§ MR. WARNERSir, as the First Lord of the Treasury is not in his place, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether telegraphic communication has been established between the Crimea and any part of the Turkish coast and its principalities; and, if so, what is the date of the latest despatch received from the seat of war? I wish also to ask another question, which I hope will be answered tonight—namely, whether any communication has been received from any source whatever relating to the raising of the siege of Sebastopol?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODSir, in answer to the questions of the hon. Gentleman, I beg to say that the telegraph is, we believe, complete, except across the Danube. I stated to the House, a few evenings ago, that the telegraph had been laid across from the Crimea to the Turkish 1949 coast. I believe now that it is complete from the Turkish coast to Rustchuk, and on the other side from Giurgevo to Bucharest. I do not know, however, whether it has yet been laid across the Danube. The last despatch received from the seat of war was received to-day from Lord Raglan, and is dated yesterday. There was no news whatever of any kind as to the raising of the siege of Sebastopol, in which, indeed, I do not believe. There is no communication whatever upon that subject further than a statement of the temporary discontinuance of the fire upon Sebastopol.
§ MR. GROGANsaid, he would beg to ask, if it was the intention of the Government to communicate to the House any news which might be received upon a subject in which the public were so deeply interested?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODAnything will be communicated which is of sufficient interest to render it desirable. I was about to say, that when a telegraphic despatch mentioned anything of sufficient interest to render it necessary, desirable, or interesting, to communicate it to the House, I have not the slightest doubt my noble Friend at the head of the Government would do so. After the contemptuous cheer of the hon. Gentleman opposite, I have no objection to state the whole purport of the despatch received to-day. Lord Raglan acknowledges the receipt of a despatch from Lord Panmure, and asks when the Sardinian contingent is to sail.