The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-12-19 00:00:00

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1854.

of this part of his subject, Lord D

generally entertained that that fortress

WOW,'

uveueU 10 comme
which stated that the general prosperity of the

:alien ; bir

that immediately

known the siege would

e protracted, every exer-

country is uninterrupted. He admitted that such
a remark would apply to the agricultural interest,

on had been made to supply the defect, and 110

expense had been

)aced to furnish abundance

abundant harvest and high prices, but he could
not understand its application to manufacturers, of such magnitude an,
while there were so many mills working short after all the Government
time, and others stopped altogether. He then would still send more,—more men, more amnia'
expressed his cordial concurrence with the allusion , nition, and more supplies of all kinds, as far as
in the speech to the co-operation of the French, they could obtain ships to carry them. With re•
and pronounced an eloquent eulogium on the ' ference to the hospital supplies, he regretted the
unexampled bravery of our troops in the Crimea, delay which had taken place in their arrival, and
which, as it will be read with delight and interest, I entered into details showing the enormous quail'
we give in extenso. He said : tities which had been forwarded, not only of lint,
Word must fail to express the debt of gratitude , which would cover thirty-eight acres, but plasters'
'
which this country owes to those gallant and de- bandages, wine, brandy, and sugar. He defended
voted men—(loud cheers)—but doubtless comfort and
satisfaction will be carried to many a gallant heart the retention of the commander of the steam-ship
when the assembled Parliament of England record ed of
prince, (whom the Earl of DERBY had accused
their admiration of the deeds and their gratitude for the ,
services of our gallant troops. (Renewed cheers.) My incompetency,) from the certificates which they had
lords, when I remember that, of that numerically small 'received of his
army which was sent out from this country a few months I received
ago, probably not one in 100 of the privates, and-probably the Government were sending out a complete rail'
I
not one in 10 of the officers, had ever before heard a shot for the
road, with engines and other appliances,
fired in anger ; when I remember that they went forth, at
the first outset of their campaign, to pine away in inaction, purpose of saving the physical exertions of the
and that their ranks were thinned by disease—morally .„,,,`„ and allowing guns of large calibre to be
depressing, if anything could depress their indomitable I --'
courage ; when I remember that an army composed of carried to their positions ;and complimented the
such materials, so weakened, so dispirited, was led to in- I cont • t lac ors, Messrs. PETO and BETTS, on the hand'
vade the dominions of a powerful enemy—having carried
with them nothing but what was absolutely necessary for some manner in which they had undertaken to
their march, and hardly sufficient for their equipment and perform this service without any profit to thenle
provision ; when I remember that such a body of men,
under such circumstances, found themselves in front of a selves. After paying well-merited eulogy to the
force numerically superior, entrenched upon heights, forti-
fied with all the skill and all the power which the might conduct of the British soldiers in the Crimea, under
of Russia could supply, and fortified upon ground the every discouragement, he concluded with a graCe'
natural difficulties of which were such as to impede even 'fa appeal to the House for forbearance
an active man in the ascent, although not checked by the !
enemy; when I remember that these heights were bristling , peculiar circumstances in which he was plaeed•
with batteries, from which shot and shell were poured I With the single exception of Lord HARDINGE, al
which mowed down the ranks of our men as they ascended
that glorious but blood-stained hill ; when I remember our experienced Generals had gone to the seat of
that in the face of numbers not inferior to their own,
against all the difficulties of position, against all the I war, and he, a civilian, was left without experience,
opposition of the most powerful artillery, they advanced, and so little opportunity of obtaining advice, to
weakened in numbers, falling by scores, but . the , conduct a contest which, for magnitude and in''
ad survivors closing their ranks a pressing forward 1
with indomitable courage ; when, under these circum-
portance, was almost unexampled.
stances, hand to hand, that body of men, who had EARL GREY followed, and reiterated the objet'
never before 'heard a shot fired, repulsed a veteran army ti
on which he entertained to the whole policy
from a position so fortified, from which it had been the
boast of Russia that no army could dislodge them in less which had led to the war ; but he confessed that,
than three weeks, while this great success was achieved
by our raw army in the course of three hours ; when we having embarked in it, he felt there was no alter'
remember that, within a fortnight afterwards, the position native but to carry it on with energy. He pro'
of our men being changed, they being the besieged instead
ceeded to criticise the mode in which the
of the besiegers, they were assailed by an army seven
times their number; when we recollect that our troops operations had been conducted, and concluded by
were called to the conflict from successive and continuous recommending to the Government that the eel'
labour at the intrenchments, suffering from cold, from
privation, from hunger, in some cases from all but naked- geants to be promoted to commissions should have
Bess ; when we remember that they were placed under the the rank and pay of captains.
disadvantage of a surprise in the darkness of a foggy
morning ; when I find that these men, who' won the The Duke of ARGYLL defended the conduct of
heights of Alma in the course of three hours from a name- . be
Government, particularly with reference to the
rically superior army, resisted the assault of an army
seven times stronger than themselves, and for eight hours operations in the Baltic-. He said that the Russian
maintained the unequal contest, sometimes even without shut in their 11
fleet had been completely ol
ammunition, our troops on those bloodstained' heights
being reinforced and supported by a portion of their harbours, and that, had. gun-boats been employed
gallant allies ; when I remember these deeds of arms— in the first instance,. they would most probably
aye, and even the unfortunate but astounding charge made
by our gallant cavalry,—l say that no words can do justice have been destroyed' by the Russian ships.- He
to the merits of such brave and heroic soldiers. (Lend justhe en mg oßritish troops to Varna'
cheering.) sd' f' a,
cheering.) I say that when we read the history of that
campaign—when we read it, not as politicians, but as-men before proceeding to. the Crimea, as the Russians
and as Englishmen (cheers)—there cannot be a heart that had then forced the line of the Danube, and it Wog,
does not throb with honest and generous pride that these
advisable to give the Turks the moral support el
much-enduring, all-daring, all-achieving men were our
the presence of reinforcements. He regretted the
countrymen (renewed cheers); that they were British
subjects like ourselves (loud cheers) : and there is hardly
an eye from which a tear will not spring unbidden when suspicions entertained of Austria, and thought the
we refleet that so many of them are numbered with the course pursued by the Government a wise one; for
dead. (Hear.) But I will only dwell upon that portion
of the subject which relates to the glory which that gallant though the policy of Austria might have been more
army achieved; I will not dwell upon the sacrifices they frank, we should let other nations judge for
have made, or the sufferings they have endured. Their
country will remember them. Their country will know
themselves of their own interests. The war he
how to value those who still remain ; and, whatever may considered to be one of European interest, par'
be the honours and rewards by which this country can•
show its gratitude to those who, in such unequalled cir-
• 0.
ticularly of the Eastern nations, and their lagglyv ~
cumstances, and under such serious difficulties, main- behind was a proof of the, overweening influence 01
tained, upheld, increased the glory of the British flag Russia.
those honours and those rewards will certainly be granted
with no niggard hand (loud cheers), but with universal The Earl of HARDWICKE took up the debate 1
approbation, and with the cordial consent of a grateful defenceof the Nacountry. (Loud cheers.)
Having thus disposed of what may be called the Cries. NAP/ER had been guilty of any misconduct'
immediate neglect, and the best answer to tile charge °,.
immediate topic under discussion, he proceeded to
comment on the conduct of the Ministers in their his not having taken Cronstadt was the failure et
prosecution of the war. He blamed the Govern-
the attack on Sebastopol.
ment for their proceedings since the commencement, The Earl of CARLISLE made a few remarks, ill
and said they appeared to live from day to day, , which he agreed in all that had been said in
providing for -each successive exigency after it admiration of the valour of the army and navy.
arose, and in all their actions were too, late for He could not deny that the war was a just war,
them to be of real advantage. They were tom late but he was not equally convinced of its necessity :1
in declaring war—too late in deciding that the The Earl of ABERDEEN, in concluding the Or
be
.1.
passage of the Pruth was a cases belli—too late in cussion, made the unexpected admission, that
lite'
sending troops to the Black Sea—too late in inter-
considered the destruction of Sebastopol of
fering for the protection of the Turkish fleet
importance to the safety and independence of tba
destroyed at Sinope—too late in providing troops Turkish empire. He believed that nothing cold
and
contribute so much as their success in the Critics'a
and the necessary funds for the expenses,: and that,
to the probability of obtaining terms of peace, alle
until after the battle of Inkerman,. no reinforce-with reference to the Treaty with Austria, b
meats but mere driblets had been sent to the
denied that it contained any engagement to sor
Crimea. He complained of the detention of the t
port that Power in Italy, Hungary, or. Poland, or
troops at Varna, where they suffered greatly from
,
disease, and commented on the want of proper that such an engagement had ever entered the'
1 minds. The Address was then agreed to without'
necessaries at the hospital at Scutari,. which had
been supplied by private benevolence,. He made a dissentient voice. •
these remarks with no wish to, embarrass the In the House of Commons, after the Addy
Government, but he charged them with utter un-
bad been moved and seconded by Mr. H. HERDo°
oi consciousness of what they were about to do ; in
and Mr. LEVESON GOWER, the debate was coil'
proof of which, he adduced the fact that, on the menced by Sir J. PARINGTON, who, in a speeebej
considerable length, criticised the course pnratto
14th of November, Parliament was prorogued to
by the Government in carrying on the war. 'iii
the 14th of December ; and yet, on the 20th of
blamed the Government for want of foresight
of November, it was summoned to meet on the 12th
almost all their operations, compared the
nthresults °f
of December. Referring then to the Baltic fleet,
the magnificent fleet dispatched to the Baltic ihe enlarged on the magnificent preparations, which
it ote"
the great promises with which set out, go
the he compared with the poverty of the results, and
former speeches of Lord JOHN RUSSELL and ‘' alluded to the self-laudation with which the expo- former
of ABERDEEN, and severely censured the negu;
dition set out, and the order of the Reform Admiral
lect in leaving the troops in the Crimea viltb°os
to his men to sharpen their cutlasses, &c. He
adequate supplies. He promised the
Conservative Government
then passed in review the conduct of Austria,
the Parliamentary support of the Aii
whose co-operation had proved rather injurious
than otherwise, inasmuch as it covered the retreat party, but it should be on the condition that 1,.,
of the Russians after raising the siege of Silistria war was conducted with vigour, wisdom, and for':
and enabled them to send reinforcements against sight greater than that which had hitherto bee'
our own troops in the Crimea ; and he concluded displayed.
his speech with the following animated address to ROBERT PEEL disputed the correctness
tit,
Sir ej
the opinions expressed by Sir J. PAKINGTON, b
our gallant soldiers now engaged in the war :
Cli
To those gallant men who are now,under circumstances of at the same time, he would himself ask tho :i
considerable difficulty, and with diminished numbers, gal- vernment to show a little more spirit. He cautions ,
lantly fighting thebattles of this country,reinforced as they them to put a stop to the miserable atterae°,Bl
have been to a certain degree, calculating as I do upon
their indomitable perseverance and courage under all foreign refugees in this country to raise a preteoutio
circumstances of difficulty and discouragement, to them I
would say, "Yet a little more patience, yet a little more sympathy for Poland. With reference tie
es.,
perseverance. The end is not yet, but the end is approach- fleets, he thought that some explanation was nee
clear updissatisfaction
ing you, when you shall reap the reward of your labours. sary in order to the wbii.
s; The eyes of your countrymen are upon you ; the hearts of
your countrymen are with you. The sympathies of your existed as to the conduct both of Admiral Niklii 0
countrymen are in support of your unparalleled exer-
and Admiral DUNDAS, who had not shown all tli
tions. Men, women, and children are exhausting their Thip
stores for the purpose of relieving your distresses, and vigour that might have been desirable.
%or
ministering to your comforts, and assuaging your suffer EMPEROR seemed determined
ings. Fresh reinforcements are at hand. Your courage,to carry on the
t be
your daring, your steady and obstinate resistance, and to the last extremity, and, as we knew tin' and
your unflinching perseverance, shall not only be acknow- ani
valued no friendship and respected no righte-:t
ledged, but shall serve as a moral and an example to the
country, which is proud of having you for soldiers. Go seemed contented to live without faith, With t,lnc°
pity, and almost without respect, our GOO° 'Ol.
on in the gallant course which you have begun. Have yet
la little more patience to struggle against the unavoidablel°
difficulties which are opposed to you, and believe that the in connexion with that of France, should teach• •0
reSS°
hearts of your countrymen are with you. There are laurels to feel that his lawless ambition and his agg- wa
for those who have fallen, and when you return from an
hiS °
expedition which, with all its harassing difficulties, with aspirations would add neither dignity to - once
ed 0
all its dangers and its labours, will be and must be' suc- crown, nor imperil the liberty or the indePe°
cessful, because your example will inspire your country-
men, you will be the men who will have upheld and of Europe.
maintained the honour of your flag, you will be the men After • tenets
who have delivered Europe from the power of the oppressor, some pause, which led to the in
cliarli
and you will deserve the blessings of England and of the that Ministers hesitated to reply to the 0
SIPI4 world." (Much cheering.)
made against their management, Mr• AO
The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in his reply, congra-the °-
HERBERT commenced an explanation of long
tulated the House on the unanimity which prevailed circumstances referred to, and gave
a
with reference to the prosecution of tho war. and , . .. ~.,

were clue to inexperience in carrying on a war,

rty years of peace, but

had lately done, they

nence'
cne war from the coral 40
an ..iar to that given in the House of I.4°'.
d to°
by the Duke of NEWCASTLE. He lanlenve ¢t
1_ • t... - w."
.o

entered into a leng

.thened explanation of the course

which the Government

pursued. He gave the

as had
4nd Albuera, Engl7o
id 18,000 killed, whereas in the whole of IP
of

mpaign in the Crimea the deaths

ho had diewdeorielisea-ge

rh-(4°"''

Leto"

i• other policy silotuil