THE CRIMEAN INQULRY.
The first titling of the Board of Officers appointed " to take into con- sideration so much of the Reports on the Supplies to the British Army in the Crimea,' lately presented by her Majesty's commands to both Houses of Parliament, as animadverts upon the conduct of certain officers upon her Majesty's General Staff and in her Majesty's Army," was held in the hall of Chelsea Hospital, on Thursday. The J3oard is composed of Sir Alexander Woodford, president, Earl Beauchamp, Sir George Berkeley, Sir John Bell, Sir. W. Rowan Major-General Peel, and Major-General Knollys. Mr. Villiers, Jridge-Advocate-General, attended on the part of the Government ; the Adjutant-General's de- partment was represented by Colonel Douglas ; and Lieutenant-.Colonel Bagot acted as Secretary to the Board.
The proceedings of the sitting did not occupy more than half an hour, and were merely formal. The Royal warrant, and a letter of further di- rections from Lord Par:num-a to Lord Hardinge, were read. The Judge- Advocate-General handed in the names of the officers animadverted on in the Report—" Major-General the Earl of Luean, K.C.B., Major-General the Earl of Cardigan, K.C.B., Major-General Sir Richard Airey, E.C.B., Quartermaster-General, Colonel the Honourable Alexander Gordon, C.B., (Grenadier Guards,) Deputy Quartermaster-General." Mr. Villiers also read the .following rules for the conduct of the proceedings before the Board.
"1. The proceedings of this Board will be conducted as nearly as pos- sible in accordance with the practice of ordinary military- courts of inquiry.
"2. Evidence may be given before the Board either in the form of writ- ten statements to be read out to the Board by the parties tendering such statements, or by the oral examination of witnesses, conducted as nearly as possible in accordance with the ordinary military practice. "3. This Board is not empowered to examine witnesses on oath. "4. Every military witness will be informed that he is at liberty to de- cline making any statement which may form the subject of a charge against him before a court-martial, and that any in which he may make after being so cautioned will be admissible in evidence against him.
"5. The cases of the several parties who are considered to have a-right to appear before the Board will be taken separately."
It was arranged that the inquiry should begin on Monday, with the case of the Earl of Lucan ; and that the other cases should follow in -the order of the military rank of the parties. It was also agreed that notice should be given to Sir John INF/Tern and Colonel Tulloe.h that their "re- port is about to be called in question by the Board."
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