The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-08 00:00:00

MR. ROEBUCK'S COIIMITTEB.
Yesterday the committee continued to extend its
Inq..%ry Into the adrototetretion of the °Mouse iiroAlt.
Inset ; Maior General S.r Frederick Smith and Me, Moo-
sell, of that deratment, being present.
Sir Thomas Hastings was first recall 4, sad handed in
various teturns relative to the supply of waterproof capes
and heopital furniture fur the troops in the Crimea, and said
he could give the committee other instecees, in addition to
the one he had already given, in which the:authority of the
Board of Ordnance had been need by a siugle member of
the board. Lost year witness, daring ten months, was the
only member of the board transacting business at
the Ordnance, and this was during the heavy
rumors of business in that department. Sir R.
RAW was also there, but he was shout entirely oc-
cupied with the military department. Some of the papers
of toe board during this time bad only one signature when
they related to ordinary matters of detail, but not when
they involved a principle. There were certain thins called
board pipers, however, were always expected to have
two signature.; but those that were called departmental
papers, such as papers relating to the Comptroller of Stores
department, the Clerk of the Ordealete, and of the Sur-
veyor, they generally and legitimately came only under one
signature. One of the additional instances be wished to
mutation was the following t—A vessel was ordered round
from Chatham, to form a store depot at the Arsenal at
Woolwich, but without an order of the board, by Mr. Mou-
sed, the Clerk of the Ordnance. Wetnese said to
Mr. Monsell, "Are you aware what would be the
expense of this ?" Mr. Monsell said, tt No :" to which wit-
ness replied, " Probst:oy 2,0001.;" et which Mr. Monsell
seemed surprised, and he (Sir T. Hastings) had an inti-
m ate made of the eapeuse,which went to confirm his views;
tot Mr. Monsell took the papers, and sail, "I'll settle it;
I'd see Lord Fillmore." This was a transaction that would
have involved coneiderable expense, without reference being
previously made to, or an order from, the board.
Sir J. Pokington—Was any 'epeeist' actually incurred?
No. 'zap% the expense of bringing the vessel round.
Then you mean that the expense was averted by your
interference 2—Exactly.
Sir T. flutings would mention another cage of the
hoard's authority being exercised without the direct sanc-
tion of the board. Col. Wilson address ed a letter to the
Secretary of the Board of Ordnance, applying for an in-
quiry to be instituted into the existing state of the taboret
tory; and this letter was given to the Clerk of the Ordnance,
but it bad never been brought before the board.
By ?dr. Ellice —Had there been a Muter-0e 1 to super-
intend the businese of the Ordnance, these things, in wit-
area's opinion, would not have happened, es under the old
system, and befotte the change, every quill As of this kind
was referred to him for approval. The Muter General of
the Ordnance was what the First land of the Admiralty
was to Whitehall, having the same ;sown* practically, with
the exception that be could reverie the proceedings of
the subordinate., which the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty could not. Upwastas of 6,000 waterproof capes
were ordered in November, but they were not
received at the Tower until January following.
Provision was made for the supply of 2,666 beds in July,
and 7,770 more in March. Recently Mr Stacey, from ad-
vanced years and indisposition, resigned hie appointmeat as'
head storekeeper, and witness applied to Sir Hew Ross to
fill it, recommending certain periods, as it was mut ue.
gent ; but Mr. Moneta took the pepers and no appointment
lad as yet been made. This, he thought, could not have
Inputted had the MastertGeneral, Lord Raglan, who was
supreme in matters of promotion and appointments, not
been absent ; though Sir Hew Ross, who succeeded him,
had all the powers of the Muter. General in every respect.
The matter got into Mr. Mona ll's hands, and come
beton the board.
The Chairman—You said there were other instances ?
Sir T. Hastings—Yrs, there was a case in which a
severe reprimand was ordered in the ease of insubordination
on the part of a particular officer, but where the reprimand
was not carried out
The Chairman— Wu that done by Mr. hlonsoll ?
Sir T. Hastings—Yes.
The Chairman—You had better state the case.
Sir T. Hastings here hesitated, and said—The committee
would feel for the unpleasantness of his position. The eau
was thie. A gentlemen of considerable ability was appointed
to an cffice in the Ordnance, but became of an insubordinate
turn of mind, and Sir Hew Bose wrote a severe reprimand
to this officer, and witness pat his initials to it. Mr. Mon
sell suesequently wrote a letter to the Board of Ordnance,
calling on them to rescind the reprimand, and telling the
board that if they did not he should place the papers in the
hands of the Secretary at Wae. Sir Hew Ross sent
for witness, on the occasion, and they considered that the
board had done quite right, and witness said that nothing
should induce him to reecind his decision on the subject,
end the decision was not rescinded.
General Peel—Was it not unusuel for you t r attach your
signature?—The members of the board were entitled to do
this, as they sate both in a civil and military capacity,
Witnese had revised the store-keeping system at the Tower,
conceiving that the business of the war could not be carried
eat on the limo limited system of the establishment, which
he esused to be considerably increased. A communication
bad r. tautly come from the Minister of War to Sir Hue
Roes, stating that all appointments for the present should
be temporary ; bat this he believed was in consequence of
contemplated alterations in the department. Mr. Monsell
on one occasion had made application for a particular pro-
motion, and Sir H. Wits would not make it. No ezpendi-
tare could be incurrt.l by oae member of the board only,
but it could be by t 4,.; but he could not say decidedly
whether there were two signatures of the board for the
contract for huts in the Crimea, and the construction el
these hots was commereed before the estimates were
brouchrbefore the Etiard of Admiralty. The contract We.
carried out by Sir Frederick Smith. There was some iris.
galority as regarded the form, hut the Board of Calmar
paid the bill. (Laughter.) Tne bats were urgently wanted.
and ships were waiting to take them out at dioutkamptema
He did not know whether Sir H. Roes had the papaw
spoken of as takes by Mr. Monet it forte. riled to him et Me
own desire, or that he sent them to the Secretary at Was.
lie believed General Cater bad reneited reports as to the
state of the fuses from the Crimea.
By Mr. hen the result of you• evidence is that
it would be as difficult to carry (-a the administration of the
Board of Ordnance successfully without a Muter-0 1
and a complete board is it would be to carry on the admi-
nistration of the navy without a First Lord of the Admiralty?
Sir T. Hestinea-1 think ao. I regret very much that
the application I made to have an audience with the
Secretary for War was not compleed with, because it would
been much more in unison with my feelings to base stated
these things to the Secretary of War, rather than to have bad
it extracted from me by the committee.
Mr. Monsell, Clerk to the Bard of Ordnance, was next
examined. He said he had now held that office for nearly
two years and six months, and wi-hod to be permitted to
make some explanations to the committee relative to some
imputations that had been cut upon him.
The Cnairmsn of the Committee would come to this
matters in due course, *rad the bon. gentleman would have
every opportunity of mallets any explanations on the gam. '!
tin.
Mr. Monsell then continued to state, in reply to questicu
from the chairman, that he acted in the capacity of a co-
caddish, member of the Board of Ordnance, haying no more
power than any other member of the board, with the
exception of the control of the financial department ; but he
had no more power of originating or deciding than any
other member of the board. He was the medium of com-
munication between the board and the Minister of War.
Both be and Sir Hew Rees were in communication with the
Duke of Newcastle in the occasion of political conferences;
he (Mr.Monsell) representing the civil, and Sir 11. Ross the
military deportment of the beard. It was quite correct that
the Board of Ordnance was an executive rather than a sug-
gestive body. The board considered how quickly and
cheaply things could be carried out. Amongst other duties
was the makrg of contracts for the supply of provisions and
stores; sad the first suggestion be had from the Minister
of War with regard to the supply of warm clothing
foe the trope was on 21st June, and on that being com-
municated by him to the Board of Ordnance, inquiries
were made as to the bete mode of carrying oat the order.
He and Sir T. Hastings issued an order for the articles to be
provided, r proposed by the civil officers at the Tower,
ezewpt 50,000 socks, for which further instructions would
be given. He also gave orders that all the patterns of
flannel shirts, drawers, and stockings should he ti au.).
mined to Dr. Smith. lie might mention to the eointiolttee,
that apt* the beginning of November, he and Sir T. Hest-
logs and Sir H. Roe acted together in the most cordial
, and there was no sort of disagreement; bat from
November to 18th January a dispute arare with refire ou to
the case of Colonel Wilson.
The Chairman (interrupting) said the committee were of
opinion the hon. gentleman should not a present touch
upon that topic; and then inquired whether the °Murat
was a board order or a deriftillOntil Order ?
Mr. Moesell—Decidegy a board order.
The Chairman—Then, according to Sir T. Hastings, not
having a signature, it would be an irregular proceeding ?
—I do not think an order of that sort required two signa-
tures, 'wording to the ordinary practise of the board ; bat
the committee would find that out better from the Secretary
of the Board. Dr. Smith, on the 15th July,
seat is a report approving of some of the warns
clothing and rejecting other parts of it. fter
materially to alter Athe
that, witness found it necer2r7
eagagemeat entered into with Mr. Hyaaston, on the
ground that the pattern for some of the clothing was sot
qalts satisfactory ; but be did not think that Yr. F,Yassen
was is any way damnified by that alteration. 1 Ile rfalti..
was that the board procured better articles than they slaZds
have procured it the original order to Hr. Hynaston bad
sow on without any_ interference. As to the ease of the
laboratory at Woolwia, an alteration of which, as stated by
Sir T. Hastings, had bees made at witness's suggestion—
namely, the addition of two bays t he denied having
vergives
an ardor for these two bays. He believed, howe, the
the matey ia asking than r
tes mania la
toed perpeoe—seateky, tho or wales ter-