Mahn anti Vrairthiugn iu Varlinnutit.

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OP THE WEEK.

Roues OF LORDS. Friday, Feb. 16. The Government War Measures; Lord Pan- mure's Statement—North American Fisheries Bill read a third time and passed. Monday, Feb. 19. Royal Assent to the North American Fisheries Bill—Pur- chasers' Protection against Judgments ; Lord St. Leonards's Bill committed.

Tuesday, Feb. 20. Army Service Act Amendment ; Lord Panmure's Bill read a second and third time and passed—Lord Ellenborough's War Speech. Thursday, Feb. 22. Day of Humiliation ; Lord Roden's Question, and Earl Granville'e Answer.

Friday, Feb. 23. No business of importance.

Holm OP COMMONS. Friday. Feb. 16. Lord Palmerston's Statement—Sir Charles Napier ; Mr. A. Dtmcombe's Question—Supply; Navy Estimates—Transport Ser- vice; Sr James Graham's Statement. Monday, Feb. 19. East and West India Dock Bill thrown out—Transport of Invalids; Mr. Watson's Question—Earl of Lucan ; Mr. C. Berkeley's Question— Supply ; Army Estimates; Debate on Government Measures—Newspaper Stamp; Mr. Gladstone's Resolutions—Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill read a first time.

Tuesday, Feb. 20. Tenants' Compensation (Ireland) ; Mr. Shee's Bill read a first time—Business of the House; Mr. Sotheron's Motion—Dwelling-houses (Scotland); Mr. Dunlop's Bill ordered—Public Prosecutors; Mr. J. G. Phillimore's Bill ordered—Trade with Russia ; Mr. Collier's Statement on Motion for Papers— Newspaper Stamp; Mr. Gladstone's Bill read a first time—Mutiny and Marine Mutiny Bills read a first time. Wednesday. Feb. 21. Nuisances Removal and Public Health; Sir Benjamin Hall's Bills read a second time and referred to a Select Committee—Ways and Means; Committee—Army Service Act Amendment; Lord Panmure's Bill read a second time—Mutiny and Marine Mutiny Bills read a second time—Court of Chan- cery (Ireland); Mr. Whiteside's Bills read a first time. Thursday, Feb. 22. Ministerial Crisis; Lord Palmerston's Statement—Common Law Procedure Act Amendment (Ireland) Bill read a third time and passed—Army Service Act Amendment ; Lord Panmure's Bill committed. Friday , Feb. 23, Ministerial Explanations—Speeches of Sir James Graham, Mr. S. Herbert, and Mr. Gladstone—Mr. Roebuck's Committee of Inquiry appointed.

Meeting. Adjoufnment.

6h Monday

. . S0m.

The Commons.

Hour of Hour of Meeting. Adjournment.

Tuesday 6h . lb 35m Wednesday No sitting.

Thursday 6h .... b esa

Friday 3h 5h 33m

Tuesday et .(ns) 12h 45m Wednesday 2h 6h Sm Thrsday 4h 5h 3

Friuday 4h Jar) 2h lam0m Sittings this Week, ; Time. eh Sm Sittings this ts eek, 8; Time, 41h 50m

— this Session. 23; — 48h Om — this Session. 29; — 129h 68m

THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND ITS MEisuaes.

When the motion was made in the House of Commons on Monday, to go into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates, Mr. LAVABO took occasion to make some remarks on the aspect of political affairs ; alleging the probability of some arrangement between Mr. Roebuck and the Go- vernment which would preclude discussion, as a reason for the course he took. The coup , which stands on the brink of ruin—which has fallen into the abyss of isgrace, and become the laughingstock of Europe— would not be satisfied unless an opportunity be given for the expression of opinion. The late Government had been censured by the House, and had gone out in consequence ; yet the present Government is almost identically composed of the same individuals. How far do the Members retained deserve the confidence of the country ? Starting from this posi- tion, Mr. Layard freely dealt out censures upon the acts of the late and the measures of the present Government. The blockade had been carried out so as to cause immense mischief ; the transport service is in hopeless confusion ; the diplomacy has been mismanaged; nothing has been done to carry out the Foreign Enlistment Act ; the French, by taking contracts offered to us, have obtained the command of the supplies in Asia Minor; and, after permitting the Turks to be insulted by British officers, we have taken 20,000 into our pay. Such are the " antecederits" of this Government. With regard to the future—the inquiry will be injurious to the public service, if honestly worked, and especially if it sit in judg- ment on the present Cabinet ; but it could only be rejected on the ground that there were new-men and a new programme. To show that such is not the case, Mr. Layard condemned the recent appointments of Com- missioners, and urged that no inquiry is needed as the facts are so well known. The country is sick of commissions ; it wants " a man." The plan which should be adopted is that of the French National Convention ; who, on the failure of their army, sent out their. own members, men who had no party considerations, who cared not for aristocratic influences, who "went out determined to sacrifice those who were guilty, regardless of persons, and who did so. The result was, that in a few months that army achieved deeds which were unparalleled in the history of the world." The system at the Horse Guards, the fear of responsibility, an undue re- gard for family consideration, which leads to the neglect of merit, and the passing by of men like the officers of the East India Company, who have seen war,—these are the causes of the present intolerable state of things. Lord Palmerston, whom the whole House were ready to support when he took office, no longer gives satisfaction. The country wants to see whether it cannot be governed by " something new " ; it don't want to see the same parties in power over and over again. He implored Lord Palmerston once more to reflect, for by continuing in his present course he will lose all confidence and all support.

[General Peel and Lord Palmerston rose together; but the Premier gave way to the cries for the Genera].]

General Pam, said, that he was not in the least surprised at the feeling of despondency abroad, after Lord John Russell had spoken of the state of the army as he had done, and after the publication of other accounts. It was their duty first to inquire into the cause of evils, and then to con- demn those who had brought the evils about ; but the House of Commons reversed that principle, and condemned before they inquired. He had voted against the inquiry, not from confidence in the Government, but because the proposed tribunal of inquiry was unconstitutional and im- practicable. The causes of the evils are so plain that no Committee is needed to inquire into them. The Government commenced a great war with inadequate means; and with those inadequate means they attempted more than any army could possibly execute. All had been called upon to do more than they could, from Lord Raglan down to the smallest drum- mer-boy. The men have died because they were overworked and under- fed; there has been less mortality among the officers because they are not called upon to perform manual labour and are better fed. The men who were well clothed were healthy enough. These evils arose from sending out at first more troops than the reduced state of our peace establishment admitted of. It would have been better to have sent out ten or fifteen thousand men and to have attempted what ten or fifteen thousand men could accomplish. When the siege began, the numbers of the French and English were nearly equal, and the siege operations were divided be- tween them. After the battle of Inkerman our position was different. The French force increased, ours diminished, yet we continued to SOH- duct the same amount of siege-works as the French ; and while our men passed three nights out of four in the trenches, the French passed only one night out of four. Then Lord Raglan:called for reinforcements ; and those sent out were so young and unseasoned that they rapidly died off or became unfit for service. But when the Government looked elsewhere for men fit for immediate service, and proposed to employ foreigners, the House made it a party question. General Peel defended the existing sys- tem. To complain of regimental officers as unfit for staff employment when they have never been allowed to qualify themselves, is the same as if a man who only kept a gig should turn round upon his servant and complain because he could not drive a four-in-band. Representative go- vernment is an admirable thing, but it is not all that is required to carry on a great war. It may be a fine thing to have a morning state of the army laid duly on the breakfast-table : that, as was said of the Light Cavalry charge at Balaklava, may be very magnificent, but it is not war. Lord PALMERSTON protested against the language of Mr. Layard, who said the country had been disgraced and had become a laughingstock to Europe, and who mingled with his observations "vulgar declamation against the aristocracy of this country." Deeply lamenting the sufferings of the army, he said it would be a great mistake to suppose that the suf- fering had been confined to our troops. Without speaking of the French, who have endured a good deal, he knew, on pretty good authority, that there are 36,000 Russians in hospital, sick and wounded ; and, however the sufferings of our troops have been increased by want of arrangement, they have arisen in great part from the nature of the service—the incle-

Friday 4h .(m) 12h 3Orn 4h .(ot) lh 46ra Monday

mency of the weather, and visible causes in the power of no man to con- trol. So far from feeling ashamed, he felt proud of events from the merit of which Mr. Layard sought to detract. Tell us of the aristocracy of England !—why, in that glorious charge at Balaklava, leading were the noblest and wealthiest in the land, following were the representatives of the people of this country—neither the peer who led, nor the trooper who followed being distinguished the one from the other. Mr. Layard says it is trifling with the interests of the army to send out Commissioners, who will apply a remedy at once. What does he recommend ? A Committee to send forth a blue-book, and Commissioners after the manner of the Committee of Public Safety in the French Revolution, empowered to execute summary justice. "Why, you might take the honourable gen- tleman at his word, and if you were to add this instruction to the Com- mittee, that the members thereof proceed instantly to the Crimea and re- main there during the rest of the session, perhaps that would be satisfac- tory." (Laughter.) Mr. Layard said that Lord Palmerston, between Friday night and Monday, had fallen in the estimation of the country, because he did not frame a different Cabinet. If Mr. Layard would be good enough in succession to the Members of the proposed Committee to .add. those of the proposed Cabinet, the House could judge between them. But he was sure that, when the people see a Government constituted upon the failure of two other attempts to form a Government, they will feel that the men who have undertaken the task have done so because they feel the country should not be left without a Government.

War will be carried on with adequate vigour. If the opportunity for eon- chiding a safe and honourable peace be real, the Government will avail themselves of it. But if "the adversary has not been brought to that temper of mind which will induce him to consent to those conditions upon which permanent peace can for the future be established, why then, Sir, we shall appeal with confidence to the country for support in those greater ex- ertions which a continuance of the contest may impose upon us as a neces- sity; and, whatever may be said by the honourable Member for Aylesbury, or by others who may rise after me in debate, I feel confideht that this country will give. its support to a Government which honourably and honestly stands forward to do its duty in a moment of emergency ; a Go- vernment which has not forced itself upon the country by any vote or mo- tion in this House, or by any Parliamentary manmuvre; a Government which has arisen in consequence of the failure of others who might, if they hid chosen' have undertaken the work, but who shrank from doing it at the time when the offer was made to them. I do not mention this as reflecting blame upon them, but simply as the fact which led to the formation of the present Government. Two endeavours having been made to form a Govern- ment, and those two endeavours having failed, I should have thought myself a degraded man if I had not undertaken the task. I feel proud of the sup- port which my honourable and noble friends have afforded me. I throw myself with confidence upon the generosity of the country and of Parlia- ment; and I am convinced that, if we do our duty—and we shall do our duty as long as we have the support of the country to enable us to do it— if we are enabled by the support of the country to do that which we con- ceive to be our duty, in spite of temporary i reverses, in spite of the mo- mentary aspect of affairs—we shall succeed n carrying matters to a suc- cessful issue, be it for peace now or be it for peace hereafter; but, whether by negotiations now, or whether by force of arms afterwards, we shall be able to place this country upon that proud footing of future security which its greatness and its power so well entitle it to occupy." (Loud cheers.) The debate was continued for a short time. Mr. J. G. PRILLTKORE urged inquiry; and vindicated representative institutions from the charge that they are ill adapted for carrying on war. Mr. WARNER thought that Lord Pal- nierston's explanations were unsatisfactory, and the measures he proposed not those expected from him. But if he would undertake to inquire into the grievances of the army, Mr. Warner would rather it should be done by the Government than the House of Commons. Major Rain denounced the Horse Guards as "rotten." Mr. Moanotrou roughly characterized Lord Palmerston as "an old man whose hands are tied by red tape."

ARMY ESTIMATES.

The House went into Committee of Supply; and Mr. Faicomucs. PEEL moved the Army Estimates for the ensuing financial year. He begged the indulgence of the Committee, as he had scarcely had sufficient time to become acquainted with the details of the service ; and as Mr. Sidney Herbert, who prepared the estimates, and on whom he had relied, was unable to attend the House in consequence of indisposition.

Exclusively of the number of men employed in the East Indies, the force proposed to be raised under the Foreigners Enlistment Act, and the Militia, the number of men it was proposed-to maintain was 178,645—or an increase of 35,869 upon the whole number voted last year. But last year 30,000 men were provided for under two supplementary votes ; and therefore the entire augmentation upon the original estimate of last year was 65,869. It will be necessary to recruit 40,000 men this year to raise the army to the strength proposed, and 20,000 more to fill up vacancies; and therefore provision had been made for recruiting 60,000 men. The total charge for the land forces is 7,353,8041.—or an increase upon the original and supplementary estimates of last year of 2,630,5161. Mr. Peel entered minutely into the details of the vote; and stated among other things, that 322,0001. Would be required for 7500 horses for the cavalry,which would enable them to mount almost the entire cavalry force; that there would be 8000 drivers in the land transport corps or- ganized by Colonel M‘Murdo ; that the estimated charge for the foreign corps is 400,0001., supposing it to consist of thirteen regiments 1000 strong ; and that the 150 embodied regiments of Militia would cost 3,813,3831. The total charge for effective and non-effective is 13,721,0001. The first vote submitted to the Committee was for 193,595 of all ranks, of whom 14,950 would be foreigners.

Several Members took the opportunity afforded by the Committee to express their opinions on the conduct of the war, the military system, and the present Government. Mr. BOLDER° complained that the war had been other than a naval war; and that, having sent an army to con- tend against the Russians, it had not been better supplied. Mr Waxiest Wrr TTAMS would not object to the number of men, but there were several items upon which reductions might be made : such as the charge for the War Department, which surely might be reduced, now that the office of Secretary at War has been abllished ; and the higher pay of the Guards —50 per cent higher than the pay of the other regiments. Colonel KNox attributed the present state of the army mainly to Mr. Williams and Mr. Hume. As to the Guards—have they done their duty or not ? are they worth their hire ? • The pettifogging economy of Mr. Williams, cavilling and fighting over every estimate, had crippled the hands of Government, so that they had entered on the war with inadequate mecum. Lord Snystorrs defended Mr. Hume, who had never opposed a vote tending to promote efficiency, and whose proposals for reducing the Esti- mates were always defeated. In fact, the party which had most reduced the Estimates was the Conservative Government of 1835. He further remarked, that our cavalry force is too small,—a miserable 9000 ; yet we maintain the Household Brigade, which is ineffective for the purposes of war. The 90,0001. spent upon these horses and then, so heavy as to be unserviceable, would maintain four effective cavalry regiments. Mr. HENRY Reiman said, that after having been insufficiently supplied with transports, the Government are going to the other extreme—the land transport is to consist of 8000 drivers and 12,000 horses. Lord Cardigan said the light cavalry horses had been starved—why had they been starved ? There is plenty of barley at Constantinople. Sir Fasxzen PERRY defended Mr. Layard from the charge of uttering vulgar decla- mation against the aristocracy; and expressed his disappointment that Lord Palmerston had not put forth a more vigorous programme. When he heard his plans on Friday last, he felt a chill of dissatisfaction. If they were satisfied with Lord Raglan, let them disregard popular clamour and popular ignorance ; but if they are not satisfied—the course is ob- vious. Any man, however gifted in the art of war, must be paralyzed with these Commissions hanging round his neck. Sir Erskine pointed out defects in the hospital arrangements. One was this : several hun- dred soldiers came down sick ; they had lost their kits, and, of course, their knives and forks ; the hospital authorities refused to supply new ones, because the regulation is that a soldier must find his own knife and fork ! Mr. LAYARD observed that tents must be supplied to the army better than those now in use, and sufficient to protect the soldiers. Government, it was said, had sent to Thessaly to raise cavalry; if they sent to Asia Minor they could obtain sufficient numbers of irregular cavalry inferior to none. Mr. Join* AUG-amen complained of the mode in which supplies had been sent oat, and held up Green and Co.—who are not "green" in their mode of transacting business, like the Ad- miralty and the Commissariat—as an example to the Government. Mr. Rion suggested that 20,000 was too low an estimate of casualties. Mr. DRUMMOND did not object to the vote ; but nearly the same sum had been voted last year. Sums were voted for clothing, which the army never got. They had horses, and starved them. Would the men get the clothing, and the horses their food, this year? What man had they got to say these things should be done ? If he could get no proper answer, he would turn out every man from first to last. You require a man to act, and not a mere pack of twaddling red-tapists who do nothing. Mr. NEWDEGATB commented on Mr. Layard's charges against the aristocracy. They have not shown themselves to be a degenerate race. The failure has not been in the aristocratic branches of the service.

Mr. OTWAY recommended the employment of Indian troops in the Crimea, and Indian officers, like Edwardes or Outran ; and, taunting the Government with having done nothing to raise a foreign legion, he told an amusing story to illustrate that subject. Some weeks ago, an excel- lent officer, Baron Von Stuttenheim, was sent for by telegraph ; he came without a clean shirt, so hurried was he, and every day for six weeks he was kept running between St. James's and the War Department ; but he never succeeded in getting past the porter in the hall.

Lord PALMERSTON met, without preface, the various points raised by the preceding speakers. To Mr. Boldero he said, that a naval war, merely, would not have placed sufficient coercion upon Russia. He utterly de- nied that the fleet had come back from the Baltic without having done anything. Was it nothing to have destroyed Bomarsund—intended as a naval station on a scale greater than Cronatadt ? There were twenty- seven or thirty Russian sail of the line and as many frigates in the Baltic : if we had not had a large naval power in the Baltic, the whole of this fleet would have scoured the sea, ravaged commerce, threatened our shores, and inflicted disgrace on the country. Instead of this, not even a por- tion of the Russian fleet escape& As to the military operations, it be- came necessary to strike a blow somewhere : a victory might have been gained in central Russia, and not one step gained towards a decisive re- sult; it was therefore resolved to strike the blow where it was most sen- sibly felt—at the great power of Russia in the Black Sea, which lies at Sebastopol. The difficulties have been greater than were anticipated. But the House must look with some indulgence upon the errors of men who had everything to learn. It is one thing to learn tactics at an academy and another actually to perform them ; and in this respect the Continental armies have advantages over ours. Mr. Williams had condemned the Household troops as usual. We are often told to imitate the military or- ganizations of foreign countries if we would be successful: now a privi- leged corps exists in nearly all armies—in the French, the Austrian, the Prussian, and the Russian • in all these there are troops corresponding to the brigade of Guards; and if there is a desperate resistance to be made or distinguished service to be performed, the Guards are there to do it. Lord Seymour had objected to the Household cavalry as too heavy for use : did he forget Waterloo and the Peninsula ? These regiments have not been sent to the Crimea, because it is too distant, and the nature of the ground does not require troops of this kind. Mr. Williams objected to the expense of the War Department in the Estimates : but no consolida- tion can supersede the necessity for clerks, and provision must be made for the discharge of the duties of the civil service. It is not correct to say that the war was begun without any land transport. The change that has taken place is the transfer of that corps from the Commissariat and

the making of it a special department. Mr. Baillie had alluded to the want of forage, and ascribed that want to the neglect of the Commissariat ; but it must be remembered that forage for twenty days was lost in the hurricane of the 14th November. Mr. Bernie had also asked what steps had been taken to form a foreign corps ?

"It is perfectly true that hitherto we have not succeeded in acting upon that bill, and why ? I must tell the House the truth, however unpleasant

it may be to some to hear it ; but the reason why we have not succeeded

has been the language—I am forced to say it—has been the language which was used in debates in this and the other House of Parliament, and which

created such a feeling of resentment and indignation throughout the Con-

tinent of Europe, that those persona who had before been prepared to take letters of service to raise troops in Germany threw them up, and said that

under the circumstances they were unable to raise a man. The condition,

also, which was imposed on the Government of not giving half-pay to the officers, likewise tended to impede the execution of the plan. I undertake

to say, that if Parliament had not put in a clause prohibiting the ranting of half-pay to the officers, and if language of so moulting a kind had not

been held with regard to what were called ' mercenary troops, Germans, Belgians, Heaven knows who,' thus raising the national feeling of the Con- tinent against us, by this time we should have had a very different story to tell."

With regard to allowances for outfit to non-commissioned officers on promotion, it would be seen in the Estimates that the sum of 50001. has been allotted for that purpose, and 2000/. in good-service gratuities for life. Instructions have been given to provide knives and forks for the sick and wounded ; and to provide a new supply of tents. The French officers have felt so greatly the inconveniences of their tents, that General Canrobert sent to France for tents upon our model. If light cavalry can be obtained in Asia Minor, as Mr. Layard suggested, it would be far better to get them there than bring troops over from India. And as to transferring such officers as Colonel Outram and Major Edwardes to the Crimea, perhaps the President of the Board of Control would have a word or two on that point, and the Governor-General would not thank the Go- vernment at home, if it deprived him of these officers ; for India might have to be defended as well as the Crimea invaded. The Government have given their earnest attention to the supply of horses and men in the Crimea. No army was ever before so well supplied, so fully equipped. The deficiencies arose for want of arrangement for conveying to the men and the horses the things sent for them. There was great force in Mr. Newdegate's remark, in answer to the attacks on the aristocracy, that - - - - " Where your system has broken down—where evil has arisen from the want of capacity, of energy, of intelligence, or of the accurate and zealous performance of duty—it was not that the gentry, not that the aris- tocracy, not that the noblemen in the Army were in fault, but persons be- longing to other classes of the community. It is in the Medical department, the Commissariat department, and the Transport department, which nobody contends are filled with the sons of the aristocracy or the gentry."

He could assure the House, that no effort shall be spared to despatch the new clothing provided for the next campaign. Government will or- ganize a sufficient army of reserve to enable it to place in the field a force sufficient to contend against any difficulties- After some further conversation, the votes for the men and also for the money were agreed to.

ARMY SERVICE ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

The motion for the second reading of Lord Panniure's bill, giving the 'Crown power to enlist men of mature age for limited periods under ten years, gave rise to a discussion on the conduct of the war and the state of the Militia.

The Earl of Eumaionotron took Lord Panmure to task because he had omitted to make a statement on the operation of the present mode of enlistment and of the effective force of the Army. He looked with alarm on the mode of furnishing the force required : 60,000 recruits are wanted, but even that number will not materially increase the effective force; and no provision is made for casualties which may be set down at 30,000. 'The only solid foundation for an effective army is the Militia : unless very energetic measures be taken, by individuals who have influence— unless some measure of coercion is applied by Government—it will be impossible to keep the Militia up to a full complement. If the Poor-law Unions were the districts to which the quotas were apportioned, and a fine imposed where the quota should not be supplied, the Chairman of the Board, in cooperation with the Guardians, would effectually exert himself to procure militiamen. The system about to be adopted of enor- mously increasing the numerical strength of regiments, and dispersing them in fragments, partly in England, partly in the Mediterranean, and partly in the Crimea, would practically nullify the army. There will be fragments at home, but no army; and that is contrary to all military principle. Deeply did he regret to come to the conclusion, that our mili- tary institutions are inadequate to support an army of the original strength of that which went to the Crimea; and earnestly did he con- demn the practice of shuffling regiments together then adopted, thus de- stroying discipline and the esprit de corps. In consequence of sending oat every man and boy upon whom hands could be laid, regiment after regiment was thrown into a bottomless pit, where they could do the pub- lic no service.

Amidst a great deal of regret at the conduct of the war, he congratu- lated Lord Clarendon on two events,—the convention concluded with Sardinia, that most admirable transaction of a long-sighted Government which gives Piedmont a new position in Europe ; and the convention for the employment of Turkish troops in British pay. If Turkey can be saved, it will be only by the revival of her army. He would like to see a Turkish contingent officered by British officers to serve in Asia, and another officered by French officers to serve on the Pruth : for some means must be taken to make diversions somewhere, otherwise our army will not be able to withstand the enemy in the Crimea. He saw with regret that sufficient attention has not been paid to the war in Asia, for we are an Asiatic as well as an European power, and in addition to the Turkish troops we should secure the aid of the Persians; and these, together with the available forces—especially the artillery and irregular cavalry—in British India, paid by the East India Company, would form an army of 50,000 men, which would be strong enough to give us Georgia and Tiflis. Surely the Government of India will not be the Prussia of the East, and let others fight her battles ? In Georgia, we should have the people and the Circassians by our side, and attack Russia with the arms she used to subjugate Europe.

" You may depend upon it that in this war you must fail unless you de- termine to appeal to nations, and not alone to armies—unless you will avail yourselves of the means which the national feeling of the people more re- cently annexed to Russia places at your disposal. This is a war, I regret to say, ad internecionem ; and it is absolutely necessary that you should avail yourselves of every means in your power for the purpose of bringing it to a conclusion honourable to this country, safe for us, and safe for the rest of the world."

These sentiments were loudly cheered : and the Earl of HARROWS; taking up the theme, urged an appeal to the nationalities of Europe, and the reconstruction of Poland, with the concurrence of Austria, as a barrier to Russia. From Poland Russia commands the whole of Germany ; on the side of Poland and the Caucasus alone can Russia be affected ; and he trusted that Lord John Russell had not gone to Vienna pledged to carry out the opinion he rather hastily expressed in the House of Commons, that under no circumstances should any change be made in the territorial possessions of Russia. Lord Passions first took notice of some of the points raised by Lord Ellenborough. Of course, a greater number of men will be required to

make good casualties in time of war than in time of peace; but he did not fear there would be any difficulty in raising the supply by recruiting.

To some extent recourse has been had to the Militia, but some of the re•

giments have not shown the activity expected from them in furnishing their quota. Energetic measures will be taken to obtain a supply after an appeal has been made to the commanding-officers. The system of fines now recommended was tried, and failed, during the last war ; and would not be likely to succeed now. " The attention of Government has been much directed to the recruiting of the army ; and there can be no question that means must be found, if not gentle, then they must be found by compulsion, for recruiting the ranks of her Majesty's service, in order to enable this war to be carried on with vigour." With regard to the composition of regiments : there will be two Lieutenant-Colonels, one in the field and one at home, each in command of a portion of the regi- ment. There will be 1000 men in the Crimea, 400 in the Mediterranean, and 600 at home. The inconveniences resulting from what Lord Ellen- borough called shuffling regiments together, at the outset of the war, were temporary, and have disappeared months ago.

It might be inferred from some of Lord Ellenborough's observations that the war was undertaken for the special interest of this country. Now it was undertaken honestly, not for aggressive purposes, but to re- strain Russia; and Lord Panmure would be sorry to see this country turn to her own advantage a force collected for a higher and nobler purpose. With regard to India, it would be a serious consideration that could in- duce us to withdraw the troops referred to by Lord Ellenborough. No further than withdrawing the Queen's regiments—in whose withdrawal the Governor-General fully acquiesced—would he venture, for the sake of employing Indian troops in the Crimea, to deprive India of troops on which she relies to resist attacks and maintain order.

A debate ensued on the subject of the Militia. The Earl of MaLmns- BURY strongly objected to the way in which the Militia regiments had been treated. They were raised on a promise that they should not be embodied except in the event of an invasion—which they thought visionary ; yet within a year an act was passed to em- body them in case of a war. That had been never understood ; and it had produced the worst effects in preventing recruiting. Ad- mitting that the ballot might be needed, he urged the Govern- ment, whatever it did to be frank and intelligible. Earl GREY took the same view ' • but added, that the Militia is a defensive force, and should not be used as a nursery of the Army. At present it is neither a reserve nor a nursery ; for officers cannot be expected to discipline their men, if the men as soon as they are disciplined be draughted off to the regular army. He fully concurred in the bill before the House. At the close of his speech, Lord Grey took occasion to argue against Lord Ellen- borough's views regarding the danger to India from Russia : the proposal that India should take part in the war was wild and impolitic. With regard to Poland, he trusted the war would not be converted into a war to carry out magnificent schemes for the restoration of that country,—an act which can only be accomplished by the Poles themselves.

The Earl of EGLINTON suggested, that power should be given as soon as possible to the Lords-Lieutenant of counties in Scotland to call meet- ings for carrying out the Militia Act, which at present they cannot do without a special sanction from the Crown. Earl Frrzwitzuar supported the arguments of Earl Grey, and objected to the practice of making the Militia regiments nurseries for the Army. After some minute explanations by Lord Paragons, the bill was read a second time, and passed through its remaining stages. On the third reading, words were inserted, at the suggestion of Lord EI.LENBOROUGK, limiting the duration of the act to three years.

THE MINISTERIAL

From his place in the House of Commons, on Thursday evening, Lord PALMERSTON announced, that Mr. Gladstone, Sir James Graham, and Mr. Sidney Herbert, had resigned their offices, and only held them until their successors be appointed. Under these circumstances, he proposed that no public business should be entered upon, except those orders to which there was no objection. His right honourable friends would attend in their places on Friday, and state the grounds which had led them to resign.

Mr. DISRAELI said, he heard with deep regret, and some consternation, that the Cabinet so recently formed, and which he hoped would have had a much longer existence, had come so suddenly to a disruption. In the absence of the gentlemen who had resigned, it would be improper to make any remarks on their conduct; which on a proper occasion, as well as the conduct of Lord Palmerston, would be canvassed.

It was subsequently arranged, that Mr. Roebuck's motion for nomi- nating his Committee should on Friday have precedence of the orders of the day, and that then the three outgoing Ministers should make their explanations.

TRADE WITH RUSSIA..

Mr. COLLIER moved for a return of the Russian exports from Arch- angel to this country during the present year ; and in doing so, he drew the attention of the House to the whole question of the trade with Rus- sia, its evasion of the blockade, and its continuance through Prussia.

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He intimated that if the explanItion of Government were not satisfac- tory, he might subsequently set forth the policy which he thought ad- visable, in the form of a substantive resolution. The wealth of Russia consists almost entirely of serf-labour, and in the products of the soil; tallow, hemp, and linseed, being the chief commodities produced for the benefit of the nobles. At the outbreak of the war, it was expected that as much would be done by injury to the commerce of Russia as by our prowess in the field ; that her wealth would be so crippled as to render continuance of the war impossible. Upon former occasions, as when Russia joined Napoleon in the Continental blockade, she became a se- rious sufferer, and a rouble, "the pulse of Russian commerce," declined in value. At the outbreak of the present war, it fell from par-38 pence— to 32 pence; and bankruptcy for the Russian land and Government was anticipated. The results have been the reverse. Notwithstanding the blockades, the exports have been greater thasever ; the decline of English money sent to Russia has only been from 11,000,0001. to 10,000,0001., and the rouble has risen to par. That amount has not been sent in goods but in money, the most convenient form for Russia under present circum- stances. The blockade in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov—where much was expected, because the land-carriage would be too lengthy for evasion— has not been maintained : it was notified in June, in July, on the lit uP

February, and the 16th; but if any has existed at all, it has only been within the last few days. The shipments of linseed from the ports in these seas have been unprecedented in scale ; 700,000 quarters from May to December 1854 against 640,000 and 445,000 quarters in the whole of the two preceding years. By blockading the Danube, Turkish grain has been kept back from this country, while the vexatious blockade of the other ports has only thrown the trade and its profits into the hands of the Greek merchants, who took it up where our trade has abandoned it, and the sea is so small, that a single steamer might have blockaded the straits of Kertch. The blockade of the Baltic has been evaded by the transit through Prussia: 1000 tbalers a day have been taken for import- duties on the Prussian frontier; 500 loads of hemp and flax have arrived per day at Memel. This route has occasioned an increased cost on Russian produce of not less than 2,500,0001., which falls upon the consumer ; so that besides the expense of imposing the blockade, we pay 2,500,0001. for its evasion. This trade is organized to a great extent by the Govern- ments of Russia and Prussia for the purpose of evading the blockade ; a convention has been entered into for the formation of a railway, and Prussia derives a great revenue. It is a new trade, carried on to the detriment of ourselves. Now, by "the rule of 1756," a neutral is at liberty to carry on his accustomed trade in time of war, but not a new trade, to the prejudice of either of the belligerents,—a rule laid down by Lord Stowell. Mr. Collier glanced at the means for ren- dering the blockade effeetual,—the actual closing of the Black Sea and the Baltic on the Prussian frontier, the search of neutral vessels for goods from a blockaded port, and the prohibition of Russian produce in this country. The merchants in St. Petersburg informed Sir Hamilton Seymour, that if the trade were prohibited they would have nothing to do with it; and a similar conclusion was come to in London. On that declaration, the rouble fell from 36 to 32. Substitutes for the produce of Russia could be found in other countries—India, Africa, and Italy. The measure might entail some sacrifice upon this country ; but unless this country is prepared for sacrifice necessary to render the war effectual, it may as well declare itself a nation of shopkeepers, stay at home, and give up hostilities ; and if the present Government went on like the last, proposing half measures, and requiring to be goaded into activity by the press, the sooner they fall the better.

In seconding the motion, Mr. MITCHELL, as a Russian merchant, stated several facts to establish Mr. Collier's conclusion, that the beat way to bring the war to a termination was to stop the trade with Russia. The income of the nobles, who are the possessors of military power, is derived from serf-labour and the produce of the soil. Most of them live up to their income; they are now paying war-taxes and losing their revenue. If Government made up its mind that trade should go on dur- ing peace, there would be no necessity for maintaining a fleet at all.

Mr. CAenwirtr, did not oppose the motion for papers ; he admitted the interest of the subject, and the ability of Mr. Collier's statement. He re- plied by a counter-statement. At the opening of the war, we found that the ally with whom we were to be united had differed from us as to the laws that ought to prevail during war, and that it would be desirable to adept a maritime policy most beneficial to neutral powers that would sympathize with us. Hence the declaration of policy which accompanied the declaration of war. The blockade of Russia, however, has not been so ineffective as Mr, Collier represented. The stoppage to the advance of capital from this country rendered it necessary to give time for withdraw- ing British interests in the Baltic and the White Sea; and communication with the Allies on the manner of carrying out the blockade also affected the date of enforcing the blockade in the Baltic and the Black Sea. The Rua- sian mercantile navy has, for the purpose of commerce, been entirely anni- hilated ; while, on the other hand, our own commerce has ridden unharmed in every sea, and is saved the higher insurance that would have been paid against risk of capture by Russia. Allowing for the transit trade with Russia, the Russian flax trade has diminished by 670,000, or about 62 per cent ; in hemp the diminution is 53, and in tallow 63 per cent. Russia takes great pains to become a manufacturing country ; but her manu- factures have been arrested by the effects of the blockade. Nor has the loss of the overland trade been exclusively on our side. If prices have risen here they have diminished in St. Petersburg. Goods have been three or four months on their way, have lain perdu in woods and villages ; and in fact the pressure 'which is felt by the consumer is equally felt in Rus- sia. There are two difficulties in putting a further arrest upon the Rus- sian trade. The slightest kind of manufacture renders the produce of one country lawfully to be regarded as the goods of the other. And if Russian produce were prohibited, the British consumer would be cramped in ob- taining his raw material in the market of the world, with the proba- bility that increased cost would transfer some of our manufactures to Ger- many, where prices leave us a very small balance. The blockade as it is enforced inflicts a maximum of injury on Russia and a minimum of injury on ourselves. Customs-regulations against Russian produce would inflict a maximum of injury upon ourselves and a minimum of injury upon Russia. As to the proposed substitutes of produce from other countries, that change cannot be effected suddenly; or if prices were equal, traders would already have sought the markets of India, &c. The first Sir Ro- bert Peel, Colonel Stanley, and Lord Ashburton, saved this country from the deplorable consequences of a similar project forty years ago. Then, again, certificates of origin have always proved inefficacious ; and any enforcement of a hostile restriction upon commerce beyond the one uni- versal rule which is unaccompanied, by privileges or licences would em- barrass us with friendly neutrals or allies, such even as France, Subsequently, the position taken by Mr. Collier was supported by Mr. WATSON and Mr. HEADLAM. Mr. RICARDO and Lord DUNCAN rather gave their support to Government. Sir bates GRAHAM said a few words to prove that the delays or imperfections of the blockade did not lie with his department—the Admiralty. He stated that when the orders for a blockade were received by the French and English Admirals in the Black Sea, they consulted, and arranged to effect it by blockading the entrance at the Bosphorus; but the French and English Ambassadors at Constan- tinople had great doubts 'whether that would be legal ; the question was referred to their Governments, and three months were lost. Then came the great expedition to the Crimea, and there was a difficulty in finding a combined fleet for the blockading duty. At present every port in the Black Sea, except the mouths of the Danube, is closely blockaded. Mr. DuiecAN, in the name of his constituents, thanked Government for the considerate delay in the White Sea,—without which it might have been

difficult to feed 40,000 people in Dundee, thrown out of employment for want of flax, already paid for. Motion agreed to. NATIONAL HUMILIATION.

The Earl of Roomer inquired whether the Government had taken any steps to appoint a day of prayer and humiliation throughout the country-, on account of the disastrous condition of our army in the Crimea ? lie feared that the answer given some time ago to the Duke of Grafton by Lord Aberdeen would draw down some grievous calamity on the nation. The Earl of ABERDEEN explained, that the Duke of Grafton had pro- posed to introduce a prayer for ordinary use into the Liturgy ; that it was to this he objected ; and that he had written to the Duke of Grafton to say he should advise her Majesty to order a special day of humiliation in Lent.

Earl GRANVILLE said that her Majesty's Government intend to advise her Majesty to appoint a day of humiliation. THE ITNROASTED COFFEE.

During the debate on the Army Estimates, on Monday, Mr. Witscce told the story of the unroasted coffee. Coffee had been first served out to British troops during the Caffre war, where it was served in an un- rested state, and preferred in that state, because more easily carried and in better condition. Coffee was not sent out as rations to the troops in the East at first, but for sale at prime cost. On the 28th June, Lord Raglan ordered that coffee should be part of the morning rations ; and on the 6th July, Sir Charles Trevelyan, without any representation from the East, sent out 5000 pounds of roasted poffee as an experiment, request- ing Mr. Filder to report whether it was desirable that the coffee should be roasted. That letter did not reach Mr. Filder until September or Oc- tober: on the.6th November, he wrote to the Treasury, and on the 7th a minute was made that 225,000 pounds of roasted coffee should be at onco sent out, and that a monthly supply should follow. Unfortunately, transports were so much in demand for the conveyance of troops, that the first consignment was not shipped until the 16th December, Up to the • 13th February, 211,000 pounds had been sent out. Loan Luclar.

In reply to Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY, Lord PALmEnirTcx said that Lord Lucan was some time ago recalled, " in consequence of differences between him and the Commander-in-chief, which rendered it quite impossible for them to act together." TRANSPORT OF INVALIDS.

In reply to Mr. WATSON, Lord PALMEBSTON stated that the Duke of Newcastle had sent out a commission to inquire into the condition of the hospitals; to recommend such measures as they might think right and proper; and to report, not merely to the Government, but to Lord Rag- lan ; and Lord Raglan was requested to act upon those recommendations without delay. Lord Panmure intends to organize a periodical transport service between Constantinople and the Crimea and England, for the purpose of bringing home invalids.

THE NEWSPAPER STAMP.

On the motion of Mr. GLADSTONE, the following resolutions were passed in Committee, and a bill founded on the resolutions was ordered to be brought in- " That it is expedient to repeal the exemption of newspapers from postage-

duty ; and in lieu thereof, to charge on newspapers and printed books and papers transmitted by post rates of postage according to weight. That it is expedient to alter and amend the laws relating to the stamp-duties on news- papers, the printing and publishing of newspapers, and registration and giving securities in connexion therewith, and the regulation of the duties of postage on printed'papers."

THE HEALTH BILLS.

In moving the second reading of the Nuisances Removal Bill and of the Public Health Bill, in order that they might be referred to a Select Committee, Sir BENIAMIN HALL stated some alterations which it would be advisable to make in the former. The provisions of that bill will be confined to England and Wales alone, as the Lord Advocate for Scotland and the Secretary for Ireland have consented to the introduction of sepa- rate bills for those parts of the United Kingdom. The bill contains two parts, one of general application, the other to be applied under special circumstances. It will be an amendment if the bill be divided into two parts. The clauses of the bill adopted from the Building Act will be struck out. He trusted that the Select Committee would set their faces against any great prolongation of evidence, and not suffer any delay through the opposition of the gas and water companies, but enable him to carry the measures this session. Both bills were read a second time, and referred to a Select Committee.

MODEL HOUSES FOR THE POOR.

Mr. DUNLOP obtained leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the erection

of dwelling-houses for the working classes in Scotland. The number of houses has diminished although the population has increased, and the most pernicious effects are produced by overcrowding. The object of the bill is to induce capitalists to associate and invest money in buildings for the poor. For this purpose, his bill contains a clause limiting the lia- bility of the shareholders; and provides a cheap and safe mode of convey- ance, by requiring the lodgment of a plan and book of reference at the office of the Sheriff's Clerk, and the keeping of a corresponding register in the office of the association ; the transfer to be effected by an entry in the book at an expense of 5s. or 10s. The bill would also empower an association, with the consent of the Magistrates and Town-Council, to apply to the Court of Session for possession of houses having no ascer- tained i

ed owners, upon payment into court of the purchase-money in ex- change for a Parliamentary title. TENANT COMPENSATION.

Mr. Sergeant SURE asked leave to bring in a bill to provide compensa- tion for improving tenants, and to consolidate and amend the laws re- lating to leasing powers in Ireland. What he proposed was, to bring iu the Leasing Powers Bill as it came down from the House of Lords last session, with one alight alteration ; and to add to it the Tenants Improve- ment Compensation Bill introduced last session by Sir John Young. kir. Shee reminded Lord Palmerston, that without the support of the Irish Liberals his Government was not worth two months' purchase; and he called upon him to say frankly whether or not he would support this bill. ' Unless he did, the Irish Members would not support him. Sir Tome Yoruni said, he would relieve Mr. Shee'e apprehenstons, b stating that the Government would not oppose the introduction of the bill,—

Leave given. Pun= Paosscumas.

Mr. J. G. Pauxistona, in moving for leave to bring in a bill for the appointment of a public prosecutor, made a briefer statement of the ques- tion than has been customary, as he understood that the motion was not to be opposed by the Government. Before a prisoner is committed, the whole management of the case is in the hands of the police • after com- mittal, the Crown is supposed to be the prosecutor, but really the pro- secutor is either the injured party or the police. But the unlimited power of connivance on the part of the police gives rise to the grossest _profligacy. Now it is important that every step in a criminal prosecu- tion should have the sanction of public authority. The ATroarray-Ge.- smut perfectly approved of the object of the bill, provided that it can be effected with a due regard to expense, and that the creation of an overwhelming amount of patronage be avoided. But he thought the subject was not ripe for legislation. He had consulted the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, and had been told by him that when he filled the office of Attorney-General he had found it impossible to devise any satisfactory plan. If a large body of agents were created, they would need a staff for the collection of evidence, and an immense expense would be incurred. Then who is to have the patronage ? It is obvious that the whole, thing would become a matter of nepotism and favouritism ; which would produce bad effects on the administration of justice. Our code for the administration of justice is almost inconsistent with the ex- istence of a public prosecutor. In the conversation which these remarks called forth, Mr. 31`hfanost contended that the system proposed to be introduced in England had failed in securing confidence in the administration of justice in Ireland. The people look upon a prisoner as persecuted by the Government. But Mr. .Nerisn, Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD, and Mr. GEORGE, himself a public prosecutor, took the opposite view, and urged Mr. Phillimore to go on with his bill. Mr. EWART, admitting that the question is beset with dif- ficulties, said that confidence in the administration of justice in Scotland is not shaken by the existence of public prosecutors. He suggested that the bill should be referred to a Select Committee. Mr. PBINN suggested "difficulties," but concurred in Mr. Ewart's suggestion. Leave given.

BUSINESS OF ME House.

Mr. SoTRERON moved the following resolutions on Tuesday- - " That this House will not allow any public bill to be read a second time after the 1st day of July, without special leave. That this House will not allow any bill to continue an act about to expire to be read a second time after Easter, without special leave. That orders of the day have precedence of notices of motions on every day of the week after Whitsuntide.' Mr. BOUTERIE, Mr. Wu-masts, and Lord PAL MERSTON, directly op- posed the motion. Lord PALMERSTON declared that he was opposed to any restrictions on the conduct of public business. In private business persons are bound to conform to the known rules of the House; but matters of public interest cannot be subjected to fixed rules not applicable to fluctuating circumstances. Looking to the House as a great machine for legislation on great interests, he thought that their bands ought to be free and unshackled either by rules that at a certain hour of the night a certain kind of business should come on, or that Members should be limited in the length of their speeches.—Motion withdrawn.

Tax Dorm Buts.

On the motion that the East and West India Dock Bill, one of three bills practically conferring a monopoly upon the Dock Companies, should be read a second time, Sir Jesiss DUKE objected, that it would be in- jurious to the trade of London, and would impose a severe tax on the public : he moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. In this opposition Mr. CARDWELL concurred : he did not think the Dock Companies had made out a case sufficiently strong to warrant an alteration of the bargain made at the time they originally obtained their bills. On a division, the bill was rejected by 249 to 26 ; and the other two bills, the London Dock Bill and the St. Katherine's Dock Bill, were with- -drawn.