The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-24 00:00:00

TRH NUN,. 1.10 IviIDONI NA,TXTRDAY .EVENING., A:RC I-1 m

lowed to enter the schools, nor that the children who at-
tended them should be permitted to enterinto religious an-
tagonism with each other 'and that too at a time when they
were incApahle of understanding thegronnds upon which the
differences of opinion were founded. These were really the
two great points of advantage which the plan now before
the house possessed over the plan proposed by the other
side. He trusted from what had passed this evening in
the course of the discussion, that whatever differences
might exist as to the details of the plan, that when the
second reading of the bill was proposed the house would
come to the discussion with the same tone and temper
which had pervaded the debates that evening, and that
both English and Scotch members would feel that this was
an object of great national importance, and would give the
bill their best consi.leration. (Hear.)
Mr. ELLIOT contended that there was in reality no dif-
ference, as had been suggested by the hon. member for
Midhurat, between the religious opinions of the rural dis-
tricts and the larger towns of Scotland, and that if they
admitted the principle that the bill was applicable to the
large towns, he would contend that it was equally appli-
cable to the rural districts, and ought therefore to be al-
lowed to become law. (Hear.)
Mr. JOHNSTONE drew the attention of the house to
two deficiencies in the bill, one of which was the total
omission of all provision with respect to the education of
girls ; and the other the absence of all provision for the
trsining and education of schoolmasters. (Hear.)
Mr. DUNLOP expressed a hope that, in the arrange-
ments of the house, more justice would be done to this
bill th,n had been accorded to it last year.
I Mr. KINNAIRD expressed his decided approval of the
bill. A.

Mr. Sergeant SHE E could not conceive that there would
be any difficulty in providing a complete system of educa-
tion for Scotland, but trusted that some arrangements
would be made by which those who represented the Ro-
man Catholic minority of Scotland would be enabled to
give their support to the bill. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. A. HASTIE hoped that the education board would
not be touched by the bill. He congratulated Scotland on
the probability that the measure would receive the general
concurrence of the house. He thought that a large body of
the people of Scotland would receive the bill with more
favour than they did the bill of last year.
The LORD ADVOCATE replied, and leave was given
to bring in the bill.
BANKUPTCY IN SCOTLAND BILL.
The LORD ADVOCATE postponed till Monday his
motion for leave to bring in a bill to consolidate aid amend
the laws relating to bankruptcy in Scotland.
INTRAMURAL BURIALS (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for the third reading of this bill,
LordNAAS said he feared that great injustice might be
done under this bill, as there was no power given to any
body to procure new burial grounds in cases where it
might be found that old burial grounds were prejudicial to
health.
Mr. HORSMAN said there was a power given by the
bill to representative boards, where burial grounds were
shut up, to provide new ones.
Mr. VINCE moved the addition of a clause providing
for compensating clerks, sextons, and beadles - for the
loss of fees and sums now received in respect of in-
terments.
Lord PALMERSTON said that the honourable member
was mistaken in supposing that in England compensation
was given to those persons. Parliament gave compensation
when this matter was first proposed ; but, in a subsequent
session, Parliament reconsidered the question, and it was
withdrawn ; and the noble lord (Lord Naas) in his bill had
not proposed to give any compensation.
The clause was then withdrawn, and the bill was read a
third time and passed.
THE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. W. LINDSAY called the attention of the house to
our administrative system. In doing so, he said he would
endeavour to avoid all points with which the house had
lately become so familiar, and he would not say a word
with respect to what passed in the committee of inquiry
which was sitting up stairs, much less attempt to antici-
pate the decision at which they would arrive. He would
likewise avoid all personality, and endeavour to be just,
even to be generous, to those whose conduct he was abou t
to impugn. The case of our transport slips the house could
not fail to consider most important, when they remembered
that in two votes they had assigned 8,833,000/. for that
service. It would bo necessary to preface the observations
he was about to make on this service by referring to some
remarks reported to have been made by a noble earl in an-
other place, who was supposed to be a great authority on
maritime questions. That noble earl had used extraordi-
narily strong language in speaking of the transport service.
He said thattherecouldnot have been a greater degree of ex-
travagance, of carelessness, and of ignorance in-the making
of contracts than had been displayed by the Admiralty;
that there was confusion in the management of the trans-
ports from their departure to their arrival in this country;
and that when the Goyernmeat might have ships in
abundance on their own terms they had neglected to
avail themselves of the offers that were made to them.
Part of the statements made by the noble earl were
correct, but other parts were not so. When he stated
that ships had come forward in such abundance that
the Admiralty might have had them on their own
conditions he made a sad mistake.. When the Admiralty
first called for tenders they received few offers of suitable
vessels. By the statement of the noble earl he would lead
the public to understand that the owners of ships had ten-
dered their vessels on the smaller tonnage, and that the Go-
vet-nu:tont had paid them on the larger tonnage, Such was
not the case. The owners had sent their offers on the gross
tonnage, and the noble earl was mistaken iu supposing that
the Admiralty could have obtained the vessels some on the,
larger and some on the smaller. In fact, the country could
not have been benefited by taking these ships on the
smaller tonnage. There was less chance of fraud on the
larger than on the smaller tonnage. It was necessary for
him (Mr. Lindsay) to premise by making these remarks, as
he wished to be just to all parties. He thought, too, that
the noble earl had done the greatest injustice, although he
had not named the gentleman, to Captain Milue, one of
the lords of the Admiralty, under whom the charge of the
transports principally came. A more indefatigable and
'zealous servant the Crown had not than Captain Milne,
and therefore he was anxious to express the opinion which
he entertained-of his services. (Hear.) He would only say
a few words mire respecting a recommendation made by
the noble earl to whom be had referred. He had stated
that the serest and safest plan for the Admiralty would
have bean to have made the contracts with the owners, they
contracting for the price of coals. He was surprised thattbo
noble earl should make any such proposition. The Govern-
ment adopted the course which they thought the cheapest,
they courted vessels from all quarters; and he thought they
adopted the wise course in agreeing to supply them with
coals, fur if they Lad called on the ownersto supply the coals
they would have required a higher price. If the owners had
been called on to supply thesesteamers with coals they would
not have done it on the same advantageous terms as the
Admiralty haddone, and the country would have had to pay
more for their ships. (Hear.) With respect to one ship,
which it was said was engaged to carry out coffee, she was ,
tendered to the Admiralty live or six times add declined,
for sh 3 was considered too deep. She was then engaged for
a special purpose, running with despatches to Constanti-
nople and other places in the Black Sea. The Commander-
in-Chief was anxious to have such a vessel, and because
Capt. Milne had been using his best endeavours to study
economy, he had been censured. He (Mr. Lindsay) could
not lay the cese fairly before the house unless he was just
to all parties. Having said so much in justice to the Ad-
miralty, he feared that he could say little more in favour
of their conduct. In order to place before the house what
might be done for these transports, it would be necessary
to state the amount of tonnage engaged. By a return
made the 22d of January, it appeared that there were up
to that time. 123,320 tons of steamers engaged, and there
had been since then about 26,680 tons, making altogether
about 150,000 tons of steamers. On the 22d of Jan. there
were 91,440 tons of sailing vessels engaged, and since that
time there were 8,530, thus making the tonnage of sailing
vessels engaged 100,000. He was he thought under tho
mark in stating the amount as being at present engaged.
That is, we had about 250,000 tons of transports, steamers
and sailing vessels, employed. He came next a point
on which he had to make a serious complaint—to a matter
an which the money of the country had been sacrificed.
He had shown that the steamers could not have been ob-
tained at lower prices by the Admiralty, but then there
was an enormous amount of money sacrificed by delay.
He would endeavour to show the house what might have
bean done with this enormous fleet of transports. A steam-
vessel shoUld make six voyages per annum between this
country and thee' itnea,so that, allowing two registered tons
foreech man, the 150,000 tons of steam-transport now in the
service of the Government might have Conveyed 75,000
soldiers per voyage, or 450,000 per annum to the Crimea.
Then we had 100,000 tons of sailing transports, which, al-
lowing only two voyages per annum to the Crimea and
back might have readily conveyed 100,000 men per annum.
Then as to cavalry, the steam transports could have readily
convoyed 90,003 per annum, and the sailing vessels 20,000
per annum. So that we had here a feet of transports ca-
pable of conveyingfrom the shores ofEngland to the Crimea
550,00) infantry and 110,000 cavalry in the course of one
year. Had these 250,000 tons of -steam and sailing trans-
ports been kept plying between Constantinople and the
Crimea, they might have taken 160,000 infantry and 25,000
cavalry per voyage, or 1,992,000 infantry and 300,000 ca-
valry in the year. Then, besides these transports, it must
be recollected that a large number of vessels were engaged
in conveying stores to the East, that we had an immense
fleet cerrving coals, and that almost all the men-of-war l
which went out took a large amount of stores with them.
In order to show the delay that took place, and the valu-
able time which was thus lost, he might trace the progress
of one vessel—taken quite promiscuously—the Golden
Fleece, a steamer of 2,000 tons, which cost the country
about 7,000/. per month. This vessel which left Leith Roads
on the 11th of March, 1854, was subject to delays both at
Malta and Gallipoli, and then, after lying idle six weeks
at Scutari, she was in June last ordered home by Admiral
Boxer, having at the time on board a large quantity of
provisions, which the captain could get no order to de-
liver, and also a large quantity of valuable apace taken
up by empty provision o 'aka which the commander
could obtain no authority to destroy or land. Another
ship actually arrived off the Alma the day after the battle,
but although the captain reported that he had a num-
ber of surgeons on board, their assistance was not availed
of at'a time when surgeons were so much wanted, until
twenty-four hours after her arrival. (Hear, hear.) Why,
at this very. moment two large steamers, the Germania
a-cd the Hermes, which cost the country 12,0001. 'per
month, had been lying idle at Deptford for three weeks.
What had they been doing there? Why, they wore said
to have been fitting up berths for soldiers, a thing which
could have been easily done in two dap. He believed
that out of the eight millions voted for this service, about
two millions had been totally lest through unnecessary
delays. Now, what had been the cause of this? He was
not prepared to say that the fault rested with the Admi-
ralty. He believed it rested with the whole system, which
required a thorough reform. When the Commissariat
wanted to seed stores they wrote to the Admiralty to take
up a ship. The ship was sent to Deptford, but very fie-
quet,t4 the stores were not ready. 'When they were,
how( ver, each department sent a separate officer to super-
intos d the stowage o! their own stores, and the Result was
that The greatest possible amount of wrangling and coufu-
s,ou to>k place. restiltiug in those extraordinary cases of
ill-stowages which had been brought before 'the public.
Too remedy for this was for the Admiralty to receive and
stow the goods and be responsible for their delivery in the
Crit sea. Ho was aware they had taken stew to remedy
thetethgn:
goods
dinel r bstba
kyes
neiernn
tett
sthi.
aet instituting !hi
thgoolaaetb
de theyutransportty
wanted b o a rd
was. But us
it nhe el had nofficerofai
to
responsible a
earrtioerth withse
erreetercyt.
attot'i.
War. alear,,hear.) Another' important defect was, as
too the manner in which accounts were passed at the Ad-
miralty. The honourable gentleman then entered into
some minute details with rsspect to the delays which a
mercantile firm with whom he was acquainted had en-
countered in passing
an account at the Admiralty, and
particule.rly
in consequence of an import
ant position being

r

held by a deaf anti dumb person, with whom all commie.
nication was obliged to be conducted in writing. He stated
that on an application being made for payment of an ac-
count which bed been sent in five months before, the ap-
plicant was infer led by the storekeeper that it was mis-
sing, but that it might possibly be found in the office,
which was being put in order, but that it was too great a
waste of time to look for it. (A laugh.) This was a state
of things which the country could not and ought not to
endure, for it was one which had brought on us great dis-
aster, and had disgraced us in the eyes of other nations.
(Hear, hear.) Take another case. He recollected three or
four years ago that his firm had an account against the
Admiralty to the amount of 31. ss. 6d. for freight. Well,
three or four weeks after it was sent in it was returned for
amendment, because the amount was not set down in words
as well as figures. (Laughter.) It was sent in again, but
about teu days afterwards his collecting clerk came to him
and told him that from the formalities to be undergone,
and the different offices to be visited, it would take him
a week to collect it. Ho (Mr. Lindsay) found that he
should have lost more than the amount of the account by
his clerk being withdrawn from some useful business, and
the result was that the account was left uncalled for, and
he supposed still remained unpaid. (Hear.) About four
years ago he had another account of about 2,0001. against
the Admiralty, and after it had remained unpaid some
six weeks he resolved to apply personally at the Admiralty
with respect to it. Accordingly one morning, about
half past ton o'clock, lie called in at an office where
10 found three desks. Two wore unoccupied, but at the
third a gentleman was seated, lolling carelessly in an arm-
chair, whistling the air of "Peter Dick," and beating time
on the desk with a ruler. (A laugh ) He did not know
anything about the account; he said it had not reached
him. While they were talking together, another young
gee-at:man came in, with his hat cocked on one side of his
head, and a gold-headed cane in hi- hand, and said, "Tote,
going down by the eleven o'clock boat ; don't think I shall
come bank until four o'clock. Keep all quiet." (A laugh.)
Ho then wont away, and he (Mr. Lindsay) was then in-
formed by the other clerk that as this gentleman, through
whose office his account must pass, had gone to Gravesend,
it was not likely that his account would reach the office
where he then was that day, and that he consequently
could not then obtain payment of it. As he went away ho
could not help expressing a hope that the day might come
when he might have something to do in rooting out the
" Peter Dicks" who had so large a share in bringing on us
national misfortune and disgrace ; for the large part of the
evils that had befallen us arose from the system of pa-
tronage which introduced these "Peter Dicks" into the
public offices. There were many men now engaged in the
Government offices, with salaries varying from 801. to 5001.
per tinnilat,—witoco cerviooa were rio übborly volt-talcoe that
it would in fact bo cheaper for the country to pay them
the salaries to stay away from the offices. On the other hand
many men in the Government offices were paid far too
small salaries. It would be well for the Government to in-
crease their pay, and sweep away the " Peter Dicks." The
time had certainly now arrived when we must have ad-
ministrative reform, by which he meant that the Govern-
ment business must, as far as possible, be conducted in the
same manner as that of the large banking mercantile estea-
bliehmente,of this country. One thing he was certain of,
that the nation would not endure the longer continuance
of a system which had brought on us both ruin and dis-
grace. (Hear.)
Sir J. GRAHAM would not say that the administrative
reform on which his hon. friend insisted so strongly was
not necessary in some of the public departments, for he be-
lieved that the Government had already felt the necessity,
and that the remedy was in, course of being applied. But
with regard to the navy, to which the remarks of the hon.
gentleman principally applied, he must remark when ho
was connected with the Government of Earl Grey, twenty
years ago, he had used his best endeavours to apply a re-
medy to the administrative defects of that branch of the
service, and subsequent experience had led him to believe
that the remedy had been found effectual. The hon. gen-
tleman had said that the present system was rotten at the
core, and had dwelt particularly on the abuse of patron-
age. Well, take the present accountant-general of the Ad-
miralty, Mr. Bromley. When he was First Lord twenty
years ago, that gentleman was a humble clerk, with a
salary under 2001. a year. In consequence of his merit,
he (sir James Graham) promoted him to a higher ktua.
tion ; and he had since, by his merit and that alone,
risen to the post he now filled, with a salary of 1,4001,
a year. He believed that a more
,meritorious and able
public servant than Mr. Bromley could not be found.
The hon, gentleman had commented rather hastily on the
deaf and dumb clerk. He was originally appointed as an
act of charity, but his conduct was 's() exemplary, and his
talent so great that when lie (Sir J. Graham) was lately
forming the transport board, this young man was, by the
officers themselves, recommended for promotion as being
one of the most meritorious employes in the office. He w.ss
the son of Sir William Napier, and he certainly did not
think that, labouring as he did under the severe calamity
with which he was afflicted:he ought to have been reflected
upon in the manner in which he had been by the hen.
gentleman. '
Mr. LINDSAY did not mean to cast any reflection on
him., Ho was simply tracing the working of the system.
Sir J. GRAHAM hopedthat he had at all events dis-
proved the remarks of the hon. gentleman as to patronage,
so far as the two persons to whom he particularly alluded
went. Then the hon. gentleman said that the naval sys-
tem of accounts was a disgrace to the country and the age
in which we lived. Now, the books were in fact kept on
the most perfect system of double entry, and, notwithstand-
ing the number of audits that were interposed for the pub-
lic protection, and the extensive nature of the transactions
to which they related, they, were kept more closely posteA
up than the accounts of any banker or merchant in the city
of London. The system was originally, in part, borrowed
from the Admiralty accounts in France, but ho was told
by his friend Sir G. Briggs, the late Accountant-General,
with whom the merit of the system rested, that though
he had originally gone to France to copy their system
of accounts, they had since sent over here to inspect
ours, and bad admitted that it was better than theirs.
The hon. member had told the house that the number of
steamers employed was very great, and he (Sir J. Graham)
admitted it ; but the hon. member had been just as well
as generous, and had sufficiently answered many of the
charges preferred in other quarters about the errors com-
mitted in the transport service. The hon. gentleman had
truly said that when the war broke out, the urgency of the
service was great, and the tenders were few. He knew
well that the price of a commodity must be regulated by
the market puke, and the hon. member acquitted them
altogether of any error with respect to the amount of ton-
nage. In reference to accusations made elsewhere, they
bee received from the hon. gentleman a complete acquittal.
It was true that with regard to some points the hon. mem-
ber thought. they were wrong. He said there was a want
of a well regulated system, and he stated that with the
large number of ships employed there ought to have been
a greater number of voyages outward and homeward, and
that an infinitely larger amount of service might have been
performed than was perfernied. Now, the house must re-
member what had been really done within the last twelve
months. They had conveyetti a distance of 3,000 miles
front this country somewhere about 50,000 or 60,000 regu-
lar troops of all arms, 6,000 horses, a large train of artile
lery, all the guns both 'for the field and battering train,
all the forage necessary for the horses, and the ra-
tions both for the fleet and army. They had also con-
veyed 15,000 French troops from the south of France
to the Crimea, with a considerable number of horses,
convoyed from Varna to the Crimea
40,000 6,000 horses, and they had undertaken
of that force in the Crimea. They.
4114th0nae 'ddoeoctnohonneTtyviunearyukleed supplytotheßaltic 15,000 men, making in all some-
where about 100,000-men conveyed, and somewhere about
8,000 or 9,000 horses, besides keeping up the supply of
rations almost daily for somewhere near 100,000 men, con-
veyed. 3,000 miles. The hon. member asked why they
did not move the ships backwards and forwards. The ne-
cessity of the service rendered that movement impossible.
No doubt
expense attendant upon the system
adopted,
wasdemurrages arose in consequence of it ;
dou t
and t there ee
that
but when was an army trusted at such a distance from the
country without the means of. re-embarkation? Look to
what had been done with respect to the. Peninsular army.
(Hear, hear.) When the Duke of Wellington with a tri-
umphant force maintained the lines of Torres-Yedras, to
the renown of the army and of his country to the latest
times, he never thought 'of not having within the Tagus
the whole number of transports necessary to convey that
army from the 'country, (Hear.) So also in the China and
Burmese wars. Having sent outthe troops by sea ordinary
precaution and prudence pointed out the necessity of hav-
ing the means at hand of re-embarkation. From time to
time they were pressing upon the navalcommander-in-chief,
in June, JulY, and August, to send back to this country
some of the steamers. The British army was at that time
in Bulgaria, but the resolution having been taken to remove
the army from Bulgaria to the Crimea, the orders sent from
this country to send home some of the steamers were set
aside by the generals and admirals in the exercise of a
wise discretion. The steamers were detained in Bulgaria,
and the great operation of removing the troops from Bul-
garia to Eupatoria was effected with the most signal suc-
cess, and without the loss of any considerable number of
men or horses in doing so. During the advance of the
army from Eupatoria to Balaklava, and the occupation of
the ground in front of Sebastopol, a considerable time was
occupied, and during that time it was not thought expe-
dient to send the steamers back. The house would re-
member that the British army had only one point of com-
munication with the sea—a small port without the means
of landing oe placing in store anything that was sent from
this country in the shape of supplies. It was, therefore,
necessary to keep a largo portionof the munitions and sup-
plies on board ship. Then sickness arose, and there was a
domand for tee steamers to convey the sick and wounded
four the Crimea to Constantinople and more distant sta-
uoos. Then there was this other demand upon the ser-
vice. Their great ally, the French, had abundance of
troops, but not having the same command of steam-ves-
sels as they had, naturally and justly called upon them to
aid them, and 20,000 men were sent from Marseilles in
33ritish steamers. More lately the noble lord at the head
of the Government had brought down a message from her
~'Majesty, by which the obligation was taken to remove
15,000 Piedmontese troops to the Crimea. The great
operation of moving the army of Omer Pacha to
:Eupatoria had just been accomplished, and 40,000 troops
lad been carried there in British steamers. The hon.
member said that little had been done, but he (Sir J.
Graham) hoped the house would agree with him in think-
ing that by their officers in the Black Sea, and particularly
--joy Sir Edmund Lyons, much had been done. His hon.
friend had referred to the meritorious services of Captain
Milne, and he (Sir J. Graham) thought the duties that had
been performed could not be done were it not for the in-
defatigable energy of that officer. It would be impossible,
however, for him to perform permanently the heavy duties
devolving on him ; and if such were not the case he would
lint have recommended the formation of the Transport
Board. But, Captain Milne was overworked; it was im-
possible for one man to continuo to perform the labour,
and therefore it was that lie (Sir J. Graham) thought it
prudent to constitute that board. In general he was not
ie favour of the priacipleeef divided responsibility, but
when there were contract% to the amount of 5,000,0001.,
there was safety in multiplying the chocks, consequent
upon th, division 'of contracts so entered into for so large
en amount, and he (Sir J. Graham) was of opinion that
though an exception to the rule it was a wise exception.
le; was useful to have on that board a combination of ele-
ment-, by appointing upon it a naval officer and a gentle-
Alen connected with the merchant service; it would be
Weictly confined to the war, and with the termination of
t to war would terminate the existence of this board.

Mr. ALCOCK begged, pursuant to notice, to call the at-
tention of the house to the state of the war in the Black Sea.
He complained that they had not taken possession of
Anapa, and secured the assistance of the people of the
Caucasus. He was convinced that if Lord Aberdeen had the
bad luck to be the Minister of Russia ho would have been
oxilea to Siberia in consequence of the incomptence that
had been displayed iu carrying on the war. If they had a
force of 0,000 Caucasia. a assisitag them in therrimea it
-would prove to them of the greatest advantage. Theyhad
obtained 15,000 from Sardinia, but for one-fourth of the

sum which they spoke of advancing they would obtain
from Persia an army of 40;000 men. He begged that the
Government would take the subject to which his observa-
tions had referred into their consideration. (Hear.)
Sir S. NORTCOTE said it was impossible not to see
that immense exertions had been made by the Govern-
ment and by the country to carry on the war, and that, iu
spite of those exertions, there existed a great and growing
diseetisfaction at the failures which had taken place. Many
of those failures would have excited much lees attention if
it had not been that the people in this country were in the
habit of meeting small adventures which had given an un-
favourable impression of the state of the public service.
He wished to impress on the Government the necessity of
losing no time in introducing such improvements into the
civil service as would secure for it a better name than it
at present enjoyed. He believed that the civil service
possessed immense merits, and contained men willing to
perform any amount of work thrown upon them, but
there were defects in the organisation of that service
which rendered the services of those men less valuable
than they ought to be. There were in many depart-
moots a considerable number of men receiving salaries
varying in amount from 801. to 3001. a year who were
not worth their salt, while there were others
doing an enormous amount of work. The Goverment ought.
to make such a: distribution of the work as-would enable
them to employ educated men upon work suited to the
education which they had received. By so doing they
woull not only effect a saving of labour, bat would attract
to toe public service men of a superior order. ( iftee-.)
Captain SCOBELL said that within the last four years
there had been four First Lords of the Admiralty and as
many Secretaries, and it could not be expected that a board
could work well when it was subjected to so many changes.
It was a matter of astonishment to him that the transports
in the Black Sea had not can ied over more French troops.
If those transports had been properly used they v ould hive
donedouble the work which they had performed. The great
error in the transport service had been the want of a super-
intendent to stow away the different articles and give a pro-
per account of them. Many vessels had gone to Balaklava,
and sailed from that place with things on board which were
required.by our troops. But the greatest defect was that
the steamers for the conveyance of the sick were not fitted
up for the purpose. He trusted that the Transport Board
would take greater care for the future, and 'that some man
would be placed at the head of it with sufficient power to
decide and give orders as to what ought to be done.
Mr. CAYLEY said that last year the estimate for the
transport service amounted to something like 2,P,00,000/.,
and now about 4,000,000/. more was required. The estimate
wasoue of a most profuse nature, considering the mode in
which the transport service had boon carried on. For the
estimate of 2,600,0001. the total tonnage employed, inde-
pendent of coal, was 93,000; and the coal tonnage amounted
to 158,754. Now, the rate of tonnage was not more than
from 21. to 3/. Indeed for the last seven months the rate
of freight to Australia had been only 2/. ss. There was a
great want of responsibility with regard to the transport
service. New, as that service was under the control of the
Admiralty, he thought the right hon. baronet (Sir James
Graham) was the party really responsible. Again, with
regard to the coaling department of the transport service,
nothing could have been more disgracefully mismanaged.
At Constantinople transports bad to wait for days and
weeks without being able to get their necessary supplies of
fuel, while, when they did succeed in getting them, the
cost was so high that it was perfectly astounding. For in-
stance, coal, which could easily have been procured for 4/. a
ton, was charged 71. or 81. per ton, and there were other
charges incidental to the coaling of equally extravagant
nature. Allied to the defects and shortcomings of the trans-
port service was the want of land transport. Here again
was to be traced the evils of mismanagement ; horses dying
from the want of medicines or forage, which could easily
have been procured but for the stupidity of obstinate offi-
cials in high command, and our gallant soldierssuffering the
most excruciating agony from the want of that medicial as-
sistance which was at band on the coast of the Crimea, but
could not reach the spot where suffering called for it for the
want of a proper land transport. Many of these abuses
would have remained undiscovered had it not been for the
vigilance of the gentlemen who represented the press at
the seat of war • indeed, he believed that, but for their ex-
posures, the whole army would have been left to perish of
want, neglect, and privation ; but after all ho had now
stated- -after the immense sums which had been spent upon
the transport service—after the admitted fact that a third
of that expenditure at least might have been saved' by judi-
cious management, he did hope those gentlemen who took
an interest in the public expenditure—whose absence he
regretted to observe then—would take an early opportunity-
of contrasting their gigantic expenditure upon the trans-
port service with that of our gallant allies the French. The
people of the country did not grudge a single shilling.
They desired to carry on the war to a successful issue, but
they wanted their money's worth. 11-3 did not think they
got their money's worth. The system pursued by the late
Government in sending out the expedition into the Black
Sea was one of ruinous extravagance. If the affairs of the
public had been carried on as a private firm conducted
theirs, it was quite evident that the ce erations of the war
would have been conducted at a much less expense. He
had heard that the feeding of the men cost 11. a day,
whilst the firm of Baines and Co., of Liverpool, had offend
to do so at 3s. 6d. a head per day ;'and he thought that
Government had done wrong to reject this offer. If
Government had conducted this department in an exem-
plary manner, it would have been a different question.
Had it never occurred to the First Lord of the Admiralty
that as the nary for 50 years had been supplied with lime
juice, it was expedient to supply the arrneein such circum-
stances with a supply of limo juice also. Messrs. Baines
said they should ,require four steamers of 1,200 tons, he
believed, to supply the whole of the army with their sup-
plies, and four more steamers, as he understood, for the
supply of fresh meat. Under this view ha thought that
the house could not but ask, what was all this enormous
tonnage required for? To close the case of the transports,
Mr. Green said that during the time the Resolute was
in the service of Government she was three months in
port and two months at sea. He complained also that in
all the operations of the war nothing was done in time.
Government seemed to be- moving by mechanical action,
by which what was gained in rapidity was lost in power.
In another case, the transports went cut without any
means of embarking guns or cavalry. Mr. Roberts, a mas-
ter, invented, at his own expense, a meet admirable
method for doing this. He was a master only. (Question.)
Did the-hon. member know that the question was the ad-
ministration of this service ? A batter officer could not
be ; but whether- ho had his promotion, ho did not know.
In his case, promotion perhaps was not an advantage,
and he took the opportunity to protest against this nominal
promotion, which left a men in a worse position than he
was before. He thanked the lion. member who had brought
forward the motion for having done so, and he thought
that the misfortunes of the army in the Crimea were prin-
cipally owing to the transport service. He trusted that
the Government of the noble lord would take warning by
their predecessors, and would insist upon the duties of
every department being carried on in a more efficient man-
ner than had hitherto been the case. It-would be some-
thing in favour of the war if out of thelpresent chaos, the
result of official incompetence, official incapacity, and
drivelling formalism, there should arise a system of effi-
ciency oder, and vigour—something which. would, when
it was required, stand the test of examination and of ac-
tion—something more than a solemn sham and a gigantic
imposture.
Mr. BENTINCK said that the right hon. baronet the mem-
ber for Carlisle seemed to suppose that in forming a Trans-
port Board for the purpose of effecting a division of
labour, it was also necessary to create a division of re-
sponsibility. Now, le thought no such alternative ex-
isted, for responsibility might have been maintained
although the labour was divided. So long as they
continued this system of divided responsibility, so long
would they have the duties of the service inefficiently
performed. He was glad to have heard it stated in
the course of that debate that administrative reforms
were Coutemplated ; he trusted that amongst those re-
forms they would have to reckon the discontinuance of
that system which had existed in this country from time
immemorial—namely, that of placing civilians at the head
of the naval and military departments. (Hear, hear.)
They might rely on-it so long as that system was main-
tained that the duties of neither one or the other would be
efficiently conducted. He cared not how great might be
the administrative ability of any individual, if he was. not
thoroughly conversant with all the details of the profes-
sion in which he was appointed to preside—whether it was
from his habits, his education, or his pursuits, all his efforts
on behalf of the service must prove ab,rtive. The system
was to place men at the head of the army who were not
capable of managing a corp mars guard, and at the head of
the navy persons incapable of taking charge of a coaster.
He could mention the following case as illustrative of the
position which he had assumed ; and ho would do so the
more readily es he saw the right hon. baronet the member
for Carlisle in his place. It would be in the recollection of
the house that upon a former occasion, when the right lion.
baronet the late First Lord of the Admiralty having replied
to a question which had been put to him—and he (Mr. Ben-
tinck) would direct particular attention to the fact that the
statement was volunteered, and showed that the right hon.
baronet considered the fact of importance—well, having so
replied to the question put to him, the right hon. baronet
proceeded to say that he would take that opportunity of
adverting to-certain rumours that were in circulation rela-
tive to the ldss of the Prince transport, outside the harbour
of Balaklava. He then referred to certain reports in the
newspapers, to the effect that the Prince had been lost in
consequence of her chair's not having been properly
clinched ; whereupon he informed the house that the chains
of the Prince had been properly clinched, and that-the loss
of that vessel could not be attributed, therefore, to no-such
cause. Well, having taken a great deal of interest in the
matter-,;he confessed at the time he was not a little ,111.-
prised at such a statement coming from the right hon. bare-
not ; still he hesitated; not feeling him-self fully informed,
to Stake notice of it. Hence, only a very fevedays ago,
he happened -to obtain possession of a document which
confirmed in the fullest manner the impression which he
entertained at that time. It would appear that so far from
the facts being as stated by the right hon. baronet, he was
himself completely misinformed upon the subject. He
held in his hand a description, a sketch of the manner in
which the chain cables of the Prince were clinched, which
he would be most happy to place in the hands of the right
hon. baronet or any other member, and it would convince
them that the chains were clinched in so imperfect a
manner as to account for the loss of the vessel and of
her anchors. And in corroboration of that fact it was
stated that the Perseverance-.a vessel which had been
performing lately certain rather curious gyrations in Wool-
wich Dockyard—had her chain clinched in a similar
manner to the Prince ' • but on the news of the disaster
relative to the transport reaching this country, the atten-
tion of the authorities was directed to that fact, and the
chains were clinched in an efficient manner. Now he need
not remind the house that the right hon. baronet had,had
the most ample means of obtaining information upon this
subject; however, naturally taking the report drawn up
for him as correct, he made no further inquiries. But if
tho right hon. gentleman. had been a professional man he
would have asked one more- question, and which would
have relieved him from the necessity of making such
a statement to the House of Commons—he would, have
said, " Show me how these chains are clinched." Now
that, perhaps, might be a trifling instance Of the conse-
quences of their system ; still, trifling as it was, it showed
that even if a man were as distinguished for his talents as
the right hon. baronet, it was impossible for him to con-
duct the affairs of a service se ith which ho could not, by
any possibility' be coriversen,. As he hail said, therefore,
he hoped that when this milennium was come, about the
first of those administrative r forms would be made in this
direction. But ho also underitood the right hon. baronet
to have dissented from some statements with respect to
a cargo of boots and shoes. Now, although he was unable
to contradict the right lion. baronet, he might men.
tion another case of mismanagement, which did go
to prove that such an occurrence was by no means hopes.
Bible. The Kangaroo, transport, had started from Varna
for EupatOria with the rest of the fleet, a portion of the
Coldstream Guards being on board. When the troops
landed at Eupatoria the Kangaroo was ordered round to
Balaklava with the knapsa:cks.of the regiment. Well, she
proceeded to Balaklava, but from thence she was des-
ps.tehed upon some other duty, without the knapsacks hai-