The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-30 00:00:00

placed with a great army in operation in the field, confusion
to a certain degree would not arise. With regard to many
criticisms which have been made on the conduct of the war, I
think it is enough to ask you to see what foundation they
stand upon. We have been told that we ought to have gone
to Odessa, and passed the winter there, instead of at Sebas-
topol. You might as well tell an army that came to invade
England to pass the winter at Brighton. What would have
been the condition of an English army at Odessa, an open and
unfortified town, while Russia had all her military resources
within reach, and when Sebastopol would have been ren-
dered still more difficult to take? If hon. gentlemen had
called in question the object of the war, the house might
have justly impugned the policy of Government in regard to
the operations of the war, and we should have been prepared
to go into our defence on that question ; but I must humbly
think that the course which has been pursued is likely to lead
to a most dangerous and inconvenient precedent for Parlia-
mentary proceedings. We have been told that that which is
now proposed is similar in principle to what took place in
regard to the Walcheren expedition. Why, over and over
again the difference between the two cases has been explained.
The inquiry into the Wakheren expedition was made by the
whole house, and not by a delegated authority upstairs ; but
the great difference consists in this, that that expedition was
over—that the persons to be examined were here—that it
was an inquiry into the conduct of Government, and not
into the conduct of an army—the latter an inquiry which
cannot be conducted unless you bring home the parties you
wish to examine, or unless you send a committee of safety to
control the operations of the army abroad. The question we
have to consider is one of the most important that has almost
ever occupied the attention of Parliament. It is not because
it involves the existence or overthrow of Government, but
because you are about to set a precedent, dangerous if you
carry it out, and disappointing to the public if you let it
drop, and use it merely as an instrument to overthrow the
Government of the day. If this house thinks that this Go-
vernment is not worthy of the support of Parliament, if this
house wishes to see the Government placed in other hands,
the more constitutional course would be to have affirmed at
once that the Government no longer possesses the confidence
of Parliament, and that they ought to resign their power
into the hands of their Sovereign. Such a course would have
been simple and direct, and, if adopted, would have led to
no inconvenient precedent, would have been concurrent with
the principles of the constitution, and in unison with the
sentiments of this house, and the sooner it is adopted
the better for all parties concerned. But I must
say, that the course now pursued is one which
will do no honour to the house if adopted, and is one which. I
think will not only set a bad example here, but will be at-
tended with inconvenient results even abroad. The country
is now engaged in a great and arduous contest, and whatever
may be the decision of the house on the Government as it now
stands before you, I trust that our dissensions may not be ag-
gravated by the overthrow of the Government, and that,
whoever may succeed that Government, we shall not exhibit
to Europe the lamentable spectacle of a country interrupting
a great national struggle by mere party squabbles, but that
Parliament will take example from the nation it represents,
and, as that nation is unanimous in its deterinination that the
war shall be carried on with vigour and energy, as that nation
is convinced of the justice of the cause, and resolved that war
shall not terminate until all the objects for which it was un-
dertaken are secured, in the same way, I trust that, whatever
may be the decision of this nignt, when this house shall have
settled as to what Government it will give its confidence, it
will then give its support to that Government, and enable it
to carry on the war with determination, and that we shall not
show to the world that a constitutional Government Is less
able to conduct national affairs than Governments constituted
on a different principle, and that we shall not degrade the
Parliamentary principle by showing that we are not capable
of sustaining the difficulties of a great crisis, and that a nation
can only show energy, consistency, and vigour when de-
prived of those constitutional representative forms which
have been the pride, the boast, and the glory of this country.
(Cheers.)
Mr. MUNTZ said that if the house took the advice of the
noble lord who had just sat down, and consulted the wishes of
the people of this country, they would at once turn out the
Government. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HORSMAN sought a hearing for the purpose of ex-
plaining why he had hitherto supported the Government, but
after several vain attempts he was obliged to resume his
seat.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE had one question to ask the hon. and
learned member for Sheffield. The house had been told that
if this inquiry were granted it would form a most dangerous
precedent, and that the main object of the motion was the
displacement of the Government. Now there could not be a
greater fraud committed on the country than if the motion
were made with such an object. The,question then he had to
ask the hon. and learned member for Sheffield was—lf the
house conceded this inquiry, was it or was it not his inten-
tion to nominate the committee up stairs to let the people
know who the parties were who were really to blame iu the
recent disastrous events ? Such knowledge was due to the
house, to the memory of those who had fallen, an' to those
labouring classes from whom we had drawn the rank and filo
of our army, and who, moreover, were not represented in
that house. (Hear.) He trusted the hon. member would let
the people know that his object was not merely to displace
the gentlemen on the Treasury bench or merely to shuffle the
political cards, for if he proposed, or the house agreed to the
vote with any other motive, their decisioi. weiil4 only be a
sham and a disgrace to Parliament. (Hear.)
Mr. ROEBUCK—Sir, I will answer, as it is my duty to do,
the question as freely and frankly as it has been put. When
I framed this resolution, I certainly did intend to carry out
the inquiry as stated in the words before you ; during the
present debate I have neither seen nor heard anything that
has led me to change my opinion. (Cheers.) I abide by my
determination, and, if the house will grant tlie committee, I
promise fairly to carry it out. (Hear.) The objections to my
motion, when stript of their verbiage, amount to this
First, it is said, if I carry it I shall paralyse the Government ;
next, that I shall render inefficient these departments of the
Government ; and, thirdly, that I shall interfere with the com-
mand of the army. Let us consider the circumstances under
which the inquiry is proposed. The Ministers themselves ad-
mit that the disasters to which the motion relates have oc-
curred, and they acknowledge that the condition of, the army
is—in the words of the noble lord the member for London—
". heartrending." (Hear, hear.) This house has given to the
Ministry power, an unlimited command of money—in fact,
no demand has been made on this house that has not been
willingly granted, and they had' the power given them to
supply all that was required for the army. What% the con-
dition of that army! and what is the condition of the Minis-
try? Paralyse them ! Have they not acted under a con-
tinual paralysis / (Hear.) Can they do worse than they have
(one Judging of the future from the past, can tho resolu-
ti.on„ if carried, convey into the departments of the Govern-
menti a single degree more of ignorance, incapacity, and • p-
titude I (Cheers.) The Ministers have not only, acknowledged
the state of the army, but have stated in the conrse of this
debate that they have placed on the shores of Balaklava
stores sufficient for a larger army than ours; In this state-
ment, made by the Secretary of War, to be accepted as an
excuse by this house! He says the whole distance fromthia
country to the camp before Sebastopol is 3,006 miles ;; he
3,00 V are miles easily got over, but the last six are insuper-
ably difficult. Shall this be said to this country, with its
net-work of railways spread over it, and in which exertion
of every kind is a part of the habit of the country ; in which
exertion is made a thing of everyday occurrence, and in which
(here the hen. member became somewhat confused, but soon
resumed)—l will now pass on to address the Opposition. The
country has hitherto had confidence iu this Administration,
we have conceded to them power and the destiny of a great
army, and added to that the destinies of this great country.
The Ministry has failed the people. (Hear.) Their confidence
is now placed in this house—and are we to fail them 4 In-
quiry is before us-it is in our hands—there has been a con-
fession of incapacity on the part of the Ministry—the army
is melting away ; and shall it be said that this house refuses
. to make an inquiry because there is some constitutional or
technical point urged against it ? Let the house remember,
if they refuse to grant this inquiry, that they will be an-
swerable for any disaster that may hereafter occur. (Hear, -
hear.) The people will say, an inquiry was proposed—a
confession of incapacity was made. You refused inquiry;
you abdicated your functions, and you are answerable.
(Hear, hear.) I hope the house will not abdicate its func-
tions. We are told to wait till the expedition is over ; but
that will not be till our army is lost. I say—lnquire. Save our
army ; the confidence of the people is in this house, and I
hope you will not disappoint their expectations. (Cheers.)
The house then divided on the motion for a committee.
The numbers were—
Ayes
Noes

. 305
~ 148
Majority against the Government......-157
The announcement of the numbers was received with a
murmur of incredulity, but without any of the cheering usual
on such occasions.
Mr. S. HERBERT appeared at the bar with a supplemen-
tary army estimate, which was brought up and ordered to lie
upon the table.
The Government notices which stood next on the paper
were then postponed to Friday, and some unopposed returns
having been moved for, the house adjourned at 25 minutes to
2 o'clock.

PAIRS. _ •
Thc following members paired on Mr. Roebuck's motion :--•
FOR. AGAINST.
Mr. Mundy Lord Waterpark
Mr. K. Soymer Mr. Portman
Mr. Christopher Sir H. F. Davie
Sir G. Forster Colonel Caulfield
Mr. Napier Mr. Serjeant O'Brien
Mr. Hudson Mr. Wells
Sir G. Booth
. Mr. Monsell
Mr. Fuller - Mr. 0. Stanley
Mr. Grogan Mr. V. Scully
Sir C. 'Burrell Sir C. Lemon
Mr. Repton - Mr. Matheson
Mr. A. Smith Sir James Graham
Mr. G. Berkeley Mr. ileathcoat
Mr. Cairns Mr. Honeago
Mr. West Sir J. Matheson
Lord Naas Lord Castlerosse
Mr. K. King- Mr. Chaplin
Lord Minesley' Mr. H. Vivian
Mr. B. Stanhope Mr. J. M'Gregor
Mr. Pugh Mr. Bagshaw
Lord J. Manners Mr. F. Dundas
Lord Bernard • Mr. O'Flaherty
Lord A. Vane Mr. Ponsonby
Mr. Parker Mr. Feilden .
Mr. Hawkins Mr. J. Vivian
Colonel Maunsell Mr. Moffatt
Major Maxwell Sir W. Somerville
Mr. Duffy Mr. Benbow
Mr. Christopher has paired off with Sir H. Davie till the
Ist of February.

THE TIJRXIBIE EXHIBITION, HYDE-PAIIX-oomm,-011
Saturday the second of a course of weekly lectures on.
Turkey and the Turks was delivered at ,this interesting
exhibition by Mr. W. Knight, a gentleman who has
passed many years of his life in eastern travel, and who
has written several valuable, volumes on Turkey, and
who is therefore eminently qualified to do ample justice
to this interesting subject. The proprietors of the
Turkish Exhibition have at length come to the obvious
conclusion, that, no matter how interesting the sub-
ject may be, but few persons would have the patience
to wade, unassistsd, through the voluminous MN
of a catalogue at a place of amusement of this kind,
and that those who did so ,find but little interest,
and obtain still lees instruction by ..doing , so. They
have, therefore, instituted the present series of lectures,.
which are likely net only to render the exhibition addie
tionally popular, but at the same time highly instructive.
The first part of the address of Saturday the lecturer
devoted to explanations of the various national traits and
peculiarities of the Turks, which form a most striking
contrast to the manners of the'Enklisb, Vand therefpre
would be most likely to attract the attention of the
traveller, and in which the lecturer introduced many in-
teresang anecdotes which fell under his own observation
during his sojourn in the East. The second part of the
lecture Mr. Knight devoted to an elaborate dissertation
upon the history of the Turkish people, artd•the rise and
fall of that most powerful institution, the Janissaries.,