The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-16 00:00:00

kingdom of Poland ; also a petition from Bristol, pray-
ing for the repeal of the new Beer Act.
Mr. HORSFALL presented a petition from the
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in favour of the Regis-
tration of Bills of Exchange Bill.
Sir H. HALFORD presented a large number of peti
tions from Leicestershire and Derbyshire, praying the_
i house to pass a bill to prevent the stoppage of wages in
the hosiery trade.
Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from the Cor-
poration of Manchester, praying for the repeal of local
charges on shipping.

SUPPLY OF COFFEE IN THE CRIMEA.
Mr. BALL gave notice that on Monday next he should
ask the hon. member the Minister for War in that house,
whether the conduct of the person or persons responsible
for having issued unroasted coffee to the troops in the
Crimea had been followed by censure or dismissal.
SIR JAMES BROOKE.
Mr. DRUMMOND gave notice that on an early day
he should ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether
he had any objection to lay upon the table of the house
the report of the Commissioner appointed to try Sir
James Brooke for acts for which he had previously re-
ceived the approbation of the Government, and had
been rewarded by the Crown.
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
Mr. ROEBUCK gave notice that on Thursday next
he should move the names of the committee for inquiring
into the conduct of the war in the Crimea, on which the
house had already determined. He would put the names
of the hon. gentlemen he should propose on the votes of

to-night. (Hear.)
THE CASE:OF SERJEANT SULLIVAN.
Mr. FRENCH wished to ask the Government if
there were any reasons why Serjeant Sullivan, who car-
ried the colours of the 30th at the Alma, and had the
singular honour of being specially reported by the Gene-
ral in command of his division to Lord Raglan had. not

been promoted ?
Lord PALMERSTON, in reply, said that a special
power had been given to Lord Raglan to recommend
for a commission a non-commissioned officer from each

regiment who was deserving of promotion. With re-
gard to the regiment to which Serjeant Sullivan be-
longed, Lord Raglan had recommended the Serjeant-
Major for promotion, and as one non-commissioned

officer in that regiment had therefore been elevated, no
commission could be given to any other non-commis-
sioned officer.

Mr. LAYARD inquired whether the noble lord had
any objection to lay on the table the despatch of General
Evans, in which Serjeant Sullivan's name was so hon-
ourably mentioned? (Rear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he apprehended there
could be no objection to that, but he would let the hon.
_ _

member know'on Monday.
BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.
Colonel SIBTHORP asked the law officers of the
Crown, whether, in consequence of the act pa,sed 10th
Ang., 1851, e. 102, anno decimo septimo et octavo Vic-
torim Regime, intituled, "An Act to consolidate and
amend the laws relating to bribery, treating, and undue
influence at elections of members of Parliament," there was
any prohibition to a candidate, who had hitherto exer-
cised what he did consider a duty, by giving certain assist-
ance or relief to persons resident in or near the city
oxiborough which he represented, by the distribution of
coals and other articles of relief and assistance ; though
amongst these individuals so assisted and relieved there
are and may be some persons, more or less in number,
who have voted for, and may possibly continue to vote
for, such candidate or representative; and whether there
was any danger in such course of proceeding as may affect
the security of his scat in the House of Commons, it
returned thereto

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, in reply, said that
the question was a somewhat abstract one, but the act
of Parliament was directed against anything done cor
ruptly, but certainly was never intended to apply to acts
of bona fide charity such as those implied by the hon.
member's question.
THE PERSEVERANCE.

Admiral WALCOTT asked the First Naval Lord
what was the cause of the accident which befel the Per-
severance
Admiral BERKELEY said the subject was under
investigation ; but, in the meanwhile, he could state
that the vessel was not much injured.
THE IRISH MILITIA.

In reply to Mr. H. HERBERT,
Sir J. YOUNG stated that steps had already beer.
;aken for supplying the Irish militia with every descrip-
;ion of clothing.
LORD PALMERSTON'S
EXPLANATION.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Lord PALMERSTON said he felt it would be ex-
pected of him that he should give some explanations of
the causes which bad led to his being appointed to the
office which he now had the honour to hold ; but, inas-
much as such an explanation had already been antici-
pated in the other house, his statement would be neces-
sarily brief. The noble lord then proceeded to explain
Ithe course taken by the Earl of Derby and Lori John
Russell in their endeavours to form a Government. His
explanation lu no way dirreica from Udlly given
by the Earl of Derby, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and
Lord John Russell. Those two noble lords having
failed to form an Administration, her Majesty wai
pleased to send for himself. (Hear, hear.) He r?-
ceived her Majesty's commands about six o'clock
on last Saturday week, and by the following Tues-
day afternoon he was enabled to announce to her
Majesty that he had succeeded in obtaining the assist-
ance of such colleagues as he desired, and the Govern-
ment was formed. (Hear.) He trusted the Govern-
ment so formed contained sufficient administrative
ability, sufficient political sagacity, sufficient liberal
principles, sufficient patriotism and determination to
omit no effort to fulfil the duties which its several mem-
bers had undertaken, as to justify him in appealing to
Parliament and the country for such support as men
might be considered entitled to receive, who in a
period of great difficulty and national emergency,
have determined to undertake the duty of car-
rying on the Government. (Loud cheers.) There
was in the foreign department the ability, experience,
and success of his noble friend Lord Clarendon, while he
had had the good fortune to secure for the war de-
partment the services of his noble friend Lord Panmure,
who combined all that knowledge, firmness, and deci-
sion which was required for carrying on the business of
that important branch of the public service. (Cheers.)
He was happy to say he should have the support of his
right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer
and of his right hon. friend the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty—merits and ability, indeed, need no panegyric at
his hands. (Hear, hear.) In entering upon his Admi-
nistration, however, there was one difficulty which stared
Lim in the face—that difficulty would arise from the
notice which his hon. and learned friend the member for
Sheffield had given to-night of his intention to nominate
the committee for inquiry into the past conduct of the
war. He felt the same objection to the appintineut of
the committee that he did when the motion for its ap-
pointment was under discussion, and his opinion was
that its action would not be in accordance with the true
and just principles of the constitution, while it would
not be an efficient instrument for the effectual accom-
plishment of the purpose in view. (Hear, hear,
hear.) Bat he should hope when the house case calmly
to reflect upon the principle involved in the appointment
of such a committee—when it came calmly to reflect
upon the cumbersome nature of the machinery to
be put in motion, they would see the expediency of
allowing it to drop ; but at the same time, he
felt the only ground upon which the house would
be diposed to take that course, would be the
belief that Government itself was about to do that
for the attainment of which the committee was to be ap-
pointed. (Hear.) He remembered reading that a
young English monarch, on coming up with a body of
his subjects, and seeing their chief killed before him, he
said, "my friends, let me be your leader." (A. laugh.)
Now, he said to the House of Commons, in the same
spirit, " We, the Government, will be your committee."
(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) "We will be your com-
mittee, and let the result be the the test of our
labours, and our sincerity to reform past abuses."
(Loud cheers.) He had not felt it his duty to re-
commend her Majesty to fill up the appointment of
Secretary at War, because that department, as well as
the Ordnance, could eventually be amalgamated with
the office of Minister of War. (Hear, hear.) His opinion
was that many improvements might be made in the
army, and that the discipline of the Artillery and En-
gineers might be referred to the Commander in Chief,
and the Ordnance department to the Secretary at
War. (Hear, hear.) His right honourable fri▪
end
the Secretary of the Admiralty had organi▪
sed
a board for the transport service in a most
important service which had been of such immense use
in the French army. We were engaged in warlike al-
liance with France, but we had not the means of contri-
buting such an amount of men as she had, andit was there-
fore but fair that we ahouldbear our share in other arrange-
ments necessary for tb e prosecution of the war. This board,
he was convinced, would tend to promote economy
and usefulness in that department. (Hear, hear.) Many
well-grounded complaints had been made relative to the
coAdition of our sick in the Crimea, and the Govern-
tplteaxlse.
Rient were going to send out a commission of three civi-
lians, well acquainted with sanitary matters at home,
neehinto
thet h e sanitary
enn statefide confidence
iour
theirarm ability
fandlfty haonsd-
teearmmpi,newd
htooefiet oeffutorta
competency for greatestthewo It The Government had also de-
would be of
efforts in
of scavengers for the use of the
removingb all nuisances from It
again many inestimablecomplaints haer :oeen made of a want
. of a
system in the commissariat
the de? (Hear, hear.) Then
department—(loud cries of
xsod issue of food to
with
empowered
to hear)—both as regarded
ower
the camp. A commission would
its
to enquire into this
. departmevnite,w Jot
hear, hear.) The array better
of control over it, with a
ure(dHuenadr'er the want
.of an officer known aas
eh
tghaenritzoa tliaol)3,3c;
the chief of the staff, and. Major-General Simpson, an
officer well known in Peninsular campaigns and other
services,
experience and knowledge of the matters would
me
was going out in that capacity, and would, from
his
Id render him of grcoea t
under his superintendence, wou
service to the Commander-in-Chief, and would relievethe
come
within his
latter of duties which scarcely ought
to
oproiremente wore
sphere of action., (Hear.) Then great un