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

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, .JANUARY 27, 1855.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)

The LOUD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock, -
ACCIDENT TO THE PERSEVERANCE.

The Earl of HARD WICKE begged to call the atten-
tion of their lordships for a few moments to a subject of
a professional character, which in their lordships' eyes
might be unworthy of their consideration, but neverthe-
less he considered the circumstances of the case so pecu-
liar that it was right he should notice in that house one
of the most remarkable events that had occurred in his
life of a professional kind. It had reference to a ship of
considerable tonnage, which was in the dock at Woolwich
yard for the purpose of equipment. On being rigged and
completed, she was floated in the dock for the purpose of
taking her out, but no sooner did she float than she began
to sway from side to side, and upset in the dock, present-
ing a spectacle of the most ridiculous description that
could possibly be presented to a scientific nation. The
acciddnt lad occurred in consequence of the state of the
levers, and from the wasting of the ship being more than
she could bear even in still water. He brought the sub-
ject under the consideration of their lordships, as a more
disgraceful exhibition of the science of the country in
her maritime yards was never exhibited. He was not
at that moment going to entet into a discussion with
respect to the state of science in her Majesty's docks,
for it was of tees serious a character to be then consi-
dered, but he took the liberty of shortly noticing the
occurrence to which he had referred, in order that their
lordships should not forgot it at a future time when the
subject should be brought under their consideration. It
was to be expected that a surgeon should be acquainted
with anatomy, and should be fit to 'deal with the human
body in a proper manner, and in the same waylie.thought
that a person placed at the head of ffie dockyard depart-
ment should be educated in the science of shipbuilding,
and possessed of the knowledge of construction. When
the Reformers in 1830 struck a heavy blow against, and
gave great discouragement to the state and condition of
the British navy by cutting down many of those appur-
tenances which had tended materially to its support,
they overthrew the portion of the Government which
had charge of the dockyards, and which took care of the
state and condition of the scientific branch of the navy.
Since that period prejudice had stalked abroad in those
dockyards, and science stood at the door afraid to enter.
From that period to this they had conducted their naval
construction by the rule of economy, and not under the
scientific instrumentality which the country bad at its
disposal. He thought it right to refer to this, the most
disgraceful occurrence in reference to the British navy
that ever had been publicly exhibited, and to note it by
mentioning it before their lordships.
Earl TALBOT begged leave to say that ha concurred
in every word that bad been said by the noble earl.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE called attention to the
circumstance that the noble earl had not concluded his
observations with any motion or question.
Time Earl of HARD WICKE admitted that, according
to the forms of the house, be could not make a speech
without concluding with a motion or putting a question,
and lie begged to ask who was the designer of the ship
to which' he referred, and whether she was masted ac-
cording to the design that was furnished ?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE was sure his noble friend
would sot expect him to enter into a discussion of the
question as to whether it had been of serious injury to
the navy that the Nary Board had been abolished, or as
to whether the construction of ships were less perfect
than it was before the year 1830. Without enter-
ing into that question he should confine himself to
giving an answer to the question of his noble friend.
The ship to which he referred was called the Per-
severance, and was designed by Mr. Mare, of
Blackwell, a name of very considerable repute,
not only amongst persons belonging to the naval
profession, but also amongst other persons. She was
stated by Mr. Mare to be the sister ship of the Cambria,
and that was a well-known vessel in the service of the
Peninsular Company. As to the cause of the accident,
he could not help thinking that his noble friend was
somewhat misinformed in more than one respect. At
all events it must be so, if the information which he (the
Duke of Newcastle) had received was correct. His noble
friend had asked whether the ship' was built after the
exact design of Mr. Mare, and his noble friend said it
was obvious that the accident must have occurred from
her being over-masted. He could state that the only
deviseion from the design of construction was in one
respect, namely, that her lower masts were in a very
small degree larger and stouter than those intended, but
in every respect the whole of her spars were in accord-
ance with the design. So far from the accident occur-
ring in the manner and from the cause that had been
stated, the belief was that it occurred from the vessel not
being afloat at the moment when the shores were re-
moved, and because she was lying in the dock at the mo-
ment. If his (tho Duke of Newcastle's) statements
were correct, the noble earl must have been misinformed,
and he had only to add that the matter was under in-
vestigation. His right honourable friend at the head
of the Admiralty had sent orders to the master ship-
wrights of three of her Majesty's •slookyards to inquire
into the accident, and that order had been issued from
the Admiralty, he believed, five or six days ago.

THE RESIGNATION OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
The Earl of ABERDEEN—I think it may be con-
venient to your lordships to receive information as to
the circumstance■ connected with the retirement of my
noble friend, the late President of the Council, from the
station which he held in her Majesty's Government,
and from the station and character of my noble fries('
great importance must be attached to it. I am not
fully possessed of all the motives that may have induced
my noble friend to adopt this decision, and I cannot do
better perhaps than read the letter coittaioing the offer
of his resignation, which I received from him on Tues-
day nipht

" Chesham-place, Jan. 23, 1855.
"My dear Lord Aberdeen—Mr. Roebuck has given notice
of a motion for a committee to inquire into the conduct
of the war. I do not see how this motion is to bo resisted.
But, as it involves a censure upon the War Department
conducted by my colleagues, my only course is to tender
my resignation. I have, therefore, to request that you
will lay my humble resignation of the office which I have
the honour to hold before the Queen, with the expression
of my gratitude for her Majesty's kindness for many years
past.

" I remain, my dear Lord Aberdeen,
Yours very truly,
‘" J. RUSSELL."
According to my noble friend's desire, I laid this re-
signation before her Majesty, who was graciously pleased
to accept it. Ihave said that I was net fully possessed
of the motives—of all the motives—that might have in-
duced my noble friend to adopt this course. I was well
aware that seme time ago—two months ago—my noble
friend disapproved of or was dissatisfied with the con-
duct of the war, but after the explanations which took
place on that occasion, and his constant activity in shar-
ing the business and preparing the measures of the Go-
vernment up to the day at which Parliament reassem-
bled, I was certainly somewhat surprised, as well as
deeply concerned, at receiving the letter I have read to
your lordships. My noble friend may be at this moment
giving—at all events, it is his intention this day to give
--a full explanation of his motives and of his conduct.
It is not for me to do snore than to express—which I do
most unfeignedly--the deep regret I feel at the step
which he has thought it his duty to take. My lords, no
man can possibly feel more than I do the great loss
which her Majesty's Government must sustain by such
an event as this. Indeed, any of your lordships who
were present must recollect that at the formation of the
present Government I expressly stated that I never
would have ventured to undertake the formation of an
Administration had I not secured the effective co-opera-
tion and assistance of my noble friend. My lords, under
these circumstances, and in ordinary times, I might
have, perhaps, adopted myself a different course from that
which I have resolved to take ; but in the present con-
dition of the country and of public affairs, and of her
Majesty's Government, I felt it due to our own honour
—(hear)—to our own consistency—(hear, hear)—and to
our sense of duty, to meet that motion which is to be
made this night in another place, and which will decide
whether a censure is to be pronounced upon her Ma-
jesty's Government or not. (Hear, hear, hear.) Even
• eya . and
t noble powerful
friend,
w aen
haveal m
thoughtoet ia
ipte
duens a btl
to
assistancewithouth
of
great
ourselves to meet the motion so announced, and which
induced him to take the course which I have now stated.
(Hear, hear.)
ROMAN CATHOLIC PROCESSIONS.
Lord BERNERS inquired whether the attention of
her Majesty's Government had been called to the public
procession of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics in the town
of Tuam on the 15th of August last, wearing the habits
of their orders, in contravention of the 10th Geo. IV.,
cap. 7, and whether any proceedings had been taken to
vindicate the law and prevent its violation in future !
The Earl of ABERDEEN said the procession al-
luded to by the noble earl had not escaped the attention
of her Majesty's Government ; but as the interference of
the Government would tend to create religious discord,
the Government had determined not to interfere.
MANAGEMENT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT--
TROOPS AT THE CAPE.
Earl GREY said lie thought it desirable that the dis•
cussion respecting the management of the military depart-
ments should, if possible, take place at an earlier period
thad he had originally named ; and as he found that the
noble earl who had given notice for Monday of a motion
on the subject, had withdrawn it, he (Earl Grey) proposed
to take the discussion on that day, instead of Thursday.
He now asked the question of which he had given notice—
whether it was trete, as had been stated in the newspapers,
that certain ships had been chartered to bring home the
91st and 12th Regiments from the Cape, but that, in con-
sequence of no orders having been given to the officer in
command at the Cape, ho refused to allow those regiments
to be embarked ?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the circumstances to
which his noble friend referred were these :—His noble
friend might recollect that, in a despatch which he (the
Duke of Newcastle) addressed to Sir G. Cathcart at the
time a constitution was finally given to the Cape, he stated
that the military force of the colony would be ultimately
reduced. Subsequent events and communications from
Sir G. Cathcart led him to believe it was not possible to

reduce that force so rapidly as he had anticipated. On
the 22d of December, 1853, he addressed a despatch to Sir
G. Cathcart, informing him that the force should not be
reduced till it should meet his views. On the 23th
March last year he received a despatch from Sir G. Oath-
! cart, stating it was very undesirable the force should be
then reduced, though the time of the 91st and 12th Regi-
ments had elapsed. Sir G. Cathcart expressed a desire
that the 12th Regiment should be left where it was, and in-
formed him (the Duke of Newcastle) that he would move
the 91st Regiment from the frontier to Cape Town so as to
have it ready for embarkation when ships wenld.arriee, en
their return from Australia to take it home. Subsequently
to this the breaking out of the war led to an alteration, and
it became impossible to leave the 91st, and it was decided
that the 4tith, which was to go to Victoria, should be re-
Wised at home. That being the case, and it being still de-
sirable to bring home the 91st as soon as possible, arrange-
! ments were made that the regiments at the Cape should
I he augmented to 5,000 men by drafts from this country.
On the 6th of June last year he addressed a despatch to the
Lieutenant-Governor at the Cape, informing him of those
arrangements. On the 30th of May he addressed letters
I to the Admiralty and the Horse Guards, apprising them of
the arrangements. Accordingly two ships, the Maidstone
I and the Punjaub, were chartered to bring home the troops
from the Cape. Those ships arrived at the colony about
the middle of October, and it appeared that, though his
(the Duke of Newcastle's) despatch to the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor had arrived, Major-General Jsekson had not re-
Icalved corresponding orders from the Horse Guards. Under
these circumstances, he (General Jackson) hesitated; and
because the drafts sent out from this country did not make
up. the number to 5,000 men, he wrote home, declining to
send home the 91st Regiment, and the Pnajaub returned
empt.
They subject then dropped.
THE PRESS AND THE WAR.
The Earl of WINCHILSA. said he should not occupy
many minutes in drawing their lordships,
attention to a
question of which he had given notice.. He had no doubt
theeh.,many noble lords round like— eseteild Ileink he had
taken a bold course in venturing to place himself in contact
with the Times newspaper, and for daring to call in ques-
tion any part ofthe course which that journal thought pro-
per to adopt in reference to the war in which we were en..
gaged. But he never had been deterred, and he never should
shrink from boldly declaring his sentiments, when he
thought any part of the public press of this country
outstepped its due bounds, or when he believed the
course it was pursuing was detrimental to tho interests
of his country. (Hear, hear.) He was well aware how
inferior he was in ability to many noble lords around him.
He might not, from lack of talent and ability, have been
enabled to render much assistance to his country in that
house ; but, with all humility, he might express a sincere
hope that he had not been deficient in that moral courage
which adorned so many of their lordship. He had never
been behind-band in boldly expressing his sentiments, re-
gardless of the risk and inconvenience to himself. This
moral courage was one of the greatest among many bless-
ings which he had received from Providence ; it induced
him, on all occasions, to act up to his principles, and it was
strengthened aud confirmed by the kind conduct, the precepts
and, above all, the example of one whose memory he over
cherished with the deepest affection, and who taught him
the maxim to fear no man, but to honestly and conscien-
tiously do his duty in whatever situation he was placed.
There stood not among their lordships a greater friend of
the liberty of the press than himself. Ile knew the public
press had been a great benefit—lie would even say a great
blessing—to the country, but the liberty it enjoyed had its
du les as well as its limits. If the liberty of the press was
not restrained within certain bounds, it degenerated into
licentiousness. Let him instance the recent attacks on
individuals in their public capacity in letters published by
the newspapers, and from which, for some purpose or an-
other, the writers had thought proper to withhold their
signature. Though he had oftou exposed himself to the
lash of tho press, he had never placed his sentiments before
the public through iti instrumentality without having the
honesty and boldness to attach his name to them. Ho con-
tended that the paper to which ho alluded had exceeded
all proper bounds, and had made most unwarrantable,
most cruel, and most unjust attacks upon some individuals
holding high stations of trust in the army, now fighting
England's battles. He stood there to vindicate the mili-
tary character and talents of those entrusted with the com-
mand of that army. If ho were the ablest military autho-
rity in that house, he should scorn to form an opinion
upon their conduct until he knew every circumstance
connected with the war, and all the difficulties with
which they had to contend. A new era had certainly
sprung up in the country when the public press sent out
individuals to the seat of war, to toll net only all that
took place in the camp and the field but to pass
judgment on the conduct and character of those who had
the conduct of the war. These persons also gave most
useful information to the enemy. Indeed, he might say
that no spy which Russia, by moans of her gold, had been
enabled to avail herself, had ever supplied her with such
valuable news as was to be found is the columns of the
public press. Would that great geaeral, whose talents
were never fully appreciated until he was lost to them,
have suffered such a state of things to exist if he were now
alive and at the head of our army in the East? Would
ho have allowed the sickness among the soldiers, and the
diminution of the army in numbers, to have been commu-
nicated to the enemy, thus giving encouragement to him,
and placing the army in a worse position than it really
was? Attacks had been mad. not eel,- upon Sir It. Eng..
land and Sir G. Burgoyne, but upon the noble lord who
commanded the army, with whom, he was proud to say,
he had been intimately acquainted for many years. It
was said he had no feeling and sympathy for the sufferings
and Privations of his gallant men, and that he was never
seen about camp. Now, a more foul, false, and unfounded
calumny lead never been levelled against the character of a
commander, for a more kind-hearted and feeling man than
the noble lord at the head of the army in the Crimea could
not, he believed, be found. He considered the public
press had outstepped its proper province ; but if it were
to assume to itself the direction of the war, and pass cen-
sure on what was going on in the camp and field, the
sooner the Government of the country was placed in the
hands of the press, and the noble lords opposite removed
from the Treasury bench, the better.
eesome further
observations, the noble earl said, the question which he
wished to ask was, whether the correspondent of the Times
in the Crimea had, in the slightest degree, received the fa-
cognition of the Government ? He did not suppose for a
momentthe Crimea n that a twtehreeborneespousesby
o f
the tha
Government ; but he was
t gentleman's journey to
given to understand he had a free passe in one of her
Majesty's ships. He was informed, also,
ag
ho had received
rations from the commissariat while in the Crimea. He
should like to have an answer upon these points. He
wished to inquire further, whether the noble duke had re-
ceived any communication from Lord Raglan stating that
the course pursued by the press had been detrimental to
the best interests of the army, and ceiling for some orders
to prevent the continuance of the evil?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE Was sure the noble earl
would excuse him if ho did not enter on that occasion into
any discussieu as to whether they had been taunted by the
press to undertake the: expedition to the Crimea prema-
turely, and whether they had, in consequence of that,
placed the army in any difficulty, His
noble and learned
friend on the cross benches ,had given notice of a very
stringent motion on the subject for Friday next, and it
would be his duty on that occasion to vindicate the Go-
vernment from any charges which might be made against
them irrespective of the conduct of the press. He con-
curred with his noble friend that the press of this country
had not acted on all occasions with judgment and discre-
tion ; he thought it had shown a great lack of judgment
and discretion in the information which it.had communi-
cated at different times—not to the people of England, for
as regarded them he should rejoice in their being supplied
with all the news that could be oletained---but to the Rus-
sian Government. They Must, however, recollect that the
same news which was conveyed to, them was transmitted
with the greatest rapidity to Russia. He believed it was
a fact that peopro in this country were in the habit of
communicating to the Emperor of Russia by telegraph the
information contained in the press of this country, so that
what appeared here in the morning was known at St.
Petersburg in the course of the very elem.:l'day. Although
therefore he would not impute to the press any want of
patriotism, he did say they had acted with a want of dis-
cretion in the information theyhad publithed. (Hear.) His
noble friend asked whether the correspondent of ono parti-
cider paper had received from the Government any
en-
couragement or assistance in tho performance of his task and
he alluded to two allegations which had been made with re-
gard to him,—first that he bad, with the concurrence of
the Government, drawn rations from the commissariat
while with the army in the East ; and, secondly, that he
had a free passage • out from this country. New
as to
the
take first, latter allegation, which he would it' was per-
fectly true that a gentleman, who was certainly not en-
titled to give such permission, did intimate that, in one of
the vessels which was to convey out troope_
he believed
.the very first—the gentleman ill question might have a
free passage. Before, however, the vessel Sailed, the cir-
cumstance came to the knowledge of the Government, and
they sent down expressly to Southampton or Portsmouth
ho forgot which—a message, sayin,rtt!tYas contrary to
rules in the case of a vessel env.cr°d the conveyance of
troops alone, and that the gentleman. who, he believed,
was thou on board, must leave the ship. The gentleman
accordingly did leave, and by other means proceeded to
Malta. He hoped that was a satisfactory answer to the
noble lord's question. As to the second statement,
ingrespect-
the drawing of rations, if the questionnc
had been put to
of the month of December, he should.
him at the beginning
noble friend
have been enabled te, give his no
the ether.as positive a
had done of contradiction of it as he , Applica-
tions were made to him by the editors of newspapers inthis
country at the commencement
of December, requesting that
Crimea might receiverations,
and correspondents in the
4
those
and it had been his duty to inform gslemeu that
such a course would be contrary to all the rules of the
supplied •
commissariat service, that none could be with
connected
ra-
tions except those employed in public duties
with the army, and that it was therefore quite impossible
solicited. •
to afford the assistance which was
thA.rejoinder
was made by ono of those gentlemen,_ • e effect that the
person referred to by his noble frientlwas in the enjoy-
menthe had refused to others. It
of the privilege which
of Newcastle) had
so happened that he (the Duke
conversing
with ahad an
oppoituuity not long- before offriend
who had been in the Crimea,
and on his authority he
positively contradicted that statement. Just before
the meeting of Parliament
before Christmas, he re-
ceived an intimation from another gentleman who came
from the Crimea, which led him to make further in-
quiries.should state here that it was only
It was right he
in the month of December that the commissariat came
under his immediate management, consequently before then
'
he was not cognisant of the details of the business which
had been transacted. The fact, however, was undoubtedly
this, that by private permission, given by the head of the
department of the Treasury, the gentleman in question had
received rations from the commissariat, and he could only
say that the moment the matter came
the disapproval
to his notice be inti-
mated to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
of the Government at the course Which haclbeen taken, and
expressed a hope that the privilege would be abandoned.
He wished it to be known, however, that we did not think,
under the circumstances, at that particular moment, the
gentleman having already enjoyed thet. etrustprivilege, to issue a
' peremptory order depriving him oftrusted rather

to his good sense:and feeling, which he hoped would at once
induce him to abandon the privilege, which certainly,under
the rules of the service, he ought never to have received.
If it so happened that the gentleman had not the proper
feeling he had described, it would undoubtedly be the duty
of the Government to issue a positive order on the subject.
He was asked further, whether he had received any com-
plaint from Lord Raglan in reference to the information
which was conveyed to tho enemy by the publication of
correspondence in the newspapers. He had received such
representations from Lord Raglan. The first came on the
sth or 6th of December. Lord Raglan sent an extract
from a newspaper, and pointed out how admirably the
writer of it had managed to assist the object of the enemy,
and to thwart that of the allied army, and applied to him
(the Duke of Newcastle) to use his influence in endeavour-
ing to prevent a recurrence of such a circumstance. On
that occasion he adopted a step which he believed he was
not justified in taking except under very extraordinary
circumstances indeed—viz., making a request to the con-
ductors of newspapers not to publish particulars similar
to those of which Lord Raglan complained. That was the
first time he ever made such an application. He wrote to
the editors of all the London newspapers, without excep-
tion, stating the complaints of Lord Raglan, pointing out
the inconvenience which had arisen, and depending upon
their patriotism and sense of duty to exercise a vigilant
control, not only over the communications of their own
correspondents, but over the private letters from the Cri-
mea, which were frequently quite as mischievous, if not
more mischievous, than the former. (Hear.) From some
of those conductors of newspapers ho received no answer,
bat the answers he did receive were of the most courteous
description, and promised that care should be taken to
carry out the wish which he had expressed. He deeply
regretted to say that those engagements had not been so
completely and thoroughly fulfilled as he had every reason
to expect, and that Lord Raglan had been obliged to make
a second complaint. Only the day before yesterday he re-
ceived a letter from him, pointing out a recurrence of the
same mischief, in the same quarter, on the 18th of Decem-
ber last. He (the Duke of Newcastle) could only say he
deeply deplored it ; he certainly should not consider it his
duty to make a similar commitnication again. He believed
he had now given answers in sufficient detail to his noble
friend's questions, and he should rejoice indeed if any re-
marks he had made would induce those gentlemen to eater-
else, in the future, greater control over their correr,pond-
ents, and over themselves, and abstain from publishing
information which was prejudicial to the English army—
information comminicated not merely to the Emperor of
Russia, but with the greatest possible rapidity to the com-
mander of the forces opposed to ours in the Crimea.

In answer to the Earl of HARROWBY, who was very in-
distinctly heard in the gallery, but who was understood to
ask whether there was any truth in the statement which
had been circulated, that one of the correspondents in the
Crimea had been remonstrated with the second time, and
whether it was true that that gentleman had used insult-
ing language to Lord Raglan, and that in consequence be
had been sent from the camp?

The Duke of NEWCASTLE said he did not know that '
Lord Raglan had personally remonstrated with any indi-
vidual who corresponded with the London papers, and still
less was he aware that any gentleman had used insulting
language to his lordship, and in consequence had been re-
moved from the camp. if any gentleman had so miscon-
ducted himself, he (the Dike of Newcastle) would say, on
the part of the Government, that Lord Raglan would be
perfectly justified in sending the correspondent from the
camp.
The Earl of DERBY said that thonoble duke had stated
in the course of his reply just made, that it was only in
the month of December that the Commissariat Depart-
ment was handed over to his control, while on the 18th of
December a motion was made in this house for copies of
any order in Council, or of any correspondence which had
taken place on this subject ; and in consequence of that
motion, which was at once acceded to, the papers had been
laid upon their lordships' table, from which it appeared
that, in pursuance of the orders in Council, the noble duke
was appointed to his present office on the 12th of June ;
and in pursuance,of the second motion—an address having
been made on the 12th December —the only corrospou-
donee is that dated four days later, the 18th, and conse-
quently could not have been referred to by Ministers when
they agreed to the motion on the 18th December. Ho
wished now to know whether any correspondence had
taken place from the 10th Jane to the 22d December, bei❑g
four days subsequent to the motion assented to by Minis-
ters of the Crown as to the production of papers having
reference to the functions of the new office. Was it to be
understood by their lordships that, as to the distribution
of the duties of the old and new offices, no correspondence
had taken place, and no record existed as to the new ar-
rangements made between the offices, except that single
letter dated 22d December, written by Sir Charles Tre-
velyan
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the noble earl had
put his question so as to draw an unfavourable inference
against the Government. He might have put his question
without the insinuations which accompanied it. He had
not the slightest objection to answer the question if their
lordships would not consider he was encroaching upon the
debate which would take place next week. When the
papers were moved for, he mentioned the minute referred
to as being in existence, and though it was most undoubt-
edly dated the 22d Dec., yet it had been prepared three
weeks before that time. He was aware of the minute
having been prepared, and thought it had passed before the
Lords of the Treasury ; but anybody who knew how the
business was conducted at the Treasury, knew that the
papers had, in the first instance, to be placed before the
First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer; and
although the minute had been approved by the heads of
the Government, yet they had the control of minutes of
this description, and then it was for them to pass before the
Junior lords. Thus it was that the minute was prepared
before the motion in December was made, and that, it bore
date four days afterwards. The noble earl wished to knew
when any other correspondence had taken place other than
that produced, and he, in answer, would say that there
must bo necessarily much private correspondence between
the heads of the departments, and it would be extremely
inconvenient to communicate to Parliament documents of
a private nature and confidential character. As regarded
the transference of the duties of the Secretary of War, it
was only in the month of December that the Commissariat
Department was carried Over to the new office. Previously
to December the business was carried on in rooms lent him
by the noble earl at the head of the Government until the
new offices were provided. Ho certainly objected to take
upon himself the responsibility of the Commissariat De-
partment. The proposition to do so was neither fair to-
wards the department nor towards himself, and therefore
it was not until the new offices were provided that he took
upon himself the duties referred to.
The noble Duke further stated, in answer to a question
put by a noblel ord, that it was the duty of the Govern-
ment not to cast undue blame upon the subordinates of the
Government in any department, bat as far as passible to
assume the blame to themselves under almost all circum-
stances ; but in this instance ho had no hesitation in stat-
ing that it was Sir Charles Trevelyan who gave the order
for the rations provided.
After a few observations from the Marquis of SALIS-
BURY,
Their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.

Mr. COLE took the oaths and his seat for F&r
managh.
PRIVATE BILLS.

A large number of private bilis were brought in Ly
➢lr. BROTFIERTON, and read a first time.

APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE.

When the SPIZAKER took the chair the attendance of
members was not more than usually large, but as the
hour of public business approached (half-past. four)
the benches on both sides began to fill rapidly. The
subordinates of the Government were early in their
places, while Mr. Hayter, " the whip," was here, there,
and everywhere, chatting with members ; no doubt upon
the passing ministerial changes, and sounding them upon
the view they were disposed to take of Lord John
Russell's resignation, or the motion of Mr. Roebuck.
The strangers' gallery, the Speaker's gallery, the distin-
guished strangers' gallery-, and the seats beneath
theta were choked up with visitors, as were also
the seats usuaLly appropriated to peers. The two side
galleries were filled with members, particularly the ors
facing the Treasury benches—while judging from the
sound of voices which came from that immediate
quarter we should say the ladies' gallery was not with-
out its fair share of occupants. Mr. Disraeli, attended
by the leading members of the Opposition, came in
about 20 minutes past four o'clock, and soon after-
wards Lord John Russell, accompanied by Mr. Vernon
Smith, came in and took a seat on the third
bench behind the Treasury bench, being the bench
which Sir F. Baring, Mr. Labouchere, and the other
members of the old Whig party out of office bad already
appropriated to themselves. Some vshort interval
elapsed before Lord Palmerston, Sir J. Graham, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir G. Grey, and the
other members of the Government holding seats in the
Cabinet came in, but by this time both sides of the
house had become completely thronged, as there was
evidently a manifest impatience to hear the explana-
tion that had already been promised, and no doubt
was looked forward to out of doors with equal anxiety.
The Secretary of War was not in his place, which led
to several questions connected with the war being post-
poned until Monday.
RESIGNATION OF LORD J. RUSSELL.

Lord J. RUSSELL then rose to make his promised state.
mout to the house. He said, —At the request of my noble
friend at the head of the Government, I have postponed till
this day the statement I wish to make with respect to my
resignation of the office which I lately had the honour to
hold—that of President of the Council. I shall
go at once
into the matter, fearing that the statement I have to make
may be prolonged more than I could wish it should be. On
Tuesday last, when I was present in this house, the hon.
and learned gentleman the member for Sheffield gave notice
of h motion for a select committee " to inquire into the
condition of our army before Sebastopol, and into the con-
duct of those departments of the Government whose duty
uit f hase
rbseee, nhta
rt minithoughts er tot
htahte wi t a nwt
os
uolfd t hbee a
oyb2a' b eS isro, some
member would move for an inquiry of this kind. I had not,
however, fully considered the course that I ought to take.
That, of course, depended much on the nature of the
motion that might be made, and I should say, likewise,
that it depended much on the quarter from which it might
come. The honourable and learned gentleman the mem-
ber for Sheffield, it is evident, is in a position to evince
no hostility to the Government, which he has supported,
and I could not conceive that he had any other object than
that which we have all at heart—the rigorous prosecu.
Lion of the war. (Oheers.) Now, Sir, with respect to