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

JANUARY 27, 1855.

LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY.

The Earl of ABERDEEN explained, as far as he
professed himself to be able, the causes of Lord J.
Russell's retirement, and read over correspondence
on the subject, but could not say that he was
aware of all the motives by which his late colleague
was actuated. His colleague had expressed too
months ago certain objections to the system under
which the war was managed, but had of late said
nothing on the subject; and the step he had just
taken assumed in consequence the character of a
surprise. The Ministers were, nevertheless, pre-
pared to meet the motion of Mr. Roebuck in the
other house, on the results of which future arrange-
ments must depend.
Earl Garr gave notice that he should move his
resolution on the conduct of the war on Monday
next, in place of Thursday, for which day he had
given notice.
The Earl of WINCHEL3EA asked if the correspon-
dents of the papers received rations from the camp
in the Crimea. He declaimed against the injury
done to the public cause by the indiscretion of the
press, and stigmatised its attacks on individuals for
their conduct in the war as cruel and unjust. He
wished to know, besides, if any intimation had been
received from Lord Raglan as to the conduct to be
pursued towards the correspondents.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that the correspon-
dents had certainly shown lack of judgment, and
afforded important information to the enemy. As
for the rations, he had refused the privilege when
applied to by the editors; but the correspondents
had obtained them notwithstanding. He had now
written to beg that they might be discontinued.
Lord Raglan had complained of the information
afforded to the enemy, and he communicated with
the editors, who had promised caution ; but they had
not observed it., for a fresh complaint had arrived the
day before from Lord Raglan.

The Earl of HARROWBY inquired if Lord Raglan
possessed the power of expelling the correspondents
from the camp, and if he had made any intimation
of the kind?

The Duke of NEWCASTLE was not aware of any in-
timation ; but Lord Raglan certainly possessed the
power, and if he found it needful to exercise it he
would have the full approval of the Government.
Adjourned at a quarter past seven.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY.

Lord John Russell, whose expected statement
had crowded the house at a very early hour, took his
seat shortly after four on the fourth bench, amid a
few slight cheers.
Several members who had given notices of ques-
tions respecting the war postponed them one after
another, amid general amusement.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose, and said that at
the request of the head of the Government he had
postponed till then the explanation of his retirement.
On Tuesday, when Mr. Roebuck's motion was an-
nounced, he had not made up his mind what course
to pursue towards it. The privilege of inquiry was
one of the most valuable possessed by Parliament in
controlling abuses, and inquiry could be resisted
only on two grounds—that no abuse existed, or that
it was in process of remedy. The first could not be
pleaded in the present case, in the face of the
melancholy condition of our army at Sebastopol.
His own official knowledge made that condition in-
explicable. Had it been told last year that our
army, having with almost unheard of merit reached a
great position—a position of a good port, with ample
supplies—should perish for the want of common
necessaries at the rate of one hundred a day, he
would have held such a prediction absurd and im•
possible. The motion could not, therefore, be re-
sisted on the first ground. In his position he could
not have contented himself with faint denial—he
must have stood forward, and have boldly opposed the
threatened inquiry. If, again, it could be pleaded
that measures were in progress to remedy the
existing evil, he would have been ready to have done
so, inasmuch as the long deliberation of a committee
would have been too late to be of service. But he
could not in conscience oppose the motion on that
ground. He begged to narrate a few matters per-
sonal to himself on this head. When the Secretary-
ship-of-War was separated from the Colonies, the Pre-
mier offered the Duke of Newcastle his choice. The
Duke said that, after fitting out a large expedition, he
wished to remain at the head of the War Department.
Lord Aberdeen consented—with his own concur-
rence. At the end of the session, though his office
was not connected with the war, he wrote almost
daily letters to the Foreign Secretary on its conduct.
During the latter months of the year he felt that a
Lotter administration of the War Department was
necessary, and he had correspondence on the subject
with the Premier, extracts from which he begged to