The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-20 00:00:00

that the Government stood in need, of the assistance of
every person in the country to procure assistants for
our military hospitals. He fully agreed that we should
exclude no means which the state of medical science
in this country allowed, in order to enable the
soldier to get well, and rejoin the mills of his regiment as
speedily as possible. He was not sorry that some delay had
taken place in the hon. gentleman putting these qtr_stiOna,
because, though he was prepared to answer them, so far as he
had information when he first put them, still, since, the Go-'
vcrnment were in possession of those reports from the com-
missioners sent oat by the Dnke of Newcastle and au abstraet,
of the report from Smyrna, which enabled him to speak with:
more confidence on the subject. The hon. member began by-,
asking a question as to the hospital at Balaklava ; butbeiere
he (Mr. Peel) touched upon that subject, he would say a wdrd
as to the regimental hospitals in the camp before Sebastop4.
Even now the number of sick and wounded there was very
great, and tho Ugh the commissioners who had reported were the Crimea in the first three weeks of January—a period in
which the cases were of a most malignant character, and he
believed much suffering had been endured there. The great
defect had been, not any deficiency in the number of medical
men—for he believed no such deficiency existed—but the
great difficulty, he believed, had been in providing housing
for the sick soldiers. But now he believed wooden hospitals
had been provided for every regiment under Lord Raglan.
Passing to the general hospital at Balaklava, it had been no
doubt in a state of groat confusion. He believed the chief
cause of the disorder which prevailed there, as well as at the
other hospitals, was overcrowding, and that arose, not only
from the number of the sick, but from its having been made
a sort of depot for the intermediate reception of those sick
soldiers who were sent from the camp, for whom no imme-
diate preparation had been made in the way of transport.
He had received a letter from Dr. Hall, who stated that a
new hospital .was being erected near the Castle of Bala-
klava, in which ho found eight huts nearly completed, and in
a few days he should be able to send 200 men up there. The
hospital would comprise from 20 to 24 huts, and each would hol
about 20 patients. The next point to which he should refer was
the transport service, to bring down the sick from Balaklava to
Scutari. It was quite true, as the hon. member had stated
there had been, in many instances, very great delay between
the date of the first embarkation of the sick and the date of
the transport leaving the harbour at Balaklava. It was also
true that the orderlies were often very unfit for their duty,
and insufficient in numbers. However, five vessels had been
fitted up as hospital ships, and orderlies would remain on
board, who would be qualified, and the run would be kept
up between Balaklava and Scutari exclusively for the sick.
He believed all these delays arose from the want of small
boats for the purpose of plying between the shore and the
vessels. The ground for complaints, however, would be re-
moved, as measures had been taken by the Government. The
hon. member was perhaps aware of the different buildings de.
voted to the sick and wounded. There was the large hospital
at Constantinople—a building called the Sultan's Palace ; the
hospital at Scutari; and two large vesselslying in the Straits,
and used for convalescents. The gentleman employed by the
Government had gone over all these and inspected them mi-
nutely, and no doubt a great improvement would take place ;
and the same gentleman had also made alterations with aview
of placing the purveyor's establishment on a better footing.
Means had been found to provide better accommodation for
the sick and wounded, for, as the warm weather came on,
the building must not be overcrowded. The Government
had employed Mr. Brunel to prepare huts to be sent out,
and in a few days some would be ready. The whole would be
sufficient for 4,000 patients. It was intended •to put these
wooden huts in the neighbourhood of Scutari,
but whether
on the Scutari or Asiatic side, or on the European side, was
not decided. Mention had been made of the hospital at
Abydos, in which there were only 270 sick at present, and
of whom a favourable report had been made. No report
had been made of the position of the hospital, and there-
fore he could Lot say whether it would not be enlarged as
suggested. As to the hospital at Smyrna, his impression
was that the Government had selected a place in which no
unhealthiness attached, and no fevers prevailed. He be-
lieved the impression entertained by honourable members
was erroneous and unfounded. The hon. member then read
from several letters to show that the hospital was in a good
position. Mr. Moorhead, staff-surgeon, was sent there to
inspect and report upon the place, and his report was cer-
tainly not unfavourable. The convalescents from wounds
recovered very rapidly, and ;the situation of the hospital was
very healthy. Dr. M'Leod, so late as the 3d of ,this month,
had also written favourably ,•- and it had been stated that the
building was one of the -most suitable for an hospital which
was to be found in the country. The number of sick in the
hospital was about 750, which was more than the building
could accommodate, and it was therefore proposed to obtain
permission from the Turkish Government for the loan of a
lazaretto, in which the sick could be placed. In the organi-
sation of this hospital the greatest credit was due to Colonel
Powell, who had been sent there by. Lord Raglan. He en-
tirely agreed with the hon, member that it was of the greatest
importance that the soldiers who could not be restored at
Scutari, should be removed, and therefore the Government
had arranged for the fitting up of two steam-vessels which
would, whoa completed, and well provided with surgeons and
orderlies, be sent out to bring home 4,000 sick and wounded
men from Scutari. With regard to the army of Omer Puha.
at Eupatoria, the Government had sent out 20 medical men,
under the charge of Mr. Buller. He trusted he had answered
the different questions which had been put to him. The
Government were very desirous to give the fullest information
upon every subject connected with the hospitals, and there
would be no unwillingness on the part of the Government to
answer the questions of any hon. member. He considered
there were no persons who were more entitled to receive their
sympathy, or the consideration of the Government, than
those soldiers whose bodies had been mutilated and whose
constitutions had been impaired in the services which they
had rendered to their country.
Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, in addition to the points
mentioned by my hon. friend, I wish to make a statement
regarding some other points. Of course, it is incumbent on
the Government to take effectual measures for the recovery
and care and treatment of those brave and gallant men-
-(hear)—who leave either suffered in conflict with the ene-
my, or whose constitutions have been impaired by the ex-
posures incident to their service ; and I can assure you that
my noble friend at the head of the War Department feels it
one of the most incumbent duties which he has to perform.
Besides those measures to which my hon. friend has referred,
as has been already stated, I may say again, that not long
ago three distinguished civilians, men who had made it their
study to investigate all the circumstances connected with
sanitary arrangements, have been sent out to the Levant—l
mean Dr. Sutherland, Dr. Gavin, who was employed on a
similar service in the West Indies, and Mr. Rawlinson, civil
engineer, all gentlemen of the highest attainments with re-
gard to the matter to which their attention has been directed.
Their specific object is one of those matters to which I have
adverted, namely, the arrangements with regard to hospitals,
barracks, and transports, on which depends the question of
sickness or health. The purpose for which they went out
was to examine the hospitals in Scutari, Constantinople, and
Balaklava, and to suggest all measures which might be essen-
tial for placing these buildings in such a condition as to be as
healthy as consistent with the purposes to which they were
devoted. I wrote myself to Lord de Redcliffe, Lord Wm.
Paulet, and Lord Raglan, recommending these gentlemen to
their particular attention, and suggesting that, whatever
improvements these gentlemen might point out as necessary
for the sick soldiers, should be carried into effect immediately,
without reference to professional jealousy—(hear)—or other
obstacles ; that whatever they recommended should be forth-
with done -whether it depended on communication with
the Turkish Government, or upon medical officers in the
service, that no impedimenta should be placed iri the
way of such arrangements as these men should. point
out as necessary. I cannot but hope that when these
very distinguished men have arrived at their station, and
have pointed out the improvements which they think nem•
sary, that groat'and rapid ameliorations will take place.
Colonel KNOX said that great injustice was done to o.:icere
by the home medical beard, who judged of the seriousness of
the wound by the slowness of the recovery, so that men, to
his knowledge, who had been seriously wounded, but 'hap-
pened to have good constitutions, were rated very low,
whereas others wounded but slightly, and recovering slowly
in consequence of weak constitutions, received- high sums.
He hoped that would be remedied by the decision of tho
board on the scene of action being taken as final. He hoped
also that compensation would be extended to the non-com-
missioned officers and men as well.

Capt. DUNCOMBE advised the construction of berths in
the floating hospital fore and aft, and not as they were at
present, to his astonishment, athwart ships. He also said
that Smyrna, from his own experience, and that of others,
was much more healthy than it was reported id the English
press.

- Mr. PERCY, who spoke very low, was understood to com-
plain of the huts boing erected within the hospital walls.
Mr. PEEL said the evil had been remedied at Scutari as
soon as it was known to Government,7 and that at Smyrna
they were erected on a parade ground.
Mr, KINNAIRD asked whether it was the intention of
Government to increase the number of chaplains in the army?

Mi.. PEEL said their number had been increased, and the
subject was still under the consideration of the Government.

SIIPLY„

Tht house having resolved itself into committee,
Mr. WILSON intimated that at that late hone be only pro.
posed to proceed with the Post-office votes; The _Customs
and Inland Revenue votes, as being likely to lead 'to some
discussion, he would postpone. -
Colonel DUNNE had some objections to urge in reference
to the Irish Post-office, and moved that•the cl?airman do re.
port progress.
The committee divided.
For reporting progress l9
Against
Majority against ... . —53
On the vote of 1,638,0001. for the Post-office e.vrvice,
Colonel DUNNE, after the decision just come- to, would
decline to enter into the subject of the abuses its the Irish
Post-offic' Post-office, of which the hon. Under Secretary of the Trea-
sury must be fully aware, from the correspondence which had
been forwarded to him.
Mr. WILSON said the Postmaster-General had had his
attention directed to this subject, with a view to providing a
remedy to those abuses, which he (Mr. Wilson) admitted the
existence of, and measures were now under consideration for
that purpose.
After a conversation,
Lord NAAS complained of the absurd system which still
prevailed in Ireland of sending the mails by carts and coaches
over lines of country which were now traversed by railways.
Mr. F. SCULLY made a similar complaint, and said that
great delay was the result.
Colonel DUNNE said he hoped that the accounts in Ire-
land would be kept separate, and that the whole management
of the Post-office in Ireland wouldbe reorganised.
Mr. KIRK said-that great delay took place in the delivery
of mails in Dublin. They were not delivered until the second
day after their departure from London.
Mr. GROGAN said he.hoped that the Post-office authori-
ties would consider the convenience of the pedple of Ireland.
Mr. HASTIE (Glasgow) complained that sufficient facility
was not given by the post-office in Ggagow tor the delivery
of newspapers in certain cases.
Mr, VANCE spoke of the paltry economy which bad been
exercised by reducing the salaries of some of
dthwe.itch_outnht:se
postmasters to 41. or 51. The result was they reimbursed
themselves by taxing the public.
ofniecveanscerevinauttsh,easexenmpaerlye low salaries
lastH fie
ftoweiislh:edatrso
wouldknow wtahkeethiclacthee?
of Mr.th ECd°iWnbAuNrglhi ardoastgr-
reinviLosionudpornomanisdedDfourhltihne.
Mr. KINNAIRD said that in every case the Irish estimates
were higher than the Scotch ones.
Colonel DUNNE complained of the confusion of the Irish
post-office system.
Mr. MICHELL called attention to the gradual increase of
many of the heads of Post-office expenditure, while the work-
ing departments—the rural post-office keepers, for example-,
were greatly underpaid.
Mr. MAGUIRE pointed out various defects in Irish post.
office management.
After a few words from Mr. FITZGERALD,
Mr. WILSON said that a commission consisting of the hon.
member for Honiton and two other eminent engineers had
been appointed to consider and report upon thescekieyaLce
of mails by railway. He hoped that one of the results of their
labours would be the determinationlof the question as to what
the remunerationof railways ought to be for the conveyance
of the mails. If that were so, he trusted the Legislature vrould,
prepared to pm .ct requiripg of railway corapanieq