The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLI AMEN T of clasps. He would not, lam sure, think it would be
T. right, throughout a long war or a protracted
___—....—
cam-
HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.) Paige, that clasps should be given for every engage-
ment, however gallant, that might occur. Although no
Their lordships re-assembled last evening for the general rule has been absolutely laid down, yet the gene-
despatch of public business. sal practice has been that clasps should be given for
general actions
hat Alma bav
and e i led
Interto a.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack gvieenteorrayl.actrriohnesrewehaeinl
btehonsoe
roan come within that category, but I feel there is some
at five o'clock.
The Earl of Cardigan was present, and occupied a
doubt with regard to Balaklava, though there can be no
Feat below the gangway, on the Opposition side.
doubt that every titan engaged in that battle was as
THANKS TO THE NAVY. fully entitled to reward aad honour as any man who
o teuhnla)ttti
odwhoeiudt
bl : t
butre f e rlte.ei ndr c
b e
be
to
Majesty B al af
in
ell al sy at hon
favourts
The LORD CHANCELLOR—I have to acquaint took part in the other battles to which I have referred.
your lordships that a few days ago I received the fol.
There
ineteigri
eerroemu
bni might
aI
lowing letter from Admiral Dundas :
"Britannia, at Malta, Jan. 6. of men who have so shoo•
• given
hbaev
ae
doubt,dm
greatly distinguished themsel Jest
"My lord,—l have had the honour this day to receive and she has directed that a clasp shall be given for the
your letter dated the 18th ult , transmitting the resolu-
tions of the House of Lords, eZpressive of the high sense action at Balaklava. (Rear, hear.) I trust it may not
it entertains of the valuable services rendered by myself be considered that the Government or the military autho-
and by the officers, seamen, and marines of the fleet lately rities are about to depart from the rule'to which I have
under my command. referred by granting this clasp ; but certainly I do feel,
"Having, on the 31st ult., transferred my command to after the comments that have been made on that action,
my noble friend in
Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, I have transmitted a and the words that fell from call-
copy of your letter to him, and the resolutions of the House ing attention to the subject,that
..it would be ungracious
of Lords have been made known to the several officers who and undess •
rable that the reward should be withheld from
were serving under me. these gallant men. (Rear, hear.) I say with the
" I have also, in obedience to the order of the house, greatest confidence that in all the records of our battles
forwarded to Admiral
Hamelin the resolutions, thanking
that officer and the French navy for their cordial co.opera- —whether fought by large numbers or by small—there
tion in the various services in which the combined fleets is no battle in which
British troops have been engaged
have been engaged, and as Admiral Hamelin has also trans- in which greater gallantry and self-devotion, and more
ferred his command, I have sent copies to Vice-Admiral unexampled fortitude have been shown than were dis-
Brunt for communication to the French navy. played by the officers and men, both cavalry and in-
" The high honour and distinction the House of Lords fantry, who were engaged at Balaklava. • (Hear ) Having
has thus besa pleased to confer on myself, the officers, sea- disposed of the first of the
observations of my noble
men, and marines of the fleet lately under my command, friend, I shall now come to the second part, in which
will be received by all with deep gratitude and respect, he called attention to sonic
and I have to beg your lordship wilt be pleased to accept to temode ofthe Crimean
defect in reference
my sincere thanks for the generous terms in which you
have convoyed to me the resolutions of the house. know whether the misapprehension in the mind of m
" I have the honour to be, my lord, noble friend. arose front the despatch which I wrote toy
• " Your lordship's most bbedient'humble servant, Lord Raglan, taut undoubtedly it was never intended
"J. W. D. DIINDAe, Vice-Admiral." that the Crimean medal should be confined exclusively
It was ordered that the letter should be inserted in to the soldiers actually engaged in those battles, nor was
the journals of the house. it even intended that it should be confined to the
TROOPS SENT TO THE CRIMEA —THE CON- sailors who were engaged in manning the guns. (Hear,
DUCT OF THE WAR. hear.) Her Majesty feels, in giving the Crimean medal,
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH gave notice that on that the navy is as justly entitled to that reward as the
Thursday next he should move for a return of the num- army. No doubt the navy has not participated in all
ber of troops sent out to the Crimea, distinguishing the the hard-fought engagements that took place, but they
infantry, cavalry, and sailors ; and also the number of have participated in great dangers, and have rendered
killed, wounded, sick, and otherwise disabled. The the most valuable assistance on every occasion to the
noble earl also intimated his intention of making some troops that were engaged. (Hear, hear.) Under these
observations on the general conduct of the war. circumstances, it has been always intended—and if
THE WAR DEPARTMENT. there has been any misapprehension on the subject I
thank my noble friend for affording ma • .
Earl GREY gave notice that he would move an ad- this opportunity
of correcting it —that t the medal
i a for the Crimea should
dress to the Queen in reference to the creation of the
be given not only to all the officers and soldiers,but to
office for the administration of the army. all the officers and sailors who have been ed in
THE ARMY AT THE CAPE. that part of the world. (Rear, hear.) engaged
As to the third
Earl GREY else gave notice that on Thursday next point to which
my noble friend has referred,
,hers again
he should ask a question of the noble duke the Secre- lam able to meet his observations in the spirit in which
tary of State for the War Department respecting the he offered them. (Rear, hear.) My lords, I entirely
orders sent out to the Commander-in-Chief at themy
Cape agree with noble friend, that if•
of Good Hope to send home the 12th and 91st Regi- those who have c fallen in engagements thean derivefamilies of
con-
ments. solation from the circumstance of poss
es
3ing a medalTHE CRIMEAN MEDALS—A CLASP FOR which would have belonged, if they had lived, to their
BALAKLAVA. gallant relatives, it is right, indeed, that the country
The Duke of RICHMOND—In pursuance of a should afford it to them. (Hear, hear.) My noble
friend has rightly . .
said this evening that,
notice which I gave to my noble friend the Minister for as the system
heretofore has been, medals have been g
the War Department, and which I gave privately, be ranted so long
after the service for which they have been
the house was not sitting, and I could not place it has been impossible to give those medanlantoonftehrred that
it on the votes, I rise to move for a copy of the order sentatives of those who have fallen, because it weourelcr be
1
which was issued for the purpose of granting a medal to impossible in very many instances to ascertain them.
the army in the Crimea. (Hear, hear.) I call your Tehdeensatme difficulty does not exist now, and a new pre-
tnade, which I believe to be a sound and
lordships' attention to the subject because I ant quite ceood one. Inbe giving this medal her Majesty's Govern-
sure that,,
intro-
her Majesty for having given a Crimean medal with duced, and we propose that the medals shall be given toclasps for Alma and Inks' man. I also think that when the representatives of the officers and soldiers who fa 1
in the various actions. (Rear.) My noble friend will
her Majesty's Government gave clasps for those two
see that to render this boon of value and of practical
effect it is absolutely necessary that the s
splendid victories they did not go far enough, becausenameould
b
they omitted the victory at Balaklava. (Hear.) If your 'engraved upon the rim of the medal. When first the
lordship will refer to Lord Raglan's despatch, and he medal for the Crimea was ordered, I had hoped that by
must be a competent judge of the conduct of the troops dispensing with this usual form we should have gained
the great advantage of sending out these medals to the
there engaged, you will see that he states that the con-
duct of the t 3cl Highlanders, in repulsing in single line brave troops who are fighting for their country at a much
earlier period than we could send them out if the name
an attack of a large body of Russian cavalry, was most
were engraved on the rite of the medal. (Rear, hear.)
meritorious—(hear —and that the conduct of the heavy
I hope this explanation may suffice, and if, for the pur-
brigade of cavalry, overmatched in numbers as they
were, it was impossible to praise too highly. (Hear.) pose of carrying out the object more effectively, some
And, my lords, we ought never to forget the splendid two, three, or four months may elapse before the medals,
conduct of the heroic and devoted band—the light which are very numerous, can be completed, I hope
cavalry—(hear)—under the command of icy noble friend those to whom they are granted will feel that there is
(the Earl of Cardigan), whom I am glad to see in his no neglect. (Hear, hear.) I hope they will feel that it
place. (Cheers.) When we see what the conduct of is the impossibility of completing thorn that has caused
those heroic cavalry soldiers had been, when they were the delay, and I hope, also, that I have satisfied my
sent to do what they knew it was utterly impossible for noble friend. (Hear, hear.) Wen the country recollects
them satisfactorily to carry out—when we found that the services that have been ren ,red, lam confident it
those men, surrounded by a large body of Russian will approve of the determina n of the Government
cavalry—hemmed in by infantry—swept from the field which I have now the pleasure to a'inounce to your
by continuous discharges of grape from the enemy's bat- lordships. (Hear.)
Series, still retired, as we have learned from Lori Rag The Earl of HAIIDWICKE considered the plan of
lan's despatch, in good order, and cut their way back to. the noble duke to by most liberal,. da, it seemed to him
their comi &deg, surely, my lords, no man can- say that. Co go as far a,eeven tha isomaioapAon of May ra c,
Balaklava was not -a victory.-- (E. 04 cheero-) Did' expect. . The noble prepo4ed Co give those recta"
not the Russians attempt to turn our flank—dld they to everybody, but be (the Earl of Hardwicke) would say
''
not attempt to raise the siege of Sebastopol? and this, that if they gave decorations and honours for the
if it had not been for the gallant bearing and heroic satisfaction of those who put them on, they must be
conduct of the soldiers there engaged the siege of Se- `earned in some way or other, so teat when a question
bastopol would have been raised. (Hear, hear.) Will was put to the wearer of them, lie might be able to give
not the people of this country, who speak so much of the a sa' idactory answer. Nothing could be so degrading as
gratitude which they feel to their soldiers, say that the to wear a decoration that had not been earned, and if
army there engaged, both infantry and cavalry, have those medals were to be given t i officers and seamen
the strongest claim to clasps with Balaklava, placed upon who merely had served in the Black Sea, he felt they
it 7 (H.ear, hear.) I know very well that up to a very would be unacceptable. (Hear.) From the knowledge he
late period medals were not given for actions such as had of the character of officers of his own profession,
those I have described. My lords, formerly, in the late from the desire they evinced on all occasions in refer-
war, Parliament and the country were satisfied if they enco to the honours they might Re, ive that these honours
gave ribbons and stars to the commanding officers of re- should be fairly won, he felt that this extremely
giments, and to commanding officers of the army ; but liberal distribution was likely to act in a contrary way
lam happy to say that that system is entirely exploded from that which was intended. (Hear.) If they de-
now. (Hear, hear.) I wish to ask nay noble friend on sired to make honours valuable, those to whom they gave
what ground it is that he has not given clasps for Bala- them must feel that they were deserved ; but if they
klava, and I will ask him also whether it is the inten- gave them to every one, those who had really earned
tine of her Majesty's Government to give the Crimean them would feel that those honours were depreciated by
eedal to the sailors who have lightened and shared giving them to those who had not earned them.
in t..e dangers, and participated in the victories, (Hear, hear.) It was a subject so far as it went
in the Crimea ? (Hear, hear.) I cannot under- of some importance in this country, though not so
stand why a private gunner in the royal artillery, generally in
Europe, and the decorations received
working a battery, should get a medal for work- from the Sovereign should be rendered of value by
ing tham,Loattery, and that the man at the next gun, always giving them to those only who were deserving of
subject to the same privations and dangers, should not them. The custom ha been to confer them on those
get the medal because he wears the blue jacket of a who had done great hd
deeds, or had participated in them.
sailor. (Hear, hear.) When men are doing equal duty, Those honours up to that time had been bestowed upon
i their laurels frem the same stern, why should those only who were under fire, except in the case of
there be one rule for the one, and a different rule for a general action, where there was a reserved force, and
the other ? (Hoar, hear.) It is not necessary for me in that case medals
where
distributed, aid very properly
to detain your lordships by describing the great pleasure so, to the reserve w ethey had obeyed orders and had
which the soldiers and sailors of England feel on roceiv- done their duty,l andhad performed as importa .t a part
ing medals for actions in which they have distinguished in obtaining victorya,e as the
eae force that was actually
themselves. (Hear, hear.) I believe it is admitted now engaged. (Hear, hear.) Ho recommended his noble
liberal h'
by all that they do value these testimonials of their friend, however. might be in the distribution of
t •ri e
country's and of Parliament's gratitude. (Hear, hear.) honours, tomain
taoi
the the Principle, and to make the
What is the use to a private soldier of a vote of thanks honours valuablen officers and men who had earned
he '
of Parliament I It must be very gratifying to kin) them. ( ear, hear.)
• dby my noble friend on The Earl of EL ENBOROUGH—The point to which
when he reads the paper signed
the woolsack conveying the thanks of Parliament. It
my noble friend has called the attention of the noble
duke is of great i
may do very well so long as that man remains in thatintendedonoe
extend thinportance. At a time when it is
ship or 11 that regiment ; but if a man is wounded and
tunderstandegrant of medals, it is well we
shouldtruly
conies home, and if, when he goes back to his native
happened that I lied
what principle they are given.
village and to his cottage, he speaks of the dangers he It so
id lad to distribute nearly 60,000
has undergone and the triumphs he has achieved, he has medals ber
strictgoo servicesprinciple, performed in India, and I acted
nothing—if he be without a medal—to show that he was upon
sue
forthe which I would earnestly re-
present in those actions. (Hoar.) To remedy that want comm adoption of the Government—l held it
is the object of the medal, so that the soldier on his re- to be wrong to give any medal unless for distinguished
turn to his domestic hearth may be enabled to show with service actually performed_ under the fire of the enemy.
pride upon his breast the mark that he had done some My lords, that principle has not always been acted upon.
I know that men Have received medals because they
good service for his country. (Hear, hear.) I object
to corps
belonghappened which had contributed to
medal to the representatives of those who have fallen in the general success by a position which they occupied ;
but I think that is a very false, a niost.erroneous, and a
action. (Hear, hear.) I think there can be no reason
against it. (Hear.) Formerly there was this reason— deceptive system. (Hear.) When we see a man wearing
you delayed so long the giving of it to the Peninsular a medal, the meaning conveyed to our mind is, that that
and old war officers and sailors that there would be man has done good service under fire. For ray part, I
never see a
great difficulty in finding out who were the persons man wearinga meddal
to give hiss
coming to that
entitled to receive it as representatives. But now will conclusion, and feelieg disposed my respect ;
in finding out the repro- but how can that feeling be entertained if men receive
there, I ask, be more difficulty
sentatives who are entitled to receive the war medals medals who were never under fire at all ?
Every pecu-
than there is in finding out the persons who are entitled niary advantage—every other advantage that can be be-
to receive a portion of that Patriotic Fund which has stowed on men who have a just claim, from having con-
been so properly started by her Majesty—(hear) a fund tributed to success by the position they occupied, or by
having done all they could to engage
which does credit to tha people of England from the way the enemy—should
in which they have subscribed to it. (Hear.) I think, how- be given by the Government, but never that medal
ever, that it should be a tax on the country at large, for which should be always the mark for good service
Ido not see why you should ask the good, generous, and actually performed under fire. (FT
, —ear, hear.) And I
liberal people of England to subscribe, when you know most earnestly recommend the adoption of that principle
well that the peacernongers, be they few or many, make to her Majesty's Government. (Rear, hear.) I I rejoice
that an excuse for not subscribing to this fund. (Hear.) that the clasps are at length conceded for the action at
If you can find the representatives of those who have Balaklava. I rejoice to hear also thet they are to be
fallen, or who shall fall, in the Crimea, and when you granted to the seamen ; but I think the noble duke who
are giving to those representatives relief in money, there made the motion adverted only to the general order urce
is no reason why you should not give to them the honour seeding from the Horse Guards, which of course could
ef the medal. (Hear.) I must apologise to your lord- not include seamen. (Hear, hear ) I have seen no cor-
responding order from the Board of -Admiralt and I
ships for bridging the subject before the house, but I y,
feel most deeply the justice of the case of those peopl.a do not think that the claims of the seamen in the batteries
that I have now ventured to allude to. (Hear.) I will —the strongest of all—have yet been noticed b )
I y the
venture to say this—that in no part of our history has Board of Admiralty. (Hear, Bear. entertain the
there been an occasion on which the gratitude of the strongest doubt about giving the Crimean. medal to all
country ought to be more called into action than the the men engaged in the ships in the Black Sea. I look
present one, when our brave men have acted so nobly, so strictly to this matter that I would hesitate eery much
amidst great dangers and under great privations—the how I gave medals indiscriminately even
to all the sea-
necessity fur which I stop not to inquire into, though men who were engaged in the attack of the 17th of
every man must admit that the privations have been of October. I should gm t strict inrortnation as to the
no ordinary character. If any man come into the house conduct of the men berore I would do so, because I
at the present moment, he would think that I was would wish to give the medal most strietly according to
asking for a large grant of public money to reward those the 'tile I have laid down. (Hear, hear.) I airy glad
brave and heroic men ; and I ateonly asking you to the medals are now to be given. I cannot Fa how
give them a clasp in order that when they shall come much I regret there was ever any hesitation on the sub-
home they may go to their domestic hearth and show jeet. (l 1( as.) What soldiers and sailors love, is
that they have done service to their country. (Hear, promptitude in rewarding their ser .
.ces. They are of
hear.) In conclusion the noble duke moved for the all men the most sensitive. honour to them is life.
order to which he referred at the commencement of his Life without honour is not worth having. (Hear, hear.)
speech. The only thing they dm sire is personal distinction, It is
The Duke of NEWCASTLE—I am sure your lord- for this they rash into action, as did the men who fought
ships will feel that no apology was necessary on the part at Balaklava and enacted deeds of arms for which I can
of my noble friend for bringing forward this subject, scarcely find a parallel in history. (Rear, hear.) I can
On the contrary, lam sure that every one of your lord- find a parallel for the deeds at Alma, great as they were ;
ships, as well as every one out of doors, feels the great- I can find a parallel for the deeds enacted at Inkerman,
est interest in a subject that involves the giving of re- still more remarkable as those deeds were, but Ido not
wards to those gallant men who are fighting our battles see where I can find a parallel fort he deeds performed
in the Crimea. (Hear.) lam sure there is no person at Balaklava. (Hear, hear.) Cavalry have charged
more aware than my noble friend of the difficulty of ex- guns before ; cavalry have charged infantry before ;
erting a nice discrimination in the distribution of such cavalry have charged cavalry before ; but I know not
honours as these to which he refers—namely, the giving the instance, though there may be such, in which cavalry