The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-06 00:00:00

THE !MN, LONDON, TVESDAY EVENING* MARCH 6, issi,

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-

MITTEE DAY.)

--Or^ -

The inquiry was resumed this day at noon. A large
number of persons were present during the proceed-
ings.

The examination of Sir De Lacy Evans was resumed,
and at the outset he corrected a mistake which had ap-
peared in the report of his evidence yesterday, namely,
that he stated the Guards were encamped in a marsh.
This was not the case, and if he had so stated it, it was
erroneously, for the Guards were encamped on very high
ground. With regard to whether there was proper provision
made for the sick and wounded, he stated that the war
opened with, be presumed, a belief on the part of the au-
thorities that there would be no wounded, but it was
always his opinion that proper provision ought to have
been made. There was sufficient ambulance means
whilst he was there for the removal of the sick and
wounded. He did not altogether approve of the French
means of conveying ,the wounded in swinging baskets.
They were all very well, and a few might
be desirable, but he would rather have light carts.
With regard to the bringing up of the tents, he believed
they were all brought up by the 2d October, but a great
many of them were in a very indifferent condition. There
were advantages and disadvantages connected with hos-
pital tents as far as sickness was concerned. Up to the
time he left the Crimea the hospital tents were but in-
differently supplied with beds ; but the men who were
without beds had generally something else un-
der them besides their blankets. He did not think
that in any case the men lay upon the ground.
He had visited Balaklava, which was in much
disorder. He never saw a town taken from the
enemy which was not in some degree of disorder. The
apportionment of residences to the principal officers of
the army in Balaklava generally devolved on the Adju-
tant-General, and seme houses on the outskirts were
allotted to some officers. He had an opportunity of
seeing the water's edge at Balaklava. There were no
quays, or facilities for the landing of provisions or
stores ; and there was occasionally some confusion and
irregularity in the town in the conveyance of provisions,
but he was notaware of the troops suffering in consequence.
Supposing the communication between the camp and
Balaklava had been cut off by the enemy, or the town
taken, the consequences would have been very calami-
tous, as he was not aware of any depot for provisions
and clothing besides. - If such an event had taken place,
however, it would have been necessary to shift the ves-
sels containing stores round to Kamiesh Bay. He had
some cavalry and artillery in his division, and the
horses were sent to fetch forage, and he was thereby
much crippled. He should have thought transport
waggons might have been in the meanwhile sent from
Varna ; but that was altogether a question of maritime
transport. On arriving first at Malta, where the troops
were first sent to, ho learned that the Commissary-
General had been sent before them to Constan-
tinople to provide for the army. On arriving
there, however, he found that that officer had made
no purchases of mules, while the whole of the
commissariat staff was wholly incompetent and inade-
quate to its duties. A number of deficiencies began
after their arrival to appear, and he sent word to the
Commissary General, and asked to see him, but the an-
swer he got was, that that official was unwell ; and
eventually, Lord Raglan insisted upon some change. In-
deed this was very necessary, for the soldiers were put
to many inconveniences, such as having to wait four or
five hours for rations, &c. During all this time no ade-
quate provision of transport arrivals was made. He
did not attribute these shortcomings to the commis-
sariat department, but to the spirit of the Cabinet,
for he firmly believed that the Government had no idea
that what had taken place would have occurred when
they despatched the army, and when hostilities did com-
mence they were quite overpowered and paralysed.
During the whole time the allied armies were waiting
for some further instructions as to the result of some con-
ferences, whilst the Russians were gradually pushing
their movements forward. Returning to the
commissariat, he eventually applied to Lord
Raglan to appoint two voluntary officers for the army
to assist the commissariat department—and very great
advantage resulted; but these officers were so much at-
tached to their more regular duties of warfare that they
declined after a short period to remain in the depart-
ment, and he, of course, could not compel them. The
Commissary-General never came to the camp to his
knowledge, or to consult him as to the necessaries re-
quired in his &vision. He (Sir De Lacy Evans) thought
the Commissary-General ought to have done so.
Lord Raglan had supreme command in the army
in all its departments, and the commissary might have
been dismissed by his lordship. To do justice to the
commissary, the duties were very onerous and arduous,
and the officers sent out might have done very well in
the office, but they were quite incompetent in the field.
Up to the time of my departure no road had been con-
structed from Balaklava to the heights. There was a
track, which was good enough in dry weather, but there
was no regular road. As he stated yesterday it would
have required 1,000 men to have made a proper road.
that number of men could not have been spared from
the camp ; but he thought the Turks might have been
employed advantageously. Up to the time he left there
was great difficulty in getting a good supply of forage.
There was some barley sent up to them, but
no continuous and regular supply, and the horses
consequently fell off in number—bard work con-
tributing to reduce them. He did not consider it
necessary that an officer should have been appointed
to look after the sanitary condition of the camp ;
the inspection of the camp in this sense devolved
on the staff department, and other officers under it. In
reply to a question as to the manner in which staff ap-
pointments were made, General Evans explained that the
officers selected from his personal staff were all officers of
merit, experience, and high standing. They were all re-
commended to him, and he bad never seen one of them
before. With regard to the general staff he believed
when an army was first organised for the field he thought
the demands made upon such officers were rather un-
reasonable.

Sir De Lacy Evans was under examination when we
went to press.

REPRESENTATION OF CAVAN.—Mr. Burrowes, of
Stradone, in whose favour the Hon. Captain Annesley
and the Hon. C. Butler have withdrawn, is a sound
Conservative. Mr. Henry Hughes, Q.C., and some
time ago Solicitor-General, appears determined to go
to the poll. Several other Ministerialists say they will
—but they will not poll a man.
NORTHAMPTON.—The nomination took place yester-
day at Northampton. Mr. R. Vernon smith, who had
accepted the office of the Board of Trade, was re-elected
without opposition.
THE CRIMEA DECORATION.—The decorations for the
victories in- the East will not be ready, we understand,
before the beginning of May. Applicants on the behalf
of deceased persons are to apply to the War Depart-
ment.

TIC CAPTAIN NOLAN.—A neat tablet is about
to onsTbe
Captaini Ire i Eoetr LieocAnte:
Nolan, erected i
,n,
wHheiMaidstonecfhe
llhaetah Church hhhuee racdh of
following
ftot
the
e the memory of
liaphpropriate
t2csavalry
brigade, in the charge at Balaklava, on thei
October, 1854, aged 36. General Sir George Bern vof
K.C.8., on whose staff be served in India, Generalee:
Airey, his brother officers and friends, have erected
this tablet as a slight tribute of their esteem and affec-
tionate regard for the memory of one of the most gallant,
intelligent, and energetic officers in her Majesty's ser-
vice." The tablet, in the form of a marble scroll, is exe-
cuted by T. Gaffin.
CAPE OF Goon HOPE.—We have received Cape papers
of the 30th December inclusive. Considerable alarm
had been caused on the Eastern borders by some re-
ported movements on the past of the natives ; but it
does not appear that any serious apprehensions were en-
tertained respecting immediate hostilities. Sufficient,
however, was known to warrant suspicion and vigilance,
which doubtless would go far to check, if not altogether
to prevent, any outbreak on the part of the disaffected.
COMPULSORY PRE-PAYMENT OF LETTERS TO THE SEAT
OF VAR.—General Post-office, March, 1855.—As there
is reason to believe that the rule requiring the pre-
payment of the postage upon letters addressed to officers,
soldiers, and seamen serving in the army and navy at the
seat of war, is not generally understood, the particular
attention of the public is called to this regulation, inas-
much as letters which are not pre-paid are detained at
this office for the purpose of being opened and returned
to the writers. The same regulation applies equally to
letters addressed to officers and seamen in the transport
service in Turkey and the Black Sea.—ROWLAND HILL,
Secretary.
AUSTRALIAN FREEHOLD GOLD COMPANY.—A general
meeting of this company was held yesterday at the
offices, Nicholas-lane, for the purpose of making a fur-
ther distribution of the assets. Mr. Renald was in the
chair. A vote was passed confirming an award of 50
guineas to each member of the committee of investiga-
tion, and 25 guineas to the directors, the latter only
after the strenuous opposition of Mr. Guadella, who in-
sisted that the old directors had received a large propor-
tion of shares wherewith to rig the market. It was
proposed to make a further distribution of 2s. per share,
in addition to the 6s. already paid, and upon that ar-
rangement wind up the company. For the purpose of
carrying out this plan, two rival committees were pro-
posed. A discussion disfigured by gross personalities
ensued, and many innuendoes were employed. At length
a poll was taken, and it was declared that 77,245 votes
had been recorded, a new source of difficulty, seeing that
only 72,000 shares had been issued. The meeting was
ultimately adjourned to this day (Tuesday), at 2 o'clock.
A MAD COW IN FLEET-STREET.—An extraordinary
degree of excitement was caused last evening, about
eight o'clock, in the immediate vicinities of New Bridge-
street, Blackfriars, Ludgate-hill, and the Blackfriars-
road, in consequence of the following occurrence. It ap-
pears that a cow which had been driven from Smithfield
Market to the Surrey side of the river, owing to the yel-
ling of some boys, became quite furious, and darted off
at a desperate rate towards Blackfriars-bridge, knocking
down, in rapid succession, three men and one boy,
who were severely injured. The cow then passed over
the bridge, and made its way i.ito New Bridge-street,
where it knocked down several other persons. People,
to avoid being knocked down climbed up the railings
round the two obelisks in Bridge-street and Farringdon-
street, whilst several hundred persons of both sexes
crowded the foot of Ludgate-bill and Farringdon-street,
in or to escape coming into collision with the infuri-
ated animal. Fortunately, owing to the exertions of
some drovers and the police, the cow was ultimately
secured at the bottom of Ludgate-hill, and a cart having
being procured from Snow-hill, it was placed therein,
and -driven to " soma' neighbouring, stables. , Who the
owner of the caw was could not be ascertained ; nei-
ther could it be learned whether or not the parties
\
I knocked down were fatally injured.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(YESTERDAY.)
_ ROYAL ASSENT.

The Royal assent was given this evening to the Con-
solidated Fund (3,000,0001.) Bill, and the Consolidated
Fund (20,000,0001.) Bill.

The Royal commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Argyll, and Lord Stanley of Alderley.
HILL'S ESTATE BILL.

On the motion of LoriftiblsDALE, Hill's Estate
Bill was read a second time.
ROMAN CATHOLIC PROCESSIONS.

The Bishop of EXETER gave notice of his intention
to-morrow to move for copies of the opinion given by her
Majesty's law officers in Ireland, in 1852, relative to the
construction of the statute prohibiting religious proces-
sions of Roman Catholic ecclesiastics; also for a copy of
the opinions given by her Majesty's Irish law officers re-
cently in respect to their construction of the said act ;
also for a copy of the proclamation of her Majesty,
published on the 15th of June, 1852, warning Roman
Catholic ecclesiastics taking part in such processions.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Leeds Chambers on the subject of the law relative to
accommodation bills.

The Earl of CARLISLE presented six petitions from
places in Lancashire and Yorkshire, praying for the
repeal of the law authorising the sale of spirituous
liquors.

The. Earl of ALBEMARLE presented petitions from
Bristol against the sale of spirits on the Lord's-day.
EDUCATION IN INDIA.
Lord MONTEAGLE—who had a notice on the paper
for copies of Report of Jan. 13, 1855, on the examina-
tion of candidates for the appointment of assistant sur-
geons in the company's service ; copy of the report of
Nov., 1854, on the examination of candidates for the
civil service ; also, a copy of the letter respecting the
college of Haileybury, and of the regulations framed for
examination of candidates for appointments in the civil
service of the company—said that he rose to call their
lordships' attention to the subject, and to two papers
respecting it recently laid before them, After referring
to the importance of the Renewal Act of the charter
passed in 1853, and to previous renewals, the noble lord
said that if they looked back they would find that many
of the enactments of Parliament, especially previous to
1813, on the subject of the Government of India, enact-
ments of the greatest importance, and on which the
greatest reliance had been placed, had been forgotten,
and allowed to remain inoperative. He might refer to
those arrangements made in 1813, for the purpose of
education—to the declaration made at the time Lord
Grey was in power, in 1833, to put an end once and for
ever to all distinction as respected caste, colour, and
birth, by opening up all employments in India to the
whole of her Majesty's subjects. In 1833 special provi-
sion was made regarding the admission of persons to
Haileybury as candidates for the civil service, and those
persons only were to be admitted who were recommended
by the directors, and who had proved their competence
by competition with persons similarly recommended.
That provision had been entirely set aside by the com-
pany. He referred to these things for the purpose of
showing that it behoved Parliament, from time to time,
when it passed an important measure, which, was left
to be carried out, not by the Government at home, but
by persons at a distance, to make inquiry in order to
ascertain whether its provisions had been complied
with. He wished to call their lordships' attention to
the minute, dated July 15, 1854, relating to the esta-
blishment of a system of education in India. The act
renewing-the charter passed in 1853, but he did not com-
plain of the delay in issuing the minute, because the
question was a difficult one. He presumed that the
President of the Board of Control had communicated
with the Government of India, and that the despatch had
been issued with their concurrence. A. more important
document, in his opinion, never was laid before Parlia-
ment, for it was a noble design, and one worthy this
country to undertake to provide a system of education
for 150,000,000 of her Majesty's subjects in India. The
document related to the whole subject, from the ♦illage
schools to the universities in the presidencies, and dealt
with the question in a macner highly satisfactory. He
regarded it as the work of his right hon. friend the late
President of the Board of Control, and was putting an
end to what had been for some time a matter of doubt

—viz., whether the education of the people of India was
a task this country ought to undertake. The document
in question, and the evidence on which it was founded,
at once settled that question ; for it was quite clear that
it was now beyond the power of those who had opposed
education to prevent it, nod that education in India was
advancing and extending itself among the people. His
right hon. friend had proposed a scheme of general vil-
lage education, a scheme of collegiate education, a
scheme of university education, and that scholars to a
considerable extent should be supported at the public
charge. The university scheme was the same as that
which had been adopted in the University of London,
recognising in religious matters a perfect neutrality.
If any one fact demonstrated more than another
the iinpolicy of the Government interfering in re-
ligious matters, it was the success which had at-
tended missionaries who had no connection with the
Government. No point had been better established
before the committee than the impropriety and impo-
Hey of the Government interfering with the religion of
the natives. There was another document to which he'
must refer, and in which, though be found much to ad-
mire, he also found much from which he must withhold
his assent. By the act of the session before last, the
system of nomination by the company of candidates for
the civil service had been put an end to, and in lieu of it
an open examination had been proposed. The Board
of Control had been called on to form rules for the ad-
mission of young persons to the civil service, and these
rules, drawn up by several able and eminent men, had
been made public. The paper with reference to the open
examination of candidates for the civil services was open
to objection. The question he referred to was no less
than the free eligibility of the natives of India for politi-
cal office in the civil service of India. In the act it was
provided that no one by reason of his birth should be
precluded from holding office in the civil service. The
natives only had been admitted to small offices. But the
distinction that had hitherto been adhered to was in-
tended to be done away with. But according to the
paper he referred to, the course of examination was
framed, he would not say intentionally, but practically,
to exclude the natives from the civil service, and to fa-
vour the; European candidate almost exclusively. The
peculiar courses of study prescribed, as they demanded a
wide study of European languages, were not calculated
to form a native tax-collector or an opium-duty ga-
therer. Certainly, the natives would not stand a fair
chance against the European in such a course of educa-
tion. He submitted to their lordships whether the
course oT examination, such as was intended, would not
have the effect of excluding the natives ? And was
that fair to the people of India ? In short, the system
adopted with respect to history, to languages, and to
composition, would practically prove an exclusion to the
native scholar. He should be glad to receive a contra-
diction from some official quarter that the paper had
not been so prepared as to exclude the native subjects
of her Majesty in India. There was one other subject
so interesting and so important that it could not be
overlooked, and to which he would now draw attention.
otfl
(Ili net
add
hcoaieon,
wbo tau sth ai
ugn nhda actri
vates
appointmenths
o,e
fi wnnlhe
India.
‘ovhd hadeiaa
c.tcivil
o studiedwh serviceiowing
gwtaoms
hisede medicine,
done
ei
et nrhues
en,
In reference to this he would remind tke house that a
e
ipnestovteerwcohlineihngroundvdweearrperseverance
tnrheee:
hehadnebbleeenkraadmheitrteedretfeorrtehde
aspired.e obstacles,
to the case of the Hindoo gentleman Ch k uc erbutty
whose interesting history
appeared a 1 ew days ago in the
public press, who had acquired high honours at college,
vho was refused an appointinentby the East India Com-
pany because he was a native, who, after passingfurther
honours in India, did, through the aid of the new bill,
which removed his previous disability, obtain the ap-
pointment which had previously been refused to him.
He had a letter in his hand, written to Sir Edward
Ryan, in which Mr. Chuckerbutty said he would use his
last effort in the service of his country, that he would
find his way to England, in the hope of distinguishing
himself in his profession, and getting the appointment of
assistant surgeon, but he was in the dark with reference
to the nature of the examination he was subjected to,
and with all his hopes it might be that he should fail in
going through that routine inquiry which was indispen-
sable before he could obtain the position of assistant
surgeon. He had heard many objections to the appoint-
ment of this gentleman, on the ground that such promo-
tions would endanger the safety of our Indian dominions.
Such arguments, however, could not weigh fo4a moment
in the mind of any
_liberal and reasonable man. He
thanked their lordships for their attention. He trusted
that the interpretation of the act would be such as to
render the natives of India eligible to posts in the civil
service, and he trusted their lordships would enforce their
own generous. intentions by enforcing the true operation
of their own measure. ,He would now move for any cor-
respondence received from India on the subject of these
appointments.
Lord ASHBURTON said it was a severe censure on
the report of the committee to say that any intention
existed to exclude the natives of India, or that such a
construction should be able to be put on the course of
examination prescribed. The opinion of Sir E. Ryan
was, that the examination had been so framed as to give
due facilities to the natives of India, and the noble lard's
anxiety would be relieved when he learned, as no doubt
he would. do, that the natives carried. off a number of
prizes. There was a general anxiety that the doors
should not be shut on any one wherever he might come
from, and whatever might be the course of study he had
followed.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE expressed his concurrence
in the sentiments of the noble lori who had brought the
question forward. He thought, however,, that while the
motion as regarded the first report was unobjectionable,
that which regarded the second, which was in contrast
with it, was not so. Ho hoped that the new Governor-
General of India and the new President of the Board of
Control would consult with the late president of that
board, as no one was better acquainted with the subject,
or bad more at heart the interests of the natives of India.
He would also suggest that the new President of the
Board of Control should take into his counsels in this
case the new secretary of that board, who bad been the
chairman of the Reform Association, and who was well
acquainted, therefore, with the wants of India. Seeing,
however, the virtual impossibility which existed of the
natives of India taking advantage of the act as regarded
their candidateship in this country, he suggested that a
certain number of the 40 appointments in question should
be placed at the disposal of the Governor-General, and
that the examination for those appointments should take
place, in India, so that the natives might have a chance
of deriving some benefit from a system which at, present
amounted to a praclinal exclusion.
Lord WYNFORD said, when it came to be considered

that the natives of India bad to come 10,000 miles for
examination before they could qualify for their appoint-
ments, it was to deceive them and to deceive ourselves
to say that there was fair competition as regarded them.
The energy of one man had certainly shown the capa-
bility of the natives of India, and be (Lord Wynford)
hoped that gentleman would reap all the rewards due
to his intelligence and determination ; but it wa.'s pre-
posterous to suppose that, as regarded the natives of
India generally, the examination could be considered. a
fair one. To make it a fair examination it should
take place in India. He (Lord Wynford) should like to
know whether any of the distinguished men in this
country who bad been connected with India were con-
sulted on the framing of the present system, or whether
the advice of.the East India directors had been asked or
given I
_ _

Earl GRANVILLE said the object of the Govern-
ment in the bill was to find the ablest men possible to
conduct the Government of India. The admission of
natives was a great advantage but, nevertheless, he
doubted if the:increase of men in the service, who had not
sufficient energy of character to come to this country for
examination, would be Of any advantage. His noble
bend had referred to Mr. Chuckerbutty, and he (Earl.
Granville) could state that the feeling of the Govern-
ment was one of great gratification at the success of that
gentleman, because it showed, among other things, that
those who denied the quality of moral courage to the
natives of India had gone too far, Mr. Chuckerbutty
having fully proved that he, at least, possessed that
quality. In all the late references to the affairs of India,
the President of the Board of Control and the Governor-
General of India had acted in the manner they thought
best calculated to be of advantage to the natives of India
in this matter. He (Earl G.) had no doubt that under
the 41st clause of the act it was competent to the
India Company to admit persons who had not passed
through Haileybury. In reply to the noble lord who
spoke last, he (Earl Granville) begged to state that one
of the best proofs of the intentions of the Government
were the names on the list, and he (Earl Granville)
asked whether Mr. Macaulay was a man likely to in-
tentionally prevent the natives from being admitted, or
whether that right hon. gentleman had not sufficient
sagacity to see all the bearings of the subject ? The
present, he (Earl Granville) asserted, was an honest at-
tempt made to devise the best possible scheme, and he
could state that next year one or more natives of
India would cempete for the highest prizes. Under
these circumstances he was understood to decline ac-
ceding to the motion.
Lord MONTEAGLE replied. He was perfectly sa-
tisfied with the explanations that had been made, and he
should not, therefore, press the motion.
si The house tLea adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-YESTERDAY.
ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.

Mr. MONSELL, in moving these estimates, observed
that-, though they were much larger than had ever before
been demanded, the house and the country were only too
painfully aware of the reason. He should commence with
the supplemental estimates of 1,200,0001. The first vote,
267,0001., was for barrack supplies, of which 129,5191. was
required for barrack bedding at the new hospital at Smyrna
and for the establishment at Malta. For greatcoats 3,1061.
was required and for boots and shoes 54,3751. Some re-
mark had been made with regard to the quality of the
beets and shoes, and also with respect to their size. Not-
withstanding it was complained that they were too small,
the Government, in sending them out, had taken the pre-
cau!don to select only the two larger sizes. He attributed
the fact of their being too small to the circumstance that
the men wore more than one pair of stockings, for certainly
the boots supplied to the soldiers in the Crimea were con-
siderably larger than those worn by the men at home. The
next item was 234,8601. for camp and miscellaneous stores,
and of this 124,9061. was required for tools, a large portion
for warm clothing for convalescents in different hospitals,
and 92,0541. for camp equipage. The next vote was for
1,000 huts, 54,8001., and 19,0411. for stable huts that were
finished within 18 days of the time ordered. For
hospital buts, which had been completed within 14
days, 2,0001. •sere required, and for huts for 3,0i0 sol-
diers of the Foreign Legion at Heligoland, which had
been finished within 10 days of the order, 13,9311.
The next vote was 382,5001. for warm clothing. On
this subject there had been a great deal of con-
troversy. All he could say was, the warm clothing was
sent out by gentlemen who undertook to supply that, and
that undertaking was, in his opinion, carried out with
great celerity and ability. As an instance of the de-
spatch used, he would mention that when the intelligence
of the loss of the Prince arrived in this country, within
two days a similar amount of clothing to that which had
been lost was supplied. The house would be surprised to
hear the enormous extent of the shipments of this article.
In the month of November 130 tons were sent out by the
Government, and 344 tons by Messrs. Hayter and Howell;
in December, 234 tons by those gentlemen, and 752 tons
by the Government ; and in January, 180 tons by Messrs.
Hayter and Howell ; and 309 tons by the Government.
The second point he desired the committee to consider was,
whether the clothing had been supplied economically. It
had been supplied in great haste and under the most
urgent circumstances, and everybody who had had to do
with it had felt that their great object was not price, but
time, and this bad been the essence of all the contracts.
Calculations had been made, from which he came to the
conclusion that the amount paid over and above a fair rea-
sonable price at which the goods could have been supplied
under ordinary circumstances was 4i per cent. Be was
also convinced, after 4 searching inquiry, that the warm
clothing sent out to the Crimea was, generally speaking, of
excellent quality. A great deal had been said as to the
mode in which the things sent out had beeu packed. It
had been stated that the transport-ship Robert Lowe had
conveyed medical stores to Scutari, but that they could
not on their arrival be delivered, as they had been placed
under heavy c)linders for powder. A committee had in-
quired into this case, and had unanimously reported that
the charge was unfounded, and that it was impossible, be-
cause the great cylinders were of such enormous weight
that they were obliged to be packed iu the hold of the ship.
The neglect in this case, and also in another in which goods
were sent to Balaklava, was not on the part of those who
packed the goods, but of those who had to deliver them on
their arrival. The next item in the estimates was that of
25,0001. for the factory for the manufacture of Lancaster
shells. It would be in the recollection of the committee,
that this shell was first submitted to the Government in
1852 ; a variety of experiments were made, and before the
invention was quite ripe it was considered desirable that it
should be made use of. It was necessary in the structure
of the shell to use a Nasmyth hammer ; and in the first in-
stance, because the experiment had not been sufficiently
tested warrant the erection of a large factory, the con-
struction of these shells had been very expensive, each shell
having had to be reheated 11 times, in consequence of there
being only one of Nasmyth's hammers in use, and some
1,800 shells had been made, each of which had cost 61. In
November Lord Raglan transmitted a report from Colonel
Lake which was extremely satisfactory, and the Govern-
ment immediately decided that a large number of shells
should be produced with as little delay as possible. He
(Mr. Mousell) had the advantage of a consultation with Mr.
Nasmyth, who most liberally placed his factory at Manches-
ter at the disposal of the Government; but, on con-
sidering the plan that would have been required there,
and the plant already at Woolwich, that gentleman came
to the conclusion that it would be more economical for the
Government to proceed with their own factory. This
was accordingly done, and in two months, owing to the
exertions of Sir C. Fox and Mr. Henderson, the factory
was erected. It was now at work, producing 60 shells
per day, and would very soon produce 100 per day ; and
these, instead of costing 61. each, would only cost 11.165. 2d.
The next vote in the supplemental estimates was for
15,00 W. for the gun factory at Enfield, but in the esti-
mates would also be found the further sum of 40,0001. for
the same factory; and he would therefore at once explain
the grounds on which he asked for these sums, amount-
ing in the whole to 55,0001. It would be recollected that
last session there had been a committee for the purpose of
considering a proposition made on the part of the Govern-
ment for the erection of a large factory, intended to pro-
duce 150,000 muskets per year. The committee were un-
favourable to the erection of a factory on a large scale,
and recommended one on a limited scale, which would
serve as an experiment as to the advantages likely to ac-
crue from a large factory, be a check on the prices of con-
tractois, and also a resource in times of emergency. Three
gentlemen of great experience—Colonel Burn, Captain
Wallow, and Mr. Anderson—then wont to America for
the purpose of making inquiries and investigations.
These gentlemen were authorised.to spend 10,0001. in the
purchase of machinery in America. Shortly after they
went to that country they communicated with him (Mr.
Monsell) on the subject of the machinery they had witnessed
there. Colonel Burn wrote, stating that the more they
had seen of the operation of the musket machinery in Ame-
rica, and the extraordinary effect it produced, the more
they were convinced of the absolute necessity of a radical
change in our system, and of our establishing a complete
and permanent organisation to enable us to secure a con-
tinuous supply of the best article at a cheap rate. Colonel
Burn also observed that, though the work of the machinery
at Springfield, in Massachusetts, and at Harper's Ferry, in
Virginia, differed in certain respects according to the skill
of the engineer, yet the operations were so perfect that an
interchange of muskets in all their parts *as made between
them quarterly, and that the result was found to be the
same as if they had been all produced by one engineer only.
Subsequently Colonel Burn applied for permission to spend
a larger amount than the 10,0.:01. first specified in the pur-
chase of machinery in America. and the Government upon
further consideration accordingly authorised a total expen.
diture of 17,0001. for this purpose. When these gentlemen
returned home they brought with them an elaborate and
lucid report, detailing the results of their investigation.
In this document they stated that their anticipations not
only as to the rapidity with which the muskets could be
manufactured, but ► 5 to the lowness of their cost, were
more than realised by what they had witnessed, and they
their conviction that the experiment of establish-
ing a musket factory in this country would prove signally'
successful. The committee then considered the size of the
factory that should be erected, and ultimately decided that
it should be one capable of manufacturing 50,000 muskets
per annum. They found upon calculation that the same
staff and nearly the same quantity of machinery would be
requisite for manufacturing 25,000 muskets annually as
would be necessary to manufacture double that number ;
and that if they had determined upon having a factory. only
adequate a
havete to t
e re furnishm eiethe
dl
e therefore prepared for a factory sufficient for the produc-
tion of 50,000 muskets a-year, the
.situation selected for it
being at Enfield, and the first estimate of the cost of its
smaller supply
tshuoppylyeart.he
Plans were
machinery
erection was 30,0001. In deference, however, to the sug-
ge,fetnetrl%evienredne wr he
see
lhadved v ius
pi Leona,
41,000/. The co.
of the machinery contracted for in Ame-
rica nd America,the aa
nc
t en-
na
l
about 9,000/. worth mere was goeustltiaoynsfoorftthheebuilding amounted to between 43,0001. and
was 17,0(V. ; and
largement was
con-
tracted for after the return of those gentlemen, making
26,003.—an amount very nearly corresponding with the
supplemental estimate of 25,0001. taken last year. During
the months of October, November, and December there
was a lamentable deficiency in our supply of small arms,
to obtain which the Government were obliged to resort to
the markets of other countries, and the Minister of War,
in the emergency that had arisen, authorised the Board of
Ordnance to enter into contracts for, the erection of the
factory. The building was now in progress at Enfield, and
the factory would commence operations about the begin-
ning of next July, and be able, no doubt, to manufacture
a considerable quantity pi small arms in the course of
,t,he present year.„-Paseing from the subject of the supple-
mental estimate, he came next to general estimate for the
year. The increase in the estimate for Ordnance stores

was 103,514/., which eras made up by the addition of half
a battalion of engineers and a battalion of artillery, amount-
ing to 73,4151. ; additional staff for the movement of troops,
11,200/. ; and a sum of 12,9941. consequent upon the in-
creased bounty now oered; • need hardly point out the
necessity for increasing. the engineer and artillery force—a
force which was now aboUt 7,000 less in e trength than it
was in the yeer 1814. No -orce in any country could have
distinguished itself more than our artillery and engineer
corps had done in the recent operations in the -Best.
,(Hear.)
It was a remarkable fact that our platforms before Sebes-
topol had required so little repair that, although shells
had exploded over our magazines, not one of them had
been blown up. The next vote he had to submit was for
barrack supplies, and it showed an increase of 103,493/.
The sum required for barrack suppliesamountedto 355,450/.
including supplies for the camp at Aldershot, 36,000/. for
foreign troops, 40,0001. for the depot about to be formed at
Malta. There was a sum of 115,000/. for great-coats, and in
the amount for boots and shoes there was an increase of
43,5121. The clothing for the foreign legion was 90,0001.,
men and and clothing for the militia, an increase of 56,9501.
He might add to his former remarks respecting the
warm clothing, that the Government had sent out an
experienced officer with an experienced clerk, and
some of the best labourers from the Tower, well
acquainted with the package of stores, to 13alaklava,
there to collect the warm clothing and send
them to a storehouse in the Bosphorus, with a view to pre-
serve them for future use. Vote 3 was intended to be
withdrawn. There were certain changes likely to be made
in the Ordnance-office, and when those were effected an
estimate would then be presented to the house. On vote 4
there was an excess over last year of 19,504/. for Ordnance
establishments. There was an increase in the home esta-
blishments, 5,954/. ; lodging the Irish militia, 10,0001. ;
lodging the foreign legion, 2,5001. ; and additional clerks
of works, 9381. However, in every colsnial establishment,
except those situate near the seat of war, there had been a
diminution of expense, and the decrease upon that head
would have been greater bad it not been for the necessity
of forming a new establishment in the Bosphorus. Vote 5,
for wages, 368,8921., was 81,027/. i n excess of last year,
arising of course from the enormous demand for labour at
the different establishments. There was a diminution of
16,336/. in the amount asked for the now gun factory at
Woolwich. That circumstance was remarkable, and he
wished to explain it. In May last he found the supply of
shells was very deficient. If at that time any great action
had been fought, either on land or at sea, it would have
been impossible to replenish the magazines, and the coun-
try would have beet exposed to great danger. Finding
that to be the case, he sent for an officer of most distin-
guished scientic talent, Captain Boxer. That gentleman,
upon the circumstances being explained to him, undertook
to meet the difficulty if he were allowed to make use of an
old storehouse at Woolwich for the manufacture of fusees
and benching of shells, and to erect machinery at a cost of
about 7,000/., which sum he undertook to save the country
in the first six months. He (Mr. Monsell) readily agreed
to that proposition—the factory was constructed, and in
one week's working it saved the country 1,2001. The fac-
tory could not work continuously, as the supply of car-
cases of shells could not keep pace with the production of
the factory. A few items would show the great advan-
tage which the factory had proved for the country. Before
its establishment there were 500 Moorsom fusoes made
weekly ; afterwards there were 1,050, and a saving of 1411.
Of shells prepared for fusees there had been 3,500 per
week; since the establishment of the factory the number
was 10,257, at a saving in wages of 110/. There had been
3,000 wooden fusees made weekly, now there were 10,000,
at a saving of 72/. The result was, that whereas in May
the number of 8-inch shells in the storekeeper's departments
was 4,398, it now amounted to 10,886. He was perfectly
aware that this country, with its manufacturing powers so
extensively developed in all articles of ironwork, ought to
produce any number of shells which could possibly be re-
quired ; but still the fact remained that we had now been
a year at war and that a sufficient number of shells had
not been supplied. The demand had, in truth, been much
greater than the supply. It was found also that a consi-
derable increase had been raade by the contractors in the
price of shells supplied to Government. In 1852 8-inch
shells were supplied to Government at 71. Bs. per ton, but
the price charged in 1853 was 13/. 165., making au in-
crease of 61. Be. per ton. No doubt it would be said that
this increase was caused, to a certain extent, by the in-
crease in the price of iron ; but the cost of iron of the
quality of which shells were made, which was, in 1852, 31.
2s. 7d. per ton, in 1855 had only risen to 3/. 18s. 4d, per
ton, being an increase of 16s. 2d. The amount of fuel re-
quired for the manufacture of a ton of shells was said to be
5 cwt., and at that calculation, the cost of fuel for manu-
facturing shells would be 4s. 95. per ton in 1852, and, in
1855 6s. 25., making an increase of Is. 2d. In the same
way, the labour which, in 1852, cost 1/. Is. per ton, in
18 6 cost if. 9s. 6d.' according to tho authority of one of
the largest manufacturing firms in Bradford—one of the
principal places where the manufacture of Government
shells was carried on ' • and, lastly, the freight from that
district which, in 1852, was 10s. per ton, in 1455 had risen
to 1/., being an increase of 103. This made altogether an
increase of 11. 10s. 15., leaving an increase which could
not be accounted for of 4/. 178, lid. The Government,
therefore, feeling the immediate want of shells—though
they knew that, in time, they should be able to obtain as
many as they might require—taking into consideration the
great increase of the price of shells, and the advantage of
putting themselves in a position to control the contractors,
and being sensible, moreover, of the importance of attach-
ing a foundry to the Royal Laboratory, where they might
be able, at a moment's notice almost, to supply any number
of any given sort of shells which might be wanted on a sud-
den emergency, had determined to establish this foundry
at Woolwich ; and ho was firmly convinced that, had it only
been established six months ago, a saving would already
have been effected of more than the amount, 10,000/., which
was asked for its construction. It would be of the great-
est service, too, in enabling the contractors to learn with
greater rapidity how to make the particular sorts of shells
which were required, for at present considerable time was
lost before they were able to construct them with that accu-
racy and perfection which were indispensable in these ar-
ticles, and he was sorry to say that very frequently the old
contractors were backward in allowing the now contrac-
tors to inspect their modes of manufacture. This vote,
however, for the shell foundry was net the only one which
he was about to ask for on account of machinery in con-
nexion with the Royal Laboratory ; but it must be remem-
bered, with regard to all these works, that they were re-
quired for the manufacture of articles for which there was
no demand in the country except on the part of the Go
vernment, and that the country, therefore, to be prepared
for the commencement of a war meusteither have kept lame
stores of these articles or else have had establishments i n which
these stores could be rapidly replenished. Now, nothing

. .
could be more inexpedient than to keep large stores at a time
when every day was bringing forth new discoveries, and
when a thing that was new one day was obsolete next. As
a mere matter of economy,.it was of the greatest possible
importance for the Government to endeavour to put them-
selves in a position to be able to manufaCture shells rapidly
by means of machinery; and that, in a few words, was
the jestificatiOn of the vote for nisChinery generally. In
vote six there was fv, ooneiderabla increase over last year in
the estimate for small arms; 'while in vote seven, which re-
lated to -works, buildings, and repairs at home and abroad,
there was another large increase, occasioned by the erec-
tion of new barracks on the western height of Dover, at
Gosport, and at Aldershot. In vote eight, for the scien-
tific branch of the Ordnance Department, there . was an
increase of 3,8281. over the estimate of last year. The great
item in this estimate was for the ordnance survey, and
perhaps it would be interesting to some hon. members to
know what was the preciie state of that survey. Last
year there was some controvery as to what should be the
size of the survey, but after considerable inquiry a deci-
mal arrangement was adopted of somewhere about
twenty-four inches to the mile. At the present moment
the experiment was being made of endeavouring to
work this survey by means of contracts through pri-
vate individuals, and by means also of piece work. Al-
ready a considerable quantity of piece work had been laid
out, and in the course of,three or four months so much ex-
' perience would have been obtained as to enable the Ord-
nance to come to a final decision upon it. The hon. gen-
tleman having apologised for detaining the committee so
long, concluded by moving, "That 1,402,961/. be voted to
her Majesty as a supplementary estimate of the charge
which will probably be incurred during the year 1854-55,
for Ordnance services."

Colonel DUNNE wished to say a few words upon the
general subject of these estimates, and, in the first instance,
he deprecated the establishment of a permanenthospital at
Smyrna or Rhodes, because he knew, from. personal expe-
rience, that those localities were so unhealthy as to be quite
unfit for the purl:voile. (ffear.) • With
,regard to supplying
greatcoats to the army, he was sure the Ordnance would
not, for a considerable time,be able to supply them—cer-
tainly not to the militia regiments ; and as several regi-
-manta in Ireland were suffering great inconvenience from
the want of greatcoats, he would suggest that permission
should be given to the colonels to supply greatcoats them-
ielves in the-saixio **that the other Clothing was fur-
nished. (Heim) 'The hoots which had been sent out to
the Crimea were not large enough for the purpose to which
they were to •be adapted,; nor were tome of the 'tents,
owing to theirbeing-Weat oat withopt lining.. Now, as -to
warm clothing; the 20th; 46th, and 63d regiments were
I sent at late n November; without any ettpiply at all,
and the consequence had been that the reginients were
completely decimated almost directly after they reached
the trenches. Could not all that have been avoided
by furnishing the regiments with warm clothing before
they went ; but it was in this way that half our army had
been destroyed. They had absolutely perished, indeed,
through the neglect of the authorities at home. (Hear.)
With regard to the manufacture of muskets, he did net
coincide with some of the hon. gentleman's 'observations,
nor did he think it prudent for ua to send out petterne to
be Manufactured by foreign contractors at Liege and else-
where, because they would always be ready to furnish the
enemy-with supplies_ of the same musket before executing'
our orders,_provided they got a higher price for it, which
the enemy
,was.rarely 'indisposed to give. (11 ear, hear.)
He objected to the erection of new _
stand barracks in Ireland,
and suggested that the many
thousandof arms now.
lying useless in that part the king oni should be distri-
buted to the militia and pensioners. (Hear, hear.) He
urged that no time should be lost in settling the length of
the new light infantry musket, as it was most important
to have this point decided.- He could not conclude with-
outan apprehension
expressing that the present quarters
for the .Guards in London would. prove quite insufficient,
and his hope that the hon. gentleman would give them
some explanation with regard to this: ' • •

Mr. MUNTZ could perceive no improvement in the pre-
sent estimates, which were only an old dish re-hashed.•
Last 'rear Mr. WhitwOrth, when examined before the
committee, had stated that 5,0001.• would be sufficient for
establishing an adequate manufactory of. gun-stocks. Now,
in addition to the vote of 25,000/. for. the Enfield estab-
lishment in the estimates of 1854, and 15,000/. more in
the supplementary estimates, or 40,0301. altogether, they
were now asked to vote a second sum of 40,0001., making
the enormous amount of 80,0001. in all. None of the state- ,
ments made by persons connected with the Ordnance had
been verified by the result. The hon. gentleman had not
told them why he had received a much less quantity of
arms than he had calculated upon. The. Board of Ord-
nance was in fact a type and sample of all Government
ettablishments from beginning to'end ; men were placed
in all sorts of offices to do all. Bolts of duties without pos-
. bessiug nay real knowledge or qualifications for them. He
wanted to show them the true leison why they had received
.only 50,00 rifles in 1854. Tho contracts were not made
till the Month of June last, but the patterns for the men
to work upon were not delivered until the months of
August, September, and- October, and tha materials to
Work with not until Noiember, yet they wondered that
the quantity they wished had-not been received. (Elear.)
Had the contract been made and the patterns given out in
due time, he ventured to say that the 90,000 rifles would
all have been finished before now ; but such had been the
blundering of Government about the order for bayonets,
that half IA the guns had been prevented from being finished
for want of bayonets. As it was, they would soon have a
supply a2,000n-weell if the business were attended '
to in a fair and tradesniatilike way, the present number of
1,600 might very 'speedily be doubled. !Ekoy had already
-expended . a -large_ slim ..uponi,the manufactory,
whence 10,000 rifles a-week might be funagiecr; yet last'