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

their official energy upon the

of leviathan

line-of-battle ships, to the utter exclusion of all smaller,
but not less serviceable, vessels. At this moment we
have not a mortar-vessel belonging to us (a class
of vessels so useful in the last war), though it
is true that a couple of useless frigates are to be
converted into mortar-vessels : but why, in the name
of common sense, were Snot a dozen of them—
and there are some few scores in the Mersey—
lcng since so converted ? How is it, also, that we are
unable in the same period of time to build a fleet
of gun-boats equal, at least, in number to that
which the Russians have constructed during the
winter? And we might, in addition, well ask,
why the floating batteries, which have been
turned out of the private contractor's hands now for
some six weeks, have not yet found their way to the
Baltic? The Lords of the Admiralty appear to
think that they have nothing better to do than to
coquette with these models of modern ship-building,
and day by day to go on trying, testing, altering,
rigging and re-rigging, till weeks have slipped away
and the time for action lost. We don't want a float-
ing battery to be a model of paint and holystone.
What we want is a serviceable and a cheap vessel
which will carry her guns and do her work effec-
tually ; one trial of her engines, if satisfactory,
should be sufficient, and she should be sent at once
to her destination. But our floating batteries, about
which we have heard so much, are week after week
undergoing trials and alterations to such an extent

that the primary object of their construction—that of
bringing guns of tremendous weight of metal to
bear safely at a short range against the granite
batteries of Cronstadt—is being quite lost sight of,
and they are becoming nothing more or less than
small frigates of peculiar rig, with flat bottoms, and
with no very heavy armament. It is a matter so
purely speculative to say how far they will answer
when brought into action against granite batteries,
that we forbear entering into the question of wrought
iron versus granite ; but what we wish to urge upon
the Admiralty is the necessity of submitting to the
trial as soon as possible, and that if the results
should be against them, why, one error the more
among men who are proverbially famous for building
ships which never do answer their purpose is a trifle,
and the public no doubt will be willing to regard it
so. The glorious inactivity of our fleet at present
which appears to divide its time between creeping
for infernal machines and looking on at Cronstadt,
is anything but palatable to the men and officers
afloat—day by day they are doomed to cast long and
lingering looks at the prize, not which they dare not,
but which the Admiralty appear desirous they shall
not, have the opportunity of touching. The admirals
with the inefficient means at then command feel res-
tricted and are naturally undecided what to do.
They have discovered every place to be ten times
stronger than it was last year; and, as Sir JOHN Bus-
GOYNE said of Sebastopol, the more "they look at it
"the less they like it." But it is the Admiralty who
are to blame for this state of things. No lesson how-
ever dearly bought, no experience or remembrance
of what we have met with before Sebastopol, appears
to teach them that first law of war—" vigour of ac-
tion." Days, weeks, and months, are let slip by, and
yet they go on trying and improving and altering a
pet project—anything but finishing and sending off at
once every available vessel of light draught which
could carry a mortar or a heavy gun. Seventeen or
twenty small vessels with one gun a piece, as affording
less mark for the enemy's fire, would be infinitely
preferable to one floating battery with her large hull
and seventeen or twenty guns. But the Admiralty
seem incapable of embracing more than one project
at a time : they have taken up floating batteries at
present, and we only hope that when they do get into
action—if ever they do, for we have a shrewd suspi-
cion that they are meant at present only as a " moral
intimidation "—they will not prove the usual rule
about pet projects. Meanwhile the public awaits
impatiently for a proof of that vigour and energy in
the Baltic with which Lord PALMERSTON promised to
emery on the war.

SATURDAY,

61tttion (ittelligtnct.

Evnsasm.—(From a Correspondent.) —Simulta-
neously with the intelligence that conveyed to
our town the intimation that the Honourable Craven
Berkeley, M.P., had died at Frankfort, came a
rumour that Mr. Grenville Berkeley was about to
desert Evesham for the family borough of Chel-
tenham. The insinuation was, however, so in-
dignantly denied by several of the hon. member's
supporters, that the probability was becoming less
credited, when an arrival by the evening train from
London threw the constituents again into a state of
anxiety. Mr. Verjuice, Superintendent of the
Messengers of the House of Commons, bearer of an
epistle from the " Right Honourable the Secretary
of the `Treasury" to Mr. Holland, of Dumbleton,
emerged from the train, and with incredible alacrity
entered a carriage, the driver of which was desired
in a low tone to proceed to Dumbleton. This parlia-
mentary emissary did not reach his hotel in
Evesham until midnight, when he retired to rest,
after giving express orders to be called for the early
train at five a.m. Curiosity stood on the tiptoe of ex-
pectation, when just before the appointed hour
the Dumbleton carriage brought in its worthy owner,
bound, like Mr. Verjuice, for the metropolis. No
recognition, however, took place,—" the Squire"
taking a ticket for Paddington, the House of Com-
mons' truant causing himself to be carried to Easton-
square. By a telegraphic message just received, we
find that " the arrangement" has been fully arranged
by Mr. Hayter. Mr. Berkeley leaves us fcr Chel-
tenham. Mr. Holland, furnished with the Treasury
aid, announces himself as the Independent candi-
date for Evesham. Captain Blayney has been named
by several as a candidate in opposition to this at-
tempt at Whig thraldom, but as he opposed Sir
M. Beach in Gloucester shire, and has voted for Mr.
Gladstone on all occasions at Oxford, the captain
would not secure the cordial aid of either party. The
Conservatives have invited Lord Grey de Wilton
nephew of the Marquis of Westminster, who is ex
pected to commence his canvass this day.

The French Legislative Corps voted on Thursday
the bill relative to the loan of 750,000,000 f.

A rising has taken place in Catalonia, the pre-
text being the question of salaries. Two manufac-
turers had been assassinated at Barcelona. The
National Guard refused to march. The Captain•
General (Zapatero) shut himself up in the citadel
with the troops that remained faithful, whence he
sent mediators to the insurgents, who received them
with shouts of " Long live Espartero."

General Peel will move the previous question, as
an amendment to Mr. Roebuck's motion of censure on
the late Government, which now stands for Tuesday
week, the 17th inst.
Mr. E. Wodehouse, M.P. for East Norfolk, is, it is
stated, about to resign his seat immediately, on the
grounds of failing health. Mr. Stacey, of Rackheath-
hall, near Norwich, has been mentioned as the Con-
servative candidate for the vacant seat.

M. Peterssen, the Russian Secretary of Legation at
Lisbon, who has recently visited France and England,
was discovered on board the Peninsular Mail Packet,
Tagus, soon after the latter left Southampton for Lis-
bon, on the 17th ult.
It has been remarked as singular that while the
coasts of Russia are rigorously blockaded 'oy us and
guarded by them, the very heart of the country is
daily open to our electric messengers. Commercial
messages are daily sent from London and Paris to St
Petersburg. All political messages are excluded.
On Wednesday there was a private view of the
costly effects at St. Dunstan's-villa, Regent's park-
better known as the Marquis of Hertford's. The in-
terior of the building is somewhat grotesque and ir-
regular, it having been erected at enormous expense
and by instalments, fur the purpose of entertainin,
the late marquis's numerous friends.

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE CRIMEA,
Major General Simpson, served in the Peninsula
from May, 1812, to May, 1813, including the latter
part of the defence of Cadiz, and the attack on
Seville. Served also in the campaign of 1815, and
was severely wounded at Quartre Bras. He served
as second in command to Sir Charles Napier during
the campaign against the mountain and desert tribes
situated on the right bank of the Indus early in 1845.
SIR JAMES GRAHAM is at Netberby. The right hon.
baronet's health is not good. It is said by the Carlisle
Patriot that he will not again appear in the House of
Commons this session.

JULY 7, 1855.

rourbings in ittliantent.

THE LATE LORD RAGLAN.

The following most gracious message from her
Majesty was on Tuesday communicated to both
houses:

Victoria Regina.—Her Majesty, taking into considera-
tion the great and brilliant services performed by the late
Fitzroy James Henry Lord Raglan, Field-Marshal in her
Majesty's Army and Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's
Forces at the seat of war in the East, in the course of
hostilities which have taken place in the Crimea, and
being desirous, in respect of these and of other distin-
guished merits, to confer some signal mark of her Ma-
jesty's favour upon his widow, Emily Harriett Lady Raglan,
upon his son and successor to the title, Richard Henry
Lord Raglan, and upon the next survivinr, heir male of
the body of the said Richard Henry Lord° Raglan, re-
commends to her faithful Commons the adoption of such
measures as may be necessary for the accomplishment
of that purpose.
_ _

In the Lords, Lord PANMURE, after r'counting the
services of Lord Raglan;in the Peninsula, at Waterloo,
and during the peace in the administration of the
army, alluded to his conduct in the latter capacity
in terms of the highest praise, from his own personal
experience. What he had achieved in the present
war their lordships well knew, but they did not know
what the Government were able so fully toappreciate—
the signal success with which Lord Raglan conducted
the intercourse between the allied armies, and pro-
moted the community of feeling and unity of action
between the two forces, without which no united
operations could prosper. After a warm panegyric
on the general character of the deceased nobleman,
he concluded by moving an address to her Majesty,
which was of course the echo of her own.

The Earl of DERBY adverted in terms of feeling to
the death of Lord Raglan, by disease and pesti-
lence, at a moment of regret and disappointment.
It was singular, he added, that a man of military
services so extensive and important should have had
so few opportunities of exhibiting his qualities for
supreme command. Those qualities were neverthe-
less perceived by the farseeing eye of the Duke of
Wellington, who gave him his unceasing friendship
and his entire confidence. When at last he volun
teered to lead the British army in a campaign hastily
conceived, with insufficient means and inadequate
supplies, it was not then known, nor would be per-
haps till the occurrences had become matter of
history, what obstacles and impediments he bad sur-
mounted before be could obtain the success which
had crowned thus far the efforts of the allied armies.
After a further panegyric on the private and official
character of Lord Raglan, Lord Derby expressed his
deep sense of the title which he had left, for an
an acknowledgment of his services and disinterested-
ness. _ _ _

Lord HARDINGE added the testimony of his long
personal experience to the high qualities of Lord
Raglan, saying that all who were capable of judging
agreed that the management of the army could not
have been in better hands. . _

The Duke of CAMBRIDGE praised the tact with
which Lord Raglan had conducted our association
with our allies, so as to bring the proceedings of the
two armies into a satisfactory condition. He could
speak personally as to the difficulties of the position,
which were far greater than were imagined. Not
but what we were met by the leaders of our allies
with perfect cordiality ; but such were the difficulties
of divided command that, unless Lord Raglan had
been possessed of peculiar capabilities for getting
over them, we should not have been able to rejoice
in the entirely cordial alliance which existed at
present.
The Earl of CARDIGAN gave his personal experience
in testifying to the kindness, urbanity, and impar•
tiality of Lord Raglan. The whole army lamented
his loss as irreparable, and the troops at Alma had
witnessed with enthusiasm the cool velour with which
their leader had passed the river amid a shower of
balls, and placed the artillery in a position to keep
up an effective fire against the enemy.
The Earl of GALLOWAY said that Lord Raglan was
killed by the ingratitude of his countrymen, and the
coldness and neglect of the Government. He adverted
to the silence of the Government when Lord Raglan's
position as Master of the Ordnance was severely
commented upon ; thought that he had been thrust
out of that office, and that inferior services had been
rewarded with higher titles.
The Duke of BEAUFORT, though he admitted that
the Government had not done all they could to sup-
port Lord Raglan, deplored these statements. Both
the Sovereign and the Government bad given their
confidence to Lord Raglan, who would have been
deeply grieved to have heard such a speech as that
just made.
Earl GRANVILLE said that, though the country,
like other free countries, was at times a severe task-
master, it was just and generous in its final judg-
ments. Lord Raglan had borne in silence the charges
witicu bail no fewadatiion in fact, and iu every des-

THE PRESS.

patch had expressed the utmost fairness to all—to
our allies more especially.
After the Earl of ELLESMERE and Lord BROUGHAM
had added their weed of praise, the address was
agreed to unanimously.
In the Commons, Lord Parattusrox commenced
by lamenting that it was not Lord Raglan's fate to
be able to listen to the national thanks, or to receive
with his own hands the national bounty. After re-
ferring to the business habits of the house, by
explaining the precedents by which such grants
were regulated, he enlarged on Lord Raglan's cha-
racter and services, more especially with regard to
his success in cementing the alliance between Eng-
land and France. He had not only inspired his own
men and officers with feelings of cordiality towards
their allies, but had inspired in the troops of those
allies a perfect conviction that there was an entire
oblivion of the differences of the past. Great as
must have been his grief at the sufferings during the
winter, he had at length the satisfaction of seeing
himself at the head of one of the finest armies which
England had ever sent into the field, though his last
hours may have been embittered by the thought
that be was not destined to witness the realisation
of the ardent hopes which had cheered so many a
dark and gloomy hour. He concluded by moving
resolutions granting the pensions to Lady Raglan
and her son.
Mr. DISRAELI :

I rise to second the resolution of the noble lord, and I
doubt not it will receive the unanimous acceptation and
approbation of the house. Half a century of public service,
always noble, sometimes illustrious, cannot be permitted
to pass away without the record and recognition of a nation's
gratitude. (Cheers.) The career of Lord Raglan was re-
markable. Forty years ago he sealed with his blood the
close of a triumphant struggle against universal empire.
After so long an interval it has been his fate to give his
life to his country in order to avert the menace of a new
and overwhelming dominion. Tne qualities of Lord Raglan
were remarkable, and it may be doubted whether they can
be easily supplied. What most distinguished him, perhaps,
was an elevation and serenity of mind, which invested him
as it were with a heroic and classical repose, which per-
mitted him to bring to the management of men and to the
transaction of great affairs the magic influence of character.
and which in his case often accomplished results which are
usually achieved by the inspiration of genius. (Cheers.)
Never was there an instance where valour of the highest
temper was so happily and so signally blended with so dis-
ciplined a discretion. Courage and caution were never so
united, and each quality in so high a degree. Over the
tomb of departed greatness criticism should be mute, yet
we may be permitted to observe that the course of events
has already sanctioned the judgment of this commander
with respect to those difficulties with which it was his hard
fate to cope, and which the country recollects he neither
chose nor created. May those who follow him encounter
happier fortunes ! They cannot meet a more glorious end.
There is nothing more admirable than self-sacrifice to public
duty. This was the principle which guided the life of
Somerset. This was the principle hallowed his end.
(Cheers.) I feel great pride in seconding the resolution.

Sir DE LACY EVANS had witnessed Lord Raglan's
gallantry half a century ago, and could have wished
that he bad had opportunities at an early period of
his life of discharging the duties of supreme com-
mand. There was scarcely an instance of a com-
mander who at the desire of his Government bad
taken charge suddenly of so momentous an opera-
tion, without the supplies and reserves which were
undoubtedly necessary. He had also the disadvant-
age of being cut off in the midst of his great enter-
prise. If the same fate had befallen the glorious
chiefs who had preceded him, the world might not
have given them credit for the ability which now
attached to their memory.
Admiral WALCOT, on behalf of the navy, added a
few words of admiration and esteem.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL followed in the same course,
as the personal friend of Lord Raglan for many
years.
Mr. M. Gummi thought the time not inopportune
for adverting to the Austrian propositions and the
proceedings at Kertch—in which some vain attempts
were made to interrupt him, as out of order.
Lord PALMERSTON said that there were times and
seasons for all things, and declined to say a word on
the subject.
The resolutions were then agreed to nem. con.
INCREASE OF PAY TO THE ARMY ON