§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, he wished to ask a question of the First Lord of the Admiralty. He was sure that the accounts which had appeared in the public press of the state of the greater part of the provisions on board the Great Tasmania must have excited in the minds of their Lordships, as they had done in his own, very great anxiety as to what was likely to be the state of the provisions embarked on board the transports which were conveying at least six or seven infantry regiments, as well as some cavalry and artillery, from Calcutta to China. It was quite evident that at the time of the despatch of the Great Tasmania, the means of supply in the possession of the Government were at the lowest possible ebb, and that it was impossible by almost any endeavour to obtain better provisions. No doubt the vessel sailed at the commencement of that season when it was impossible to salt beef in India, and when it was most difficult to obtain a supply of European biscuits. Under any circumstances the meat salted in India was inferior to that salted at home; and the same remark applied to the bread. But what very much increased his anxiety was the absence of the Governor General from Calcutta. He knew by experience that it was of essential importance that the Governor General should be on the spot in order to expedite business, as great delay arose, under ordinary circumstances, in communicating through the different Departments, and great embarrassments arose when any questions of importance occurred. Lord Auckland, his predecessor, heard the 1006 circumstances under which it became necessary to despatch troops from Calcutta to China when he was up the country, and he at once left his camp and came down in order that he might be at the spot whilst those preparations were going forward, knowing that no one but himself could effectually forward those preparations. It was possible that Lord Canning might have made arrangements before he left Calcutta, giving entire authority to his military colleague, Sir James Outram, by which any difficulties that he apprehended might arise would be averted. But what he wanted to know from the noble Duke was, whether he could state that adequate provision had been made for the supply of the troops going to China, and for keeping: them supplied when there. In 1842, as far as he could remember, provision was made for supplying 10,000 men for twelve months.
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETreplied, that he had read with much pain the sufferings of the troops on board the Great Tasmania; but he begged to say that the Admiralty were in no degree responsible for the state of the provisions on board that vessel. [The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH: I did not say they were responsible.] The noble Earl had referred to what had been done in 1841 and 1842, when provisions were sent out to Hong I Kong for the troops sent there from India. Provisions were in the first instance sent to Hong Kong for 7,000 men, and afterwards for 12,000. Subsequently provisions followed from time to time to meet the growing requirements of the troops. What had I been done in the present case was this. As his noble Friend had said, there was great difficulty in obtaining supplies in India for long voyages. The best meat salted in India would not keep for a long voyage, and the biscuit made in India was also very inferior. For the vessels sent from India with discharged soldiers sufficient European provisions could not be obtained, as these had been previously purchased for the use of other ships; and therefore the Great Tasmania was obliged to have, recourse to provisions which were undoubtedly of inferior quality. As to sending out provisions for the supply of the troops in China, he might state, in the first instance, that the navy were amply provided for, and had supplies which would last them till December next, and enough had been sent out to meet any casualty; therefore, as re- 1007 garded the naval force, the House would probably be satisfied that there would be ample provision. As regarded the army, provisions had been sent out from this country to Hong Kong, enough for the whole force for three months; and care would be taken to have a stock of provisions always on hand. The Admiralty were sending out supplies every three months, so as to meet the consumption. He begged their Lordships to remember that the distance from Calcutta to Singapore was only 1,500 miles, while the distance from Calcutta to England was 15,000, and the provisions which would not keep for the long voyage home might be quite available for the shorter distance, not only from Calcutta to Singapore, but from Singapore to Hong Kong, which was about 1,600 miles. As considerable anxiety prevailed with regard to the course of events in China, the Admiralty had ordered every vessel to touch at Singapore, to which place a proportion of the supplies had been forwarded. In the month of January large supplies of salt provisions were sent out by way of Suez for the use of the troops who were expected to go from Bombay, so that they should have European cured meat; and not only had a large part been sent out by way of Suez, but another large quantity had gone round by the Cape for the troops both at Bombay and Madras. The army, therefore, would, under those arrangements, be secured an ample supply of good food; and arrangements had been made at Hong Kong which would place the matter beyond all doubt. Their Lordships, therefore, he was happy to say, had no reason whatever for disquietude.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHexpressed himself generally satisfied with the statement of the noble Duke; but would suggest the establishment of a permanent depot at Singapore, and also that means should be taken for ensuring a supply of fresh, meat and vegetables, of which the troops sometimes stood much in need. The noble Duke had not stated for what amount of force provisions had been sent.
§ THE DUKE OF SOMERSETreplied, that the provisions at Hong Kong, with those which were now being despatched, were calculated for 10,000 men.