The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVRNING, MARCH 14, 1855.

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t tnanded the Light Cavalry Brigade, and joined them at
Scutari in May last. He arrived after two portions of
his regiments ha'l come, but they had not all arrived.
They went from thence to Varna about the 3d June ;
but there was no particular provision made there for the
reception of the troops. Ho thozght there were great
defects in the system of disembarking cavalry—it ought
to be improved. The weather was fine when they were
there. Forage had arrived for the horses. They encamped
outside the town, but removed from there in a few days.
We went to Devna. Whilst there sickness broke out
amongst the troops, but the brigade he commanded was
most fortunate in this respect, and did not suffer mate-
rially.
Chairman—What wa3 the encampment at Devnal
The Earl of Cardigan—lt was very good, and very
near some water. There were then four regiments of I
cavalry and some of horse artillery—in all about 1,200
men. They had plenty of room for all purposes. He
could not attribute the sickness of the men from crowding.
Chairman—Was there any difference in the position
of your men when sickness broke out from what it was
before

Leasing
Cumpans.

losinsi Prue,
this day

rtuii.oBB
this day.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

DONCASTER RACES,

(Tills DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
BETTING-ROOM STAKES.

Flyaway
Sicily
Lady Tatton

....... 2

Seven ran.
DONCASTER. HANDICAP.

.lossey
Freddy
Alonzo

Twenty-one ran.
JUVENILE STAKES.

Diminutive
Gipsy Girl
Four rub
SCURRY STAKES.

Toe Earl of Cardigan—None whatever. He lost 50 or
160 men in a very short time. His men were well sup-
. plied with fresh meat, and bread, and biscuits. The
bread was at first very La-I; but he complained to head-
quarters, and it improved. The brigade afterwards re-
turned to Varna for embarkation for the Crimea ; and
; i for the time encamped on favourable ground. It was
said to be a healthy spot, but he feared not, as there
were reports that the proximity of the lake was preju-
dicial. The embarkation was conducted with facility,
and without accident, by means of rafts. On arriving in
the Crimea the disembarkation was also well conducted,
and in man-of-war boats.
Chairman—l believe the weather was very bad when
you arrived ?
Earl of Cardigan—Yes, it was. The directions given
to the men, however, were to go on shore without
their tents. He was sent by order of Lord Raglan
to cut off an advance of Russian cavalry supposed to be
proceeding from Odessa, but he heard nothing of them,
and returned to the camp very late, and the men had to
bivouack in the open air. They arrived at Balaklava oa
the 26th September. After the battle of the Alma they
remained on the ground two days, to bury the
dead, and they then marched onwards. We lost
no men at Alma ; they were exposed to fire, but were
not called into action. All the forage that could be pro-
cured was provided for his brigade in the Crimea at first,
but after the action at Balaklava the supply was by no
means so good. Just previously to Inkerman great
want of forage existed. He attributed this to the great
difficulties which had to be encountered in bringing it
up from Balaklava. 400 horses had to be shot after the
charge at Balaklava, and 360 were killed in that action.
At first there was no great sickness amongst the men,
but after November they suffered greatly.
Chairman—How were they supplied with provisions
Earl of Cardigan—Up to the time he left the Crimea
in December he bad heard of no complaints in this re-
spect. They had hospital tents attached te the brigade,
but they were not very well adapted to the purpose. The
horses suffered, during November, very much from ex-
posure. As to medical attendance, so far as his brigade
was concerned he never beard of a deficiency. There
were two commissaries attached to the brigade ; and
they exerted themselves to the utmost, and discharged
their duties very efficiently. When he left the clothing
of the men was becoming very ragged and worm out.
No winter clothing had arrived. Some persons
bad been sent to Constantinople in November to
obtain winter clothing for his men, but when he
arrived there he found them still there ; not having suc-
ceeded in accomplishing the object of their mission. He
believed it was at first supposed that the troops would
not winter in the Crimea. The weather then had become

Corin.... .........
liaxby

Seven ran.
HUNT STEEPLECHASE.

The Hero ....
Golden Hue..
Stamforth

Eleven rao.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair shortly after 12 o'clock.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S
SISTER,
Mr. HEYWOOD brought in his Marriage Law
Amendment Bill, which was read a first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time on Wednesday, the 18th
of April.

PRIVATE BILL.
The Gateshead Quays and Improvements Bill was
read a second time and ordered to be committed.
PETITIONS.
Mr. MUNTZ and several other hon. members pre-
sented petitions in favour of the Friendly Societies Bill.
Mr. A. PELLATT and Mr. WILLIAMS presented
similar petitions from the trade societies of Southwark-
and Lambeth.

PUBLIC RECORDS.
Mr. MACARTNEY asked the Chief Secretary for
Ireland whether any and what arrangements were in con-
templation for the management and preservation of the
public records in the Bermingham Tower, owing to the
death of the Earl Stanhope, late keeper of said records?
Mr. HORSMAN said no arrangement bad yet been
come to, but the subject was now under the considera-
on of the Lord-Lieutenant.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. P. SCROPE said he had no objection to that
part of the bill which consolidated the law relating to
friendly societies, but he could not assent to the appoint.
ment of a commission, which the bill proposed, for the
regulation of these societies. Many of these societies,
which entered into distinct engagements, ought not to
have the prestige conferred upon them of being sanc-
tioned by act of Parliament. His own opinion was,
that they ought merely to sanction societies affording
relief in case of sickness, and supported by monthly sub-
scriptions, but be strongly objected to lending the au-
' thority of Parliament to societies which took money from
tioncainsge the loss
them off
atheirthe mmee
vmebr
ye r sd ius
tpaonnt the
icoodn. d i on nt eh fe p
fie nr
ss
would be lightly felt if the society miscarried either from
defective calculations or mismanagement ; but in the
second case the loss would fall heavily indeed upon the
vast majority of the members.
Sir G. GREY thought the object of the bill was most
useful. It proposed to consolidate the law of friendly.
societies ; it was not a new bill, because a similar mea-
sure was before the house last session, when it was re-
ferred to a select committee, and this bill was the re-
sult of that inquiry.
Mr. BRIGHT said he hal been too late to present
some petitions in favour of this bill, but perhaps he
might be allowed to state what was the purport of the
petitions. One was signed by 1,700 heads of families
connected with three friendly societies in Manchester,
and they approved of the bill as a whole.
Mr. A. PELLATT said the bill had been some time
before the working-classes connected with these socie-
ties, who well knew how to take care of their own
affairs, and they cordially approved of the measure.
The house then went into committee on the bill.
Clauses from 1 to 5 inclusive were agreed to.
On clause six,
Mr. MICHELL said the clause proposed to establish
a Dosed of Commissioners for regulating friendly so-
cieties, but receiving no_salaries the commissioners would
not be responsible to any one for the due performance of
their duties. It IT as quite sufficient that there should
be a registrar, and therefore he moved the omission of
this clause.

very bad.
The Chairman—At that time had the men a change
of clothing ?
The Earl of Cardigan—The men landed in patrol
order ; that was _with a blanket and a spare shirt, and
were ordered to leave their valises behind. Those who
subsequently obtained the latter were better off than
those who were not so fortunate. The valises were left
behind to relieve the horses of the weight. The horses,
however, were in excellent condition, and the weight of
the valises had been diminished, many articles having
been left out.
Mr. Ellice—Do you think, then, it would have inter-
fered with the efficiency of the horses if they had car-
ried the valises
Lord Cardigan—My opinion is that it would not.
The condition of the rien as to boots and shoes when he
left was very bad indeed.
By General Pcel—lt was not until aster the battle
of Inkerman that it was generally understood that
tho army wag to winter in the Crimea. He
should say it would scarcely be possible for borers
to exist throughout a Crimean winter without a proper
supply of hay forage.
In reply to Mr. Ellice, his lordship said he had no-
ticed the filthy condition of the town and harbour of
Balaklava ; and stated that he understood the Turks
were called upon to clean the foraler, but that there was
some objection to their having been so employed.
They were afterwards offered pay for their labour, but
without producing any effect. No attempt whilst he
was there was male to clean out the harbour ; but he
should think it might have been cleaned out in a couple
of days. Capt. Christie, be believed, was considered as
the chief authority in the harbour. The system
which prevailed in the harbour, however, was in contra-
vention of all order or regularity. Whilst Capt. Chris-
tie and his staff were supposed to command the harbour
and to have the management of all vessels in it, they
seemed to be subject to the orders of any man-of-war
who might come into the port.
Mr. Ellice—Are you aware that large amounts of
stores and forage came in transport vessels to Balaklava,
and went away again and made one or two trips back-
wards and forwards before discharging their cargoes ?
Lord Cardigan replied that he was aware of such hav-
ing been the case. A vessel laden partially with boots
came and went away in this manner ; but he could not
say positively whether this was at the time when the men
wanted boots most—but they were always needful. As
far as his own opinion went he thought an officer with
full powers of control and sole authority ought to be
stationed at Balaklava, to manage the harbour.
Mr. Ellice--Then you are of opinion that the pesti-
ferous State of the port of Balaklava, and the deficiency
in the stores was attributable to the absence of any con-
trol or individual authority ?
Lord Cardigan—l am clearly of that opinion.
By Mr. Layard.—The horses could have subsisted on
chopped straw and barley as well as hay. The Turkish
cavalry subsisted upon hay and by green food. It might
not be prudent to depend upon supplies of hay from
home when a protracted campaign was anticipated. The
officers'horses were covered at night but it was with cloth-
ing purchased at their own expense—the others were of
course exposed at their pickets. When he left he was
not aware that any huts had been erected for the shelter
of the horses. He did not think any old sails procured
from the ships would have made very useful covering for
horses. He constantly saw Commissary-General Filder.
He never came to the brigade to see what was wanted. He
(Lord Cardigan) did not conceive it to be his duty. When
heleft the horses were not in a fit state for active service.
1 number of Russian horses were given to the light
cavalry, but were not used long on account of their
being not sufficiently active for cavalry purposes.
They were, however, used for draught horses, for which
they were more adapted. The original strength of the
Light Cavalry Brigade when they first went to the
Crimea was 1,250 men ; but when he left there were
only 300 fit for service. He was not aware of the means
by which the wounded were removed after the Bala
klava charge ; indeed, he never heard where the missing
men were until the surgeons reported that they were on
board ship. lie had noidea how the surgeons got them
there. Ths sick, however, were always removed by the
ambulance carts.
Mr. La,yard—How were the supplies of medical
stores ?
Lord Cardigan replied that he bad beard complaints
in Bulgaria—but none in the Crimea in this particu!ar. '
There was a veterinary surgeon to each regiment. He
did not think the horses suffered from want of shoes, for
they did not wear out so rapidly as on hard roads.
In reply to Sir J. Pakington, his lordship said be had
never visited Kamiesh Bay.
By Lord Seymour—The tents which were supplied to
his brigade were not defective ones ; and be had never
heard the men complain of them. The manner in whieo
the horses were disembarked was by rafts, which were
towed by the men-of-war boats.
By Col. Lindsay—Ho did not think it was possible to
construct a shelter fora brigade of cavalry hor ;es by ex-
cavating the ground, and covering it with timber. The
a
the artillery. ware
trainfe 7:asb but
whether
i stnthionetle- te forw
fromeso
e
aranl
raygnema
horsesi gn uh tmabtet answerarheldi se•
te
wory:t'i
hgm,eei
ol
siege
efagoer
His lordship then retired.
Mr. Macdonald, the correspondent of the Tiincs, ad- '
ministering the sick and wounded fund raised by that
journal, was next examined.
In reply to Mr. Ellice, be stated that he first went to
Scutari in November last. Before he went out he had
an interview with the Duke of Newcastle, and Dr. An.
drew Smith on the subject of his mission ; and bath of
them expressed a conviction that such a fund as that
raised by warns of the Times /ml 4 be of very litt,ls 64,

Mr. SOTHERON said he proposed so to limit the
functions of the commission, th3t its duties should be
confined to simply giving inf irmation to friendly so-
cieties as to their powers and the construction of their
rules. The commission knowing what bad been done
by existing societies, would be able to advise the founders
of new societies as to the best mode of proceeding for
the attainment of the object they might have in view.
Mr. B LINES thought the bill would be just as good
without this clause as with it, because it was exceedingly
doubtful whether an unpaid commissioner would effi-
ciently discharge its duties, even though they were con-
fined to simply giving advice and information. If,
however, the committee determined to retain the
spirit of the clause for the sake of establish-
ing a Board of Advice, the wording of the clause
should be regulated as to stop the duty of the commis-
sion with the mere giving of advice to those who might
choose to apply for it.

Mr. BA.I.VRoW objected to the commission altogether.
He was opposed to friendly societies, which undertook
life assurance or annuity business ; they should be con-
fined
of sickness, and some table of rates should be
issued
he temporary
Government .purposes,
whole country. such as providing for
applicable generally to the

Mr. HENLEY urged Mr. Sotheron, who had charge
of the bill, to withdraw the clauses relating to this com-
mission, with a view to a reconsideration of the subject
before bringing up the report.
Mr. SOTHERON accepted this proposal, and asked
leave to withdraw clauses 6,7, and 8.
Mr. MICHELL observed that, as the question was
to be r2considered, he would suggest that an actuary
should be substituted for the7comnaissions, with power
to give advice and regulate rates.
Mr. ADDERLY thought the appointment of a Go-
♦ernment actuary would be most objectionable.
Clauses 6,7, and 8, were then struck out.
Clauses 10 to 18, inclusive, were agreed to, after a
brief discussion.

Clause 19 was negatived.
The remaining clauses of the bill were agreed to with-
out any important amendment.
The house then resumed.
CATHEDRAL APPOINTMENTS ACT CON-
TINUANCE BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.

MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SICK
AND WOUNDED.
On the order of the day for bringing up of the report
of Supply,
Mr. STAFFORD said it had been his intention to can
the attention of the house at this stage to the present
state
wounded in the East, but under the circumstances he
would ask the house to postpone the report until
Friday, oyf,
in the
order ic
eto giveal arrangements for the sick and
biro an opportunity of bringing
rimd
the matter forward.
On tl-e suggestion of Mr. WILSON, and after a few
words from Mr. F. PEEL,

Mr. STAFFORD agreed to bring the subject forward
on the motion fur adjournment of the house on Friday
night.

SUPPLY.

The report of the commissariat estimates was brought
up and agreed to.
DEAN FOREST BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
Some other business on the paper having been disposed
of, the house adjourned at six o clock.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE - (THIS DAY.)

The inquiry was resumed this morning at the usual
hour. _ . _

--.
There was, as usual, quite a crush for the occupation
of the space assigned to the public.
The first witness called was Colonel Kinlock.
In reply to Mr. Drummond, he stated that he had
ire was told that the plan was very
so ut
mightgt ghees thaeerdmatiyov.
aLnotradgeCardiganeu ely
Purchased
and
in
Spain for the use
good, but very expensive. That vras in March.
purchasingrevisly given to the Treasury 500 at 241. 10s. each.
Three months afterwards, however, he was sent
for by the Treasury, and was ordered to proceed
to Spain for the purpose of collecting mules ;
Theand estimatel i e succeeded
hehad in p
eras 301. each. The first 300 of them were embarked at
Barcelona, 14 days after they were bought ; the others
remained there from September until the middle of De-
cember. He could not state at what cost they were
maintained during that period, as the commissariat kept
the accounts.
Mr. Ellice—How many mules could you have
obtained l

Witness—As many as I chose.
By Mr. Layard—lle superintended the embarkation
of the mules, and he believed the delay in the transport
arose from defects in the service. They had a good
supply of forage on the voyage.
Major-General the Earl of Cardigan was next called
upon for examination.
is reply to the chairman, he stated that be eQui.
- _ _ -

7:‘,..E,c7atV,a,7E8
~E\ft.4
asla% -ef
-. a- -,' "'.4
vantage. They admitted hearing reports that had THE 002V.DITIQNS TFIE
,„, ~,,,,,,„,.... reached this country to the effect that there was great WILL ACCEPTI,—'•" i' ti,,,
suffering from want amongst the sick and wounded at ; '• ea, - - esA)s ,
\ saerefarq—a - ' ae-4-'-',-,e-'
Scutari, but they doubted them, and stated that if wants A letter received from Paris this moreikgX-laaains 4., ,
ever existed they would have by that time ceased. Dr. following interesting particulars :—The ideasjs beeam- eae
M.
Smith appeared to state this as a matter of conviction. ing more general among politidal men —Tore vat "'
Mr. Ellice—Having stated these opinions as conveyed
to you by the Duke of Newcastle and Dr. Smith, have favourably than before of the feasibility of peace
the goodness to state to the committee what you found the Emperor of Austria is disposed to think more
without the terrible alternative of the deetruo-
on your arrival,
tion of Sebastopol, which can hardly be demanded
Mr. Macdonald said he found two hospitals at Scu- of the Russians themselves, and which, after so long
tail, one the General Hospital ; and the other a sup-
and so painful a siege, the Allied armies .have failed
pleinentary or Barrack Hospital. The former was the of effecting. It is said that the Emperor of
Austria
medical head-quarters, but the latter was the larger of does not, on reflection, think that the opening of the
the two. There were also two convalescent hospitals— I Danube, the freedom of the navigation of the Black
one a Turkish hulk and another an English vessel. He
had no idea of the number of sick and wounded in these ! elusive protection of the Danubian provinces, are con-
hospitals and aboard affix, vessels, as there were great Sea, and the surrender on the part of Russiasof the ex-
cessions of small value ; and that, as an equivalent
confusion and irregularity in the manner in which the for the integrity of Sebastopol, the liberty to the
returns of deaths were made. maritime Powers to erect fortresses, or military posts
Mr. Ellice—Who was at the head of the medical de- on the southern coast of the Euxine on points such as
partrnent of those establishments ? Betoum, Trebizond, or Sinope, would be a sufficient
Mr. Macdonald—Dr. Menzies, and all tnese hospitals guarantee for the original objects of the war, the
were under his direction and superintendence. He had inlependenee and integrity of the Chtoinan Em-
a very inadequate Ala' until the arrival of the Vectis, ' pire, and again for- the security of our Indian
with nurses and a medical- staff, in November. The : possessions. Not eithstanding the tone of the late
general hospital, being originally built for no hospital,
presented a better appearance than the other. It
was . Ilusaan manifesto, the Emperor Francis . Joseph
much more quiet, and contained beds; and so Esr the believes that the Czar wou!d accept such conditions,
men were well provided for. It was intended at first to 1 and is anxious to impress upon England that they
, ought to be taken into serious consideration. There
reserve it at first for severe cases, but the more ex- '
' are p anxious to ' pa idea that
tended aecotno ration in the barrack hospital rendered Englandersone will net be regardlessro ofp suchgate the
arguments, and
of tha
consigned. her own ultimate convictions. But the same
it the place to which the worst cases were subsequent;
idea
subsequently that she will not fail t i impress her pOwerfal Ally with
Mr. Ellice—Were there any bedsteads in that hos- sufficiency of such an arrangement is not attribntedto the
.
pital ?
Emperor of the French, who, we are told,eis likely to
Mr. Macdonald.—One-third of the patients he should be the great, if not the only obstacle to peace, and whose
.
say were on bedsteads • the other two-thirds being in equanimity has been disturbed by the turn which
beds upon the floor, le the general hospital there matters are said to have taken at Vienna. The
was a deficiency of beds, but otherwise the patients Emperor's journey to the Crimea, which _ has as-
were well provided for. He thought the " orderly" sumed so many phases, is also said to be postponed
system as it was carried on in our service was most ob- in consequence of the views entertained at Vienna,
jectionable. The men were not fitted for their duty, and the Emperor of Austria is said once more to
and they lived in the wards amongst the patients, which have urged the postponement, if not the abandon-
frequently rendered them victims to the pestilential air. went of it, with as much persistence as before—at least
The flows of the barrack hospital werebad ; indeed, it had until something decisive shall have been resolved by the
undergone but little preparation as an hospital. It was, in statesmen who compose the Conference. In confirmation
fact, in such a state that there was but little hope of a of the effect of the news from Vienna, the Emperor is
patient recovering within the usual period, At the described as uncertain about fixing the date of his depar.
time of his arrival he should say there were from 1,500 ture ; and great stress was laid on the counter order
to 1,800 patients in the barrack hospital. Not being
head-quarters the medical staff was inade qu given to the Guides a few days ago. That counter
the arrival of the Vectis. The two supplemental shi
ate, until order appears, however, to have been owing only to •
hospitals lay in the Golden Herr. There were no beds ence to their departure. The Emperor spoke of his jour-
11tho men, except 25 in the Turkish hulk. P matters of detail in the corps itself, and had no refer-
r. Ellice—How were the patients as to the state of officers whose regiments he had reviewed, and the
Abe ir clothing ?
necessaries for encampment have been distributed to
nays as certain at the dinner given on Sunday to the
Mr. Macdonald—They were very poorly clad, and the officers of the household. It must be a powerful
many of them had nothing but their coats. Those who cause indeed which would oblige him to give tip this
were not provided with beds lay upon the floor in the long-cherished project, and, notwithstanding all that has
clothes in which they arrived, or in their blankets. been said, I still doubt whether that cause has been as
There were about 650 men in the two vessels. He should yet found.
think when he arrived there were 2,800 patients
of all descriptions in the four hospitals. That
was previous to the battle of Inkerman. After
the arrival of the fresh patients the hospitals were greedy
overcrowded, but they were much more comfortable.
The ladies and nurses had arrived and supplied those
wants in the way of attendance which were so much felt
previously. Still there was little real improvement.
The first visit he made to the hospital he found the men
cheerful and apparently at ease, but on his second visit
they were despondent and silent. The purveying
department was not worthy the name. The first
purveyor who was sent out was Mr. Ward, a per-
son upwards of 70 years of age, who was exhausted
by a walk from the general to the barrack hospital, a
distance of a quarter of a mile. He had two assistants
and two boys—a most inefficient staff. Lord Stratford
de Redcliffe only visited the hospitals once to his know-
ledge ; and he believed that the only consul who took
Dardanelles.
any active interest in them was Mr. Calvert, of the

Mr. Ellice—Well, then, you arrived at Constantinople
with large supplies of money, to be applied to the pro-
motion of the comforts of the sick ?

THE BASIS OF THE CONVENTION BE-
TIVLEN FRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

Mr. Macdonald—Yes. Most of the things he sup-
plied were bought at Constantinople, with the exception
of tea. The things of which there was a positive defi-
ciency in the hospitals were tea, arrow root, sago, sugar,
port wine, Marsala, brandy, and a variety of other mat-
ters ; and those he supplied—as also clothing, of which
there was likewise a great want.
Mr. Ellice—What was the condition of the sick and
wounded who arrived ?

The Hamburg News gives the following under
date of Vienna, Bth, as the bases of the Convention
now in course of negotiation between Prussia and
France :

Mr. Macdonald—No language can describe their de-
plorable condition. They were almost destitute of cloth-
ing; and frequently without bed utensils and articles re-
quired for personal cleanliness ; and sometimes without
medicines. Four hours was the average time occupied
in disembarkation, and laying the men on their beds.
No proper means of transporting the sick and wounded
were provided by the authorities, and the stretchers
were of a very uncomfortable character, and not fitted
for the purpose. Sometimes in bad weather they were
taken to the hospitals without covering.
Mr. Ellica—Can you tell us what was the condition
zenerady of the sick and wounded on board ship when
they arrived
Mr. Macdonald—Some of them were without shoes,
or with such as one observed upon mendicants. Their
shirts had been thrown away from utter disgust at their
filthiness. Their persons were covered with vermin.
Their trowsers were torn into shreds—their coats were
ranged, and only hung on their backs. Some were with-
out coats at all, and others wore the coats of comrades
who had 'died on the passage. Fresh clothes could not
be supplied to them at the hospitals, and be was obliged
to step in and minister to their wants out of the fund at.
his disposal. At the same time, however, ample supplies
of clothing could have been obtained at Constantinople,
where he himself bought some. For five weeks a'ter his
arrival there was no washing done. Dirty clothes were
put under the patients' beds, covered not only with ver-
min but excrement. Miss Nightingale, on her arrivnl,
took immediate steps to endeavour to remedy this state
of things, and the floors were cleaned. There yeas a
laundry attached to the hospital, but by some reason or
other it Lad become filled with chopped straw, and
was so up to the time he left. It was tinder-
stood that the washing department was under the direc-
tion of the purveyor. [At this portion of the evidence
Mr. Macdonald handed to the committee a list of the
articles which he had been the =means ( f distributing
by means of the Tiiita fund He then went on
to state that he paid a visit to the Crimea
in September, but was only at Balaklava a few days
The object of his going was to see the manner in which
a quantity of things h had forwarded there had 'been
made use of. Whilst there he inspected the hos-
pitals. With them he had no cause of complaint,
but wherever the medical and purveying depart-
ments were concerned difficulties ware sure to
arise ; and there were various deficiencies, such as
in port wine, arrow-root, sometimes of opium,
although from Constantinople, which was the first mar-
ket in the world for that article, of course unlimited
supplies might have been obtained.

" Ist. Prussia shall send a special delegate to the
Conferences at Vienna. 2d. She shall pledge herself to
employ coercive measures against Russia in case she
shall reject the interpretation of the four points as una-
nimously accepted by the other powers. In case Prussia
shall be in the minority in a vote, she reserves to herself
the complete liberty of her resolutions ; she would not,
however, be averse to coming to an ulterior understand-
ing with Austria, and would be even disposed to even-
tually protect the frontier countries of Austria."

:gr. Ellice—Whose duty was it to make arrangements
for the providing of tl • e comforts ?
Mr. Macdonald—lt was the duty of the purveyor,
who bore the same relation to the hospital as the coin-
missary
did to the army generally. The supply of opium
would depend on the apothecary, vtho was another very
old officer. He did not think the medical inspector
had any control over tilos, two officers. Whilst at
Balaklava he noticed the condition of the harbour,
which was a perfect cesspool, and there was an
intolerable effluvia from the burial ground. He
attrributed the mismanagement of the hospital to the
want of their organisation under a single head. He
returned to Scutari in February last.
Mr. Ellice— Did you find any improvement on your
return there ?

Mr. Macdonald—Yes, much improvement. Dr.
Cumming was established there as medical inspec-
tor, and for the first time the hospital had a superintend.
ing head. New hospitals had also been erected at
Rhodes and Smyrna, and additional supplies had
been sent out. The arrangement as to hos-
pitals had been made previously to the arrival
of the English army ; but the French had take❑ care to
make due provision in this respect, and their manage-
ment was excellent.
In reply to Lord Seymour,
Mr. Macdonald said he believed Dr. Menzies never
supposed he had adequate power to make necessary
arrangements fur carrying out plans for the promotion of
the comforts of his patients. The purchase of such
articles which he (Mr. Macdonald)bought atConstantinople
might have been much more advantageously conducted by
the Government. He bad seen the French orderly system
—which was very far superior to ours ; in fact, he
might say it was perfect.
It being now four o'clock, the committee adjourned
until to-morrow, when the examination of Mr. Mac-
donald will be resumed.