The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

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and by sweeping up the hold a little corn was obtained, ito send to Persia. There was, however, a man who, above
just sufficient to feed the poor animals until their arrival . all others, was capable of carrying' on' the diplomacy' of
at Balaklava. The Government were told they would this country in Persia, a gentleman well acquainted with
want all the necessaries of life in Bulgaria, that the coun- , the recources of that country,' with India, and with adja-
try was almost depopulated, and its resources exhausted, 1 cent countries ; he referred to Colonel It. wlinson, who, of
He suggested establishing a marketat
Sinope, and took the : all men, was the one to send to Persia, and who Would
greatest trouble to point out how available it would be, i alone be worth an army of 20,000 men to the GoVern-
whether for an army at Varna, at Sebastopol, or in Asia ment. He (Mr. Layard) had strong reason for believing
Minor., From Sinope they might have had a full supply that before long the Government would net be able to
of fresh meat and provender, and by a little trouble bring Persia into their system of policy. If they did not
they might have obtained regular transport service from I take Sebastopol Persia would be against them, and in the
the people of the country. But no ! the Government , course of a year would be at Bagdad, when our possession
would not listen to a single man who knew the country, and of India would be—he would not say imperilled, but at
they made a rule not to employ any one who could either any rate greatly shaken. And what was the position of
speak the language or had been in the country before. He ' Europe ? All the troops had been taken from Bulgaria
remembered recommenaing a gentleman who had been and thrown into the Crimea to assist our unfortunate
many years in the country and spoke the language as well , army in repairing the mistakes made by the Government
!
as he did English ; but when that gentleman went to a at home. Turkey had been deprived of all defence, and
gallant officer on the subject, he was told that it was desired the Government were doubtful of the course Austria
to engage his services, but lee could not be placed in a po- ? would take. (Hear.) He could not believe that she
sition to dine with the officers; of course the gentleman , would not take part with us • but if she did not Russia
refused entertaining any further proposals. Because the I would be at • Constantinople ' before a single regiment
Government could riot break through the system, they , could be sent to oppose her. Even supposing that Russia
must' employ Sir Charles Trevelyan's clerks, who had never fell upon Austria, raised Hungary against her, and
seen service, and who did not speak a word of the lan- beat her in a pitched
battle, what was there to prevent'
guage of the country to which they were going. (Cheers.) Russia from going to Constantinople? If she did, what
The Government sent a gentleman to Constantinopleto make ' was to save the army and fleet this country had now before
a report on the country. He recollected pointing out the Sebastopol? (Hear, hear.) In such a critical
absurdity of sending a gentleman who knew nothing of did not think the affairs of the country
ought to be adei
the language, to report on the state of Turkey generally, nistered by men who had shown themselves incompetent
with its mixed population, as different as black from white, I in war and incompetent in diplomacy, and he could not by
and he was met with a reference to the Report and its in- his vote to-night show the slightest confidence in those
Ilex of 70 or 80 subjects. That was exactly what he com- who had betrayed what he considered to be the best in
plainel of—that they were induced to believe they had in- terests of the country. (" Hear, hear
which " and cheers.) For
formation on matters which people who had lived in Turkey the first time brave hearts had' never desponded
half their lives knew very little about. (Hear.) The right were desponding at the state of things existing in the
hon. gentleman the Secretary at War had adverted to the Crimea. He had received letters from two gentlemen he
large number of transports which had been employed by knew well, and from whom ho had never heard a,word to
the Government, but it appeared that those transports say they doubted or feared, stating that at last they must
had only been engaged in conveying goods to Balaklava confess things were desperate. (Hear, hear.) This, then,
and back again without ever landing anything. An hon. was not the moment to hesitate, and it was only by the
frientj opposite had given them an account of the state of 1 country compelling the House of Commons to take the
affairs at Balaklava, and had 'particularly instanced the matter in their own hands, and having men equal to the
want of vegetables. This was strictly true, for he (Mr. occasion to carry out the policy of the country, that they
Layard) had himself been a witness to it, and had seen the could hope for safety. (Cheers.) He believed there were
unfortunate soldiers brought down to carry upon their backs men who could do this and who could save the country.
enormous sacks of potatoes and onions, which they were ' They must have men to carry out a policy worthy
f. o
unable to remove. The provisions might certainly have , the country, and if that policy were not carried out they
been there, but had they been consumed by the troops? might depend upon it that England ere long would be(Hear, hear.) The ha I
use must not be misled by re- reduced to the position of a second-rate Power. (Hear,
ports of the abundance of provisions at hand. There might hear.) It was with these convictions—these solemn'
bean abundance of clothing and vegetables, hut, unless the convictions—that he felt himself compelled to vote in
vegetables were consumed and the cloth I
ing worn, what favour of the motion of his hon. friend. (Cheers.)
was the use of sending them there? The house had been Sir G. GREY—It is with deep reluctance that I offer my-
completely mystified by the accounts which had been given self to this house to take any part iii the present debate, but
of the Prince. They were told that that unfortunate vessel had all the winter clothing en board, and that the fact that I feel that I should be shrinking from a public
ifl did duty if such clothing was there showed that the Government had merely gave a silent vote against the motion of the hon. and
not exhibited the negligence of which they had been ac- learned gentleman the member for Sheffield, and no: cused. Now, in point of fact, the Prince had not on board record in tho meat dieceeee aoa cinematic terms that I give
what was strictly e5.11,”1 winter eledhin„,- but she had on my vote without the slightest doubt or hesitation, thinking
board such clothing as the troops might have put on any
that I should be betraying my public duty were I to sanction
day in the year. There was no special clothing whatever
to enable them to stand the severity of a Crimean winter. the precedent of committing an inquiry such as that proposed
(Hear, hear.) There was not a single rag of that descrip- to us to any committee of 15 gentlemen selected from the
tion, all that was on boar. I being a certain number of shirts body of this house. (Hear, hear.) The objections stated by
stockings, and other articles which would have been several hon, gentlemen in the course of the debate, and by
given out to the soldiers in England or any other place.
And now he would for a moment call the attention of the none more forcibly than the hon. gentleman who has just
house to the case of the siege artillery. They were told addressed the house—the objections thiesstated to committing
that so far back as the spring of last year the Government such an inquiry to hon. gentlemen upstairs—l believe to be
contemplated a descent upon the Crimea. For the sake of fatal to the resolution of the hon. member for Sheffield, and I
the Government themselves he could not believe this to be
the case. It appeared to him to be impossible, considering confess that, deeply pained as lam now to stand here severed,
the nature of the siege-train sent out. (Hear, hear.) They for the first time in a short political life, in any matter Of
had already heard that there were no mortars in the train political importance, from my noble friend behind me, I can-
calculated for a siege of such magnitude as that of Sebas-
topol. The mortars available were of very small calibre, not, upon mature reflection and consideration, assent to a
and there were no siege guns of any size, those at kind motion' the only effect of which would be to paralyse the
being merely calculated for a campaign in Bulgaria, in be- exertions-1 will not say of this Government alone, but of
sieging such sniallplaces as the Russians might have taken. any Government whatever sitting upon these benches and
But even in Bulgaria, they would have been unfit for ser- conducting the affairs of the country at a most critical period
vice, as no horses had been sent out with the siege-train, —a period when greater confidence should be placed in the
and in conveying the guns to the heights before
Sebastopol
they had been compelled to use the horses of the Horse
Artillery; and then there were only so many rounds of Government than under ordinary circumstances, and when
their hands should be left free and unfettered, in order to
ammunition sent out as, at the common rule of firing, enable them to carry on the vigorous prosecution of the war.
would be exhausted in a day. The right hon. gentleman (Hear.) I have not the slightest hesitation in believing that
the Secretary at War said every endeavour would be made the hon. and learned gentleman who has brought forward
to fit up the hospitals ; but why had this not been done this motion has done it with a view to serve the best interests
before? (Hear, hear.) Did the Government think they of the country; but I feel it my duty as a member of the
could go to the Crimea and fight battles there without Government, as it would, in my judgment, have been equally
having any killed and wounded ? The French evidently my duty as a member of this house, to record my vote
did not think so, for they had already established their against that motion. But I do not rest my opposition to
hospitals, &c. No, outcry had been heard against their the motion on the ground of it being a covert and indirect
proceedings in that respect. On the contrary, their hos- mode of passing a vote of want of confidence in the Govern- ,
pitals were admirably arranged, and not one man had went. There are those who no doubt say—" We will ap-
been suffered to die from the want of proper accommodation point this committee, and then, by a subsequent vote, we
for the sick and wounded. The right hon. gentleman told will rescind the order of the house for the nomination of the
them the Government were new about to send out a coin- committee, and thus leave the division on the present motion
mission of inquiry, to imply a want of confidence in the Government." (Cheers
Mr. S. HERBERT observed that the commission was from the Opposition.) Honourable gentlemen opposite cheer
sent out on the ith of November last. that statement—those who not long since filled high office iii
Mr. LAYARDeaid, that was after many of the disasters the administration of this country, and who now aspire again,
which had overtaken our troops had occurred. It now a perhaps, to fill those offices which they before filled for a con-
peered that Lord Raglan had been directed to make p-
a aiderable period. What !—Have they no confidence in the
report to the Government upon the state of the army ; but Government, and do they shrink from coming forward and
how were they to get at the truth in that report ? Did they proposing a direct vote of want of confidence ? (Hear, hear.)
think that if they examined the officers they would tell them Do they seek to carry their purpose by moans of this motion,
all they felt! Not a bit of it. And how would these reports so objectionable in principle, and objectionable, as I conteed-
be made? Were they likely to be fair reports ? On the it must be in the greatest degree, hilts practical effect?
contrary, rod very naturally too, would not all that re- Why do they not raise the plain and'simple.question of "'eon-
fleeted credit be given, and all that was unfavourable fidence" or "no confidence," and ask the House of Coinmons
be kept in the background? (Hear, hear.) That was the to decide into whose hands the government of the country
nature of the reports they would get, and not the least shall be intrusted ? I admit that that any man who votes for
dependence could be placed upon them. The right hon. this motion, will express an entire want of confidence in t e
gentleman had asked if commissioners were to be sent out Government; 'but still I wonder at hon. gentlemen not having
such as those sent out by the French Republic ? This was courage enough to come down and explicitly avowing that
certainly no revolutionary war, but in the case referred to feeling by a direct vote, but seeking to attain their object in-
by the right hon. gentleman the army was in a state of de- directly and ambiguously by a motion like the one now pro-
moralisation, and it was re organised and led en to victory, posed by the hon. and learned member for Sheffield. Still, it
performing deeds rarely exceeded in the previous history of is possible for a man to vote ao:ainst, +has veett...,. wltLoss.t e.
the country, in consequence of the efforts of the commission- pressing any confidence whatever in the Government. What
era. The House were told that, through the vicious system is it that my honourable friend who last addressed the house
adopted by the Government, the medical officers before stated? He admitted that the motion was objectionable in
Sebastopol had resigned in a body. Of course Lord Raglan principle, and must be disadvantageous in practice. I,
refused to receive their resignation, but the matter was a however, rest my opposition to the motion on other grounds.
very serious one, and it showed how badly the Government I admit, to the fullest extent, the right of the house and of
departments must be managed when the medical officers the country to be furnished with the roost ample information
finding they were usable to discharge their duties pro- , which the Govei.mient can give with regard to the state of
perly, were corn psll,.‘l .- ....oiiiu ill a body View.), He our ar, , as Wen
.as wi.th re...,,,-1 1,-. th. ~......- -r .9.--.-
..,i uo wish now to enter into any run body a rasp acing ............a evils which exist in that gallant army, limit-
the war. He knew, as the right hon. gentleman told them, ing that admission of right to this extent only, that every '
that the Government could not grant this committee, for consideration shall be given to what the public interest
if such a committee were sitting upstairs the hands of the requires in regard to the degree of information to be
Government would be shackled, and disclosures might be given at any particular period of time, for it cannot be
made which would be most prejudicial to the public ser- denied that a certain degree of information only may pru-
vice. It was not, however, in that respect that he should dently be afforded on a particular subject at one period, con-
vote upon the motion of his hon. friend. He should vote cerning which, at a later period, more ample information may
upon it distinctly because he believed it to be a vote of con- be safely granted. My right hon. friend has said that he was
fidence or no confidence, and not because for a moment he ready to enlarge the terms of the motion so alsttcitgivteheirtea
imagined that such a committee could be conceded. (Hear.) more
the
grncmheaurat
They had been told it would be well to let the matter rest fore,. .
begensaeridalthanatd
duty,
eatievV.shrDineknintg efrom, afford
now, Ws house and the country. But it is priu-
now, for the noble lord the member for Tiverton was Min- ing all the information which, consistently with their
ister for War, and all things would go on right. It would they can afford
not, however, shake the resolution he had come to when he
character against certain depart-
found that at the last moment, with imminent danger hang- sure of a grave and serious .
cipally owing to the feeling that this motion involves a cen-
which Ipreside,
sort long in the department over .
ing over their heads, the Government had appointed the ments of the Government that I oppose it ; for, although not
noble lord the member for Tiverton Minister for War. That having
fully responsible for all the
sort of thing had been•going on now for the last 12 months. and which is not immediately connected with the conducting
Had they not last year told the Government that the pro- of the war, still I stand. here as
per person for Minister of War was the noble lord the
f I had been
acts of my. noble and right hon. friend upon
.whom the im-
member for Tiverton. (Hear, hear.) He well remembered mediate direction of the war has devolved as i
his lamented friend the late member for Marylebone mak- personally at the head of the departments they themselves
ing a motion in that house upon this very subject, and fill. (Hear, hear.) , I feel it would be unjust to cast censure
now, at the last moment, it was admitted that those who upon men whom I consider to be undeserving of that censure.
held' that opinion were right, and the Government were (Hear, hear.) lam not here, however, to say that no mis-
wrong. But such had been the case in everything. (Hear.) takes have been made or errors committed, or that every-
Last year hon. members proposed an amalgamation of the thing has been done in the right way or at the proper time.
War-office and the office of the Secretary at War. They I have always said that if we had possessed that foresight
were told that it should be done, and the ;10118e liberally which experience would have afforded us, we might have been
voted 17,0001. on the understanding that the amalgama. able to guard against many of the evils which we all lament ;
tion should take place. But what then occurred? A but I believe from my soul that those evils have resulted not ;
noble duke was appointed at the head of the War-office, from the incapacity or the ignorance of any one man, or of
and he (Mr. Layard) had supposed that the new Minister any other man, but that they have resulted from that igno-
would
have chosen as his under secretaries some per- ranee under which we have all suffered, owing to the ines-
sons
who knew something of the business of such a de- tunable blessing of a forty years' undisturbed peace. The
partment, but he found one of the under secretaryships experience of war can only be acquired from the continuance
was given to a relative of the noble duke—a military man of a long protracted war. lam not here to say that a road
against whom he had nothing to say—and the other to the could not have been constructed from Balaklava to the camp
noble duke's private secretary. (Hear.) It was really as- before the mud had so accumulated as to make all transit
tonishing to see how the public interests were trifled with, impossible. lam not here to say thakhospitala could not have
and, unless a better system were adopted, the House of been much earlier established, or that the transport service
Commons had better at once resign its functions. Then, has been conducted in the most efficient manner; but lam I
again, the transport service was brought under the notice here to say that I tilt k it would be most unjust -were Ito
of the Government, but nothing was done in the matter concur in a vote which would lay the blame of these results 1
until Ministers saw that the country was determined to have upon any. one man. (Hear, hear.) I believe that if any I
a transport service, when they stepped in and consented to one of us now composing the Government had ben placed
make one. Time after time he and other hon. gentlemen had in the same position we might have fallen into the same
risen in that house to state that there was no blockade in series of errors, for we sh uld not only have laboureo under
the Black Sea. Over and over again he was flatly contra - that inexperience which results from the absence of war for
dieted by the First Lord of the Admiralty, and told that many years, but we should have had to contend with the
there was a blockade. He (Mr. Layard told them that the non-combative feeling which prevailed in the country at the
tradein the Black Sea was as open as it ever had been, that time when this war broke out I have thus, sir, stated what
many of our merchants had been ruined, and that the com- I believe to have been the main cause of those evils and sad
merce was. eing carried on regularlyby Greek merchants ; results which we aro now lamenting. A great deal of the
he was contradicted morethan once) though they now found misery has also proceeded from disease, which has been the
a notice issued to establish a blockade from the Ist of effect of climate, and against which no experience or foresight
February next. (Hear.) Really, this was laughing at the could have guarded, What was the effect of the troops be-
public, and he could not understand how people could ing put in motion after having had their spirits cowed and
allow themselves to be treated in such a manner. Was it their health destroyed by being kept in a state of inaction at
true or not that there had been a blockade? Ib was evi- Varna, where disease was carrying them off in great numbers?
dent that none had existed. inasmuch as they now found I say that the disease in the camp and the scourge of cholera,
that fact admitted by the Government themselves. (Hear.) which, even in this country; had its almost c untless victims,
The other day a complaint was made that medals had not seriously affected the army by weakening its strength and
been given for the action at Balaklava, but when the Go- diminishing its efficiency ; and yet it would be most unjust
vernment saw the strong feeling entertained by the public to attribute these results to the conduct of any portion of the
in that respect they at once conceded the matter, and came Government. As this motion has been taken up as a vote of
down to the house to say that a medal wcald be granted. want of confidence in the Government by hon. gentleman, I
(Hear.) New, was this statesmanship, or what was it ? can only say that if the blow is to be struck and blame is to
Did it not bear out the. ruth of the words of a celebrated be cast on the Government, strike the blow at once. (Cheers.)
English writer, that it would be of little detriment to This is a time not for debate or hesitation; it is time for ac-
the public service to throw a piece of orange peel tion. (Hear.) Let the house come to a decision, and, be it ad-
into the Palace Court-yard, and make the first man who verse or be it otherwise, to that decision we must bow. (Cheers)
picked it up Prime Minister? (Laughter.) Recent events I was much gratified to hear the hon. member for West Sur-
bore out most strongly the truth of this remark of Mr. Car. rey (Mr. Drummond) pass a well-merited compliment on that
lyle. Either Lord Raglan was sent out at the head of the department of the Administration which is more immediately
expedition, or he was not. If he was not, why throw under the direction of my right hon. friend (Mr. Sidney Her-
any blame upon him? Upon all sides there was the same . bert), against 'whom, nevertheless, the force of the present
—he scarcely knew what to characterise it—the same motion is more particularly directed than against any other
sacrifice of public interests to private interests. He might member of the Government. There are a few points respecting
almost warn them of the fate of Athens and Florence, and which it appea:rs to me there exists a great deal of misrepre-
ask if it was creditable, when the very existence of the sentation, no doubt arising from misapprehension, of what
country was at stake, that they should sacrifice its honour my right hon. friend has said. The hon. member for Aeries-
and welfare for private and personal feelings? (Hear, bury has said that the Secretary at War had actually thrown
hear.) His hon. friend the member for the city of London blame, and even a stigma, on the army, by stating that its
had attemptedlo explain the speech he made some time ago officers were not capable of taking the command of a brigade.
with respect to Austria, but he would much rather that My right hon. friend said nothing of the kind. What he said
his noble friend had adhered to the former version. He was, that our army is not an army in the sense in which that
did not mean to say that Austria would not joie the treaty, word is used in war, or the sense in which it is regarded
and ultimately deal with them - but what had she done when speaking of the great continental armies, .which are
hitherto when one word upon her part might have saved kept up in a perpetual state of efficiency to act as a defensive
half of those who had been sacrificed in the Crimea ? and offensive army. What my right hon. friend did say was
(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Did they they think that Rue- that our army was an aggregation of regiments, and which I
I
six would have advanced beyond Odessa if Austria had been believe is perfect in its organisation ; but, from the very na-
against her? Certainly not. And how could he, by voting titre of the duties attaching to a regiment the service is a re-
again,t the motion of his hon. friend, show any confidence gimental service and not an army. There are many regimen-
in a Government who had shown themselves so incapa- tal officers who, from serving in the colonies and at other
pable ? (Hear and cheers.) It was admitted by the Go- parts of the British empire, have never had the opportunity of
vernment themselves that they had made a gigantic mis- seeing a brigade. But surely, to say so is casting no reproach
take, and had brought us to this terrible position ; and he upon the British army. The next observation I have to make
trusted the house would allow him a few moments, while is not with respect to any misrepresentation of what has fallen
he endeavoured to point out the really critical position in from my right hon. friend, but is a misrepresentation which
which we now stood. Looking at the Crimea and Sebasto- has been made by the hon. member for Aylesbury himself
pal as nothing, it appeared that the Government were now with respect to the condition of the British soldier. The
concentrating their energies on potted meat and warm hon. gentleman has said that the habits of the British soldier
clothing—certainly most important things, but not the is not so good as those of other nations, and that he is not so
only important things to be looked to. What was the real fertile in resources as the soldiers of other armies. Is not that
position of the country at this moment ?We were engaged speaking in deparagement of the British soldier? Then,
with a gigantic power, and our army—what little army we again, he says the British soldier is a mere machine—that you
now had—was in the Crimea, and could not be drawn make him a machine, and that a machine he is. Now let me
thence. In whet position did Russiae stand.? • She had upon quote, in opposition to the opinion of the non-combatant
the borders of Asia a vast army which it was highly probable, member for Aylesbury, the opinion of one, of the gallant deeds
as soon as the warm weather set in, would march upon with which his name is associated in both services—the army
Erzeroum, and Kars, and Bagdad, and overrun the whole and the navy—we are proud to speak, and to whom we are
of Asia Minor. And what would be our position if all indebted as the historian of the Peninsular War. (Cheers.)
Russia gained possession of Erzeroum, and engaged , If the hon. gentleman has not read that book,
' nothing till the winter even in the way of sending an I Mn: BAYARD rose amid loud cries of "Order," let m
agent there. Hear.) The gentleman they have then sent that the charge which had been made against him by the
was one of great ability, and whom he should be glad to 1
right hon. gentleman was a most serious one. He begged to
1 and
m advise
isesa id
Persia on her side t The Government did nothing last i him to do so before he again ventures to cast imputations upon
year to engage Persia with the Allies, and they did the character of a,British soldier.
/I" in AIWA way position,m but ho WO4 not quit 9 the ►all I gay that ho had cyst no imputation 11,r04 the Dritio4 wilier.
- - -

THE SUN, LONDON, SATTIRDAI EVENT

What he said was, that as a raw aaterial he possessed all
the excellencies of a soldier, but tit the system made him
a machine.
Sir G. GREY.—Yes, as a raw Aterial he was excellent,
but that that material, in consequice of the system, was so
deteriorated that it made him a ►achine. Now, Sir, Wil-
liam Napier, in a passage of his Ivrk, gives this description
of the qualities of a British soldier—.
" That the British infantry soldw is more robust than the
soldier of any other nation can scrcely be doubted by those
who, in 1815, observed his poveful frame, distinguished
amidst the united armies of Euroe ; and notwithstanding
his habitual excess in drinking, heiustains fatigue and wet
and the extremes of cold and heat dth incredible vigour."
There is the raw material ; and nov we come to the ma-
chine.

" When completely disciplined—ad three years are required
to accomplish this—his port is loft, and his movements free,
the whole world cannot produce a nbler specimen of military
bearing: nor is the mind unworth of the outward man.
(Loud cheers.) He does not, indei, possess that presump-
tuous vivacity which would lead hb to dictate to his com-
manders, or even to censure real frors, although he may
perceive them; but he is obserant and quick to com-
prehend his orders, full of resource under difficulties, calm
and resolute in danger, and more Om usually obedient and
careful of his officers in moments ofimminent peril. It has
been asserted that his undeniable firnness iu battle is the re-
sult of a phlegmatic constitution uniepired by moral feeling.
Never was a more stupid calumns uttered ? Napoleon's
troops fought in bright fields where eery helmet caught some
beams of glory, but—[l am now cony to a passage, the accu-
racy of which I don't admit]—the Bitish soldier conquered
under the cold shade of aristocracy. &oud shouts of laughter.)
No honours waited his daring, no despatch gave his nam3 to
the applause of his countrymen, his life of danger and hard-
ship was unchequered by hope, his death unnoticed. Did
his heart sink therefore ? Did he not endure with surpassing
fortitude the sorest of ills, sustain tie most terrible.assaults
in battle unmoved, overthrow with incredible energy every
opponent, and at all times prove, Rut while no physical mi-
litary qualification was wanting, the bunt of honour was also
full and fresh within him 1" (Cheers.)
I hope I need not apologise to the house for having read
this passage from so eminent an authority—(cheers)—and I
trust, that from this time forth the hon. gentleman will not
venture to describe the British soldier as being composed
of a " raw material" that is converted into a mere machine
by the system of the British army. (Hear.) But, sir,
since this passage was written by Sir William Napier, not
only has a great improvement taken place in the habits of
the soldier, but his deeds of valour are now recognised in
a manner which was formerly never done, and marks of merit
given, and commissions bestowed upon him with a liberality
that was never before practised in the army. The letters
received' from our brave, soldiers now in the Crimea have
been such as to come home to the hearts and sympathies of
all in this land ; and
.st.,i,yelLit is no slight prof t of the 'i2
fr,in the private
soldier as from the officer. (Hear.f One wait with reference
Whe;;Tve-g-cl-SUCI letters-plublisc4:l4er''(' -'"
to a misapprehension on the part of an hon. gentleman near
me who spoke seemingly on the assumption that authority
had been given to Lord Raglan now for the first time to re-
move incompetent officers. Does he not know that from the
first time Lord Raglan set foot in the Crimea, or took the
command of the army, he had full authority, and knew that
he would be supported in the exercise of that authority, to
remove every officer who might be found incompetent to the
discharge of his duties ? I have thus stated generally the
grounds on which I feel it incumbent on me to stand on this
occasion by the acts of my colleagues when attacked by the
motion of the hon. and learned member for Sheffield—to avow,
my full responsibility for those acts, to share in the censure
twiohinc,hanthdisto defend
enmd
grounds of censure or blame—but to state their case openly to
ofnarth as them
a b m
able—not from all
Passing this resolu-
aythem as impose
the house, and to depend on its candour and fairness in coming
to a decision. This imposes on me the necessity of observing—
which Ido with considerable reluctance—on what fell from the
noble lord, the member for the city of London, in the early
part of this evening. He has stated with great clearness,
and temper, and moderation the grounds which have induced
him to retire from the Government of Lord Aberdeen ; and
knowing, as I do, the character of the noble lord, I do not for
one moment doubt that he has been actuated by a high and
conscientious sense of duty in taking that step, and in with-
holding his vote and support from his colleagues in resisting
the motion of the hon. and learned member for Sheffield.
He has referred to the correspondence that took place be-
tween Lord Aberdeen and himself some time in November,
and he has also referred, and referred, no doubt, truly to the
opinion which he says was conveyed to him by his colleagues
on this question. I certainly thought he was not at that
time justified in resigning his post in the circumstances in
which we were placed; but I beg most distinctly to assert,
that I cannot hesitate for one moment in thinking that, what-
ever be the position of a Government—whatever may be the
consequences which may follow such an act—any member of
a Government is entitled, nay, is bound, to separate himself
from that Government in any circumstances of peril to the
country, and of deep anxiety and responsibility, if, when he
proposes a course of action which he considers essential to
the interests of the country, he finds that proposal over-
ruled. (Hear.) I should have felt that I was departing
widelyfrom my duty, and acting in a way not worthy of myself
or of him, if I had ventured to say, " You have stated that
you think a certain course essential to the interests of the
country, but, that course having been negatived by the head
of, thelGoVernment, you are bound to.withdravifrom it." I
should rather have said, " You haea only one course to take."
(Hear, hear.) But in, my own defence, and without casting
the least blame on him, I must say that what I felt deeply
at that time was that the arrangement proposed by my
noble friend, and to which he referred in one of the letters he

read, was a mere arrangement for securing unity of action in
the different departments of our military administration by

combining them into one. (Hear, hear.) His proposal was
that the two offices of Secretary at War and the Secretary

for the War Department should be combined, and that the

two offices should be held 1,3, of this house. I said
at the same time, that if that change was to take place, and
if it would be conducive to the interests of the country, it
was a change that should certainly he made, and that there
was no man the country would look to with so much confi-
dence for holding this combined office as my noble friend who
now holds the seals of the Home Department. (Hear.) But
I certainly did not understand that he proposed this change
as essential to the conduct of the war nr
a d
terests of the country,_ll:lyaLl_ThgnEposenowt
esommamu_e
IliCated to me till after tho notice appeared in the G'azette
for the meeting of Parliament, and I confess that I consi-
dered deeply what would be the effect if I concurred in a
step by which one of my colleagues would bo summarily
ejected from an office which he held, merely on the notion that '
an improvement would thereby be made in the administra-
tion of the army. Now, I frankly admit that, all things now
considered, knowing what the results are, seeing the feeling
of the country, and knowing the vigorous mind of my noble
friend the Secretary for the Home Department, I could wish
that when the original appointment was made the office should
have been confided to him. (Cheers.) Ido not say different
results would have been obtained, but the country would
have had the most tried and efficient man intrusted with the
office, and, whatever the results might have been, I do not
think the same censure would have attached to the Govern-
ment that is now cast upon it. (Hear, hear.) But I must
say that when I was solicited by my noble friend to join the
Government in June, when the re-arrangement of offices took
place, I then understood him not only to consent, but to ap-
prove the arrangement by which the noble lord (Palmerston)
mtaigphetrfhearsave. wished to tboeo obtain in I is n
speak
holds the office of Home Secretary, and the Duke of Newcastle
that of the War Department. As the Duke of Newcastle's
colleagues separated for the summer they were unable to give
vheimrytthryatinagdvlacetiewshhice hade which
my own mind, but I certainly do feel that there would have
been the appearance of a want of generosity to have turned
round on a colleague who was acting most ably and labo-
riously in the office which he filled, and ejected him from that
office to carry out a mere arrangement for greater unity of
action. No doubt we all concurred in the opinion that a change
might at some time. or other be desirable. I told my noble
probably break up the Government by leaving
it,
he should consider the respon-
sibility attached to such a step. (Hear, hear.) I was one
who dissuaded him at that time from insisting, I will not say
on the proposal then made, but from leaving the Government
i t friendand hteh that, would
before or leaving
on account of it ; and, though I knew that my noble friend,
in common with many others no doubt, thought that some
change might at some distant period be desirable, I cer-
tainly heard with surprise on Wednesday evening that he had
tendered his resignation in consequence of the notice of the
hon. member for Sheffield. I feel the deepest pain in being
for the first time separated from my noble friend—l trust it
will be the last time we shall be so separated. Nothing could
grieve me more than to believe that the rest of my life was to
be spent in difference of opinion with him on matters of im-
porbance. (Hear, hear.) But I could not, consistently with
the feelings which I think due to one of my colleagues, agree
with him on this question. Do not suppose that I think any
consideration for a colleague ought to stand in the way of the
public interests. (Hear.) But I do not feel that the pro-
posed change would, in present circumstances, be conducive
to the public interests, and I have therefore felt it my duty
to oppose my noble friend. (Hear, hear.) I deeply regret
that he is not . here now to share the responsibility of
that which he, in common with us, approved
of.
(Hear,
hear.) One word in consequence of what fell from my
noble friend, and was repeated by the hon. member for
Aylesbury, to the effect that he has heard that since he left
the Government the very change which he proposed has
been made—that, in short, my noble friend the Secretary for
the Home Department has been appointed to the War De-
partment. (Hear, hear.) All I can say is that I stand here,
a member of Lord Aberdeen's Government, to defend the
acts of that Government, and to submit, in common with my
colleagues in that Government, to any censure that may be
passed upon it, but I am no party to any arrangement by
whieh any reconstruction of the Government is to take place.
(Hear, Hear.) Ido not mean to say what course may here-
after be taken by the Governinent. If this Motion is not
carried, it will be for the colleagues of Lord Aberdeen to con-
sider what changes it may be proper to make ; but no changes
such as have been referred to have received the sanction of
the Government. (Hear, hear.) I know of no such changes.
All I say is, that I am a member of the existing Government,
ready to submit to the verdict of the house, whatever that
verdict may be. If the verdict IL not a hostile one, we will
then have to consider whether, consistent y with our own ho-
nour and our own character, we may not feel ourselves justi-
fied, from a regard to the public interests, to continue to hold
the offices we now occupy. I earnestly join, however, in the
appeals that have been made to the house, not to hang up
this question in an undecided state till Monday • Let the
result be known, so that the Government may know the
position in which it is placed, and the co !miry may under.
stand in whose hands the management of public affairs is
to be vested—that the Government, by whomsoever eon.
ducted, may be able to take those measures that the
cir-
cumstances of the country eminently require, and to carry
succour and safety and comfort" to our gallant army in the
East. (Cheers.)
Mr. WALPOLE—I wish to state very shortly
to the house
the view which I take of this subject, and lam not certain
that I should have done so but for the remarks that have
fallen from the right hon. gentleman who has just spoken.
One of these was that this motion, if carried, will be detri-
mental to the interests and to the administration of affairs in
this country ; the other was that we were unwilling on this
side of the house to discuss, or did not care to discuss
frankly, a vote of want of confidence in the Government.
Now, with regard to the former of these points, I have always
said in private, and I have no hesitation to repeat it in
•
public, that it would be a great misfortune to this country if
the Government were changed at the present moment, and
that it would be much better for the public interests that
they should reconstruct the Government in such a manner as
to be able to carry on the public affairs of the country. In
respect to the other charge, of not daring to vote a want of
confidence in Government, I wish exactly to state my views
of the. present motion. After the speech of the noble lord
the member for the city of London it appeared to me that it
was totally impossible to resist an inquiry some time, and
' that the only question the Government had to consider
was what that inquiry should be. (Hear, hear.) You
have before you the evidence of the noble lord, who is the
only person in this house out of the Government who knows
i
all the circumstances connected with t, an whois, therefore,
competent to acquaint the house whether some inquiry is
necessary or not ; and I must say that, after such a declare.-
ti 94 as he bas ivado a fl
it would Do eri9US 073_,PP9illtment t 9