21 APRIL 1855, Page 2

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PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK.

Room! Of LORDS. Monday, April 16. Charitable Trusts; the Lord Chancellor's Bill read a second time.

Tuesday, April 17. Excommunication in aid of Church-rates ; Bishop of Exeter —Cambridge University Bill read a second time.

Thursday, April 19. No business of importance. Friday. April 20. Sardinian Convention Bill read a second time.

Emma or Commits. Monday, April 18. Metropolis Local Management; Sir B. Hall's Bill read a second time—Supply; Civil Estimates—Public Libraries and Mu- seums (Ireland) Mr. Mr. Ewart's Bill read a second time.

Tuesday, April 17. Medical Departments; Colonel Boldero's Motion negatived— Sunday Trading ; Lord Grosvenor's Bill read a first time—Convention with Sar- dinia Bill read a third time and passed.

Wednesday, April 18. Intestacy (Scotland); Mr. Dunlop's Bill read a second time—Sea Coast Fisheries (Ireland); Mr. M'Mahon's Bill negatived—Inland Fish- eries (Ireland); Mr. Widahon's Bill withdrawn.

Thursday, April 19. No sitting.

_Friday, April 20. The Budget; Sir George Lewis's Financial Statement—Sebas- topol Inquiry; debate on new Member—Intestacy (Scotland) Bill committed.

TIME- TABLE.

The Lords.

Hour of Hour of

Meeting. Adjournment.

Monday 51t .. . 511 45m

Tuesday 5h .. 6h 30m

Wednesday . No sitting. Thursday 5h . 5h 15m

Friday 5h 5h 20w Sittingsthis Week, 4; Time, th 50m— this Session. 47 ; — 5511 40m LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S RETURN.

Sir join" Paxnnyron asked the Home Secretary, on Tuesday, in the absence of Lord Palmerston, if he could now inform the House when the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department would return to this country ? Sir GEORGE GREY replied—"I believe that the noble Lord will leave Vienna in the course of the present week—at the end of the week ; and from the latest information received, I have reason to believe that he will be in England on the '27th or 28th of the present month.

CHARITABLE TriusTs.

On the second reading of the Charitable Trusts (1855) Bill, the Loan CHANCELLOR explained some of its provisions. One of the objects of the bill is to appoint a third Commissioner in the room of the late Mr. Jones. It is also proposed to confer greater powers on the Commissioners who have beneficially exercised the powers hitherto intrusted to them.

One great alteration proposed is, that whereas, according to the former act, the Commissioners could only recommend others to do certain acts, this bill will give them power to do those acts themselves, subject to an appeal to the Court of Chancery, in a summary way, if what they do is not satisfactory to the parties. It is also proposed, in order to obviate difficulties which had occurred, to give the Commissioners power to decide in certain cases, subject, however, to an appeal to the Court of Chancery. Power will also be given to the Commissioners, in cases where charity property is appropriated to par- ticular parishes and districts which have been divided, to apportion the property between the parishes, subject to appeal as in other cases. It is pro- posed to vest all lands and other property in an official trustee, in order to prevent as far as possible the disbursement, mismanagement, or loss of the property ; but the management of the property will be left, as now, with the trustees. In the former act of 1853, powers for exchanging and partitioning property were deficient ; and therefore it is now proposed to remedy the evils. With regard to taxation of costs, there was no power in the former act ; and now a clause will be introduced to enable parties to refer to the Masters of the Court of Chancery. In oases where accounts are called for, and the crder is disobeyed, it is proposed to consider the parties in default, and to treat their conduct as a contempt of the Court of Chancery ; which would enable the Court to deal with them in the usual manner. It is also proposed to legalize certain Roman Catholic charities, which if constituted within the last twenty years would have been perfectly legal ; and to make the admin- istration of their funds open instead of secret.

The Commons.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment. Monday 4h .... Oh 30m Tuesday 4h .... ah 15m Wednesday Noon .... 611 60m

Thursday No sitting. Friday 4h .... 1111 Om Sittings this Weak. 4; Time, 22h 85m — this Session. 56; — 334h Om CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY Bum.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Lord LYNDHURST objected, on the ground that only two Ministers were present, the Lord Chancellor and the Duke of Argyll.

The-LORD CHANcsuoit explained, that the bill had been framed to meet the views of the University authorities; but on consulting them, he hitt found that various alterations were required. He therefore proposed to read the bill a second time as it stood, in order that the requisite alter- ations might be made in Committee. The bill was read a second time; and it was arranged that the discussion should be taken on going into Committee.

METROPOLITAN SELF-GOVERNMXNT.

Sir BENJAMIN HALL having moved the second reading of the Local Management Metropolis Bill, a conversational debate of some length took place. Various Members, though generally approving of the measure, offered some hostile remarks upon its details ; but reserved their opposi- tion for the Committee. Mr. APSLEY PELLA-rt. suggested that the bill should be referred to a Select Committee ; but this found no favour either with the House or with'Sir Benjamin Hall ; and the bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on the 30th April.

CORPORATION REFORM.

In reply to Mr. Lsnoncnsan, Sir GEORGE Guar stated that Govern- ment intend to bring in a bill for the reform of the Corporation of the City of London in the course of the session.

SUPPLY.

The Civil Service Estimates were taken in Committee of Supply on Monday ; and a great variety of votes were agreed to, including 122,2091. for the new Houses of Parliament, and 100,000Z on account of the an- nual Educational vote. With reference to the former, Sir WILLIAM MoLaswoRTH explained the cost of both Houses as now estimated. Ex- penditure up to March 1854, 1,583,0001. ; voted last year, 107,0001. ; to be further or already expended, 173,0001. ; making a total expenditure of 1,862,000/. If the works proposed but not yet sanctioned were carried out, there would be an addition of 651,000/. ; making altogether tole millions and a half. With regard to Sir Charles Barry's claim for re- muneration, the Government have determined to give three per eent upon the whole outlay, and to resist any further claim.

THE MILITARY MEDICAL DEPARTMENTS.

Colonel BOLDERO, with a preface on the deficiencies of the medical de- partments in the Army and Navy, illustrated by the evidence given be- fore the Sebastopol Committee, moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the state of those departments. The motion was seconded, and sup- ported at greater length, by Sir JoHN TROLLOPE ; who contended for the establishment of a Medical Board, and the abolition of the useless, elabo• rate, and unwieldy books and forms now in use. The best thing to be done with them would be to burn them in the barrack square.

Mr. PERI. objected to inquiry, on the ground that the state of the medical department, if not the special subject of inquiry by the Sebas- topol Committee, is embraced in its scope. If that inquiry should prove

incomplete, it W i will then be time to appoint another Committee. The measures of the Government—by concentrating power over the other authorities in the hands of the Minister of War ; by the appointment of a Medical Board, including a civilian among its members ; by the establishment of professorships of Military Surgery at Edinburgh, Glas- gow, and Dublin ; by the establishment of a regular Hospital Corps ; and by rendering the purveyors subordinate to the medical authorities,—by these measures the Government have superseded the necessity for this Committee.

The motion was warmly supported by Mr. BRADT, Mr. Mtocr-z, Mr. MONTAGUE CHAMBERS, and Sir GEORGE rECHELL and opposed by Ad- miral BERKELEY, Mr. Erases, and Sir GEORGE GREY. With regard to the Navy, it was complained that a large number of young and incompetent men had been sent out to the Baltic; but Sir GEORGE GREY explained that a certain number of pupils have been appointed to do duty with that fleet, not as surgeons or artsistant-surgeons, but as supernumeraries. The fleet has its full complement of surgeons and as Blatant-surgeons; and these dressers were sent out that they may qualify by practice for the office of assistant-surgeons hereafter.

On a division, the motion was negatived by the narrow majority of 73 to 69.

IRISH Fisnaaras.

Mr. M'MAHorr, in moving the second reading of the Sea Coast Fisheries (Ireland) Bill, described it as a measure intended to assimilate the laws concerning fisheries in Ireland to those which exist in England. Mr. NAPIER, Mr. WHITESIDE, and Mr. KEOGH showed, however, that the measure would abolish salutary provisions now in force, under which the fisheries are flourishing, would disturb property, and encourage poaching. So far from a desire existing to assimilate- the fishery-laws of Ireland with those of England, the successful working of the former has induced ap- plications from England to have the fishery-laws of this country assimilated to those of Ireland. Mr. NAPIER moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr. DUFFY and Mr. MONTAGUE CHAMBERS supported the bill ; alleging that the people of Ireland ought not to be denied those rights which uni- versally exist in other maritime countries.

The bill was thrown out on a division, by 145 to 19.

INTESTACY.

On the motion of Mr. DtrisLor, the Intestacy (Scotland.) Bill was read a second time. In briefly explaining its clauses, he said its object is to assimilate as far as circumstances would permit, the law of intestate suc- cession to personal estates in Scotland to that which exists in England and Ireland.

EXCOMMUNICATION.

In the course of a conversation on two petitions for the abolition of church.rates, presented to the House of Lords by Earl Grey, and after- wards withdrawn in consequence of an informality, Lord GREY chanced to observe, that he did not think the law as it now stands, according to which a rate can only be laid with the consent of the majority, is a substantial grievance. Upon this the Bishop of EXETER appealed to the Lord Chan- cellor to say whether the vestry are not bound to provide a rate to defray the expense of repairs to the church ? The LORD CHANCELLOR said, that there is practically no power of enforcing a church-rate ; for although it is the duty of the parish to keep the church in repair, there are no means

of enforcing the performance of that duty, except excommuaication or interdict ; which it would be absurd to put in force.

The Bishop of EXETER reminded the Lord Chancellor, that up to the year 1832 persons were proceeded against in the Ecclesiastical Courts and punished by excommunication for not doing their duty in regatd to the laying of church-rates. He should be glad to see all civil penalties de- tached from the sentence of excommunication, and this sentence enforced against all majorities which refuse to lay a church-rate. He believed that a threat of proceedings to enforce it had induced, and would generally induce, parties to consent to the imposition of a rate.

THE NEW ZEALAND COSLP.ANT.

Sir GEORGE Garr has presented a petition from the Representative Assembly of New Zealand, reciting a series of resolutions passed by the Assembly in reference to the debt of the New Zealand Land Company charged upon the land-sales of the colony; and praying for an inquiry into the origin, nature, and extent of the debt, with a view to relieve the colony, in whole or in part, from a burden which, they submitted, was ex- cessive or unjust.

THE SEBASTOPOL INGOIRT.

The Select Committee appointed. to inquire into the state of the Army before Sebastopol resumed its sittings on Tuesday. All the members were present, except Mr. John Ball, the recently-appointed Under-Secre- tary for the Colonies.

Mr. Maxwell, one of the Commissioners sent out by the Duke of New- castle, was recalled. From his statements it would seem that the Com- missioners bad left England without written instructions from the late Minister of War, who assured Mr. Maxwell that his instructions should follow. When they arrived at the camp, some difficulties arose in conse- quence of the breach of military etiquette on their part, in neglecting to report their arrival and authority to Lord Raglan. The consequence was, that orders were issued from head-quarters, reproving the Commis- sioners for putting questions to the surgeons : but this difficulty was ob- viated when Lord Raglan learnt the authority of the Commission. Mr. Maxwell was only partially examined, as the Committee decided that they should be better able to continue his examination when they had the terms of his commission and report before them.

Lieutenant-Colonel Horsford, commanding the First Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, gave evidence to the effect that his battalion had suffered severely from cholera and the climate, when he left the Crimea, at the end of January; been reduced from 960 to 180 men. He held that there had een no suffering in the field until the bad weather set in and the climate told against them : when the bad weather set in it was impossible to get up the stores, and the officers' horses were used as trans- port : the men suffered from hard work, exposure, and insufficient eloth- ing. The Fourth Division, to which he was attached, being the last organized, had no bat-horses granted to it, and was without means of transport.

Sir Charles Trevelyan, Assistant Secretary to the Treasury since 1840, having until recently the superintendence of the Commissariat Depart- ment, was examined on Tuesday and Wednesday, and gave very in- structive evidence.

It was on the 9th February 1854 that directions were first given to pro- vide for the expeditionary force about to be sent to Malta ; and on the 17th Mr. Filder—not as recommended by seniority, but "as the beat officer for the purpose, a man of tried and proved abilities''—was appointed Com- missary-General. He reported that a staff of forty officers would be suf- ficient. Mr. Smith, Commissariat-officer at Corfu, received orders to pro- ceed to Constantinople, obtain information as to the resources of the coun- try, take measures in concert with Mr. Calvert to receive the troops as they landed at Gallipoli, and make further provision for their reception at Scutati. These services he performed ; and when Mr. Filder arrived at Constantinople, he found that the troops were well supplied. Shortly after his arrival, the forces were increased ; Mr. Filder increased the number of his staff and subordinates ; took instant measures to get to- gether the means of land-transport : 2000 arabas, with their animals, and 5000 mules, were required for 25,000 men, a force that Mr. Felder

sufficient. Although not complete, there were means of trans- port at the end of July for rations for 25,000 men for thirteen days. Mr, Filder, in writing home, never said in so many words that he had enough means of transport to move the army from Varna ; but he never said any- thing to the contrary, and he had made large provision. Sir Charles was closely pressed on this point ; and the provision made by Mr. Fildet was compared with rules set down in books treating of the subject, from which it appeared that 24,000 animals would be required for 53,000 men. Mr. Filder's estimate of 3000 arabas and 5600 pack-animals for 25,000 men seemed to the Committee inconsistent with the above estimate : but it was explained, that 3000 arabas are equal to 9000 pack-animale, which, plus 5600, give a force equal to 14,600 pack-animals. In Bulgaria Mr. Fader never had fewer than 1000 arabas. When he landed in the Crimea, Mr. Filder had 1203 animals for the reserve ammunition, 842 baggage-animals, 134 for carrying water, 98 for sundry services, and 70 carts. When he had been there a little more than a fortnight, he had imported 216 carts and mules, 193 waggons of the coun- try, and 206 pack-animals; making a total means of conveyance for 317,900 pounds daily—more than the army then required. The animals left at Varna were to spare," and were sent to Constantinople early in October. To illustrate the nature of the march from Old Fort to Bala- klava, Sir Charles said, that " regularly as the ammunition-animals broke down Lord Raglan ordered the contents of the Commissariat-carts to be turned out and left to the mercy of the Cossacks, while the carts were loaded with ammunition."

When Mr. Filder saw the result of the first day's fire, he began to be seriously alarmed. He pressed Lord Raglan for orders to lay in supplies and form depots; but could get no precise directions. On the 8th November, when informed that the army would winter in the Crimea, he had already written for additional supplies-1,250,000 pounds of biscuit per month, salt meat, 40,000 gallons of rum, and 40,000 pounds of forage per fortnight. These things the Treasury requested the Ad- miralty to forward. Whether they were forwarded or not, Sir Charles could not positively say ; it had been assumed that they were ; if the ships had not arrived the Treasury would have heard. On the 13th November Mr. Filder wrote home expressing his apprehensions respecting the feeding of the army, as the roads were likely to break up ; and he drew the attention of the Quartermaster to the state of the road. He said he had plenty of food and plenty of transport, but feared for the road. After the battles of Balaklava and Inkerman, and the hurricane of the 14th November, the period of disaster began. By the breaking up of the road, rendering carts useless, " the transport power was actually reduced to one-sixth " of what it had been. The animals died, and the drivers " disappeared." The hardships affected alike the small horses of the country and the finest Mules from Spain. Mr. Filder wrote home for 350 drivers ; and these, with 270 waggons and carts and harness, were raised and sent out in a abort time. The animals that had died were, after much delay on the part of the sea Transport service, supplied by fresh horses drawn from Constantinople, and Turkish porters engaged at the same place. The delays at Constan- tinople were so great that Lord Raglan wrote a " courteous letter" to Admiral Boxer, reminding him how much depended on forwarding horses, forage, and stores. Throughout this period, one great link in the chain of difficulties was the break in the sea route between Constantinople and Balaklava. Admiral Boxer was a zealous officer, but he had not ad- ministrative powers sufficiently high for the situation. Down to as late as the 16th January there would seem to have been deficient transport; mainly in consequence of the practice of horse-stealing, So common in the camp ; which, again, arose from the total unfitness of the idle Turks to act as muleteers. Mr. Filder fully described to Lord Raglan the state of the road and the necessity of mending it, or the service of supplying the army must come to a stand. He also pointed out the evils arising from the want of magazines at Balaklava, and the delays and confusion it caused in the issue of supplies. Touching other points Sir Charles made some statements. Inquiries were made early in the year respecting supplies of vegetables ; and suc- cessive cargoes of potatoes and large quantities of rice were forwarded. Mr. Filder was instructed to get forage on the Black Sea ; but he failed as far as hay was concerned : chopped straw abounded, but some of the cavalry and artillery officers objected to it ; and large contracts for hay were made in England. One of their greatest difficulties arose from the want of deptits and magazines. Hulks might have been used, but they were not thought of out there ; or some of the houses at Balaklava might have been told off. Sir Charles held that the Commissariat was not to blame for the unroasted coffee, as the officers themselves recommended that it should be issued unroasted. With regard to the porter, it was found too bulky to be supplied to the troops when they were not accessi- ble by water-carriage ; and before the army left Varna the supply had been discontinued by Lord Raglan, for sanitary reasons.

At the close of his evidence, Sir Charles Trevelyan stated that he had improved the old Commissariat system, especially in the choice of tried

clerks ; but he thought the time had arrived when we should adopt the French system, and consolidate the different branches of our system on the model of? the French " intendance."

"One comprehensive civil administration for the army, under an intend- ane.e, combines all the qualities of good administration, unity of authority, and proper division of labour ; a proper selection of agents in the first in- stance, and a proper promotion and encouragement of them afterwards. The French Intendance consists of 246 officers, intendants, sub-intendants, and assistants—none under the rank of captain. There is nobody between the Intendant and the General commanding in the field, and he has only one coequal—the Chief of the Staff."