The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-23 00:00:00

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-

MITTEE.-(TILIS DAY.)

EXAMINATION OF T EIE DUKE OF
NE WCASTLE.

The Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual
hour. Hi; Grace the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Sid-
ney Herbert entered the room shortly before the pro-
ceedings commenced.
The Duke of Newcastle was first called, and was
examined by the chairman.

He stated :—I was Minister for War under the Ad-
ministration of Lord Aberdeen. I was also Secretary
for the Colonies.. My duties consistA in the general
direction of the war, and I am at a loss to say what dal
not come within the scope of my superintendeßce. There
was no change made after the separation of the offices of
Secretary for War and Secretary for the Colonies. The
duties of the Commander-in-Chief, as relating to the Mi-
nister for War, bad reference more especially to the dig-
cioline of the army. As Secretary for War, it was my
duty to give directions as to the movements of the
troops.

By Lord Seymour—With reference to the movements
of the cavalry I communicated with the Commander-in-
Chief, and of the artillery with the Master-General of the
Ord I] ant!e. I also took measures for the supply of provi-
sions, &c. The appointment of commanding-officers
was suggested to her Majesty by the Commander-in-
Chief. I mean the generals of divisions and officers of
that superior class. These were afterwards approved by
the Administration. There were three exceptions in
which this rule was departed fi orn, but it was through
inadvertence ; and in those cases the officers were ap-
pointed without the knowledge or consent of the Ad-
ministration.

The Coair man--Have you any objection to mention
the Lames of the officrs in which this rule Wai departed
front ?

The Duke of Newca-tle—l have no objection if the
COllltilitLve wish it—my only objection at first was to
prevent misapprehension en the subject as the appoint-
ments had been made inadvertently. The instances you
refer to were the appointment of Lord Lucsn and the
subsequent appointment of Brigadier Generals Turrens
and Go!die.
Mr. Layard—Did your Grace consider yourself re-
spoosible for the conduct of those officers after the ap-
pointment in th;,t way ?
The Duke of Newcastle—Of course I consider myself
responsible to a certain extent under the circumstances.
Lord Seymour—As Secretary for War, had you the
whole scheme of providing for the efficiency of the Com-
missariat supplies—the stores, and the land transport
corps ? Ws re these matters brought under your notice
as Secretary for War 1
The Duke of Newcastle—No. As regards the Corn-
mit:sat-ha, I ascertained from the officers of that de-
partment what was required, and looked to them to
make the necessary arrangements fir its supply ; and
I -looked in the same way to the Master-General
of the Ordnance for the supply of stores. At the
same time, I do not mean to say that I divested
myself of all care in the matter ; except that so fir as
the Commissariat was concerned, that being an indepen-
dent department, I did lot interfere with that as with
the other. I, however, in some cases, ordered certain
amounts of supplies to be doubled.
His grace then went into some explanations relative
to the outbreak of war, and proceeded to state that
at his suggestion 10,000 men were sent in the first in-
stance to Malta, so that eventually the whole force
mig.it be landed in Turkey with as little delay
as pos:•ihle. Gallipoli was chosen as the first destina-
tion of the troops.
- - - -

The Chair►min— When was it first determined to send
a force into Turkey ? _ _

Duke of Newcastle— " Determined" is scarcely the
proper term to apply in that case. It was always deter-
mined to send a force to Turkey, but the first order
issued for athancing 10,000 men thither was given, I
think, about toe 21st of March lai-t year.
Examination resumed—Gallipolt was chosen on the
reconneudati,n of Sir J. Burgoyne, who had been pre-
viously sent ~ut to exatidoe the c untry, and he selected
it on strategetical ground-., as the first place that ought
to be occupied. Provi-ion was Made that supplies of
fresh meat and bread should be supplied to the troops
at Gallipoli. Forage, he thought, ought to have been
procured there, but, to prevent any apprehensions on
the se grounds, supplies of bread aid forage were sent
out from home. Ido not think any forage was landed
at G.tilipoli, as it was sent in sailing vessels. I think it
must have arrived too late.
The Chairman—When was the removal of the expedi-
tion to Varna first decided upon ?
The Duke of Newca-tle—The order to embark the
troeps for Varna from Scutari was given on the 22d of
April, I believe.
The Chairman—Can you say whether any and what
steps were taken to provide for the troops on their ar-
rival there?
The Duke of Newcastle—Tie duty of seeing to this
provision, of course, devolved at that time upon the
Commander-in-Chief. His first step was t 4 communicate
with the Counnissary-General Filder, who was then
bound to make the necessary arrangements. With
regard to the sanitary arrangements, no official orders
were issued with respect to Varna ; but instructions
were given in the first instance to Colonel Dickson and
his staff to make the necessary inquiries at every place
where the expedition pr-iceeded, as to malaria or any
other prevalent cause of disease which might exist.
The Uha. rtuan— What was the object of the advance
to Varna ?
Duke of Newcastle—The advance to Varna was made
for the protection of Silistria ; and when the siege was
raised, anotoer expedition was determined upon.
Tue Cnairtnati—Did you receive an intimation of any
kind to the effect that cholera was likely to break out at
Va! na ? •
Tue Duke of Newcastle—No, I did not ; and I do not
think any one, even a medical wan, could have formed
an opinion on the subject. Varna was chosen at the
especial recommendation of Omer Pacha (from whose
letters his grace here read some extracts).
The Chairman—Did you not hear that the Russian
army had suffered from cholera there ?
The Duke of Newcastle—l ant not aware of it.
The Chairman—What was the object of the advance
to Varna ?
The Duke of Newcastle—The advance to Varna was
made fur the purpose of protecting Silistria, and when
the siege of Silistria was raised another expedition was
determined upon.
The Chairman—At what period of the year was the
further advance to the Crimea determined upon ?
Duke of Newcastle—On the 27th June.
At this stage of the proceedings a question arose as
to thee propriety ty of his grace, being now no longer a mem-
ber Government, teading some official de-
sl)at bearingiieG upon some matters immediately tetehsub-
sequent to this event, and the room was cleared for con-
sultation.
On the readmission of the public, his Grace said
that, in order to put the Committee in possession of the
instructions to Lord Raglan in reference to the siege of
Sebastopol, he would read the despatches he addressed
to Lrd Raglan on the subject. One of these, dated
June 29th, directed his lordship to concert measures
with Marshal St. Arnaud for the siege of Sebastopol.
unless he eras of opinion that it could not be undertaken
with any reasonable prospect of success. It also recom-
mended the occupation of Perekup, and stated, as the
opinion of the Government, that all the difficulties of
the siege would be more likely to increase than diminish
by delay ; and that, as long as Sebastopol remained,
there was no prospect of a safe and honourable peace.
This letter his grace stated was submitted to Lordßacf-
lan before it was sent.

[LEFT BITTING.]

NEWSPAPER COPY hIG.EIT.

A meeting of provincial newspaper proprietors took
place this tinxiling, in London, at which Mr. G. Baxter
(of the Suseex Express), chairman of the Provincial
Newspaper Society, presider!, and at which the following
resolution was moved by Mr. Edward Baines, of the
Leeds Mercury, and seconded by Mr. J. Gedge, of the
Bury Post, supported by Mr. Austin, of the Maidstone
Journal, and carried unanimously

" That is the opinion of this meeting the clauses an-
nounced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, giving a
copyiight in news for twenty four hours are unprecedented
in the annals of newspapers, uncalled for by any existing
evil, or any pi obable danger, would, unless evaded, obstruct
the circulation of important intelligence to the serious
detlieuent of the public, and wi:uld render all news-
paper proprietors subject to penalties awarded by sum-
mary jurisdiction for the republication of the most com-
mon and every day occurrences."

It is oos'tively stated (says Galignani) that Madame
Jenny Lind (Gnidsmid) wal art lye in Pais in the course of
next mouth. Whether she will sing in public or not is yet
unknown, but a strenuous effort. is in contemplation Vp
obtain der aid for acharitaNu institution, , . • •