The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 26 1855,

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
MITTEE.-(THIS DAY.)

'aid.

RAILWAYII,

Leasing
Company

town Pr?ce,
this day.

Business
this day.

The committee re-assembled this morning at the usual
hour.

Dr. Andrew Smith was recalled. In reply to Lord
Seymour he statod that, when the two departments of
Minister for War and Secretary at War took place he
received no instructions to correspond with the Minister
for War alone. By his letter of the 11th May he re-
commended the establishment of hospital ships in the
Black Sea and the Archipelago. Did not then contem-
plate any at Scutari. When the expedition was sent to
the East he recommended the establishment of general
hospitals at Scutari, but these would have followed as a
matter of course.
Lord Seymour—The regulations of these hospitals
were established by Dr. Hall ?
Dr. Smith—They were. There were regulations for
the purveyor, but he did not know whether the purveyor
acted upon them. He recommended Mr. Ward as the
first purveyor ; but when Mr. Ward was found in-
' efficient he su;gested to the War-office the appointment
of Mr. WreforJ, and it was afterwarls made.
Lord Seymour—Mr. Wreford was 64 years of age ;
do you mean to say he was the youngest man you had ?
Dr. Smith—Yes, as a purveyor, he was. (Laughter.)
Examination continued—Lord Raglan and Lord de
Ros both wrote to him, remonstrating aszainst the re-
moval of Mr. Ward. They oljected to Mr. Ward being
removed, although a medical board had decided upon
the desirability of his removal.
The Chairman asked for the production of these letters,
but Dr. Smith declined.
The Chairman—They are public letters, to a public
man, on a public question, and I do not understand
their being withhold from the committee.
Mr. Layard observed that it appeared that Lord
Raglan had, in writing the letter referred to, acted in
direct opposition to the decision of the committee by
expressing a wish for Mr. Ward's retention in his office;
and he thought the committee ought to be put in pos-
session of the whole of the circumstances of the matter.
After some further conversation the point was post-
poned for consideration.

Examination resumed—Of his own knowledge he
thought he could state there was an ample supply of
medical comforts at Scutari in the months of November
and December ; and he could also state when they were
despatched, in what vessels, and when they arrived.
The purveyor was the proper person to receive them ;
and he (Dr. Smith) received reports from Mr. Wreford
on the subject. If the receipt of those goods were ac-
knowledged as they had been, there could be no blame
to the transport department. Ile (Dr. Smith) had
charge of the medical comforts from October.

Lord Seymour—Then if the committee has been in-
formed that there was a short or inefficient supply of
medical comforts at Scutari during the months of No-
vember and December, how do you account for it?
Dr. Smith—l cannot account for it.

Examination resumed—A. person in his office pur-
chased the medical comforts, and if the supply was found
to be of bad quality the purchaser would be to a certain
extent in fault—but, of course, he would only form a
judgment by samples shown to him. He could
give the names of the parties by whom these articles
were supplied. The bedding, and things of that kind,
as he had previously stated, were supplied by the Ord-
nance authorities on his requisition as to what was re-
quired. I:He sent a requisition, in the first instance, for a
supply for 5,000 men. This was in the spring of last
year. He kept constantly adding to these from time to

time up to November. After the first occasion he sent
a person to the transports to see the goods properly
stowed —because he (Dr. Smith) bad taken this respon-
sibility on himself. Hesuggested having 2 vessels between
home and Constantinople; which would have answered
♦ery well at the time, but he had afterwards eight ves-
sels set apart for his use. They were, however, not
reserved continuously for his service. He made appli-
catio❑ is October or some lime juice, and obtained some
accordi❑gly. He did not know when it was despatched,
but he was in receipt of a letter from Varna stating
that it had arrived. He did not remember the date of
that communication. He formed the opinion he had
previously expressed before the committee relative to

the efficient condition of the hospitals upon communi-
cations he had received from the chief apothecary, and
the dispenser at Scutari, both of whom informed him
that there was sufficient linen for the requirements of
the hospitals, as well as medical comforts.

Chairman—Then if we have been informed that the
soldiers had no sheets upon their beds it must have been
the fault of some person in the hospital?
Dr. Smith replied that it was impossible for him to
state. It was the purveyor's duty, without doubt, to
supply these articles in the hospital. It was also his
busineys to see to the cleanliness of the hospital, and to
complete what was necessary in case of a deficiency or
absence of constant supplies. Had that officer abided

by his instructions there would have been no difficulty
in keeping the hospitals in perfect order in every
respect.

Lord Seymour—HaviAg appointed th%t all clothing
should be sent, as you before stated, to ScutAd, to whom

were they consigned ?
Dr. Smith—They were consigned to the Chief Com-
missary ; and he received a communication that the
vessels by which they were despatched had arrivel.

The Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Sidney Herbert con-

suited him as to the propriety of sending out nurses to
the hospitals, and a good deal of conversation took place
on the subject, and nurses were in consequence sent