§ MR. NOELsaid, the noble Lord at the head of the Government had stated on Friday, in answer to the hon. Member for Marlborough (Mr. H. Baring), that on the entry of the Guards into the metropolis an opportunity would be afforded the inhabitants of welcoming them. The hon. Member for Marlborough had since written a letter to The Times, in which the object of his question was so clearly explained that he would beg to read a portion of it to the House. The paragraph was as follows:—
Nothing could be further from my intention in asking from the Government for a public entry for the Guards into London, on their return from the Crimea, than the idea of casting the remotest slight upon other portions of the army. The Guards compose the ordinary garrison of London; on their return to their usual and (in time of peace) accustomed quarters, it was natural that the people of London should be desirous of welcoming home those troops whom they justly prize.2074 He wished, therefore, to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, as an early day would be fixed for the entry of the Guards into London, Her Majesty's Government would consider the propriety of bringing up other regiments which had arrived from the Crimea on that occasion, so that an opportunity might be afforded to the inhabitants of the metropolis of welcoming portions of the artillery, cavalry, and infantry-of-the-line also, and of testifying the sense they entertained of the services rendered equally by the whole army during the late war?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I can assure hon. Members and the House that nothing can be further from the intentions of Her Majesty, and of those whose duty it is to advise Her Majesty, than to make any distinction between the different portions of the troops who have performed such distinguished services on the shores of the Black Sea. It would be exceedingly unjust to make any distinction of that kind, because every regiment did everything in the power of man to do under the circumstances in which it happened to be placed. No greater compliment should therefore be paid to the Guards than to the regiments of the line, or the artillery, or the cavalry. It is not with a view to any special ovation triumph to any particular force that arrangements will be made for giving the inhabitants of the metropolis an opportunity of seeing those gallant regiments on their return from the scene of their glory, but it so happens that the Guards are the natural garrison of London; they return to London in the ordinary course of their duty. If there were any adequate necessity or occasion, a great assemblage of troops of different kinds—regiments of the line, of the artillery, and of the cavalry—might certainly be brought to London; although it would not be easy to find any space in which they could be spread, as even Hyde Park would be far too limited an area. Then there would be no accommodation for them, as there are no barracks in which they could all be placed. Unless, therefore, some great occasion really existed, we should not be justified in making an arrangement such as that which has been suggested, and I do not think any great occasion does exist. Her Majesty is, as she has always been, most anxious to welcome in person every branch of her army on its return from the Crimea. Her Majesty has seen and inspected every arm of the service—almost 2075 every detachment that has returned, within any reasonable reach of her residence, and she will undoubtedly see at Aldershot all the regiments which are destined to take up their quarters there. I am afraid it will not be possible to gratify the inhabitants of the metropolis by bringing the bulk of the Crimean troops to London merely for the purpose of being exhibited to them; but Aldershot is at no great distance, the access to it is easy, and there will be ample opportunity for those who take an interest in the matter, and whose means enable them to go, to be present when Her Majesty welcomes at Aldershot the troops of the line, and at Woolwich the artillery, on their return from the Crimea.