The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-28 00:00:00

!THE BLACK SEA FLEET.

Mr. DANIEL O'CONNELL asked the First Lord of
the Admiralty if Catholics serving in the Black Sea fleet,
or in the Baltic, or on board any of her Majesty's ships at
present in commission, are compellel to attend Protestant
divine service, when read on board, either by a chaplain,
naval instructor, or other officer; and, if such be the case,
whether the practice of compelling them will be allowed
to continue, when Catholic soldiers are not in any case
compelled to attend Protestant service; whether the Ad-
miralty will consider of allowing Catholics on such occa-
sions to assemble on the forecastle apart frost the rest of
the ship 'S company, under charge of a warrant or petty offi-
cer of their own communion.

Sir J. GRAHAM' said this subject had already been
discussed in the house once this session, and he stated then
what the Admiralty had done in the matter. Divine ser-
vice was constantly celebrated in the fleet, according to
the provisions of the Act of Parliament, and he was not
aware that the Roman Catholic sailors in the service had
made any objection of their religions wants being neglected.
There was consequently no intention whatever to alter the
law in this respect, though it was right that he should add
that he was now in communication with the admiral and
commander of the fleet, upon the subject of giving Roman
Catholic sailors increased facilities for observing and per-
forming their religious duties.
Lord D. STUART asked the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty whether it be true, as stated repeatedly in the public
papers, that subsequently to its having been notified to the
Russian Government that the English and French fleets
had received orders to enter the Black Sea, and to, require
and if necessary to compel every Russian ship they might
meet with to re-enter a Russian port; and notwithstand-
ing that notification, that Russian ships of war have crossed
the Black Sea, and have removed a considerable number
of Russian troops from the coast of Circassia to the Crimea,
without experiencing any impediment whatever in the per-
formance of that important operation from any of the
ships of the allied fleets?
Sir J. GRAHAM was not aware of any occurrence in
the Black Sea to which the question could refer, except it
was the case of the Samson. which, on visiting the Cir
cassian coast on the 16th of March, found a few small Rus-
sian steamers engaged in the destruction of a number of
Circassian Forts, and the English commander had no other
alternative than to order them into the nearest Russian
port, war not having then been declared by England
against Russia, though a notice had been sent to the go-
vernor of Sebastopol, that in the event of Russian ships
venturing out of port they would be compelled by the
combined v ' into

fleets to return into porn.
AUSTRIA AND SERVIA.

Lord D. STUART- asked Lord J. Russell, whether the
Porte and the Government of Servia have consented that
the Territory of Servia shall be occupied by Austrian
troops?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that no Austrian troops at pre-
sent occupied Servia, and moreover Austria had declared
that she would not think herself justified in the occupying
of Servia unless the Russian troops should enter Servia,
or in case of a Servian insurrection.
THE TROOPS AT GALLIPOLI.
Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR rose to ask the Secretary at
War whether his attention has been called to the follow-
ing statements contained in a letter published in the Times
of 26th April, purporting to come frotn their own corre-
spondent at Gallipoli, under date of 10th April, respecting
the provisions made for the reception of the British troops
there ; and whether he can give any explanation with re-
spect to the accuracy of those statements, and whether any
steps had been taken by her Majesty's Government to
prepare for the reception of the British troops at Gallipoli
—and, if so, what those steps were ?
Mr. S. HERBERT entered into a somewhat lengthened
statement in reply, similar to that given by the Duke of
Newcastle in the House of Lords last night. Ho defended
the precautions taken by the Government for sending out
everything to supply the wants of the troops, and
read an extradt from a letter from Mr. Commissary
Smith, explaining the extreme difficulties of procuring
fresh provisions, &c., in Turkey. The most zealous co-
operation was given by the Turkish Government and their
officers, and with regard to the particular quarter at Galli-
poli in which our troops were stationed, he (Hr. S. Her-
bert) had seen private letters from officers at Gallipoli,
who declare that they prefer the Greek quarter of the town
to any other, on account of its sanitary advantages. (Hear.)