The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.

The London Gazette contains a despatch from General
Codrington, dated the 2d of February, enclosing a report from
Lient.-Colonel Lloyd, commanding Royal Engineers.
General Codrington writes:—

The destruction of the docks of Sebastopol is now com-
pleted. The sides of the last dock were blown in yesterday
morning, small parts of walls here and there only remaining.
Thus the whole of the canal of entrance and north docks in
charge of the French, the basin in our mutual charge, and the
south docks in English charge, are separate but shapeless
masses of dirt; heavy broken stones, split beams of timber,
and shattered gates, protruding from the heap of confusion.
The labour of destruction has been difficult; these fine works
were formed in the middle ravine, Edits outlet in an inner and
sheltered part of the harbour, one of the natural water-courses
from the plateau on which we have encamped. This end of
the ravine, about 700 yards from its mouth, seems to have been
filled in, so as to create a great artificial dam of earth, which,
with the steep banks on each side, formed three sides of a
raised enclosure, looking down upon the docks. A solid stone
wall, much struck by shot, crowns this sort of natural square.
The fine, but shattered barracks, standing still higher on the
left, with the sheds and dockyard and buildings, the masting-
shears, and a long quay to Fort Paul in front jutting into the
harbour, shows how well adapted all was for its purpose. It is
now a picture of destruction, desolation, and silence. There lies,
against the quay, the half-sunken hull of a vessel; and, in the
harbour beyond, the only things breaking the surface of the
water are the lower masts of the sunken ships of war. The
drainage of the water of the middle ravine, must, however,
pass through to the harbour somewhere ; and it was this that
has so much impeded the shafts; for the water, from rains,
often stood two feet high over the floor of the dock, and thus
of course filled the shafts themselves. Some details of the
execution of these are given from the enclosed summary from
Colonel Lloyd commanding the Royal Engineers, the im-
mediate executive officers being Colonel. Gordon and Major
Nicholson. Amidst great difficulties of cold and wet—very
severe frost at one time and perpetually recurring pressure at
another—the work went steadily on, and great praise is due
to all those concerned—the engineers and sapper parties of the
Royal Artillery, the 18th, and latterly of the 48th Regiments.
These parties return to their duties to-morrow, after constant
and laborious work. The casualties have been but six, of
which two only have been fatal, and one man of the 48th
Regiment lost by foul air in a shaft ; after several vain
attempts by Major Nicholson, other officers and men, them-
selves descending at great risk, the poor fellow's body was
brought in, but life was gone.
Your lordship will see _that Colonel Lloyd expresses his
obligation to Mr. Dean and the chief engineer of H.M.S.
Royal Albert, for their assistance. The voltaic battery, we
must confess, did not always succeed. It seems to require
great nicety in operations, but in those cases in which I saw
it it succeeded ; the effect was perfect, the shake of the ground,
the heaving up of the mass, seemed instantaneous. The
destruction of other things will continue.
To Lord Panmure. W. CODRIN GTON.

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.
VIENNA, Feb. 13.
The following intelligence has been received here, under
date of Constantinople, Feb. 4th :
There are hardly any foreign troops here.
There are 1,000 French in camp at Maslak, and two English
battalions, with a small cavalry detachment, at Pera and
Scutari. .

Mehemet Kiprisli Pasha acts for Aali Pasha, who will soon
leave for Marseilles in the Allied°.
The Sultan was present at Lord Redcliffe's masked ball.
Advices from Trebizond of the 28th of January state that
the Russians have evacuated part of Turkish Armenia and
retired to Erivan.

A fire took place on Saturday in the barracks occupied by a
detachment of the 13th English dragoons.

No lives were lost.
The building, with the arms and:accoutrements it contained,
was totally destroyed.
PARIS, Feb. 14.
Count Buol ought to have reached Strasburg to•day. He
is expected at Paris this evening or to-morrow morning.
Count Cavour arrived at Lyons to-day, which place he was
to leave immediately for Paris.
Aali Pasha left Constantinople the day before yesterday. It
is thought he cannot arrive at Paris before the 22nd inst.
It is supposed that the conferences will not open before
Thursday next.

WHO CAUSED THE DEATH OF TEN THOUSAND BRITISH
SOLDIERS.—The Times is doing service in reference to the
Crimean report. It says :—ln this report many specific
charges are 'made against many officers—among others, against
the Earl of Lucan, the Earl of Cardigan, Sir Richard Airey,
and Colonel Gordon. The representations made by Ministers
in the two Houses of Parliament in palliation of the conduct
of their chief military agents are now proved to have been
totally untrue. The fatuous gossip of " good society," and
of the fierce old gentlemen in the clubs, has been duly weighed
in the balance, and may now be estimated at its proper worth.
The fact simply is, that between them the chief English
officers in the Crimea destroyed one-third of the army com-
mitted to their care. Three-fourths of the misery and starva-
tion, and suffering from cold and want of clothing, to make
no mention of the absolute annihilation of our splendid
cavalry, must be referred to the gross incapacity of the officers
in chief command. These gentlemen are now strutting
about our streets with all the halo of heroism around their
heads ; they are receiving rewards from foreign sovereigns ;
they are promoted to honours and dignities at home, as though
they had not done sufficient mischief in the East, and as if the
past were to be slurred over and forgotten. By all means, if
the Earls of Lucan and Cardigan, and if Sir Richard Airey
and Colonel Gordon are falsely accused, let Sir John M`Neill
and Colonel Tulloch, and all the officers and soldiers they
examined, be covered with confusion. If, on the other hand,
they are proved guilty of negligence, incapacity, of gross unfit-
ness for command—if it can be shown that the greatest share
of the destruction which fell upon the British army before
Sebastopol was due to their unofficerlike administration
of their important trust, by the consequences they must
abide. Fair play for all. But there is fair play for the
dead as well as for the living. The blood of ten thousand
gallant veterans—the flower of the English army—as true
heroes as Lord Lucan or Lord Cardigan, or as Sir R. Airey,
or Colonel Gordon, cries from the ground, for justice. The
House of Peers is the highest court of judicature in the realm
—we solemnly admonish them, in the name of the English
people, how they prejudge this cause. Lord Panmure rose
after the two officers accused in the character of the "avvo-
cato del diavolo ;"—lie was sure, for his part, that the com-
missioners had not the slightest intention of attacking the
character of the noble earls ; and, on the whole, he was for
treating the popular clamour with suitable contempt. Lord
Derby, who followed, with characteristic boldness, harped
upon the theme, "Are the two lords accused to have an oppor-
tunity offered to them for making a public defence ?" By all
means. The conclusion of the discussion was simply puerile.
The decorations and honours which have been bestowed upon
the Earls of Lucan and Cardigan have, we are told, been given
to them, not for their success—not for their qualifications, as
generals—but for personal bravery in face of the enemy.
Were these noble lords private dragoons, and had they been
rewarded with a shilling a-day of extra pay, this would be well
enough, but from generals other and very different qualities
are required than mere personal courage. Even so, without
meaning to cast the shadow of an imputation upon the gal-
lantry of the Earl of Lucan, we know not that in the Crimea
his heroism was put to the test. When the charge of the
heavy brigade took place at Balaclava, most rightly, this gene-
ral was not seen flourishing his sabre in the van of his divi-
sion. As far as the Earl of Cardigan is concerned, in the
famous charge of the light brigade, every man there present did
his duty ; nor, when the fatal order was once given, did Lord
Cardigan do more than any private soldier who rode over that
bloody field. It is sufficient honour that he was one of that
band of heroes. There are no persons so profoundly inter-
ested in the due prosecution of the inquiry to which the
Crimean report must give rise as the upholders of our present
military system. If they make common cause with officers
whose incapacity for military command has been proved, they
prejudge the case against themselves. Years must elapse ere
we can replace the legions of veteran soldiers who died victims
to the " system"--and the "system" remains in full force.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

TUESDAY.
Their Lordships met at two o'clock.
THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE.

The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Pri-
vileges on the patent of the Wensleydale Peerage,
. .

Lord LYNDHURST stated what -would be file immediate
course of proceeding. Various precedents would be produced
in evidence ; be should then propose that those documents
from the records be translated and printed, so as to be regu-
larly before the House.
Mr. H. G. SnAurE, Assistant-Keeper of the Rolls, was
called to the bar, and produced the original patents of creation
of two peerages of the reign of Richard IL—Guiscard D'Angle,
created Earl of Huntingdon • and De Vere, Earl of Oxford,
created Marquis, and then Duke of Dublin. He gave in a list
of several others, which have been printed in the series of
national records containing the patents of peerage. The pa-
tent of the Earl of Huntingdon was almost illegible from age
and discoloration, and the witness read the contents of the
parchment roll from the printed volume of the records. The
creation of this Peer was for life. The patent of the Earl of
Oxford was also a creation for life only. Mr. Sharpe was
reading the latter patent when he was interrupted by Lord
Ellenborough, who requested him to read clearly and slowly,
as the House could not follow the old law Latin when read
rapidly.
The interruption gave rise to an irregular conversation of
some length. The LORD CHANCELLOR said it was not the
practice to read such documents at length ; all that was ne-
cessary was to give them in. It would be convenient to accele-
rate the proceedings as much as possible, as he knew it was
the intention of Lord Wensleydale, as soon as his illness per-
mitted him, to present himself and demand admission to his
seat in the house.

Lord CAMPBELL gave notice that if he did so before the
Committee of Privileges had come to its decision, be would
move that Lord Wensleydale be refused admission, whether
he presented himself on his writ of summons without the
patent or not.
The LORD CHANCELLOR contended that the Royal writ of
summons was the legal authority, and, receiving that writ
from the Crown, Lord Wensleydale was bound to obey

Lord ST. LEONARD'S had no doubt that was the case with a
general writ of summons, but not if it was founded on a
patent of first creation, on which the Peer claimed only a life
estate. If the patent were only for life, the opinion of the
House must be taken.
Earl GREY recalled the attention of the Committee to the
business before it—the production of documents by the wit-
ness at the bar. It was a waste of time to read the Latin
text of these old patents, as they had all been printed by pub-
lic authority, were known to every one, and easily accessible.
He suggested that some person versed in such matters should
be named to assist Lord Lyndhurst in selecting such extracts
as were required ; they might be printed, laid before the
House, and then Lord Lyndhurst could move a distinct resolu-
tion upon them.
Lord BROUGHAM concurred with Earl Grey. The conver-
sation was very irregular, and expedition was necessary.
The course suggested by Earl Grey was finally adopted, and
Lord Brougham and Lord Campbell undertook to assist Lord
Lyndhurst in the selection of documentary evidence. A list
of patents in several reigns and of rolls of Parliament to be so
examined was then put in and read, and Lord LYNDHURST
proposed that the committee should adjourn till Monday.
Lord CAMPBELL thought notice should be given to Sir J.
Parke of the proceedings, that lie might attend and be heard
before the Committee, if he thought fit.
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated that, as it did not appear
that the question had been in any way referred to the House
by the Crown,-Lord Wensleydale, would not acknowledge the
jurisdiction of the committee.
Earl GREY pressed on Lord Lyndhurst and the Peers who
acted with him the necessity of stating what was the distinct
and definite course they intended the committee to pursue.
Those who had called the committee were bound to do so.
The precedents they were producing were admitted, and
matters of notoriety.
The Earl of DERBY said that, as the house, in committee,
was acting judicially, it could not proceed without having the
documents regularly before it.
The Earl of ABERDEEN pointed out that the inconvenience
foreseen from going into a Committee of Privileges had
already arisen, and that, in fact, they had been compelled to
appoint what had been at first proposed—a Select Committee.
After some further conversation, the committee adjourned
till Monday, at two o'clock, when the evidence was to be
ready.
The house having , resumed

Lord CAMPBELL moved that notice be given to Sir J.
Parke, that he might attend and be heard before the com-
mittee, either by himself or his counsel, if he thought proper
to do so. If he appeared in person, he might sit on and speak
from the woolsack.

The Lord CHANCELLOR said such an order must be issued ;
not to Sir J. Parke, but to Lord Wensleydale; the house
could not question the right of the Crown by refusing him
his title.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE also thought that any order
must be addressed to Sir J. Parke as Lord Wensleydale.

On the suggestion of Lord REDESDALE, that Lord Wensley-
dale could not according to precedent be called on to appear
in person,
Lord CAMPBELL withdrew his motion, but gave notice he
should renew it on Thursday next, in a modified form. He
should move that notice be given to Sir J. Parke of the pro-
ceedings of the committee, that he might be heard before it
by his counsel.
The house then adjourned during pleasure.
At 5 o'clock, it re-assembled.
-In presenting a petition from merchant seamen, complain-
ing of the state of the law by which they are compelled to sail
in unseaworthy vessels, Lord ELLENROEOUGM asked if the
Government intended to bring in any measure on the sub-
ject. Lord STANLEY of ALDEELEY said no measure of the
kind was at present contemplated.
The house adjourned at twenty minutes after five o'clock.

THURSDAY.

The house met at five o'clock.

---
TEE MORMONITES.—Lord REDESDALE presented a peti-
tion from the city of Worcester, complaining of the blas-
phemous, immoral, and obscene doctrines promulgated by a
class of persons styling themselves "Latter-Day Saints," and
praying that a law should be passed to repress the promulga-
tion of such doctrines.—Lord CAMPBELL observed that there
was no occasion for any new law, as the existing law was suffi-
cient to prevent the publication of doctrines injurious to public
morals.—Lord REDESDALE said, the present petition had
arisen from the circumstance of the Mayor of Worcester hav-
ing refused to interfere, on the ground that Mormonites were
Protestant Dissenters.

THE FEBMOY PEERAGE.—A ccversation took place on a
point of privilege involved in the recent creation of an Irish
peerage, the Barony of Fermoy.—The Earl of DERBY con-
tended that' the government in creating this peerage had
given a new interpretation to the Act of Union, which pro-
vides that no Irish peer shall be created till three of those
existing shall have become extinct. One peer might hold
three or more baronies, but the act did not intend that the
extinction of those dignities, by the demise of one individual,
was to be considered legal ground for a new creation. He
thought it unfortunate that the government should, in two
distinct cases, have raised a question between the House and
the Crown that had never before been mooted. He wished to
know in what mode the point could be fairly argued before
the Committee of Privileges.—Earl GRANVILLE said the
peerage had been created under the advice of the law officers
of the Crown. There was something unusual in the state of
the elections of Irish peers ; however well qualified a peer
might be for a seat in that house, unless he had the support
of the Earl of DERBY, he would not have the slightest chance
of obtaining it.—The Earl of DERBY denied having any such
influence; it was a matter that rested with the Irish peers
themselves. But the house was in this case bound to consider
the validity of the patent on which Baron Fermoy claimed the
right to vote in the election of ari Irish peer.—Lord BROUGHAM
and Lord CAMPBELL concurred in the opinion that the Com-
mittee of Privileges had the same jurisdiction in the case of
Baron Fermoy as in that of Lord Wensleydale, though the
former was brought before them only on petition. It was
suggested that an advocate should be named to watch the case
on behalf of the house ; the subject then dropped.
Earl GRANVILLE introduced a bill for the purpose of pro-
moting education in England and Wales, which was read a
first time.

The Trial of Offences Bill was passed through committee
pro forma, in order that some amendments might be intro-
duced and the bill be reprinted.
UNSEAWORTHY VESSELS.—The Earl of ELLENBOE,OUGH,
in presenting a petition from certain merchant seamen, com-
plaining of being obliged by law to go to sea in unseaworthy
vessels, stated the manner in which the law bore hard on this
class, and suggested that in every case of wreck an inquiry
into the causes of it ought to be instituted. He thought
a select committee should- be appointed to consider the
subject.—Lord STANLEY of ALDEELEY read the legal opinion
which had been obtained on the question by the government,
which he had no doubt would influence the decisions of
magistrates in seaports, and pointed out the difficulties that
would arise if seamen could in all cases of leaving a ship plead
that it was not seaworthy.
The house adjourned at half-past six o'clock.