The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-24 00:00:00

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

The Earl of CARDIGAN was anxious to put a ques-
tion to her Majesty's Government on a subject of great
importance, at least to the profession to which he be-
longed. He could assure the Government that he did
not put it with any hostile feeling towards them with
regard to the present posture of affairs in relation to
peace or war ; for he thought they had acted' with the
greatest prudence and wisdom in carrying on negotia-
tions till they came to the inevitable decision of pro-
ceeding with the greatest energy. (Hear, hear.) He
had, however, seen with great surprise and regret a
statement that her Majesty's Government did. not. intend
to take advantage of the inventions and discoveries
which art and science had lately brought to bear in this
country, and were not going to send out every branch of
the expedition to the seat of war by the aid of steam
navigation. He had been informed that the horses
were to be sent out in sailing vessels. Their lordships
were aware that during the Peninsular war it west often
a month before horses reached their destination ; and
as the seat of the war, which was apparently about
to take place, was about three times the distance of
Spain, there was reason to fear that the voyage would,
under unfavourable circumstances, occupy three months.
k He knew it was said that it was impossible to find
a sufficient number of steam-vessels to convey so
many horses, but he thought this objection was not
well founded. He had not the slightest doubt that a
sufficient number of steam-vessels could be found ; and
he was confident that neither the House of Commons
nor the country would grudge the expense. He wished
to ask the Government whether they did not intend to
take advantage of the steam navigation of this country
to send every branch of the proposed expedition to the
seat of war in steam-vessels, instead of incurring the risk
of danger and delay, which was incidental to sailing
ships.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the question which
the noble earl had put was a very important one, and
he could assure him that the subject to -which it had
reference was one which had occupied the attention of
the Government. He quite agreed with the noble earl
that the country would not grudge any additional ex-
pense which might be involved in the transport of horses
in steam-vessels. It was not from the expense, but from
the flourishing condition of the steam navigation of the
country, that the difficulty arose ; and though he could
not assert that it was absolutely imposible to obtain the
requisite number of steam-vessels, yet he believed it
would be impracticable without entirely deranging the
. postal arratigements of the country, which her Majesty's
Government desired not to interfere with, unless a great
emergency should arise. (Hear, hear.) When it was
first determined to send an expedition to the Mediter-
ranean, among those with whom he put himself in con-
tact there were persons who assured him that he would
find it absolutely impossible to transport so large a
force as 12,000 men in steam-vessels, unless the ar-
rangements of the different companies were entirely
deranged. That representation hail not proved cor-
rect. It was due to the companies that he should state
that the difficulty, such as it was, had been overcome
by the patriotic readiness which they bad all manifested
to assist the Government. ((,heers.) H. knew that
by the arrangements which had been made they had
already been put to serious inconvenience, and he be-
lieved the' payment which they were to receive would
by no means indemnify them. Inquiries had been made
as to the practicability of obtaining a sufficient number
of transports for the horses already ordered, namely,
1,500, without taking into account the additional num-
ber which in all probability would have to go out befell)
low, ; and he was assured that it was totally imprac-
ticable. 'When the noble earl recollected that, besides
the immense amount of space that was required by
horses, a large proportion of the vessel was taken up
by steam machinery, and that, besides the horses, it
was necessary to carry a large amount of provender,
and a large quantity of water, which was very bulky,
he must see that the number of steam-vessels required
would be very large indeed. He was afraid, therefore,
that the suggestions of the noble earl could not be
carried out ; but he thought the difficulty would be ob-
viated to a considerable extent • if a certain number of
of steam-vessels were provided to take sailing vessels in
tow in the event of the winds being adverse. (Hear,
hear.)
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said the difficulty of
sending horses in steam-vessels was very great. He be-
lieved every horse would require ten toes, and if that
were the fact 1,500 horses would of course require 15,000
tons. As regarded postal arrangements, he must say
that however important they might be, the efficiency of
the army was still more so. If there was not a suffi-
cient. number of cavalry, the expeditionary force must be
chained to the shore—it would be quite incapable of
acting in the interior. In considering this question, it
must he recollected that steam vessels could make two
or three trips while sailing vessels made one, and that a
steam tonnage of 5,000 would serve the purpose, as. *ell
as 15,000 tons in sailing vessels. He feared _it was
not sufficiently considered that the task undertaken by
her Majesty's Government and the government of France
was one of enormous and unparalleled magnitude, and
one which it was scarcely possible for any exertions on
the part of the Government to effect. It was quite lm-
possible that the French Government should design to
send less than 6,000 cavalry, besides which there must`he
3,000 artillerymen and 1,000 officers
soeftdhetostaoffo.
nsTtahnetrie.
would be required 100,000 tons to n
uople the horses necessary for e forces ; and they
obtain
nt to goea
ntso
oaf eot
rau nntsrpyo
rwt hoerr e itto r
replace
eh
el
thee
heei mil
orses possiblew h
et
no
withor
hhe
o
theysl ou lsdhonuoltdrebset wornsatisfied out
could rift get the requisite steamnnagedleheshould
himself-try to get it, because he believed efficiency
of the force in a great degree depended upon it. .
Lord DE ROS believed that, if sailing vessels were
properly ventilated, horses might be conveyed in them
, without sustaining any injury.

THE TENANT-RIGHT BILLS.
Lord BROUGHAM would suggest to the noble duke
opposite that it was itupossible to proceed with the im-
portant hills respecting the law of landlord and tenant,
which were on the paper that evening, as they had not
yet been even delivered. He would recommend their
postponement for the present.
The Earl of WICKLOW said the bills were before
Parliament ten months during the last session, and the
reason why they did not pass was, that they came up
from the other house at so late ayeriod.

The AlLneitiisTf-CLANRICAII:DE deprecated haste
in the progress of such measures; and joined in the re-
commendation of postponement.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE was ready to accede to
any demand for reasonable delay, but as they were now
approaching the end of the first month of the session, it
was desirable that, if the bills were to be referred to a
committee up stairs, the second reading should not be
delayed unnecessarily. It was the almost unanimous
desire of their lordships in August last that the bills
should be re-introduced as early as possible in the present
session, and they now came before the house ipsusinti4
verbis. Perhaps the best course would be to postpone
them till neat week.
The Earl of DONOLGIIIIORE and the Earl of MALMEI:I-
- concurred in this arrangement.
Lord C.A.MPBELL thouelit it 1110 Et desirable that
these bills should be carefully considered. He would
intreat their lordships on both sides of the house most
deliberately to consider where the line was to be drawn •
between legislation mid contract. Let all be done that
was practicable to improve the law of landlord and ten-
ant, and there were no doubt several particulars in
which it might be greatly improved, but when they
went beyond that, and tried legislation upon that which
ought to be governed entirely by agreement between
landlord and tenant, lie believed they would do mischief,
and instead of benefiting tenants, very much deteriorate
their condition.
WEST INDIA ISLAND& : .
The Earl of DESART wished to put a queetion to the
•:- . .
noble duke (the Duke of Newcastle) of which he had
given him notice. Their lordships were probably aware
that the sreallerWest India Islands had been garrisoned
by detachments from Jamaica and Barbadoes, and that
.the withdrawal of these detachments Ind lea, to A
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