The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDiY MINING, FEBRUARY 8, 1855.

the Chaseslke of the Exchequer had said be lad prevideil
meney for the peebable exigescies of the Imo; he wee still
of the same opisios, sad treated OM the mosey
Pftivided mold Insilco to semi the expenses of
the you eadieg the fith el Aril amt. Bat
it wee a different thief: le appremialls mosey
already raised; the Oedema estimate tassel eat larger
than was expected, it wee therefore necessary to appropriate
some mousy to that, but it would not be neeessarry le raise
• patsy for that purpose by new Wes loso, er etherwies.
As to the house being taken by surprise, the estimates had
been on the table a week ; the usual practice was WA,*
notice the night beforet even ashes the vote was ono NMI,
to give rime to a dhousion. This was a mere vote en se-
men; on whleh it was sot usual to raise any diseusios. As
to the general baileer of the home, the first important
public bushman was the navy estissates--they could not be
taken in the abssoes both of the First Lord of the Treasury'
and the Fine Lord of the Admirelty. The noble lord's
elution would most probably set ake place till Monday ;
the first goverment night afters that would be Friday
week ; the estimates would be taken thee, whether the head
of the Admiralty was able to attend or not. The estimates
would be laid on the table to morrow (this day). and hon.
members would therefore have full time to consider them.
Mr. STAFFORD had no intention of raising • discussion,
but he wished to make a short statement, and endeavour
to impress on the government a matter that admitted of no
delay. He wished to all the attention of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to the following statement. He bad that
morning received letters from Scutari (from a gentleman
whom he could name if necessary) which stated that the
difficulties there, instead of diminishing, were increasing ;
that the deaths were on an average forty a day, although
when be wee there they did not amount to half that num-
ber. That order. had come down from the Crimea, direst.
lag them to peepers for the reception of Sr. hundred sick
per week. Coupled with this statement was the announce-
ment that the gentleman to whose exertions much of the
goad effected was owing. the manager of the fund
of ten thoesand pounds, which he had so judi-
ciously expended, wee about to return home, having
exhausted all the means at his disposal. It wee also stated
that the medical inspector of transports had been removed.
The state of the transports had best the most disgraceful of
the many diegramful details of the whole miserable busi-
ness. Dr. M'Oregor was at last appointed inspector of the
transport shi which were now fitted up in a somewhat
more ea manner, and plying between Balaklava
and fkatal Rig OM osaveyeassof sick soldiers. It wee
stated that he WM assnrassovel. He referred to the question
at that nomiene. Meson it was ef the utmost importance—
it might Is usessari ea take gees step in the matter even
by the ant mall. His maviselea was, that if the govern-
ment did not confer some *peel mark of their approbation
1 sod esteem on Dr. 11111mw, it wield do more to dill
emcee the exertions of the young surgeons, and perpe-
tual, the system of reifies, so fatal to the moldier., than
say** else. He did net expect an answer from
the government at that meelest, a there wee no
one reams to 10811011111 the war departmout, bat
be nib* to *mem as whoever might be Seem-
terrelsiffee, that POW said be done which would
tend ammeletke eslieflen if the army sad to the arresting
of the pigeon of dilmeleek than to bestow without the
least delay same meek el mehleses on Dr. M'Oregor. He
had witnessed ble hinnes la the hospital; he alone of all
the mediae elaT dared to break through the trammels of
maim tai bed given every saggert to the ladies who had
less sent dee. If the goy/newt- did not bestow some
Mirk of Agee in hint, much owe, if they removed him
hem his sew they would them post blame, great respon-
sibility, sad peat guilt. He must say that when he saw
the Creaming to which Dr. ll'Ormar wee subjected, and
liaised time the dispenser of the Tints fund was about to
eats= Meek he felt be could not refrain from calling atten-
dee to these things in his place in parliament.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER begged the
how would allow him to make some observations, though
Ott of order, in answer to the representation which his hon.
Mend had addressed to the governmeat. He must reacted
hit hon. friend that in thus times of great difficslty, when
the feelings of men were so deeply moved, it was most se•
emery for the public service that the house and individual
members if it should observe discretion in their proceed-
ings. His hon. friend had thought St In his place in par-
liament to make a statement involving questions of great
importance. When the hon. gentleman received that state-
ment two wanes were open to him, either of which he
might properly have followed ; sae was on receiving that
statement to have carried it to the proper department of
the government ; the other WAS to have called the attention
of the house to it when the member of the government wu
peewit to whose department it belonged. It appeared toe
moment had only been received that morning, he there-
fore concluded it bad not been canted to the proper depart-
ment. (Mr. Stafford—" Which is that ?") He was not
quite convumel with the disposition of the diffe-
rent deputies*, elasested with the administration
of the war, bat he wee OM his hoe. friend would have
found every digesiihn to most his views, if he had gone to
the mink*/ Amp' with the general superintendence of
time depaelmeeb—be meant the noble duke the Secretary
et State for Wes Ills hon. friend might have put his
question whoa isms minister connoted with the depart-
ment was is Whew, but he had not followed either of
them NMI& Ho Mk his statement in the abreact of
Moly puma seemallei with the department, and without
=oily Istililb In seder that thou unconnected with the
meat Wale be enabled to supply an answer. lie
pet it to hie lam Mead if he thought it desirable for the
Public seed" et likely to promote the °billets he bad so
Ruch at Mmal. that these statements should be thus put
forward hi ebullience of the proper parties to reply to
them? At the same time, though he had received
Me notice of Mice .tatter, yet as he thought it
Important te what Ile inferences which might be
dhows from the Mstemeats of the hen. gentleman, he
would say a few words. He spoke of the hospital at Scutari,
gad demands made on them for fresh accommodation. Did
be wish them to infer that no provision had bees made to
met that demand ? He could on this subject speak only
hem his sari wad information, not having had an
of gesenifing the official sources; but he could
the Wm that before them large demands were
me
swims at Scutari, hbright hos. friend the late
ikeeseimy MI wee had applied himself to make the beet
tie mat thesedessads. He applied himself, in
CtrisZleset * led* emit wens as would enable hint
* nos the asedleal self at the army, to meet these and
may farther denude thee might be made on it ; and when
be found that the moiled stair of the army was not sun-
dent for all these peeposs, he applied himself to con-
sider whether Nom meens might not be devised
by aid of ebb& be might obtain the services eel
the civil melled profession in aid of the army.
The Timmy bed emently given its sanction to a scheme
by which big eight hon. friend had constructed a civil
medical establishment, which would be sent out with the
=
rafter fm the purpose of superintending the
at eigegmh
M. STAFFORD.—At Smyrna ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.—His hen.
Abed said .. at Smyrna," but he was sure he would admit
that it wee better for his right hon. friend to trust to
Smyrna, where buildings were placed at his deposal by the
Turkish government, than to go es seeking great extensions
at Scutari. He hoped, therefore, that his right hon. friend
would see that there really was no reason why he should
have abstained from communicating with his right hon.
Mime (Mr. S. Herbert), and that be would believe that
when he made any communications they would be received
test slily with diligence, but with readiness and thankful-
ness, and that every department of the government would
be ready to amp the aid of so able a cooperator in the
great work in which all were interested. His hon. friend con-
cluded his speech with some remarks, against which also he
must say he felt hoard to take exception. He entered late
the case of Dr. M'Oregor, and represented the necessity of
conferring upon him honours, and above all said that as
department should dare to remove him. Now, what did
this amount to ? It was nothing more nor less then for an
individual member of parliament to direct the executive
government with respect to duties which, as long as they
had an ezentive government, really could not possibly be
detached from it. (Hear, hear.) The deprecation of
removals and the revocation of appointments by members
of that *nee mast paralyse the hands of the administration,
nullify punishment where punishment was necessary, sad
deprive reward, where reward was deserved, of its gram and
efficacy. He was quite sure his hon. friend, who had had the
partial superintendence of one great department of the state,
must feel that under the influence of feelings of sympathy
which every nun must honour, he had a little overstepped
the line of discretion, and he must acknowledge that the ap-
pointment or removal of particular persons had better remain
in the hands of the government, who would determine the
matter in the first instance, with the knowledge that they
might afterwards be called to account by any members of
that house who did not approve of their conduct.
Mr. STAFFORD said as the right bon. gentleman had
observed that be had better apply to the proper authorities,
he must remark, that when he saw it announced that this
estimate wee to be asked for by the Secretary at War, he
certainly expected that that right hon. gentleman, who was
acquainted with all the details, would be in his place, and
would be prepared to answer his question. (Hear, hear.) I
As to the hospital accommodation at Smyrna, he (Mr.
Stafford) was the very first to mention the subject.
Mr. WHITESIDE was surprised at the tone In which a
member of the government had spoken on es awful a abject
(Opposition cheer.), In referring to disasters which it
would require the pen of Daniel Defoe properly to describe,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer had his feeling, seder
control; he could speak of a perishing army with Iran-'
quillity—(cheers)—mi he told his hon. frienfillir. elsilerg) 1
that tat eight dimmetly to visit • Secretary-at•Wor es
whim eiminat the Reese of Commons had, es that right
bum patemeen blower declared, pronounced formal our
ease. Oa the gmesilleg night, an hon. member, in speakieg
el She beams it diebespitals, stated that the wre seen
who were taboo In the transport ships from Bake
Wawa to Stuart had expressed their joy at being
able to lie down on the deck of a vessel, es
they at least heel the satisfaction of iyiag it mailart. At
Ilehlriava eel dmwhere there was wain but anfaeks.
I. *bathe pitemareat shone.; 111 that, stagy deperlassat of
Me gewerfacinft bad been pre-entinent. Thoplesiples of
allemeefaig mastitution ware, it snot be admilesd,
ptried, wenta a Seseetary at War the hat been mem
sated for themegfeleatee wee by c shelling eft the mei tree
hand toe bilging cam. According to the Cheneeller of
Ow Baditwar, they were now to say to mob head et •
epealdig_with " bated breath," "Will yes be
I Mit* to emitter the
things which they had
of the army is the
1011 thee ?* Au& mama ether thus
IN Mortals was, whether or not the Chancellor of the
maser wan wanMellede theethet sight in stating whether or

tot lbws were /lON leiliAr emit Niles
ebonite be It fill into the eildest,
sad la that's'', if sol:Ce tats
acquillek ti' house
should net be satisfied whit win* vote el
Colonel 1140 X mkt, Wing alb the five.
aaebtwesityl: he seeded IA for ,sto this
subject; al the Chaeseller o Exchequer had
thought rind theisentber for Northampton-
shire (Mr. • beta's for introducing it, ant that,
toe, dem doe it was probable that thehouse
would Melly idems Mat ten days. He biddies his
hand WM hi= an Wale in the Crimea, which ambiatel
ehmaset--41 sat tidaMeMent the sickness is stoat eased-
fel. We bury a thousand a week, and, including al the
relahresmosts. the streestit of the English army is only
11,000 men. Everything inismaneged by the authorities
here." The Beeretarrat.War told the house distinelly
' the other night that the army numbered 7.0,000
men. lie (Colonel Knox) denied that such wei the
fact; and be put it to the house whether, after all
that had occurred, there should be only a shuffling d the
different departments. He had no wish to hamper the its
vermeil, hut, u a soldier, he spoke with deep fullsye ea
this subject. It was notorious that the army was Mee
perishing, sad it was but a question of days when the evil
should come to a climax.
Colonel DUNNE said, as a soldier, he could not allow the
debate to conclude without making a remark. Instead of
30,000 men in the Climes there were at that moment only
11,000 Ines under urns of whom he did not believe 2,000
were fit for duty. At Balaklava there wet, at that tousles
than 8,000 men in hospital, and the state of thew
there was se conked that nothing but Si Mgt
prompt and vigorous aseenree could prevent the del ousios
of the army. As to the request that hon. ambers
would apply to the executive government, it appeared to
him most unreasonable. The executive goverammt had
within the last few days been put on its trial, sad found
guilty of incompetence and neglect. For the purpose of
inquiry they wanted none of the general officers new in the
Crimea g abundant testimony might be obtained from per-
sons who were in this country. It was with a feeling of
despair in reference to the prospects of the army that he
perceived that gentlemen who had proved themselves in-
competent were resuming (dice, after having destroyed
more than one hallo( the army. That Sebastopol would be
taken he had no doubt, but it would be by the Frmeh
anny--an army whisk was well clotbed, well fed, and well
organised ; while the ministry were unable to support the
mush smaller English army with the abundant resources
at their disposal, because the measures which they adopted
were totally inadequate to the emergency.
M Sir W. OLESWORTH said the hon. and gallant
member opposite (Colonel Knox) had read a statement that
the deaths in the army in the Crimea amounted to a thou-
sand a week. He assured him that that was a ma-state- '
meat. There was undoubtedly a large amount of Bickner
in the anny—an amount which they must all deplore; but
he assured the bon. member that the statemetat in question
was altogether incorrect. He (Bir W. Molesworth) bad
esrefally exantised the official returns as to the state of the
army, and would repeat that the statement read was de-
cidedly wrong. With regard to the complaint that the
government had misrepresented the facto in stating that
there were now 30,000 men in the Crimea, he begged
to say that the government were perfectly prepared
to substantiate that statement by official returns. The
honourable member bad confounded the total number
of men under arms with the number, including cavalry,
artillery, and engineers. The total number of all ranks in
the Crum fit for service, including men ander arms,
cavalry, artillery, and engineers, and also the naval
auxiliary fore*, was, according to the last official return
which had been received, 30,000 men. He hoped the house
would not continue this debate, as the responsible ministers
were absent, and it was impossible for those who were not
acquainted with the details of departments to answer
questions relating to theme
Colonel DUNNE said he certainly did not take into ac-
eoun(the naval brigade ; he might's' well have included the
Russian army.
The house then went into committee.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUERmoved that
a vote of 1,200,0001. should be taken on account.
In reply to Mr. HitiaT,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed
that noose would be committed with regard to any portion
of the supplementary estimate by agreeing to this vote.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY observed that 1,200,0001. was a
rather large amount. He should like to know bow the
mem of 3,340,0001. had abase, and whether there was to
be say supplementary estimate for the army. If this money
were wanted, why was not the case provided for by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last session of parlia-
ment ? It was quite clear that there had been miscalcula-
tion somewhere ; and he wanted to ascertain whether they
now knew the real amount expended under the different
heads during the year 1854-6; whether this 3,340,0001. ,
plus what was appropriated under the votes of lest year,
seastituted the entire war expenditure of the year in the
mangey, ordnance, and militia.
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER raid, on all
samiese en which he had adverted to the subjoin of the
swum to be incurred in time of war, he bad declined the
responsibility of giving any assurance to the house. (Hear,
hear.) He bad always add that although the house was
entitled to the best conjectures and calculation' that he
could make,' yet it he were expected to give an assurance
with raped to the amount of expenditure in time of war,
that wu a responsibility which he would under no circum-
stances assume. Thus mach, however, he might say, that
ups his Galin upon the army departments to say whether
they would require any supplementary estimates, bia.wu
informed that they would not—that was to say for
the year 18544. His honourable friend appeared
to have entirely misunderstood the assurance which he gave
to the house last summer. What he did was this. After
having urged the departments to raise their estimates to an
outside point, so as to cover their expenditure, he proposed
to the house a vote of credit to the amount of, be thought,
3,100,0001. ; and he also proposed measures which would
place at the command of the legislature moseys/or the sr-
Ville of the year, so as to clover all the estimates. lie was
enued by the hon. gentleman of being grievously out in
his ealeilation. He took a margin of 3,000,0001. ; the
amount now stated was 3,400,0301. ; and if the hon. gentle-
man were not satisfied with that calculation in time of war,
be must abandon the hope of satisfying him. (Laughter.)
Colonel DUNNE complained that the expense of billeting
the militia in Ireland was doable what it ought to be, and
what it would be if the government adopted the plan re-
commended to them by militia colonels, of hiring private
houses.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
that subject was in no way connected with the vote before
the Mae.
The vote was then agreed to.
Oa the motion of Mr. WHITESIDE the followieg re-
turn was agreed to :—Return of the number of appeals
from the Incumbered Estates Court, Ireland, to the Privy
Council, Ireland, from the 24th day of March, 1854, to the
latest date, and of the reversals and affirmations of such ap-
peals, separately stated, with the names of the parties in
each case (in continuatios of parliamentary paper No. 184,
of session 1864).
SUPPLEMENTARY NAVY ESTIMATES.
Mr. J. WILSON said time had been a notice before the
house of a supplementary estimate for the navy as well as
the ordnance ; and as it;wss very desirable that a vote should
W taken on account, he would move, in order that it might
be take. on the following day, that on that occasion orders
of the day should take precedence of notices of motion. If
the motion were agreed to, the following day would be a
supply day.
Motion awned to.
THE SUPPLY OF COFFEE IN THE CRIMEA.
Mr. J. WILSON said a motion was agreed to the other
day for the production of certain papers with regard to the
supply of coffee in the Crimea. As that motion was drawn
up the information would not be complete . • and as the
government were anxieus that the whole of the facts should
be elicited, be would move the addition of_ any," corn-
Prudence which bad since taken place.
Agreed to.
The house adjourned at half-past one.

The army has before it at least six weeks more of
winter; and at their close the fever season comes
on. An attempt was made in the House of Com-
mons yesterday to deny that the weekly drain on
the effective strength of the army is so great as we
have stated. The medical returns, it was said, show
that it is much less than 1,000 per week.
But these returns are incomplete and fallacious;
they only give the number of sick in the hospital
tents, and omit all those who, though incapable
of duty, are not admitted to these tents for want of
room. For this excessive sickliness of the troops the
late Government are clearly, in a great masers,
responsible. Want of sufficient shelter for the troops
is a main cause of the sickness and mortality in the
army. Now, as soon as the Crimean expedition
began to be talked of, Sir JOHN Scorr LILLIE drew
the attention of Lord liAnotsciE and the Govern-
ment to the necessity of providing wooden huts in
advance for the winter shelter of the soldiers; but
the first contract for such huts, in this country, was
not entered into until the Crimean winter had fairly
set in.

The sickness and mortality in the army of the
Crimea may be greatly diminished by accelerating
the provision of shelter, and rendering more sure
and regular the distribution of clothing and rations
for the soldiers. A beginning has been made towards
l'he attainment of these ends; but a large infusion of
fresh blood into the transport and commissariat services,
ana sleepleassuperintendence and controlon the part of
the head of the Government,will be required to make
it mow than a mere beginning. The sickness and
mortalior in the army having been diminished, the
means of adding to its effective force will have next
to

be Onns9.4erect. A very remarkable letter from "An
Old Troops."," which we publish to-day, presents a
striking vim v of the manner in which the late
disastrous neva from the Crimea is contributing to
render more difficult the raising of recruits. This
evil conaequencO of mismanagement can only be
counteracted by ituproving the condition of our sol.
diers

. _
in the Crime a. As won as it shall appear

that they have been rendered more comfortable,
the military spirit of our peasantry will re-
vive. But it is not merely men—it is an
organised army that is wanted; and to make an
organised army we must have competent offioers. To
this end one of the first duties of the new Premier
and War Minister must be to throw aside the

muster•rolls of the Horse Guards—to break through
the conventional rules of promotion for mere seniority,
and to trample upon the preference hitherto con-
ceded to the aristocracy. Theofficers—even those of the

highest grade—for the army of the Crimea ought, as
a rale, to be between the ages of 30 and 46; and they
ought, if possible, to be men who have seen real
service in the field. The officers of the regiments
which have served in Africa and at the Cape ought to
be preferred; and it ought to be kept in mind that
the QUEEN has two armies, and that it is the duty
of Ministers to make no distinction between
them, but to select capable officers as readily from
the Indian army as from that which is called par
excellence "The Queen's." There will be muttering
among our Peninsular veterans at the proposal to
bring forward younger men ; there will be clamour
among the scions of aristocracy at the proposal to
make capacity the sole title to employment and
promotion ; there will be dismay and indignation
throughout "The Lineen's" army at the proposal to
i place the Indian army on a footing with them. Bat
all this discontent must be disregarded, if the full
military power of the nation is to be brought into
play; and the contest in which we are engaged de-
muds our utmost efforts. At the head of an aug-
mented army, thus officered, ought to be placed an
able General in the prime of life, able and willing to
keep himself constantly in the:eyes of his sold iers, to Dee
everything withhis own eyes, and to lay hand to work
when any of the machinery of the army is" thrown
out of gearing." We have given more prominence
to tho improvements required in the human material
of our army than to improvements in organisation—
not because we do not feel the urgent necessity of the
latter, but because we are convinced that competent
men and officers can do morb, even under an indifferent
system, than weaklings and fools can under the most i
(plausible system that human ingenuity can devise.
I It will be no bad test of the competency of the new
Premier and War Minister for their task, the manner
in which they set about the indispensable innovations
on the old system of appointments and promotions in
the army.—Daily News.

The list of Ministers given in yesterday's Express
was correct (with the exception that Viscount Canning
remains Postmaster-General), the changes in the Cabi-

net consisting in the addition of Lord Pan mare and the
retirement of the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord J. Russell,
and the Duke of Newcastle. We have, however, to
add a report that the post of Secretary-at-War will
be abolished, and that in its stead will be created a
Parliamentary Under-Secretaryship of State for the

THE WAR.

Intelligence from Sebastopol of the 29th January
has been reoeived at Warsaw. Nothing important
had occurred.

The Augsburg Gamete now lends its authority to
the announcement that a French army will traverse

Austria, in order to operate against Russia. We
quote its language : "We learn that in the beat.
informed circles at Vienna it is positively
affirmed that the military convention with
the Western Powers, provided for in Ar.
tide V. of the treaty of December, is now
ready for signature. It contains the stipulation that
French troops shall be brought up to the Russo.
Polish frontier to occupy that position which Prussia
has renounced. The French army will march by
way of Milan and Laybach, and be thence conveyed
by the southern and northern railroads. The French
corps will have arrived at the southern extremity of
the Austrian railway system about the beginning
of March. General Crenville, it is believed, carries
the convention with him to Paris."

We learn from Frankfort that it is thought not un-
likely that in the course of a month Austria will
renew at the Diet her proposition for mobilising the
federal contingents. By that time the military prepa-
rations ordered by the recent resolution will have been
completed, and hopes are entertained that the mis.
sions of General Wedell and Herr von Uscdom at
Paris and London will then also have restored the her.
mony between Prussia and the west, and so have
prepared the way for common action between the
courts of Vienna and Berlin.

THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.

(PROM THE SPECIAL CORERSPONDENT OP THE DAILY
NEWS IN THE CEDILLA )
BALAKLAVA. Jse. 22.
On the 20th a council of war was held at Lord •
Raglan's quarters, in consequence, it was said, of
important despatches which bad arrived from home.
Nothing whatever is known of the subject of the de-
spatches, or the result of the council of war, but, as
usual, the camp is full of the wildest "shaves.'' A.
change in the chief command of the army, an armistice,
a resumption of active operations, and the donation of a
year's pay to the troop., have been successively men-
tioned—and all, I make bold to say, with equal truth
and reason. Dark whispers fly about the camp that
Sir Edmund Lyons in going to attempt something
wonderful and unheard of, and general officers have
bees known to say that marvels will come to light
in the next few days. In short, curiosity is on the
alert—invention is active, and begets the most mon.
strous " shaves."
In the meantime the mild weather is reviving our
troops, who suffered severely from the late frosts.
Now that their work is lighter, if they could be but
properly rationed, even the "seedy" among them
might possibly pull through. But what with the heavi-
ness of the roads, and the want of sufficient transport,
and the disorder in Balaklava harbour, provisions in
camp are still scarce, nor is their quality of such a kind
as to restore and strengthen tho suffering. A ration of
tea has, however, with some corps, been substituted
for that of coffee, which in the green berry is almost
useless to the troops in front. Another supply of
fresh vegetables, too, came lately in the Albatross, to
be given away to such of the troops as could manage
to send down for them. Great was the joy in the
camp when the good news became known. There is
really no reason why every vessel sent down to
Constantinople should not bring up a supply of vege-
tables for our men. They want them, and as they can
be got, they should have them.
Among the goods lately unshipped from the har-
bour is an enormous wooden house, the property of
Mr. Oppenheim, a merchant from Paris, who fur a
llong time past has conferred a great boon on the army,
and who, between October and December, cleared a
sum of about 10,0001. by keeping a store of necessa-
ries and luxuries in Balaklava. Mr. Oppenbeim's
wooden honse is to be put up in Kadikei—and the
rumour goes that it will contain a store, an hotel,
and a coffee and reading room for officers. Mr.
Oppenheim deserves public thanks for his well-timed
enterprise. It is needless to wish him success, for
success cannot fail him. Among our multifarious
wants is that of an establishment like the one which
is now about to be set on foot in Kadikoi ; for what
with the state of the roads and the darkness,
travelling by night is out of the question;
and an officer sent down from camp and be-
nighted in Balaklava has a very hard time
of it, unless he chances to find out a friend to
give him a dinner and a shakedown. The reading
room,:too, is looked forward to with intense delight,
it beii g supposed that the sculator will find means
pe to supply it regularly with English and French pa-
pers ; and as every one begins to despair of the post-
office ever managing the department of newspapers
—and as the arrival of papers in the hands of those
to whom they are addressed is becoming more and
more the exception rather than the rule—the esta-
blishment of a public reading room is certainly one
of the greatest boons that can be conferred on the
army.
Last night the troops in the front observed great
demonstrations of public joy in Sebastopol—the ring-
ing of bells, firing of cannon and musketry, and the
letting off of blue lights. Such transitory periods of
excitement are rather frequent than otherwise with
the people of Sebastopol, and there demonstrations
have more than once startled our camp into a night's
watching. The explanation usually given in our camp
is, that the Czar has come ; and so this morning the
arrival of the Czar in Sebastopol is the " shave of
the day. Another " shave" is, that peace is declared.
Knocking about in Crimean country quarters has
made the army ignorant enough in the politics of
Europe, and every "lie diplomatic" is certain of
finding ready credence. Thus, this morning we are
all happy because the war is at an end. The Font
Powers have signed a treaty to which the Czar has
been compelled to subscribe. He will have to destroy
Sebastopol with his own hands, and remove his
ships from the Black Sea; while each of the Feu
Powers (Prussia included) is to have six men-of-war
in what used formerly to be a Russian lake. Trust
to the cutting logic of soldiers for a prompt and
satisfactory arrangement of the affairs of Europe.
Some days ago an incident came to my notice
which strongly illustrates the d fficulty of gaining
information in a camp where, as in ours, each corps
is very hard worked, while there is but very little
leommunication between the various branches of the
service. Captain Mitchell, of the Grenadier
Guards, and some brother officers saw one day
in the commencement of last week a Russian
steamer leaving the harbour and standing out for the
open sea. One of the allied ships—whether French
or English Captain Mitchell could not tell—went in
chase, and after some hard steaming came within
range of the Russian. A cannonade ensued, the
Russian all the while endeavouring to escape. The
elms was watched with intense interest, but the
result remained a mystery, for the two chips,
steaming hard and exchanging shots, disappeared at
last on the verge of the horizon. The officers who
saw the affair made all inquiries as to the facts and
the final result of the engagement, but to no purpose.
I, too, have since endeavoured to learn the particulars
of the matter, but I too could gain no positive infor-
mation. The fact is, we have all got so accustomed
to bard knocks, that a partial affair makes no impres-
sion and usually excites no curiosity whatever, and
it is only by chancing to fall in with one of the men
actually engaged, that a vague account of particulars
can be obtained. The fact is, our troops are preco-
ciously blasé as to the general incidents of the eaPl-
- and tke final result alone is what is steadily
and hopefully looked for. Whether that final result
be the capture of Sebastopol or the very doubtful
adhesion of the German powers to the alliance against
Russia, it is sure to excite interest and be canvassed
with all the warmth and the smashing phrases
natural to people who do the roughest of work in the