The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-03 00:00:00

both with respect to the provisioning of the army and its
cattle, and he could not but raise his voice as an English-
man against the course that had been adopted. All that
he had seen only convinced him of the unfortunate man-
ner in which the Government had prr ceded in the war,
and he felt bound to confess that it gave little credit to
their foresight (Hear.) He could not see why the
estimate should nut have been brought forward in Fe-
bruary, and he blamed the Government for not adopt-
ing that course.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS was anxious to provide for the
comfort of the army, but he was afraid that the adoption
of this vote would not carry so laudable an object into
effect. He thought that some explanation ought to be
given of the fact that the pay of the soldier had been
raised 50 per cent.

After some observations from Sir F. BARING and Col.
NORTH, _

Mr. F. PEEL affirmed that no green coffee was now
issued to the troops.
Mr. WILSON said that whilst the destination of the
army was unknown the coffee was sent out in a green
state, but immediately it was understood its destination
was the Crimea, it was exported in a roasted state.
Colonel DUNNE said that the house ought to be
assured that the army was in an efficient condition to
endure another winter campaign. He thought the land
transport corps was not adequate to the wants of such
a number of troops. As to the provisioning of the army
it had been remarked that this was rather a late period
of the year to form depots for provisions. He contended
that such was not the case. He also observed that the
Government were making the Turkish Contingent and
the Foreign Legions as perfect as was possible ; al-
though, at the same time, they overlooked the defects
which existed in connection with the cavalry and other
regiments of the line. He wished to know whether the
injuries occasioned by the recent flood in the Crimea to
the Balaklava Railway had been repaired or not ?
After some further conversation,

Mr. STAFFORD said there were many questions in
connection with the commissariat department of which
the house ought to have some explanation, not the least
of which was the question as to who was the real head
of that department. He would not, however, detain the
committee at that late period of the day.
The vote was then agreed to, and, it being 10 minutes
to four o'clock, the committee was adjourned.
MILITIA BALLOTS SUSPENSION BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
SALE OF BEER BILL.

This bill was alto read a third time, and, after a pro-
test from Mr. Hadfield, to the effect that the evidence
taken before the committee was ex parte, was passed.
The house then adjourned until six o'clock.

The house resumed at six o'clock.
ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
Mr. PELLATT asked the member for Birmingham
whether an opportunity would be given before the pro•
rogation of Parliament for -scientific witnesses to be
heard by the Adulteration of Food, &c. Committee, so
that both sides of the question might be before the
public prior to the close of the session.
Mr. SCEIOLEFIELD said that if the committee was
appointed next session, and he was at the head of it,
every opportunity would be given to elicit the truth, as
bad been given by the present comtnitee.
On the motion of Mr. HORSFALL, the following re-
turns were ordered :—Contract mail service (west coast of
Africa), returns for each month in the year 1854—0 f the
dates (in accordance with the published " Post-office
Packet List") on which the monthly mails should be made
up in London. Of the dates upon which such mails were
made up inLondon. Of the dates on which such mails should
have been despatched from Plymouth. Of the dates upon
which such mails were despatched from Plymouth. Of the
date upon which the arrival of each mail from the west
coast of Africa was considered to be due at Plymouth. Of
the date when each snail arrived at Plymouth. And the
names, tonnage, and power of engines of each vessel in
each month employed in this service for the same period.
ORDNANCE EXPERIMENTS.
Mr. ROEBUCK begged to ask the Clerk of the Ordnance
if it was true that some experiments were tried at Shoe-
buryness last week, under the superintendence of the colo-
nel in command of the Royal Artillery, with the following
important results :—That with only about half charges of
powder, and from a common gun, with atrifliug alteration,
the experimental shells acquired, at similar elevations, up-
wards of 1,000 yards more effective range than the solid
shot of the service with a full charge, and that the average
deflection of the experimental shell fired was only four-
teen yards in this increased distance, while that of the ser-
vice shot, at the smaller range, was forty•seven yards.
Further, is it true that this invention has been nine months
before the Government; that at first it was reported to be
of no importance ; that, on its being pressed on the notice
of the Duke of Newcastle, it was referred to the select
committee at Woolwich in January last, and experimen-
tally proved successful in March ; and that no assistance
has been afforded to the inventor of maturing his inven-
tion beyond merely authorising a few experiments to be
made at his expense. Further, is there any obstacle to
the adoption and use of this great improvement in the
effectiveness of our artillery ?
Mr. FRENCH begged also to ask whether any report
had yet been received from the commission appointed by
the late Lord Raglan to inquire as to Captain Disney's
projectile ?
Mr. MONSELL could inform the hon. and learned
member for Sheffield, that the experiments made last
week at Shoeburyness were in all respects conformable to
the statement contained in his question, except with re-
gard to the shells having been bred from a common gun
slightly altered. The fact was, that they were fired from
a rifled gun; and the service ammunition from a smooth-
bored ktin. It was true that this invention had been nine
months before the Government, having been submitted in
the first instance to General Slater, who, from tho constant
failure of shells made of mixed metal, did not think it
worth while at that time to place it before the select com-
mittee. In January last it had been brought before the
committee by order of the Duke of Newcastle, and experi-
ments wore shade in March, in which there was an infe-
riority of Mr. Britten's projectile to the service ammuni-
tion. Further experiments were male is May, with a
similar result. He believed the pattern now submitted by
Mr. Britten was in some degree different from the former,
and was considered to have been improved. He was
llanpy to say that the attention of the Director-General
of Artillery was now turned to this important invention,
and if, on further consideration, it should be deemed satis-
factory, he would recommend it for adoption to the gene-
ral-comtnanding in-chief. With regard to the question
put to him by the hon. member for Roscommon, no report
bad yet been received in this country from the camp before
Sebastopol relative to Captain Disney's projectile, but on
the Lith July experiments were made with it.
COMMANDERS IN THE NAVY—LAUNCH OF THE
MARLBOROUGH.
Admiral WALCOTT asked the First Lord of the Ad-
miralty whether any, and if any what, decision had been
come to in reference to the contents of a memorial pre-
s muted to the Board of Admiralty in or about the month of
May last by the commanders of the royal navy, praying
that advantages in regard to retirement, with increased
rank and pay, might be granted,to them ? He hoped, also,
that the right hon. baronet would be able to give the as-
surance that the magnificent first-rate ship the Marl-
borough had not been in any way strained or injured by
the accident that had happened to it at the launch.
Sir C. WOOD had to say, in reference to the gallant
admiral's first question, that no decision had yet been
come to upon the triernoriel presented frem the commanders
of the royal navy. • That memorial must be considero 1 in
connection with othersthat had been presented from officers
of different grades, and it was impossible to give them due
consideration during the session of Parliament, the sub-
ject being of a very complex nature. With regard to the
second question, he was happy to say, that, at high water,
on the night before last, at two a.m , the Marlborough
floated without having received the slightest injury what-
ever.

ENLISTMENT OF THE FOREIGN LEGION.
Mr. M. GIBSON put a question to the Government re-
specting the mode of raising the foreign legion. It was
'Stated that vessels of war were placed in the Elbe and the
Weser to receive recruits, which gave great offence to the
Hanse Towns. He thought it was important that in rais-
in.. recruits we should not violate the municipal laws of
foreign states.
Lord PALMERSTON denied that the Government vio-
lated any law of foreign states in their mode of foreign
enlistment. A depot was established at Heligoland, where
foreigners were free to enlist. A similar course was pur-
sued with regard to the United States, where a depot was
opened at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, for the purpose of re-
ceiving persons who wishedto enlist; but as that appeared
likely to give offence to the authorities in the United
States, it was given up.
Mr. M. GIBSON said the noble lord had taken no notice
of the men-of-war in the Elbe and the Weser.
Lord PALMERSTON said that was no violation of
the law of foreign states. The ships lay thero, and
were ready to give a passage to any one who wished
to proceed, for whatever purpose, to Heligoland.
SUPPLY—MILITARY ADMINISTRATION.
A sum of 109,200/. was voted for the expense of the dis-
embodied militia to the 31st of March, 1856.
A sum of 70,7161. was proposed for the expense of the
establishment of the Ordnance-office.
Mr. MONSELL rose to propose the vote fur the Ord-
nance establishment, and to explain the changes that had
taken place in the Ordnance-office. After dwelling upon
the evils of separate and divided control, Under which he
said it was impossible to know who was responsible for
proceeded es teli
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under the direct control of the Commander-in-Chief. The
effect of that was, that the road to the highest military
offices was opened to tho Artillery, which had hitherto
been closed t them in this country, but which the bril-
liant career of many French Artillery offiers, from Na-
poleon to General Bosquet, showed they were so well qua-
lined US-
to fill. With regard to the offices placed under the
Secretaty of State, he explained that in every subordinate
department which was concerned with military matters a
military man was placed at the head of it, and civilians
were only placed at the head of the civil departments. To
the inspector of fortifications had been added the duties of
barrack-master general. There were to be a director-
genera' of Artillery for the army, and a director for the
navy—beth would be placed upon the scientific committee,
nen
I would have a voice in all changes in the arms of both
sex vices. Then there
was a director-general of contracts
another of stores. Each of these heads of departments
and
would report from day
to day to the Secretary of State.
The manufacturing department had undergone little or
principle in all these changes was
to combine central control no change, The great
lwith individual responsi-
bility. The change had been too recent to show its
Scal
advantages • but be bad great confidence
in theroobi ngbene tbe
character dits effects. He concluded by p p
vote.
Mr. STAFFORD complained of the long delay that had
taken place in giving these explanations. It , had been
postponed till a period of the session when it was impos-
sibleolollDCO
for this house to examine the plan or to pronounce
any opinion on its merits. Under these circumstances, he
must throw the whole responsibility of the changes upon
the Executive, and be could assure his hon. friend that no
one was more anxious than he was for the success of the
new plan.
Mr. EWART complained that sufficient use was not
made of the scientific resources of this country as exisHng
in various private establishments.
Sir G. TYLER strongly urged that the director of the
naval armament should be placed in a higher position than
was indicated in the new scheme.
Captain L. -VERNON commented with some severity
upon the new appointments made in the subordinate de-
partments of the Orduance-oftice, which he contended