The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-28 00:00:00

T.HE PEACE TREATY.

Lord PALMERSTON laid upon the table of the
house, by command of her
.Majesty, paperi relative
to the conference lately held at Paris, and also a copy
of the treaty of peace. The noble lord then moved the
papers be taken into cansideration on Monday next.
The motion was agreed to.
DAY" OF THANKSGIVING.

Lord PALMERSTON said, by an order in CJuncil;
Sunday next had been appointed as a day of genera
thanksgiving for the return of the blessing of peace.

WHITSUNTIDE HOLIDAYS.

In answer to the question of Lord J. MANNERS,
Lord PALMERSTON sail it was intended to adjourn
from Friday, the 9th, till Friday, the 16th of May.

FALL OF KARS.

Mr. WHITESIDE moved the following resolution

" That, while this house feels it to bo its duty to express
its admiration of tho gallantry of the Turkish soldiery, and
of the devotion of the British officees at the Siege of Kars, it
feels it to be equally a duty to express its conviction that the
capitulation of that fortress, and the surrender of the army
which defended it, thereby eadangeriu,g the safety of the
Asiatic Provinces of Turkey, wore iu a great measure owing
to the want of foresight and one.rgy on the part of her Ma-
jesty's Administration."

In doing so ha said that if in examining into the fall of
Kars it was found necessary to make observations on the
political conduct of public men, however disagreeable
a dety it might be, it must be performed if essential to
the interest of the country, and however reluctant they
might be to disturb the joy of any Minister who might
wish to repose on his laurels in having obtained
peace after the country Lad been for some time engaged
in war. The subject before the house opened up three
questiona—political, commercial, and geographical.
['he hon. and learned gentleman, in confirmation of the
first, proceeded to argue the necessity there was for the
Government to consider the condition of Persia in any
war in the East, and quoted the remarks of
Sir J. Cam Hobhouse that it was the duty of the Go-
vernment to make war against any state that bad a de-
sire of aggrandisement of territory in Persia, Herat being
the gates of India ; and he (Mr. Whiteside) examised into
the position- of Ru,:sia with that country previous to the
war, and Russia being desirous of attacking Turkey did
so in Asiatic Turkey, and her possession of any
part of Persia allowed her to do so easily, and at the
same time, if she thought proper, put a check on the
commerce of England in that quarter of the world.
Kars gave the key to Asia Minor, and the possession of
that by Russil, when they considered the will of Peter
the Great, who bequeathed his policy of conquest to his
successors, believing that the possession of Constantinople
must lute Europe and Asia. Too policy of this ccun-
try towards Turkey, in 1853, when war broke out, was
a repressive policy. Turkey at that time was
full of enthusiasm for war, but England did
all she could to destroy -it ; but having
failed England was bound afterwards to assist Turkey
in her extremity. He reviewed the state of Turkey in
1854, 6 n cennection, and the incursion of Russia iato
Asia Minor and the check she received at Teffis from
Schamyi. it was the duty of the Government in referenceto
the future influence of Russia over Persia to do some-
thing, and then it was that the Ministry put themselves
in motion to concoct the materials of a blue
book, and the one now presented to Parha-
ment, • with reference to Karti, was one of the
most extraordinary productions Viat had ever seen the
light of day, being constructed on the pi inciple of mys-
tification. A gentleman was then sent out to Erzeroum
as a commissioner, and it was owing to hi,
great abilities that Asia Minor was saved--
(hear, heat)—Le being without instructions from
the Government to guide him in his conduce. If in-
structions came from Lord Raglan, where were they ?
If he received any from Lord Raglan, it was evident
that if they were presented they would be found to tell
against the Government ; and on that accouet,
no doubt, they had been omitted from the blue
book. The hon. and learned gentleman, havieg
stated how closely connected was the interest and inde-
pendence of Persia with that of Turkey in Asia,
procee2el to enter into the details connected with Gen
Williams' appointment to the command of the Turks at
Kars and his communications to Lord Stratford at Con-
star) inople with reference to the state of that fortress,
and in pas:ing said be was usable to understand Lord
S ratio, d's c neduct. All the assistance this great country
had given to Turkey in this extremity was four men and
a doctor. (Laughter*
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

THE MILIT.AIIY BOARD OP INQUIRY

(This Day.)

The Board resumed its sittings to-day at 11 o'clock.
There was a much larger attendance of ladies this
morning than on any previous occasion. That portion
of the Hall devoted to the public was much crowded,
probably from a desire to see Lord Cardigan (whose case
was announced to be taken to-day), whose name has be-
come notorious in connection with the celebrated but
unfortunate Balakiava charge.
The business of the Court commenced with Lord
Lucan reading his defence to the Board. He said that,
after having attentively read Col. Tullneh's report, he
had come to the conclusion that it had but two &pets
in view : viz , first, not to uphold his report, but to ex-
cuse the Commissioners for having made it ; and,
secondly, to exonerate him (Lord Lucan) and the cavalry
from blame. He had little to complain of the tone,
manner, or spirit in referer ea to his conduct in this in-
quiry, but he was compelled to express his opinion that
he had collected the evidanee whie'r told against him,
while that which was in his own favour was carefully
paraded before the public. He had, moreover, the popu-
lar prejudice in his favour, and the press loud and clamo-
rous on his side, while witnesses called by him (Lord
Lucan) were run down and undervalued, and those of
Col. Tuilocli applauded and their motives upheld. If
the inan'y and straightforward evidence of S:r Edmund
Lyons had been treated in that, way who could expect
to escape? It was not for Col. Tulloch to appeal for
sympathy to the Court, and he (Lord Lucan) should
not ask for it, for whatever might be the result of this
extraordinary and humiliating inqiiiry—the first of the
kind that had ever been held on a general officer—ho
should never fear being hereafter taunted with the re-
proach that he bad ever neglected the comfort of that
brave and gallant army committed to his charge
in the Crimea. His lordship then adverted to the
evidence of Colonel Griffiths relative to the alleged
differences between them. Colonel Griffiths did not
remember much of what occurred at the time he alluded
to, and that not very correctly. He had stated that hie
regiment was moved ten times, whereas Major Connolly
hat stated it was not moved more than seven times. He
might pi rhaps excuse Col. Griffiths for this mistake, for
ho could easily understand how much mere serious it
was for Col. Ceriffitles to move than for any other officer,
in consequence of the difficulty of carrying about with
him his own welt-regulated domestic and culinary esta-
blishment. (Laughter.) He denied that he had ever
been guilty of rudeness to Col. Griffiths in the interview
alluded to, or that he had done anything to discourage
or deter him ; but that, on the contrary, he did every-
thing in his power to'urge him and other
officers to pro-
vide every possible shelter for the cavalry, and that
consequently the inference was unfairly drawn by the
Commissioners with reference to the altercations be-
lie (Gerd' Lulus) did net recollect
tween him and. Col. Griffiths, and was both untiourteous
'did occur between them, but he recol-
lected Col. Griffiihs visiting him one morning, as was
usual with the officer of the day, to receive his orders
relative to the pickets, when he (turd Lucan) jocosely
remarked on the "greyish white greatcoat " Colonel
Griffithiehad on, which he had received born Constanti-
nople. Colonel Griffiths thee made some remarks about
the permanent position of the camp, and no doubt he
(Lord LucatO replied, " How can I tell you what we are
about to do." Col. Griffiths continued in a tone of re-
proach. He (Lord Lucan) replied, and he believed Col.
Griffiths received it with a sneer, and made some extrava-
gant suggestion on what was then uppermost in his mind,
and which he was discussing with the Commander-in-
Chief and the Quartermaster-General of the Army. Col.
Griffiths then in an extraordinary manner threw himself
back on his horse and said, "You are not speaking to
me like a gentleman, nor treating me as one gentleman
ought to treat another." He then told him to be
quiet, or he would place him under arrest. Colonel

.~... -.

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Griffiths continued repeating that he was only talkirg
to him (Lord Lucan) as one gentle,man had a right to
talk to another, on which he (Lord Lucan) told him to
hold his tongue and join his picket. (Laughter.) his
lordship, after some other remarks, said he would wil-
lingly leave his case in the hands of the Board ; but
there were some remarkable points in the evidence that
had been submitted, both to the Commissioners and the
Board, to which ho found himself bound to advert—
and first with reference to the percentage of deaths of
the horses. He maintained that his statements on a
former occasion in connection with the deaths were cor-
rect, and that every figure in the Commi=hioners' report
Was incorrect. He had shown that the heavy cavalry
had not 1,055 horses on the Lt October, as had been'
stated, because at that time there was not a single man
of the heavy brigade in the Crimea, and it was only after
the arrival of the Enniskillen and the Royal Dragoons
on the sth or 6th of the month that the heavy cavalry
became complete. His lordship then proceeded to ana-
lyse the figures in the Cominissioners reports,, relative to
the returns of the horses and deaths, which he charac-
terised as " stuff," "rubbish," and " unintelligible,"
and in proof of it asserted that the number of horses
landed in Bulgaria was 2,450, out of which 422 died
there, and 276 on the passage to the Crimea, making
a total loss, up to that time, of 698, leaving 1,752 horses
alive. Out of this number 847 horses died in the Crimea
up to the 16th of January, or 48 per cent. His lordship
next referred to a paragraph in the report relative to the
-hutting, which accused him of disiegeniotieness and com-
plained that a great deal of obloquy had been cast upon
him iu consequence of the displacement of a marginal
note, as alleged by the printer, which the Commissioners
might at any time have put right, but they had declined
doing so until two or three days after the commence•
meat of this inquiry. In this as in every other
part of the report the Commissioners state-
ments were inconsistent and at variance with the
facts. He then again came to the question of censure,
and here he contended that if there was one part more
than another that contained animadversion on his con-
duct it was in the Commissioners' remarks in connection
with the hutting, and notwithstanding what Col. Tulloch
had said to the contrary, it was evident that the Com-
missioners had animadverted on him without mentioning
his name, hoping thereby to evade the responsibility
they would otherwise have incurred by stating his name.
In passing to what he considered the most important
part of the report, charging him with want of prompti-
tude and ingenuity in devising shelter for the cavalry, he
remarked, in rather strong terms—amounting almost to
animadversion—on Col. Griffiths' sheltering, which he
said comprised only a six inch drain, quite inadequate
for what it was intended, and which that officer
was unable to make without relying on assistance
from others. The charge of want of promptitude
and ingenuity resolved itself into two questions, a ean-
vas question, and a drainage canvas. With regard to
the former, he called the attention of Sir R. Airey to the
use of canvas for shelter as early •as October. There
was no want of promptitude or ingenuity here, but did
Col. Tulloch shoe,' sufficient sagacity when he- was di-
rected by the Minister of War to make the necessary
arrangements for hutting the Wien.
Col. Tulloch said he was not invested with that re-
sponsibility by the Minister fur War, and begged the
protection of the Court.
The Judge-Advocate-General sail there! was no evi-
dence of that kind before the Court, and Lord Lucan
had better confine his remarks to what had been stated
in evidence.
Lord Lucan continued—Ho said that whatever might
have been stated about the use of canvas, no person of
experience, and especially those who had been in the
Crimea, would say that it could have been used with
safety to the horses on the plateau in the month of
November. He agreed that if nothing else could have
been obtained canvas t o a certain extent might
have been of advantage especially in roofing, but there
never W 33 a sufficient quantity of scantling with which
to form frame work for canvas roofing, and if Mr
Rawliuson had stated that it would have been safe to
have used the same scantling for canvas as for timber.
The deficiency of scantling was a difficulty which any
amount of canvas could not have remedied, but admit-
ting canvas would have been useful was it to be got,
Admiral Sir E. Lyons bad stated that canvas could not
have been had from the fleet, and every word that had
fallen from the gallant admiral would have been con-
firmed by Admiral Dundas if ho had been allowed to use
his written replies to the queries ho (Lord Lucan) had
forwarded to him so that they had evidence of the two
admirals of the station on that point.
The Judge-Advocate-Gen eral-- I think not Lord Lucan.
The replies of Sir D. Dundas had not been received in
evidence.
Lord Lucan said he would fall back on the evidence
of Sir E. Lyons, which was quite sufficient for his pur-
pose. It hal been proved that if there had been a suffi-
cient supply of canvas that there was a deficiency of car-
penters. The authorities at home were not well ac-
quainted with the supply of carpenters at Constantinople,
and, as an instance, he had only to refer to what occur-
red at Scutari. Some works requiring construction
there the War-office sent out a clerk of the works at
5001. per annum to look after it, and the Ordnance, not
knowing what the War-office had done, sent out ano-
ther clerk of the works at 5001. per annum—(laughter)
—and the conserience was that there were two clerks
of works, at 1,0001. a yen s tlary. When they got to
Scutari they fume I they had only 16 men to look after—
(laughter)—that being all the men they could get.
do would next refer to the trenching, &c., for shel-
ter, and that brought him to the evidence of Mr. Raw.
linson, who, in addition to his being a civil en-
gineer was also an eminent genealogist—('aughter)— he
meant geologist, had stated that pits could have been
constructed in certain places, but that was impossible,
because the cavalry had orders to keep in a certain place,
and be bad further given a statement of how much
ground a soldier could excavate, based on what a navvy
was capable of doing, an assumption which every one
who knew the habits, &I. of the two classes of men
knew to be absurd. His lordship then pointed out in
detail how wrong it would have been to have dug such
pits for the use of the horses, and the danger littely to
result from them. The Russians never placed their
horses behind trenches, for the great object in warfare
was to change their ground as often as possible. Lord
Lucan then referred to a report be had furnished to
Inns on the 16th December, of the available men in the
cavalry not being satisfied with the progress they were
making in sheltering the horses, and he found that on
that day the available men of the Royal Dragoons num-
bered 10, the 4th Dragoons none, the sth Dragoons 16,
the Scots Greys 5, the 4th Light Dragoons 6, the Bth
Iluesars none, the 11th Hussars 1, the 13th Light Dra-
goons 1, and the 17th Lancers from 30 to 40 men, not
including regimental duties. His lordship next read a
detailed statement of the duties of an "idle dragoon ia
the field, consisting of his cleaning his own horse and
accoutrements, as well as those belonging to men who
were sick or engaged as butchers, &c., attend to stable
duties and other matters, which allowed him only three
heurs idle time in a short December day. Great stress
had ben laid by the Commissioners on the fact that of
the horses sett to Balaklava for stores, one-half only
carried loads, the other half being ridden by the men ;
but that was not a matter for which he (Lord Lucas)
was responsible. His orders were to send to Balaklava
a certain number of horses, and if the Commissariat
only loaded half of them he was not to blame fur
it. The commissioners were wrong in stating that the
stores were but one mile from the camp, when they were
two miles distant. He again reiterated that ho had not
the assistance of an engineer officer to assist hits in con-
structing shelter, and that the small number of tools he
had were of the worst description possible, and perfectly
usele3e.
[At 2 o'clock the Board adjourned for half an hour, and
on their re' urn Lord Lucan continued his statement.]
He sai I that he believed he hal not been assisted by an
engineer officer in providing shelter to the extent the
Commander-in-Chief and Sir R. Airey desired, and he did
not blame Colonel Tulloch for alloWing himself to sup-
pose, from the answers of Colonel Gordon and Sir R.
Airey, that an engineer officer waeordered to assist him,
though they were unable to carry out their intentions ;
but he did blame him for not carrying his inquiry fur-
ther, and have satisfied himself that that was the fact.
If the cavalry had bad no other duties -to
perform than beloeged to them in providing
shelter, So., an I had been in that regent as favourably
circumstanced as the French cavalry, he believed that in
the course of two or three weeks, had the materials been
forthcoming, he sh,uld have succeeded in hutting the
horses° and it was to the delay is the subsequent
arrival of material, the transport duty the cavalry had to
perform, and tt e want of proper scantling for roofing
that the delay was to be attributed. He was quite cer-
tain that by the llth of Feb. eyelet horse that sur-
vived was under cover. This, too, was in
the middle of v inter when the ground was covered with
snow, and when it would have b: en most improper to
require the men to expose themselves more than was
necessary to the severity of the weather. He next
said that the blunders in the report were so great
that it was difficult to account for them.
The noble lord complained of the manner in which
the Commissioners had selected their witnesses, and con-
fined their inquiries to certain officers, and asked why
they had not examined Lord Raglan and his staff, and
also himself (Lor 1 Lucan) ? The army suffered greatly
from " scurry," of which they bad reason to complain,
but the general officers in the Crimea bad more to com-
plain of the "scurvy " treatment they had received
from the Commissioners. He next condemned the inter-
ference of the War Minister in reference to the drawing
up of the repent, and charged the commissioners
with having sent slips of the report to the
Warq ice as they were produced for correction, and for
allowing of the "latest improvements" being introduced
into it ; and the last was said to have taken place on
the 26th January. It would appear to be "heresy" to
doubt this report, and "sacrilege " to meddle with it ;
but the inquiry on which the report was founded bad

not been c7mducted as it ought to have been, atd the
report itself had been so manufactured that it could not

be urged that it was entitled to such reverence and
respect as a report of this nature should be en-
titled to. He next adverted to Colonel Tulloch
not baing an officer qualified to conduct such an inquiry,
and said that this report should have been drawn up
without any communication with the Minister of War,
and completed without his interference only handed to
him after it had received the signature of the Commis-

Eiioners ; but this was a joint pr-odution of the Minister
for War and the Comtnisdioner..

Col. Tulloch dissented from, this inference being drawn
from his evidence.
Lord Lucan said he called that a joint production
where a third party interfered.
Col. Tulloch—There was no interference by the Minis.
ter a War.

Lord Lucan—But Tuliceh's evidence states that
a third person did interfere with the drawing up t! •
report.

The Judge•Advocate•General—You are not justified
in making that statemeLt by the evidEnee,

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