The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-17 00:00:00

THE ASHANTEE WAR.

Sir J. HAY—I wish to pat a question to the Secretary
to the Admiraltv, of which I have given him private Potion,
on the subject of the Ashantee war. It will be io the recol-
lection of the house that the right boo. gentleman the
Secretary for the Colonise, in reply to a question from the
right boa. baronet elm member for Droitwich, in May, pro-
mised that the war should be pat a stop to, and a transport
ant to fetch away the troops. 1 wish to ask the noble lord
whether, in accordance with the promise given before W hit-
, suntide, any transports have been sent to convey troop from
the Gold Coast, what number of men are to be conveyed,
and when the ship sailed. (Hear, hear.)
Lord C. PAGET-1 bsve to state that arrangements
hare been made for removing those troops whom it was in-
tended to remove from Cape Coast Castle to the West
ladies. We have taken up a transport, which will be ready
to proceed in a few days to the Cape de Yard Islands. We
have also ordered her Majesty's ship Gladiator, paddle
steamer, to proceed at once to Cape Coast Castle, to Ming
away the troops, calling at Sierra Leone and Cape de Yerd
Islands to meet the transport which is to convey them from
thence to the West India Wands. We expect that the
transport will arrive is time to be waiting at Cape de Vend
the arrival of the Gladiator from Cap Coast Castle with
the lumps on hoard. The number is /lightly above 5430 that
is intended lon he removed by the war department.
Sir J. HAY-1 have also a question to put to the Under
Secretary fur War, of which I have given him notice. I
ish to silk him bow it is that only one transport for SCO
men is provided, when the retorter in the heeds of mem-
bers thus morning show 1,402 men at Cape Coast Castle, in
addition to the garrison, and whether there is reason to
suppose, as I fear there is too good reason, that 1,000 men
have died

The Marquis of HARTINGTON—We have, I am happy
in PO "MOO at all to suppose that 1.0 C.) men at Cape
Coast Castle have died. On the contrary, the lad returns
rec.:lva] from Cape Coast show that the rank and tile are not
sutliamr from any great amount of sickness at the prevent
time. The protases which was given by my right hoe. friend
the Secretary for the Colonies was, that those troops which
had bee. specially seta from the West ladies to the Gold
Coast for this object of dare war should be removed from
thence, and the force on the Gold Coast reduced to its
normal dimensions. It bad been decided long before the
outbreak of these hostilities that the permanent force on
the Cold Coast should consist of one battalion, and the
remo►al of these Mk) moo will leave about 7UO or SW men,
which is the force intended to be stationid there.
31r. H. SEYMOUR—Is it tine that cf the 51 officers
lauded at Cape Carat Castle 13 have already dial and that
It/others are sick. according to the last returns, sod whe-
ther cut of the 1,400 men WO died or awe invalided a short
time after their arrival '?

The Marquis of HARTINGTON—It is unfortunately
true that. within the last year, thirteen officers have died on
the Gold Coast, and about the number meatiooed have been
invalided. The return. will be laid upon the table this
erasing, and will be in the heeds of members to-morrow
. .

iii,,rPAKLNGTON—Whes wee the caviar given for the
Mullet°, to proored ; and will she have proper accommo-
dation fix MO men ? _

Lord C. PAC:ET—T..4*y the Gladiator was ordered to
prorred—(ob, oh)—aud we hare uo moon to auppaie that
eUe .ill or!t be able tntake thetr.xma.

Sir J. ELPHINSTONE PerhapsWe Coble lord will Rive
us the tame of the vernal that is to go to the Cape de Yard
Islands, and will tell us why she cannot go atraight to the
Cape Coast, and whether the Gladiator is to perform her
duties in one or more trips. (filar, bear.)
Lord C. PAGET—The nanos why we send a transport to
the Cape de Verd Islands is to save time ; that is to say
she would hare to beat up against contrary winds to Cape
Coast Castle, and we think time will be saved by sending
the Gladiator atraifht to Cape Owlet to carry the troops to
the CApe de Verd islands.
Sir J. ELPHINSTONE—What is the name of the trans-
F^
Lort ?
rd C. PAGET—I cannot sire the hon. baronet the
name, but she IS a sailing ship.
Captain TALBOT—When was she taken up for this
Berries'

Loral C. PAGET—lmmediately upon the receipt of the
requisition of the War-ollite-1 think on the 28th of May
—at all event. it wee at the sod of May. We took it up
directly. end tom beet' been working day and nista to get
her ready.

Mr. H. BEYMOUB—I should like to uk the Colonial
Minister whether there is soy objection to produce, with the
triune peami•ed, the despatches of Commodore Wilmot,
and instead of "estivate" the whole of the despatches of
the Doke of Newcastle

Sr. G. GREY sated that the quokka might be repeated,
the Seeeetary (or the Coked., not beim in hie place.

THE CONFERENCE.

Mr. B. OSBORNE—Perhspe it would be for the conve-
nience of the house if the first minister would state whether
it be true that the Conference meeting has been postponed
until &muster nest.

Lord PALiIERSTON—I believe it is postponed tal
Saturday. (Laughter.)

Lotd B. CECIL—Io it postponed by the commit of all
the pewees belongieg to it, by the majority of the power,,
or by the plesipoteetieries of Engleod

Leal PiLHELSTON— I am i;ot & member of the sou-
feretwe-4 hingb)--iiad till I know is that it is adjourned
till Saturday. (Laughter.)

SLPPLY.—BOARD OF CHARITY COMMISSIONERS.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. FERRAN!, moved fora select committee to femurs
into the constructioe, the expense, and the working of the
Board of Clarity Ommoissimers. He complained of the
enormous expense of the hoard, 18.2501. a ymr, which had
grows up from 3,004/. orB,ooof. . • that it we. • tribunal
from which the public were debarred ; that he had been
refused a return of the professions, trades, and callings
of the commissioture, who were clothed with tinumml
and arbitrary powers, agnimt their exercise of which he had,
'be said, received grievous complainta. He entered at
much length into the history of the hill of 1855 for the
reconstromion of the bawd, inveighing in very severe terms
stalest the conduct of the government of the day in Me-
ilen to it. and **mostly to the appointment of the M.
spectore, with regard to one of whom he related some extra-
ordinary circumstances. He challenged infiniry into this
appointment. to which he applied the terms • odious" end
iniquitous." and undertook to prove the facts be stated
before the committee. After denouncing vehemently what
be termed the grow johbery connected with the appoint-
ments in the mteblishroent, he examined the working of
the hoard ono the expeoditere attending it for travelling
expenses. He entered into a long detail of facts and
opinions to show that the charity curamissiooers had neg-
lected their duty, insistieg, in conclusion, that he had
made out a strewn VW and shown a disgraceful state of
things that ought to be inquired into.
Mr. MORRISON defended the charity with which he
was convected, but with regard to the general question he
thought that inquivy would he of great service.
Mr. F. PON ELL protested against the acematioes
brought against the trustee of the charity for which he wee
interested.
Mr. FERRAND said that the transactions be bed re-
_

[erred to tookploe• before Me hoe. fried became. threes.
Mr. F. FO ELI. said that if tbe has. member withdrew

his meimatioo there ass no necessit► far reply, but the fact
wen that he was trustee at the time alluded to. Then was
• plot of mend which had bees sold, and respecting which
much comment bad bean made. When that plot was for
sale the traders sent far two independent surveyors from
Bradford, and the property was sold on their valuation.
The fact was that the charity had been vastly bassfited by
the sales which had been effected. As one of the trustees,
however, w►ose conduct had been impugned. he hoped the
home would grant the inquiry which was asked far by the
boo. member.
Mr. BRUCE wished that the tone which had been
adopted by the hon. member for L'avooport bad been such
as to permit the government to accede to his motion. There
could be so mon legitimate subject of inquiry than the
mode is which the Charity Commimeimers performed their
duties, and had the hon. member confined his remarks
to that object they wculd have been everyway deserving
of attentioe. But hie speech bad had no reference to the
reel, substantial merits of the question, but had coesisted of
• loran of attack, on the commissioners and their subordi-
nates. Of the c^n:missioners the hem member merely said
they wore inefficient, but in addition be had undo the moat
violist attacks easiest obscure individuals who bad se
power of reply.. (Hear, hear.) He fair. truce) was se
settfied that an inquiry into the proceedings of these gristle-
men would only redound to their honour and credit, aid
only lead to an sztemion of the powers which had
bees so advantageously given to the Charity Om-
miesim, that he should have been glad to anomie
to the Boohoo if it did bola brought forward wit►