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Leader (1850-1860), 16th December 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1188, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      em ® * }¦ £$ ? % ¦ ¦ ¦;« , ¦ - ¦ * J f ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ 1 ? ^ JS ^^ tp « . n ^ , naming from N . W . to S . E . The - ^ CttKin ^ wgraW be anything but impracticable . ;^^§! EpS 5 »»« tnem canal , from the Golf of Akaba , would * pr obably be more difficult . This canal must be at least -forty * miles long , and , for more than twenty miles , through a cutting two hundred feet deep . The rock . appears to be sandstone , and at present is covered with l ) buld « rs of porphyry . This deep cutting would pass through the place where Moses lifted up the brazen . serpent . These two canals made—the one to join the Jordan valley with the Mediterranean , the other to join the Dead Sea with the Ked Sea- ~ the sea-water would

      pour into the two valleys , which lie lower than the Mediterranean , and fill them up . The Jordan valley varies in -width from four to nine miles , and is shut in ¦ by high mountains on each side . It is a broad crevasse , the floor of which slopes the whole way . At the Sea of Tiberias it is 320 feet below the Great Western Sea ; and on the shores of the Dead Sea it has reached a depth of 1312 feet below the Mediterranean . By letting in the water by means of these two canals , the whole valley would be inundated from & depth varying from one foot to 1312 ; and instead of the present barren valley , with its sacred river , we should have a magnificent inland sea , Lake Jordan , 160 miles in length , and from four to ten miles broad . But little territory of any value would be absorbed , and the junction of the oceans would be accomplished .

      * ' The chief practical difficulty would he a supply of labour . On the route of the northern canal Europeans can easily work in . the open air ; and it is mooted that the southern canal might be made for five years the peaal settlement of India and Europe . Every man sentenced to more than fourteen years' imprisonment should Tbe sent thither ; the completion of his task restoring him to liberty . . No wages would thus be required ; and a couple of Turkish irregular cavalry regiments would furnish aU the guard required . " The political and commercial advantages of such a work must he patent to all . The route to India by the Cape of Good Hope would be completely abandoned . Swift , sailing vessels would reach any port in Europe from Bombay in forty days . Our trade with the East vjr © uld be doubled : 1

      The military advantages of such an undertaking Musi not be overlooked . " What say our men of science , our politicians , our merchants , our men of means and might , to so noble an enterprise ?"

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      NAPIER STILL , AN ACTIVE COMMANDER . The following is from a correspondent of the Daily News , who dates from Kiel Harbour : —• " We have had fine times of it here . The natives bave been particularly hospitable and polite—indeed , ¦ I have had invitations for at least twenty balls and dancing parties . Yesterday we gave a ball on board ihe Duke , and had some of the first people of Kiel and ¦ its immediate neighbourhood . Every one -was highly delighted with the arrangements , and even Sir Charles took a turn in a country dance , to the great joy of the ? jrisitors . " Sir Charles has grown more elegant in hi 3 exer--cises than was his wont . On his return from Syria it is well known that he indulged in the more boisterous and juvenile leap-frog .

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      MISCELLANEOUS . Intended Makiuage in Hioh Life . —Mr . Chichester has been released from prison . With his father , Lord Edward Chichester , as a surety , he has undertaken never again to molest Miss Thornhill , and also to pay the costs as soon as they are properly tax « d . Sir Benjamin Brodio has certified that longer imprisonment would endanger Mr . Chichcster ' s life . Tjhe African Travellers . Intelligence has been received at the Foreign Office of the death of the enterprising African traveller Dr . Bartli , and also of Mr . Henry Waddington , who have both fallen victims to the climate of Africa . Thq last communication from Dr . Barth announced his approaching departure from Timbuctoo for the interior . '

      Lord Cabdiqan at Bai > aiclava . —A friend has furnished us with the following particulars of Lord Cardigan's share in the heroic charge of the Light Cavalry Division at the battle of Balaklava from a private letter written by his lordBhip himself . When ho ( Lord Cardigan ) had ridden through the Russian linos , and was near the muzzles of their guns in an earthwork tmttery , he was unable to sec what to do next , Observing , however , that the embrasures wore not high , ho put his horao ut one of thorn , aa ho would liavo charged

      a fence In Leicestershire . The horse took the wall , and alighting on tho gun they foil together . Lord Cardigan got up as quickly aa possible , and flouri » h « d hSa sword , . when , to his astonishment and relief , ho flaw tho Russian artulorymon running away . Knowing that ho hnd a no support , ho retired with tho rent of tho division , who . were fortunate enough to got back to thoir own lines . — , > ffWjA . Eastern Gazette , ^ -Wkw Oostumi ! Wk this Aimr . —A correspondent of ^ thWQl&tbotajyaity Mail , writing from tho Crimea eaya : M Were you to boo tho » 8 rd now marching through

      Glasgow , you would suppose them to be a parcel of madmen let loose , for not two men are dressed alike , and some have no dress at all , unshaven , and often for a week unwashed . I , for instance , go about in a blanket made into a sort of coat , with a hood to it , a red Turkish fez , large boots over my trousers covered with mud , and unshaved for the laat three months . I often think what a fine figure I would cut at your fireside . " The King and Qiteen or Greece . —At half-past seven , I went to dine at the Palace : we were about thirty ; General Church , General Kalergi ( I believe with both it was the first time for many years ) , three ladies

      of the household , and the remainder for the most part were Greek deputies . I sat between the Queen and the Grand Mistress . The Queen's conversation is full of liveliness and intelligence , . and it requires some selfcontrol not to become one of her partisans . There is a circle both before and after dinner . My Lord Lieutenant ' s uniform led to many enquiries from the King about our militia . He decidedly gives the impression of a well-meaning man . His silver Greek dress is , I think , on the whole , the most comely costume I know . The rooms and meal were handsome . Their civil list ( of 40 , 000 ? . a year , I believe ) is large considering the general revenue of the country . —Diary in Turkish and Greek Waters .

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      HOUSE OF COMMONS . MR . BERTOLACCI . Mr . Wise asked Mr . Strutt ( ex-Chancellcr of the Duchy ) to explain why Mr . Bertolacei was appointed to the office of auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster , and the right honourable gentleman explained , with the impertinence of a vulgar rich man , that there were , as he thought , defects in the system of keeping the accounts of the Duchy , owing to the more literary habits of Mr . ILockhart ; and when that gentleman resigned , it appeared to him best to appoint a person from a public office , and it was on the recommendation of Mr . Gladstone that Mr . Bertolacei , who had a talent for unravelling perplexed accounts , was appointed—at a salary reduced by one-half . Mr . Bertolacei was no personal acquaintance of his .

      CHURCH-RATES . Lord J . Russell refused to state the intentions of the Government as to Church-rates until after tiie

      recess . KEMGION AND NUBSES . Mr G . A . Hamilton complained that Protestant Scriptureoreaders were excluded from the hospital at Scutari while Sisters of Mercy were admitted ; and Mr . Sidney Herbert explained that the Sisters were only a portion of the nurses sent out , who were of all persuasions , but under the direction of one person , a Protestant ; and the Sisters of Mercy willingly placed themselves under the regulations laid down by Miss Nightingale , which prevented any religious proselytism ; and the Scripture-readers had not , as a body , "been ejected from the hospital , though only such as were under military authorities were admitted . THE AUSTRIAN TKEATTT . The Treaty with Austria was laid on the table .

      THANKS TO THE ABUT . Lord John Russeml , then moved the votes oi thanks to the army , and called on both those who approved and disapproved of the expedition to the Crimea , to pay a tribute to the superhuman valor of the troops . He deprecated criticism on military operations , on the ground that no one could criticise such operations without being acquainted with the exact circumstances in which our army was placed . He then traced the military history of Lord Raglan , and declared that he had

      every step gained was due to his merit alone , and lie ( Lord J . Russell ) remembered seeing him performing the duties of military secretary to Wellington with most wonderful capability and facility . He paid a high compliment to Lord Raglan ' s administrative ability while at the Horse Guards , and showed how admirably lie had gained the confidence and esteem both of our own and ( fee French service . The rest of liis speech was little more than a narrative of the facts of the campaign .

      Mr . Disuahh seconded tho motion in a speech in his beet manner ; eloquent and neatly tuned , but offering no very salient points . Lord Hotham , Mr . Layarp , and Mr . Duommond spoke , and the latter gentleman got uj > a " row " with Mr . Layard about his writing the well-known letter condemnatory of Admiral Dundas . Mr . Layaud said ho wns ready to substantiate any charge he had made ; find the matter waa composed by the intervention of Sir J . Graham , -who urged harmony on euch an occasion . The vote was then agreed to , and the House rose early .

      Untitled Article

      THE WAR . A despatch from Balaklavn , through Varna , has been received at Vienna , stating tlmt X > ord Raglan lias caused some siege pieces to be embarked on board the fleet , for the purpose of forcing tho port of Odessa and using it as a winter station for the fleets . The despatch is without date , and has not aa yet been confirmed .

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      THE AUSTRIAN ALLIANCE . A i'rtvatm despatch from Vienna , Thurnday ovening , says : — " The ratifications of tho treaty of alliance between Austria and tho Western Powers were exchanged this afternoon , at the office of tho Minister for Foreign Affairs , between tlio Plenipotentiaries of Austria , Franco , and England . "

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      Leader Office , Saturday , December 16 . HOUSE OF LORDS . THANKS TO THE ARMY . The Duke of Newcastle moved the vote of thanks to the army . Specially , also , to Lord Raglan , -who , said his grace , had risked his life with too great for * getfulness of its value . He likewise proposed to ask the thanks of the House for Sir G- Brown and Sir J . Burgoyne , and the Duke of Cambridge , who , a naem ber of the Royal Family , had shared in the dangers of the campaign . He specially eulogised Sir Lacy De Evans and his conduct at inkerman , where he rose from his bed to join in the fight . The vote must extend

      to all the other officers , from the oldest generals down to the youngest ensigns who defended their colours at Alma . Still warmer , if possible , should be the thanks to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers , who never in history more fully deserved the gratitude of their country , and above all for Inkerman , essentially a soldier ' s battle . Nor was their discipline or conduct in camp less distinguished than their valour in battle . As a reward the Queen has ordered a medal for the Crimea , and that the names of Alma and Inkerman should be inscribed on the colours of the regiments .

      The Duke proceeded , at length , to condole with those who had lost relatives in the campaign ; eulogised the French generals , and especially General Bosquet ; praised the conduct of those employed in the transport service , and the military officers who , he said , had done their duty ; and concluded by inviting Lord Derby to second the motion . _ Lord Derby , in a set speech of no very particular excellence , did second it , the only point worthy of notice being a doubt he expressed whether a vote of thanks to French troops did not interfere with their allegiance to their own Sovereign . The vote was agreed to after speeches from Lords Hauuwicke , HaHdinge , Malmebburv , Gough , and Colchester .

      THE AUSTRIAN TREATY . The Marquis of Clanricardk brought the question of the Austrian Treaty forward , and asked when it would be produced , and whether , after Christmas , the House would be in possession of all the papers which would explain the conduct of Austria . Tho peoplo of this country would require a strict inquiry into the circumstances connected with tho position Austria had taken in tho Principalities , which he and they believed to have caused all the difficulties of the operations in the Crimea .

      The . Lori of Aberdeen first laid the treaty on the table , and produced a selection of the papers explanatory of tho negotiations and the course taken by Austria . He explained that after tho Austro-Turkieh Convention and the raising of the Biege of Siliatria , the circumstances of tho war were so for altered , that the Austrian occupation became a means of action against Rubsm ; nnd the British and French Governments insisted that if it took place , it should only be with tho full consent of

      Turkoy , reserving tho right of the Turks and Allies to occupy at the same time if they thought fit ; and also that all arrangements , civil and military , should have tho assent of the Porto . Ho admitted that , to a certain extent , Austria had neglected tho opportunities oho had to nsaiat tho Allies , but ho denied that any blamo was attributable to tho English and French Governments . With regard to any differences which took place between Omar Pacha nnd Count Coroninl , ho believed there wore faulto on both oldea , but a commission had been

      appointed at the instance of Austria to inquire into the real circumstances of the complaints which had been made . FOREIGN ENLISTMENT BILL . The House then went into committee on the Foreign Enlistment Bill . The passing of the main clause was fiercely opposed by Lord Ellenborotjgh and Lord Derb y , who repeated the arguments against it used by them on Thursday evening with even greater vehemence . A division was taken , when the numbers were 55 to 43 ; majority for Government 12 . The bill was ordered to be reported this day ( Saturday ) at two o ' clock .

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 1188, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2069/page/12/