The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

read. In these, referring to the pledge last session
for the due organisation of the War Department, he
urged that a member of the Cabinet should have the
moving of the war estimates, and that the Secretary-
at-War should be merged in the War Secretary of
State, that the first consideration was the due
organisation of that office, and that this could only
be done by one man, Lord Palmerston, whom he
thought should be placed in office before the meeting
of Parliament. Lord Aberdeen, after a few days'
delay, rejected the proposition, as inconvenient in
itself and injurious to the Duke of Newcastle. He then
again wrote urging that either the Premier should
himself superintend the war measure, or that the
War Minister must have the control of other de-
partments—that an efficient Secretary at War was of
the first necessity; and the office must be placed in
more efficient hands. Lord Aberdeen replied that
this was reducing the question to the substitution of
one man for another, which was then contrary both
to justice and good faith. He abstained from push-
ing the matter further, and continued in the Minis-
try, through the advice of those whose opinion he
respected, amongst whom was Lord Palmerston
himself. Nothing had been done for the improve-
ment of the War Department till, on Saturday last,
an inefficient proposal had been made, he had made
a counter proposal, which he believed had no chance
of success. Under these circumstances—under the
actual excitement—and feeling that from him
would be expected assurance that all would
be done that could be done—that sufficient
alteration had been made in the system, and con-
vinced that he could give no such assurance, lie had
found it his duty to retire from the Government. In
consequence he had written to Lord Aberdeen on the
23rd, saying that as he could not see how Mr. Roe
buck's motion could be resisted, he had no alternative
but to tender his resignation. He now heard a
rumour that his first suggestion was to be carried out,
and Lord Palmerston to become War Secretary of
State; if so, he rejoiced at a change which he must
think was brought about by his own resignation. He
concluded by some sentences on the state of affairs,
which he said in no way warranted the actual
despondency ; that though he was accused of un-
friendly expression towards Austria, he expected
great benefit from her adhesion to the common cause.
For in that adhesion the Czar had abated much of
his pretension, and if he failed in agreeing to an
honourable peace, he would meet with such a force
opposed to him as no man could resist. After some
eulogiums on the Whigs in general, and his own
colleagues in particular, the noble lord sat down amid
considerable cheering.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the retirement of Lord
John Russell was painful to him both on public and
private grouds. He had urged, after the correspon-
dence with Lord Aberdeen, his remaining in office,
but still thought that his present conduct afforded
ground for complaint. Since the correspondence had
ceased he had never alluded to the subject, and as
to the motion of Mr. Roebuck, he had himself ad-
mitted the constitutional ground upon which it ought
to be opposed. Some such motion was to have been
expected, and he could not but think that Lord John
Russell should have stated to the head of the Go-
vernment his inability to meet it without some effi-
cient change in the war administration. The Go-
vernment would at least have had the opportunity
of considering the question and deciding between
the loss of his co-operation and the adoption of his
plan. Before the meeting of Parliament the resig-
nation would have been far less inconvenient both
for the public and the Administration. His present
proceeding was not in accordance with the usual
practice of public men, and placed his colleagues
in an embarrassment which he ought to have
avoided. He might at least have repeated his mi.
, ginal suggestion before deciding on his resignation
to give the Ministers a chance of considering the
matter. He concluded by a declaration that the war
would be carried on with energy, with a glowing
eulogium on the French alliance, and a prophecy of
the triumphant issue of the contest.
Mr. ROEBUCK rose to move for the appointment
of a select committee to inquire into the condition
of the British forces in the Crimea. He remarked
that the latest accounts showed that out of 54,000
men sent from England in health, end equipped
as no British army had ever been equipped before,
at the present moment barely 14,000 remained fit for
duty, and these were left without shelter, food,
clothing, or ammunition. The hon. member was
proceeding to inquire into the causes of this frightful
state of things, but the indisposition under which he
had evidently laboured from the beginning rendered
him unable to continue his address, which he at
once concluded by moving the resolution of which
he had given notice.
A pause followed this abrupt termination, and calls
were made for a division, when
Mr. S. HERBERT interposed for the purpose of
offering some explanations on behalf of the Govern-
ment. Observing that in all previous wars our first
operations had been attended with disasters, often