The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

in the light of an improvement—that the patronage exer-
cised by the Commander-in-Chief without political consi-
derations should be abolished. (Hear, hear.) Ido not
think that would be likely to give satisfaction to the public.
It seems to me far better that the patronage should con-
tinge to be exercised as for a long series of years it has been
and is now exercised, having regard to the benefit of the
army, totally apart from any considerations of which party
is in power or in opposition. (Hear, hear.) These are
the only remarks which I wish to make on the subject. It
will not be necessary to have recourse to Parliament for
any bill to separate the departments of War and the Colo-
nies. That can be effected nearly in the same manner as
the Home Department was separated from that of War and
the Co'onies. There will be, of course, some increased ex-
penses ; but the establishment now found to be sufficient
for both departments will be nearly sufficient for them when
separated. An estimate will be proposed for defraying the
charges of the Secretary of State for the War avartment;
and the Secretary of State for the War Department, having
his undivided attention given to the affairs of that depart-
ment—never more important than at the present moment,
' or requiring more vigour and decision—will he able to
serve his country in the manner it deserves. (C'heers)."
Some brief comments were made upon the
Ministerial announcement by several members. Mr.
liumx rejoiced to find a beginning made in the
direction of a much-needed administrative change,
hut pointed out a variety of extensions that must be
given to the proposition before the War Ministry
could be considered properly organised. He asked
the Government to produce some definite scheme.
Mr. ELLICE thought the plan would suffice if looked
upon as a merely temporary arrangement to be Made
shift with during war. Colonel Drxxx recommended
the appointment of a military man as the new
Minister of War. Mr. M. Gummi asked, by way of
fishing question, "in which house the new Minister
was to sit ?" Lord J. RUSSELL replied vaguely that,
under the statute of Anne, two Secretaries of State
might have seats simultaneously in the Commons.
To a further question whether the intended War
Secretary would be a member of the Lower House,
the noble lord gave no answer.

PRINCE ALBERT'S FARMS.
In committee of supply on Thursday, a vote for
money to maintain certain royal palaces called forth
some complaints and explanations touching the
farms occupied by Prince Albert at Windsor.
Mr. Wittums observed in the vote an item of
2,0001. " for replacing some decayed buildings" on
those farms, and urged that, if his Royal Highness
paid neither rent nor rates, he ought to keep the farm-
buildings in repair out of his own pocket.
Mr. Wrtsow corrected the misapprehension under
which the hon. member laboured

" The Prince paid for the farms which he occupied the
same rent as would be charged to any ordinary tenant, and
the amount of the rent was carried to the public credit.
His Royal Highness was a great improver, and had carried
' high farming ' to a point of great perfection ; but when
ever he had proposed substantial or permanent improve-
ments, and those improvements had been carried out,
they had been paid for in the same way as they would
have been in any other case, one half by the Crown, as
landlord, and the other half by his Royal Highness, as
tenant. He thought that, upon the whole, they were rather
more strict in dealing with his Royal Highness than they
were with an ordinary tenant."
Mr. SPOONER inquired what was the number of acres
which his Royal Highness occupied, and in respect of
which this 2,0001. was to be expended ?
Lord SEYMOUR said, as the arrangement was made when
he was at the Board of Works, be might, perhaps, he per.
mitted to explain that, with respect to the farms which
Prince Albert occupied and farmed, he was treated in pre-
cisely the same way as any ordinary tenant of the Crown ;
but that with respect to the dairy farm, that was con-
sidered an appendage to the castle, which ought as much
to be kept up as the kitchen or any other part of her Ma-
jesty's establishment. (Hear, hear.) He imagined that
this 2,0001. was required in order to carry out a plan
which was in contemplation when he was in office, for
putting the buildings on the dairy farm into suitable con-
dition.
Sir WILLIAM MoLEswourx assented to the accuracy of
this explanation, and said that this sum of 2,0001. which
was now asked for was required for the purpose of com-
pleting the new farm-buildings on the dairy farm.
Mr. SPOONER quite agreed with the noble lord that the
dairy farm was an appendage to the castle, and had no ob-
jection whatever to its being made as perfect as possible ;
but the explanation just offered differed very materially
from that which had been before given by the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Mr. WILSON said the explanation was this. Improve-
ments on the dairy farm were paid for wholly by the
public; on the other farms his Royal Highness paid one-
half, as any other tenant would do, and the public paid the
other.

HER MAJESTY is expected to be present at the
opening of the new St. George's hall, in Liverpool.
The committee have been accordingly indefatigable
in their exertions to accomplish the completion of
the magnificent building in time for the honour that
awaits them. The day for the opening has not yet
been definitively fixed; but it must be arranged to
suit the convenience of the Queen, who will probably
leave Osborne for the north about the latter end of
August, so that it is more than probable that it will
take plane the first week in September.

SATURDAY,

lortiga aio Colonial 4nttlligtittt.

FRANCE.
Several regiments designed to form part of the
army of the North have already arrived at Wimerenx,
near Boulogne, where they are constructing but
barracks for the accommodation of the troops.
A decree nominating a large number of general
officers to command in the armies both of the north
and south of France has appeared in the Moniteur.
In the northern army, which is to be commanded by
the Emperor in person, there will be no fewer than
thirty-one generals. General d'Hautpool, Grand
Referendary of the Senate, will command the
southern camp, having under him thirteen general
officers.

The organisation of the French Imperial Guard
will be terminated probably by the end of July.
There is some idea, it is said, to incorporate with it
a corps of Arab cavalry.

The Sentinelle of Toulon states that the greatest
activity prevails in the dockyard of that port. An
additional number of men have been set to work in
order to have the Navarin ready for launching by
the 10th inst. Every exertion is also being made to
complete the Flenrus, and the repairs of the Sone-
rain. These three vessels are screw line-of battle
ships, and form part of the squadron of reserve
which the Minister of Marine has ordered to be
ready for sea within the next four months. Supplies
of stores are every day arriving at the arsenal. The
embarkation of troops for the Levant is about to be
resumed at Toulon with renewed activity. On Satar
day last the Montezuma steam-frigate departed with
1,000 men of the 28th Regiment of the line and forty
horses. " These measures," adds the Sentinelle,
"lead to the belief that it is intended to urge the
war in the East most actively, and with a fez
greater amount of troops than was at first in-
tended."