The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

SEBASTOPOL INQUIRY COMMITTEE.

THE Duke of Newcastle bas been the chief and almost
the only witness examined before the committee
during the week. His grace's evidence occupied the
entire proceedings of Monday and the two following
days. From the extremely voluminous details pre-
sented in this mass of testimony we can only extract
some few of the most striking points :
Examined by the CHAJRMAN.—Was War Minister from
the beginning of the war with Russia until the retirement
of Lord Aberdeen from office. The powers and duties of
the War Minister, in a state of peace, when conjoined with
those of Secretary of the Colonies, were generally speaking
of a directory character; the whole of the details were en-
tirely conducted by the Horse Guards and the other mili-
tary departments. The Secretary of State had to recom-
mend the amount of force to be voted by Parliament in the
coming year, and the leading points of that description, but
the whole of the details were managed by the military de-
partments. During a state of war on the Continent, as to
the general directions of the war and the number of forces
tc he sent, it was difficult to define the duty of the Secre-
tary of War, who became responsible for the direction of
everything. He was at a loss to say what would not come
within that scope. He determined upon the quantity of
troops, and every order of the kind ; those things were
determined upon after mature deliberation, but he was the
responsible Minister. Those powers were not changed by
the separation of the offices beyond this, that the Secretary
of War being relieved from the duties of Colonial Minister,
was able to devote his sole attention to the duties of War
Minister: no increased powers were given. The relations
between the Minister of War, the Commanderin-Chief.
and the Secretary-at-War were these—that every direc-
tion of the war was in the hands of the Secretary of War ;
the duties of the Commander-in-Chief applied more to the
discipline of the war. With respect to appointments, he
did not submit to her Majesty the names of the officers
who were appointed to commands—that was done by the
Commander-in-Chief. Supposed that was the case in the
instance of Lord Raglan, but the names were invariably
submitted to him as Secretary of State fur War. As to
Lord Raglan's appointment. that was mentioned to him by
Mr. Sidney Herbert privately at first. In some instances
there had been a departure from the proper practice in this
respect, but he would rather not give the names of the offi-
cers. There were three cases of gentlemen who were norai-
rutted by the Commanderin-Chief before he was made ac•
quainted with the fact. Those three persons continued in
command; but he was bound to say that those three nomi-
nations were made through inadvertence. The first
instance was the appointment of Lord Lucan, and sub-
sequently the appointment of Brigadiers Ton-ens and
Golding.
By Lord SEYMOUR.—As regarded the commissariat and
the provisioning the amount of troops sent out, he expected
them to carry out the necessary arrangements for the sup-
ply of the requisite provisions and means of transport.
As regarded the stores, he looked to the Master General
of the Ordnance and the Board of Ordnance to have the
supplies of stores in the sante way as they were required.
He did not divest himself of all care on that matter, with
the exception of the commissariat, which was an indepen-
dent department. He made constant opportunities of
ascertaining what were the stores required, and the occa-
sions were frequent in which he ordered the quantities to
be doubled. Of the medical department he could not say
much ; it did not come under his notice early.

By the CJIAIIIMAN.—The first order for sending out the
troops was given on the 9th of February. When the ex-
pedition was first sent away it was intended to send an ex-
pedition to Turkey. The expedition was undertaken with
the immediate object of protecting the Turkish empire
from the invasion of Russia. The steps taken by the
Government were as early as the beginning of January.
Sir John Burgoyne loft about the 28th of January, and
made an accurate inspection of the country. lie re-
commended where lines should be thrown up, at Constan-
tinople and elsewhere. Soon after, Major Dixon, an
eminent officer of the royal artillery, selected by reason of
his knowledge of the Turkish language and the manners
of the country, was sent over with three other officers.
They were instructed to examine with reference to the sa-
lubrity of the different localities, and to ascertain what par-
ticular spots would be safe for the encampment of the
troops as to their health, where the climate was wholesome,
and where water could be easily procured. The officers ex-
ecuted the duties with which they were intrusted, and
Major Deehatin subsequently niade a reconnaissance of
the Danube and of Bulgaria. ltirections were given to the
commissariat, on the 7th or Bth of February, to inspect
the condition of the country as to its means of supplying

food to the army. He himself did not receive any informa-
tion from the commissariat direct ; at that time they
corresponded with the Treasury, and from them be received
any communications which were made. Vast supplies of
all kinds were sent nut from this country.
Mr. LATARD.—Who were the responsible persons fbr
providing provisions—were they the commissariat officers?
The Duke of Newcastle.—lt was the duty of the commis-
sariat department to provide stores and transports ; but
his impression was, that there was a great difficulty subse-
quently in providing transports, although there had been
none in the neighbourhood of Constantinople.
The CHAIUMAN.—Was that difficulty reported to you?
The Duke of Newcastle.—No, not till I heard it from a
private source.
The CHAIRMAN.—When you heard that the siege of
Silistria was raised, how soon after that was another expe-
dition determined upon ?
The Duke of Newcastle.— When the Government re•
ceived intelligence of the raising of the siege of Silistria by
telegraph the matter was considered, and he thought that
it was on the 22nd of June he wrote to Lord Raglan to
prepare for an expedition to the Crimea.
The CHAIRMAN.—Was that a peremptory order, or did it
allow of any discretion to Lord Raglan ?
The Duke of Newcastle.—He would prefer reading the
instructions sent out to him • but as lie was then an ex-
Minister, and not knowing the feelings of the Govern-
ment on the subject (although he presnmed from the
circumstances under which the committee wore appointed
they wished for the fullest inquiry ), he did not know how
far he was allowed to depart firom the usual custom by
reading it.
Sir JOHN PAIHNOTON.—Do you consider the production
of that document will in any way operate injuriously to the
public service?
The Duke of Newcastle.—l do not think it is for me, as
an ex-Minister, to say what may be the effect of the pro-
duction of documents that I may consider necessary to
exonerate myself. if the committee call for them I will
read to them the instructions that were given to Lord
Raglan both as to the siege of Sebastopol and those given
to him on the 10th of April.
The room was then cleared, and, on readmission, the
Chairman requested his grace to read the instructions.
The noble duke then read two despatches. One en-
joined upon Lord Raglan the necessity of losing no time
in ascertaining by inquiry the amount of the Russian force
in the Crimea and the strength of the fortress of &bare
topol, and by every means to prevent the advance of the
Russians on Constantinople, and then left it to himself to
consider the propriety of making offensive operations in
the Crimea, as no result could be of so much importance
as the taking of Sebastopol. and the destruction of the
Russian fleet in the flack Sea. The other despatch was
dated the 20th of June, two days after the Government
had heard by telegraph that the siege of Silistria had been
raised. That document was issued from the War Depart-
ment, and required him with the allies to concert measures
for the siege of Sebastopol, unless he was of opinion, from
information that had come to his knowledge upon the
spot, and was unknown to her Majesty's Government, that
6,141 an expedition could not be undertaken with a reason-
able prospect of success.
To Mr. Layard.—That despatch was submitted to Lord
Hardinge before it was sent. In sketching out a campaign
it was not necessary to consult Lord Hardinge.
The CHAIHMAN.—I suppose your grace has Lord
Raglan's answer?

The Duke of Newcaatle.-11 have no general answer ; but
1 have an answer to that portion of It relating to Perekop.
That answer was dated July 10, from Varna. That. des-
patch contained allusions to the French army, and although
there was nothing in the despatch that he thought the
French could object to, yet he did not think it fair to read
extracts, as he thought the whole of it should be read or
none at all.

The production of the document wa■ not pressed.
The CHAU/MAL—State the first time it was determined
to winter in the Crimea.

The Duke of Newcastle.—Tt was net en aot of determi•
nation, but one of necessity? but 1 was informed that the
army would winter in the Crimea after the battle of baker-
mann.
The CHAIRMAN.—When the resolution was taken to
winter in the Crimea, what steps were taken ?
The Duke of Newcastle.—The additional steps taken
was to order a large quantity of wool clothing, wooden huts
—and, indeed, everything that was must likely to conduce
to the comfort of the army; but it was determined to issue
warm clothing even before it was known that the army
would winter in the Crimea.
The Cu tiTßldAti.—When was it determined to issue the
warm clothing?
The Duke of Newcastle.—As early as the month of
August. Immediately after the prorogation of Parliament
I ordered a large quantity of all the warm clothing that
could be got in the manulacturing districts, except furs.
Those orders were issued to the tirdnance, and a large quail-
tity of that clothing was lost in the Prince. that left this
country in October. Those were extraordinary articles,
and were an additional supply to the ordinary clothing,
They consisted of 40,1100 pairs of blankets, a large quantity
of clothes, jerseys, mite, and other articles for winter quar-
ters. They were articles not required for an army in the
winter in barracks.

By the CYFAIRMAN.—DirectIons were given to form depAts
for food at Constantinople, and he believed there were
some there. They were ordered. From the moment of
certainty of the army wintering in the Crimea, he save
directions for an increased supply of every article of pro-
vision and fuel to be forwardei in oontinual streams. From
time to time he urged the question upon the commissariat
as to the supply of fresh meat, when he found that supply
fail ; but at the siege of Sebastopol the army war supplied
by the comniimarint, which was nut under his charge until
the 22nd December. It was responsible to him, but not

398

subordinate to the Secretary of State in the way in which
the military departments were. He was well aware, from
the complaints made by private individuals and also from
statementa in the newspapers, of the failure of the trans-
port animals from want of forage and from exposure to
the cold ; but never received any official intimation of that,
nor any complaint from the Commissariat Depkrtment
that thej shortcomings of other departments prevented
them (the commissariat) from executing their duties.
Certainly no information was given to him as to the pro-
bable failure of the road to the front before that failure
took place. He remained entirely in the dark upon that

laßy Colonel LINDSAY.-It must have been quite the end
a November when steps were taken to have the railway
constructed, but could not remember the exact date. Had
heard complaints of Admiral Boxer, but not from official
persons. Had no voice in the selection of the medical officers.
The matter rested wholly with Dr. Andrew Smith, the head
of the medical board ; and properly so, he being a medical
man.

By Mr. ROEBUCK.—Complaints were not made to him
about green coffee having been issued to the army until
long after the inconvenience resulting from the practice
had been felt, and until supplies of roasted coffee had been
substituted. The commissary-general had an ample
supply of money at his command, and, with the sanction of
the general commanding the army, had power to purchase
whatever he wanted in the country which the country was
able to supply. The purveyor of the hospital was similarly
empowered.
By Mr. LAYARD.—Great difficulties and delay having
taken place in the supply of port wine for the hospitals
through the intervention of the forms which had to be
through, he gave orders that those forms should be dis-
pensed with in future. Found some diffiulty in subordinates'
departments at home as to forms, but apprehended the
greatest difficulty from parties on the spot. That applied
after the separation of the two offices of the Secretary of
War and the Secretary at War. Had no knowledge of any
alteration having been made subsequent to the 31st of
January. Did not think that the Horse Guards, the Ord-
nance, and other departments were in a satisfactory state.
Did not know of any conflict between the War -office and
Dr. Smith's department. The War-office was of a financial
character, and probably, if there was any conflict, it was
with reference to expense, not since the war, but antecedent
to it. Dr. Smith complained of the manner in which his
establishment was starved. He thought that the appoint-
ments of the various officers, generally speaking, connected
with the hospitals, were very unfortunate. Blame attached
in a greater or less degree to almost all the officers con-
nected with them. The first statement he received of a
deficiency of land transport in the Crimea was from Lord
Raglan, in which he stated there was a difficulty in getting
forage up to the camp ; but that was only in answer to a
letter on another subject. The last statement he received
from Mr. Filder as to the number of commissariat horses
but little exceeded four hundred when the army was in the
Crimea. In consequence of the deficiency in this respect
he (the Duke of Newcastle) organised a transport corps of
a military character. Before the army went out there was
no attempt made to organise a transport corps.
By the CHAIRMAN.—The Foreign Enlistment Bill was
passed on the 23rd of December. Several appointments of
officers for a foreign legion were made—Colonel Chesney
and others.
By Mr. LA.YARD.—Those appointments were revoked
Immediately on his going out of office ; why, he had not
the slightest idea. No preparations were made to form a
foreign legion. Colonel Chesney had been in the German
Legion. Private inquiries were made as to the power of
raising these troops, and the information then given was
satisfactory.
By General PEEL.—They found the very greatest difficulty
after the language which had been used in Parliament. He
saw many persons, foreigners of the highest respectability,
who would have joined such regiments, but after being
called " cut-throats " in Parliament they were disgusted.
By Mr. LAYARD.—It was intended in the first instance to
confine the Foreign Legion to Germans or Swiss.
By Lord SEYMOUR.—He was anxious to supply the army
with preserved meats in tin cases, and urged upon the
Admiralty to put out tenders. As to the supply of vege-
tables, two sorts were sent out under his directions. He
had a high opinion of preserved meats as conducive to
health. Those which were sent out in very large quanti-
ties were taken from France ; it was a French invention.
The preserved meats, however, were not received with any
favour. There were short supplies of fresh meat to the
army.
By the CHAIRMAN.—The short supply arose in a great
measure from the difficulty of conveying the provisions to
the army. He should have thought it possible to obtain
fresh meat on the shores of the Black Sea. The first
steps taken to obtain huts was soon after the intelligence
of the battle of lnkermann on the sth of November
Despatches were forwarded to Lord De Redcliffe that wood
should be purchased at Constantinople for the purpose,
and directions were sent to Lord Westmorland to get wood
cheap at Trieste.
By Mr. LATARD.—Did not believe the statement that a
certain amount of wood had been sent out which could
not be used for the want of nails.
The CHAIRMAN.—Dr. Andrew Smith has put in certain
papers in which he stated that in a letter he offered you
certain suggestions as to the hospitals. Are you aware of
them ?

The Duke of Newcastle had no recollection of them.
The CHAIRMAN (handing a blue book, and pointing to a
part of the page before him) said—Did you ever receive
that letter?
Duke of Newcastle.—His conviction was that he
never seen that latter, or that it had been sent to him
'`- military seontaayi

THE PRESS.

Satign 6orrtsgziatuct.

PARIS, Thursday.
ACCORDING to information I have received from the
highest quarters here, it is now settled that the
Emperor and Empress, to the consternation of all
classes but the mob, start for the East between the
oth and 10th of May. The Empress will remain at
the French Embassy at Constantinople, while his
Imperial Majesty visits the army in the Crimea; and
the Imperial vessel will be held ready (should
Sebastopol fall during the Emperor's stay) to convey
the Empress to visit the victorious troops. The
Emperor will be attended by a numerous suite. The
Empress will be accompanied by the Princess
d'Essling, Mesdames de Montebello, Rayneval, and
De Pierre.

The funeral of the late Minister of Marine took
place this morning with great military pomp and
display. Half the garrison of Paris were under
arms, and marched in procession after the body.
Although M. Ducos was a very good man of business,
it is generally remarked that neither his abilities
nor his career would alune account for the display
that was made to-day, were the approaching depar-
ture of the Emperor put out of mind. It is quite
clear that his Imperial Majesty, with his usual
sagacity and foresight, planned this display to let
the people of Paris know, or rather to remind them,
that he would leave a powerful military force behind
him at Paris.

The general tone of society is gloomy, and every
one seems to think the future foreboding. It is
evident the advantage gained by the allies at
Sebastopol, if any, must be very slight, as no im-
portant results occur from the now protracted
bombardment. The Emperor and his Court re-
turned in enthusiastic delight and gratitude at the
reception they experienced in your metropolis.

BRUSSELS, April 27, 1855.
Jr has been stated in the English journals that
the designs of Russia have failed in Belgium. The
only difficulty consists in giving a proper interpreta-
tion to the word " designs." Brussels, and in plain
truth it may be said the entirety of Belgium, is tho-
roughly Russianised, and this not in a moderate, but
in an extreme sense. The French party, dwindled
to a scanty remnant, is in part Orleans and repub-
lican—both sections joining in implacable abuse of
the Emperor Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie.
Against the latter, for some occult reason, the Catho-
lic and Jesuit faction is singularly bitter. No tan-
gible reason would appear to direct their judgment,
for the cause of legitimacy does, or should, "stink in
their nostrils," if they be true to the principle by
which they nationalised themselves; but, being
devoid of any political ratiocination, they cannot
perceive the difference of persons and principles.
Therefore it is that, together with the censure of
imperialism, the gall-vial of their wrath is poured
with a continuous profusion against their old, and
now despised, allies of England. They ridicule her
armies—exult over her losses—vilify her institutions,
which in a former day they were proud to say had
served them as a model—pray for and prophesy her
fall—and spit ou her gabardine.
In familiar and literal illustration it may be re-
lated that, at a morning and private concert, a
Belgian lady of rank, in political and true female
excitement, whilst in argument with a fair daughter
of the isles, shook her ample fist in the face of the
latter, screaming out unmusically, "Il Taut que
l'Angleterre saoaisse," and spat on the ground with
indignation. Fi, done ! This sample, at one and
the same time, of Belgian refinement and Brabantine
gratitude for past favours, is characteristic of the
nation. There was once upon a time a wild boar of
Ardennes—was it ever mated?

Again, at another party in an English house, a
Belgian nobleman, not overwise in his generation,
and sorely forgetful of the attributes of a gentleman
and the usages of civilisation, gave out with Baccha-
nalian glee at the supper-table, with glass in hand,
"The Emperor Nicholas." This VMS immediately
after the light at Inkermann. In justice it must be
said that his friends immediately removed him.
Once more—
In the midst of winter a sleigh, well-caparisoned
and containing a party of five, amongst whom was a

lady of the Court, passed rapidly up the Montagne
de la Cour. At the corner of the Place Royale, on
the turn to the park, there happened to be some

SATURDAY,

English, and, on the sleigh rounding the corner at a
smart pace, it slid and nearly came in contact with
the ladies belonging to the party, one of %% horn was
bespattered by the snow and rather alarmed. a.
person standing on the rail of the sleigh exclaimed,
"Ce sont des gueux Bntanmques," and laughed
loudly, in which he was joined by his gang and
the lady of the Court. This, at least, should not
have been. Now, the word "gueux" ought to bring
to Belgian recollection an historical anecdote worthy
of especial note ; and it is,not out of the pale of pos..
sibility that a wooden spoon may be again forced
down the Belgian throats, containing " hail " singu.
larly hot.
These trivial occurrences suffice to show the
temper of the people, or rather it should be said of
the higher educated classes, who do not, furnish
evidence of having derived any advantage from
education. The middle ranks, being more allied to
the French in Brussels than those of the upper
orders, view the Oriental question in a different
light, and as they more immediately benefit from
the liberties of a constitutional and free Government,
they join in honest approbation of the war now
carrying on by France and England in the cause of
civilisation. They perfectly understand that of
which their Jesuit superiors are thoroughly ignorant,
and prove themselves worthy of the political power
that the Revolution of Ib3U has provided and in-
trusted to their use and care. Even amongst this
class Russian influence would seek to establish
itself, and would control also the lower orders. In
the past carnival, a gang of ragamuffins dressed
themselves in the colours of English soldiers, with
straw round their legs, shoeless, and on crutches,
styling themselves the British army of Sebastopol.
They paraded the streets for some time in safety,
but a party of English grooms being aware of the
" creptovioh divertisement," congregated at a given
place, armed with stout blackthorns, and, sallying
forth, gave the Russo•Belges a sound thrashing.
The same Russian influences endeavoured to fur-
nish a theatrical and burlesqued representation of
the miseries endured by the English army in the
Crimea. The difficulty, however, of avoiding the
subject of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann, or of
extracting a Russian moral that should be favorable
and satisfactory, summarily foiled the unhappy
attempt.
The whole of this is in bad taste, although of no
possible consequence;; but when it is remembered
that the king of the Belgian choice, one of the
highest bred and most perfect gentlemen in Europe,
" sans peur and sans reproche," is uncle to the
Queen of England, and on every occasion and to the
utmost of his power, proffers attention and confers
act of kindness on those of a nation over which he
was called upon in all honour, but was prevented by
fate, to be the first ruler—these flimsy and powerless
nobles might pause in their absurdities against
England and France, even from a selfish impulse, in
place of a juster motive. The graver bearing of this
matter shall be reserved for a future occasion.
E. R.

FRANKFORT, April 23.

-4W

If anything were wanting to determine the
rancorous hostility in Germany against England
and the English, the loyal and generous gree
ing with which the Emperor of the French was re-
ceived in London and at Windsor Castle has most
effectually perfected that sentiment. The impor-
tance of the speech delivered by the Emperor at the
Guildhall has been felt throughout the length and
breadth of the land; it has " struck home," so to
say, and has dispelled all mystery either as to the
motives which animate and bind together the allied
nations, or the means whereby they intend to
instal their open policy. Henceforward there can
be no mistake. Whatever result may attend the
Vienna Conferences, this oration has most tho-
roughly demolished the basis upon which those
conferences were supposed to rest. The war of
opinion has been publicly evoked on the popular
behalf by a powerful sovereign on a foreign shore
with the plenary assent of the people whom he ad-
dressed, and at the hands of whose monarch he was
presently receiving the grateful courtesies of hospi-
tality. Historically speaking, the few moments in
which the imperial sentiments were delivered con-
stituted an epoch. It is so interpreted in Liermany.
And the blow so forcibly dealt has been directed not
more against despotism than against republicanism.
The following marked passage has called forth the
frantic denunciation of M. de Bismarck Schonhausen,.
couched in terms highly disrespectful and out of
place against the Queen of England, in which those
who cling to the effete fiat of the Congress of Vienna
immodestly concur :
The eyes of all who suffer rise instinctively toward the
West, Weans, oar two nations ars even more powerful firm

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