The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-30 00:00:00

MINISTRY OF WAR UNDER LORD
ABERDEEN.

The FOILDWIIkif kekrakpOSlMMO, 10 leablialtedu an
appendix to die Marie report if NM Sabeetoped Committee :
(Letter from Leed Joke Mama Se Lad Aberdeen)
Pemihrokestedie, Nov. IT, 1864.
My dear Lord Aberdega,—l said the other day that I
would speak to you upon the subject of the piteousl
arraagemente menected with the War Department; I
believe, however, I can put the matter more clearly le ,
wriest/.
I will treat the sahjeet in Al two plats of view:—Pint,
es tO the Adel efft01•1111/111411 (011 the new department, with
• view to the peers' Mlldemete of the public service;
eeleadly, as Mine tamable"' stowleemnits of the great war
en whack we ere
la tbe geiall7ll.lwer, I havealready said that I Minot
thisk that • geffilaal le war can be uniatained together
with a towstaly of
_leafs for war. Sidney Herbert has, in
ti. kiwis gollgerlageneet manner, said nearly the same
Ma r
I have else Mid you, however, that 1 do not think the
war estimates ought to be brought forward in the House of
Commies by a preps of • rack and position minion to a
Secretary at War. It is of great importance, when ques
Moos Weise to the diaciplie• or promotion, favour or
posisemest. of °Moen and soldiers are brought forward in
the House of Commons, to have a privy emancilior or mini-
m.» either in the cabinet, or next ha mak to the cabinet, to
pensfy the House of Commies upon points which are deter-
mieet by military dicers sitting at the Horns Guards. •
Bet, eves eappoeieg that in time of pea e, with a man of
the high asthority of the Doke of Wslliogion, commander
tingled, an limier Secretary of State might sullies for the
Memo of Ceentoome, erect is not the present state of affain.
Beery sow t will be sharply criticised ; there
are several affmgemuirimstbe How of Commons who are well
guaide4 to lead the opision of the home upon minters of ,
sorts» administration; authority sad experience and high
*Metal rank are thereiwe required la the organ of the go-
verouret se military stain.
The discusious which have taloa plane ia the public
preen
epos the diampllne of the army teed to tee same con•
Mamma A »toast minister, strong in public support, is re-
stored to »emitter objectiow to our present modes of trial
for military offeaces, and, iT necessary, to improve thee.
mod».
I eon», therefore, on this head, to the cOltelwitoll that
the Secretary cf State fur the War Department must be in
the House of Commons.
From the other point of view the prospect is equally clear. ,
We an ta the midst of a grist war. In order to carry on
that War with eficieney, either the prim* monster must be
weaweaop argiag, hastening, sompletiog the military pm- ,
parations, or the Minister of War mast be strong enough to
control other departments. Every objection of other minis.
ten, the plea of foreign interests to be attended to, of naval ,
prepirstioas not yet complete, and a thousand others, jun.
tiliable in the separate heads of departments, must be forced
to yield to the paramount necessity of carrying on the war
with effiehtery of each »reit» and completeness of means to
UN end is view.
Tho great duty may be performed, as I have said, either
by the Primo Minister, or a minister acting in a depart-
ono. We have examples of both—Lord Godolphin, in
the tint way, supported ti's campaigns of Marlborough;
Lord Chatham, in the other, guided the operations of the
NM fall' war.
Is the present ease it seems to me that the last example
is the mat applicable.
therefore, the first considerations here presented lead
to the conclusion that the Secretary of State for the War
Department most he In the House of Commons, the latter
considerations point to the necessity of having in that ciao.
a man who, from experience of military details, from
»Mutt vigour of mind, and from weight with the House of j
Commons, can he expected to guide the great operations of
war with authority and success.
Tone i; only one person belonging to the government
who ambinee these advautagas.
My conclusion is, that before parliament meets, Lord
Palmerston should be intrusted with the seals of the war de- ,
pertinent. With respect to other arrongements, I can feel
so dosir. that your influence with your colleagues would in-
duce teem to acquiesce in such a distribution of ofileas as ,
you Might think most advantageous for the Crown and the
country.—l remain, my dear Lord Aberdeen, yours very
truly, J. Roseau..
(Liter from Lord Aberdeen to Lord John Humeri.)
Blackheath Nov. 18, 1864

My dear Lord Juhn,—The letter which I reesi;ed from
you yesterday, just bet ore the meepling of the Cabinet, con-
tained a proposal so unexpected, and whir's may hate such
imporant consequences, that you will not be surpri.ed it I
as sushi., at the first moment, Co iszprees a decided opinion
Hat, w soy suggestion made by you detentes the beat at
testino, and as you do not call for an immedia•e answer, I
will give the subject the or It mature consideration, and
will let you know the opinion I may form.—Ever truly
yours, A FIRILDIEN.

(Lotter from Lord John Kassel! to Llrd Aberdeen.)
C,useul•cffice, Nov. 18, 1854.

My dear Lord Aberdeen.-1 did not expect any name-
theta •cower to my letter of yesterday, and I think it quite
rigkt that you should base time to reflect.
I wish, however, that before you decide you should Ante
ay letter to the Duke of Newcastle. It was my intention,
ie writamg the letter, to avoid throwing any blame upon
him indeed, I think be deserve. very great credit for the
exertions he has made, but It. his not had the authority re-
quisite for so great a sphere, and baa not been able to do all
that might have been done with larger powers of control
I ramato yours very truly, J. RtAiani.c. '

(Latter from Lord Aberdeen to Lord J. Howell.)
Downing-street, Nov. 21, 1854.
Yy dear Lord John,—l have shows your letter to the
Lake of Newcastle, sad oleo to Slimly Herbert. They
both, as might have been 'gouged, strongly urged me to
adopt any such arrangement with respect to their offices as
shoed he thought most conducive to the public service.
Canuestionably this is the first object; but, on full coml.
detstion, I entertain great doubts whether, in the present
state of &Lin, your proposal would prove advantageous or
closeable. It is mainly founded on the assumption that
Herbert ought not to move the estimates sent station in
the HMSO of Commons. Now, I fully agree with you in
thinkiag that the office of Secretary at War, as at present
coastituted, menet be maintained together with a Sieve
tarp of State for the Vier Department. It is also perfectly
true that Herbert expressed a similar opinion in the House
of Commons ; bet I thick he spoke of this as a permanent
arrangement, sad that he offered to continue his own set
vices as keg es they could be useful, estecially with re-
ference to the duration of the war.
It ta gaits clear that an Under-Secretary of State could
sot with any degree of propriety move the estimates ; but,
looking at the present state of things as temporary, I do not
see why a Pnvy Councillor's office should not in future be
sessututed, charged with all the flnineiel concerns of the
may, sad who might very properly move the estimates. If
this should sot be the ea e, your proposal would env dye the
etiolate amessity of the Secretary of State for War always
being a member of the House of Commons. This, I think,
Veeld be oblectiosable in principle, and might be Incas-
mast in practice.
1 us mutely imagine that the House of Commons, being
amend of the temporary nature of the present arrangement,
would 'mast on the supproesian of the War office in the first
pest of a war, briagiag greatly increased labour and respon-
sibility. la the meantime, thoraces's, and wail • final
armament shall take place, Herbert might continue to
save the intimates, and I should think that he would do so
with the acceptance of the house, in which, I believe, be is
dowry. dly popular, and likely to dad favour.
Your proposal being founded on the supposed impropriety
Cl Herbert moving the oriontes, and the consequent neon-
Sty f the Secretary of State for War being in the House of
Commons, would reader the removal of the Duke of Now-
testis from hie present ofhe unavoidable; but although port
would regard this as the inevitable result •f an official
snasitement, it is not to be supposed that it would be can.
attend in this light by the public, or, indeed, by any Im
patio! poison. The dislocation of the government would
be so great, and the reason assigned for it apparently so
imdequite, that it could only be considered as a mode of
albstitutieg one man for soother. Although you may be
far from entertaining say such desire, the transactios MOM
receive no other interpretation. Is justice to the duke, Ilia
act teak that his colleagues, without very strong grounds,
would with to place him in such • position.
No., with respect to Palmerston ; I do not know wheelie,
he oscura of the burden you are disposed to lay upon blmi
but, if sot, I should greatly doubt his inclination to ander-
take it Palmerston, within a few months, is as old as I
so: sod, without disparaging his inherent wig ome of mind,
he peestrms so immunity from the effects of sr. When I
look at the laborious and complicated duties Ilia:barged by
the Deks of Newcastle and by Herbert, and antiapate
ethers which must shortly he added to them, 1 fear that I
tould not honestly advao the goiren to intrust Palmerston,
or say other moo, with on great a responsibility.
I said is my former letter that your proposal was mei-
!Pet"' by me, because my strong impression had been,
harm serious omarreatioes, that you greatly preferred the
awaiscion of the Duke of Newcastle to the War Depart-
meat ir...osed of Palmerstos, which had been canvassed at
"2, t'ae is the press sad in the House of Commons. But
..•eolipow thst I meet have been mistaken in this respect.
• __•"llloeiliss. however, to eater into the vial iticsuons of dd.
"..."1114, for, as I do toot perceive the immediate ueces.
fki far the abolition of Herber's office and the extinction of
his function, I cannot consider the proposed change as tra-
Pwrively called for.
1 do not know that we gain much by • reference to the times
.111 Lord Godolphin or Lord Chsthem. Ciodolphia, as Prime
aadoebtadly gave great assistance to the Duke of
ffi▪
arlbi in the War of Succession, and Chatham, as
the heed er treegli department, may almost inclusively have
ori-
~,
the war IMMISMIree of the government. It would be
r▪ ats if I were to pretend to take any attire part in
▪ .14liraration of military details or the direction
meesuree, which I can only very humbly assist
aid was., pertain it tenors to the purpose to recollect that in
ear "II day the greatest, the mist glorious, and by far the
seat samissful war ever earned on by this country was
Crested by Lord Costlereert and Lord Bathurst, under
the septriatendenee of a minister who was certainly not
,11:117 werlike la his character, although he lived to ma his
umotened marsh to Faris canted into effect. During the
het)m_lrs,ol4lis great struggle the War Minister was in
,„."''''nwswef Lords,, while Palmerston, as Secretary at War,
Twillith sot in the cabinet, moved the estimates in the
▪ o: Cosamene.—Ever, my dear Low John, sincerely
Pllll, AMERDIRN.

(Litter kora Lord J. Russell to Lord Aberdeen
Chesbasn-plaeo, R.le. 23, 18.54.
I My dear Lord Aberdoeu,-1 have Jut waived your
mower to ay latter of the 17th. I ►are sot hat) 4rte spoken
to Palusenton us the subject, but as his returtl I stall
° oessissaicate to his our correspondence, sad eeas,xlt with
his upon remain, yours truly, J. Roua•z.t..

(Lotter from Lord Joba Russell to Lord Aberdees.)
Pembroke Lodge, Nov. 28, 1854.
My dear Lord Aberdoes.-41s Palmerstee's return is
delayed, I willttake the migmbnefty etrisseeriag year letter
of the 2lst inst., whin\ I raided ea the Md.
You begin by toying that my pomenal I. mainly founded
oa the anemones that Hubei negbit not to mom the esti
mates neat see*. la the fleet* at Commons. This is a
mistake: my ma kiseded ea a combined considers-
tioa el the emanpeemets for the new department,
with • view 111 OM sansesi eMeitney of the public service,
Wthe lesenediat• requiremss of the great war in which
an
It le vie te
that the Mot of them two objects is the
Igreatest. oeithat the adjustment of *Meal arrangements
may and should be made subordinate to the immediate re-
quirements 4 the war.
In to the ant bead, I am happy to see there is no
irreeoaullaWe difference between as. You agree with me
that the cake of Secretary at War, ea at present consti-
tuted, cannot be maintained together with • Secretary of
State for the War Department. Yon also agree with as
that an Under Secretary of State could not, with any pro- ,
piety, move the estimates.
You only differ with me in the opinion I expressed that i
the sheep ought to be made in the estimates ot neat year.
I bad thought that Herbert might bold the office of pay- I
master, such a. I held it from 1830 to 1834, and such as 1
Macaulay held it from 1846 to 1847, and thus be connected
with the War Department without moving the estimates. I
Had you aeked my opinion concerning the distribution of i
offices, this is the suggestion I should have made.
You, looking spots the present state of things as tens- I
porary, think tbat Herbert might matinee to more the I
estimate., as Secretary at War, and that he would do so
with the acceptant:olio( the hens., in which he is deservedly
polfular. . _ _

Although I am of opinion that the House of Cocoons
would expect, after six or seven months of deliberation, a
final arrangement of the War Department, yet the differ.
epee between us is not so great that I could not yield to
your wish and the decision of the Cabinet upon this part of
the subject.
I will only say, therefore, that I see no objection, in prin.
plis or in practice, to a rule that the Secretary of State for
the War Department should, like the Chancellor of the
Exchequer and the Secretary at War, be always a member
of the Douse of Commons.

I come to the woad part of the question.
Here you meet me us holism by saying that the transac-
tion would he considered only as a mode of substituting
one man for another, and the, in justice to the Duke of
Newcastle, you do not think that his colleague•, without
very strong grounds, would wish to place him in such
position.
Now, I bad understood that your administration was
founded on the principle of doing what was beat for the
public service, without regard to the self-love, or even the
' acquired ixeition, of individuals. The Duke of Newcastle
would, I think, be the last man to wish for an exception to
this rile in his favour.

Your neat objection is to Lord Palmerston's age, but
when I eye the vigour of his mind and body, I cannot
attach much weight to this argument.
You say neat, that it was your strong impression, from
various convirsations, that at the time of the separation of
the War Department, I greatly preferred the nomination of
the Duke of Newcastle to that of Palsnenton. You are
mistaken in this respect. But it is true my opinion fluc-
tuated very much, and it was only determined by the strong
wish which I uaderstood bad been expressed by the Duke
of Newcastle to complete in the War Department the pre-
meatless' be had so well begun. I thought ltd.. to him to
presume in favour of his efficiency.
I come, therefore—having cleared the ground of all these
obstructions—to the real question—" What are the require-
ments of thy great war in which we are engaged ?"
fisting aside ail historical references, both on your part
and mine, I think it is Meer either that the Prime Minister

mast be himself the active and moving spirit of the whole
machine, or the Minister of War mast have delegated au-
thority to control other departments.
Neither is t..:e case under the prethot arraegement. I will
give you an iustanoe but too pregnant with warning.
Early in October I wrote to the Doke of Newcastle on
,the subject of transferring the 97th Regiment, then at the
Pitmus, to the Crimea. He intnrined me, in answer, that
he had wishsd to do so, and that he had also wished to send
between 2,000 and 3,000 men, the draughts of various regi-
ments, to the Crimea.
Now, why was he not able to carry his intentions into
effect T Because he could not remove the obstacles put in
his way by other departments, and because the Prime Ili-
-1 plater did not at ones overcome those °bonnets.
At a much later time the 97th was moved, and it is only
to-day that I see, by a telegraphic despatch from Lord
Stratford, dated on the 18th last., that the Orinoco (which
conveys that regiment) had lett Constantinople fur the
Crimea.

But in the meantime Lord Raglan bad reported that he
wished he hod been able to place in the position of Bakke
lava, on the 26th October, • more considerable force, and
also that oa the sth of Noventker the heights of Inkermann
were defended by no more than 8,000 B.itiah Infaatry.
What can be done by a single British regiment MU seen on
the 25th of October, when the 93rd alone saved the position
of Bslaklava by their firmnea, and gallantry. Had 5,000
More men been at Lord Raglan's disposal on the 25th of
October and the sth of November, how much more fruitful,
though not more glorious, might have been those memorable
days.
The Cabinet has, it is true, is its recent meetings, done
mach to riktair 01MOMOSI; out a Cabinet is • cumbrous azd
unwieldy instrument for earning co war ; it can furcish
suggestions or make • decision upon • meson submitted to
it, but it cannot administer.
What you want, therefore, I must repeat, is a Minister
of War of vigour and authority. As the welfare of the em-
pire and oh, success of oar present conflict are concerned, I
have no scruple in saying so.
Keep up, if you think right, as a temporary gement,
a Secretary at War; make it clear that it is .emporary ;
that is to say, only to lut till more complete consolidation
cao take place ; bat let parliament and the country be as-
sured that you have placed the conduct of the war in the
hands of the fittest man who can be found fur that duty.
I remain, my dear Lard Aberdeen, yours very truly,
J. Retessu.

(Letter from Lord Aberdeen to Lord J. Russell.)
Downiogatreet, Nov. 20, 1854.
My dear Lard John,—There are two or three poiuts in
your letter, neared yesterday, to which I think it as well
to advert without further delay, in order that, before you
ace Palmerston, the whole subject may be placed in a eon-'
Mina to be fully understood.
I am glad that it is no louder escessary to enter lute any
nensideration at present of Mr. Herbert's position. I agree
with you in thinking that, in consequence of the creation at
&Secretary of Sate for We War Department, the °Soo M
Reerstary at War =set be modified; but 1 am still sf
opinion that a Privy Councillor's office ma bo_coastitarad,
by the omespaat of which the estimates obeald bost%
sad who should mantra the whole expedites, sad
OSSIONIINI of the army. Regarding lievbace* prmsat ellica.
MSS et tassperary, I need say nothing Nether resPr
▪ ; bat I must altogether demur to yew doolaretWia
psis see no objection, in principle or in pessise, to a rule that
Me Secretary of State for the War Department should,
Illks the Chancellor of the Exchequer sad the Secretary at
Wse be always a member of the Rotas- of COMPAILI. Such
Illiegiaion, it adopted, I think wnuld manifestly be at
whims, with the public interest. It is probable that it
might very often be desirable to appoint a military man to
*slim of Secretary of State for the War Department, and
ik is squally probable that such a men might be found in
the Zeus, of Lords. Officers who by long service and
Medi have received the honour of a peerage might be the
pecans of all others whom it would be most important
select for this office, and it is difficult to conceive why
a seat in the House of Lords should operate as a disqualifi-
cation.
I think that the ogee ought to stead upon the same
illootioe as that of the First Lord of the Admiralty, who
may he either a peer or a commoner, as the public interest
may require.
Yr.o complain that the Duke of Newcastle has not a suffi-
cleat control over the departments with which he is in contact,
sad that he does not powers a delegated authority sufficient
to enable him to perform his duties satisfactorily. Ido not
exactly know what is meant by a delegated authority, but I
apprehend that he possesses all the authority with which he,
or any other person, could properly be invested.
The you adduce of this want of control are
wholly inapplicable, and fail to establish the fact. You say
that you wrote to the dake in October, and recom-
mended him to wad the 97th Regiment to the Crimes,
and that he replied it was his wish to have done so, a.
shall SS to send 2,000 troone then ready for embarkation.
Yea Nagai* therefore, that hs did not do it Wean.* he
iteniina remove the °to:twice put in his way by other de-
peasants, and licenses the Prime Minister did not at once
stweeceme than obstacles. Now, allow me to say, that be-
=rime minister can remove obstacles, he most be in.
of their existence; and if it was imagined that he
gimessoed nay such power, it might easily have been put to
the test by calling upon him to exerciae it.
la this case, however, it is not easy to say what the
Prime Minister or say oils else could have done. The
Doke of Newcastle wished to send the 97th Regiment from
the Pilaus to the Crimea, and proposed to Clarendon to do
so. Clarendon protested against it, and said that the trans
quillity of Oreeee depended upon the regiment remaining
at Athens. The duke, I think, very properly, at the time
asquiesced. and ratnqueatly sent a weak regiment to re-
place the 97th in Greece.
The °Wade to wading the 2,000 men arms from Lord
Raglan himself. Whew the duke Informed Lord Raglan
that he had this number of rowels to send him, Lord
Raglan retitled that those last sent were so young and an-
thewed that they fell Aeneas to disease, and were swept
like Sae He preferred therefore to wait. I do'
set blow what a Primo Minister could have done in such
a on; hut I must submit that in all this there i s no evi-
dent)* of any want of authority on the part of the dune.
Attu all, I think year letter plainly reduces the question
to the simple awe of a personal preference, and the tubed-
nation of sae man foe soother.

In answer to my suggestion, th►t *owe consideration was
due to the duke on the part of his colleagues, you say
that you understood the administration was founder. on the