The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-22 00:00:00

brae-fourths
9oof thaten so v
regiment volunteered
but
if aregiment
abroad,that
would
in the whole amounted to 900, seeing that that number
would not be sufficient to consttatc its " estabbAment,
he saw nothing in the bill to prevent the whole 900 leav-
ing the kingdom; and therefore in such a case one-forth
i would not bo left at home. If that was their ntention,
he must say the Government had acceded to the words
of the amendment, but not adopted its spirit, viz., that
there should be, always left in this country at least one-
fourth of the strength of every militia regiment. He sub-
mitted also that the bill in many cases would subject the
medical officers of militia regiments to inconvenience and
hardship. We enlisted militia regiments in certain lo-
calities—we collected them from persons more or less
within those localities—and they were embodied only for
a short time. But send them out for five years to a
foreign country, and look what the condition of a me-
dical officer of one of those regiments was. He en-
tered upon his duties as a medical officer to a mi-
litia regiment in receipt of very poor pay, but he
accepted that pay because he had at the same time
some private practice in the country which he was de-
sirous of retaining, and, if possible, augmenting. But
if he went out to Malta, for instance, with his militia
regiment, he went at the ruin of his private practice.
He would be entitled to no half-pay when he came back
again ; we called upon him to sacrifice his practice and
his connections, which formed his means of livelihood for
five years, and at the end of that period we turned him
loose upon the country. As they were now considering
the most effectual mode of carrying on the war, he had
a few words to say with regard to that portion of the
service by which the blockade of the Russian ports was
maintained. They had had the assurance given by the
First Lord of the Admiralty at all events, if not by other
members of the Government in the other house, on
several distinct occasions, that the strictest orders had I
been given to blockade the Russian ports as well in the
Baltic as in the Black Sea and the White Sea. The
blockade took place in the Baltic from the early part of
June, where it had been ineffectual. It was introduced
later in the case of Archangel, where it had also been
ineffectual ; and up to this moment the ports of Tagan-
rog and Odessa were just as in uch open to Russian com-
merce as if no blockade had ever taken place. Having
declared that there would be a blockade of the Russian
ports, the Government had invited British industry in
every part of the globe to provide substitutes for the
produce which came ordinarily through those ports, and
what had happened I Why, enterprising merchants
acting on that declaration, and bringing home their goods
from India and other parts of the world, were met in the
English market with the astounding fact that, notwith-
standing the announcement of a blockade of the Russian
ports, the trade with Russia through the Black Sea was
as brisk as ever, and our well-wishers, the Greek mer-
chants, enjoyed the whole advantage of that trade to the
detriment of British subjects. He thought their lord-
ships had a right to ask the Government whether
orders had been issued for a blockade, and whether that
blockade had been strictly and effectually carried on in
the Black Sea. If it had not, that must have been in
consequence of orders from the Government, because they
had on a very late occasion voted the thanks of Parlia-
ment to Admiral Dundas and the French admiral for
the manner in which they bad discharged their duty in
the Black Sea. One of two cases ; either it was an ima-
ginary statement that the produce of the Black Sea had
been poured into the port of London without let or
hindrance, or that the Government had not issed orders
at all for a blockade or had issued counters for suspend-
ing that blockade. It was a matter of Parliamentary
right that their lordships should insist upon knowing
saidowt hhee whether ( itit t
thinga• ar
tthoreuaper
a. t)rl
iaaut
rnhee en rt
begged Maj
and
eshttay' s
odanGsokteuvasenlrol
actually
hmdeeornn t h e
nad
an-
other.
ques-
tion. He might be wrong ; but it was very currently
reported that not only goods and merchandise had left
the port of Odessa and other ports in the Black Sea,
but that ammunition and military stores had also left
the port of Odessa for the Crimea. It was likewise re-
ported
e hopedßussian
princes
their lordships tpbse
Gbyovernment whether that was true. The
would
dayuld
that the
sea.tw-o
Gluhe
ai trtefrdoOmdtehssea
country had a right to be put in full possession of all the
facts of the case. He hoped he might be pardoned for
deviating a little from the Militia Bill now actually be-
fore the house into that which appeared to be a material
portion of the general scheme of carrying on the war.
It was only because he was desirous of not interposing
any obstacle in the way of the Government that he
abstained from offering any opposition or moving any
amendment upon this bill.

Earl GRANVILLE said it was quite manifest that
in the matter of a blockade, involving in a great degree
the interests of trade, it would be most rash not to take
care to be strictly and verbally accurate in reference to
the answer to be given to any question on such a sub-
ject ; and it was the delicacy of the matter that had in-
duced his noble friend not to give an off-hand answer
which might possibly be inaccurate. With regard to
the blockade of the Baltic certainly some portion of that
blockade was not enforced until lately. At certain
ports in the Baltic, and also at Archangel in particular,
there was a considerable quantity of merchandise the
property of British and French merchants, and therefore
_ _

it was necessary to postpone the blockade for some tine.
Orders were sent out for a strict blockade of the Russian

ports of the Black Sea. Those orders were given to the
English and French admirals ; but some points of inter-
national law having arisen, they could Rot be at once
carriedu on ui
eta, t
ox
ne es pwt e
raet tnhnne
eedlii
at ae
lnye ee tt oe r
etdh e
intoßla c k Sea.
between
the two Governments, and, the result was that fresh
orders were
The troops
helicam.to the Crimea, and during that time materials
enforceha d
sent out to enforce
beenthe blockade. Since
the sent
enormous out for:an
enterprise—tile effectual eloekad
conveying
on oeietyeiantgf..
ee:
that time
the blockade in the strictest possible manner, and to
harass the enemy in every possible way.
entirelys trinwgaen wanting
tin
orders rde to
rs
The Earl of DERBY—When was that order sent ?
Earl GRANVILLE said the last order was sent two
months ago, and the first was sent at the commencement
of the war. The noble earl had asked whether enor-
mous quantities of ammunition had not been sent from
Odessa to the Crimea, and whether two Russian princes
had not also sailed from that port ? The only answer he
(Earl Granville) could give war, that four or five ships
had been coestantly cruising in front of Odessa ; and it
appeared perfectly impossible to him that such ammuni-
tion could have left the port, and that the Russian
princes could have been sailing in the vicinity of it in
the way described by the noble earl. Feather than that
he could not answer. With respect to the bill before
their lordships, the best plan of all would be that of the
noble earl, namely, that while they were waging war in
the Crimea they should have perfectly well-trained troops
stationed at the garrisons in the Mediterranean ; but
the thing they had to do was that which was practica and
that which was possible. The noble earl had stated that
there had not been anything like an adequate reserve
kept up to reinforce the army in the Crimea. He
hardly wished now to argue the whole question of the
expedition to Sebastopol ; but be was not sure that it was
not better to have sent 50000 men at once on such an
expedition than to have sent only 25,000, and to have
left 25,000 behind them. (Hear, hear.) With regard
to the garrisons in the Mediterranean, it would be
better, no doubt, to have perfectly well-trained men sta-
tioned there ; but at the present crisis it was not prac-
ticable, and he thought, both in a military and in an
administrative point of view, it was not desirable to gar-
rison our forts in the Mediterranean with perfectly raw
recruits. He thought the plan of recruiting from the
militia for the defence of those places was not a bad
one ; but there was not found that immense readiness
en the part of the men in the militia to volunteer for
that service, as was generally supposed. He thought
with respect to the general question that measures of
this sort were brought forth in great crisis, and be
thought our-Parliamentary system, admirable as it was,
ought not to be stretched with the view of discovering
flaws in such measures.
Earl GREY said he did not think it required any
microscopic power to discover flaws in the bill before their
lordships. He objected to that bill because he thought
it was wrong in principle, and departed from the whole
design of the Militia Bill which Parliament sanctioned
three years ago. He thought the object of that Militia
which was to consist of persons who, not adopting the
military life as their profession, and intending to keep
up the ordinary avocations of civil life, were yet willing
Bill was to create a defensive force for the country,
to devote a certain portion of their time in order to
acquire a fitness to defend the country in case of danger
or emergency of any kind. The Militia Bill of 1852
differed considerably from our former militia acts.
There was a special prevision introduced into it, that,
even in times of war, the militia was not to be employed
except in cases of actual invasion or rebellion. It was
not intended that the militia wee to be a force con-
stantly and perManently embodied, as in the case of the
last war. Acting on that principle, men went into
the militia both as officers and privates, who would
not have entered into it if it had been thought
they would be taken from their usual civil pursuits.
Everybody knew that the rapid augmentation of the
army was an object of the greatest importance, and why
was not the standard lowered as soon as, or even be-
fore, the increase was voted by the other House of Par-
liament ? It might he said that it was too late to look
back, and he admitted that they could not repair the
errors of a delay which was to him unaccountable ; but
admitting that, he contended that to adept this plan of
encouraging militia regiments to volunteer for foreign
service was to adopt an erroneous principle, and bad
policy for the conduct of the var. It would probably
spoil the militia, for the sake of measures which would
have a less effect in accomplishing an increase of the
army than others which might have been adopted. At
the same time, he agreed with the noble earl opposite
that it was not expedient to reject this measure. His
object in stating his objections was to check, for the
future, perseverance in what seemed to him a most erro-
neous line of policy, and not to refuse those powers for
which the Government applied to Parliament. It was
on this principle that he had acted on a previous night
in favour of a measure which he certainly did not eon-
sider free from objection ; and on this principle, although
strongly disapproving of this measure, he should nut
vote against it.
Lord DENIVIAN was understood to support the bill
as a proper appeal to the public spirit and patriotism of
the country.
The Duke of ARGYLL said that it must be admitted
that it we had a large standing army the Government
would never have asked the militia regiments to volun-
teer even for garrison duty, but not having such a large
standing army, or a numerous army of reserve, they had
to remove troops from garrison duty, and were in conse-
quence obliged to ask militia regiments to perform it.
There must bo objections to any measure which put it
in the power of militia regiments to go beyond the kill-
dotp, because such a force was mainly intended for the
defence of our own shores ; but he thought that these
objections had been greatly exaggerated in the course
of the discussion. There was a precedent for this

measure, and he could not see how the distinction drawn
by the noble earl opposite between the two told against
this measure. It was a greater hardship to extend a
compulsory than a voluntary service in the militia, and
he really could not see that there was any hardship in
giving the militia the option of performing garrison duty.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH objected to this
measure, which he characterised as one equivalent to a
general producing at the beginning of a battle the whole
of his reserves. It was in fact, killing the goose that
laid the golden eggs. Men had entered freely at first
because they were told their services would only be re•
quired for a few weeks at a time, and for a short period
of years ; but now, when it was proposed to send the
regiments abroad, he could not suppose that men—at
Last married men—would enlist at all.

After a few words from the Earl of GLENGALL,
The bill was read a second time, and, the standing
orders having been suspended for that purpose, the house
immediately went into committee on the bill. The va-
rious clauses passed unaltered, and the bill was
_ordered
to be read a third time to-morrow.
THE FRIGATE THETIS.

The Earl of HARD WICKE said he had two ques-
tions to ask the Government, of which he had given
them notice. It was not so much to get an answer for
himself as to bring before their lordships' notice a case
which bore on the subject of the war in which we were
engaged. The first question was with respect to an ex-
change said to have been made between this country:and
Prussia, and which certainly appeared in itself a small
matter according to the answer elicited from the First
Lord of the Admiralty. He (the Earl of Hard-
wicke) had lately been down at Chatham, and he
had seen in the deck her Majesty's ship Thetis,
and he had been told by an officer there that she
was about to be exchanged with the King of Prus-
sia for two gun-beats. He felt exceedingly surprised
at hearing of such a change, particularly as
she was a vessel well known to him, as he had been in
an experimental cruise in that ship. He was the more
struck with this exchange, knowing that this ship was
constructed on a superior plan, and was one of the best
of her class—in fact, was herself a model of perfection.
(Hear.) He should not have taken further notice of
this if he had not been informed that a right hon. gen-
tleman in another place had stated at one time that there
was an exchange—then that there was a conversation
about an exchange—and then that the exchange was not
completect—then, further, that the exchange was for an
old frigate—and a matter of that sort of importance
which was of little value. No man better knew the
force of language than the First Lord of the Admiralty ;
and when he said that this was an exchange for an old
ship, he understood well the meaning that would be put
on his words. Taking them in the ordinary sense, they
implied that the ship was not of much value. But that
ship was built in 1846, and has turned out an exceed-
ingly fine frigate, and is one of the best of ships in point
of form and strength. She is 1,500 tons burden, and
must have cost the country between 40,0001. and 50,0001.
—and the other day, when he saw her, she had received
a complete refit in her rigging. As a grave and mer-
cantile transaction this was a question of great import-
ance. When he considered the cost of that vesesl, and
then considered the probable cost of the gun-boats,
which could not be worth more than between 5,0001.
and 6,0001. a-piece, he thought such a transaction was
worthy the attention of the Commons when the esti-
mates cause to be voted ; and if ever there was a case
in which the First Lord of the Admiralty should be
made to pay the difference to make up for a bad bar-
gain, this was that case. He would make no comment on
this, for it was a matter of fact ; but the First Lord of the
Admiralty had evidently not carried out his favourite
principle in this bargain, and gone to the cheapest mar-
ket. With respect to the gun-boats they were built
by Mr. Scott Russell, and yet that gentleman had been
sent to Prussia to see whether these boats were fit
to be exchanged, and used in her Majesty's service. He
supposed Mr. Russell had gene to Prussia on a mission at
the expense of the Crown. Well, he came back, and he
saw they were admirable boats for the Government, and
quite fit for the Baltic. (A. laugh.) He (Lord Hard-
wicke) did not think they were fit for the Baltic ; and it
was quite evident Prussia did not think they were fit
far the Baltic, or she would not be so anxious to part
with them. He had taken the liberty of stating these
things to their lordships in order that the public should
know that this change was not a beneficial one ; and the
answer he anticipated from the Government that evening
would, he believed, directly contradict that given in an-
other place by the First Lord of the Admiralty. The
fact was, the boats had arrived from Prussia, the bar-
gain was climpleted, and this country was about to give
a ship of a value between thirty and forty thousand
pounds for two gun-boats not worth more than twelve
thousand.

The Earl of CLARENDON hoped, if his right hon.
friend the First Lord of the Admiralty was to be made
to pay the difference in case of a bad bargain, that he
would be allowed to pocket the difference in case he made
a good bargain. (A. laugh.) He (the Earl of Clarendon)
proposed to give his noble friend opposite all the infor-
mation he could, and, although not aware of what his
right hon. friend in the other house had stated— (a laugh)
—all he would undertake to state were the facts—
(laughter)—and he had not the least doubt they would
correspond with what was stated by his right hon.
friend. The propoeal first came from the Prussian Ge-
ment, who wished to increase their marine, and they de-
sired to exchange two gun-boats for two ships of a class
called denkeyirigates ; and the answer her Majesty's
Government gave to that proposition was, that we had
no donkey-frigates to dispose of. (A.laugh.) But Ihere_
was_themeeezia—a...4.o.—a--r---a-44—wws-proposed to
'eichange the Thetis for two gun-boats, if on a survey
they should be found suitable to our -purpose. A
survey was then made of these gun-boats. Re did not
know if Mr. Scott Russell was the builder, but he
believed they must have cost a great deal more
than 5,000/. or 6,0001. a piece, for they carried two or
three mortars. He considered them most desirable boats,
such as her Majesty's Government wished to get in the
month of June. His noble friend beside him said that
these gun-boats were worth between thirty and forty
thousand `pounds. (Hear.) However, some delay took
place, and the negotiation remained so, and in De-
cember his right hon. friend said that her Majesty's
Government no longer wished to have them ; but the
Prussian Government said that they considered an agree-
ment for the exchange had been made, and then the
First Lord of the Adniiralty said that the Government
would not go back from their word. These were the
facts, but he was not aware that the Thetis had under-
gone a thorough repair, as was stated by the noble
lord. On the contrary, He understood that it would take
8,0001. to put her in thorough repair, and she was to
be banded over to the Prussian Government without
her armament. (Hear.)

STATE OF THE HARBOUR OF BALAKLAVA.
The Earl of HARDWICKE had a second question to
put, respecting the port and road of Balaklava, that
most important position for the army in the Crimea, as
on the state and condition of that port depended the
means of feeding and relieving our forces. He had been
induced to take notice of the state and condition of the
port of Balaklava, in the first instance, in consequence
of the afflicting circumstances which followed the disas-
trous storm of the 14th November. It was unnecessary
for him to attempt to describe what had occurred. The
effects of that tremendous hurricane had been faithfully
reported. Among the losses during that storm there was
one ship the circumstances of which were peculiar, in con-
sequence of her having coming outfrom England contain-
ing almost everything that was necessary for the relief and
assistance of the army in the Crimea, and she had besides
money to a large amount. It was well known that that
ship perished. (Hear.) It would be presumptuous to say
that that ship could have been saved, but ho could assert
that it washis conviction, if the regulations of the port of
Balaklava were such as ought to prevail in any such
port, that ship (the Prince) ought to have been saved.
It had been stated that that ship had not been com-
manded in the manner she ought to have been ; and he
knew from an officer that so ill had she been commanded
that his attention had been drawn to the fact ; the Go-
vernment was advised as to the inability of the officer
who had charge of her to command her properly. (Hear,
hear.) When she arrived off the port of Balaklava, it
was well understood that she was taken in with such
velocity, and in so unseamanlike manner, that she lost
two of her anchors. She was brought up in such a way
that she ran her two cables out to a pinch, and thus
they parted. What followed and whit was done by the
officer in charge of the port ? This ship was forced to
anchor outside with one anchor, probably her sheet an-
chor. It was not stated whether she had one or two
anchors, or an anchor at all. How is it she was not re-
ceived in the port of Balaklava, or, if necessary, why
did not some of the men-of-war there supply her with
anchors 3 Why was a ship of that nature required to
take an offing ? The whole affair showed the grossest
want of seamanship on the part.of the captain of the
unfortunate ship, and of neglect on the part of the
officers in authority over the harbour. He would read
an extract from a document which he did not think her
Majesty's Government would pooh-pooh l So correct
had been the statements made by the reporters in the
Crimea and the Black Sea that he did not think her
Majesty's Government would say that it was merely a
newspaper report, or say that it was not true. If they
did, his purpose would be answered. The reporter,
writing on the 25th of November, from Balaklaia,
says :_« Will it be credited that, with all our naval
officers in Balaklava with nothing else to do—with
our embarras des rickesses of captains, commandev,
and lieutenants, there is no more care taken for
the vessels in Balaklava than if they were colliers in
a gale off Newcastle ! Ships come in and anchor where
they like, do what they like, go out when they like,
and are permitted to perform whatever vagaries they
like, in accordance with the old rule of higgledy pig-
gledy, rough and tumble, combined with ' happy-go-
lucky.' " So much for the state of the port. It was
easy for an officer who understood his business to have
provided for a different state of things there, and it was
most extraordinary that there was no responsible officer
sent by her Majesty's Government to that port, capable
of establishing and maintaining the ordinary regulations.
He did not say that the Government ought to be made
to answer for all the small details of such a port, but he
thought they should be made answerable for placing
such an officer in charge of it as would be fully compe-
tent for his duty and responsible for the due performance
of it. In addition to this, such was the state of the
port, that, long after this terrible disaster, there was a
collection of the debris of every sort of article knocking
about. The same reporter said :—" Indeed our cavalry
is at present employed in feeding itself. It is all they
have to do. The men are sent down with their horses
from tho camp to the waterside every day, and carry
back their fodder and rations. It is perfectly disgrace-
ful to the authorities, whoever they may be, to see on
this, the twelfth day after the gale, trusses of compressed
hay mpressed
hay floating about and rotting in every direction in the
harbour, while our horses are dying of sheer inanition.
Scandalous' neglect and indifference to the interests of
the publie service are chargeable somewhere or another