The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-01 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT PEEL ON THE BALTIC

CAMPAIGNS.

SIR ROBERT PE} at a public dinner at Tamworth
last Tuesday week, expressed the following opinion
upon the conduct of the two last Baltic campaigns•
Sir Robert Peel holding the position of a Lord of the
Admiralty, his opinion upon such a subject is worthy
of attention.

Sir ROBERT having entered upon the question of
the war, proceeded to observe that the best way to
obtain au honourable peace would be by tha most
hearty and vigorous prosecution of it

But (continued the honourable baronet) however de•
termined the Government and the people were to carry on
the war with vigour, it would be perfectly useless unless
they had fitting agents abroad to answer to the policy of
Lord Palmerston. Having touched nit the cost of the war,
which he set down at 100,000,0001., Sir Robert went ou to
say that, during the Ill6t year the fleet in the lialtichad cost
the country between eight and nine millions sterling, anti
he thought he was expressing the opinion of the country—
at least, he was sure he was expressing the opinion of many
in the country—when he said that the eight or nine
millions spent in the Baltic had not answered the expecta-
tions of the people. (Hear, hear.) Then, again, take the
fleet in the Black Sea. Admiral Dundas had been recalled
before Lord Palmerston came into office. Admiral Dundee
was a brave man, but he had to give way to Admiral Lyons,
who, it was thought, would inspire more vigour in o
the actions of the fleet. He did not believe that such had
turned out to be the case, and they expected more from
Admiral Lyons because his fleet was twice as large as that
under the command of Admiral Dumb's. Admiral I yons
had six first-class steam-ships, thirteen steani-frigates,
twenty steam-sloops, besides mortar vessels and other
kinds of boats ; and, in addition to all these, six or seven
sail of the line. Now, Nelson, with thirteen sail of the line,
gained the battles of the Baltic and the Nile, and be
thought they would with him that all had not been accom-
plished by Admiral Lyons in the Black Sea which might
have been. (A Voice : " The enemy would not come
out.") It was said that the enemy would not come out,
and that might be perfectly trne ; yet, notwithstanding, he
must say that, whether right or wrong, the people ex-
pected, after the enormous outlay incurred on the fleet,
much more would have been done. (Hear.) In the last
war the sailing-vessels had to manamvic and work their
way in to attack the enemy's forts, and to make their
escape the best way they could, and then there was no
hesitation in attacking forts; but now, when, by the aid of
steam, a vessel might get beyond the reach of harm in five
minutes, our vessels had not been (with one single except
tion) within 2,000 yards of the enemy's batteries. Two
thousand yards was the respectful distancethey kept, and it
was at this range that Sweaborg was attacked. This was
not the way in which Nelson and Exmouth acted. They
all knew the way in which Nelson attacked the famous
Dutch three.crown battery; and at Algiers Lord Exmouth
went in with five sail of the line, five frigates, four bomb-
vessels, and one or two other small vessels, making
altogether sixteen, and he did not stop at a distance of
2,000 yards, but within 200 yards of the muzzles of the
enemy's guns he attacked and captured the place. He did
not wish to insinuate that our naval commanders were
wanting in courage, but what he intended to convey was,
that all had not been done by the fleet which was expected.
(Hear.)

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE'
Her Majesty has been pleased to promote Rear-
Admiral of the Red Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., G.C.8.,
K.C.H., commander-in-chief of the fleet in the Black
Sea and Mediterranean waters, to the rank of Ad-
miral of the Blue, the first exercise of the Royal
prerogative in such matters since ithe new order in
council was adopted.
General Sir James Simpson, late commander-in-
chief of her Majesty's forces in the Crimea, arrived
in London on Sunday night last. On Monday the
gallant general visited the War-office, and the United
Service Clnb in Pall-mall, where he was cordially
welcomed by the officers who had the good fortune
to be present. Sir James Simpson looks remarkably
well, and does not appear to have suffered from the
effects of the climate of the Crimea.
Bear-Admiral the Right Hon. Sir Maurice F. F.
Berkeley, K.C.8., M.P., Senior Sea Lord of the Ad-
miralty, visited Portsmouth dockyard on Thursday,
and inspected the progress making in the refit of the
steam gun-boats and the mortar-boats.; and especially
examined the newly-constructed iron mortar boat
lately sent to that yard by Mr. Laird, of Birken-
head.
Major. General Sir'A. J. Cloete,C.B., lately in com-
mand of the South Wales district,has been appointed
commander of the forces in the Windward and Lee-
ward Islands, with the local rank of lieutenant-
general, in succession to General W. Wood, C.B.
resigned on promotion.
The new Polish Corps' head-quarters, it is rui
mowed, are to be at Chatham.
Sir Colin Campbell, It is stated upon authority/
will, at the expiration of his leave (Feb. 15), rturis
to the Crimea, to resume the command of the High.
land Division.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Clement Moody,B.B.i
is appointed to succeed Major-General Gordon as
the commanding engineer in North Britain,
The 12th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, froneae, Cape
of Good Hope, and the 54th and 68th, Gib.
raltart will shortly embark for the Crimea.

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