The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

1213

sources the risk must be incurred of sending out
recruits imperfectly trained ; and he referred to the
precepts and the example of the Duke of Welling-
ton in support of the conclusion that there was no
national ilegradatiuu attending the employment of
foreigners under such contingencies. Bristly corn-
batting the )assertion that the measure was uncon-
stitutional, Lord J. Russell adverted to the ad rap-
tandum argument against the engagement of hire-
hugs anti mercenaries to fight our battles, observing
that the plea for employing only British troops would
be inapplicable, except while we were fighting for a
solely British object, which was nut the case at
present. In the view of a possibly protracted war.
accompanied by a constant drain upon the population.
he considered the additional strength derivable from
the assistance of foreign soldiers highly to be desired,
and could perceive no substantial objection to its em-
ployment.
Sir E. B. LYTTON moved as an amendment that
the bill be read a second time that day six months.
He proceeded to argue that the enlistment of aliens
would chill the national spirit, which was already
pouring in recruits to the army faster than they could
be enrolled and enregimented. The very introduc-
tifin of the bill argued !aches in the Government, who
had received abundant warnings of the magnitude of
the war, and might have long since developed the
military resources of the country sufficiently to dis-
pense with the beggarly aid contributed by a few
thousand miscellaneous hirelings. He contended
that the precedents cited in defence of the measure
did not apply, and that the emergency by which it
could alone be justified did not exile. No informa-
tion, he remarked, had been given es to the source
whence the mercenary troops could be drawn, but he
warned the house of the many dangers, present and
prospective, that must arise from collecting into a
focus, practising in war, and finally disbanding, the
refugee members of distressed nationalities. De-
nouncing the bill as containing a " crawling proposi-
tion," the hon. baronet declared that any advantage
which might accrue from it would be heavily paid for
in the discredit at which it must be purchased. For
all our required supplies of men the home market
would be found the cheapest and the best.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNER reminded the house that
the war possessed nothing of an exclusively national
character. It was waged for an European object,
and in conjunction with a foreign ally. He accepted
the measure with gratification, believing that the
Government had done well to appeal for assistance
in the struggle against a despotic power to the volun-
teers of liberty throughout Europe.
Mr. ADDERI.EY complained of the insult passed
upon the North American colonies when the Govern-
ment declined their offers of aid in men and money
in favour of a band of foreign mercenaries.
Mr. WATSON gave an unqualified support to the
bill, on the ground that, having committed our army
and our national honour to the work of taking Sebas-
topol, it was impossible to refuse any request which
the Government might make for assistance to that
army in prosecuting successfully their gigantic task.
Mr. E. BALL contended that, by adopting the
measure, they would but add one more calamity to
the dire calamities of war already existing.
Mr. M. Gimes deprecated the threat of resignation
held out by Lord J. Russell. lie proceeded to com-
pare the employment of mercenaries to the savage
warfare carried on in America, when the tomahawks
of the Indians were enlisted in the warfare of civilised
nations. The policy of the bill he believed to be
most dangerous, for, if' they hired from Rome small
state these 10,000 men, it might be that ere long
they would have to defend that state, as well as Tur-
key, against the power of Russia. He could not be-
lieve that the result of the war would depend upon
these 10,0(X) men, which could be but of small avail
when contrasted with the enormous strength of the
power against which they would be arrayed.
Mr. J. G. PHILLINORK admitted the possibility of
raising with effect a Polish legion to fight against
Russia, but could nut approve the scheme for defend-
ing England by the agency of stipendiaries called
from different countries, and inspired by nu feelings
or patriotism. The measure, he believed, would in-
volve the country in danger and disgrace.
The SECRETARY-AT. WAR replied to various objee-
dons urged against the bill, and explained the motives
which had prompted the Government to propose it ;
In England he rejoiced to acknowledge that the flow of
recruits to the depius was rapid, and that it had been found
possible to drill those recruits into soldiers in three or four
mouths ; but experience had shown that the great majority
who offered themselves fur enlistment were cemparati
boys, little if at all above the lowest age—namely,
which the regulations admitted, and when these yo
soldiers came to be exposed to actual service they
away with sickness and fatigue, which their frames
not hardened enough to bear. Uenuany, un the
hand, poissessed a numerous population of men in full
inured to military life, accustomed to hardship, ready
employment, and at the present moment exposed to in
Buttering and destitution through the industrial enibiurniss-
zuenta prevalent in their own country. Here, he cow
tended, was an opportunity of providing a mush Avowal
reinforcement to tha army at the met of war, to supply eft

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