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

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1 wecretary, or take the office which the noble lord (Lcirde„;
ussell) has quitted. I said I was confident that the piablic r
interest would be best served by my retirement, &net that •
after the obloquy which had been cast upon me, to coat info
to remain in the Cabinet would be unworthy of me. '% :ben
therefore the decision of Parliament had been pronounot 'd,
I would take my seat on one of the benches not occupied h 7
those in office, and I would attend there night after nighi, .
so that whenever a discussion arose I might be ready to,
defend the policy to which I had been a party; for r.
should feel just as much bound to do so as if I continua
in office. (Hear, hear.) Now, my lords, I have done with_
the speech of the noble lord, which is the subject of this.
explanation on my part. Various accusations have been '
made against me, and one of the most prominent is that of'
incapacity. My lords, I should be the last man in the world
to offer to express any opinion upon that. lam ready to -
leave that in the hands of my countrymen; I cannot buts
feel that this charge of incapacity is just now with the ,
public the favourite explanation of every misfortune ;' '
but whether our misfortunes are justly attributable to
such a cause, I will leave to the verdict of the luture.
Bat there is another charge which I confess I feel deeply.
I have been charged with indolence. (Hear.) The public
have had a right to every hour and every minute of my
time, and not one hour for recreation or amusement have,
fI presumed to think myself entitled to. (Cheers.) My-
lords, I have been charged with indifference, and that is a
charge still more painful. Indifference, my lords, to the.
honour of my country ! Indifference to the 'success and
safety of our army ! My lords, as a father I have given
hostages against such a crime. I have two sons in the
two branches of the service, and that I think should boa
sufficient answer to the charge. (Cheers.) Indifference.
as a Minister ! My lords, many a sleepless night have r
passed in thinking over all those things for which the put-
lie think I should have cared. God knows that indolence
and indifference are not charges which can justly be brought
against me. I repudiate them ; and I trust that before
long the public mind will be satisfied ; and that whatever
they may think of my capacity,- they will be ready to omit.
casting these unjust stigmas upon me. (Cheers.) As re--
gards what I have done'durhig my official administration, •
I bklieve, and trust; and hope that I, at least, shall gain
~ome advantage from the investigations of that committee
which the House of Commons has decided to have. I can -
only say that, as far as I am concerned, I shall rejoice to
lay before that or any other fair tribunal everything that
I have done with perfect fairness and open-handedness. •
I am not now about to enter into any defence of the con-
duct of the war. The noble and learned lord (Lord Lynd-
h- it) h- Ake of a s-- -Nnd although I

my
conduct of the whole Cabinet who are involved with me--
Lord John Russell included. (Cheers.) My lords, you
shall hear from me no complaints of treatment I have met
with, either in Parliament or out of it. I only refer to it
now to s•iy that, whoever may be my successor in the,
office which I have lately held, he shall meet with no un-
generous treatment from me. I know that in both houses
of Parliament I have many bitter political opponents, but
I trust that I have but few personal enemies. (Loud •
cheers.) But, if I have, Ido not except even them from
the promise I have made ; and to them, alike with my
friends, I extend my offer of whatever assistance I can
render. (Cheers.) We wore informed the other night in
the House of Commons that an hon. member went over

from the Ministerial side of the house to the right hon.
gentleman the leader of the Opposition, and asked him
whether ho would be a party to a vote of censure, not 'upon
Gove.nment, but upon me as an individual. I say that
even if the individual who sent that message should be the
War Minister, my assistance shall be rendered even to him.
It will be my duty, I am bound to the public, to render
my assistance to whoever may be the War Minister. Who-
ever may succeed me, I will endeavour to make his path
easy ; and will support him whether in this house or out,
of it. If my past experience be of,tho sliglite,t value, he.,
shall claim it and have it, whether he takes my acts as an,
example or a warning. He shall-meet with no feelings of
jealousy on my part. The crisis is too important, the in-
terests involved are too great, for any such feeling. I shall
rejoice in the success of any War Minister, whether that
success be attributed to better fortune or greater ability.,
My lords, I fear that I have occupied your attention too

long. I will conclude the last specch which I shall address
to your lordships from these benches with the earnest
prayer that, whoever may receive from the Queen the seals
of the War Department, may bring to bear as arduous
labour, equal zeal, and as earnest devotion as he who quits
that office; that he may meet with a success which I have

notmetwith, and that in meriting, and obtaining, and a e-_

curing that success he may also receive that approbation of
his country which it has been my earnest desire, but has
not been my good fortune, to secure. (Cheers from all
parts ofthe house.)
The Earl of DERBY—My lords, whatever may be the
Parliamentary irregularity of the course which has been
pursued by the noble duke opposite in his reference and
his answer to the speech of the noble lord late his colleague
in the other house, I am ready to admit, and your lord-
ships will probably feel with me, that that course, if not
regular, may well be regarded with some indulgence, owl
that a sufficient apology is afforded for the explanations
we have heard this evening. I can easily understand the
feelings under which the noblo duke thought it necessary
to offer before your lordships, as Minister of the Crown,
a vindication of himself against the charges which cer-
tainly affected most materially his character, not as a
man, but as a Minister. And I should not for a single
moment have complained of any portion of ,the noble

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hnrst) has given notice of a motion; and although I pre-
fiber ; same it is doubtful whether, under the circumstances, it
lord- will come on upon the day fixed, I suppose that ho will
perscvere_with it; and, in that easy, whenever the subject
ti
aged. • discuskeil, shalLbe,prepared-toiQet it. lam not inclined -
altar: '.to shrink franr any attack,-or to shelter myself behind any •
be in excuse. Whenever that motion is brought on I will be here
ppo- to speak upon it, and most assuredly I will not shrink from
atis- it. I shall be prepared to defend the conduct of the Go-
tht;ll vernmont,the conduct of my own administration, and the