The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

TDB SEBASioPOL COMMITTBE.

" The land had rest for forty years" are the words in which
we are told on high authority that such is the period in
which nations usually cease to profit by the bitterest expe-
rience. Yesterday was the fortieth anniversary of the battle
of Waterloo, an•t it was observed by the House of Commons
in an appropriate, though singular manner. In comparative
leisure, and with returning confidence, the house listened to
the sad story of a campaign without precedent in the annals
of war. Ere this there have been large armaments and dis-
tant expeditions ; the multitudes of Western Europe, ere
this, have flocked to the East, perishing on the way, to res-
cue for orthodox hands the guardianship of the holy places.
What was new in the narrative read last night in the House
of Commons w4s, that it related to the conduct of an expedi
tiou in which the magnitude, the distance, the boldness, and

, . .
... ~,
tho chivalry of a crusade are repeated in au era when.
life is precious and humanity is a law of States
and of nations in an advanced state of civilisa
... . .

tion, under a constitutional government, with unbounded
wealth, ingenuity, and resources, aided by such fleets, such
engines, such stores, as even the author of Jerusalem De-
livered" could never have imagined. The story tells how, in
spite of all these means and appliances—in spite of forty years'
preparation—in spite of a vast amount of practised skill and
theoretic intelligence brought to our aid, we nevertheless
broke down utterly and in all points save one —viz., in that
rude, personal prowess, which the savage mey possess in com-
mon with the most accomplished soldier. We know not how
we can epik omise in a few words a history which its authors have
with difficulty compressed into seven columns of this journal,
and which has been our principal topic for the greater part of a
year. We may, however, say that on a careful perusal we
cannot find ourselves contradicted or discredited on any
single point ; we are not. convicted of a sieglo exag-
geration ; and. the truthfulness of . our correspon-
dents has been fully established. We may add, that
whereas a certain section of the late Cabinet, in resisting the
appointment of a committee of inquiry, confidently and re-
peatedly alleged that the inquiry would bo continually
checked by the fear of compromising our ally, and the alliance
itself would be endangered, the committee own no such fear
and betray no such restriction. They have learnt all that
they could desire, without offending the most delicate sus-
ceptibility.
We have no wish whatever to revive the controversies that
should now be merged in a common desire to reform our civil
and military administration. But, as the cause of free com-
ment and public opinion itself is at stake, we will just remind
all who read this report of the sort of battle we had to fight
last year. The information which we published from the seat
of war—that is, from Gallipoli, Varna, from the Crimea, and
the shores of the Bosphorus, while it was admitted to be graphic,
sun-pictures, and so forth, was denied °utile general averment
that such things could not possibly be, that everything bad
been done that could be done from England, that there was
an abundance of supply, a plurality of superintendence, -and
an excess of regularity ; and, finally. that the official reports
showed everything going on well. It was intimated that to
produce startling effects was a trick of our trade, that the
cleverest correspondent could only describe what could be
seen by one pair of eyes, and was no judge of that vast order
and method ruling the whole mass outwardly so chaotic.
The report before us, though studiously safe and mild, fur-
nishes an ample reply to the ready assumptions on which
we were so often rashly contradicted. It is now established
on the 'best possible authority that the chiefs of depart-
ments at home did not know either their own proper
functions or the duties of their subordinates that
they clashed with one another, that they fell into irre-
gular action, employing informal agency and private corre-
spondence—either certain to lie slighted and disobeyed. It
is established that the duties of the Secretary of War and of
the Secretary at War under the now system were never laid
down ; that the Board of Ordnance, deprived of its chief and
of an importantmember of the Board, was left not only without
proper authority, and intelligence, but in a state of utter disor-
ganisation, n t knowing what it could do, and how it was to
act, so as to entail not only an anomalous interference of the
War Minister, but, what was more serious still, internal con-
troversy, delay, and confusion in sending out clothing and
other supplies. It is established that frequent requisitions
for steamers, artificers, and other things of pressing necessity
were disregarded at home, under the false and very foolish
idea that the want was transitory, as the war mast soon
be brought to au end. It is established that the replies
sent from home to the representations from the spot were
in a spirit of cautiou and economy much more suitable
to a time of profound peace than a great war. It is esta-
blished that at the very moment when the conductors of the
war at home were assuring us there was a vast superabund-
ance of all things wanted either in the field, the camp, or the
_ _

hospital, there was the most fearful dearth, the things being
either wanting or inaccessible. When the army was ham-
pered by routine, and it appeared to be thought better thou-
sands should starve than that forms should not be properly
filled ; when, too, this routine had defenders at home, it now
appears that in some instances for months no accounts were
really kept, and the stores were squandered utterly without
check. It appears that officials, proved and reported in-
competent, were nevertheless retained in their places, to
continue their reign of disorder. It appears that officers
sent to make inquiry reported everything right, when
everything was wrong; and that, while Lord Raglan's own
Staff was employed in imposing upon him a false
account of the condition of the army, the camp, the road,
the harbour, and the hospitals, as a very natural consequence,
the only opportunity the Government had of learning the
truth was the correspondence in the newspapers, which, un-
fortunately for them, the army, and the nation, they did not
wholly believe.
It certainly does occur to us also, as one reads the report,
that free institutions are tried in war. The principal danger,
however, is not exactly that which occurs to some minds—viz.,
the excessive liberty of comment assumed by the public. 'With-
out this liberty, and without this plainness of speech, we can-
not, for the life of us, see what chance there was of these evils
and disorders ever being remedied, or so much as known.
The greatest danger is that of divided authority, inde-
pendent action, and such a want both of definite rules and
supreme authority that, ivhile some generously volunteer,
others are afraid to assume their full responsibility, and
others again find they can sit still and do nothing without in-
curring either penalty or exposure. While an Ambassador,
a Military Commandant, a Medical Superintendent, and a
Medical Commissioner of Inquiry, and we know not who be-
sides, had full power at Scutari to d 3 everything and spend
any suns of money, there was, in fact, nobody who would
venture to spend sixpence out of the way, except Miss
Nightingale and the administrator of our own Fund. The
harbour of Balaklava was at least in three dfferent hands—
the Senior Captain, the Master of Transports, and the Har-
bourmaster,—while the Commissary-General was the. man
actually chargeable with the lauding of the stores and their
conveyance to the camp. Here again was another debateable
ground ; but here we must stop, for the " road to the camp"
will lead us too far from our present limits. But one thing
is very clear. There is now no excuse for undefined duties
and divided authority. There is no reason why the functions
of every officer and the range of every department should not
now be laid down with the utmost exactness, and left on re-
cord for the guidance of the present and future campaigns.
Whatever delusion Ministers were in as to the duration of the
war last year, we now know that it is wise to make up our
minds to 20 years at least, and that we are much more likely
to shorten the war by au over than by an under-estim
Times.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERS AL L'S-MONDAY.

During the early part of the r.fternoon the business that
was transacted was chiefly in the way of settling on the events
of the past week. Towards the close, however, book-makers
busily addressed themselves again to events td come, and
speculation became tolerably active.
Of the Hampshire " features," only the Stewards' Plate,
to be run for at Stockbridge next Thursday, was brought
into notice ; 2 to 1 and 7 to 4 were taken about Oulston,
and 7 to 2 about Kingstown, but the investments were only
in small sums.
NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE.—Viudex was rather unsteady ;
at first S to 1 was taken, but at the close 9 to 1 was laid and
afterwards offered. The following fivo were backed at evoias
against the field :—Gamekeeper, Vindex, Spinner, Rother
ham, and Courtenay.
LIVERPOOL CUP.-5 to 2 was taken to some money about
Shoreham ; no other horse mentioned.
GOODWOOD STAKES.—At the commencement Malmsey was
backed at 12 and 14 to 1, but the hope with which these odds
were taken was quickly extinguished by subsequent offers to
bet 500 to 20 agst her ; Quince, Pumicestone, and Mishap
were in good demand at 1,000 to 60 each, and the same odds
were taken about Syvagee, after several small sums had been
invested on him at 20 to 1.
Tus DERBY.- Fly-by-Night maintained the lead at 10 to 1
(taken to nearly 3001.) ; Fazzuletto and Dramatist were
backed at 1,00:1 to 50 each, and The Danube and Bird-in-
Hand received considerable support in " well-inforMed
quarters," the former at 1,000 to 45 and 1,090 to 53, and the
latter at 1,000 to 49 and 1,009 to 45. 1,000 to 35 was
taken twice about Result, 1,000 to 30 and 3,000 to 100 about
Voivode ; 50 'to 1 and 40 to 1 to various sums about Rliedy-
cina colt. Nothing else occurred worthy of particular
comment.
The quotations at the close were as follows :
STEWARDS' PLATE—STOCEBRIDGE„
7to 4 agst Mr. Howard's Oulston (taken)
7to 2 agst Mr. 11. Hill's Kingstown (taken)
Nolan est BERLAND PLATE.
9to 1 agst Sir C. Monck's Vindex (taken)
10 to 1 agst Mr. Harrison's The Spinner (taken)
10 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Rotherham (taken)
LIVERPOOL Cue,
5 to 2 agst Lord Wilton's Shoreham (taken)
GOODWOOD STARES.
15 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Homily (offered)
16 to 1 agst Mr. Greyille's Quince (taken and offered)
16 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Pumicestone (taken)
16 to 1 agst Mr. J. M. Stanley's Mishap (taken)
16 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Syvagee (taken.)
20 to 1 agst Mr. Magenis's Instructress
25 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Wantage (taken)
25 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Robgill (taken)
25 to 1 agst Mr. Batson's Malmsey (offered)
GOODWOOD CUP.
4to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Oulston
4 to -1 agst Mr. M. Dennctt's Rattle (taken)
ST. LEGER.
Bto 1 agst Mr. Rudston Read's Marchioness (taken)
DERBY.
10 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Fly-by-Night (taken)
20 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Dramatist (taken)
20 to 1 agst Mr. W. Etwall's Danube (taken)
20 to 1 agst Lord Derby's Fazzoletto (taken)
'22 to 1 agst Mr. Bryan's Bird-in-Hand (taken)
28 to 1 agst Mr. Howard's The Result (taken)
30 to 1 agst Mr. J. Merry's Voivode (taken)
40 trQ 4 agst Mr. Hobson's colt by Footstool, Out 04
4 (taken)

ARRIVALS AT BEVEiiLEY.

(THIS DAY.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPE.)

Miss Allen, Braxey, Gamelad, Hybla, aurfiw, Pol-
lux, Manganese, Sister to Broughton' Sly Fellow,
Squire Watt, Flighty, Kitty, Alfred, Village Cock,
Blueskin, Trio, Gamester, Virtuous, and Huntsman.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS EVENING.)
The LORD CiLiIiCRLLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

Lord LYNDHURST give notice that he intended to
postpone the motion of which he had Oxen notice, in
respect to the Conference at Vienna with reference to
the position of Austria is her relation to the Allied
Powers.

Lyrd MINTO inquired whether the nob!, lord post•
ponedit indefinitely

• - Lord LYNDHURST said he would give entice of the
day on which he intended to proceed. .•
Lord RAVENSWORTH presented several petitions
against a proviso in the Friendly ,ocieties Bill.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition in favour of
the establishment of a public prosecutor. The noble acd
learned lord at the same time expressed a hope that the
law in respect of frauds would be amended. • ,
THE PEERAGE OF SOUTHEiII.
The LORD CHANCELLOR ',laid that some time
ago a petition had bees*, presented to the house from Sir
James Carnegie in respect to the peerage of Southesk,
and praying for the reversal of the attainder that stood
against that title. He (the noble and learned lord) was
happy to say that her Majesty had been graciously
pleased to reverse that attainder. He therefore intro-
duced a bill for carrying out this object.
The bill was read a first time.

The LORD CHANCELLOR gave notice that on
Friday next he should move the second reading of the
bill, and on the same evening he should move the second
reading of the Additional Sessions Bill.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.

Lord PORTMAN, in moving the second reading of
this bill, entered into a statistical statement as to the
number and extent of these societies. The adult male
population of this kingdom was about 9,000,000.
Of this amount there were 2,000,000 who did
not belong to any of these societies. There were
20,000 registered societies, and according to the returns
shere were on an average 143 members in each of the
non-regis eredsOcieties, and there were at least 1,500,000
of members. Consequently the bill now proposed to
legislate for about 4,000,000 of the male population
of the United Kingdom. The capital embarked in
friendly societies' amounted to about 6,000,0001., and the
income amounted to about 4,250,0001. Their lord-
ships would, therefore, see how important it was
to place these rocieties under a proper re-
straint-, in order to protect the interests of
all those win had invested tbea money in them. He
trusted that their lordships would give the bill their most
attentive consideration, with the view of amending it in
committee, if it were possible. The noble lord con-
cluded by moving that the bill be read a second time.
Lord MONTEAGLE called the attention of their
lordships to the many dreadful cases of child murder
that were committed in this country for the sake of ob-
taining the burial fees, and he expressed a hope that
every care would be taken to guard against the recur-
rerce of such frightful crimes.
After a few words from Lord CAMPBELL and the Earl
of Powrs, the bill was read a second time.
CHURCH PATRONAGE TRANSFER BILL.
This bill was reported with amendments.
INSURANCE OF LIVES ABATEMENT OF
INCOME TAX CONTINUANCE BILL.

This bill, on the motion of Lord STANLEY of Al.
derley, passed through committee.

CINQUE PORTS BILL

This bill also, on the motion of the same noble lord,
passed through committee.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER LANDS BILL.
This bill was read a secot.d time.
MILITIA (No. 2) BILL.

On the motion of Lord PANZeiIIRE this bill was read
a second time.

Lord BERNERS presented A petition from the Me-
tropolitan Association for the Abolition of the Law of
Settlement and Poor Removal, and for the equalisation
of the poor rate, and inquired whether her Majesty's
Government were prepared to introduce any measure on
this subject ? '
Earl GRANVILLE said it was not the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to introduce any
measure on this subject during thb present iflesion;-The
more as the inea4ure that was introduced last year met
with so much opposition.
After a few words from Lord STRADBROKE,
Their lordships adjourned.

NOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
The Lords' amendments to the Lands Improvement
Company Bill were considered.

ENGLAND AND IRELAND IMPROVED COM-
MUNICATION BILL.

On the third reading of this bill,
Mr. WILSON moved to insert a clause reserving to
the Government power to make such alterations in the
bill, from time to time, as should secure the conveyance
of the mails between England and Ireland.

Mr. V. SCULLY moved an amendment to insert the
words "passeogers" or " luggage "in the clause.
Mr. CORRY opposed the amendment.
After a short discussion the amendment was with-
drawn.

Mr. V. SCULLY then prvoied an amendment
limiting the term of the agreement between the Govern-
ment and the Railway and Steam Packot Companies to
two years, instead of five years, as proposed by the bill.
Mr. VANCE opposed the amendment on the ground
that two years would not be a fair time t..) test the
working of the proposed arrangement.
Mr. WILSON said he was sorry Ito could not accede,
on the part of the Government, to th 3 amendment, inas•
much as the contract already existing between the
Government and the Steam-packet Company would not
expire till 1860.
The amendment was then withdrawn, and the clause
agreed to.
Mr. WILSON then explained that, this bill in
passing now would pass without a single obligation on
the part either of the Government or the com-
panies. The first object of the bill was to secure
in the first instance the most rapid postal com-
munication between the two countries. (Hear, hear.)
When that object was attained by the Postmaster-Ge-
neral, the Government could have no other end in view
than to promote the passenger traffic between England
and Ireland. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. H. HERBERT expressed his satisfaction at the
statement just made by the Secretary to the Treasury,
which he hoped would be carried out in a liberal spirit
by the Government. • •
Mr. V. SCULLY then moved another amendment to
limit the time of contract to three years.
The amendment was negatived without a division,
and the bill read a third time.
THIRD READINGS.

The Hedon and Hull, &c. Road Bill, the Shrewsbury
Improvement Bill, the Ipstones Mineral Branch Rail-
way Bill, the Dundalk Harbour and Port Bill, and the
Wisbech Port Bill were read a third time and passed.