The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-11 00:00:00

leges, of his unremitting attention to its business;
of the care which he has devoted. to the improve-
ment of its forms, and of the urbanity and kindness
which have uniformly marked his conduct in the
chair, and which have secured for him the esteem
and gratitude of every member of this house."
(Loud cheers from both sides of the house.)
Mr. DTSRAELI (who was received. with cheers,-
and spoke in a tone of evident emotion) rose
and said I have, sir, the honour to second
the motion of the noble lord, and to express
on behalf of gentlemen who sit on the left of
the chair their entire concurrence with the de-
scription of your high qualities and the estimate
which he has offered of those services which, unfor-
tunately, are about to terminate. (Cheers.) We
too, sir, have been witnesses to the blended firm-
ness and courtesy with which you have regulated
our debates, and, when necessary, controlled them.
We also can bear witness to the learning which has
guided and enlightened our labours, and can bear
witness to the high bearing which, at all times, and
under all circumstances, even the most trying, has
sustained the dignity of the exalted office which you
have filled. (Cheers.) The eighteen years during
which you have occupied that chair has been a me-
morable period in the history of the Parliament of
this country. Some of the greatest measures that
have ever been proposed in this council of the na-
tion have been carried during that period, and some
of the greatest men that have everflourished within
these walls have been under your guidance. I
make no doubt that, in the page of history, your
speakership, under these circumstances, will figure
as no unimportant one in the history of the Parlia-
ment of this country. The severance of ties so
long, so intimately, and so cordiallymaintained be-
tween you, Mr. Speaker, and this house, cannot be
witnessed without deep emotion. I confess myself
utterly unequal to the language of panegyric. I
confess myself at this moment unequal to offer:you
those compliments which you deserve ; but I can
offer you for those who sit on this side of the
house—and, I may presume perhaps to say, for all
present—(cheers)--cer tainlyfor him whom you have
often so condescendingly aided and guided by your
counsel—the tribute of our affectionate respect—
(cheers)—and the expression of the hope that when
your name is mentioned in your absence in this
house, you will believe that it will always be quoted
with regard. and reverence—(cheers)—and of our
anxious and earnest wishes that in that compara-
tive retirement which may await you, you may
enjoy that perfect satisfaction which you have so
worthily earned. (Loud cheers.)
The SPEAKER then read the resolution, which
was received with renewed cheering.
Lord J. RUSSELL then rose and said—Al-
though, sir, it may be quite unnecessary to add
anything to the eloquent speeches, in which my
noble friend at the head of the Government and
the right hon. gentleman opposite have expressed
the sense of this house of your merits, during the
long period in which you have presided over it,
3et for my own gratification it may be perhaps
permitted to me—(hear, hear)—having bsen
brought into personal relations with you during
that long period—to say that I cannot but feel that
the manner in which you have conducted the busi-
ness of this house has facilitated the proper conduct
of that business. (Cheers.) I cannot forget, sir, that
at the period when you were elected you succeeded
one of the most distinguished members of this house
—a man eminent for his learning, who for many
years had taken a distinguished part in the debates
of this home, and who contributed a long experi-
ence in the affairs of Parliament. But, sir, though
that might seem a disadvantage, your merits so
speedily attracted the respect and affection of this
house—(cheers)—l may say you so won the heart
of the house—(renewed cheers)—that the exercise
of authority becsmo comparatively'-easy, and every
member, whatever his previous -prepossessions,
whatever wish he might have had at the moment
to persevere in some course you disapproved of, a
singe wcr.l from you was sufficient to cause every
member to bow at once to your decision. (Loud
cheers.) . Sir, these qualities have not only
bsen of .the wettest advantage in conducting
the ordinary Lusiness of this house, but you have
been able by this means to facilitate in a great
degree that transition in our procedure to a more
speedy form, which has been rendered necessary by
the increasing. pressure of business in this house,
and you have been able to discriminate with nicety
of judgment whether it was possible to depart in
some degree from ancient and accustomed form
which regulate our procedure without am rendering
any useful privilege. You have correctly marked
the line whE re it was advantageous to proceed, and
where it was necessary to resist any innovation of
those established laws. (Cheers.) I believe that
nothing in our whole institutions is more carefully
contrived, or more useful in carrying on the busi-
ness of a great country than our mode of procedure,
and the regular order of the debates in this home.
But at the same time, it is difficult to keep up all
these orders in their strictness without in some
degree delaying the business of the house. Fur-
ther changes may be necessary, and I can only
hope that in whoever may have the honour to suc-
ceed you in that chair the house may see the
same qualities, the same excellent judgment, the
same power or authority, and the same art Of con-
eliating the good-will and. affection of the house
which you have so remarkably exhibited. I can only
further express my extreme regret, which is shared
I am sure by awry member of this house, that this
is an occasion upon which we have to take leave of
you. (Cheers.)
The SPEAKER having put the resolution in the
usual form, which was carried amidst the most en-
thusiastic cheering, proceeded to say—l can assure
the house that, during the long period it has pleased
God to enable me to discharge the duties of the
chair, I have bad abundant opportunity of witness-
ing the kindness, forbearance, and indult once
which the house has shown to me under all cir-
cumstances and upon all occasions. Bit I have
not words at my command, nor can I sufficiently
control my feelings so as adequately to express
my gratitude for th;s crowning mark of their
favour and approbation. (Cheers.) I can only
assure the house that I shall remember—l shall
ever cherish the proceedings of this day to
the last hour of my existence ; and that
the resolution to which you have sunanimously
agreed shall ever los considered by me as a great and
invaluable reward for my public services—(cheers)
—and in all sincerity, and from the very bottom of
my heart, I thank you for the distinguished honour
you have conferred upon me. (Loud cheers.)
[Upon Mr. Speaker addressing the house, the mem-
bers all simultaneously took off their hats as a matter of
respect. This courtesy is generally offered on messages
from the Queen, and on this occasion was most compli
mentary and gratifying..]

Lord PALMERSTON again rose and said—Sir,
I am persuaded the house would not be satisfied if
upon this occasion we abstain from following those
precedents which we find have taken place upon
former similar occasions. It has been the practice
of this house, when deprived of the services of
Speakers who have ably filled the chair of the
house, not to content themselves simply with an
expression of their own thanks, but to give to the
Crown an opportunity of going hand in hand with
this house in its acknowledgments of great and

meritorious services. I shall therefore, without

further preface, following the example of previous
occasions, move that a humble address be presented
to her Majesty, praying that she would be pleased
to confer some mark of loyal favour upon you, sir,
and assuring her Majesty that this house will make
good any expenditure that may be attendant upon
such marks of the royal favour. (Loud cheers.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON—Sir, though I cannot hope
to add anythiui;
to the eloquence with which the
last vote was moved and seconded by the noble
lord and ray right hon. friend, .1 may be allowed
the very great gratification of seconding the motion
which the noble lord has now made. Sir, lam one
of the members of this house—l believe, compara-
tively speaking, now small in number—who have
had the honour Of a seat in this house during the
whole of the long period of 18 years during which
you have so ably filled that chair. Eighteen years
ago, when you
sittingwere elected to that chair, I was
then, a
°tri this side of the house ; and
it was
not my constitute one of that MA-
is now,
f o rtu

Mr. T. D UNCOMBE called the attention of the
house to the grievances complained of in the petitions
(presented ith February) of the non-commissioned offi-
cers and drivers of the Land Trapped Corps, who
served during the late War in the Crimea, and to move
that they be referred to a select committee.
Sir J. FERGUSSON seconded the motion.
Gen. CODRINGTON said there was no doubt that
the formation of the Land Transport Corps was, under
the circumstances, a matttr of great difficulty to the
Government. A great number of the men for that duty
were regularly enlisted for 10 years ; among these men
many were very good, but many were ignorant of their
duties. When they were taken out to the Crimea they
had to be organised. He certainly understood that many
of them had been regularly enlisted for 10 years, and
consequen•ly they were entitled to their regular parch-
ment discharge, and so far as they bad not received that
discharge, and the pay consequent thereupon, an injus-
tice had been committed against these men—unless, in-
deed, it should appear that their accounts took a long
time in settling. He thought that several statements in
the letter of Col. M‘Murdo werejustified. There was no-
thing in the Mutiny Act, nor was there any otherautho-
rity to show that these men were entitled to a gratuity
upon their discharge. But these men were taken out to
the Crimea under circumstances of great difficulty ; they
were formed and organised out there, and they became a
very efficient corps. It became necessary to add a great
number of other men to the corps, and all were employed
at work as land transport men. When the war was over
they were brought back to England and were entitled to
their discharge and pay. Those men were fairly entitled
to the consideration of the Government and the country,
and he hoped some means would be found to give effect
to the proper forts of discharge.
Mr. PEEL said the motion and the speech of the hon.
gentleman behind him (Mr. T. Duncombe) illustrated the
d,fficulty in which the Goverainer4 were placed, for, on
the one hand, they had to consult the feelings and opi-
nions of these men, who were enlisted i❑ a time of great
emergency, whose expectations had not been realised, and
whose hopes, which they entertained when theyjoined the
service, bad been disappointed ; while, on the other hand,
motions of economy were pressed upon the Government
as soon as the emergency bad parsed away. The hon.
member stated that these men had upon an average a
claim against the Government of 141. or 151. per man.
Eta could undertake to reply to that statement, and he
felt sure that that was not the case, for very few indeed
of the whole number of men who formed the Land
Transport Corps had any claim against the Government—
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he did not say one word
about average, but that men were walking about the
streets who had claims against the Government.
Mr. PEEL said he quite agreed that the corps was
raised at a time of great difficulty, and when it was felt
that some such corps was much wanted to assist the
army in the Crimea. The Government was determined
to raise a special corps for that purpose, and these
men were engaged without that scrutiny as to whe-
ther they were fit for the service for which they
were designed. As fast as they were raised they
were seat out to the Crimea; and upon the termina-
tion of the war they were brought back to England, and
their number reduced, as was the case with al the other
portions of the army. The hon. gentleman was not justi-
fied in founding upon his motion an attack upon the War
Department, and upon the letter of CA. M`Murdo, who
exerted himself to bring all these men back from the
Crimea. He feat quite confident that ad the advice given
by that gentleman was given by him according to what
he believed was correct upon the subject. These men
complained because they had been sent out of the ser-
♦ice. Undoubtedly they had been sent out of the service
as soon as the war was concluded, but that happened to
a large number of men in all the other branches of the
army. This was quite unavoidable if the Government
wished to consult economy. They could not keep persons
in an employment for which they were no longer re-
quired, and it was quite impossible to keep these men in
employment in a time of peace. The hon. gentleman
had referred to the mode in which these men had been •
discharged from the service, The ordinary practice un-
doubtedly was, when a soldier who had served for a
length of time was discharged from the service, to have
a board of officers to inquire into hilt case, to record his
services, and tkereapon to grant a certificate of discharge,
The discharge was one thing, but the document or certi-
ficate of discharge was another. It was perfectly compe-
tent for the Secretary of State to furnish the person dis-
charged with a certificate ; but the services of these men
were of short duration ; and therefore to those men who
chimed pensions, partial certificates were granted in the
form in which the Secretary of State thought fit. In con-
sequence of these certificates being granted the men were
enabled to procure employment in the police, and in the
service of railway companies. If it were thought that any
imputation rested upon the character of any of those men
because of these certificates not having been granted, it
could be easily removed on reference to the Horse Guards.
An objection had been made to the gratuities given to the
foreign levy ; and it was said that the land transport men
had been harshly treated because they had not been placed
on the same footing, but it was clear the hon. member
did not know the difference between the foreign levy and
Ehe Land Transport Corps. The latter was a part of the
army, but the foreign levy was an exceptional corps, en-
gaged for special services, and it was competent to the
Crown to reward them specially; but if the Government
had, upon the redUction of the Land Transport Corps,
agreed to give gratuities to them, all the men in the army
who were discharged might claim the same gratuities.
No proud e was ever made to these men upon their dis-
charge to give tliem any gratuity. No person in the army
was entitled to a gratuity beyond the sum of 204 upon
his discharge, and therefore the claim put forward for
this gratuity was altogether unfounded. The hon. mem-
ber said he should move for the appointment of a com-
mittee unless the claims of these men for compensation
for clothing were satisfactorily adjusted. It was quite
true that these men were not furnished with clothing at
the moment of enlistment, and they were sent out to
the East without it. Those men who did not receive
proper clothing were entitled to compensation. A great
number of men had sent in claims ; but he had been as-
sured by Co'. INl'Murdo that very few cases remained to
be disposed of. He hoped his reply would be considered
satisfactory by the hon, member, and teat he would no
press his motion for a committee.

Sir J. TYRELL said he quite agreed with the hon.
member who had just sat down that extraordinary diffi-
culties beset the Government in a time of peace, and
prevented them from doing justice to the service. Re
knew of an instance in reference to the huts at Colches-

ter, where, in consequence of altered. circumstances,
the former estimate of 14,0001. which was required to
put them in a state of efficiency, had been cut down
to 2,0001. It was therefore quite impossible t•
briga,ds a considerable number of troops. there. In
consequence of the pressure of the doctrines of the
peace-at-any-price party the Government were
obliged to act meanly, and he had lately seen seve-
ral soldiers wearing the Crimean medals who had been
punished for trifling offences, and treated like felons. He
hoped that after the next general election the noble lord
would find himself able to do justice to the Laud Trans
port Corps, and to the other services of the country. He
regretted to see, as a result of the present wretched and
miserable economy, men who had distinguished them-
selves in their country's cause, and who had a quarter
of a peck of medals amongst them, dragged through the
town of Chelmsford like felons for trifling offences.
Sir J. FERGUSSON said that the hon. gentleman the
Under-Secretary for War had denied the existence of the
grievance and denied the remedy. The hon. gentleman
said that the men of the Land Transport Service had been "
enlisted like any other part of the army, and that they
were liable to reduction on the return of peace. He (Sir
J. Fergusson) was, however, of opinion that any body of
men who took service for the benefit of their country
ought not to be dismissed without the proper discharge
to which every soldier was entitled. He complained that
the men of the Land Transport Service were not treated
with the same consideration that was extended to foi sign
mercenaries. If men of the German legion were provided
with grants of land why should the soldiers of the regu-
lar army be forced to beg in the streets ? He contended

that public faith had not been kept with the officers and
men of the Land Transport Service, who were the last
men in the service who ought to be the victims of shabby
or false economy. (Hear.)
After a few words from Col. HERBERT in support
of the motion,
Mr. DUNCOMBE replied, and said that, as the ans-
wer of the Under-Secretary for War vas far from satis-