The Sun. — London, England, 1856-02-22 00:00:00

TILEATRE ItOYAL, COVENT.GABDE...ti. Lessee, Mr. J. 11. Anderson. THIS EVENING THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. To be followed by WHAT DO YOU WA! T To conclude with L'ECO3SAT3 FRETILLANT. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith. VHS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Tu c..n,lude with KEY DIDDLE DIDDLE • or, Harlequin King N01190T1116 1111 the seven Ages of Man. • THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET , l7aler the Management of ,Lr. 13 - az:ketone, THIS EVENING. THE BUSY BODY. Followed by THE LITTLE TREAURE. Altar which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled TIM BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND TIIF: GRASSIIOPPER'S FEAST; or, Harlequin anti the Genius of the Spring. ROYAL PRINCIN3'3 THEATRE., OKFORD-STREET. Mae the Management of Mr. CHAU.= JLIC4X. THIS EVENING, KING HENRY THE F.TGIICII. Queen Katharine, Mrs. C. Kean ; Cardinal IVol3ey, Mr. C. Kean. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE MAID AND ME MAGPIE ; or. the Fairy Paradi4a and Hanky Paaky, tao Enchanter. Tlarleguln, Mr. Corinack ; Clown, Mr. Hanna; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Col.an'nue, Mk , ' Caroline Adams. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHJ. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, liadaane Celeste. THIS RVERTNQ. BETSY BAKER. To be followed by TrILT BLESSED DIET. To coneftide with JACK ANI) THE BE k24' STALK; or, Harlequin and Mother Goose at Home Again. In Witch Messrs. J. Bland, P. Bedford, Madam Celeste, Miss Wyndham, and Miss E. Arden will appear. RDYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS Eykyrx4a. STAY AT HOME. After which will ho produced s, Sew and deubly-moral, though excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled TUF. DIACREET FRANC EA3 ; e-, the Three Glass Distaffs. in which Messrs. Emery, F. Robson, U. Cooper, Miss Mantas, and Miss Maskell will appear. ROYAL STMEY THEATRE. Lessees, Mews. Shepherd sad Crestla. THIS EVENING JASPER LANGTON; or, A Duel to the Death. To conclude with PRUCF: OF PZA.RI,3 ; or, Harlequin awl lane Shore. ABTLETS ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lem. and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooks. THIS EVENING, First time, a Grand Oriental Equestrian Spectacle, called THE ARAB OF THE DESERT AND HIS FAITHFUL STEED. The principal character by Mr. W. Cooke,ill l i. After which the SCENES In the CIRCLE and tke performance of the Stupendous Elephants, one of which wends uncontrolled upon a narrow inclined plane from the centre of the ring to an elevation 12 feet above the stage. To conclude with HARLEQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. `West. Koestrian Director, ,fr. W. Cooke, Inn. ENO'S ST OiLEY'4 6EVEIN" AGFA OF WOMAN, Every Evening at 8, and on Saturdays at 3. •rnnonnced by the unanimous voice of the presq, and by nightly laereasfug audienoea, to be the Greatest Artlitieal Triumph or Vie cay. SIINT 31ARTIST'S I.oug-acre. Area, lg. Re.gerved Chairs, 2s, 6d. HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRTDGE. Tins DAT—Morn. 10 min. aft. 3—Evening 24 min. aft. 3 ro-Moiinow—liona. mill. aft. 3 —Evening 52 min. aft. 3 THE WENTITEU-SUET OFFICE, FEB, 22, THERVOIIETER, TN TEIX SHAW. 40 - highest since noon yesterday. —:owest this rooming and during the night. 42 —this (lay at noon. BanomrrEß, 30 - 05. WIND, N.W. to W.N.W.- Light. with hazy weather and glimpses of sunshine. Y , ° Zit • LUDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1856. There is, it appears, to be a farther inquiry into the matter adverted to in the elaborate Report of Sir JOHN WNEIL and Colonel TuLLocar, her NlAJr.wry's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the State of the Army iu the Crimea. A Board of General Officers has been appointed "to hear the explanations of the o#lcers who conceive themselves aggrieved by that Report." This is certainly a peculiarly mild form of expression in reference to men against whom the gravest charges have been preferred—who are asserted to be primarily responsible fur the loss of ten thousand British soldiers, for the fearful sufferings and privations encountered by those who had stamina sufficient to endure the formidable ordeals through which they were compelled to pass, and for the virtual annihilation of the English Cavalry in the Crimea ! Nor do these accusations rest on the evidence merely of newspaper correspon dents. They have been corroborated by the evidence taken before the Sebastopol Committee, by the Report of that Committee, and even more powerfully by that of the Royal Commissioners, who from evidence taken on the very scene of these terrible disasters, arrived at the deliberate conclusion that not only was everything which had been asserted by the vituperated correspondents fully and completely established, but that the guilt of the offenders, whether occasioned by incapa city or negligence, was of a far more heinous character than had previously been imputed. If ever a case was made out for putting incul pated parties on their trial, it has been against the noble, honourable, and decorated defenders. True bills have been found by competent authori ties, and it is time that the alleged culprits should be required to enter on their defence, not invited to offer explanations.. The lives of ten thousand men cannot be sacrificed with impunity. The irreparable injury to the nation is not to be ssltiAfi©d by expla nations. If Captain BROWN, Lieutenant JoNES, or Ensign ROBINSON were im pugned, a court-martial would at once be ordered, and the parties kept in arrest Instil the result were known. We cannot see any reason why a different course should be adopted with respect to Generals and Colonels, or why a different mea sure of justice ‘ should be meted to the Earls of Tice.tis and CATtnis4N, Sir R. AIBEY, and the Hon. Colonel GORDON. We do not wish to prejudge the guilt or inno cence of the accused. Every British citizen has au inalienable right to be heard in his own defence before he can be condemned. ' It is his birthright, of which he should not, under any circumstances, be deprived. But we desire that the trial should be public, and before a tribunal in which implicit confidence may be reposed. This was what we iletnanded ten days since, and wick nothing less will the people be contented. A public investigation is alike due to ther com munity and to the parties accused. Englishmen like lot secret tribunals, nor will they be satisfied whil e any portion of the proceedings are in "l"d in doubt and mystery. Against the de cision of a private court the accused may still appeal to the opinions of their countrymen. No conviction by such a body can therefore be final and conclusive, The result will be still less satisfactory if the Report s of the Sebastopol Com mittee and the Royal Co mmissioners be over ruled. There cannot, under any circumstances, be a decisive verdict that will either convict or vindicate the characters of the accused. We trust, then, that while there is yet time the determination as to the secrecy to be observed with respect to the proceedings may be rescinded, and that everything may be carried on above board, without concealment or mystery. Nor can we quite approve of th© constitution of the court. It is to consist of general officers " totally unconnected with affairs in the Crimea." If it were a court-martial (as it ought to be), we can easily understand why none but military officers should be appointed. But when it is a mere inquiry that may or may not lead to ulterior proceedings, no sufficient reasons can be adduced why eminent civilians should not be associated, who would be exempted from the prejudices with which men of high military rank might regard charges against persons holding similar positions. But, above and beyond all, why should officers who have served in the Crimea be excluded ? Surely such men would be more capable of arriving at correct conclusions on every point under consideration than those who had no such experience to guide their decisions. They could at once perceive the weight to be attached to the acts, either of commission or omission, attributed to the defendants, or some of them, and could more properly condemn or exo nerate them from responsibility for things which they have either done or left undone. For these reasons we feel that the proposed inquiry cannot be satisfactory on any side. It is so strictly in accordance with the red-tapist system, that the only possible effect can be to shelve the matter until it is supposed the public interest has abated. We warn them, however, that such cannot be easily accomplished, and that a stringent and searching investigation must ultimately take place, and that before a truly impartial tribunal, placed beyond the reach of suspicion. We repeat that it is alike due to the public and the accused, that such should be the case, and the sooner it be instituted the better for all parties concerned. Just what we anticipated. The motioi cf Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY for the opening of the British Museum and the National Gallery after morning service on Sundays was last night defeated by a considerable majority. The scene was sufficiently amusing and instructive. Honourable members, whose individual observance of the " Sabbath" carries with it no painful reminiscences, and is pleasingly compatible with a good deal more than was asked for on behalf of our workmen, tottered with the resignation of ascetics towards the table with their loads of petitions, relieving their over drawn muscles with a laugh as the frosty billets melted in their arms and dropped like icicles on the floor. It would have done the thirty mil lions of the population good to have seen what a lot of petitions may be got up out of a hundred and fifty thousand subscribers, and was enough to set the papermakers into fits of ecstacy at the thought of the roaring trade they would drive if the example were followed by the people. Exeter-hall was really in great force ; but, for the consolation of our anti-Sabbatarian friends, we can state that its bray was but a stupid per formance. The good creature's voice was neither so resonsnt nor so musical as of yore, and its kicks might be described as a little spas modic. The largeness of its triumph seemed lindeed to excite in it a feeling of uneasiness, and it now and then might be observed listening 1 for the roar of the British Lion without. " Au -1 other such victory and"—but let us drop meta phor and turn to the debate. Beaten in point of numbers, the moral and in tellectual triumph was beyond all controversy with ithe supporters of the motion, and to this triumph ILord STANLEY essentially contributed. His speech was a masterpiece of sound logic, and moral vigour, and persuasiveness, and ought to be put into the hands of every working man. Summarily dis- posing of the alleged expression of public feeling in the petitions, by showing how miserable was the minority which the petitioners constituted, and how little importance attached to the sig natures of most of them, who are prepared, or in a manner compelled, to sign what their spiritual pastors and masters set before them, whether they understand the subject matter or not, he pro ceeded to inquire on what principle the resolu tion before the House was opposed. Honest and conscientious persons (as we ourselves are ready to admit and certainly believe) might be offended by the resolution. But that was not the question ; the question was, whether it was a reasonable offence ? Those who so a.rgues did not know the fundamental difference between compul sory and permissive legielatien. No supporter of the motion would make it compulsory upon any man to go to a Museum or National Gallery on Sundays. On the other hand, the opposers of this resolution did not ask for freedom to stay away from these places on Sundays, "but what they wanted was to compel others to act as they did —(the legislative voluntary Sabbatarians at this stage began to prick up their ears and look as if they had got into a mess) —and in so doing," said his Lordship, " those persons, in his opikion, mistook and misunderstood not only the theory of Govern ment, but that of religious obligation. In dealing between State and State, each member of a commu nity was, of course, bound by the act of the ruler of the State. But there was no such individual responsibility in the relations between man and a higher Power—in foro conscienti a', each man must answer for himself. Relative duties were the per sonal attributes of each individual man, and if they attempted to force their notions of duty upon other mer they rather injured than strengthened their consciences. (Hear, hear.) He believed that half of the social injuries com mitted among men---half of the misery endured upon earth since it was first inhabited, arose out of that mode of argument to which all men were prone. That which men considered right they took for granted that it was absolutely right, and therefore they would compel their neighbours to do, not as their neighbours thought light, but to do as they did. The necessary consequence of this WWI hypocrisy and persecution, so that, iu the end, religion itself was brought into discre dit. He denied that this was a principle upon which that House ought to legislate—he denied the right of that House, or of any earthly tri bunal, to deb le and enforce the duty which each man owed to la higher Power. (Hear.) Human laws existed, and must exist, in order to enforce the observance of duties between man and man, but the duty - between man and the SUPREME 13 j Isa wa s enforceable by conscience alone (the Cc inpulsivee Yoluntaries seriously uneasy here !). Bt it, grant ug that it were a religious duty not to go to aMr iseum on a Sunday,l still he denied it :s such I a duty as the law bad a right to en- Woe. Thilre were some who contended that this (. ancient corn ma n d wa s still binding upon us ; but i he reply to that argument was, that the d a y h ;tying been t hanged the obligation was not bind. in g—that, ac !Cording to the DIVINE Coralmand, we W. j re obliged to keep, not merely one day in seven s Acted, but t' lie seventh day, and he did not think ' ;hat of ,jectiott had been answered. Sunday, he ad mitted ', was aAnestvaluable institution, but it would be easy to show that the rigorous ascetism of mo dern times was unknown beyond two centuries ago." Having disposed of this part of the question, his Lordship, it will be seen, took to pieces the objection, that to relax the observance of Sunday was to rna,ke it a working day, and showed its hollowness. With great justice he complained of the misrepresentations of the purport of the motion by the Sabbatarian party out of doors, and threw some not unneeded light on the Sunday-school objection. He freely admitted that the Sunday school system was, generally speaking, a valuable institution, but the children really in too many instances got too much of it. "He had known cases in which young children—the majority of them not ten years of age—were made to attend two services of the Established Church, and in addition three or four hours' teaching. Now," said his Lordship, and we thoroughly agree with him, " that was a degree of mental and bodily con finement inconsistent with mental and bodily vigour" —an enforcement of the system calculated to de feat its own ends; so that the liberation of the chil dren on a Sunday afternoon was not so undesirable a thing after all—especially, we would add, from the numerous chapel :vaults, necessarily un wholesome, is which they are Sunday after Sun day incarcerated. The remainder of the speech, outspoken, practical, and convincing, will be found worthy of all praise, and is not likely to be over looked by the ebtusest reader. In conclusion, we would remark the dominancy, the worse than Popish dominancy, of the Sabbatarian party is doomed. Let them keep the resurrection day of the LORD of Life and Light, and the GIVER of all Good, as gloomily as they please, the people will not much longer be compulsory participators therein within them. The pothouses will have to disgorge their reluctant guests on Sunday, and the doors of our National Institutions to be opened. Following the advice of LUTHER, it may be neces sary to signify by some striking manifestation the popular belief in the human origin of Sabbath Observances ; but whether or not, the people will rise before long in their strength and cast off the Sabbatarian yoke at once and for ever, and well will it be for the cause of truth if in their ex asperation they are content with this. THE NEW LOAN AND FUNDING OFj EXCHEQUER-BILLS. This morning there was a numerous attendance of capitalists at the Treasury, to take part in the biddings for the New Loan and funding of Exchequer-bills. Shortly after 10 o'clock a.m., the hour appointed for the business, the gentlemen in attendance, including Barony Rothschild, Messrs. R. and T. Thornton, J. Capel, Lawrence, L. Cohen, and others, were received by Lord Palmerston, Sir G. C. Lewis?, Mr. 'Wilson, &c., on the part of the Government. The Governor and Deputy- Governor of the Bank were also in attendance. The proceedings were opened by the Chancellor of the Exchequer placing in the hands of the Governor of the Bank of England the sealed paper containing the mini m?, in terms which would be accepted. In answer to questions from Mr. LAPEL, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the scrip would be delivered on the passing of the resolutions by the House of Commons ; but, The GOVERNOR of the BANK explained that be feared the scrip 'night not be ready on the payment of the first instalment of 10 per cent. If that were the case the letters of allotment would be stamped at the Bank. Mr. CAPEL asked whether, in the case of the Ex chequer-bills, it would not be a convenience to have the interest male payable at the Bank of England ? The CaascEtiou said it had not been the custom to do so, and he was afraid it was not possible. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then requested the presentation of tenders. Only one was made, by Baron L. Rothschild, on the part of Messrs. Rothschild, Brothers, in the following form : " We hereby propose to the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to subscribe the sum of 5,000,000/. sterling for the loan for the service of the year 1856, on the followinz terms : " For every 1001. of money to receive 1121. 5.e. (say five shillings) Three per Cent. Consolidated Annuities, with a dividend from January last; the payments in conformity with the notice. "This proposal is made subject to Parliament autho rising and directing ourselves and our contributors t o carry the aforesaid terms into effect." The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER asked what that price would be in Consols ? Baron ROTHSCHILD intimated that it would be at 891 for every 1121. ss. The CHANCELLOR replied that that was below the minimum price of the sealed paper placed in the hands of the Governor of the Bank of England, and which he requested him tb open. The GOVERNOR of the BANK of ENGLAND having done so, intimated that the terms were 111/. 2s. 2d.' Consolidated Three per Cent. Annuities, or equivalent to Consols at 90. Baron ROTHSCHILD having withdrawn for a short time with his friends to consult, on returning announced that they accepted the Gover3ment minimum. They were in hopes that some alteration might have been made in the terms for Exchequer bills, as the price was much higher than they anticipated. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after consultiag with Lti rd Palmerston and Mr. Wilson, replied that the Government could not make any alteration in the terms. Having placed the Ininiutum price in the hands of the Governor of the Bank of England, no deviation could he made. The ciOTERNOR of the Bank said it alight be as well to read the terms again, and did so. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it was not exactly at the price of 90, for they had taken the money quotation ; but on the average it was as near as possible 90. Mr. CAPEL requested that the Government would in future communications to the Stock Exchange state the amount of the loan at once, since it would appear that parties were acquainted on Saturday last with the amount cot only of the loan, but also of the funding, and bad won heavily by bets upon their infor mation. It was then distinctly stated that the loan would L• for 5,000,0007., and the funding for 3,000,000/. If, in future, the amount was stated at once, all parties would be in a position to judge for themselves, and any possibility of undue preference would be avoided. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that be had followed the precedent of previous loans. Probably it would he the best course to publish the amount at once ; but hitherto, during a long experience in such matters, it had not been the practice. Mr. JAIIES CAPEL said that he was told yesterday the minimum terms of the Government would he 00. THIS CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCITIEQUER smilingly re plied—That was a very good guess, but the minimum, price wa,4 not finally settled yesterday. After some further conversation, in answer to a ques tion from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Baron ROTHSCHILD intimated that the whole, includ ing the amount of the Loan and the Exchequer Bills, was accepted at the Government price. Mr. Jfkm. CAPEL asked what the; future rate of interest would be on Exchequer Bills, when called in by adver tisenient for exchange. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that he could not answer the question then, but the announce ment would be made at the usual period in proper form. Baron ROTHSCHILD having signed the contracts on the part of the firm, the proceedings terminated. The Queen, with the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, rode on horseback yesterday morning in the Riding School attached to Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty, attended by the Countess of Desart, Major-General Bouverie, and Captain Du Plat, ♦isited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Glecester in the afternoon, at Glocester-hotpe. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode on horse back, attended by Captain Du Plat. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred visited Mr. Fenton's Photographic Exhibition in Pall-mall yester day morning. M. Picco, THE SARDINIAN MINSTREL.—We were yes terday afforded by Mr. Anderson, the lessee of Covent- Garden Theatre, an opportunity of witnessing the ex traordinary performance of the Sardinian minstrel, Picco, whose fame has already preceded his visit to this country. The performance was a private one, i❑ the presence of some amateurs, although, in order to test the powers of the artist, it took place on the stage. M. Picco is entirely blind, and utterly ab sorbed in his art. He needs t• be so, for nothing abort of absolute devotion of body and spirit could enable him to work such wonders with such an instrument. To call it a " pipe" (though tibia is its traditional name with the Sardinian shepherds) is to invest it with too much dignity. We are afraid it must be set down as a " whistle," for such it is, not more than two inches long, and with no other machinery for producing separate notes than three of the ordinary round holes. 1 Upon this instrument the artiste (for artiste he is in the highest sense of the term) discourses really most elo quent music, developing power and even pathos, and executing the most intricate passages with a delicacy, finish, and aplomb that might be envied by the most perfect violin player. To the mere sight-seer the exhi bition would be interesting because of the wonders pro. duced by such insignificant means, but the musician will find abundant food fay reflection and admiration that this untutored child of nature should have acquired so complete a mastery over the mysteries of an art which it is given to few so thorougly to understand, and to still fewer to he able to interpret. We trust that it will not be long before M. Pieco , p.ppears i❑ public. His talent is unique, and he will gaud alone, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1856. LATEST NEWS. PARIS, FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 9 A.M. Couut Orloff arrived last light, at 10 o'clock, at Paris. He was received by M. de Ssebach. BERLIN, FEE. 20. Baron do Manteuffel has declared to the com mittee on the budget that the prospect of peace was exceedingly favourable ; but that the con tinuation of their armaments by the belligerent parties, and the tone of Queen Victoria's Speech from the throne, obliged Prussia to direct her attention to the shores of the Baltic, to keep up her army on a war footing, and even to extend it if necessary. HAMBURG, FEB. 21. M. Bang, Minister of the Interior for Holstein, hds followed the example of M. Raaslaff, and resigned. M. Simony, Minister of Justice, retains his functions provisionally. THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE CRIMEA. CAMP, SEBASTOPOL, FEB. 9. For the last few days, since the destruction of Fort Nicholas, a continual dropping fire, day and night, has been maintained from the forts and bat teries on the north side. It does not seem to be carried en at any regular intervals, but wherever a few soldiers are seen or suspected to be, by day, and wherever a light shows itself at night, there a shot or shell is sent. When the night is dark, or there is a thick fog, this dispersed tiro is still con tinued, either from tho attention of the Russian men on watch being attracted by sounds supposed to indicate movement in the town, or on the mere chance of causing casualties among the guards and troops on duty there. The Russian riflemen also try their aim across the water to the Kara belnaia, and, as the width of the roadstead varies at this part from four to six hundred yards only, no one can approach the shore from the Fort Paul guard to Careening-bay with out risk. On the 7th instant the Russians kept up an uuusuallystrong fire from the Inkerman heights and lower Mackenzie heights over the Tchernaya valley. They attempted to reach the position of the French camps along the Fediukine ridge, but, as usual, without success. Some shells sent burst at an immense elevation. They also fired grape, in ad dition to round shot and shell, at parties going to the reservoir, and at the advanced posts of the French, in the plain. The French made no return, either from the batteries in the valley or from the Fediukine heights, but their riflemen stationed in the ambuscades near the river kept up a constant fusillade. The Russian riflemen on the oppo site side were by no means inactive—the little puffs of white smoke were seen frequently from their places of concealment, and the sharp crack ing of this cross-fire was constantly audible in the intervals between the reports from the can non on the summit of the cliffs above. The Russians have not repeated the experiment which they tried about three weeks ago of bringing a field battery out upon the valley ; they, no doubt, saw that the result, as affecting the French position, was altogether a failure. The destruction of Fort Nicholas has proved to bo as completely accomplished as it appeared to be when looked at from a distance at the time of the explosions. As an example of engineering skill in mining, the success is perfect. The foundations are rooted up, and from one end to the other the whole fabric lies now an utter ruin, a mere heap of shat tered masonry and rubbish. Measures are in pro gress for the demolition of Fort Alexander, and it is stated that the walla of all the principal build ings remaining iu Sebastopol are shortly to be levelled to the ground. On the sth instant, part of the north wing of the Karabelnaia barracks, or White Buildings, as they are commonly called, was blown down. The building was not undermined, but the explosion of bags of gunpowder against the wall, applied in the usual manner, effectually an swered the purpose intended. It h asbeen remarked that the blocks of stone which formerly composed the sides and basin of the Karabelnaia docks have not generally been much injured, but only separated from each other, so that they would readily be avail able for the construction of fresh buildings. This remark will apply to many other of the stone buildings in Sebastopol, and there can be little doubt, whenever the Crimea is abandoned by the allies, the materials left will furnish the means of rebuilding very quickly such a town as the simple demands of habitation and commerce would re quire. The chief difficulties will be to clear the blocked up roadstead and harbour, and to provide the necessary planking and timber, of which articles, in all probability, no very great quantity will remain after the winter has passed. The collection of the subscriptions from the Army in the Crimea for the Nightingale fund is very nearly concluded. The sum collected amounts to little short of 4,500/., and the money had been paid over to the commissariat chest. To turn to a less pleasant theme. it appears that the unhappy criminal, in the 77th Regiment, has been found guilty by court-martial of murder, and is sentenced to be hanged—the finding of the court having been confirmed by the commander in-chief General Codrington. His name is George Day. He is quite a young man, and before his enlistment, which occurred in London, he earned his livelihood chiefly as a pickpocket. His mother died when be was a child, and his father, au aban doned charaaer, sent him into the streets to pick up anything he could steal, as a means of living. His father has been transported, and he has also a brother undergoing penal servitude. Since he has joined the head-luarters of his regiment in the field he has been constantly entailing trouble on all around him. There is talk of a reprieve, until communications have taken place with the authorities at home. This does not appear probable, as it is known that orders have been given to proceei with the neces sary preparations, and the commander of the forces is armed with full powers and authority without further reference. Monday, the 11th instant, has been named as the day of execution. He is not to receive a soldier's death by being shot, but is to expiate his offence by the ignominious punishment of hanging. The Rev. Mr. Wallace, the chaplain of the division, has been in frequent attendance upon the prisoner, and he has also been visited by the acting chaplain-in-chief, the Rev. Mr. Eagan. The health of the troops is still remarkably good. The weather during the greater part of the past week has been fine. RUSSIA. r A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Cologne Gazette, states that the fact of Count Orloff being sent to Paris is considered there not only as a manifestation of the Emperor's desire for peace, but likewise as a proof of his wish to effect a com plete reconciliation with France. A letter from St. Petersburg of the 12th, in the Debats, says : " An Imperial ukase, addressed to the Senate, regulates the position of certain assistants ap pointed under the Grand Dukes in the inspection of the engineers and of the artillery. The business of these officers will be to receive the reports from the chiefs of service, and to call the attention of the Grand Dukes to the defects which may exist in the administration, and in the event of the ab sence or illness of the Grand Dukes, these deputies will replace them. M. Tchefkin, the present head of the department of buildings and roads, has re cently published different regulations intended to prevent certain abuses which formerly existed, ono of which was that contractors who were about to make tenders were informed beforehand of the price that would be accepted. According to ac counts from Libau, only 23 vessels entered that port during 1855, and about the same number left. The value of the imports was 32,000 silver roubles (4f. each), and that of the experts 140,000." A letter from St. Petersburg of the 12th in the Constitutionnel says : "Prince Augustus of Wurtemberg, a member, by marriage, of the Imperial family, and who has ja,t re turned from a military mission to Berlin and Hanover, had a private audience of the Emperor yesterday, and expressed the great satisfaction felt by the Court of Prussia at the adhesion of Russia to the propositions of Austria. The Emperor again expressed his desire to see peace concluded in the interest of the general tranquil. lity of the world, and in that of the ameliorations which he has in contemplation for Russia. It is said that the Czar intends to completely reform the customs regime, and to replace the present system, which is nearly pro hibitive, by one framed with more liberal views. People who pretend to be well informed on those intended re forms say that foreign commerce will hereafter find all the frontiers open. They go even further, and affirm that the commercial treaty between Russia, France, and England is already drawn up and will be signed immediately after the conclusion of peace and the recognition of Alexander 11. by the Ceurts of Paris and London. At Odessa, the mere hopes of peace have com pletely transformed the appearance of the }lace in a fow days. Unfortunately the decisbu of the 16th January as want expected, and certain supplies were wanting to meet the sudden demand. Wheat and oats have ob tained fabulous prices—the former is worth 24fr. the hectolitre, and the latter 20 paper roubles. Flour also has not been found in sufficient quantity to meet the de mand of purchasers, and the arrival of corn at this place from the interior is anxiously expected, although it is feared that the last harvest was not sufficiently produc tive to furnish as much as will be required. A gill greater rise in the price of corn has taken place A zoff. It is, however, hoped that a general fall will take place as soon as further supplies reach the different markets. Great difficulty is still felt at Odessa in procuring cash, and in getting bills discounted, and this difficulty will continue until the bank is enabled to resume cash pay ments," FRANCE. , PARIS, TIltiltSDIY EVENING. It is now certain that the first sitting of the Congress will take place on Monday next, the 25th inst., at the Hotel of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A Council of Ministers was held yesterday at the Tuilleries, at which the Emperor presided. A grand diplomatic dinner was given yesterday by Count Walewski to the foreign plenipoten tiaries who have arrived in Paris for the Con ferences. It is officially stated that the Constitutionnel is in error in attributing the appearance of the article from the Siecle in the columns of the Moniteur to a mistake. The itioniteur, it is oberved, is the only Government journal, and if it commits a mistake will not leave others to correct it. Count Buol, accompanied by Baron de Hubner ; yesterday commenced paying their visits of cere mony to the Ministers and high functionaries of the state, and to the members of the Corps Diplo matique. The evening before last the Count, ac companied by the members of the Chancelleries who came from Vienna with him, were present at the representation of " Lucie," the new piece of Georga Sand, at the Gymnase. Yesterday evening they were at the Grand Opera at the representation of "Robert le Diable, where they occupied the box of Baron de Rothschild. BOURSE, Feb. 21.—Large sales were effected at the end of the market, and all securities were heavy. The following were the closing quota tions:— Cash. fr. e. End of Month. per Cents 96 —f. --c. 3 per Cents 72 65 73 25 New Loan 73 5) Bank Shares 3,465 Roman Credit Mobilier 3,550 Austrian Belgian Fives 97 Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5). B9 50 Home Debt , ..... „ 38 RAILWAYS-FOR CASE. fr. e. fr. o. Oran 1,270 Western B7O Northern Lyons - Niediterrannan 1,403 50 Grand Central Lyons Genova 757 50 Taste CAW 755 Anstrian C0ra....... 897 50 DENMARK. The erections, now in progress in Denmark, of members to the Supreme Grand Council of the monarchy are much more favourable to the Unitary Conservatives than was at first supposed. Accord ing to the last accounts, the strength of the two parties was equally balanced in Zeeland and in the capital, where a seventh member had still to be elected ; we now learn that the Conservative can didate has carried the day. In Fionia, the ultra- Danish list has prevailed ; but in Jutland their adversaries have carried the election of M. Tillisch, one of the ex-Ministers now under prosecution before the High Court of Justice. The electoral college of Holstein, which had elected Al. Scheele, the ex-Minister of the duchy, also under prosecu,- tion, has, strangely enough, given him a colleague in the person of a functionary whose dismissal forms one of the chief grievances of the Diet against the above-named Minister. The session of the special Diet of the kingdom of Denmark is about to close ; its spirit of hostility to the union of all the parties of the monarchy has remained the same to the last. SPAIN. We have received the Madrid journals of the IGth. In the Cortes, on the preceding day, the Minister of War, in reply to a question, stated that the government was on the best terms with foreign courts, and that the relations with neigh bouring nations, in particular, could not he more cordial than they were. " Even with Russia," said the Minister, " though she has not yet recog nised the Queen of Spain, wo have no motives of hostility." As to the isle of Cuba, the Minister further declared no fears need be felt, inasmuch as the garrison, the authorities, and the inhabitants would be able to resist any aggression. The Gazette says that the directory of the Spanish Credit Mobilier has been composed as follows : Duke d'Alba, president ; M. Duclerc, vice-presi dent ; members, MM. Carlos Calderon, of Madrid ; Emile and Isaac Pereire, Bixio, Goubie, Duke of Glucksberg, and Count do Morny. THE PENINSULAR MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Pera, Captain Soy, arrived this day at two o'clock. She brings no mail, only a small bag from Gibraltar. Her advices have been anticipated by the steam ship Euxine. She brings 50 passengers, amongst whom are Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, Bart., Lieut.-Colonel Prate and family (from Madras), Captain Clarke and family, Major Potts, Captain Jenkins and family, Ji7c._ The freight of the Pera consists of 2 packages of specie, 124 bales of raw silk, 2,370 bags of wheat, 300 bags of gum, 7 barrels of fruit, 4 cases of paint ings, 1 case of elephants' teeth, 54 barrels of tal low, 31 bales of wool, 5 casks of wine, 146 cases of oranges, 2S bales of orange peel, 4 cases of opium, 2 cases of cigars, and 190 packages of sundries. THE DEFENCE OF KARS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. saw only yesterday, by chance, the sup plement of the Allqemeine Zeitung, of Jan. 2, and in it a letter from Kars, attributed to me. The letter in question, pretended to be corning from London, after speaking about the refugees of Jersey and the different refugee journals, says : " A Hungarian refugee journal which appears in Con stantinople gives an extract of a letter from Gen. Kmety, who, as it is well known, commanded at Kars. The letter, which has no date, appears to have written in the beginning of November, at which time the author had already lost all hope to save the fortress. " There is," the letter says, " waist of everything; there is nowhere o r d er or judgment ; and I must say that it was my bad star which led me into this Turkish maze. "To complete, they have sent us English officers, who understand everything—except war! The enemy gets every week reinforcements, while we don't sae a man arriving. "If K:trs falls the whole campaign in Asia ends vie toriou•ly for the Russians, and the Sultan may look out where he can to find a second army to protect Erzeronm and the other places on the coast." In this whale statement there is literally not a single sentence true. I not only never correspond with this imaginary newspaper, but never even wrote a pri v at e letter to any one else during all the time the siege lasted, except one letter of congratulation to Colonel Teesdale regarding his son, Captain Teesdale, who so gallantly distinguished himself on the 29th of September last by our repulse of the Russians before Kars. Besides this the sentiments so gratuitously attributed to me in this imaginary letter, published in an imagi nary newspaper, are entirely at variance with my own. I owe to the Turks a debt of gratitude for having saved me from the Austrians, which I shall never forget. It was this which led me to offer my services in the beginning of the war, as much as the justice of their cause. As for the English officers, I have the highest esteem for every one of them, especially for their gallant leader, General Williams, whose invaluable services in the defence of Kais nobody can appreciate better than I do. 1 must likewise protest against my name being mixed up with the refugees of Jersey and the Socialist news papers. lam a soldier who tries to do his duty ac cording to his conviction, and to the best in his power. Excuse my trespassing on your ♦aluable space, but I thought it my duty to do so in the interest of truth, as well as in that of my personal honour and that of my brave companions in arms, the English officers of Kars. I am, sir, your obedient and humble servant, GEORGE KMETY, Late Hungarian General, Constantinople, Feb. 11. FRIGHTFUL DEATH FROM DELIRItrM TREMENS— ° SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday.—La‘t evening, as th e 7 . 45 train, from Southamptcn ttooleDaportchheeshteedrg a short , was passing Ling, a man was seen dis tance ahead, and throw himself upon the rail just u the train came up. Although a beautiful moonlight evening, and his movements w er e plainly seen by the engine driver, it was found unable to a t op t h e tra i n until the whole of the carriages had p asse d over t h e body of the wretched ma n, w hich was found to be muti latel al.nost beyond rec , gnition. His name is Sims, a carpenter by trade, and given to unsteady habits. lie was in a state of intoxication when he committed the suici lal act. An inquest will be held to-morrow. THE LIFE PEERAGE QUESTION.—We are informed, from a good sourc , , that Ministers are detertniued to persevere in the course they have pursued, with regard to the Life Peerage Questi‘ea. We may add, that great complications of a serious nature, as between the Crown and the House of Lords, are expected to ac crue in consequence. It was the prevalent belief last night that Lord Lyndbunt's motion will he carried, which greatly increases the difficulties with which the case is already surrounded,—Morning A dvortierr. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocK. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed steadily, at extreme prices. The sales were 7,000 bales, 500 for export, comprising. 150 Pernam and Maranham, 6 : td. to 61d. ; 400 Egyptian, Gd. to Bd. ; 1,000 Surat, 31d. to 4.1 d. per lb. Th• Railway Share Market was quiet, and quotations slightly lower. The accounts from Madrid contain the particu lars of the public debts of Spain, from which it appears that the total amount on the 30th June, 1855, was 13,580,466,110 reals. The principal items of this sum, are the 3 per Cent. Stock (in ternal), 2,681,011,544 reals, 3 per Cents. Deferred 1,597,289,456 r., and Foreign Bonds 970,964,000. The amount of the redeemable debt purchased by the state from 1851 to 1855 amounts t 0.934,935,271 reals. Business on the Madrid Bourse is improving, and money is becoming more plentiful on account of the number of foreign capitalists embarking in Spanish undertakings. The Three-per-Cents were done at 33, and the New Deferred at 23 70. The financial operations of the new Minister of Finance, Senor Santa Cruz, are not popular ; and considerable modifications will be made in his scheme of levying an indirect tax on commodities instead of the old octroi duties. Accounts from Berlin mention that the Chamber of Deputies have given their unanimous sanction to the Government proposition to employ a por tion of the recent loan of 30,000,000 thalers to wards paying the military expenses of the king dom. The Minister of Finance announced to the house that he would not ask for the proposed loan made by him at the commencement of the session. Although the business at the Stock Exchange commenced this morning at 10 o'clock, in conse quence of the taking of the New Loan, the dealers generally refused to operate until the prices accepted by the Government was ascertained. It was generally believed the figure would be about 89i, and when it transpired that the minimum fixed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was 90, some dissatisfaction was ex pressed as it was considered too high. The Stock Market consequently gave way. Consols after being 91 for money receded to 90/, and the account prices have declined to 91. The New Loan Scrip is lower /I premium, and that of the funding is heavy at 4 / premium. The New 3 per Cents. have been 92g 1, and 91i 92. The Reduced An nuities are 91g I. Bank Stock is 2131 to 215, and India Stock 221. Exchequer Bills are 45., 25., and ls. di,count, and India Bonds 2s. discount. Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. report that there has been less activity in the market for American Securities, but prices remain without alteration at the following quotations : GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Redeemable. Per Cont. United States 6 per Cents. 1867-1868...105 United States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1863...105 STATE SECURITIES California. 7 per Cent. Bonds 1870... 83 82 Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 86 88 Massachusetts 5 per Cent. (Stan]. Bonds) t./8 100 Mississippi 6 per Cent. Pl. Bk Bonds lB4l-1871_ 43 45 _ _ Mississippi 6 per Cent. Union Bk. Bonds .: 16 18 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Stock Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bona 4 1877... 80 82 Virginia 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) ...1888... 84 86 Virginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886... 8q 87i CITY SECURITIES. Bo?ton 5 per Cent. Bei ds (Divers) .. 90 92 Montreal G per Cent. Bonds .........1856-1865... 83 85 Now Orleans 6 per Cent. Stock 1853... 75 77 RAILROAD BONDS. Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Ist Mortgage, not Convertible 1875... 79i 80i Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Freeland Bonds ------ -1860... 83 85 Michigan Central Bp. Cent. 1860... 95 97 New York Central 7p. Cent., Convert 1864... 91 95 New York Central 6 per Cent., not Convertible 1833... 80 82 New York and Erie 7 per Cent. tat Mort- gago Now York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort- gage 1883... 86 88 N. York and Erie 7p. Cent. Couvertible 1862... 75 77 N. York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking Fund 1875... 80 82 Panama 7 per Cont., Ist Mortgage (Ster ling Bonds), not convertible 1859... 92 93i Ditto ditto 1864... 941 951 Pennsylvania, Central 6 p. Cent., lit Mort 1880... 86 88 Scarcely any business has been done in the Foreign Market. Spanish Committees Certificates are at 4. Turkish 6 par amts. rule steady at 941 1, and the Small Bonds at 94i. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 71; Mexican, 2011 ; Peruvian, 80 81 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 55 57 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 47 49 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 104 6 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 92 94 ; Spanish 3 per Cents., 42k ; ditto Deferred, 23, 24 ; Cer tificates 41 5 ; ditto Passive, 61 1. Railway Shares are very firm, and some of the quotations have improved. In the Foreign lines, however, the dealings are unimportant. The Mining, Banking, and Miscellaneous Shares are dull. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DA.Y.—CLOSING PRICES, (Prom the Oficial List. Bustnee, done. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced 9l 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9li I 901 1i 90 N , 3w 3 per Cent. Annuities ........... 924 $ll 2 Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860... . 3 9-16 Ditto :10 Years, expire 10th Oct., 1859 3f 5-10 Ditto 31 Years, expire sth Jan , 1860 3l 5-16 Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1685 166 lintlia Stock 221 India Bonds, £lOOO 'onsols ?or Account Ditto Scrip . Eschequer Bills, 2d. £lOOO. £5OO 4 3 Smell Ditto Scrip PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. , . Ditto New 4i per Cent 1852 934 Peruvian Bonds, ili per Cent. Ditto Account Bl Spanish Roads, 3 per Cent — Ditto Yew Deferred, 3 per Cent. Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun ‘n l'urkibh Bonds, 6 per cent 93& Ditto Account , 9.q i i 4 Ditto Small 94 Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Ceut. Ditto Account .-1 1vhienda on the above payable in London, Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent., 12 Gail ... 611 THREE O'CLOCK. C .iisolg , money Ditto Account, March 11 ... ~•.... —91 A LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day,) LONDON, Fob. 22.—Wind this day at noon, S.W. ; moderate breeze. DovEZ, Feb. 21.—Wind E.N.E. to N.E., strong— Arrived - Alwine, from Rio Janeiro. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 21.—Wind Gorgon and Orion, for Portsmouth. FALMOUTH, Feb. 21.—Wind E.N.E.--Arrived—Morn ington, from Shields, for Alexandrit, to atop a leak. S a iled—Willaelmina Lucia, for Sourabaya. PENZANCE, Feb. 20.—Wind E.—Arrived—ltalanta, from Cardiff, for Calais. HULL, Feb. 21.—Wind N.E.—Sailed—St. George, for Greenland. KlRKWALL. — Arrived—Arab, from Quebec, for Sun derland. BIDEFORD, Feb. 21.--The Hellespont, from Cardiff to Smyrna, which came in here on the 16th inst., leaky, has been surveyed, and only requires caulking in deck. HOLYHEAD, Feb. 21.—Wind E. to N.E., fresh gale-- Arrived—Herefordshire, from Liverpool to London, to stop a leak. Sailed—Cherokee, for Africa. WATERFORD, Feb. 20.—Abort 330 casks of palm oil, marked " C. Horsfall and Sons," have been picked up, together with some loci° oil. Cork, Feb. 20.—The Monterey, from Baltimore, which arrived at Queenstown on the 11th inst., was stranded and leaky, and had lost topmasts. The Elirt. Stewart, from Newport to Calcutta, put into Queenstown on the 10th iust. leaky, has discharged. (PEE ELROTRIO TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Friday Morning. Arrived.—Atalants, stea,rer. from Havre ; South- Western, steamer, Jersey; New Speedwell, London. Sailed.—Devonshire, steamer, for Dublin. BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.} GRAVES END, Friday, 9.45 a . m . Wind N.W. ; tide, l ow water ; cloudy. Sailod—Anibassador, for the Cape of Good Hope; An. drokles, San Francisco ; Daniel Dyer, Trieete. DEAL, Friday, 9.17 S.M. Wind N., light. Passed.—Celestial, from London, for Singapore. The Duke of Richmond, who left Brighton on Tues day, with the Royal Sussex Light Infantry Militia, pur poses taking up his abode at Aldershott, with the corps, for some time at least. —B r i ghton Gazette. The Duke of Devonshire's health having improved so much by his sojourn at Brighton, there is no prospect at present of the noble Duke leaving his marine abode. His Grace entertained a distinguished party to dinner on Monday.---Brighton Ou:ette. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YEaTaRDAY). THE WAR DEPARTMENTS. The Earl of DERBY, in rising (according to notice) to put a question and move for a paper upon this sub pot, said the important conversation which had just oc curred had afforded a strong reason for the question which he rose to put to the Government, and was neither in point of time inappropriate nor unimportant in relation to the interests of the service and to recent changes in dif ferent departments. For the due administration of the pub' lic service, where there were two departments conne in the slightest degree, there were two things absolutely essential, without which it must sustain serious injure', The first was, that the duties of those two department s should be so distinctly defined, their responsibilities so ascertained, and the limits of their authority and jai °. diction so clearly set forth, as that there should be no possibility of conflict of authority between the two departments on matters relating to them both. An d the next thing necessary was, that in carrying on this business of the departments there should be on the part of their respective heads a mutual desire to facilitate the public duties by each carefully avoiding encroachmen t upon the authority of the other, while prepared to a fford each other cordial assistance in performing their public duties. The necessity for these conditions became t he greater in proportion as the two departments were brought into habitual and daily contact, and in prepor tien as their business was i n t e rtwined so a s to bring them into continual communication with each other, which ought to be of the most unreserved and confide °. tial character. Within the course of the last year—aft er the appointment of a Secretary for the War DePe l, ~",, extent —in the transactions which took place wit' regard to the constitution of the militia, there we ° , considerable 'inconvenience and complai n t arising ou" of the contradictory orders—especially as to the q u times of furlough—proceeding from the Secretary °' War and the Secretary for the Home Departmen t ' This had arisen from the circum s t an c e that th e militia, though generally under the Home Depa rt ' meat, was then in course of embodiment, and conse' quently became a quasi military force, under th e authority of the War Department. That, however, isc° 4 an instance in which inconvenience had arisen fro" the authorities of two departments not b e in g c l ear ly a o : fined. And it was impossible not to remember Coo' mueh of the disaster and distress which had arisen in th e Crimea might have been avoided if there had been is certain departments greater readiness to take upon thet t !: selves a degree of responsibility beyond the strict lino; of their duty upon the occurrence of any emergency. the Fame time (continued the noble earl) difficulties Arise and inconveniences result from the existence of doubt° as to in whose department certain services lie, which el essential for carrying on the operations of the aarny mention these things only as an illustration of the g e. neral principles which I have enunciated, and th e importance of a thorough understanding of the refle c t ; Use duties and responsibilities of departments whic e have to act together ; and I am sure m y no ble frietZ' 0 at the head of the War Dep ar t men t w ill ag ree "1 ins that if there be t wo d e p ar t men t s w h os e it: 1 ' 11 ; action and co-operation are more important than an ) two others, because of the more frequent communicatio n° which take place between them, they are the one P re ; sided over by the noble l or d (Lord ' Panmure), and tbs" of which my noble friend the Cornmander-in.Chief is the head. The office of Secretary for the W a r Departmeo" as your lordships are aware, is else of recent introdt sc tion, and when it was proposed to separate the dutie s of that department from those of the Colonial DePa rt i inept, I endeavoured to ascertain from the noble ear s (Aberdeen) then at the head of the Government wile" were to be the precise functions of the Secretary of Stag for War, but I could get no answer, except that O s lo were to be the same duti e s as h a d b een p er f orme d befor e by the Colonial Secretary. I could get none but neg lv t tive answers. The Secretary f or th e War Departm en was not to interfere with th e p a t ronage ; h e wa s not t ° interfere with the discipline ; he was not to int er fero with promotion in th e arm y ; h e wa s not to interfere with the militia; he was not to have al; thing to do with the ord nance ; i n s h o rt, answers I received were a succession of negations as to the duties to be performed by the head of the new 'l e i pertinent. I had myself for some time the honour ° filling the office of Colonial Secretary, never at a tittl e of war, except that which could hardly be termel vie r ' viz., when this country sent out an exp e dition agains t China. At that time I received most valuable assistan t °, , from my noble friend above me (the Earl of Ellenborong pi who was then about to set out to assume the goveronlinf o of India, from which part of the world the forces were be sent out in aid, andfrom which the operations W e et, : in a great measure to be conducted. But, with regard c, : t the ordinary duties of a colonial secretary—and in tu e matter I am sure I shall be borne out by the experien c, of all those who have filled the office—all I can say i , e " that they were of the most trivial and insignificant kin d. They consisted; in the first place, in signing wart - a ut• for commissions for any officers who m ight happ en to be in the colonies ; next, in taking the Queen's Pit, y sure in regard to the decor a ti ons o f th e O r der of tu, Bath, when it was propos e d t o con f er i t upon a ny , office' in the service, which was always done on the recornmen' dation of the head of the department to which the offici r might belong—the Commander-in-Chief, with regard to the army; the First Lord of the Admiralty, with res P ee to the navy; and the President of the Board of C o ntrol i with relation to the Comp an y' s serv i ce . Th e only rea l business, and I must say the portion which was the lee" satisfactory, I ever had to de with was the corresponden ce ' which was generally of rather a protracted and dilator,' character, which took place between the governors of co' ioniser, the Beard of Ordnance, the Treasury, and the C° . lonial Secretary, whenever it happened that any arrang e ; relents had to be made with regard to b a r rac ks and oth er buildings in the colonies. That was all the b u siness whic the Secretary for the Colonial Department bad to perforos, and that, as I have said before, was conducted most Or satisfactorily. I do not mean to say that in time of war the duties of a colonial secretary were o f an un inaportal lt or trivial character. On the contrary, they are of such ire' portance and magnitude as well nigh to overwhelua any man, however great his capability, and however lancer ing kis attention. For the ti me h e mus t b e , w ith rete; renco to military operations abroad, supreme. He 1 ° 135 , be responsible to the Crown and the c o u n t r y for the 03 " conduct and operations of the war. He is responsill also, no doubt, in common with the C a bi ne t of whit he is a member, for the selection of the officers, esPe e ' . ally of the commander-in-chief, and I presume alt:,' to a considerable ext en t, f or th e se l ec ti on o f the 0 " . ; cers upon whom are to devolve important comments% he must have the entire control over the operatio n " of the war, of the commander of the forces, o f the forces of the Admiralty, although presided over I ° l another Cabinet Minister ; of the commissariat, of th i l transport board, and even of the Treasury itself must be to a certain degree superintended and adraio'i tared by him, and it is his duty to combine and corral . together the various powers and authorities of all tho° e departments in such a manner as to conduce to the r e ; cult—namely , the proper carrying on of the belligere o ' operations of the country. Therefore I say tbat t he duties of the Secretary of State for the War Departme°,t in time of war are of such an exceptional character the he may also be considered, for that time, a dictator, eye ° over his colleagues. There was no amount of power' and, at the same time, no amount of responsibility, which ought not to be thrown upon him with regard to the conduct of the war. But the qua tion to which la° about to call your lordships' attention has no referenc e whatever to this exceptional case which I have bee° stating, it has reference merely to those ordinary raise Lions which are understood as subsisting between the Secretary of State for War and the Commander-in-Chi ef I would say, however, that since that office has been estr blished there has been u n d ou bt e dl y anot h er c h ange made which has consid e r a bly a lt ere d t h e pos iti on an d i ncr ease: the duties of the Se cre t ar y o f St a t e f or th e W ar Depart' merit, because on him has been thrown the duties for rnerly performed by the Secretary at War, the consequenc e of which h as b e e n th a t h e h a s to exercise i n future th e control formerly exercised by that minister over th e financial affairs of the army ; and, indeed, the control in matters of expenditure over all military d e p ar tment That, however, is merely a transfer of the authority of the Secretary at War, who is sometimes not always+ Cabinet Minister ; but the relation in which he steno ° to the Commander in-Chief is in no degree different t° the relation in which the Secretary at War stood. Ther e has been another alteration—viz,. the abolition of the office of Master-General of the Ordnance. What ar; rangements have been made in regard to that office 1 ; confess I am not personally or practically acquainted with, but I apprehend that the principle upon whic h that change was effected—and I am sure it was so en' pounced at the time—was to transferto the Commander' in-Chief the same control over the Ordnance departmen t as be bad previously exercised over the rest of the army. Therefore, my lords, I wish to be informed whether the distinction which I understood to pro ves : in the first instance is still maintained and rigidly acts"' upon—viz., that in regard to discipline, the patronag e ' the promotion of the army, and consequently with re" gard to the Ordnance, the sole and absolute authority' rests with the Commander-in•Ch:ef, uninterfered with b 1 the co-ordinate authority of the Secretary for War. Ths' t is a principle which I think it important should not be for a moment in doubt, so that in point of fact we shoul d , know to whom it i s th a t th e o ffi c ers of the army should look for support, protection, and promotion, whether to the Queen's C omman d er -i n -Chief, or to the Secretary tu , State for the War Department, who is responsible n°l alone to the Crown, but to the Parliament also. When state that, do not let me be misunderstood so far as t° say that I consider either the Commander-in-Chief or of other person can be free from responsibility, which mil" conduct or mismanagement in his highoffice would exposw him to in the opinion of Parliament. (Hear, from tit! Ministerial benches.) There can be no office where mai_ vereation and misconduct can fittingly and properly h. withdrawn from the cognisance of this •r the other House of Parliament ; but I say that that is a very different case from the constant daily super's tendence of Parliament and the constant daily interior' e ce of the Minister who is responsible to Parliarnett c , with the ordinary execution of the duties of tha t d e p art' merit. Therefore, the first question which I wish tes have answered distinctly is, whether it is still under stood, as it used to be in former ticaes, that over the piv tronage, the first introduction into the army, the sutras quent promotion, the arrangem e nts for promot ion, the conferring of honorary distinctions , the tnovement , troops, the appointment to foreign garrisons—in. is 11/, these cases, does the authority now rest, and indis . ably rest, as it has been accustomed to do , i n the° f_ nsanderen-Chief, or in the Secretary of State for t- to! War Department ? My lords, there is another class.tot c ases in which. I desire to know where the authoriolr rests. Supposing it to be intended to increase, :w ► cot"! of 1 aCO( to, th e ti'al of