The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-08 00:00:00

[A part of the, following appeared in our impression
of yesterday :—]
The Royal Commissioners, appointed to conduct this
inquiry, resumed their sittings this morning at the
Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
Little interest appeared to be taken in the proceed-
ings. Few persons had collected around the principal
entrance of the Hospital before the appointed time for
commencing the proceedings, and there were not more
than 150 persons (which included many ladies), present
in that part of the Hall appropriated to the public.
When the Royal Commissioners took their seats the
numbers shortly after increased, and by 12 o'clock the
court was about three-quarters lull.
The Earl of Lucan, with his solicitor, entered the Hall

at a quarter to 11 o'clock, followed shortly after by- Lord
Elcho and others—his lordship's friends. Several
ladies of his lordship's family and their friends were pre.
sent, and accommodated with seats within the bar, and
at the right7hand side of the Hall.
Mr. Mereweather, Q.C., ColOnel Knox, M.P., Sir J.
Wilson, Sir Edmund Lyons, Lord Raglan, Colonel Gor-
don, General Upton, Mr. Commissary Filder, General
Airey, and General Freeth were also present.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
about 11 o'clock.

Lieutenant Charles Douglas, of the Adjutant-Gene-
ral's Department, was present to represent the Horse
Guards, and Colonel Bagott acted as secretary to the
Commission.

At a quarter-past 11 o'clock tlikßoyal Commissioners
took their seats and commenced the day'S proceedings,
when

The President (Sir A. 11. Woodford) said it was his
duty to impress on the audience the necessity of keeping
strict silence during the inquiry, and to refrain from ex-
presbing any approbation or disapprobation in the course
of the proceedings, and trusted there would be no inter-
ruption of that. decorum and good order that ought to
prevail on such an occasion.
The Judge-Advocate-General (the Right Hon. C. P.
Villiers, M.P.) called upon Lord Lucan, and asked him
if he had received a copy of the report of the commis-
sioners on the state of the army in the Crimea, and
which part he objected to as reflecting on his character ?
Lord Lucan then rose and addressed the Court, say-
ing that before going into the question at issue he
wished to ask the Board whether it intended, as his
case was to be taken separately, to adjudicate on it se-
parately and at once, because it wag all-important to him
that they should do so ? It was essential to his case that
it should not be mixed up with that of hug other officer.
He stood there in the character of a defendant, and he
respectfully urged that his case should not only be taken
separately, but adjudicated on separately also. He could
understand that there might be an objection to make
known that decision, but he could see none to their ad-
judicating on it.
The President, after consulting with the other mem-
bers of the Board, said he did not think the Beard could
adjudicate on it in the manner he required, but declined
giving an answer to the question at that stage of the
proceedings.

Lord Lucan said it was essential to his else that what
he asked should be granted, and if the B•sard decided on
refusing his application, he most ask for twenty-four
hours' delay, in order to consider what course he had bet-
ter pursue.

The Judge-Advocate said, having reminded his lord-
ship of the contents of his lordship's letter of the 7th
February, with reference to Sir J. M'Neil and Colonel
Tulloch's report, that his lordship was called upon in
consequence of that to give the explanation he de,ired
with reference to that part of the report which he con-
sidered reflected on his character, relative to the ineffi-
cient nature of the supplies.
Lord Lucan said that he must press his request for
his case to be adjudicated on separately, and at once ;
or that the Court, if averse to it, would grant him 24
hours' de:ay, to consider what course he would then
pursue.

The Judge-Alvocate-General said it would be impos-
sible the Board could know what turn his case might
take befora they heard it. It might implicate other
nffieera, whom it would be necessary to hear, and might
have a reference and bearing on that of other officara,
who considered their conduct impugned by their re

port. If the noble lord considered that by his request
not being complied with it would prevent his beingheard
afterwards should any thing be said which he consi
dered required explanation from him, he assured him
such would not be the case, but that he would be allowed
to fully explain anything he wished.
Lord Lucan ,said he had no such fears, and pressed
his question on the Board, and asked for their decision.
The Board retired to consider the question, and after
an absence of 20 minutes returned into Court.

The Judge Advocate-General said that he had been
directed by the Board to inform his lordship, that after
the intimation that hr►d been conveyed to him that his
case, like all the others to be inquired into, would be
reported on to her Majesty on its own merit., the
majority of the board were of opinion that 24 hours'
delay was necessary for his lordship to enter on his case,
and that the board were willing to accede to the request.
Lord Lucan expressed his thanks to theßoard for that
decision, and said that still being of opinion he should
be in a disadvantageous position without his case were
separately a ljudicated on, and at once, he had no objection
to go on, if the board would allow him to enter a protest
against this decision on the minutes of the inquiry.
The Judge-Advocate-General said that the board
would report separately on each case to the Queen, and
from that decision and arrangement they could not de-
part.

Lord Lucan said that did not appear to him satisfac-
tory, and urged to be allowed to enter his protest.
the Judge-Advocate•General said the Board did not
understand his lordship's request.
After some further remarks, Lord Lucan said ha was
desirous of placing a defence of his conduct on record.
He had no desire to cause delay, and if the Board would
receive his protest he would proceed, else he must avail
himself of the 24 hours' delay.
After some further discussion the Board refused to
give any other answer to his request than the above, or
decide on receiying the protest.
Lord Lucan said that no fault should be found with
him, and decided on proceeding, but would to-morrow
present his protest, and then it would be for the Board
to accept or reject it. He proposed to read first those
parts of the report to which he took exception, and, as
he went on, to ask three or four officers whom he
should call to rebut those statements, but not to call
witnesses in chief. His lordship then read his de-
fence. He commenced by stating that he hoped
to be able to convince the Board that he was
free from the charges that had been brought against
him, and that the statements and charges were not only
unsupported by evidence, hut that they were at variance
with the truth. He contended that no loss of horses
could be charged against him, and that he and his bro-
ther officers did all they could to obey their orders, and
to carry out to the fullest extent the instructions they
received, and to promote as well as they could the effici-
ency of the men committed to their charge. His first
objection was to the calculation of the deaths of cavalry
horses, which was at variance with the truth. The re-
port stated that with reference to the effect of the defi-
ciency of forage and the other privations to which the
horses of the army were exposed they had ascertained
the loss among them from various causes (page 20), on
which they state that taking 6 months to 31st March,
inclusive, that 493 horses of the heavy cavalry died of di-
sease, being 47 per cent. of the whole wherein the gross
number of horses was 1,055, of which 83 were killed in
action, so that the mortality from disease was 50 per
cent. instead of 47. In the Light Division the number of
horses was 1,161, of which 489 were transferred to other
corps, and if that were taken into consideration the loss
from disease instead of being 38 per cent., as stated by
the commissioners, was in reality 65 per cent., and he
mentioned this, although it might be said to tell against
him, to show the fallacious calculations of the Com-
missioners, and that they had made the grossest wig.
takes it was possible for two gentlemen to make. His
lordship then proceeded to show the inaccuracy of the
Commissioners' calculations, by referring to their report
of the mortality of the commissariat horses, which, he
said, were equally incorrect. These calculations had
been made invidiously to damage the reputation of the
cavalry —who had to contend against bad weather, want
of forage, and exposure to weather, which had not been
considered by the Commissioners in making their calcu-
lations.. Mr. Commissary Filder had stated in his
evidence; and to that he directed especial attention, that
he always took :very: good care, when he had forage,
that his horses should have The preference ; and he be
. i'eved that, in fact, they were fed in preference to the
orsee of the army, After referring to the I:T.ilef that