The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-15 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 154 1855.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE.

The committee assembled yesterday at the usual hour.
Sir James Graham, M.P., was the first witness ex-
amined, and in answer to questions from the chairman,
said he was First Lord of the Admiralty from the com
mencement of the war until the 25th March last.
Describe the relation between the First Lord of the
Admiralty and the Minister for War.—All the de-
tails of the naval service are transacted by the
Board of Admiralty, without reference to any other
department ; but when it was the Queen's pleasure
that any particular movement of the fleet or any
operation of the fleet should take place it was
communicated to the Board of Admiralty officially, by
the Secretary of State, and then I considered myself
subject to the War Minister. The naval armament was
entirely under the control of the Board of Admiralty.
Is the First Lord of the Admiralty a co-ordinate part
of the board, or, like the Master-General of the Ordnance,
a superior offieer with power to overrule the decision
of the board ?—He has no power whatever to over-
rule the decisions of the board. He presides at the
board, and the practice is, on documents being read,
for the First Lord presiding to give his opinion on the
matters submitted for consideration, which, if the mem-
bers present receive in silence, is noted by the secretary
as being assented to ; but should any member dissent,
he has an opportunity of stating it. The First Lord of
the Admiralty was an integral part of the board.
If the majority of the board was against the First
Lord's opinion, would the majority govern ? I can only
answer that question by stating that I should have acted
on the advice of Lord Spencer to me some years since,
who had made up his mind, in the event of two of the

board refusing him their signatures to his request, that

one of the admirals should strike his flag, he would have
dissolved the beard ; but I have never found any differ-
ence of opinion existing with the members of the
board, but on the contrary, they were always
most willing to coincide with my views. He
had the control of the transport service until the
transport board was established. Previous to that there
were orders and instructions pouring into the Admiralty
respecting the transport service from seven different de-
partments. The change had not altogether taken place
before he left office, but the concentration of organisa-
tion had commenced. In November the requisitions
from the Treasuryand from the Horse Guards had ceased
and came from the Secretary of State for War. The
Ordnance, however, continued to send theirs to the Ad-
miralty, and the medical requisitions from the Secretary
at War until Mr. S. Herbert ceased to hold office, and
he remained at the Admiralty. Having mentioned to
the committee the large powers vested in the First Lord
of the Admiralty, he held him responsible for anything
that might occur. When the expedition was first pro•
posed, we had three iron steam-ships of war capable
of carrying two thousand men, and as the
requisitions came in for transports, they
were taken up in the home market, and a number of
steamers taken up, but the demand being greater than
the supply he bad recourse to sailing vessels until there
was a continuous flow of vessels from this country to
the seat of war. The transports in the Black Sea wa-
under the command and authority of the Commander-in-
Chief, and generally throughout his command accord-

ing to the fleet regulations, apart from all spe-
cial instructions. Where there were combined mili-
tary and naval command the transports were moved
under their joint authority. Admiral Boxer was sent
out specially to superintend the transport service within
the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, but subject always
to the control of the admiral in command. He appointed
Admiral Boxer from the manner in which he was men-
tioned to him about 30 years since by Sir Thomas
Hardy as being the best seaman he knew. Admiral
Boxer has more than justified the opinion so formed of
him. He (Sir James) selected him from the list, and
much surprised him by giving him an appointment.
Admiral Boxer's instructions, on the Bth March, 1854,
informed him that he received his appointment subject

to orders he might from time to time receive from-the
Lords of the Admiralty, or Vice-Admiral Dundas,
Commander of her Majesty's fleet in the Black Sea and
he Mediterranean.

Examination of Sir James Graham continued—On
the 13th April instructions were given to Admiral
Boxer to keep up a constant correspondence with Vice-
Admiral Dundas, and to follow his directions. On the
22d May Admiral Boxer's command was limited to the
end of the Dardanelles and, the East entrance of the
Bosphorus into the Black Sea. The Admiralty looked
to Vice-Admiral Dundas as responsible ,for the transport
service, subject to the limitation he had stated. Vice-
Admiral Dundas had equal power in the harbour of
Balaklava and the transports there, and was held re-
sponsible for everything in the Black Sea. He (Sir
James) appointed Captain Christie, who had command
of the transports at Balaklava. Captain Christie had
no power or authority in the harbour of Balaklava ; he
' was almost invariably on board ship outside the harbour.
All he had heard of Captain Christie induced him to
speak well of him, except in three particulars—one
with reference to the loss of the Prince, for
which he will be tried by court-martial, and he
believed he was now a broken-hearted man. Balaklava
harbour was more like a ditch than a harbour, and was
quite incapable of accommodating the immense number
of vessels that had to be discharged. Captain Christie
bad no authority in the harbour of Balaklava, as he had
already stated, but he did all he could to induce the
harbour master to receive the Prince inside the harbour.
He did not think Captain Christie responsible for the
loss of that vessel. The admission or refusal of admis-
sion of that ship into the harbour rested with the senior
naval officer in command of the harbour, and not Cap-
tain Christie, but he had the power of ordering her out
to sea. The Prince, however, being such a long ship, so
near the shore, and such a swell running he thought pro-
bably it was impossible for Captain Christieto have done
so. Sir Edmund Lyons commanded in the harbour of
Balaklava before the evening of the attack of the fleets
on the forts, then Captain Dacre, and after that Captain
Keith and Commander Ford, until Admiral Boxer went
up from the Bosphorus. He did not remove Admiral
Boxer from the Bosphorus to Balaklava in con-
sequence of any complaint, but from his duties
there swelling into greater importance than he at
first contemplated. Some censure had been cast
on Admiral Boxer, but he (Sir James) took the re-
sponsibility on himself, at not having adopted at the
time his suggestion, and appointed a receiving-ship at
Constantinople ; it was, however, subsequently done.
If Admiral Dundas had been dissatisfied with Admiral
Boxer he could not say if he could have discharged him.
The question had never arisen, but he had the power to
deal with all officers under him. The defective state of
the transport service, or the delays in the Crimea, had
never been notified to him officially by any naval or
military authority. He was not aware of the transport
service being defective in its arrangements within the
Black Sea. Sir James then proceeded to give his op-
nion on the advantage of steamers used as transports,
and denied the assertion that 1,000,0001. had been lost
to the country, in the manner in which the transport
service had been conducted, the assertion being based,
'as he said, on two fallacies. About the loading of the
transports he had nothing to add to the evidence already
given by Captain Milne. The Admiralty took up a cer-
tain number of ships for the Commissariat, and Lord
Raglan took up others, from time to time, as he re-
quired them. The number was limited, and the base
of operations was changed when the Russian army re-
treated from Silistria, and he believed it impossible for
the Admiralty to have done more, or procured more trans-
ports than they had from that time to August, when
the expedition to the Crimea was decided on.
In the course of the year the army moved 60,000
British soldiers and 6,000 horses from this country to
the Crimea, a distanceof 3,000 miles,from 25, 000 to 30,000
French, and 45,000 Turks. Simultaneously with the dif-
ficulty experienced in providing transports for the Crimea,
the Admiralty moved 12,000 French to the Baltic, moving
in the whole somewhere about 150,000 men. Then,
again, they had to supply provisions and stores, and
they were engaged weekly in conveying about
1,250,0001b5. of biscuit, 50,000 gallons of rum, 250,0001b5.
of salt meat, and about 10,000 tons of coal, &c., &c.
He was not aware of having received a letter from Dr.
A. Smith in the course cf last summer, asking for ves-
sels for the conveyance of patients, and being used as
hospitals. The question was never brought officially
before his notice, but he had several conversations with
the military authorities respecting it, and although he
was averse to the establishment of naval hospitals, the
number of the sick becoming greater and the urgency of
the service requiring them, he had two established. The
hon. baronet read a number of documents issued by the
Admiralty, some public and some of a private character
—the latter being subject to be made public documents
at any time by the first Lord—wherein instructions were
given. The responsibility of not providing sufficient
means for the landing of the sick at Scutari rested
with the officer in command of the Bosphorus,
subject to the communications he had made on the sub-
ject to the Commander-in-Chief of the fleet. Sir James
read copies of instructions sent to Admiral Pundas and
also to Admiral Lyons,requesting-them to make every ar-
rangement necessary, and that they would be held respon-
sible for what occurred under their several commands.
In reference to the warm clothing, Sir James Graham
went through a catalogue of the articles transmitted by
the Prince to the Crimea ; and added, that had not
that vessel unfortunately been lost nothing would have
been heard of the urgency of the want of warm clothing.
In reply to Lord Seymour, the right hon. baronet
went on to state, that when formerly at the Admiralty

he abolished the existing transport board, so that when
he went there a second time he found it working with-
out one. He was not of opinion that the abolition of
that board had resulted is any detriment to the public ser-
vice. The harmony and proper feeling which existed
amongst all connected with the Admiralty had been pro-
ductive of great benefit to the public service—but he be-
lieved as the numbers were increesed, difficulties arose
which interfered with that cordial co-operation and under-
standing which had previously subsisted.
Lord Seymour—The committee have been informed
there were not sufficient surgeons in the Black Sea Fleet.
Sir J. Graham replied that he had heard from the
naval authorities in the Black Sea that the Black Sea
fleet was never short of medical officers at any time. He
did not concur with the Duke of Newcastle in thinking
that the transport service should be placed under the
control and authority, directly, of the Minister at War.
Such a proceeding, he thought, would lead to the
greatest possible confusion.
With regard to the blockade in the Black Sea, Sir
James said that the Admiralty had issued stringent
orders on various occasions to institute blockades in
those ports, but these directions were not carried out.
He was not, however, prepared to blame Admiral Dun-
das in the matter, because English merchants bad com-
plained that rigid blockades. would have the effect of
causing them to suspend their trade.
Lord Seymour— We have been informed that prior to
the sailing of the expedition the Government had no in-
formation as to the nature of the fortifications at Sebas-
topol. Does your opinion concur with that
Sir J. Graham replied, that instead of an
opinion he could state a fact. In the last week
in June he saw a Crimean authority, who must
of course be nameless, at the Admiralty ;
and an Admiralty officer who was in attendance took
down his statement in writing. His information respect-
ing the Crimea was very full and substantial. He gave
information in reference to the harbours, roads, fortifi-
cations, and supply of water, and, what was more im-
portant, he gave an estimate of the military force there,
which was that there were 70,000 troops there, 40,000
in garrison at Sebastopol, and 30,000 in various parts
of the Crimea. He (Sir J. Graham) forwarded that in-
formation to Admiral Dundee, who must have got it before
the expedition left Varna. Subsequent experience had
proved beyond doubt the accuracy of these statements.
More than that, he sent out to Admiral Dundas an engi-
neer officer who knew the harbour of Sebastopol as well
as the master of a Ryde steamer knew Spithead. He had
very little doubt, however, that it was extremely difficult
to obtain information on the points he had referred to.
By Mr. Layard—He entertained a very strong opinion
as to the time the expedition was ordered to proceed
from Varna to the Crimea. Although the late period of
the year at which it moved had been said to be the cause
of much of the suffering of the army, be was firmly per-
suaded that the months of August, September, or Octo-
ber were proper months for such a purpose.
The room was cleared close upon a quarter to 4 o'clock
for consultation, and on the re-admission of the public in
the course of a few minutes,
Mr. Layard put a series of questions to Sir J. Graham
relative to the relations subsisting between the ambas-
sador at Constantinople and Admiral Dundas in the
prosecution of the public se: vice, in reply to which
he stated that he was not awara that the ambassador
failed in his duty iu rendering every assistance in his
power to Admiral Dundas.

The Chairman—Was there any difference between
them on any points ?
Sir J. Graham—l believe there was.
The Chairman—Did that come to your knowledge
officially ?_

Sir J. Graharn--It did not come to my knowledge
officially as connected with the Admiralty, but I heard
of some misunderstanding between them iu my position
as connected with the Administration.

The committee afterwards adjourned until to-morrow,

AUSTRALIA.

We have received complete files of papers from
Melbourne to the 15th of February inclusive.
They do not contain any news of interest in ad-
dition to the telegraphic summary which we pub-
lished on Saturday.
We take the following from the Melbourne Herald
of the 10th of February : _

" GOVERNMENT ESCORTS.
" The escorts from Mount Alexander and Ballarat ar-
rived at the gold-office department of the Chief Commis-
sioner of Goldfields yesterday at the appointed hour, and
brought the following returns :

Quantity.
Gold. Cash: No. of last
Name of Goldfield. oz. dwts. £ s. last receipt.
Castlemaine
Sandhurst
Ballarat
Avoca
Creswick's Creek
Fryer's Creek 2l 0 1,582*
Amherst 3Ol 0 160 0 48*
Tarreugower ll5 15 865*
Maryborough 2,486 0 115 0 1,155*
Ballarat 1,820 5 ___
—t
Creswick's Creek
Kingower
Castlemaine

Total 27,565 0 1,576 14
* This includes all gold and cash deposited for escort up
to the sth inst.
Left at Geelong, en route to Melbourne.
For Adelaide.
We take the following from the Melbourne _Argus,
of the 13th of February :
" The escorts from Beechworth arrived at the gold-office
Department of the Chief Commissioner of Gold fields yes-
terday at the appointed hour, and brought the following
returns, viz. :

Quality.
Gold. Cash. No. of last
Beechworth
5,925 0 430 0 0 4,266*
Snake Valley
Bucklaud River
373 10 434*

Name of Goldfield.

Total
* This includes all gold pand cash deposited for escort to
he 6th inst.

M. DROUYN DE L'HUY'S AND THE
FRENCLI CABINET.

A Paris letter in the Indepenclance of Brussels
gives the following account of the reasons which
determined M. Drouyn de l'Huys to withdraw
from the French Cabinet. The fact of its being
copied into the Moniteur gives it importance :
"It was on the question of the proposition of Austria
that the Minister, who has so completely associated him-
self with the foreign policy of the Emperor, found
himself obliged to maintain an opinion different from
the resolutions of his Majesty. The propositions of
which he recommended the acceptance by France would
have had the effect, it appears to him, either of re-esta-
blishing peace, if it were accepted by Russia, or of
securing the immediate and energetic co-operation of
Austria in the war, if Russia should refuse it. In a
word, Austria, after having come to an understanding
with the Western Powers, and having been autho-
rised to declare their adhesion to her proposition,
would have put it in the shape of an ultimatum, which
she would have addressed to Russia, with the intima-
tion that its rejection would be followed by a declara-
tion of war. This, it must be admitted, would have
the advantage of explicitly binding Austria. But
ought that advantage to be sought for in the conditions
fixed by the propositions of Austria? The Emperor
did not think so. I have not yet received any in-
formation to make me sufficiently acquainted with
the conditions and terms of the Austrian propo-
sition ; but it is certain the English Government
decided on rejecting it. The Emperor therefore had
the same motives for refusing it—that is to say, that
it did not offer such a peace as would give suffi-
cient guarantees to the Powers which bad made so
many sacrifices to defend and secure European right.
His Majesty had, moreover, a desire to maintain in
all its integrity and force the alliance with England,
and the feeling of that Government on the question
being already known, had beyond any doubt a certain
weight with him. I cannot, I repeat, express any
opinion on the proposition itself ; but, whatever may
have been the merit of it, there is no doubt that M.
Drouyn de l'Huys adopted it on conviction and after
mature reflection. He did not think that he could re-
main connected with a policy to which he was aver e,
and would not continue to be the organ of views and
resolutions in which be could not participate, and he
felt that lie could not, either usefully for the Emperor,
or with dignity to himself, continue to serve as a
Minister when he could no longer participate in the
policy of the Emperor. lam assured that the Emperor
did not without regret part with a Minister whose ser-
vices had given him the highest satisfaction, and I may
state as a fact that his Majesty did not accept the resig-
nation of M. Drouyn de l'Huys without using the most
affectionate solicitations to induce him to change his de-
cision."

INSPECTION OF THE NEW METROPOLITAN CATTLE-NlAR-
lCyoopoedl:btagsgett.:fitVes h a onichair.
EET.—The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, Sir George Cornewall Lewis, visited the new
of the corporation,
i
commission appointed
TnwMhae ont Saturday,.was
pfa ostl a t
eaas cnocc
ao
nCmsamopt
latei
ne
ai ebnt de: ard br yk efJt'othh Copenhagen-fields❑committeet
o
upon the 23d of November, 1849, "to inquire into the
state of Smithfield-market, and to report thereon ;" also
to "inquire into the state and management of all mar.
kets in the city of London for the sale of meat." The
right hon. gentleman was received by Henry Lowman
Taylor, Esq., the chairman of the market improvement
committee, and J. B. Bunninv, Esq., the City architect,
at the new market-place. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer intimated to the gentlemen connected with the
corporation his entire satisfaction at the arrangements
which had been made by the corporation "concerning
the premises," expressing, at the same time, his surprise
at the exceedingly prompt manner in which the whole
of the works had been carried out. There can be now
so longer any doubt but that the first market day for
the sale of cattle, in the new Metropolitan Cattle-mar-
ket, will be on Friday, the Ist of June. The inaugura-
ion will take place afew days earlier.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALI,'S.—MoNDAY.

111-omened reports respecting St. Hubert caused a
strong demonstration to be made against him in the
course of the morning in the city ; and on mustering at
" The Corner," the feeling of hostility was so much
increased by the operations of certain eager layers that,
after 500 to 20 had been booked three or four times, 30
to 1 went a-begging, and yet no reliable information was
to be obtained as to the ciircumstaaces of the case.
Wild Dayrell was in very great force ; at 6 to 3, 11 to
2, and 5 to 1, many hundreds were invested on him, and
he was, unquestionably, the leading favourite at the
close. Lord of the Isles was backed at 13 to 2 and 6to
1, De Clare at 6 and .7 to 1, and Rifleman at 6 to 1, but
the support which they respectively received was not
marked by any particular feature. 12 to 1 was taken to
various sums about the Flatterer, and 14 to 1 to some
hundreds about Kingstown. 20 and 25 to 1 were laid
against Dirk Hatteraick. Bonnie Morn and Grwculus
Esuriens were at 50 to 1 each, taken and offered. Oul •
ston at one time advanced from 1,000 to 30 to 25 to 1,
but the current price at the finish was 30 to 1. 2,000
to 60 and 750 to 25 were taken about Rylstone.
The betting on the Somersetshire Stakes and the Oaks
requires no comment.
SOMERSETIIIIRE STAKES..
sto 2 agst Typee (taken)
6to 1 agst Hercules (taken)
7to 1 agst Little Harry (taken)
10 to 1 agst Mishap (taken).
5 to 1 agst Wild Dayrell (taken)
6 to 1 agst Lord of the Isles (taken)
6 to 1 agst Rifleman (taken)
6 to 1 agst De Clare (taken and offered)
12 to 1 agst Flatterer (taken)
14 to 1 agat Kingstown (taken)
25 to 1 agst Dirk Hatteraick (taken)
30 to 1 agat St. Hubert
30 to 1 agst Oulston (taken)
30 to 1 agst Rylstone (taken) •
50 to 1 agat Bonnie Morn (taken)
50 to 1 agst Grmculns Esuriens (t. and (offered)
200 even between St. Hubert and Oulston (taken)
OAKS.

sto 1 agst Nettle
Bto 1 agst Blooming Heather (taken)
9 to 1 apt Dame Judith (taken)
10 to 1 agst Morgan la Faye (taken)
15 to 1 agst Lady Tatton (taken)
20 to 1 agst Gay (taken)

Cruiser was struck out of his Epsom and Ascot en.
gagements at 2.30 p.m.
The subscription room will be open every day this
week.