen the chairman of the,cone inittee. paid a handsome but not more_ then a just tribute to the manner in which.the heads of these departmants perforated their duties. ( having thus awarded hi s pra i se to those whoseCheep6rseei4l) duty it was to minister to thb . Wants of the army'', he post, directs hie censure against-those Inane-hers of the Governinent of L. A.berdeeu who had 'not - the 'duty of ihinfiteriAg' s to . th e wantepf the army, and who would- be willing to take the-Aide Of the: blame and responsibility 14 to the headifof thOse departments... which Attadhed Bu imaiiitted the heads of those departments from blame, and eertiieed the manner in which they had discharged their duties, he b as e k ra ed of th th e e l ) ir d s m e i t u o is p t a r n i i o t n s cewnhsuorecoutipcounrrtehdosien.otthheegr general I m stra a r i on bl o a f me th . e ( t c h h r e e e e rs m .) em ß b u er t s i w f n c o en h e a u r r l e b w ee a n s I gd absolved adin f i r n o i t to io be n wphaosseetrixozettnhbe ermsemofbetrhseofprtehseenitatGe Government, I ma y that I think some honourable gentlemen on the other a r side are not altogether likely to escape " scot free" from the censure of the house. Because it is all very well for the noble lord (Lord J, Manners) to say, as he has just said, that the evidence given before the committee of in quiry has altered the state of the case with respect to the proceedings of the late Government ; but the general facts upon which the censure of the honourable and learned member is founded, were facts notorious to all the world at the time the committee was appointed. (Hear, hear.) That committee has obtained no new information with respect to facts. (Hear.) It has inquired into the man ner is which these facts arose, and in which mistakes and miset.anees occurred. But the main facts of the sufferings of the army, the unfortunate condition in which during the winter months that army was unhappily placed—these were facts perfectly known to the whole world before that committee was appointed, and it was the knowledge of these facts which induced the house to agree to the appoint ment of that committee. (Cheers.) But what did Losd Derby do when he was called upon to form a Government? He, knowing that the members of Lord Aberdeen's Go vernment had rendered themselves liable to censure, pro posed to myself, to the right hon. gentleman the member for the University of Oxford, and the right hon. member for Wilts, to become members of his Administration. That offer, which I thought equally honourable to those who made it, and to those to whom it was made, now turns out, according to the arguments and conduct of honourable members opposite, to have been accompanied with some mental reservation, and that we were to be merely trepanned into office. (Cheers and laughter.) I don't believe that words such as those stated by the hon. and learned gentleman could have been used. I have too high an opinion of Lord Derby to credit that he would have made an offer with such a reservation. But the house is now called on to pass a censure on an existing Government On account of the transactions of a Government which no longer exists, and at the same time charges are made against me for things which have passed in the Govern ment. In the first place I must say that there has been a singular conflict of opinions among the different persons who have addressed the house on this motion. Some con tend that the motion has nothing to do with the policy of the war or with the policy of the expedition to the Crimea. Others have dwelt greatly on the policy of the war and on the policy of the expedition to the Crimea. But I should like to know whether that is or is not to be au element in the votes which hon gentlemen are about to give. (Hear, hear.) I shall not now go into the question of the policy of the war, on which the whole natio:: has made up its mind. Nor shall I go into the reasons which led the Government to think it was necessary to take up arms to check the am bitious designs of Russia. Nor shall I describe the circum stances which induced Russia to think that the moment was favourable for putting into execution its long-cherish* 1. designs on Turkey. Nor shall I allude to the opinion that was entertained by Russia that there were circumstances connected with England and France which might have prevented a cordial union—an opinion as fallacious as it was futile. Nor shall I advert to other circumstances in this country which might have misled the Emperor of Russia. But I must be allowed to say that, among the many circumstances which led the Russian Government into error, the language and conduct of the peace party in this country tended greatly to increase it, and the responsibility rests on them of having misled the Em peror of Russia in this act of aggression. (Cheers.) But the war being just and necessary, the question is how is that war being c sried on? There are those who main tain that we should not have gone to the Crimea. Bat I a-k them where else should we have gone ? Would they have been satisfied had we merely blockaded the Russian harbours? Would they have our armies enter upon the vast steppes of the Russian Empire, where victories might possibly have been obtained, but where it would not have been possible to have achieved ultimate success. (Hear.) The Crimea was the place to go to—that was the place where the blow should be struck, as the centre of that Russian power and dominion in the Black Sea which constituted the danger to Turkey, to avert which we had gone to war, It was thus efore in the Crimea that the policy obviously was to attempt to strike a great and a decisivs blow. No doubt that the difficulties have turned out greater than were at first expected, but the gallantry of the allied armies have re flected immortal honour on them. Their sufferings had been great, but their heroism had been greater than their suffer ings. (Cheers.) I say, then, that if that be part of the ques tion to be decided to-night—if the policy of going to attack Sebastopol be ono of the elements on which the hon. and arned gentleman rests, 1 am ready to take my fullest share of the responsibility in that decision ; and whatever may be the mischances and difficulties which have prevented sue- cue-, I are as strongly convinced today as when I gave that opinion that we were right in going to the Crimea, and that no other course we could have adopted would have been equally effective in attaining our object. (Hear, hear.) But we are told that having determined on goingto war we failed in making adequate preparations for carrying it on with vigour. I deny that charge. The Duke of Newcastle did everything a man could do to send the army to the seat of action. Never before did there leave these shores an army so well equipped, or in such numerical force. Nor did my noble friend neglect to provide reserves for the war, so far as the establishments we had enabled the Government to provide. (Hear, hear.) We have been told that there was great neglect about the militia, and that for that I was particularly responsible. The act brought in by the right honourable gentleman did not, under the particular circumstances ire which we stood--did not technically give us the power of embodying the militia—at least so it was thought, because we were not actually in danger of invasion. In former times we were always on the breaking out of war in danger of invasion, but that could not be said of the present war. It, there fore, became necessary to change the law, and we put it in the power of the militia voluntarily to offer themselves for embodirernt. Between the months of Apiil and Septem ber we tUts embodied 17 regiments of militia by volun tary offers. We were restricted in one respect ; we could not embody more than could be put into barracks. But from October to December 33 regiments more were em bodied, so that we had e 0 regiments of militia embodied by the end of December, making 38,000 men of an effec tive force. (Hear, hear.) Some people feigned one way and seine the other. Some complained that we did not embody the whole of the militia, others contended that it was not a force applicable to the circumstances of the war. But the nature of the militia was that it gave recruits for your army, and though we could not embody all, all were under arms, and the number enlisted under arms up to November was 5,500, ant the number since enlisted was 12,700, so that we have actually 18,000 men given to the regular army from the militia since the war began. We are greatly indebted to the cna mending officers for their zeal and self-denial, but for which we could not have had this great augmentation of recruits. These militia recruits, too, have been found infinitely more available for service than younger men. (Hear, hear.) Well, then, I do not feel that I am open to any blame for the manner in which I have made the militia available for the public service. But if the honourable and learned gentleman meant a direct censure against those members of Lord Aberdeen's Government who were not imme diately in war departments, he at least might have given them the opportunity of being hoard before his co mm itt ee . So far from thiuking that thy should form part of the inquiry, he never called me or my right hon. friends before the committee- we were never summoned, nor was a question asked us. If our conduct was to be impugned we should have been asked what we had to stato in our defence. (Cheers.) But I think this is a strange and singular Parliamentary movement. I can conceive that a person who thinks that is Government are doing something injurious —I can understand a person calling on Parliament to interpose and sweep away a Government which is hur rying the country on the way to ruin ; but the hon. and learned gentleman dues not impeach us for anything we are doing as a Government existing. (Hear, hear.) He goes back to November and December last, though his motion is made in the month of July. His motion is founded on circumstances which have ceased to exist, and there is no part of his motion which has reference to the conduct of the Government that now occupies the Minis terial seats, and that is charged with the conduct of the affairs of the country. But it may be said, though he did not maintain it, that the present Government is guilty of the same inches that he imputes to the Go vernment of Lord Aberdeen. How is that the case? The army which was in November and December in a condition so painful to the feelings of every one who heard of it is in a different state now. (Hear, hear.) Is it now in a state that it is necessary for Parliament to find a remedy? Exactly the contrary. It is in as fine a con dition as any army that ever existed on the face of the earth. In spirit, in everything that constitutes efficiency in military affairs, it is a pattern to be imitated, instead of an example to be deplored. (Cheers.) There is nothing upon which the conduct of the Government can be im peached with regard either to the military or the naval service. Then what is the object of the motion ? The lion. and learned gentleman avows it plainly. It is not against the Government of Lord Aberdeen. He talks indeed of our train ing all the men of mark on this side of the house. He means no such thing. What he wants is that the house should in terpose to remove the Government of the day. Has he shown any grounds for it ? Not the slightest in the world. All he has been able to allege is, that in the months of Novem ber, December, and p ar t o f January, the army was in a bad condition. The hon. and learned gentleman calls upon the house to vote a censure tepon the Government of the day not for any misconduct of the Government, but because, forsooth, evils existed in the autumn and winter of last, year which have now ceased to exist. Although no doubt the merit of their cessation is due in great measure to the brave and gallant officer in command of the army, I think that if the Government is to be blamed for that which may locally go wrong, they are also entitled to praise for that which locally goes right. The hon. and learned gentle man has censured the Government of Lord Aberdeen on one ground, which is t o t a lly w ith ou t f oun d at i on. Ho says that the members of the Government neglected so en tirely the conduct of these great and important affairs that from the month of August to the middle of October there was no meeting. of the Cabinet, and' he implies that the ministers - were all absent from their posts. Why, sir, who were at their posts ? There was the Duke of Newcastle, the Secretary of State for War, who, I believe, never left his post fora single hour. There was my right honourable friend the Secretary -at-War, who was also con stantly at his post in London. There was my right honour able friend the first Lord of the Admiralty, who, I believe, was hardly over absent from his duty. There was the First Lord of the Treasury, Lord Aberdeen, who was constantly in town; and. Lord Clarendon, the Secretary for State for Foreign affairs. Is not that a Cabinet? Five of the most important mernberaof the Government, charged with those departments, the business of which might require consi deration, were all on the spot, and might have met at any hour of any day on which a council was required. But were the other members of the Government altogether out of reach ? The hon. and learned member asked where I was during the time. I WAS within three hours' reach of Lon don, in daily communication with it, and at any moment at which my advice or presence might have been required, a very few hours would have brought me here to consult with my colleagues. I say that this is an unworthy attempt to cast blame upon men who were devoting themselves to the conscientious discharge of their duties, and never _quitted their posts, like the five colleagues whom I have naentioned. (Hoar hear.) It is an unworthy at tempt to cast blame upon a Government that has ceased to exist, to misrepresent the matter to suck an extent as to convey the impression that there were not constantly in London sufficient members of the Cabinet to have taken into consideration and have determined' upon. anything that might have required immediate deliberation or deci sion. (Rear.) Let it also be remembered that the Cabinet met in October. • The battle of the Alma was fought to wards the end of 'September, and, in point of fact, the suf fering,s of the esriny did not commence until after, the meeting of the ' Ca binete—untilealt the neemben3 . of the Go vernment were at their posts in London. Withont long delaying the house from the decision to whictl.l: hope it -wilt come, I must say that I accept the previous question moved by the hon. and gallant member, because I agree with those who think that the inquiries of the committee were not and could not be complete in regard to the points to which they directed their investigations. It was im possible for the committee to obtain a complete elucida tion of all the circumstances connected with the sufferings of the army without entering into details which they them selves very properly felt they were precluded from entering upon. Therefore, upon that ground, if upon no other, I am disposed to think that the motion of the hon. and learned gentlemen ought not to be put to the house; but undoubt edly if the house should determine that that question shall be put, I shall then, with my right hon. friends, deem it right to oppose an absolute negative to the proposition. But, sir, 1 think the time is not appropriate to these sortof motions. I think that these sort of motions are not in unison with the feelings and the temper of the country. We are engaged in a great and important war. I do not wish to exaggerate its magnitude, but on the other hand it would not be very unwise to depreciate its importance. We are engaged in a war which requires the united feeling and determination of the whole country. The feeling and determination of the country are united. The minds of the people are fixed upon the war. They care little for these party squabbles in this house. The country is indifferent what party shall form the Government, provided that party shall carry en the war with vigour, provided it di rects the energies of the country in the manner in which the country desires to see them directed. I must say that in my humble opinion the nation is not wall satisfied at seeing this house spending night after night—(cheers)—in discussing now for the third or fourth time motions of cen sure for the avowed purpose of removing the Administra tion. I think the country is better pleased when it toes the house doing, what I am bound to say it has with great ho nour to itself and great advantage to the country done — placing in the hands of the Government, of whomsoever it may consist, the means of prosecuting with vigour the war in which we are engaged. Sir, that is a war from which we have no retreat but in victory. It is a war in which we cannot get the victory without the united effort of all parties both in and out of this house. I should be quite ready to yield the position which I occupy if I thought other men were more capable to unite in themselves the confidence of the country and to wield its energies than those who are now in office; but until I shall be shown —and I confess that conviction has not yet come upon my mind—we shall feel it our duty to perform the functions with which the com mands of the Crown, the confidence of this house, and the voice of the country have charged us. In spite of the little interruptions which motions like this may from time to time interpose, we shall feel it cur duty to second what I believe to be the most deliberate convictions and heartfelt determination that ever animated a great and powerful people—to carry on with vigour, to prosecute with energy, and to crown with success the war in which by every mo tive of necessity, and every sense of justice, we have been compelled to engage. (Cheers.) Mr. DISRAELI said, an unwillingness to trespass on the attention of the house, at that late hour, was very much diminished by the knowledge that it was not his intention to detain it more than a very few moments; but the truth was that the question upon which they had to decide, had been presented in so many, and such ambiguous aspects, that he felt bound to say a few words respecting the line he should adopt respecting it. They had heard much discus. sion respecting party motions, party feeling, and party ob jects, but if he were to choose a motion which should be most consistent with party objects—if he were to select a course, on the part of an administration, which he thought would strengthen an opposition, it would be the course which Government was about to take, and the motion which they had deeared it to be their intention to support. Here was, according to the noble lord, a vote of censure on the Government, and how was it met? By a motion which literally implied that the house declined to express an opi nion on their conduct. But it appeared to him that the house had something to consider beyond the question of confidence in Ministers, or in the gentlemen who sat oppo site to him ; and to that the noble lord had not alluded in the course of his speech. The motion referred to the con duct of statesmen who were no longer members of the Ad ministration, and they, much to their honour, insist that the verdict of the house should be explicitly taken respecting them. Was justice to be stepped, to use the words of the Attorney-General ? No ; they said, "We protest against the convenience of the Minister being the cause of subjecting us to tin imputation which ought to be cleared up to the satisfaction of the house." Let the house remember what had been the course of events with regard to this motion. A few months before a committee to in quire into the state of the army before Sebastopol had been appointed by an immense majority of that house. What was the cause of the appointment of that com mittee? Was it the feeling of the house ? No ; it was the feeling of the country. As Inkerman was said to have been the soldier's battle, that committee might have been called the people's committee. (Hear.) After a pro tracted investigation, a decision was come t o , an d th e chairman of that committee now submitted a resolution embodying the case on which that decision was founded. He thought it only Tight that the house should express an opinion on that resolution one way or the other, and that the conduct of the noble lord respecting it was the most unauthorised he could remember. The course the noble lord took was to deny the conclusion of the committee, and the value of its researches. The noble lord said that the assumption of the committee that the Cabinet wore not present in London, and did not meet in August and September, was unfounded. But if the noble lord was satisfied that that statement was untrue, ought he to take I refuge in the previous question ? Ought he not rather to have said, " Those labours of the Sebastopol committee are superficial—they have been conducted in a spirit unbe coming the occasion, and they have misled the people. I will not permit the authority of the Government to be in- j ured by these unfounded statements. I will vindicate my policy and the character of public men, and I call upon you, the House of Commons, not to falter in a doubt even, but to declare your opinion, that this committee have not done their duty fairly, but have performed it in a fraudulent spirit— they have misled the country and poisoned the public mind, and unless you come to a decision which shall vindicate us, we cannot consent to carry on the Government." That was the duty of the noble lord. But the noble lord said this was a party motion. A party motion brought forward by wham? By an hon. member who, six weeks ago when he brought forward a motion involving the existence of the Government, voted in favour of the noble lord. (Hear.) In considering the course they ought to take they were to be influenced first by the unequivocal demand of the right hon. member for Carlisle and his late colleagues, that the opinion of the house should be taken on the real question at issue, and still more they were bound to have regard to the feeling out of doors that the validity of the report of the Sebastopol committee, which had been questioned by the noble lord, should be tested by the opinion of the house. He lamented that they were called upon bythe amendment of the gallant general to evade the real question at issue ; but if ho (Mr. Disraeli) had only party objects in view, he should be well satisfied that that course had been taken. (Hear.) But the gravity of the question, and the reality of the issue, ha should have thought would have rendered it impossible for any person whose conduct was called in question by the report of the committee to consent to shelter himself under such a subterfuge—be should have thought that the noble lord would have been the first to call upon the gallant general not to embarrass the decision of the house by interposing the previous question. But they were told that if they passed such a motion as had been submitted by the hon. and learned. member for Shef field, they would ostracise the great majority of public men who now sat on the ministerial benches. He (Hr. Disraeli) heard now for the first time that a Minister against whom a vote of want of confidence was passed, was ostracised and for ever after prevented from holding office under the Crown. (Hear.) N - 9 by, there were few statesmen in that house who had not at some time or other been subjected to such a vote. The noble lord had previously been a member of a Government against whom such a vote had been carried, and yet he was in office, and the noble lord the member for London had suffered the same kind of condemnation ; and that he was not still sitting on the Treasury bench was not because he was ostracised by a vote of the House of Commons. They had a dissertation from the right hon. baronet the Home Secretary on ministerial responsibility ; but the right hon. baronet appeared to be inconsistent in his argument. At first he was for complete and undivided responsibility among the whole body of Ministers ; but he conclude l his speech by a pathetic de scription of the hardship of a Secretary of State for the Home Department being expected to call every day at the Admiralty to know how things were going on in that de partment, or of a President of the Board of Control having to wait at the Foreign•office to see that the right despatches were sent off. What did the right hon. gentleman mean ? Was he for ministerial responsibility or not? The noble lord had referred in connect on with the appointment of the committee to the late attempt of Lord Derby to form a Ministry. But the friends of LordlDerby cautiously guarded themselves (certainly he himself had not done so)—against expressing any opinion when they supported the motion for a committee, further than that there ought to bo an inquiry. And did the noble lord mean to say that in the interval when the inquiry was going on Lord Derby was to assew.o that the result would be eliminatory to the statesmen who were then the advisers of her Majesty ? Such an assumption would not have been very charitable to the noble lord opposite and his colleagues. He had, however, seen statesmen invited to join a cabinet upon the faith of a solemn pledge as to the policy which would be pursued, to find, after being trepanned into the acceptance of office, that pledge violated. Lord PALMERSTOINT—That is not true. Mr. DISRAELI—He used the term in a Parliamentary sense. What he meant to say was that the right hon. gen leman the member for Oxford University, the right lion. member for Wilts, and the right hon. member for Carlisle had been induced to join the Government on the faith of an understanding in reference to the motion for the ap pointment of the Sebastopol committee, which understand ing not having been maintained they leftoffice. The noble lord had to-night put forward fresh claims to the confi dence of the country. He said ho was carrying on the war with vigour and energy, that the country was deter mined upon continuing the war and carrying it on to a suc cessful issue, and that the noble lord was the only man who could satisfy that determination, and he appealed to the House of Commons whether, under such circumstances, they would interfere by a vote of censure to prevent him. He (Mr. Disraeli) was glad to hear from the noble lord this account of what he was doing and intended to do. What had been the description given that very night of the course the noble lord was pursuing by General Evans ? That gallant general had said he had confidence in the pro fessions of the noble lord, but that his deeds did not. re alise those professions. This was the opi n i on o f th e hi g h es t military authority in the house, who had recently returned from the seat of war. (Hear.) The gallant general bad complained that neither the Turkish contingent nor the Foreign Legion were yet embodied ; and yet the gallant gentleman was the devoted political adherent of the noble lord. Probably his account being a detailed one, was more reliable than the narrative of the noble lord himself. The noble lord had sought to defend his conduct in regard to the militia ; but he could not deny the broad fact Shat he delayed for months to put the act into operation, and when questioned about it, said that he did so on acc o u n t o f th e expense. (Hear.) Frequent allusion was made in that house to the probable effect which these discussions might have on our relation with France. Any public man who pursued that course, and availed himself of such a pretext, did more to endanger the alliance, and shake it to its cen tre, than all those who took the opposite side. The divi sion was now about to be called, and he blushed to think of the result. After two nights' debate, with the whole country watching their proceedings, they were coming to a vote which could confer no honour oe credit on that as semblage collectively, or on any individual in it. (Hear.) Mr. ROEBUCK replied. Ile said—l take slaame to myself for once in my life. I have indulged in panegyric ; but, like almost all other men who attempt a character to which they are not accustomed, I have failed in representing it, and have failed also most completely iu making myself understood. (Hear, and a laugh.) Perhaps I may fail again in attempting to make an expla nation, but, as I *hell not attempt to eulogise, perhaps I may be successful. I did object to making the Duke of Newea-,tle a.scapegoat. I gave the noble duke credit for , industry and good intentions; and I said that he had done his duty according to. his _ability. Did Igo one whit. be yond the -truth,M.:so- saying? Than I ain _turned round upon becauhel am said to have eulogised the noble duke and to have excluded him from the operation of the reso- I lution whicb I proposed, Sir, I did no ouoh thing; but wished to draw a distinction, and to point out that be had been zealous in the discharge of his duty, according to his ability, and that he had been singled out for a victim. It was not I who singled him out—l singled out no one ; but because he was so singled out, because he was made a scapegoat, because be did carry on his back the sins of the ministryto which he belonged, and because I believed him to be illtreatal by such conduct, I expressed myself as I did ; and for that the noble lord the member for London says that I have brought forward Try motion to-night from malice. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, if I had any malice against that noble duke I should leave to him the task of taking care of his own character. The hon. and gallant general has moved the previous question, feelingit to behis duty to do so, but agreeing, as I believe, in the main with the resolution which I have proposed. The gallant general thinks it impolitic for the house to come to a decision upon the subject and he can ask the house to adopt that course without any slur upon his character ; but the noble lord at the head of the Government cannot do so. The noble lord by accepting this subterfuge confesses his errors, but does not, as they say in legal phraseology, "avoid." (Hear.) The adopting such a course confesses that he fears the deci sion of the house upon the main question—that question being a charge which I bring against him and all his col leagues in the Government of Lord Aberdeen, of having by neglect caused the miseries of the army before Sebastopol. I should have thought that the noble lord, and more espe cially the noble lord the member for London, who has hitherto borne a reputation for courage, would have been ready, fairly and openly, to meet such a charge, and would not have availed themselves of the shabby pretence of the previous question. The bon. and gallant general who moved the previous question has stated that he objects to retro spective punishment, but in point of fact all pnuishment went must be retrospective. The hon. and gallant gentle man confounds retrospective punishment with retro spective law, but, when a Minister allows a great army to dwindle away in consequence of his want of foresight, there needs no retrospective law to make it a crime in the eyes of t he people of England, and that is the crime with which I now charge the noble lord, and that is the issue which he shirks. We are threatened by the hon. mem ber for Kidderminster that the result of agreeing to this resolution will be to do mischief to our alliance with France, but when I proposed the committee I was threat ened with the same thing ; but the hen. member for Kid derminster says that misthief would have followed the ap pointment of the committee if it bad not been for his pro phecy ; and I must say that I think it is a somewhat ex tra.% Gant pretension on the part of the hon. member to assume to himself a monopoly of wisdom. (Hear.) Mr. LOWE—What I stated was, that one of two things would happen—either that the inquiry would extend to questions of State policy, and would thus endanger our al liance with France; or, if it did not, then injustice would be done to individuals. Mr. ROEBUCK—I am in the recollection of the house, and I distictly assert that the hon. gentleman said, that the warning which he had uttered when the committee was appointed had prevented the mischief which would otherwise have arisen ; and I consider that that statement displayed an extravagance of vanity on the part of that hon. gentleman. Allow me, in making an end of what I have to say, to make an appeal to the house. I have acted in this matteras I thought it my duty to act. An inquiry had been instituted by this house into a matter which deeply affected the happiness and welfare of my country men. A committee brought these matters to a conclusion. I came to this house to ask them if they coincided in that conclusion; and the right hon. gentleman the member for Wiltshire (Mr. S. Herbert) says most candidly that I did no more than my duty. I now appeal to the house, and ask them to watch over the army of England. (Cheers.) In doing so I have done my duty ; it is for the house now to decide whether they will do theirs. (Load cheers.) The house then divided on " the previous question"— namely, that Mr. Roebuck's motion should be put from the chair. The numbers were : Ayes ... lB2 Noes 289 Majority —lO7 Consequently, Mr. Roebuck's motion was not put to the vote. _ . _ The announcement of the numbers was received with cheers from the 'Ministerial benches. _ _ _ .._ The other business on the paper was disposed of, and the house adjourned at about a few minutes before 3 o'clock, until 4 o'clock to-morrow. THE LATE DISTURBANCES IN HYDE- P ARK. INQUIRY INTO THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT OF THE POLICE—(YESTERDAY.) The commissioners resumed their sittings yesterday at a quarter to 11 o'clock. Mr. Mitchell wished to call the commissioners' atten tion to a case that had enlisted his sympathies in the hope it would that of the commissioners. On Monday as a young man, a professor of music, was leaving a house in Carnaby-street, he was struck by a policeman on the arm and the bone splintered. Chief Commissioner Wortley asked what that had to do with the inquiry ? Mr. Mitchell said it referred to the conduct of the police. Chief Commissioner Wortley said they did not sit there to make a general inquiry into the conduct of the police, but their conduct on a particular day and place. Mr. Mitchell wished to hand the letter containing the statement he bad alluded to, with the surgeon's certifi cate, for their consideration. Chief Commissioner Wortley said they could not entertain it ; Mr. Mitchell had better forward it to the Home Secretary, or the person aggrieved could petition Parliament. Mr. Commissioner Armstrong said it was out of the power of the commissioners to entertain the application. Chief Commissioner Wortley said, then entertainig it would be an impertinent interference with the duties of other persons. Mr. Mitchell then proceeded with his charges against the police on the Ist inst. He called Mr. Henry John Luce, of 5, Philpott-street, Commer cial-road East. He attributed to the conduct of the police the cause of the disturbance that occurred that day in Hyde-park. Whilst he was there he heard shout ing; at the carriages as they were being driven along the road. There was much joking going on. He particularly noticed the conduct of a superior of police on horse back, who communicated with the police, imme diately on which they rushed on the people inside the railing and between that and the Serpentine, striking in various directions: In the evening he walked down Park-street, smoking a cigar. There was a crowd of persons in front of Lord R. Grosvenor's residence, but peaceable. Suddenly there was slight shouting, evi dently proceeding from a small number of persons. There was then an immediate rush of the people in con sequence of the mysterious appearance of a body of po lice. The crowd was dispersed almost in a minute, and lie found himself surrounded by about 30 policemen. He became alarmed, and considering it was their object more to inflict injury than to apprehend delinquents, he turned down an adjoining street to get out of their way ; just as he did so he received a violent blow on the hack of the head, which knocked off his hat and cut his head open, and the blood flowed copiously. He remonstrated with the policeman as well as he was able in his excited state. The police would not allow hint to have his hat or give him protection. He eventually recovered his hat, and made the beet of his way home. He suffered much inconvenience from the wound for two days. In the Park he heard temperate remarks made by groups of persons on the Sunday Trading Bill. There were no persons addressing the multitude. Some horses were frightened. Cross-examined—He thought the demonstration was to show the popular feeling against a hypocritical bill. Chief-Commissioner Wortley—Against the Sunday Trading Bill ? Witness—Yes. That all should be tarred with the same brush. Witness—Several times the superintendent's horse was frightened by the shouting. He thought a demon stration could be harmlessly made. He thought some in the carriages sympathised with the crowd. He no ticed several instances where policemen acted with great propriety and forbearance. It appeared to him too stringent orders were given by the superintendent of police as the day advanced. y the Chief Commissioner—lt was seeing persons in Oxford-street looking down Park-street that attracted his attention, and he went into Park-street from curi osity. Mr. Charles Ogle, master tailor, 55, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, said the shouting in the Park was less than on the previous Sunday. He saw a larger number of well dressed ladies walking there than he ever recollected to have seen before. The crowd was very orderly. He noticed particularly a policeman mounted on a chesnut horse, striking the people with his whip. the people said it was Superintendent Hughes. The witness was about to describe the policeman's appear ance, when Mr. Ellice said it was Superintendent Hughes. Witness said the people expressed to each other their opinion of his conduct. He described the attack of the police on the people in driving them from the rails, and the occurrence in Park-street, in similar terms to the witnesses already examined. He added the police marched to Park-street five abreast with their trun oheons under their coat tails, and when opposite Reeve'e mews they took them out and rushed on the people, striking with great violence. No warning was first given to the people ; he saw a young man whose head WAS cut and bleeding. Witness said it was difficult to take a policeman's number from the scroll work around the figures. Cross-examined by Mr. Ellice—Witness was positive Superintendent Hughes struck the people with his whip. He did not think it dangerous for persons to drive in the Park. By Chief Commissioner—Hehad lived in Mount-street twenty-seven years, and frequented the Park every Sunday. He thought there were as many vehicles fre quented the Park now as ever. But they are not of the class they were ; there are not so many carriages, and the occupiers are not of that class they were, are they ?—No, not sc. many carriages ; for many gentlemen who used to kee p carriages now keep broughams. Mr. J. Ingram Lockhart, of Dalston, late candidate for Northampton, said the Easing and shouting iu the Park were not so boisterous as he bad witnessed at hustings on elections. The crowd was good tempered. He saw 80 policemen pass, with their hands under their coat tails. By their side was et, mounted inspector or superintendent, who used such expressions as—" D—n your blood, why don't you resin in and pull them out ?" The police on several occasions declinedto obey the orders, and appeared to be disgusted AI ith the orders so given ; he saw several persons taken into custody, some with their heads bleeding ; he saw • them take off Mr. Mair ; they toted towards him as it he were a criminal ; he offered no resistance. Mr. Richard Fuller Sande, i i, furnishing undertaker, 50, Mount -street, Grosvenor ,quare, drove through the Park, accompanied by his yv . , fe, about half-past four Dayssvater side, and received from' his house very large crowo'clock on th e a f ternoon o f th e Ist in s t. ; h e drove the o annoyance ; he saw -d apprc.aching, :Lard Robert Grosve n o r ' s h ouse f-- tv 3 park. He went out to see the ea , " s end whilst speak ing to a friers' .-se of or -' e up and ordered bi an inspector Cat._ 'ten the -.AA off. Lie remonstrated, yr.._ policeman struck bim under the ear, and after under the hack p trt of the head ; he ran away into Reeve's-mews and through a brougham to get out of the policeman's reach ; he then saw the same policeman strike a man on the face, smashing in his cheek, and on the man remon strating, he replied— " Come, go on ; go to the hospital and get your wounds dressed, or I'll give you three times as much as before." He saw the folleeviog day that Lord Robert Grosvenor's windows were broken. Mr. Robert Sims, clerk to a building society, was in the Park, near the Receiving-house, about 3 o'clock. The people were very quiet until police-sergeant 12 A came up with about a dozen policemen and attempted to clear the can iage way. In doing so a young gentleman, about 20 years of age, and apparently in delicate health, was about to obey the orders, when police•sergeant 12 A, as he was stooping, pushed his heal against the railing. He expostulated at receiving such rough usage. Police sergeant 12 A then took him by the collar and the thigh and threw him into the crowd. There was a shout of indignation from the crowd at such conduct. 429 A told a man " You had better keep out of toy way, or I'll mark you." He was unable to say what led to the remark. Witness said to 429 A that his conduct implied revenge, which was very wrong in him. He replied, with a sneer, "The people had'nt pluck enough to fight." The policemen had a preference for boys— two policemen generally seizing one boy. He saw In spector Hughes communicate with the police, and his riding amongst the crowd caused much dissatisfaction. Witness saw another policeman act similar to P S 12 A. The majority of the people were in the Park, he thought, from curiosity. The only person he saw haranguing the people was an advocate of teetotalism, hut he had not many more than 20 persons'listening to him. Cross-exarninel by Mr. Ellice—He thought in both cases the parties were roughly thrown over the rails. There appeared to be no ill-feeling against the police until they misconducted themselves. The man spoken to by 429 A had not the appearance of a pickpocket. Mr. George Jennings, writer on glass, 11, Gray's-inn lane' walked from the receiving-house to the centre of the Park and heard the people conversing about the brutality of the police. The noiselin the Park was not sufficient to frighten a horse. About 8 o'clock he saw two mounted policeman riding on the grass above the Serpentine, ordering the policeman as if to clear the ground. He saw the police on several occasions attack the people on the grass and strike them severely. There was no attempt to apprehend a man when he was knocked down. He i-aw three or four policemen dragging a woman towards the receiving-house. As he was standing speaking to two or three persona he was struck in the back by a policeman in one of the charges alluded to. Mr. George B. Coulcher, law stationer, 50, Chancery lane, was in the Park from half-past three till half-past four o'clock ; he was passing along in the drive on his way to Notting-hill, when he was stopped near the Receiving-house by several policemen, truncheon in hand. Without any warning they seized hold of him. They afterwards said, " Where are you going ?" He replied ; " Notting-hill." The police said, " They distil% care a d—n for that." He took the road because there were less people there than in the path on each side. He asked them " if it was not a public path, and if he had not a right to go there ?" They made no reply, but dragged him to the railing on the near side, and forced him under ; whilst standing inside the railing, 229 A poked him with his staff in the stomach, saying "Take that." The people cried "Shame," and the police appeared irritated. After thathesawa mounted policemanonadark horse, and a,ked him if he bad given orders to his men to knock the public about, and explained he was on his way to Notting-hill. The policeman replied he did not care for that, I had no business there. Witness pro ceeded to remonstrate with him, and asked if he had not as much right to pass along the carriage-way as vehicles. He replied that if witness was come there to argue the question he bad better be moved off, and called to some of the men and directed them to "re move him." He refused to go under the railing and be subject to such treatment, when five or six of the police lifted him up and threw him amongst the crowd. He certainly felt indignant at the conduct he received. He saw one attack of the police, and they appeared to strike as bard as they could. The crowd appeared to be conducing themselves well. He heard several cries of "Go to church," but the noise was not sufficient to frighten the horses in the vehicles passing at the time. He saw DO sticks or stones thrown. He heard of no allusion to the Sunday Trading Bill. Mr. James Templeman, schoolmaster, 73, Mount street, Grosvenor-square—Signed the petition to the House of Commons. He never saw so large or so re spectable an assemblage (judging from their dress, and he believed that was a test of respectability) as on Sun day, the Ist July, in Hyde-park. The noise from boys and others he did not think sufficient to have frightened a horse. He saw two mounted inspectors instructing the police, who immediately charged the people. He saw theta charge the people seven or eight times, when they struck down as if striking on the rails to compel the people to let go their hold, and when on the sward on the heads of the people. He saw three policemen using great violence to a youth they had in custody. He saw a policeman strike a man in a violent manner across the loins, who fell from its effects. The fol lowing day he went to Marlborough-street, and asked for admission, which was refused by a policeman. He did not take his number, because he thought it dangerous to do so. Another policeman said to him as he was stand ing in the street—" Don't stand there like a stuck pig ; move on, or if you don't I'll soon give you something you don't like." Witness thought he meant a broken head, and he left. He presented a petition to the House of Commons. Cress-examined by Mr. Ellice—He thought there was no object to be gained in clearing the footpath. There would he a difficulty in getting stones from the path. Mr. Henry W. Flower, licensed victualler, Oxford. market, said the populace was exceedingly orderly till about three o'clock. Superintendent Hughes acted like a mad man, cutting indiscriminately with his whip, the men following with their staves. Great indignation was expressed at his conduct. He saw the police kick people as they were obeying their orders in getting under the rails. He heard parties say they wished they had had a gun with which to shoot Superintendent Hughes. There was a movement through Grosvenor-gate, the people saying they were going to Lord Robert Grosvenor's. On his way home he stopped opposite Lord Robert Grosvenor's house. He beard several mischievous boys calling on rd Robert to come out, and askin g " if there were any victuals in the house—any lobster ?" The police ordered the people on, but before he and his son, who was with him, could do so, Inspector Webb seized his son, a lad aged 16, and shook him. Witness remon• strate.d, and whilst doing so a policeman came up and seized his son. The police appeared not to know what they were about. He moved into Grosvenor-street, and there he saw two or three policemen seize a msis ; the man staggered on, when one of them struck him on the head, the blood flowing freely over his face. As the people were running away a boy was knocked down, and a policeman stooped and struck him down with his truncheon. The inhabitants in Park-street and Gros venor-street, an aristocratic neighbourhood, sympathised with the people. He heard one boy invite Lord Robert Grosvenor to " come out and hang himself with the parchment on which he wrote the Sunday bill," at which the people laughed. That was the only allusion he heard to the Sunday bill. Mr. Charles - Citing, reporter, was in the Park pro fessionally ; everything was as quiet as possible the early part of the afternoon. There was a cheer raised as the water carts passed along the road. The disturb ance conunenced about 3 o'clock by 430 A collaring a dead eel thrown at his feet by a boy. (Laughter.) Saving it in custody, the inspector told the policeman to take it to the barracks, which he did, with the assis tance of 12 policemen. In consequence of the policemen refusing to give up the eel a boy threw a small clod which struck one of the policemen in the face, and then they drew their staves and struck about indiscriminately. The eel was taken to the barracks and safely lodged. (Renewed laughter.) As the police returned they were hooted a. All the policemen were then mustered, two mounted policemen rode up (one Superinten dent, Hughes), and then the first onslaught was made, and when several men were struck, and he saw some women lying on the ground. The blows accompanied the order to stand back. When this charge was made the men were remonstrated with, to which they replied they, had fresh orders. In the course of the day he saw a hundred men and several women struck. On one occasion the police were ordered to drive the people back from the railings to wards the Serpentine, but which could not be done with- Out the people falling into the water. Superintendent Hughes rode up like a madman to one par ticular spot, where there were a number of fashion ably-dressed ladies standing, and raising himself in his stirrups, leant over the horse's head, and with a long riding-whip he struck right and left, striking several of the ladies. The people were indignant at his conduct, and cried out " to pull him off his horse and throw him into the river." His face was distorted with rage. He had seen numbers of assemblages, such as at Ken nington Common, Bishop Bonner's Fields, and at the time of the Trafalgar riots, but he never sat! such conduct on the part of the police as on this occasion. In reply to a question from the Chief Commissibleer;o Mr. Mitchell said he thought he should be a finish his charges against the police to-morrow (this day). The Court then adjourned till eleven o'clock today. SUNDAY BEER BILL COMMITTEE. The Committee of Inquiry resumed their proceedings yesterday morning at the usual hour ; Mr. H. Berkeley, the chairman, presiding. The first witness examined was Mr. Wakley, one of the Coroners for the county of Middlesex. He stated that ho had filled his present office since 1839, and held between eleven and twelve hundred in quests annually. As a general rule so far as his obser vation went the feeling of the people against the Beer Act of last session was one of violent hostility. His own impression with regard to the construction of the words bona fide traveller was, that they applied to any person who was away from his home Were he a publican he would supply any person with refreshment within tho prohibited hours if he did not know him as a resident in the neighbourhood. He was of public-houses being under oosed to the rinciple the continued surpveillance of the police—and he believed that nothing was more calculated to bring the civil force into disrespect than this very circumstance. So far as his experience went, it had confirmed him in tha opinion that publicans, as a body, discouraged drunkenness ; for the simple reason, that no persons were more annoyed by drunken people than the publicans themselves. He thought publicans generally wished to encourage a respectable, sober class of persons to attend their houses. In his district the publicans conducted their business in a moot exemplary manner. The Chairman—Hate the number of inqueat4 held y you on deaths arising from the effects of intoxicating liquors been in any way diminished since the passing of the new beer bill I Mr. Wakley—By no means. Examination continued--Ho regretted that the labour of the week did not terminate at two o'clock on the Saturday. The business of the week was at present pushed so far into the Sabbath that the working man had little or no time for recreation on that day. He thought the restrictions placed upon the working classes by the operation of the act were not only very objec tionable, but would never in his opinion accomplish the end in view. From his knowledge of the working classes, he did not believe that drunkenness could ever be restrained so as to attain the end in view by legisla tive enactments. He believed, on the other hand, that the education of the people, ail(' the consequent cultivation of a higher tame of moral feeling, would sooner and more surely accomplish the desired effect. The Chairman—Then you are a firm advocate for the education of the lower classes, in order to remove the opprobrium which has been attached to the working man, that he wa's best known by the fact of his making his mark instead of being able to sign his name ? Mr. Wakley—Most decidedly. Examination continued—He had bad excellent oppor tunities of forming an opinion upon the state of educa tion amongst the class of persons with whom he was brought in contact in the capacities of jurymen and wit nesses ; and the large majority of the latter could not write. By Mr. Villiers—it was true, in his official capacity, he had had few opportunities of judging personally of the actual inconveniences of the working of the act ; but he spoke from what he had heard and seen. His im pression was that the Legislature had not acted towards the licensed victuallers so jtpitly as they ought to have done compared with other classes of tradesmen ; and if another opportunity were afforded him of coming before the committee he would undertake to give them a history of what he considered to be the griev ances of the licensed victuallers. He distinguished the licensed victualler from the beer shop-keeper in making this remark. He did not think there was any prejudice amongst the public against the licensed victuallers ai a body of tradesmen. The unfavourable opinion he hid alluded to as being entertained towards them existed in the House of Commons only, and he had observed that to be the case when he sat in the house. Mr. Villiers—Do we understand you to mean that you are in favour of the abolition of all restrictions upon public-houses ? Mr. Wakley—By no means. I consider the restric tions imposed by the Beer Bill were unnecessary. They have been followed by no good results, they have created a hostile feeling in the public mind, and they have, be sides, altogether failed in accomplishing their intended object. But at the same time I consider some restric tion is necessary, and I have therefore always approved of the closing of public-houses from twelve o'clock on Saturday night until one on Sundays. This gives the publican himself an opportunity of attending some place of worship in, the morning. Examination continued —He had never, throughout an extended experience and much conversation with landlords, with whom he was continually brought into contact in the fulfilment of his public duty, heard a single opinion expressed by them favourable to Vie new Beer Bill. If he were consulted, he should say, open the public-houses from one on Sundays until three in the afternoon, close them then until five, after which hour let them remain open until half•past eleven at night. By Sir J. Pakington— Whatever inconvenience was oceasionec: by the closing of houses so early on Sunday evenings, in his opinion it bore more heavily upon the middle classes than the lower. Mr. Norwood, chief inspector of the Waterloo termi nus of the South Western Railway, said the average number of excurAion passengers arriving by train after 10 o'clock on a Sunday night was 1800 ; the total average number of persons, including ordinary passengers and excursionists, being 3,000, v‘ ho arrived at the station after that hmir on Sunday night. He believed that a greater portion of the excursionists wished to avail themselves of a public-house for refreshment on their arrival, as they generally had tra velled long distances. He had heard frequent complaints of the hardship of being unable to obtain refreshment ; but a general feeling of dissatisfaction prevailed as to the operation of the Beer Bill. Mr. Beadon, police magistrate at Wandsworth and Hammersmith, said that in his opinion an excursionist was a bona fide traveller, though he did net attach any particular importance to the words bona ficle. Be fore the passing of the act several publicans came to him for advice how to act. As to the onus probandi in cases of information, he thought it ought to be thrown upon the publican ; indeed a provision in Jervis's act clearly laid down the principle in all cases. He thought the act operated more severely upon the class of persons who went with their wives and families into the country in the immediate vici nity of London than upon those who went long ditances from town. The former complained that they could not get any refreshments at the very time they most wanted them, viz., in the afternoon. As a general rule they required refreshments about four o'clock, and then to return, but they could not went until six ..'clock to obtain them. His own opinion was that public-houses ought to be open from 1 o'clock on Sundays until some hour on Sunday evening—say eleven. He would also have the houses closed at that hour on Saturday evenings. By Mr. Villiers—ln his opinion the fault of the Beer Act was, that it had carried restriction too far—but he did not go so far as to condemn it in tote. He would not have houses open all nights on Sunday. Mr. Villiers—Had you any difficulty before the pas sing of the Beer Bill in deciding upon the term " tra veller' ? Mr. Beadon—None whatever. He was guided by precedents in coming to a conclusion ; and in addition to these, the Middlesex magistrates had formed a pesi tive opinion upon the point. He was of opinion that the words " bona fide" should be struck out in any refer ence to the definition of a traveller. He should suggest that punishment should fall upon the parties found in public-houses at forbidden hours rather than upon the publican, who was in many cases absolutely forced to transgress the law. Mr. George Cruikshank, the well-known author of the celebrated " Bottle " etching:, was next called. He had paid much attention for meny years to the subject of intemperance, and was a; a very early age impressed with its evils. He had be cothe a practical teetotaller, feeling that any preacbiles of his would be otherwise useless ; and since ad tptitig that course, he had influenced thou , a , ,ds for good to fol low his example. With regard to the question before the committee. !:e was highly in favour of tits operation of the Beer Bill. He had oln.erved that it had tended to diminish disorderly conduct on Sundays. He had occasionally travelled ou Sundays, but had never heard any complaints amongst excursion ista relative to the hardships of the working of the act. Mr. Critikshank teen entered into some statements as to the evil consequences of drunkennes , , which be con tendea existed throughout the whole of Sunday in the lower parts of London. He went on to describe very graphically some of the scenes he had personally wit order to add to their effect, produced nessed, and, in some very spirited pictorial illustrations of these inci dents. The cornnii:,tee, however, begged him to confine himself more particularly to the subject under conside ration. By Mr. Villiers—He was an advocate for the Maim e liquor law. The act in his opinion was productive of no inconvenience whatever. He had no doubt that drunkenness was the great cause of crime. Captain Rushout, a director of the Great Western R a il w ay, spoke to the large numbers of excursionists who arrived in London by train after ten o'clock on and the dissati s f ac ti on th ey f e l t gene . rally could not obt tin an y re f res h men t. H e Sundayth that nights, oley thought this was cue of the chief objections to the Beer Act. , After some further evidence on this point the room was cleared, and the committee adjourned at four o'clock. RECRUITING IN THE UNITED STATES.—In New York, Philadelphia, Boston, it is all the same. The recruiting sergeant no sooner shows his head and rattles his bounty money than a squad of police is upon him, and he stands committed. In these days of dereliction from duty, it is striking and refreshing to note these evidences of vigilance. We live among sham reforms ; there are sham shuttings.up and puttings-down of grsgshops ; there are sham attacks upon gamblers ; sham onslaughts upon strolling courtesans ; sham suppressions of lottery policy offices ; but in this anxious, incessant pursuit of the "allie,:" recruiting officers there is no sham what ever. There is a zest and an animus about it that be. speak a profounder intereet among the pursuers than is usually found to proceed from an unadulterated regard for public good. You may people the Everglades with Filibusters ; you may enliven the banks of Rio Bravo with pugnacious adherents of Caravajel ; Missourians, armed to the teeth with knives, and to the throat with whisky, may after a month's notice invade Kansas, and not a detective or preventive police show itself. Its eyes and its energies are all spent in the service of Russia. There is hardly a ghost of a chance discovered of getting off a full company to aid in the conquest of Sebas topol bef ire the authorities ate on the alert, aid the enterprising Sergeants Kite laid by the beets. You may do anything in a business way easier than swell the ranks of the allies upon contract. While there will be general satisfaction at the prompt action taken in these ca-es, it is for the curious reader to satisfy him- self how it may be explained. With ad the pretended tendency of American sentiment to the Russian side of the question, there is certainly too little fervour in it to account for this laborious vigilance in its interest ; and, somehow or other, there is a general feeling of satisfac tion whenever the allies gain ground in the fight. A long purse at St. Petersburg, and a shrewd agency here will naturally occur to many as affording a solution ; and, though we are by no means prone to accept this easy method of acceunting for such proceedings; it will un doith•edly be widely received as satisfactory. It may be that this extraordinary vigilance on the part of the Go vernment agents is part of their recent system of pre serving the perfect neutrality of this country and en forcing the laws for its observance. We shall be glad to believe that this is the true explanation, and hope the policy thus adopted may be impartially carried out. — New York Times. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.— Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, held an inatiest yesterday, at the Albion Tavern, High-street, Sh a d we ll , on view of the body of George Arthur Mellish, aged 16 years, who lost his life by drowning. The deceased was employed on Saturday last on board a barge, moored off mid-stream, at Shad well Doelt, and while engaged in pushing the vessel from the tackle . by the means of a hiteh.x, .or •boat-hook, he slipped and fell overboard. The poor boy was not taken out until life was quite gone. Verdict —" Accidentally drowned." , opt , itAlagrS --_- DERBY SMITHFIELD. —JUL Y There was a fair'supply of fat beasts to-daY, lora° the flat demand for beef and no arrival from 0 0 00 England ; high prices were asked, .but slo w sale, A 13,001,, few left unsold. The number of sheep and lamb s f so numerous, but quite as well sold. The ouPPIYOI/ the ' and store calves w as l a rge for the season , but not in good request. Fat pigs plentiful. to The following were the quotations :—Bee f itilat mutton, 6 i ld 7(1 • lamb, 7d to 7id ; veal , u"st),Jr lb. ; pigs, 9s 9(1 to 'lO., Od per score ; rough fat, 7, 8 , . t „,4l' per 141 b. ; hides, 34(1 to 41d per lb ; calf-s , per lb. BOSTON—JULY 18. ly P ie At to-day's market we had a moderate supP i .t 0 a for which there was a slow dragging derna u ",' - t osP„; vance of about ls. per qr. Of spring corn tue...citfr brought forwaid was so extremely small that " ' g• prices nominally as on this day se'nni ht hite, 7o Prices :—Wheat, red, 72s Od to 79s Od; - 00. P Sts Od extra, 83s Od. Barley, 35s Od to 3J,Is Od 26s to 313. Beans, 47s Od to 50s Od. Peas, per qr. NEWARK—JULY 18. At our corn exchange to-day we had a fair 0 11 1 ) 2 0 rr kinds of grain. Wheat was a brisk sale at li money. Other corn as before. Oe' Wheat, white 82s to 86s red 79s to 82s; bsrle/2, slifl o —s to —s, grinding 35s to'36s; oats, 24st. 34s to . 0: 0 , 30s to 33s ; beans, 48s to F=2s ; malt, 700 to 72 1 ; r 4Ss ; tares, —s to —s per qr. SEABORNE MAILS• (N sigaifles that the malls are sent from the Gellerlf, ,' ty the night—and Mby the morning—despatch.) e now ,„, at ditto Fort 6 , 11 ---------- po LiverPeo l I 40 4 COUNTRIEI Day Wllvri in General Post- Office, London.* imerica(byßrit.pact l N Americe, thy United Sts. packet) .. N America (by U. States packet) N Australia (via South ampton) Ditto (via Marseilles) N. Ditto (via Cape of Good rope) N Africa (West Coast) ...N Alexandria N Alexandria M Bahamas Belgium N Brazil M Buenos Ayres... . Mi Cape of Good Hope N I Cape of Good Hope 2ti Cape de Verds N I Ceylon (see India) Ceylon N Channel Isles .. N Chili.. M Chins . Constantinople .... Constantinople Cont. of Europe M & N Egypt (see India) France ........ M & N Gibraltar .. M Greece (see India) 3reytown .. 111,2nd & 17th of men Elamburgh N ,Tuesd ay & Fridays Elavanneli lllt2nd of the month' Holland .... Honduras .......... Mi 17th of the month. India (vlaSouthampt.)M,4th & 20th of mon. India (via Marseilles)M 9th&2sth of month lonian Isles (see India)l7, 17, & 27 of mon Ireland & N4wice daily Lisbon... ... 7,9, 17, & 27 of in. Madeira c./ttl of the month Madeira ............N l 23d of month .... Malta (see India) Malta .„N Mauritius (see India) Mauritius Mexico •• •• •• .• •• ••M Naples ........N Now Granada ...... DI New Zealand. . Papal States ........N Peninsula ..........M Peru . . ........M Port Natal ..........N (Every Friday .. LAverPv, ° outhA ra PV' • ° South • I Dover " 1 • • • poi Ply M ath ;Dover outharov S ti Southar n P Dover •••;(;); southanwiolol.? sourtur i 'L rt :Vr ic° various r 334 of the month 24,8; 30 01 0,, '4th & 20th of moo. ,17th of the month IDaily ~...... , 1 9th of the month.. 1 9th o'i the month.. 9th of tb3 month !Soutilar a P W' !Mon.,Vired., &Frl 4. I 2ri P 170 , Pf moot'. Once a month.... 8,13, (13,23,r42e oi 14th Sr 20th of mon. Twice daily ...... SouthaniPtcl',l [S9uthaniPw Dover ...:..., i S o uthernP I nover .• ''.. ,Twice daily.. '4, 7,17.20, 27 ofm 1011 Eionikaoo4°l !London • i ts ;;O'i So a themP Dever •• • 'i o 'r 0 11 0 gontinonP Plymout h . ., iDover • •1111 I tioly_gheeLo.stor jou L o u ti t tn tua ll t or Lt, LiverPOl Dover i~¢tbsll►P 8, IS. &28 of mom 14th of the month !2n , 1 of the month. sthlsth2sthotmon. & 17th of month ,By private ship .. sthlr,thV,thofinon. I"thl7th27thofmon. td Ft. 27th of mon., By private ship... sthloth2sthonnon,i 'ls , hlsth2sthofinon.l 13d& rith of month; paver ••••••• Sicily ••••••••• • • • • • NI Tuscany ....N Venezuela .• ...M Van Diemen's Land (see Australia) •• •• • • • • • • West Indies !O. go stile OP te ,. iDover 1 0 90 SoutharoP . _ ous P oi. 'fan„ fi)Lvte.bre.ra. ~outbaraP es Dose . , IDover 00 ,suutiister 12d& 17th ol month I southa rapo> , When any of these dal spatched on the followin Southampton), and the 3 preceding day. 'tea fall on a Sunda: mg day. with the ea Calta, both of whi, 1 0 0 T, the rn„3fillt 4 tcePtone-do/Pr -12 tell" 11 1 4 1 MY TRAVELS. BY CAPTAIN CPIAM.-, bor 0: 0 1 .; rather lengthened period the popular ml‘ $1 Life of a Sailor" has retired from the ]rte be , but we cannot regret it, when we find thei r for. _o ll j ployed his leisure hours in collecting a utteria 66 0 of travels, full of sparkling wit, careful r ill tr o l sterling good sense. We' accompa n y e o ol‘e I France, Switzerland, and Italy, when ce bo th lytfi cursion to Sicily, and along the road be en t oll o pt and instructs ns by pleasant gossip about a i de d 0. 4 0 /,, Altogether, "My Travels " may b e r e ff e nter i t . or the most valuable, and at the saT e Ym i ' works en Continental manners 410 U 0 4 a ß p a p n e 7 a , r s e r d ep fo o r ron lo t n h g e of diseases a few otrI le 0 .:: ADVERTISEMENT. -We have road rouClr % e a/ without 0 Du Barry's Food. The follo care wido appear to merit the attention of g many cure Mitts Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage , Hefts: a cure of extreme nervousness, indige,sl 4 tio 6, A ings, low spirits, and nervous fancies. Cure " n l: s c :o Miss Elizabeth Yeoman, Gateacre, near Liv er P„;ll ll 's9 , 10 years' dyspepsia and all the horrors of nervc"c o rs i fh From the Dowager Countess of Castlestuar t -Rosstrevor, County of Down, Ireland, 9th ' c i; 4 o o A , The Dowager Countess of Castlestuart feels I°., PP' interest of suffering humanity, to state that D a heft 60 cellent Revaleuta Arabica Food has cur e tile , : 1 , all medicines had failed, of indigestion,toAos nervousness and irritability of many yea rs ' cl 0 1 14 Food deserves the confidence of all sufferers , g_'i t ilis'',o,l4 sidered areal blessing. Enquiries will be eheel', l4. ; In canisters, 11b. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d.; 51b. 1 - 1 0 01"0 The 121 b., carriage free, on receipt of Post-et: 06 0 10 e Du Barry & Co., 77, Regent-street, London; 461 d, t4t Piccadilly ; 60, Gracecnurch-street ; 330, , a tese r ,,o 4l l, 4, Cheapside ; 60 and 68, Cornhill; 49, I 3, e'" 63 55, Charing-cross; 54, Upper Baker-street; Oxford-street; 89, High-street, Camden-too‘. o'd°;, mall; 7, Pall-mall-East ; 132, New Bood' str .lo:. ! 6f' comb-street ; 13, King William-street, CAI P A rookt 4 , 4 o street; 21, Clockspur-street ; 95, Farringdeo"; Or," Paul's Churchyard ; 6, Eilward-stree, Purtlo''d-ciedvi4 PUBLIC PETITIONS.- The 55th reportin e 'ila r tif the corp. ra ion of Sheffield for a reform Unioerij 29 for an alter a ti on o f th e C am b r idge odl i nune.l by 1. 35 p-roes. 552 for prnbi bi „"s vli ,0 0 alcoholic drinks on S un d ay , s i gne d by I' m ,' 6 6 j 14, 1 ,i 10 in favour ~1 th e M eo i ca l Bill, signed Iwo - 0 1 1 y ,nd 4 for a vote of censure on Minibterg, h oe 00) persons: Tilese netiti-ners state that theV;00100:, with alarm and dismay the progress of t, 11 08 11 :0 1 9 oeg,t talons for peace ; they complain () ; ie ge l ; favourable terms offered to Russia, and t "1:0 0 1, conduct of the war ; they suggest that D o roidt pay all expenses, and' express a hope t , ri • 1 , buck's motion will be carried out to the c ;iP i i " 1 0 tribunal of all the members of the (late) ',jai") to he followed hr their ponicbTrept if el k o ' 00,0 y, THE CONEERVATIVE LAND SoorsTY. --4- of ° cif estates took wave yesterday at the offic e° pr.f e og in Norfolk-street, when the Houns lo , # ; DO -ffered dna takenbefore ti_e list 01,11ecl i °A through, several members being clisaPP,f, % lo 3 . ing plots on this valuable estate. The '`.;" tr o t estate, Brighton, was offered at the 6 0 ,,,,, - ber :he leased lots and a considerable l' u Vel t , i f lr taken, as well as lots on the Reading, sy le ji; and Weybridge estates, making a total A . sl, upwards of 5,000/. sefr ,V,l AN AGE OF PROGRESS.-In ,si boil ot John Wysong informs the citizens tha t b e o lt a v pO gf , with him in the mercantile business WI, be 0, 1 //„ ginia, and that hereafter business wl" pleir under the style and firm of J. Wysong c s ill , 0 11 0:1 1 BUOYING THE CHANNELS TO THIC °g t: 0 I The credit of buoying the channels Poeibe the Sea of Azoff having been bestowed tbesgooli(l due, it is right to state, which we do o n ,ct t ol3 o , an officer of the Miranda, that the innP c k tb4 l l/, question was performed by the master off,. ,tr i George Williams. He achieved it on t b o j rot D e l l 25th of May with indefatigable energy 14 ww - . 1 4 I* 0 0 01 in the face of the enemy's fire from the 0,6 fe s _ a s Tchesko-spit, which he passed, and, ° , 3 1 ;! of ~) , ,Fo i t obstacle, succeeded in buoying a chan l ; o A the Sea of Azoff. It will be reco llected f teff ship up to Kola, a river 32 miles long , I° 4014 con..tantly the whole distance. . e . 0 0 07 t r o A Parliamentary return published Joresq,oftsp that Mr. J. J. Lonedale and Mr. C. S' 010 8401. each for drawing a number of bills C. s e urinal Law Consolidation, and the 11.0 IP an 3151. for prepating the Bribery Bill Election Bill of last session. ~............., ___,..-- - BIRTHS . / I , 0 i OF A SON. °° 1 On the 17th in s t., a t Southill, the " Ke O rr n . the 19th inst., the lady o f Gee. 01136131°P1 18, Brecknock- crescent, ent, Camd en-town' f.' r/ OF A DAUGHT ER. 1. 13 .A'J 0 , On the 19th inst. atWandsworth, W l ' 0, fr On the 16th inst. , at RegenesTaric - ter ° . of 0 Winstanley. elf ;f On the 28th May, at Matelle, Ceylon) t il - Layard, Esq., C.C.S. 64 MARRIED. otao l ;( 1, Adirig t° P On the 18th inst., at St. James's, re,--jothea.rd .41 Fon of the late W. Mackeson, Esq., °` gal P- py Eleanor, daughter of W. J. Chaplin, m " o pti . 4l Hyde-park-gardens. ' ,oh.. 1,01 On the 18th inst., in St. Mary'e,Wo-i 1g d oll Charles Knox, her Majesty's 73d Regt• , ,hlir P youngest daughter of the late Colonel Al' Artillery. ee , I P NeOwneLthhaernl,BEthsq.inastg.e,daBDtB.olldE Seine, Br i g ht dr' a o° ll4l ll, On the 17th ins ' t at 1, TorrianoCottsg- ' f, i o °le' John Pitt., Esq. " On the 19th inst., at Walton•on-Thate" TO wife of Mr. Thomas Dun, of 8, Idol-lanef a, city, aged 41. Ar ch On the 6th inst., in Dumfriesshire, l.' formerlyof the 2 0 th Regt. , ag ed 81. O ilf f 0 1, Pi L!ONDON: Printed and Published by ) 11:114 : 0, 00 0 of No. 112, Strand; Printer, at Th€ Sig' s ,. tho Strand, in the Preoinet of the SOO I '"" Alid4lolo, Friday, July 2Q, MO t,