The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-03 00:00:00

GREENLAND FISHERIES.

Mr. G. S. DUFF asked the First Lnrd of the Admi-
ralty whether, in the event of hostilities taking place,
measures would be taken for the protection of British
vessels engaged in the Greenland fisheries.
Sir J. GRAHAM said in the event of war being
declared, due care and proper measures would be taken
not only to protect the British fisheries but the whole of
the British commerce in every part of the world.
(Cheers.)

THE EASTERN ARMY.
Mr. LOVEDEN asked the Secretary at War the
number of clergymen of the Roman Catholic, Church of
England, and Presbyterian Faith, appointed to attend
on the army despatched to Turkey.
Mr. S. HERBERT replied that there were four
chaplains connected with the Church of England, one
with the Presbyterian Church, and two Roman
Catholics.
BANK RIIPTCY COMMISSION.
Mr. MURROUGH asked Viscount Palmerston
when the report of the Bankruptcy Commission, and
the evidence on which it was founded, would be laid on
the table of the house.
Lord PALMERSTON said the report had not yet
been received.
THE NEW REFORM BILL.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that to-morrow he
would state the course which the Government intended
to take with regard to the bill for amending the repre-
sentation of the people, the second reading of which
stood for Monday, the 13th inst.
Mr. DISRAELI —May I ask if the noble lord intends
to make that statement on the usual motion for the ad-
journment of the house.
Lord J. RUSSELL—No ; I shall make it beforegoing
into the orders of the day.
Mr. DISRAELI—WiII the noble lord make any mo-
tion ?
Lord J. RUSSELL—Yes.
UNSTAMPED PUBLICATIONS.
Mr. M. GIBSON, adverting to the announcement
that it was intended to continue the prosecution of Mr.
Shaw, of Dublin, for publishing an unstamped news-
paper, until a verdict was obtained in favour of
the Government, asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether it would not be better to do here what was
done in the cage of Mr. Charles Dickens ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ob-
served that the question was rather an argumentative
one, but he did not think it would be advisable to take
the course suggested.
EMIGRATION SHIPS.
Mr. J. O'CONNELL moved for a select committee
to inquire into the recent cases of extensive loss of life
aboard emigrant ships, whether by sickness, wreck, or
other causes, and generally into the sufficiency or other-
wise of the existing regulations for the health
and protection of emigrants from the United Kingdom.
The hon, gentleman gave a vivid description of the
horrors which were gone through on board emigrant
ships, and insisted that something ought to be done in
the shape of regulations for emigration vessels to miti-
gate it not to remove the cause of them. If the house
did appoint a committee, although it would follow so
close on that of 1851, yet they would be doing no more
than was being done in America, where inquiry and
legislation bad been going on continually in the last
few years, and it would only be following the example
of humanity which had been set by America. The hon.
gentleman concluded by moving for a committee as
above stated.

Mr. F. PEEL said some of the remarks of the hon. per:son to submit the names of the officers to the Queen, and
member would lead one to suppose not only that there at once to see the commissions made out, instead of it being
was some defect in the law relating to passengers, but necessary, as it was at present, for seven or eight letters to
also that there had been some remissness on the part of pass about the business ? (Hear, hear.) The present sys-
those who were charged with the administration of the
tem must necessarily cause considerable delay, and cases
might arise where that delay might be prejudicial to the
law. So far as the administration of the law was con- Public service. (Hear, hear.) So again with re ard to the
corned, he entertained no unwillingness to an inquiry, is)upply of arms. If arm' s were required for the troops,g the
as he believed the duties of the officers under the Pas- Commander-in-Chief informed the Secretary at War ; the
sengers' Act had been discharged in a satisfactory Secretary at War wrote to the Secretary of State request-
manner. The hon. gentleman had anticipated the main ing the Queen's authority for the supply of the arms ; the
objection he had to this motion, which was, that the Secretary of State wrote to the Master-General and Board
law relating to this subject had been recently inquired of Ordnance, communicating the Queen's pleasure, or tak-
into ;it was referred to a committee appointed in 1851, ing upon himself to give the Queen's authority ; and his
which went into the whole case, and presented a report letter became the authority under which the arms were
containing very valuable suggestions. If that report furnished. Thus there were five forms to be gone through
before a single musket could be issued to the soldiers.
had remained inoperative, it might not have been inex- (Hear hear.) Now, why again should there not be a mi-
pedient to appoint another committee, with a view of piste; of war to take all the necessary steps himself?
recalling the attention of the house to the recommenda- (Cheers.) But what were the duties of the Secretary at
tions which were then made ; but it should be borne in War? He prepared the army estimates for the regiments
mind that in consequence of that investigation and based of the line ;he checked the details of military discipline,
on their report, a measure was brought into the house and he attended to the execution of military law. The
the following year, which !passed into a law, and was military estimates were prepared, however, according to
the existing law on the subject ; and there had hardly the orders of the Secretary of State, the Secretary at-ar
been a fair opportunity yet of judging of the effects of being a mere clerk—a "cranny." Crannies, it might be
that law, but as far as it had hitherto been tried it had tiievcsescslaiyerkstoiianfiinrndii the house, were what they
ncallendltz
India—men
moizooaldhacoovina F g
been found very salutary. In conclusion, the hon. en- letter with perfect a4single
tleman said it was impossible by legislation to prevent word of the language, and the Secretary at War had about
vessels going on rocks, or to make captains in every case as much to do with the estimates as the crannies of Bengal.
act prudently, and, considering that the Passengers Act (Laughter.) The expenditure of the money grantedby
had passed so recently, he did not see the necessity for Parliament for the army department took place under the
an inquiry ; but if an inquiry should result in making warrants of the Secretary at War ; and that was the rule
any suggestions likely to prevent such disasters as had he (Mr. Hume) wished to see extended to the whole.of the
p
occurred in the course of the last two months, he should payments on account of our land forces. The Secretary at
be exceedingly glad, and he suggested that that should
War also decided upon all doubtful claims respecting pen-
sions to widows and wounded men. In conjunction with
be the form of the inquiry. the Commander-in-Chief and with the consent of the
Mr. LIDDELL suggested that the committee should Treasury, he made alterations in the rates of pay and al-
inquire how it was that shoals of destitute Irish were lowances. He was also required to answer all questions in
landed in this country, and who it was that paid their Parliament connected with the administration of the
passage, army, as far as they came within his department ; but
Mr. HENLEY was glad that the hon. gentleman had surely if they wished to make him an e bcient minister
agreed to the committee, but was sorry to hear that he they ought to place the entire army under his control, and
wished to restrict the inquiry. thus enable him to answer for the whole of it, instead of
Mr. CARDWELL said the only limitation which he only a single department? (Hear, hear.) Another duty of
or his hon. friend the Under-Secretary for the Colonies the Secretary/at War was the insertion of all promotions
wished to put upon the inquiry was that it should not the protection
appointments in the Gazette, and he was charged with-
extend to matters which were thoroughly investigated conduct3r one Ito: the
ofcitvhiel
soldiers
sts ofas thewl realmasiloraill msoirs.
and closed by the former committee. Beyond that the respondence the part
magistrates respecting all complaints
inquiry might, and he hoped would, be carried to the against officers. He also brought before Parliament the
fullest extent, so that every cause of accident or casualty Mutiny Bill, framed the articles of war, and issued orders
at sea might be ascertained and guarded against for the for the removal of troops. These were his duties, as de-
future. With regard to the loss of the Tayleur nothing scribed by the commissioners, but the artillery and elle.
could be more conclusive or more clear upon that 'point neers were under another set of rules. The Iseteera-mGeenree-
than the report of Captain Walker, and he might be al- ral acted in his military eapeacityprecisely
Commander-inin-Chief to the
to take that opportunity of stating that he had lation to these corps
The civil
th
ofto Oththernuawnoeores,
directed the local Marine Board of Liverpool to institute rest of the army. Tinh
the hands
l dutiesof
placed, however, Boarditnherelati
an inquiry into the conduct of Captain Noble, the twander of that ill-fated vessel. om- the respective members of which took each one department.
The clothing of the army, instead of being as it was in
Captain SCOBELL was clad that this subject had France, Austria, Belgium,, or Russia, under one manage.
been brought before the house, as it was one of great and ment, presented another anomaly. The clothing for the
growing importance, and he hoped the committee would artillery and engineers and the militia, and the great coats
for the whole of the army, were provided by the Board of
bt the clothing for the regiments of the line
be invested with ample powers to go to the bottom of the
Ordn
was done by colonels in a manner quite separate and die-
ance•
whole question. He suggested that something should
tint. (Hear, hear.) If the members tla Beal
I°.l
be done to ensure efficient crews for emigrant ships, as
well as efficient masters and mates, and a party should Ordnance were engineers or artiller
be employed by the Government to see that the crew possibly be some reason for keepingythe dersplrtmerene :Is-
ntienictth,ebrnotn
inenpoorintht
was complete in number and efficiency before the vessel
eoefthfearc.tAilthenembebruils ofdin the bwoearerdplweeeerl
was permitted to leave port. barrack •
ld be agreed under th •
Mr. MEAGHER hoped the motion won e control of the Ordnance, but while lie (Mr.
to in the terms in which it had been proposed. Hume) admired the talents of that branch of the service be
Mr. F. PEEL consented to withdraw his objection to was bound to say that they did not always adopt the im-
the motion, upon the understanding that the inquiry provements of modern times. He thought that if there
would be confined as far as possible to new points, was a war minister who would advertise for contracts,
Captain B
ENTINCIC was of opinion that careless- they would be able to get better buildings, and at a less
ness on board
ship might be obviated to a large extent expense. (Hear.) He (Mr. Hume) had been informed, by
by adopting a system of penalties which should be the way, that artillery officers and engineers could not be
appointed to the command of a division ; that General
stringently enforced. Burgoyne, for instance, could not have been appointed to
Mr. FAGAN remarked that then had been told that the command; which had been entrusted to Lord Raglan.
while the mortality on board American emigrant ships Was that so ? If it had been the rule in France, even
had been eight per cent., on board British ships it had Bonaparte could never have had a command. Perhaps the
only been one per cent. during the last year. Now, right hon. gentleman (Mr. Sidney Herbert) would clear up
could not some arrangement be made with the United this point. Again ; the appointment of general officers to
States by which their regulation for emigrant ships foreign commands was settled by the Commander-in-Chief
should be assimilated to our own ? At least two-thirds and the Secretaryof State ; and the Secretary at War often
of the emigration to America and Canada was carried on knew nothing of an appointment in his official capacity
in vessels belonging to the United States,and he
.until the officer applied to him for his passage money.
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Hume) thought that the Secretary
it would not be unwise if the s • uggestaons of Mr. Kin- at War might be more conversant with the merits of offi-
naird were adopted upon this point, namely, that a de- cers than the Colonial Secreta• anti
' lie was afraid that
posit of money should be required from every foreign the public had not always been served as well as it might
emigrant ship which should not be returned until a have been, in consequence of the present mode of selecting
report had been received by the Emigration Commis- officers for commands. (Hear.) An army was of little use
sioners that the passengers were being well treated. At without a good commissariat. In England and Ireland the
present it was too much the practice of American vessels troops were supplied by contract, and so were the guards;best
to disregard the regulations of the Emigration Commis- but the militia were supplied by the
iceollvonaenlsan they
eemeut the
sioners directly they got outside the port • but, if this could. He understood that by b
a the Ordnance in Ire-
commissariat was to be suppliedy
deposit system were adopted, there would be some check d h contract abr ad
land, by the Treasury in England, an Y
- b • C o *
upon them. He hoped this was not true. It appeared y Sir harks
After a few words from Mr. J. O'CONNELL in Trevelyan's evidence that the present plan was enormously
reply, the motion was agreed to. expensive. The Treasury should never be an executive
A WAR MINISTER. office ; but it ought to control the expenditure of ry.
department.(Hear.) The Colonial SecretaiT had
Mr. HUME said the question which he had undertaken other f ' .• the distinction of the Order
present the power of con errine,
to bring before the house was to his mind one of great im- o the Bath ; but what did the Colonial Secretary know of
portance ; it was one that was not novel, for he had re- the merits of officers? The Secretary at War, however,
peatedly brought it before the house in an indirect form, was concerned in all questions ofl promotion, sale of corn.
retirement upon ha f-pay, and he would
and after the Government undertook to appoint a commis- missions, and reti. _ . . . _ be
more fit to judge. (Hear, hear.) fee (Mr. Hume)
sion to investigate it he had hoped that much time would
muchwould now lay before the house an authority, to which he
not elapse before they would attempt to apply seme remedy begged their particular attention—he meant that of the
to the evils of the existing system. (Hear, hear.) The, commissioners. Their recommendations were eel follows :
question at this moment assumed an aspect of more than
"1. That the greater part of the authority, with rote!
..