The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-01 00:00:00

cast upon die Government for having eppAnt3:l, amen
oz,her Sir Richard Airey to the office of quartermaster-
general or the army, is wholly uaderserved. (Hears) ram
ready to take my full share of responsibility as oue of her
Majesty's ministers for that appointment. It waQ, in my
opinion, a good appointment, one which the Government were
justified in mating, and by making it they did good service
to the country. (Hear, hear.) 't hen again, with regard to
Lord Cardigan's appointment, my hon. friend the Under
Secretary of State mentioned, even before the commission
went out, that every man who knew anything of the merits
of the army would do Lord Cardigan the justice to say
that he is a most distinguished cavalry officer. (Hear, hear.)
Two or three years ago I remember talking to a general
officer of great distinetion, who had served in India, as to
the merits of the ditiercut officers who have been under him,
and he told me that t! e two best cavalry officers whom he jj
had ever met in the whole course cif his service were Major-
General Gunton, who unfortunately fell fighting, and Lord
Cardigan. (Cheers.) Therefore, Ido 'not think that Ihe Go-
vernment did wrong in choosing Lord Cardigan as inspector
general of cavally. It seems to me that the motion of the
hon. and learued gentleman is neither well-timed nor is it
sound. If it was meant as an opportunity for canvassing in
this house the conduct of officers whole conduct is about to
come under the review of the board of general officers which
has just b en appointed ; if that is the motive, I think it is a
nltstake on the part of the hon. and learned member, and a
mistake which the house will not sanction by adopting it. It
is a mistake to call upon this house to discuss by anticipation,
and-without explaeation, which can be given by the officers,
the matters which the board of general officers is about to in-
quire into; but if the hon. and learned member intends by
his motion to censure the Government on'account of- the ap-
pointment of these officers, I say that that censure is not de-
served, and I think the house will not be disposed to go with
the hon. and learned g,entletnan in that respect. (Cheers.) I
again repeat that it is most unjust, both to her Majesty's (do-
vernment, and to Sir J. and Colonel Tulloch, to re-
present that by the constitution of the board of general
officers wo aro establishing a'commission to report upon a com-
mission. We are doing no such thing. We are appointing a
board of general officers to receive explanations from those
' who think themselves aggrieved by that which is contained
in the report of those commissioners ; and so far from any-
thing which we have done implying the slightest disparage-
ment upon the judgment of Sir J. M'Neill and Col. Tulloch,
I state in the most unqualified manner that the Government
attach the highest value to the labours of the commissioners.
They were chosen because we -knew them both as men of
high character, great ability, and great discernment. (Hear,
and cheers.) I mu sure that the public service has derived
the grew est benefit from the inquiries, the report, and the
suggestions wnich were made, and from the iinprovements
which have been made in that department of the service to
which their inquiry was directed. (Cheers.) I should hope,
sir, that the house would not pursue this as an inquiry into
the conduct of officers; but would be content to leave the
matter in the hands of the board of general officers by whom
the investigation is to be con lueted. I thi ;k the names of
those officers, and their high character and standing in the
service will be a sufficient guarantee that it will be conducted
in such a manner as to elicit the truth, that it will afford to
the officers a full opportunity of vindicating their character,
and tha', the result will be both satisfactory to them, to the
house, and to the country. (Cheers.)
Lord LOVAINE trtbted that in the inquiry which was
about to take place an opportunity would be afforded to the
relatives and representatives of that gallant man who so long
commanded the army in the Crimea (Lord Raglan) to defend
his memory from any imputation. He was the more anxious
on this point because, at a very trying period, the noble
lord the member for the City of London was the only person
connected with the Ministry who came forward to defend the
deceased general.

Lord PA'LIIERSION—As the court will be open, those
who are interested in the character of the distiuguished
-man referred to will naturally be represented during the
whole of the proceedings ; and I am sure, quite sure, the
Board of General Officers will give the relatives of the late
Lord haglan, should they think that anything that has passed
at all reflects upon his memory (though I cannot anticipate
anything of that kind), an ample opportunity of affording ex-
planation.
Lord C. HAMILTON complained that a near relative of
his (Col. Gordon) Had been attacked in a most uncalled for,'
he ha 1 almost said cowardly, manner, by the hon. and gallant
member for Westminster. (Cries of "Order.') What could be
the object of relating such au anecdote after so long a silence ?
The thing was clearly premeditated. The hon. and gallant
member said he should net have mentioned the matter but for
the speech of the Under Secretary for the War Department.
By what magic could that speech have put 'the letter in his
po.kes? The facts of the case were these. A gallant colonel
of artillery haying noticed a convoy in the distance, and at a
point falling within the dis riet of the gallant general's (Sir
Do L. Evans's) division, forwarded information of that fact to
Lord Raglan. His lordship instantly sent to Col. Gordon, and
requested him at once to mount his horse, gallop to the gal-
la.ut general's division, and request him to cut off the convoy
if possible, as the arabas composing it would be of the utmost
service to the army in its then position. Col. Gordon had
never seen the convoy—he knew nothing of it, except what he
was told by Lord Raglan. He instantly mounted his horse,
and hastened to the gallant general's quarters. The gallant
general demurred ; he saw no convoy, and had seen none,
and appeared indisposed further to trouble himself in the
matter. Upon this Col. Gordon returned to Lord Raglan, and
put hiss in possession of the facts. Then it was that Lord
Raglan—and not Golonel Gordon, as the gallant general
had said, and raised alaugh in so saying - suggested that
perhaps the convoy might be hidden in a turn in the road,
and again sent Col: Gordon to the gallant general on the sub-
ject. Now, such being the facts, ho put is to the house
whether it was manly aud staightforward in the gallant gene-
ral (Sir De L. Evans) to make the charges which he had be-
hind the back of Col. Gordon ? The gallant general com-
plained of the inexperience of Col. Gordon. Did he compare
Col. Gordon with himself ? If so, ho (Lord C. Hamilton)
thought that the inexperience of Col. Gordon—who obeyed
his orders—was preferable to the experience of the gallant
geueral—which prompted him after the battle of lukermau
to no better suggestion than that our army should. retire to
their ships. (Cries of Divide.) Ho (Lord C. Hamilton) be-
lieved that he had only done hi,s duty in exculpating', his: ab-
sent friend, and he called upon the gallant general for some
explanation.
Sir DE L. EVANS—The noble lord considers that I have
been totally unprovoked in this matter. I stated that ti e
Under-Secretary of State for War had attacked me, and other
Generals of Division, ou the ground of a statement made by
Col. Gordon, that, ho would not receive the knapsacks sent
out for the men. I stated that such was not the case,
that they were never offered to us; and does the noble lord
think that I have no right to defend myself when thus mis-
represented. I say that,l am justified, after the attack made
on me and other Lieu euaut-Generals of Divisions, then in
the Crimea, of vindicatieg them and myself ; and I say, after
the allusions made by the Secretary of State, it is my duty
to say so, that, while Col. G.nelen showed great zeal in the
service and attachment to it, I do not think that he shows that
discretion which is so desirable should be exercised by those
in high situations. (Hear.) The.noble lord has alluded to a
conversation which took place between me and Lord Raglan
after the battle of Inkerma.n. I was at the time in great
distress of body, and I may say of mind also. On the
evening of the battle of Inkerman, seeing the immense loss
we had sustained, I tlid say to Lurd Raglan " My Lord, will
you pardon me i I say, that flout time great loss we have sus-
tained to-day arrangements ought to be made for obtaining
a position for the army on some other point, rather than in-
cur the risk of greater reinforcements coming up for the
enemy, and which might prove disastrous to us in our pre-
hsent state." (Cheers) And if any one will reflect on the state
we were there in, they will see the justice of what I stated.
Lord Raglan, however, did not make the slightest remark.
He did not invite any d scussion. (Hear.) We were allvery
much subdued by the losses we hail sustained that day. I
was in very bad health myself, aud suffering great distress,
and I did think that if it was possible t.) remove the army to
a safer position, without pressing the siege during that winter,
the lives of a great Many men would have been saved, a-d
e was not sure but greater success might have attended
their arms. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. F. PEEL sail, in explanation, that the gallant general
was perfectly mistaken if he considered he (Nlr. F. Peel) made
any attack upon him. He was specifying instanc.3s of tho
difficulties which Government had to contend with in this
matter, aid as one of View, ha said this; rise ofd the knap-
sacks was stated by Colonel Gordon unsupported by evidence
—ttat was denied by the generals referred to, but he did not
say to whom the greatest credence was. to be given. (Loud
cries of " Divide.")

Mr. ROEBUCK then said; seeing that he would, as usual,
be in a minority, he woull not put the house to the trouble
of dividing, but would withch•aw his motion.
The motion was withdrawn accordingly.
ARMY ESTIMATES

Tho house then went into Committee of Supply on the
Army Estimates.

Tho first vote was for a stun of, seven millions, to defray
the charge of the land forces at home and abroad.
Mr. MILES objected to going on with the vote at that late
hour of the night. He hoped it might be deferred until Mon-
day.

Lord PALMERSTON said this vote was necessary, as the
foundation of the Ways and Means Bill, which must be passed
without delay. This was only a portion of the sum to be
asked for, and when the remaining portion came on it might
be.thoronghly discussed. What he proposed was, that the
house should agree to this vote, so that the whole of Monday
evening might be given to the remainder.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that the vote amounted to 10 mil-
lions, and now it was asked to vote 7 millions on account.
He should move that the Chairman report progress and ask
leave to sit again. (Cries of " No, no.")
Mr. J. M'GREGOR perfectly concurred with the hon.
member for Lambeth. He thought it would be decorous on
the part 'of the noble lord at the head of the Government to
allow this vote to be postponed. There had never been any
division on any voterelating to the war, and it was not his
intention to oppose this vote, but ho thought that timoshould
be given for its consideration.

Mr. WILSON said that if this evening were allowed to pass
without this vote being agreed to, the Ways and Means Bill
could not he passed before Easter, and then the money would
not be available for the payment of the army in due time. If
this were granted there would be still a balance of three mil-
limit to be asked for, and upon that a discussion might take
place.
Mr. DISRAELI bore testimony to the accuracy of the state-
ments of the Secretary of the Treasury, and added that if
this vote were not at once agreed to the public service would
be seriously injured.
Mr. WILLIAMS did not wish to stop anything that
might be necessary for carrying on the war, -but there were
many items in the vote which had nothing .to do with the
war, and upon which he ,ished to take the sense of the com-
mittee. He should persevere in pressing it to a division if he
stood alone.
After some further discussion,
Mr. WILSON suggested that a vote of 61 millions should
be agreed to, leaving the remainder to stand over for discus-
sion until Monday.
This was acceded to, and a vote for 61 millions was taken.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained leave to
sit again on Holiday.
The house then resumed.
The Consolidated Fund (4E31,005) Bill was read a third
time and passed.