HC Deb 26 April 1855 vol 137 cc1788-9
MR. LAYARD

said, he understood the electric telegraph to Balaklava was to have been opened either yesterday or to-day. He wished to know if any information had been received from the seat of war by its means; and if so, whether the noble Lord had any objection to state what was the nature of that information? Also, whether the telegraph was to be open for the use of the public?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Sir, the hon. Gentleman has been correctly informed, the telegraph is open, and my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty received a message to-day and one yesterday; but it did not contain any news from the Crimea—it simply announced that the telegraph was open. I am not able to answer my hon. Friend's other question, as to whether any arrangements will be made for opening the use of the telegraph to others than the Government. I will give him an answer to that another day.

MR. LAYARD

Then there is no information whether the bombardment of Sebastopol has been successful or not?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

The telegraphic message did not bear upon that.

SIR CHARLES WOOD

said, perhaps he might be permitted to state that he yesterday received by the telegraph a message from Sir Edmund Lyons, dated the day before, acknowledging the receipt of a communication from the Admiralty; and to-day another message from the consul at Bucharest, stating that he had no news to communicate.

MR. ROEBUCK

said, he begged to inquire if he rightly understood the First Lord of the Admiralty to say that the telegraph was entirely open from this country to Balaklava? If so, how long would the transmission of a message between the two points occupy?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

said, it was not open the whole of the way to Balaklava. The submarine telegraph was laid down from the Crimea to Varna; but there was no telegraph between Varna and Cape Kaliega. As soon as the wire could be laid down along that distance the communication by electric telegraph would be complete. The message received yesterday, the 25th, from Sir Edmund Lyons, was dated the 24th.

MR. ROEBUCK

Then in twenty-four hours we could communicate with Balaklava. Under these circumstances would the noble Lord at the head of the Government think it within the scope of his duty, seeing the natural anxiety of the public upon the subject, to communicate without loss of time whatever might happen there?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I may state to the House that it is my intention to request my noble Friend at the head of the War Department to urge upon the commander of the forces to let us have every day some information of what is passing at the seat of war.