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Leader (1850-1860), 27th January 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 11

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      Leadbk Ofjpjecjs, $At\Iraay, January $^....

      which ! contained my views on the- subject . That the house -will observe -was very lately , but I had no reason to expect that my views would be adopted . I had therefore to consider , when I came to reflect on the course which I should adopt with respect to the motion of the hon ^ and learned member for Sheffield , whether I could fairly and honestly say , ' It is too true that evils have take place ; it is true that many bravemenhavefallen at Alma , Inker-man ; and Balaklava ; itis true that many brave men have perished from neglect ; it is true that the heart of the whole of England throbs with anxiety and interest on this subject—but I can tell you that such arrangements have been made that a man of such vigour and efficiency has taken " the conduct of the war department

      —that such a consolidation of offices has taken place as will enable him to have the whole and instant control of those departments , so that all supplies shall be instantly furnished , and all abuses instantly remedied '—I might then meet this motion . I felt that I could not honestly say , after what I had written to my noble friend , and I mention in this place , not to cast any blame on him , because no one would impute it as a blame to him , he not having taken an active part in the direction of the war , that there was any person with any power of control , or sufficient energy of mind , or sufficiently acquainted with the details , at the head of the war department . I could not say , though an arrangement had been proposed oa Saturday last ,

      either that the consolidation of the military departments had been carried into effect , or that there was arty prospect of their being carried into effect in such a manner that I could pledge ' my faith to the efficiency of those arrangements- Therefore , sir , feeling this , and to me it has been most painful—but feeling that I had no faith in the efficiency of that proposal , and that I must stand up to oppose that motion or stand in the way of that which many thought would afford a remedy for these sufferings and these distresses ; or , , at least , if it failed to do that , would point out the way to their correction and removal—feeling that such would he my duty , and that many members of the House would look to me for an assurance of that kind , on my part , and

      would Vote on that assurances-knowing that many members of this House did so honour me with , their confidence , I felt that I would be betraying the confidence they placed in me if I gave that assurance when I did not feel that I could honestly do so . QCheers . ') It appeared to me that the Government could not accede to such a committee as the hon . and learned member for Sheffield asked for . It appeard to me that it would not be , I will not say dignified , but consistent with the practical : good working of . the constitution that there should be a Minister sitting on that bench to _ govern the war and other military departments , and at the same time subjected to the check of a committed up-stairs , that the Minister of war should have to consider what he was to do , not only to provide for the urgent necessities of the

      hour , to provide answers for the numerous requisitions which came to him from day to day , but also the evidence that might be furnished with respect to the conduct of the war after five or six months . I do not think that such an arrangement would be consistent with the efficiency of any department . I therefore felt that I could come to jonly one conclusion , and that , as I could not resist an inqui . ryV ' aird'liS 1 "" c ^ urd " n 6 Hrgive ~ th " em' ~ th " e ' only answer which I thought would be sufficient to cement the Government and stop the inquiry from taking place , it was my duty not to remain any longer a member of the Government . It would be competent then for others , who think that everything hns already been done or is being done that could be conscientiously required , to oppose that motion . But , for my own part , I could not do that . ' *

      He then wrote a note to Lord Aberdeen , resigning his office , to which he received no answer till Thursday , when lie heard from Lord Abordcon that hia resignation was accepted by the Queen : — " This , therefore is the statement I have to make as far as I am immediately concerned . Those Ministers who believe they can successfully oppose inquiry , who believe they are right in what has been done , and is doing , are perfectly justified in taking the course they are pursuing . At the same time , I have heard there is a rumour—and I hope it is true—that the arrangement I proposed in my first letter of the 17 th of November , or rather in my subsequent letters—that of placing the war department in the lumds of my noble friend ( Lord Palmeraton ) — hna taken place . Sir , I shall greatly rejoice if that ia the case . I

      believe it will bo a groat benefit to the country , that my noble friend should hold that department ; and I shall bo glad to think that my retirement from office has in any way contributed to that change . I think it must in some way hove contributed to it—( laughter )—for otherwise I have no doiihb that my friend at the bond of the Government , with that fairness and candour which belongs to him , and which I alwa }? s found in him , would have answered the letter I have just rend . Circumstances must , I think , hnvo in some respect changed , for that which Lord Aberdeen mud ho could not have honestly recommended to hcrMnjosty lie has nowthought to bo necessary . This ,, therefore , must bo a subsequent arrangement ; * nd I ahall bo glad if my retirement from tho less important office shall have effected that object . " T ho remainder of tho speech' of tho noble lord was addressed to tho gonoral question of tho Avar , which ho

      thought was not by any . means in a gloomy position 5 and he concluded by declaring that , in office or out of office , he would do his Tiest to procure < an honourable termination to it Lord Palmbkstoit then lose , and after a warm eulogium on . Lord t &* hn Bwasell , expressed his great regret at the course he had taken ; urging that his colleagues had some reason to complain of that course , and saying that ,. if his feelings with regard to this motion we * e such as he had described , the better cotrrse would have been to have again endeavoured to obtain the assent of the Government to such an arrangement as would hstve enabled him to meet the motion . He then went oa as ; follows :-

      —" ¦ If this proposal had been again made and rejected , and the noble lord the member for London had still retained his opinion , he would , then have resigned oa perfectly fair grounds to which , no one could have taken any objection . But I must say that I think his colleagues ar e entitled to feel , not oniy regret for the loss of one of the most eminent and influential members of the Government and of this House ; but they aare also entitled to say , that the loss has occurred ia a manner wholly nnexpected , and which , according to the usual practice , they could not have anticipated . So much-, Sir , for the noble circumstances to which my noble friend has adverted . With regard to the manner in which he has resigned , and the hasty and precipitate manner in which

      the grounds of his resignation were announced , I think it was a departure from the ordinary practice , which the Government would not have been justified in explaining . Having said this much , I will abstain from any further remarks on that point . In making "these remarks I have , acted from a strong sense of duty —( " Hear , hear , " from , Lord John Russell)—and not from any illfeeling towards my noble friend . Her Majesty ' s Government have felt it their duty , notwithstanding the great loss they have sustained by the secession of my noble friend , not to runaway from the motion of the hon . and learned Member for Sheffield . They felt that flight would have been disgraceful . If that motion be sucsessful , of course it is unnecessary for me to say what the result will be . ( Laughter . ' ) But , if , in the course of thejlebate , reasons shall be alledged sufficient to induce the House , to Teject , it will then be for her

      Majesty ' s Governmen to _ consider how far it may be _ advisable to adopt the suggestions of my noble friend . (" Hear , " andlaughter . ' )' . ¦ The future must depend on the result of the motion ; but on whatever person it will devolve to perform the functions of Minister of War , I am persuaded he will feel it his duty to act in the manner described bymy noble friend : the war will be prosecuted in accordance withjhe feelings of the people , and I trust conducted-to a successful issue . I feel , sir , the utmost confidence in the energies of this country , directed in co-operation with those of France . I am persuaded that my noble friend will prove a true prophet , and that the war will be conducted to obtain an honourable and a safe peace , which will secure not only the honour and dignity of this country , but the future repose and independence of Europe . " The subject then dropped .

      THE MOTIOX FOR A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY . Mr . " RoEBrck then Tose to bring forward- the motion of which he had given notice , that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the condition of our army before Sebastopol , and into the conduct of those departments of the Government whose duty it has been to minister to the wants of the army . The hon . gentleman having spoken of the condition of the army and its reduction from 54 , 000 to 14 , 000 , said he proposed to divide the matter into two parts—first , what was the present condition of that army , and how was its condition brought about ! He had not gone on for more tban ten minutes when he declared that his strength would not permit him to go further , and sat down , merely making his final motion . After a long pause ,

      Mr . Sidney Herbert rose , and in an able speech pointed out that all the circumstances connected with the condition of the army arose from the long-established peace system , which bad reduced our forces into mere regiments , unused to acting in bodies . Ho entered with great minuteness into nil the preparations which had been made by the authorities at homo , and showed that all the difficulty lay in tho seven miles between Balaklava and Sebastopol . He stated that tho Duke of Newcastle and himself had been labouring to create a system in tho War Department which would tend to greater efficiency , by bringing all the heads of departments into unity of action . . He strongly protested against such a motion as tho present , declared that the Government would not submit to it , and urged that the house would come to an immediate decision on tho question .

      Mr . DituMMOND followed in a very condemnatory speech , taunting tho Government with undertaking the war with insufliciont and inadequate knowledge of the state of the Crimea . Colonel North , Mr . M . Miters , tho Marquis of Gkanby , and < Mr . Lindsay buying spoken , all except Mr . Milnos in favour of tho motion , Mr . Layahd , in & short but comprehensive- speech , dealt with tho details in Mr . Sidney Herbert ' s speech , ridiculing tho arrangements , of tho Government , which

      produced abundance of returns but nothing , forthe . troops . He pointed out the faUings of Ih ^ TSCfiriBtTy iti their diplomacy , and prophesied that octet j £ ttteia jt $ t $ overrun Asia , have Persia on her tudq , awl- titt & ten India , while the Allies , failing Austria eitbeiv ^ y treachery or want of power , would not be atife to prevent Russia reaching Constantinople . - He should he % oilty of a crime if he did not vote for the motion , which : was one of no confidence in the / Government : ' ¦• - _ . : Sir G . Grey strenuously resisted the motion , expressed feis regret and astonishment at the course taken by Lord John Russell , and decidedly accepted the issue on which the fate of the Government depended .

      Mr . Walpole supported the motion principally on the ground that after the decided course taken by Lord John Russell , it was impossible not to acknowledge the necessity for inquiry . Mr . Vjsknon Smith , while ridiculing the notion of any confidence in the Government , and believing that the appointment of Lord Palmerston aa-War Minister would be the best and wisest course ^ yet declined to vote for the motion on account of its impracticability . After a few words from Colonel Sibthorpe and Sir J . Fitzgerald , the debate was adjourned to Monday , on the motion , of Mr . A . Stafford . The House rose shortly before twelve o ' clock . In the House of Lords , the Earl of Aberdeen made a statement explaining why Lord John Russell had resigned , and announcing that Government -would , resist Mr . Roebuck ' s motion .

      Some explanation from the Duke of Newcastle , in answer to Earl Grey , with regard to t he movements of some regiments at the Cape followed . The Earl of Weschelsea . brought forward the question of the course pursued by the Times in the comments on the war , and inquired whether the correspondent of that paper had not regularly drawn rations from the public stores . ¦ ¦ The Duke of Newcastle without going into the general question , of the conduct of the press on the war , expressed an opinion that some want of discretion had been exhibited by the newspapers . Some one not authorised to do so , had offered the correspondent of the but it

      Times a passage to Malta in a troop-ghip , was prevented by-the interference of the Government . He admitted that- for a time that gentleman in question had received rations ; but the moment he ( the Duke ) knew it ,-it had been forbidden . Lord Eaglan had complained to him that the letters which appeared in one of the papers had conveyed information to the enemy , and he ( the Duke ) had appealed to the editors of all the papers to suppress such intelligence . From some he had received no * replies , others had promised to ^ avoid such a course in future ; but these promises had not been exactly fulfilled , and he had received a letter only a day or two ago again making similar complaints , but he felt that he could take no further step in the

      matter . A short discussion followed , which was not or importance , and the House adjourned at a quarter to seven o ' clock .

      - Jantta**27,1855.T Ftmm/Li^Ammti. $3

      - Jantta ** 27 , 1855 . T fTMm / li ^ AmmTi . $ 3

      The War. The Following, From Lord Raglan...

      THE WAR . The following , from Lord Raglan , was received yesterday at the War-Office : — . _ ... .. _ . _ . _; " Before Sebastopol , Jan . 6 . " My Lord Duke , —The weather has been so bad since I wrote to your Grace on the 2 nd inst ., that I have not yet been able to disembark the 39 th , with a view of encamping . the regiment , and it still remains on board the Golden Fleece , in the harbour . " The ground is thickly covered with snow , though not very deep . dise

      " All my . endeavours are directed to the speedy mbarkation and getting up of tho huts , which have now arrived in considerable numbers , and the establishment of the depot of provisions , which I alluded to in my last despatch , near head-quarters , which I am now enabled to do , with , the assistance of tho 18 th and 39 th Regiments , the first encamped near Balaklava , the last still sleeping on board tho Golden Fleece . " There has been no movement on tho port of tho enemy . " I inclose a copy of the casualties that have occurred up to tho 4 th inst . —I have , & c , " Raglan . " A letter from the frontier of Bessarabia speaks of

      numerous reinforcements of RusHian troops moving on towards tho Crimea . The plan of the enemy is said to bo first to cruBh tho Turkish army at Eupatono , » nd then attack the French aud English armies , and » possible , " drive them | , mto tho soa . Tho same letter states that the Russians arc very sanguine of success , owing to tho debilitated condition of tho ¦ K'fff ' * ' ™* - Letters received in Paris from Solmstopol , to the inn , state th * t tho works of tho besiegers had advanced to within forty-fivo yards of thoso of tho besieged-

      Our Lunatic Vovvuittox. —Mom Thou 19,000...

      Our Lunatic VovvuiTtox . —Mom thou 19 , 000 perrons are under restraint as lunatics !« fcn « " ?* *™ - Wales . Dorsetshire " abounds" in lunatics and Idiot * , having as many aa one in 640 of tho population . Tub Black Ska TicusaitAWi . — Something -wen * wrong with tho voshcI containing the telegraph . A vnlvo burst , and thoy wero obliged to put into Harwich . Tho injuries aro serious , but "will be « oon rcotffted .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 27, 1855, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27011855/page/11/