The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-15

In the British House Of Lords on the 9th ult the
Earl Of CLARENDON said wish to say y few words
in reply to what has Just fallen from the noble earl
On the occasion to which my noble friend aludes,
noble lord not now present, (the Earl Of Malmes-
bury,) intmated to me that he intended to put to
me a question respecting an announcement in the
newspapers that the Russian feet was out in force
in the Black Sea, and that large bodies Of troops
had been carried to the neighborhoods Of Varna,
Odessa, and Sebastopol. My noble friend asked
whether that announcement was correct or not, and
gave him, almost Uerbatim, the account which had
been received from Admiral Dundas himself, which
was that the report rested the statement Of the
captain of a merchant ship, who had been examined
by Sir F. Lyons, and that 1t was clear from the evil
dence Of the man himself that he could not have
been in position to see the Russian feet. there
fore expressed my belief that the report was not
true. i now, my lords, repeat what | then said.
The Russian fleet, to the best OF our knowledge
pol, and did not, at the time when it was re-
ported to have done go, convey troops from one
portion of the Black Sea to another. Now, what
did occur? Two vessels, believe, French and an
English steamer, were sent to survey the Circassan
coast. During their cruise they five small steam
ers that had been receiving the Russian troops from
different fortresses along the shore Of the Black Sea,
which fortresses had been destroyed. / must say,
that the fact Of the Russians having, Of their own
accord, and before any declaration OF war made,
evacuated and destroyed these fortresses, which
they had for years been building at so much cost
and trouble Is some proof that we, and not they,
observed to be burning, and the steamers-whch
were not war steamers, but small vessels employed
in the postofIice service between Odessa Sebasto-
pol, and Constantinople-as soon as they saw the
English and French ships, made for the shore, A
transport was, however, boarded, and was ordered
to repair to the neare& Russian port in pursuance
OF the instructions issued to the combined fleets in
December last. Now, when Admiral Dundas and
his officers are accused Of not having made priso-
ners Of these troops, it must be remembered that
ha ,cf
March, and that war was not even declared in Eng
land until the Goth Of March, II was therefore i'm
possible for the combined fleets to act otherwise
than they did, in obedience to their instructions.
The Earl of ELLENBoROrGH hoped the noble earl
was not under the impression that the Russians had
destroyed all their forts. They had, he believed,
destroyed only six forts out of twenty-five.
Inc Marquis OF CLANRlcARDE.-lt trust there will
pc no objection on the part of her Majestys govern.
ment to lay on the table Of the House the last des-
patches which have been received on this subject.
and an, other dispatches which may be received
The Russian government has issued public and
differs very widely from the statement Of the noble
Secretary for Foreign Affairs have not the paper
with me, because did not anticipate any discussion
the subject, but 1t describes the Russian force,
not Post Office packets, but ships of the royal
Russian navy which went out for the purpose of de-
stroying fortresses it was not thought desirable to
occupy, and of carrying away in safety their garri-
sons with the important object Of strengthening the
GARRISON OF CcDastOpOl. n mOTe Important opera
ton, as far as it went, at that moment, could not
have been undertaken by the Russian fleet in the
Black Sea. II was distinctly and very properly
stated in the Russian account, that this operation
was performed in open defiance of the combined
fleets, and OF the allied Powers. Ny noble friend
says, there was no declaration Of war at the time. /
beg leave 10 contradict him that point, because in
the papers which he has laid upon the table there
Is declaration Internationally by orders
from home--to the Governor of Sebastopol, that
II the Russian fleet appeared in the Black Sea
the combined fleets would compel them to return
to port or would attack them. Well, that was de-
caration OF waa declaration of hostilites between
the two fleets, If not between the two countries.
must say think this occurrence did tarnish the
honor OF our flag, so far the government and the
superior officers who dictated such q message with
incompetent means to enforce their threat were
concerned. remember that in one OF the speeches
Of the noble earl at the head Of the government he
said he did not wish to play game at bragg
want to know what 10 Is but game Of "braQ to
call upon the Russian fleet to come out into the
Black Sea, and then not dare to face them? |
throw no discredit upon the naval officers COM
handing in the Black Sea, for I do not know the
circumstances under which they acted, and have
not the least doubt that they fully justified by
their orders. This was, however, playing the game
Of brag and at the game of brag they were beaten.
The noble earl Uord Clarendon) said that the fact
Of the,Russinns having destroyed their forts was
pretty significant proof that we and not they were
the masters OF the Black Sea. ! have not the
least doubt that in point Of fact we are masters VI