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    available contrasted oddly with the declaration that Lord SSmerstonwaB the only man capable of wielding wxth energy the War Department , and redeeming the fortunes of the war . With regard to Lord John Russell ' s revelations , he had listened to them with amazement . In the last century the transaction would have been , described as a profligate intrigue , but it must now be spoken of in more euphonious phrases . He asked the House to say whether he was not right twelve months ago in saying that the Ministers had no confidence in themselves ? Two years ago England was the leading power in Europe . Could as much be said now ? Mr . Disraeli would vote for the motion as expressive of his opinion that the affairs of the country had been entrusted to a deplorable Administration .

    Lord John Rtjsseci . defended himself from the charge of having been engaged in a " profligate intrigue , " and cited a case under Earl Grey ' s ministry where Lord Goderich had to quit the Colonial Office at the request of Earl Grey to make way for Lord Stanley . But Lord John did not defend himself from Mr . Gladstone's statements respecting his sudden resignation . Lord Pai « - mekston said that the Government as a whole , took the responsibility . He admitted defects , and made a speech rather going against the motion as a dangerous precedent , than setting up any sort of defence for the Government . After him Mr . Muntz , Mr . Thomas Duncombe , and Mr . Roebuck spoke . Mr . Duncombe chiefly asked whether the inquiry would be carried out , otherwise to vote for it would be a mockery . Mr . Roebuck , in reply , said he certainly intended to proceed with the committee . The House divided as follows : For the motion 305 Against it ....... 148 Majority against Ministers ... 157 The result drew no cheers from the House . The House only sat oh Wednesday to adjourn until Thursday , the House of Lords having adjourned until

    bUttb Uiftjr . THE MINISTRY OF WAB . On Monday night there was also an important discussion in the House of "Lords , attended by about a dozen peers . Earl Grey moved this resolution : .-- ¦ .. ' That it is the opinion of this House that great evils have arisen from the present division of authority and responsibility in the administration of the army , and that the whole of the business connected with this important branch of the public service , which is now distributed among different offices , ought , therefore , to be brought under the direct control of a single and well-organised department . " . Twice before he had called attention to this subject . For the last twenty years endless recommendations have been made by committees and commissioners . Every

    secretary-at-war has felt keenly the defects of the department , but nothing has been done . Earl Grey cited instances to show the loss of time under the present system . Mr . Nasmyth had been stopped while in full work on his wrought-iron gun by a misunderstanding between the departments . ' A ship had been sent to the Cape to fetch home the 91 st Regiment ; the Duke of Newcastle had sent an order for it to come home , but LordHardinge had-not , - and-the-ship returned ^ empty , Mr . Price suggested " candle stoves" for the use of the army . He was referred from the War-office to the Ordnance , and next to the War Minister . His suggestion was made before Christmas . On the 22 nd of January he had received no answer . But it would be only just to the

    Government to say that the errors which had caused our want of success were of long standing—errors which no Government could have avoided since 1815 . He complained that by our system of promotion by seniority , we restricted the field of selection of officers ; that in time of peace our army is without instruction , instead of officers and men being made as perfect as possible in all that relates to their profession ; that absence of instruction leads to idleness and scandalous scenes ; that with respect to the departments , there had been " too many cooks ; " that the Commander-in-Chief , instead of being a General , was a Minister-of-War , deprived of the greater portion of the power he ought to poesess ; that our staff education is miserably deficient :

    and that the division of authority and independence of control was at the root of all our evils . To remedy this , he proposed that there should be something like the Admiralty ; a consolidation of the offices of the Secrotaryat- "War , the Commandor-in-Chiof , the Ordnance and the Commissariat departments ; that the Prime Minister should direct the war ; that the Commander-in-Chief should be abolished , and the patronage of the army placed under the control of the Minister-of-War ; and that a General should bo appointed to organise the army . The Duke of Newcastle : did not object to the motion . But lie contended that the instances mentioned might have arisen under any system . The

    misunderstanding respecting tho Nasmyth had arisen between the Admiralty and the Ordnance , and tho Duke , on his own-responsibility , had ordered Mr . Nasmyth to proceed . / } Iehad also ordered two hundred of Mr Price ' s "Candlers . tywe e . " but he thought they were rather " ^ B ^ iS »! lhiB hospital than the field . With respect to S 9 ^^ mm ^ pQJfcf& had boon too much of it ; and while SSS ^^ Hig ^ Dtfe ,.. ho had been crushed by details . ' M ^ MMJKmimm ^ y * ° separate tho administra-; SBg § HHHfiHi& .. ^ ? army ln th 0 flol . ' J ^ MPP ^ gwWm ^ PWa the Commissariat , to re-estabmkmmwWNm VotaA . He had appointed a

    military man of great ability to organise the service on military rules . He had sent a Commission to Paris to examine the French military system , and Lord Raglan had been instructed to appoint a commission in the camp ; so that they would have , the theory at Pans to compare with the practice before SebastopoL He thought the medical department had broken down , and that the civil element must be admitted . As to a board for administration , the best board would be one with the minister at the head , and such a board , though not a legal one , had recently been periodically held . He fully admitted that material alterations are necessary ; but under the circumstances , he asked Earl Grey to withdraw his motion . Lord Campbem . urged him to proceed ; but -Lord Ellenborough , who expressed dislike of Lord Grey's plans , especially that relating to a board , enlarged on the inconvenience of placing an abstract resolution on the books at such a time . He had strongly expressed his opinion upon several occasions , that whatever the want of knowledge , or want of promptitude , or want of forethought , had been exhibited at home , he must say that he thought that he should be guilty of the grossest injustice to the Ministry , if he did not admit , upon the fullest consideration , that he had been able to give to the subject , that by far the greatest of the calamities by which the army was now oppressed in the Crimea , originated there , and not here . ( Cheers . ") If we had had a Duke of Wellington , or , in the event of sickness , a Sir George Murray , the public would never have heard of any , or if any , of only the smallest portion of the distresses which had there arisen . Believing this , he would not assent to any resolution of the purport of the present , as interpreted by the noble earl himself , which was to attribute to the effect of the departments here , or even to the conduct of the Government here , all the calamities which existed there . Earl Grey withdrew his motion . MINISTERIAL EXPLANATIONS . Both Houses adjourned until Thursday ; when it was expected that Lord Aberdeen would make his statement . He fulfilled this expectation ; and after stating that Ministers had resigned and only held office until their successors were appointed ,-he spoke as follows : — "My lords , I wish to say that , in opposing the vote of Monday last , and in thinking that vote in some degree uit constitutional in itself and liable to many objections , it is hot our desire to preclude any inquiry into our conduct . I believe that an impartial jnquiry would fully establish that no indifference has existed to the wants of our army in the Crimea , or any absence of exertion and preparation for the supply of those wants , and for promoting the efficiency of their condition . This , therefore , I believe would be the result of an impartial inquiry into this subject , and especially my noble friend near me , the noble duke , I must consider to have met with great injustice . It is my conviction that-the more his conduct is inquired into , the more will it be found marked by a degree of assiduity , labour , interest , and attention to the duties of his office that have never been exceeded , and I believe never can be . My lords , I am not at all sur- ^ prised at the feeling which generally prevails throughout the country . The public , although they may not reason deeply , always feel rightly , and feel strongly . They see that misfortunes-have , occurred-. beyond . the ^ ordin ary . course of the calamities of war , and they very naturally turn 16 the Government as the object of censure , as it is to them that they look for the efficiency of tho army and tho right management of the war . I make no complaint with respect to this . I think it perfectly natural , and am ready to submit to the natural consequences . But , my lords , while 1 admit the sufferings and privations which our troops have endured in tho Crimea , I must say that the representations which have been made have been very greatly exaggerated , I do not mean to say that of individual suffering—far from it , for I know that it has existed in a degree that has been both painful and heartrending—but what I mean is , that an inference has been drawn as to our military condition which I think has been grossly exaggerated . I see no cause whatever for discouragement or dismay on looking to that condition . On the contrary , I see every reason to indulge the most sanguine hopes of ultimate success . In the first place , the condition of our own forces has been recently greatly improved , for the provisions , the clothing , and all the other appliances have been recently increased , and very much tended to improve the actual condition of our troops . Our ally the Emperor of the French has told his legislative body , and through them has told Europe , that his army consists of 581 , 000 men . Since that time he has ordered an additional levy of . 140 , 000 ; and with such a force as this , animated by the determined zeal with which ho has espoused tho cause in whicli we are both engaged—I say with such a force as this , if employed in anything liko the samo proportion in which we have devoted our army to the service , wo are entitled to look with the utmost confidence to the issue of tho war . Then , my lords , wo have recently concluded a treaty with tho King of Sardinia , by which there are placed at our disposal , for immediate embarkation to tho Crimea , 15 , 000 admirable troops , to bo put under tho command of Lord Raglan . That is a most valuable aud important addition to tho forces in the Crimea . In addition to this , my lords , we have concluded a treaty with Austria , which is now brought to u point from whicli the most important advantages may bo confidently anticipated . Wo have como to an understanding with tho Austrian Govornmcnt upon tho terms of tho peace thnt wo havo agreed to proposo to tho Emperor of Russia . Tho Austrian Cabinet hns agreed to adopt those proposals , and the Russian Minister has accepted , or proposed to accent , thoao conditions so proposed , so understood by tho Allied Powers . Now , my lorda , Austria has also engaged that , if these terms bo not accepted and do not lend to the conclusion of a peace , sho will be prepared to

    join her military efforts to our own . You see here , then , that there is the alternative of a peace which will acquire all the objects for which we are contending ; or we shall receive the assistance of that great military Power , whose army is to be raised to the amout of 500 , 000 men . With these prospects it is impossible to conceive or to entertain unworthy apprehensions , notwithstanding those casualties to which all armies are liable . This , my lords , is our military prospect . " Paying high compliments to Mr . Gladstone , and the Earl of Clarendon , he further remarked on Austria : — "We have every reason to place the most entire confidence in the consistency and good faith of the Austrian Governmenr . From the first , without disguising their ardent desire to preserve peace , they have never proposed doing so bv the sacrifice of any of those great European interests for •_¦ - _ i _ -. ; i : * — «— - AJTnMta ?*¦* s \* i «* tx-wsrrt Vnil fiOlh TiAi" £ k 41 ia *«

    which we were contending , and therefore I think that , having proceeded with such caution as they have dono throughout the whole of these transactions , we have a better right to rely on their firmness and good faith in the course they have now taken . My lords , the present want of the country is a strong Administration . ( Loud cries of " Hear , liear . " ) How that is to be formed it is not for me to say . Rumour has asserted very confidently , that the noble earl opposite ( Lord Derby ) has been commanded by her Majesty to undertake the formation of an Administration . Seeing him in his place , I presume this is not the case . But be this as it may , every one must admit the necessity that exists for a strong Government , and I trust the patriotism of this House will not be wanting in the promotion of that object . I can only say for myself , and I believe I may speak for those who act with

    me , that any Administration that may be formed by Her Majesty w ' Ul receive from us that support which at the present time is so urgently required by the great interests of the country ; it wul receive from me any degree of support which it may possibly be in . my power to give it . I do trust that whatever Government may be formed will carry on this war with vigour , with effect , and with a view to the only legitimate end of all war—a speedy arrival at a state of peace . My lords , I trust that , by keeping steadily in view the real objects of the war—not being diverted into wild and imaginary projects , nor animated byjmerely vindictive feelingssuch a Government , as soon as those real objects of the war shall be attained , will listen to the dictates of humanity and of true policy , and will lose no time in realising the advantages of peace as soon as they can honourably do so . "

    The Duke of Newcasixe then , breaking through routine , entered into an explanation rendered necessary by statements of Lord John Russell in _ the House of Commons—an explanation , which , as it involved a reference to proceedings in the Cabinet , he had obtained the Queen ' s permission to make . In ^ that statement Lord John said , that when the War was separated from the Colonial Department , he had yielded to the " strong wish" of the Duke that he should- occupy J ; he War -Department . That was not the case . When the separation was proposed , the Duke of Newcastle pointed out that some plan of duties should first be prescribed , but Lord John , anxious to defer to Parliament , thought the measure should be immediately adopted . And when the Cabinet so

    decided , the last words addressed to them by the Duke of Newcastle were— " the Cabinet having decided that the Secretaryships shall be divided , all that I can say , so far as I am personally concerned , is , that I am perfectly ready to retain either or neither . " "So much , my Lords , for . my ' strong wish * referred to by the noble lord . " Q ^ Hear ; hear" andcheersi)— " I can only say that , in any discussion of which I heard , I never understood for one moment that the noble lord ( Lord J . Russell ) had expressed any desire whatever that my noble friend , Lord Palmerston , should occupy the War Department . I did hear—I was informed by my noble friend lately at tho head of the Government—that , for a time at least , the noble lord himself had contemplated the possibility of his taking that department , and most

    undoubtedly , if that had been the case , I , for one , should never for an instant have thought of standing in his way ; but I do wish it to be completely understood , that I not only did not express a ' strong wisli' on tho subject , but that I expressed a perfect readiness to retain either of the offices , or neither of them , as my colleagues might think _ best for tho public service and mi g ht advise her Majesty , I do not at the same time hesitate to say , that when , to the best of my belief and knowledge , no other member of tho Cabinet was put forward to occupy tho department of Secretary for War , I did not shrink from the duty of assuming that office . I certainly did feel that I should have been unworthy of having held those seals for three months , if I then shrank from what I knew to be a post of difficulty and of danger . I am sure that many of my private friends in this House and elsewhero will recollect tho observation I made to them when I was frequently told by them thnt I had acted unwisely in leaving a department where they were kind enough , or perhaps prejudiced enough , to say ,

    that I had formed some slight reputation . My answer to them was this : — 'I am well aware what I havo dono . I know that in this now department , whatever success may attend our arms , I shall never dorivo any credit ; but this I also know—that , if thero should be disaster , upon me alono will como tho blamo and tho public indignation . ' ( Cheers from a noble lord on the Opposition bencaes . ) I nutico my noble friend ' s generous cheer . I havo been upon terms of private intimacy with him , and I remember thut ho wns one of the friends to whom I mndo tho observation to which I havo just reforrod . Well , my lords , I tl-ink I hnvo snid cnougli to prove to you how unjnst hare been tho imputations which havo been made upon me in Parliament ana clsowhere } that my ' presumption and aelf-lovo' induced mo to insist upon taking tho office of Secretary for War . I hope I havo sufficiently explained to your lordships tho conduct which has boon characterised by soino as ' arrogance , ' and , by tho noble lord to when I hav o referred , by tho more patronising phrase of * comnendublo ambition . ' " (* ' Hear" and laughter ?)

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    transit 1 OO THE LEADER , [ Saturday , ^—¦^*™ ' "" ¦ 1^—¦—^^ M ^^—^—^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ . . _ .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 3, 1855, page 100, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2076/page/4/