The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21. 1855.

I blockaded, white-the port of Odessa, from which the Russian
! army drew its supplies, had been left open. Certainly, the
way in which the city of Odessa had been dealt with from the
beginning of this war was one of the most sickly pieces of
sentimentality which he had, ever met with. That port con-
tained a large quantity of corn, and was, in fact, the granary
of the Russian army, and yet, with an amount of inconsistency
hardly to be conceived, while we destroyed property at sea,
we spared this town, and made a merit of merely firing on the
batteries. Let us have either one thing or another. Either
let us have free trade, or let there be a blockade, and let it
be strictly enforced.
Mr. HEADLAM said that the constituency which he repro-
' sentedtthad suffered severely in consequence of the statements
made by members of the Government during the last session
in regard to blockades. In reply to a question put by him
in the month of May, it was stated that an effective blockade
would be immediately put in force. Acting upon that state-
ment, many of his constituents obtained from different /quar-
ters, at exorbitant prices, the materials necessary for their
manufactures. Afterwards, in consequence of the blockade
having never been effectively carried out, such materials were
by the Greek merchants introduced into this country at com-
paratively low prices, and consequently great losses were sus-
tained in the town which he represented. If these evils had
arisen from the natural and necessary consequences of the
war, his constituents would have borne them most cheerfully
and without a murmur ; but no sufficient reason had yet been
given why the orders for a blockade, which were, he pre-
sussed, given by the Government, had not been carried into
effect.

Sir J. GRAHAM—I have had some hesitation whether
I should break silence upon this subject or not, because
I am conscious that I sinned during the last session by
saying too much with reference to our intentions as to a
blockade, and somewhat indiscreetly from time to time, with
an honest desire to give information to the commercial inte-
rests of this country, answered questions put to me in a
searching manner, and as I think answered them somewhat
prematurely. But, sir, as the matter now stands, I have
been taxed, in terms not intended, I am sure, to be disre-
spectful, but somewhat harsh, by the hon. and learned mem-
ber for Plymouth. I have been pronounced incompetent and
incapable—
Mr. COLLIER—No.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM—I understood the hon. and learned
gentleman to have used terms somewhat of that description.
I am very sorry that I should have incurred displeasure in
conducting myself in an official capacity upon this question,
in which I feel that great interests are concerned, and great
caution ought to be observed. The hon. and learned gentleman
did me justice when he said that he was certain that, at the
time I gave the answer, it was intended by the Government
that a rigid blockade should be instituted in the Black Sea.
Orders to that effect had been issued. My right hon. friend
the President of the Board of Trade, in the admirable speeeh
he has addressed to the house this evening, stated correctly
to the house that it was necessary to remember that we were
conducting this iwar in alliance with a maritime rival, and
that it was not possible for us to adopt any policy, in regard
to a blockade either in the Baltic, the Black Sea, or the White
Sea, except after full discussion with that power. The order to
institute a blockade was issued in the month of May, after
consultation with the Government of France. The order to
the English and French admirals was express that a blockade
should be instituted. The mode in which the order was to bo
carded into effect was left to their discretion. The house will
remember that this order was conveyed to the authorities
3,000 miles distant. The French and English admirals re-
ceived this order, and, after consultation as to the mode in
which it should be exeeuted, they came to a decision as to
a mode Which would have been most effectual, and which, if
contrary to the law of nations, was by no means inconsistent
with that which common sense would suggest. They thought
that the most effectual place at which to institute the
blockade would be in the Bosphorus, at the entrance into
the Black Sea ; and to give effect to their intention, they
prepared a notice, declaring that, from a time fixed; a
blockade should be instituted in the Bosphorus, and that
vessels should be stopped at the entrance into the Black
Sea. This no ice was communicated to the French and
English Ambassadors at Constantinople. They entertained
the gravest doubts as to the validity of the notice, and
it was sent home to their Governments. After full
consultation with the highest authorities, and after due
consideration, it was held to be an invalid notice,
and no effect was given to it. The consequence was
that nearly three months were lost. After the expiration of
that time, the great movement from Varna to the Crimea was
undertaken by the naval forces of France and England, hav-
ing to convoy an immense army—oue of the largest naval
operations of modern tiiies—and the whole naval force of
France and England in the Black Sea was for some time occu-
pied with the preparation and execution of that expedition.
At the investment of Sebastopol it was thought necessary by
the naval and military commanders that the whole naval
forces of the two countries should be present. I have now
accounted for the various delays up to the month of October.
After that period the English force was available, but it was
necessary that the blockade should be a blockade instituted
by the presence of the combined forces. Circumstances into
which it will not be necessary for me to enter, and into which
I am sure the house will not press me to enter—(hear, hear)
—rendered it inconvenient that the combined forces should be
so employed. I have now, without disguise, and with a strict
adherence to exact truth, explained to the house the circum-
stances under whibh that blockade so promised and so in.
tended by the Governments of France and England has not
until a very late period been carried into effect. (Hear.)
At the present moment I have no doubt that a blockade de
facto does exist both at the mouth of the Sea of Azof, at
Odessa, and in the offing of every port in the Black Sea, with
the exception of the mouth of the Danube. Now it was held
to be most important, with reference to the military opera-
tions, that while Russia occupied the Principalities, all contra-
band of war should be anticipated in its passage from Odessa
through the Sulina passage to the Bessarabian branch of the
Danube occupied by Russia. It was of comparative indiffer-
ence to the mercantile interest whether that blockade were
or were not instituted, because, as I stated on a former even-
ing, the military occupation by forts and batteries of the left
bank of the Danube for about forty miles above the Sulina
passage, does give to Russia a complete command of the
navigable portion of the Danube, the deep water being on
the Bessarabian side. Therefore, while Russia occupies in
force that position, she does, whether or not the Mina
mouth be blockaded, command the passage of the Danube ;
and the blockade was bed to be necessary to interrupt the
military communication between the Principalities and
Odessa. Circumstances have altered, and it is no longer ne-
cess4ry to maintain that blockade for military purposes. It
is quite sufficient that a force shall be present at Odessa and
the Sulina mouth to intercept contraband of war. The block-
ade of the Danube has been raised. I hope, and am confi-
dently persuaded, that at this moment every other Russian
port in the Black Sea is closely blockaded. Then, sir, with
respect to the White Sea, the , circumstances attending the
first declaration of war as relates to the mercantile interests
both of France and England, have been most accurately ex-
plained by my right hon. friend. The course of trade bad
always been that large advances were made in the antecedent
year, for Russian produce to be exported both to France and
England. In the course of trade, these advances had been
made in the autumn of the year antecedent to the last. If
France and England had determined to institute a strict
blockade from the first moment that the White Sea was open,
the only effect would have been, the French and English
merchants having made their advances, that Russia would
have been in possession both of their money and of the pro-
duce for which they had paid. (Hear, h ar.) Acting upon
their common interests, and in obedience to common sense,
France and England did not think fit to institute that
blockade until their merchants had secured the whole of the
produce. In the Baltic, it is not alleged that any possible
precaution in reference to the blockade was omitted. Hence-
forward France and England are completely of one mind,
that from the earliest moment at whic it is possible a
blockade shall be enforced in the White Sea. The blockade
will be repeated with the same rigour in the Baltic ; and I
am convinced that at the moment I am addressing the house
there is not ari open port in the Black Sea which France and
England have not effectually blockaded. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DUNCAN felt bound to return his thanks to the
right honourable baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty
(Sir James Graham) for the admirable manner in which
he had promoted the interests of the mercantile classes I
this country. (Hear, bear.) Many of his constituents
havibg remitted money to Archangel for goods, he at an
early period waited upon the right honourable baronet and
the President of the Board of Trade to inquire whether their
goods could to brought away. The right hon. baronet (Sir
J. Graham) stated thot he could not authorise a direct trade
with the enemy. He (Mr. Duncan) said he should not ask
for anything of the sort, and explained the circumstances
under which he made the application. On the 10th of May
he received from the hon. baronet authority to intimate to
his constituents that they mightibrieg away the goods. He
asked him if he could give any time, and his answer was,
" Get them away as fast as you can." The result was, that
large freights were given to neutral vessels, and the goods
were brought away. (Hear, hear.) He did not believe that,
after this, any of his constituents paid a shilling
to Russia in
.the way of direct trade.
Mr. COLLIER replied. He contend d that the blockade
of the Baltic had been substantially evaded, and if we could
not institute a right of search, and take effective measures
for enforcing it, we should abandon it altogether.
The motion was then agreed to.
IRISH FISHERIES.
Mr. APMAHON moved for leave to bring in a bill to assi-
milate the law of Ireland regarding sea-coast fisheries to that
of England. -
Mr. NAPIER suggested that this subject ought to be taken
up by the Government, as it had been repeatedly under the
consideration of the house.
Viscount PALMERSTON saw no objection to allowing the
hon. member to being in his bill, but could say nothing fur-
ther at present.
After a few words from Mr. WHITESIDE,
Leave was given.
PROMOTION IN THE ARMY IN THE CRIMEA.
On the motion of Capt. ARCHDALL, an address was or-
dered for a return of the names of all officers of her Ma-
jesty's army who have been promoted for distinguished ser-
vices since the commencement of the war in the Crimea, dis-
tinguishing between officers on tho staff and officers serving
with their regiments; stating also the respective ranks to
which they have been promoted, the particular services upon
which they were employed during the battle of Alma, Bala-
clava, and Inkerman, and whether they were actually en-
gaged in any of the above actions.
PURCHASE OF COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY.
On the motion of Mr. HEADLAM, returns were ordered of
the regulation price for the purchase of a commission in the
line and in a cavalry regiment ; of the regulation price for the
purchase of each subsequent step in the service ; of the an-
nual pay of regimental o 'leers of all grades ; whether any, and
if any, what portion of the money paid by an officer on the
purchase of his commission is returned to his representatives
in the event of his death oither in action or under other cir-
cumstances ; whether the whole of the money paid by an
officer for his commissions is sacrificed by him when he attains
the rank of major-general ; of the annual pay of a major-
general and of other officers of higher grade; and of
the number of commissions given away since the let flay of
January, 1853, and the rules and practices in force concerning
the gift of commissions ; and, whether an officer to whom a
commission is given is by the rules of the service entitled to
sell his commission for the regulation price.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
house adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock, until two o'clock
to-day.

THE GRESHAH FREEHOLD LAND AND BUILDING' SO-
CIETT.—A. public meeting and ballot of this society took
place at Radley's Hotel, New Bridge-street, on Monday
evening. Mr. Alderman Wire teok the chair; and ad-
dressed the meeting on the subject of the advantages
derived from such societies. The " Gresham" was
strictly an economical society, and while no one could
lose by becoming a member, all might in turn become
possessed, through its means, of a house of their own,
and among some peculiar and ,advantageous feature•
which it possesses, one was that the member in time of
sickness or adversity may postpone his payments with-
out losing his property or suffering a fine. Within a
few months 681 shares had been taken, and 9351. paid
in subscriptions. A ballot for 12 rights to adiances far
building houses then took place, which terminated the
proceedings.

NEM

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