There was a debate on Thursday in the Lords upon
Abyssinia, the tameness of which was a little broken by a speech from the Earl of Ellenborough. His Lordship, who has ordered invasions in his time, thought the war just enough, but was afraid its immediate object would not be attained, that we might "precipi- tate a catastrophe like that of Cawnpore." He would "never place
troops beyond the reach of communication with the sea"—he recon- quered Afghanistan, which is net exactly a maritime district—he feared the want of water ; he had colleted up the spades and bill- hooks, and they were insufficient ; he did not like leaving allies -to the mercy of King Theodore ; and he regretted. any absorption of our strength when war might be expected in Europe from week to week. The speech was, for Lord Ellenhorough, a weak one, and the last argument is easily answered. - If a European war breaks out, and we engage in it, the Abyssinian force will scarcely be missed out of the armaments we shall be compelled to raise. The Peers assented, of course, to the Commons' arrangements.
