The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SATURDAY,

made on the higest authority, but the answer did not arrive in time.
Now it is received. On the 15th of January the total of our effective
force, according to Lord RAGLAN was 27,000 men. But it is
certain that a large proportion of this number was unfit for
active duty, and the force of bayonets which could be mustered would
probably be not half the strength stated. It is not improbable, there.
fore, that the despatch may be substantially correct, and if it be,
how deplorable is our state ! Our army lost, no reserve provided,
England drained of regular troops, and our gallant ally left alone to
brave the perils of the enterprise in which the two nations embarked
together. The military annals of England present no example of
discomfiture so extensive and complete.

If " estimates" could save us, we might derive some comfort from
those before the House. The army and navy estimates amount to
24,437,0001. To this amount has to be added the enormous sum of
5,181,0001. for the transport service, and an amount yet unknown for
the Ordnance Department. How is this vast expenditure to be met?
If Mr GLADSTONE remains true to his principles, by a very con-
siderable increase of taxation. But could such increase be borne?
Accounts from the manufacturing districts speak of stagnation, and
trade is everywhere depressed. A loan must be the resource, and for
that capitalists are preparing, while the funds in anticipation of it
decline. Last night Sir J. GRAHAM was well enough to attend in his
place in the Commons; and nearly sixteen millions for navy and
transport estimates were voted with wonderful despatch and
unanimity.

From Lord PALMERSTON'S speech last night it would seem that he
has really some idea that peace may result from the Congress about to
be opened at Vienna. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who, it is said, will be in-
vested with full powers as Plenipotentiary, was to have left town for
Vienna to-day, but he is seriously indisposed, and will not, it is
imagined, be able to quit town for some days. If a pacific settlement
were really expected from this Congress, it is surely to be regretted
that it was not instituted sooner. The arrangement which removes
Lord JOHN from the House is no doubt a convenient one for the
Ministry; but it is impossible to look on the negotiation itself
in any other light than as a new devise of Austria to avoid deci-
sive action.

The War Ministry is settled. Lord PANMURE, a nobleman in infirm
health, is thought equal to transact the duties which the Duke of NEW-
CASTLD and Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT declared were more than their united
exertions could fulfil. " The public have had every hour, every minute
"of my time," said the Duke. "To not one hour of amusement or
"recreation have I presumed to think I was entitled. It was not my
" good fortune to be able to resort, for the purpose of health, or for any
" other purpose, to the country ; and day by day, and hour by hour,
" during the whole of the year 1854, it was my duty to remain in town
"aud exert myself to the best of my ability." Mr. S. HERBERT, by his
own account, was not less industrious. This gentleman is certainly
not wanting in intelligence ; he must have gained some knowledge of
the affairs and management of his office, and the only ground on which
the retention in place of the members of a condemned Cabinet could
be justified is, that it would be imprudent, at a critical moment like
this, to run the hazard of dislocating departments by putting strangers
at the head of them. Yet Mr. HERBERT is transferred from a post
which he held in 1845, and again since the formation of the Aberdeen
Government, and sent to a Ministry (the Colonies) in which he has had
not the slightest experience, while Mr. FREDERICK Pzen—a red-tapist
manufactured to order—will, as Under-Secretary of the War Depart-
ment, be substantially intrusted with the duties Mr. HERBERT was
accustomed to discharge, though Mr. PEEL'S official life has hitherto
been passed in routine of a totally different kind. This causeless
changiLg—as if the responsibilities of Government were to bo shifted
like a masquerade dress, for the amusement of the performers—is dis
heartening. If Mr. HERBERT had any real official ability, why shift
him from a department to which he had become accustomed ? If he
had not, why prclnote him to a higher station ? He is so fond of
boasting of his disinterestedness, that we can hardly suppose the
elevation was at his own desire, and those who think most meanly of
his capacity would hardly pretend that Mr. PEEL is his superior.
This, after all that has occurred, is the altered organisation with
which we are to open a new campaign. The difficulty—yes, the very
crisis of constitutional government—is to be tried this present year,
and tried in the field. All through Europe it is being said that con-
stitutionalism, parliamentism, respectable in peace, is babyish or
paralytic in war; and it rests with us (far more largely than we at
present fancy) to show that our parliamentary constitution can stand
the test of an European war. Autocratic monarchies, we feel, have au
immense advantage in the concentration of their powers, and the
unity of their action, and the sharp electric stroke that one will gives.
There is no reason why our own military energies should not be
equally concentrated. We only want one head. We should then have
all the advantage of n despotism with none of its disadvantage. The
one head, the " imperium " of war, would in our own case be answer-
able to the nation for its " place :" in despotisms it is answerable
with its life. We believe, and thoroughly believe, that parliamentary
government is the best government; only, in time of war, it must be
government. And this, as yet, we lack.
Some minor offices in the Ministry are not yet settled, but Sir
FRANCIS BARING, whose ill-luck in fishing for a budget was one of
Peet's best jests, is now to become the colleague of Peelites as Chan•
cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Irish Government, if we are to believe the Morning Chronicle,
has only been prevented this week, by its ignorance, from committing

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