Sitting of 14 August 1855

CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
SIR DE LACY EVANS: Sir, I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to offer a few observations upon a subject which I feel assured must be deeply interesting both to the House and to the country. My object is to elicit from the noble Lord the First Minister of the Crown a declaration, which I am convinced he will be most desirous of making, and which will, I think, prove satisfactory to the nation, of the determination of the Government to prosecute the war with vigour during the lengthened Parliamentary recess which is likely to ensue. No

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doubt there are some hon. Gentlemen behind the Treasury bench who imagine that the suggestion which I make is superfluous, because the noble Lord has frequently, and as I believe with great sincerity, declared that it was his intention to prosecute the war with vigour. It cannot, however, be forgotten that other Ministers, including the immediate predecessors of the present Government, have frequently spoken of prosecuting the war in such a spirit; notwithstanding which considerable blame was attributed to them for their shortcomings. Sir, I am old enough to recollect the last war; and in contrasting the exertions of the Government of that day in their endeavours to bring to a triumphant issue that great struggle with those of the present Administration, I find considerable difference in the mode in which our troops were employed. In the war which terminated forty years ago there were upon the Eastern coast of Spain 80,000 British troops, besides 40,000 Portuguese, commanded by British officers, and subsidized, paid, and clad from British resources. In addition to maintaining these 120,000 men, we afforded assistance to the Spanish Government, enabling it to keep up an army of 150,000 men, and had, moreover, in the last two years to carry on warlike operations on the Canadian frontier, and to maintain troops in the Mediterranean. If we compare the numbers of the forces then employed with those now engaged in the Crimea, it will be seen that there is a considerable falling off in energy in the conduct of the war. It is not necessary for me to state the actual numbers now before Sebastopol, but I am sorry to say that they form but a small force compared with those which I have enumerated. At that period the population of these kingdoms was not above half what it is at present; the financial resources were not, probably, one-fourth or one-sixth of what they are now; neither was the patriotic feeling at that period one whit more enthusiastic than it is at the present time, I therefore say that it is the bounden duty of the Government to carry out and to realize the expectations of the people in the prosecution of the war, more especially as the circumstances connected with that war are extremely fortunate, and are not, I think, sufficiently appreciated. There is but one point, and that is 3,000 miles from our own soil, about which there is any occasion to feel solicitous. The seas are entirely in the hands of the allies; we
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have invaded the enemy's territory, and we have but that portion which is invaded to which we need particularly direct our attention. I am quite sure that the Government have been very desirous to reinforce the army in the East, and that they will feel that there is a very inadequate force there at present. At the same time, it appears to me that sufficiently comprehensive measures for effecting that object have not been adopted. In the matter of enlistment, for example, no doubt great exertions have been made, but I think that more energetic measures may be taken, by augmenting the bounty and affording other facilities, to obtain a larger supply of army recruits than we have had hitherto. It has been objected that a great proportion of the troops we are now obtaining are of rather a youthful character. I do not see, however, why arrangements should not be made by which although the enlistment of those recruits may continue, they may be instructed in their duties before being sent to fight our battles in the Crimea. This brings to my mind the circumstances of the Indian army. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Control informed us the other night that there were about 320,000 soldiers now in India, of whom 40,000 were Europeans. He indicated a disposition also to make that very large army available for the purposes of the present war. Hitherto, however, we have done nothing in that direction beyond withdrawing two regiments of cavalry or about 1,200 sabres from India. One hardly knows what assistance we ought to expect from India; but I am of opinion that out of the 40,000 British and Company's European troops 10,000 might, with the greatest possible advantage, be for the present rendered available for this contest. My right hon. Friend also indicated that the irregular Indian cavalry would be extremely useful at the Cape; and, for myself I believe, that 1,000 irregular cavalry there would be far more useful than double the number of British infantry. There are no fewer than seven seasoned English battalions at the Cape, who are stationed there for the purpose of restraining the miserable Kafirs from plundering the flocks of the surrounding farmers. I am convinced that the whole of those seven battalions could, with great advantage to the public, be withdrawn and replaced by an adequate number of native troops from the East Indies. I don't see any objection to garrisoning our Colonies

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with British troops in time of peace, because it gives us the opportunity of rendering them more available in time of war; but to keep such troops—the most expensive in the world—in our colonies while a great war like the present is raging is a most unnecessary waste of your military strength. The whole of these seven battalions ought to be replaced by native troops from India. There are two battalions more at the Mauritius, and other British troops also at Ceylon, for which native regiments might surely be substituted. In Hongkong, likewise, you have a European force. In fact, you have available in your Eastern colonies as many as ten battalions of seasoned soldiers. Again, the patriotism and the resources of your Australian colonies would enable you to make arrangements for withdrawing your battalions from that quarter. If measures of this kind were taken, you could have at least 10,000 European troops out of the 40,000 in India removed to the Bosphorus; and in three months you might have more than 20,000 men ready for service in the Crimea or elsewhere. You have also a battalion of the line still at Gibraltar, one at Corfu, and a third at the Piræus. I am sure that the same high spirit which induced the militia force to volunteer would enable you to replace these three battalions, and to send them also to the Bosphorus. Many militia regiments are already serving on the Mediterranean stations much to their honour. Of course, if European troops were to be transferred from India and the Eastern colonies to the seat of war, an increase in the native army would be requisite; but we all know the facilities that exist for augmenting our native forces in India. No bounty whatever has to be given; the men are eager to enter our service, considering it to offer them a provision for life, and, therefore there would be no difficulty in rapidly supplying any deficiency that might take place by the withdrawal of the European troops. These are measures which at least deserve consideration, and I have no doubt they could be carried out without creating the slightest political danger. I dare say the governors and officers in command in our colonies would object to these alterations, for I hardly ever heard of their approving the removal or the reduction of their forces; but a very praiseworthy exception to this occurred in the case of Sir William Reid, the Governor of Malta, and
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Sir James Ferguson, the commandant of the garrison there, who, last winter, when our army in the Crimea urgently required reinforcements, sent away to the East every regiment stationed there, and relied upon the inhabitants of the island for its defence in case of necessity. This was a most spirited and commendable proceeding; it had the best possible effect on the loyalty of the people of Malta; and I only wish that other colonial governors may take a lesson from this excellent example. With regard to bounty—an important matter—we gave from 18 l. to 25 l. during the last war. Now we give only I0 l. Whatever may be the effect of the amount of the bounty upon desertion, certainly greater exertions are demanded for reinforcing our army, and for turning to account seasoned troops wherever we can obtain them. I am very glad to learn that 3,000 of the foreign legion are now in an effective state of discipline, which is very creditable to their officers; and I hope they will soon be sent to the seat of war. It must be remembered that we had 52,000 foreign troops in our pay at the end of the last war. I am gratified to hear such good accounts of the Turkish Contingent, and that it is 10,000 or 12,000 strong. [Colonel DUNNE dissented.] The hon. and gallant Gentleman shakes his head; but certainly the reports are satisfactory as to the number. I regret, however, that the Contingent has not been armed with the Minie rifle; and I hear that within the last few days only a small portion of the Foreign Legion has been furnished with that weapon. The Turkish Contingent should be provided with the Minie as speedily as possible; and the greatest exertions should be made in Birmingham and elsewhere to expedite the manufacture of a larger supply of that article, in the arrangements for obtaining which, I think, there has been much misplaced economy. It would be a prudent measure for us to supply the whole Turkish army with this improved weapon. The Turkish Contingent is under a very competent commander. The great efficiency of our Portuguese comrades in the last war was ascribed by the late Duke of Wellington to the care taken that they should be well fed, well clothed, and well provided for. I hope the noble Lord at the head of the Government will remember that those corps which do not belong to our regular army, and which do

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not have the same morale, require even greater attention than our own troops; and I trust that huts will be equally provided for both. [An hon. Member here directed the hon. and gallant General's attention to the clock.] I am warned that my time is nearly exhausted, but I wish to say a word respecting the Irish Constabulary force. It is, without exception, one of the finest corps in Europe; and I think the Government might easily form an Irish Brigade from it. Not that you should concede to the officers the privileges of the Guards; but there is nothing to prevent the organisation of 5,000 of this admirable corps, which would make a splendid division for the Crimea if certain advantages were held out to it, and if facilities for afterwards returning to its former service were also offered. I believe, also, that a handsome force might be obtained from Canada, if due encouragement were given; and, on political and other grounds, it is desirable to enlist the sympathy and the patriotism of our colonists on our side. I see that an Italian Legion is about to be formed; and something is likewise said as to enlisting for German and Polish Legions. I, for one, cannot understand the extreme delicacy felt as to raising a Polish Legion. All Poland does, not belong to Austria. You might have a Polish Legion from Russia, and thus you would give to those Poles who are anxious to raise the standard of their country the nucleus of a force that would materially assist you. If you wish to show great deference for Austria, let there be a special provision that no subjects of the Galician provinces shall be enrolled, but that you will only enlist Russian Poles. Surely there cannot be the slightest objection to an organisation of that character. We have recently listened to gloomy speeches respecting the prospects of the war from gentlemen who were lately Members of the Government, and also from the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) who distinguished, or rather extinguished, himself at Vienna; and we ought, therefore, to take an opportunity of showing to Europe how extremely small is the minority who concur in such views. My own opinion is, that if we were not to prosecute this war when we have the incalculable advantage of the co-operation of our most faithful, gallant, and powerful ally, the Emperor of the French, the next generation would have to wage this con-
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test under less favourable circumstances, at a cost of perhaps 500,000,000 l. or 600,000,000 l. sterling, and with prospects of success far inferior to any we now enjoy.
VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: Sir, nobody is more entitled than my hon. and gallant Friend to express his opinions on the conduct of the war, and on the manner in which it can be successfully carried on. His high military reputation, his distinguished services, and the wide scope to which his thoughts on such matters extend, all lend the greatest weight to anything that falls from him, and render the suggestions he has just made deserving of the deepest consideration. Some of those suggestions, however, have already been the subject of investigation by Her Majesty's Government. My hon. and gallant Friend began by expressing his hope that a declaration of their determination to prosecute the war with vigour will come from Her Majesty's Government, Sir, I and my colleagues have already stated our intentions upon that point; and I think when my hon. and gallant Friend shall have heard the words that will soon proceed from the Commissioners appointed to convey Her Majesty's sentiments to her Parliament at the close of this Session, he will find that the views entertained in that high quarter are entirely in accordance with those which we have expressed. It is quite true, as he says, that if you compare the amount of our army now in the field with the British army in the field at the latter period of the Peninsular war, you will discover the balance to be greatly against the present extent of our force. But, if hon. Members will go higher, and turn to the first year of the Peninsular war, they will find that the efforts which we are now making are greater than those that the British Government were able to make at the commencement of that war. It must always be a task of great difficulty, starting from peace establishments, to raise suddenly and in a short time that augmentation of our force which the exigencies of actual hostilities may demand; but I believe there is no period in the history of this country in which, within the same space of time, so large an increase in our military force has taken place as is the case at present, or in which an army so efficient has been sent to so distant a quarter, to carry out a difficult and dangerous undertaking. The number of men enlisted is more than double the amount ever be-

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fore enlisted in any single year. It is true that our population is greater than it was at the period to which I refer; but it is equally true that the recompense and the rewards held out to labour in all the different departments of industry are, perhaps, now more tempting than they ever were before, and that the army has, therefore, to compete in the labour market against inducements which formerly did not exist to quite the same degree. However, I must do the people of this country the justice to say that there never was a time when their patriotism and public spirit were more heartily displayed than they have been, judging by the numbers who have entered the ranks of the army, since the present war began. It is true that many of those who have latterly enlisted are younger than might be desirable, yet it is difficult to adopt the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend by not apportioning the youngest regiments for actual service, because, as he well knows, the enlistment being voluntary, those who join choose the corps to which they prefer to be attached. There is great force, no doubt, in what he urges in regard to the Indian army; and it is possible that in some stations portions of the native troops might be available to replace European regiments. I will only add, in conclusion, that I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that
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the suggestions which he has made shall receive from Her Majesty's Government that full consideration to which, proceeding from such a quarter, they are so eminently entitled; and I am persuaded that the House has heard with satisfaction the general remarks with which he has favoured it on this occasion.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT.
Message to attend the LORDS COMMISSIONERS.
The House went; and the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills; after which, a Speech of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS was delivered to both Houses of Parliament by the LORD CHANCELLOR.
Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
After which
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid—
"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
"BY virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name and in obedience to Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the 23rd day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the 23rd day of October next.

MINUTES.
ROYAL ASSENT.—Consolidated Fund (Appropriation); Exchequer Bills (£7,000,000); Customs Tariff Acts Amendment and Consolidation; Customs Laws Consolidation; Excise Duties; Turkish Loan; Office of Speaker; Trinity College (Dublin); Dwelling Houses (Scotland); Religious Worship; Slave Trade (Sherbro); Youthful Offenders (No. 2); Crown Suits; Merchant Shipping Act Amendment; Turnpike Acts Continuance (Ireland); Militia Officers' Qualifications; Fisheries (British
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Islands and France); Turnpike Acts Continuance (No. 2); Sale of Spirits (Ireland); Turnpike Trusts Arrangements; Lunatic Asylums and Regulations Acts Amendment; Militia Ballots Suspension; Island of Tobago Loan; Coal Mines Inspection; Court of Judicature (Prince of Wales Island); Bills of Lading (No. 2); Crime and Outrage (Ireland); Lunatic Asylums (Ireland) Advances; Navigation Works (Ireland); Ordnance Board; Sale of Beer, &c.; Passenger Act Amendment; Metropolis Local Management; Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Acts Consolidation and Amendment; Chinese Passenger Ships; Metropolitan Buildings; Despatch of Business, Court of Chancery; Charitable Trusts; Criminal Justice; Public Houses (Ireland); Public Health Act (1854) Continuance and Amendment; Diseases Prevention; Militia Pay; School Grants Security for Application; Public Health (No. 2); Dwellings for Labouring Classes; Burials; Limited Liability; Union of Contiguous Benefices.

PROROGATION OF THE PARLIAMENT— SPEECH OF THE LORDS COMMISSION- ERS.
The PARLIAMENTwas this day prorogued by Commission.
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS,namely, the Lord Chancellor (Lord CRANWORTH), the Lord President of the Council (Earl GRANVILLE), the Lord Privy Seal (the Duke of ARGYLL), Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY (President of the Board of Trade), and the Earl of HARROWBY (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), being seated at the foot of the Throne, and the COMMONS preceded by their Speaker being present, the ROYAL ASSENT was given to several Bills.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR, on behalf of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS, then delivered the following Speech:—
My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"We are, commanded by Her Majesty to release you from further Attendance in Parliament, and at the same Time to express the warm Acknowledgments of Her Majesty for the Zeal and Assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the Discharge of your Public Duties during a long and laborious Session.
"HER MAJESTY has seen with great Satisfaction, that while you have occupied yourselves in providing Means for the vigorous Prosecution of the War, you have given your Attention to many

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Measures of great Public Utility. Her Majesty is convinced that you will share Her Satisfaction at finding that the Progress of Events has tended to cement more firmly that Union which has so happily been established between Her Government and that of Her Ally The Emperor of the French; and Her Majesty trusts that an Alliance founded on a Sense of the general Interests of Europe, and consolidated by good Faith, will long survive the Events which have given rise to it, and will contribute to the permanent Well-being and Prosperity of the Two great Nations whom it has linked in the Bonds of honourable Friendship.
"THE Accession of The King of Sardinia to the Treaty between Her Majesty, The Emperor of the French, and The Sultan, has given additional Importance and Strength to that Alliance, and the efficient Force which his Sardinian Majesty has sent to the Seat of War to co-operate with the Allied Armies will not fail to maintain the high Reputation by which the Army of Sardinia has ever been distinguished.
"HER MAJESTY has commanded us to thank you for having enabled Her to avail Herself as far as has been found to be required of those patriotic Offers of extended Service which She has received from the Militia of the United Kingdom, and for the Means of reinforcing Her brave Army in the Crimea by an Enlistment of Volunteers from abroad.
"HER MAJESTY acknowledges with Satisfaction the Measure which you have adopted for giving Effect to the Convention by which, in conjunction with Her, Ally The Emperor of the French, She has made Arrangements for assisting The Sultan to provide the Means which are necessary to enable
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Him to maintain in Efficiency the Turkish Army, which has so gallantly withstood the Assaults of its Enemies.
"HER MAJESTY, in giving Her Assent to the Bill which you presented to Her for the Local Management of the Metropolis trusts that the Arrangements provided by that Measure will lead to many Improvements conducive to the Convenience and Health of this great City. The Abolition of the Duty on Newspapers will tend to diffuse useful Information among the poorer Classes of Her Majesty's Subjects. The Principle of Limited Liability which you have judiciously applied to Joint Stock Associations will afford additional Facilities for the Employment of Capital, and the Improvements which you have made in the Laws which regulate Friendly Societies will encourage Habits of Industry and Thrift among the Labouring Classes of the Community.
"HER MAJESTY trusts that the Measures to which She has given Her Assent for improving the Constitutions of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and for bestowing on the important and flourishing Colonies of Australia extended Powers of Self-Government, will assist the Development of their great natural Resources, and will promote the Contentment and Happiness of their Inhabitants.
"HER MAJESTY commands us to say that She has been deeply gratified by the Zeal for the Success of Her Majesty's Arms, and by the Sympathy for Her Soldiers and Sailors, manifested throughout Her Indian and Colonial Empire; and Her Majesty acknowledges with great Satisfaction the generous Contributions which Her Subjects, in India, and the Legislatures and In-

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habitants of the Colonies, have sent for the Relief of the Sufferers by the Casualties of War.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"HER MAJESTY commands us to convey to you Her cordial Thanks for the Readiness and Zeal with which you have provided the necessary Supplies for carrying on the War in which Her Majesty is engaged.
"HER MAJESTY laments the Burthens and Sacrifices which it has become necessary to impose upon Her faithful People, but She acknowledges the Wisdom with which you have alleviated the Weight of those Burthens by the mixed Arrangements which you have made for providing those Supplies.
My Lords, and Gentlemen,
"HER MAJESTY has commanded us to say, that She has seen with sincere Regret that the Endeavours which, in conjunction with Her Ally The Emperor of the French, She made at the recent Conferences at Vienna to bring the War to a Conclusion on Conditions consistent with the Honour of the Allies and with the future Security of Europe, have proved ineffectual. But, those Endeavours having failed, no other Course is left to Her Majesty but to prosecute the War with all possible Vigour; and Her Majesty, relying upon the Support of Her Parliament, upon the manly Spirit and Patriotism of Her People, upon the never-failing Courage of Her Army and Her Navy, whose Patience under Suffering and whose Power of Endurance Her Majesty has witnessed with Admiration, upon the stedfast Fidelity of Her Allies, and above all upon the Justice of Her Cause, humbly puts Her Trust in the
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Almighty Disposer of Events for such an Issue of the great Contest in which She is engaged as may secure to Europe the Blessings of a firm and lasting Peace.
"On your Return to your several Counties you will have Duties to perform little less important than those which belong to your Attendance in Parliament. Her Majesty trusts that your powerful Influence will be exerted for the Welfare and Happiness of Her People, the Promotion of which is the Object of Her Majesty's constant Care and the anxious Desire of Her Heart."
Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read.
After which
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid;
"MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN,
"By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission, under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do, in Her Majesty's Name, and in obedience to Her Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Twenty-third Day of October next, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Twenty-third Day of October next."