25 FEBRUARY 1854, Page 1

Ministers have claimed in Parliament the right to reserve the

statement of their intentions with regard to the method of prose- cuting the war,—a reserve quite distinct from that which has been well abandoned in the diplomatic part of the matter. No explana- tion, therefore, has been made as to the precise destination of the troops, either in respect of debarkation or of operations on the field. As the preparations are inevitably made known, however, it becomes evident that the war is to be conducted on a great scale, and that the preparations advance with accelerating speed. From the dockyards, from the naval rendezvous for the enlistment of sailors, from the recruiting-stations of the Army, the reports uniformly speak in the same strain of gratification at the advance in the construction and equipment of ships, at the readiness with which sailors come in even at ports where commercial wages are high, and at the zeal with which men press for recruitment in the Army: and conspicuous in this zeal are the Irish people. cuting the war,—a reserve quite distinct from that which has been well abandoned in the diplomatic part of the matter. No explana- tion, therefore, has been made as to the precise destination of the troops, either in respect of debarkation or of operations on the field. As the preparations are inevitably made known, however, it becomes evident that the war is to be conducted on a great scale, and that the preparations advance with accelerating speed. From the dockyards, from the naval rendezvous for the enlistment of sailors, from the recruiting-stations of the Army, the reports uniformly speak in the same strain of gratification at the advance in the construction and equipment of ships, at the readiness with which sailors come in even at ports where commercial wages are high, and at the zeal with which men press for recruitment in the Army: and conspicuous in this zeal are the Irish people.

A considerable body of troops, comprising the Guards, have al- ready embarked; the remainder of the first half of the British contingent will speedily, follow ; the second half is already in ac- tive preparation ; and it is now understood that the contingent will amount to not less than 25,000, under the command of Lord Raglan, with a very efficient staff of officers. The North Sea fleet, it is now said definitively though not authoritatively, will be under the command of Sir Charles Napier.

Besides the preparations for departing troops, Ministers are active in other auxiliary measures. The troops in the West Indies are to be partly concentrated and partly withdrawn ; Ministers leaving colonists to provide for the internal tranquillity of their own settlements. Thus, Government is quickly reaping the fruits of that wise policy which has endowed the Colonies with self-govern- ment and has rendered them supports instead of encumbrances to the empire.

Long familiar with official delays, Mr. Guthrie, the eminent army surgeon, sent to the Times a statement of the gross deficien- cies observed in the last great war, and not corrected in India, for conveying and ministering to sick and wounded soldiers; and a discussion arose. Ministers have silenced the discussion—by adopting and carrying out Mr. Guthrie's suggestions. This is a startling and admirable departure from that established routine which has usually treated suggestions thus made as ipso facto disqualified for official adoption.

The proclamation issued by the Queen to forbid the export of military stores and naval engines, except under assurance of their being conveyed to friendly states, was anticipated; but it was perhaps somewhat hastened, in order to prevent the exportation of machinery for steam-engines and of gunpowder to Russia. It is evident that the official vigilanoe is alive in every quarter ; and if the activity of the public servants keeps pace with their vigi- lance, they are fully sustained by the sympathy and assistance of the public at large.