The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-28 00:00:00

THE CRIMEAN TROOPS

Mr. NOEL asked the First Lord of the Treasury
whether, as an early day would be fixed for the entry of ti,e
Guards into London, her Majesty's Government would
consider the propriety of bringing up other regiments
who have arrived from the Crimea on that occasion, so
that an opportunity might be affected to the inhabi-
tants of this metropolis of welcoming portions of artil-
lery, cavalry, and infantry of the line also, and of testi-
fying the sense they entertain of the services rendered
equally by the whole army during the late war.
Lord PALMERSTON said her Majesty, nor these
who advised her, had no intention of drawing a
distinction between the Guards and the other triops
that had served in the Esst, by naming a day for the
entry of the Guards into London. Everything had bee❑
done by other branches of the army during the late war
that bravery could accomplish, and the only reason for
the Guards coming to London, any more tha❑ other
regiments, was because it was the Guards who
did garrison duty in the metropolis, and those
brave men who were returning were to return► to
their duties and their quarters in the metropolis. (Hear,
hear.) It would be impossible to find accommodation
for the other troops in the metropolis, nor a place to re-
view them ; but as they were to repair to Aldershot.
where her Majesty would review them, the people of
London, by the proximity of the camp to the metropolis,
and the great facilities of reaching it, would
have an opportunity of testifying their admiratio❑
of the valour, bravery, courage, and self-denial dis-
played by those troops during the late war. (Elear,
hear.) It was not right to say that the welcome to the
Guards to London would be an invidious distinction,
because her Majesty bad visited and welcomed almost
every branch of the army that had returned to this
country and were stationed within a certain distance
from her Majesty's residence. (Rear, hear.)
LEGION OF HONOUR.
Mr. H. BARING asked the Under Secretary for War
why the Legion of Honour had not been distributed to
those officers of the Crimean Army wbo had long since
been selected by General Codrington for that decora-
tion ?

Mr. F. PEEL said a list of the names of the officers
and men had been forwarded to the French Government.
As soon as the order had been received and published the
distribution would take place.
APPELLATE JURISDICTION (HOUSE OF
LORDS) BILL.

In answer to a question from au Hon. Member,
Lord PALMERSTON said he was unable to name
an early day for the second reading of the bill. It was
an important measure, the result of a compromise, and
was introduced under the sanction and authority of her
Majesty's Government.
Mr. DISRAELI protested against this bill being
considered as the result of a compromise. It was a
constitutional measure, which the Government ought to
introduce and support as such, and not upon anything
that had occurred " behind the scenes."
Goverrn
Lo PALMERSTON explained. The bill was a
Govern Government measure, and so far from his having given
any information of what had occurred "behind the
scenes," he luyi only stated what had appeared on the
stage, and been acted up to the foot-lights. (Laughter
He alluded to the nature of the diecussion on this ques-
tion in the House of Lords.
Sir J. GRAHAM addressed the Louse in support
of a change in the appellate
jurisdiction of;
the House of Lords, a„a
urged on the Govern-,
ment the neces-ity of the bill now before
the house being read a second time on an early day that,
it may pass this session, He suggested an alteration in
the standing orders with reference to entertaining pe-
cuniary claims from India, and als) that relative to ad-
dresses to the Crown.

Mr. V. SMITH supported the suggestion with re-
`erence to India.

-CHURCH-RATES ABOLITION BILL.

Sir W. CLAY inquired of the First Lord of the Trea-
sury whether it was the intention of the Government to
afford ficilities for proceeding with the further stages
of the Church-Rat's Abolition Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, on the
part of the Government, said that it was the intention
of the Government to press on several important bills
as speedily as possible ; and under these circumstances-
it would be impossible for the Government to name a
day on which the Churcl -Rates Abolition Bill could be
brought on. The right hon. baronet laboured under a i
mistake in believing the bill had been adopted by
the Government. The Government intended to intro•

dure causes in the bill at the proper stage, but tl-at
stage had not yet arrived. (Laughter.)
Slr W. CLAY said that on the explanation given by
the Government be should abandon the bill.
THE ORDER OF VALOUR.
Captain SCOBELL asked whether the arrangements
for the distribution of the Victoria Order of Valour were
completed, or nearly so, and whether it would be brought
intu operation at an early period ? Nothing, he said,
was so bad in a subject of this kind as delay. The Baltic
medals and the Crimean medals had been distributed
much too profusely. All who were in the Baltic or the
Crimea, whether they were worthy or unworthy, bad
received them. With regard to the order in question,
the rules were excellent, and he trusted they would be
adhered to.
Sir C. WOOD said he believed the arrangements were
all but-completed ; and as soon as they were, the order
would be brought into operation.
TURKISH DECORATIONS.
Mr. KNIGHTLEY asked the Fir-t Lard of th© Trea-
sury why the British officers belonging to the Turkish
Contingent, on whom the Sultan had conferred the
Order of the Medjedjie, were not permitted to wear that
decoration ?
Mr. LABOUCHERE believed that the Sultan had
expressed a wish to decorate not only certain officers of
the Contingent, but also other officers who had served
with the British army in the Crimea, for their services
during the war. The question as to the second class of
officers was under consideration, and would be speedily
determined. He believed that they would be put on the
same footing.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
Mr. OTWAY said he wished to put a question to the
Vice-President of the Board of Trade as to the accidents
which had occurred on a certain line of railway. He did
not hesitate to say that almost every accident which oc-
curred on the South-Eastern railway, between Sept. and
Dec. of last year, might have been prevented with ordi-
nary precautions. The annual report which was presented
to the Board of Trade by the gentleman who reported on
these accidents stated that these accidents were to be
attributed to negligence and to laxity in the observance
of regulations. One by which four lives were lost was
caused by a train coming in collision with another,
which was proceeding in an opposite direction. He was
himself last year, in one of the tidal trains of the South-
Eastern Railway. It started a few minutes before the
appointed time, and they ran into a coal waggon which
was being shunted upon another line, Ode of the
passengers was seriously injured. No notice, however,
was taken of this occurrence in the annual report of acci-
dents. Sometimes accidents occurred through want c.f
punctuality, but there was an arrangemebt on that line by
which punctuality would po,itively cause an accident.
It appeared that the London and Brighton Railway Com-
pany started a train at 8 o'clock. It was a slow passenger
train, and stopped at two stations before it got to Reigate.
It was due at Riegate at a quarter to 9. The South-
Eastern Company started another train from the same-
terminus a quarter of an hour after the Brighton train
started. It was an express train, and was timed to arrive
at Reigate a minute before the Brighton train arrived
there. He contended that such an arrangement was very
improper, and he suggested that the Board of Trade
should interfere in the matter. A sensible man and a
great wit had said that they would never have safety
in railway travelling till a prelate was killed on a rail-
way. If some patriotic prelate wished to sacrifice him-
self to his couatry, he would advice him to travel by one
of these two trains, and he would in all probability suc-
ceed in his object.
Mr. LOWE said the Board of Trade had power to in-
spect a railway before it was opened, and it could not be
opened till the board had certified that it was in a-fit
state. After it was opened the board, had no power.
It was a question whether the Government should have
power to interfere with the conduct of railways, and it
appeared to h'ra that the Government should not inter-
fere, as the safety of the public depended on the respon-
sibility of those who had the management. At the same
time he was bound to state his opi,pion and that of his
department, that the case mentioned by his hon. friend
was one that those companies ought to look into. One
train was started at eight o'clock and another at a quar-
ter past, which was due at Reigate a minute before the
train which first started got there, and which it could
not pass without collision. If any accidtnt should hap-
pen after this matter had been mentioned the responsi-
bility of those two companies would be very heavy in-
deed.

Mr. JAMES MACGREGOR said a rule was laid
down to provide for the public safety, which was th7st no
train should be allowed to proceed till a telegraph lied
arrived from the next station that the preceding train
had passed that station, and that the line was clear. If
this rule were observed a mere error of print would not
affect the safety of the train.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE
UNITED STATES.
Mr. MOORE said he was not satisfied with the answer
of the noble lord on the question of America. He thought
it right that he should state why that answer should be
unsatisfactory to the house, and why he should persevere
in the motion of which he had given notice. When the
noble lord gave notice that the papers which comprised
the whole of the matter in dispute were to be laid
on the table of the house, he acceded at once to the
suggestion of postponement tll the papers were pro
duced. He did not think, hawovar, that any
device, however plausible or adroit, that her Majes-
ty's Government might resort to, could by any possibi-
lity change or modify the nature of the question which
the house would ultimately have to decide. But they
were told by the noble lord that it was unwise even now
to stir the question, that doing so might be injurious to
the public service in connection with negotiations on
another subject, and which in some unaccountable aay
was supposed to be connected with this, and that any
expression of opinion on the subject would be likely to
interfere with it. Iu fact, the oracle to which they were
indebted for all public virtue, the Sibylline papers con-
nected with the blue book, was again on the tapis, but
he had no faith whatever in the discretion of the priest-
ess, and he thought the sooner they superseded her
functions the better. They had heard too much of Par-
liamentary discretion on this subject. They were told
the same thing before, and the consequence was that they
were drifted into a war before they were aware of it.
He did not think that discussion on that subject would
have been injurious. On the contrary, he believed
that whatever was done well in the last war was done
in consequence of public opinion expressed in that
!mine and out of it ; and that all the disasters arose from
t'-ie holes and corners of official retreat. As a general
ru'e he had no faith in the dogma the noble lord had
propounded, and with regard to thie particular case he
could see nothing which should induce the house to
pause. On the contrary, be believed there were hun-
dreds of thousands in this country who believed that
the country had been humiliated and wronged, and that
this was a case for watchful jealousy, so that at the pre-
sent moment the state of public opinion in England was
drifting, not into a war, but into a state which might
lead to war. If that were so, was it just or wise in them
to remain silent, and allow the people to have this feeling?
Was it not, on the contrary, their duty to interfere to
prevent such a feeling from growing and festering, if
they believed it to be unjust? He believed that such a
course would tend far more to secure the respect of the
people of America than all the circumlocution of all the
diplomatists in the world. If the government of the United
States ha f not been deceived and offended, if they had
taken no steps but those consistent with their own dignity,
was it not the duty of that house at once to make atone-
ment, and to pass censure on those by whom the public
interests had been imperilled ? If, on the other hand,
our Government bad done nothing but what they were
right in (Lino, was it not their duty to sustain the ser-
vants of the Crown ? But there was another course which
he c ould not understand ; to say, en the one hand, that
our minister had done his duty towards his sovere'gn
and his country, and yet be was to be dismissed ; and,
on the other hand, to receive with open arms the minis-
ter of America. Such a course was calculated neither
to cause us to be respected, nor was it consistent with
the dignity of this country. Mr. Crampton had not
been dismissed on any fastidious fancy, but the gravest
possible allegations had been brought against his con-
duct and character, and the conduct and character of
her Majesty's Government, by the Government of the
United States, and it concerned that house to inquire
into thoie allegations, and to pronounce a verdict upon
them, to prove to the people of England and the people
of America that whatever might be the folly of our di-
plomatists, at all events the people of England were not
re-ponsible. He thought they were bound to pronounce
an opinion on this question, and if the house would
allow him to do so, he would bring the question forward
when he had the opportunity.
THE APPELLATE JURISDICTION OF THE
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Lord J. RUSSELL, reverting to the statement of
Lord Palmerston on this,bill, said he thought it would
be a very seriouse-vil if a bill of this kind were deferred
to a late period in She year. It would be a matter of
reproach to the house if they were not to give such a
bill full con-ideration. His noble friend said that the
present exercise of the appellate jurisdiction of the House
of Lords was not satisfactory. He thought that in the
first place Government should show why it was that a
jurisdiction which bad been so long, exercised by the
House of Lords, and which had been jealously guarded
by that house, had all at once become unsatisfac-
tory. He ,hought in the next place they should state
why it was necessary to pass a bill which limited and
restricted one of the most important prerogatives of tho
Crown, namely, that of the creation of peers. He thought
in the third place that this was a bill which if passed
int ) a law would deeply affect the independence of the
Legislature. He wished therefore that the Government
would not delay the bill, but that the house shoald have
ample time for discussion before they even consented to
the principal of the measure.
Mr. MALINS, without expressing an opinion on the
bill, wished to impress on the house the necessity of
doing something with regard to the appellate jurisdic-
tion. At present, owing to Lord St. Leonards declining.
to sit, Lord Lyndhurst's great age, and Lord Brougham's
illness, the Lord Chancellor had to sit alone on appeals.
SITE OF THE NATIONAL GALLERT.
On the motion that the house resolve itself into Mom,
reittee of Supply,
Lord ELCHO rose to submit a motion for the issue of
a Royal Commission to determine the site of the New
National Gallery. The noble lord having claimed the in-,
dulgenee of the house on the ground that he was still and
invalid, and having stated that he was in the anomalous,
position of being unable to vote for his own motion, as,
with the view of going abroad, he had paired off for the'
remainder of the session, said the question raised by the
motion was one of considerable importance, as upon its
determination would depend whether a large sum of the
public money was to be laid out providently or improvi-
dently. (Bear, hear.) He would first explain his