On this page
-
Text (3)
-
April 5, 1856.] T H E L E A D E R. 315
-
THE WIND-UP OF THE WAR. Terrible Fire an...
-
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Monday, March 31s/....
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Peace. Peace Bas Been Made. After A ...
text of these had teen carefully compared , the Plenipotentiaries proceeded to affix their signatures to the end of the treaty . Count Walewski , as President of the Congress , signed first , and the otter Plenipotentiaries in tlie alphabetical order of their respective countries . Although the mere act of affixing their signatures occupied the Plenipotentiaries but a very brief portion of time , the whole of the formality of signing lasted nearly two hours , as the Plenipotentiaries , in addition to their signatures at the bottom of each protocol , had
to affix their initials to the different paragraphs , the whole number of such minor signatures being , it is said , thirty-eight . The Plenipotentiaries of each contracting Power signed fii-st the copy reserved for their Government , and then the other Plenipotentiaries signed iu alphabetical order . In this manner , each , contracting Power figuring at the head of the signatures of the copy which it is to ratify , all difficulties as to etiquette or precedency were set aside . To each signature was immediately attached the private seal of each Plenipotentiary . "
Some particulars of tlie final act of the Plenipotentiaries are given by tlie Times Paris correspondent : — " A council of ministers was held at the Ttdleriea at half-past eleven o ' clock on Sunday , and remained sitting till a quarter-past twelve . The Emperor presided , and gave his Jasfc instructions , and Gount Walewski returned to his official residence to receive the Plenipotentiaries . They appeared in full uniform , and wore all their orders and decorations . They as ^ setnbled in the Salle des Conferences before half-past twelve , and , after the treaty was read over , proceeded
to sign it in the same alphabetical order in . which they have been wont to take their places during the conferences . Crowds of people had been out from an early hour , as it was known that something important was to occur , and numerous groups of spectators gathered on the quays opposite and close to the Foreign-office to see the Plenipotentiaries pass . These were received , both on going and returning , with marks of great respect from the people . The moment the signatures were completed , the expected signal Wa = i given , aud the cannon from the esplanade of the Invalided proclaimed the news before the Plenipotentiaries Kad quitted the hall . .
'The so-mucb discussed treaty of peace , then , is signed tit last , and . signed , on the anniversary of a great event . On the same day IWty-two years ago , was fought the battle of Paris , the last act ' of the great drama of which Europe was the theatre ; and . on the following day the Russians entered the capital , and dictated terms of peace where now their Ambassadors have come to ask for it . The next day , which many still remember as cold , sombre , and " cheerless , the allies entered Paris . That France is now able , in concert with her Allies , to dictate peace to Russia may be considered as full satisfaction for the past ; and I am not quite sure that it was without design that the SOth of March was selected for the occasion
• ' Orders have been sent to the transport squadron at Toulon to bo ready to proceed to the Black Sea to bring homo the troops . " I alluded some time since to an idea long familiar to the Emperor , of a Congress in Paris on the general state of Europe , with a view to certain modifications . The real object , perhaps , is to efface in some measure the Congress of Vienna . I believe it has been communicated to the English Government , but has been coldly recoived . The Emperor ' s tenacity in such matters is well known , and , though the plan may be postponed , I doubt whether it is entirely abandoned . " By the same authority we are told that Count
favour , backed by England and France , and even by iSussiii , has obtained ( at least such is the current story ) tlie concession that Sardinian vessels , on entering ov quitting the Danube , shall suffer no impediment . This demand was resisted by Count Buol ; but he was obliged to accede . The Sardinian Plenipotentiary also , it is stated , drew attention to tlie state of Italy , and insisted on the danger of leaving so important a question open . He complained more especially of the occupation of part of Italy by foreign troops , stationed there ion the purpose of repressing reforms . Count Jiiiol disputed the propriety of introducing such n sub
ject before n Congress intended for the discussion , notof the Italian , but of theEnstorn question , lie also demod tlw right of Count Cavour to speak in the name of Italy , since he was only the renrcsoututivo of Sardinia ; and to Count Cavonr's argument that ho had ns much right to speak in the name of Italy as Count Buol had to answer for the whole of Germany , the latter replied that the instances wore not parallel , since there is a coniederation « unon tho German states , of which AiMtna is the principal , while such does not exifit in Italy . 1 he biirdiman Minister i-onowked that the observations winch , lie contended , he had a right to make , wero nothing more than the development oi a memorandum which had been drawn up by
the Sardinian Government , at the request of the Emperor Napoleon , and presented to his Majesty . He made some further remarks in the same sense , and again entreated the Congress to take the question into consideration , as , if they did not , he feared that , before two years have passed away , the Italian question would force itself on the attention of Europe . These particulars cannot , of course , be absolutely depended on , and it is doubtful whether , even if the conversation took place , it will be recorded in the minutes of the sittings . It is thought that the rather warm discussion which ensued on the introduction of the Prussian Plenipotentiaries will be omitted . We read in the Moniteur : —
" The Emperor has just decided that the soldiers of the class of 1848 who hare hitherto been kept in service , in virtue of the Army Recruiting Bill of the 21 st of March , 1832 , shall be sent back to their homes , The Minister of War has given orders for this liberation to be immediately carried out . "
April 5, 1856.] T H E L E A D E R. 315
April 5 , 1856 . ] T H E L E A D E R . 315
The Wind-Up Of The War. Terrible Fire An...
THE WIND-UP OF THE WAR . Terrible Fire and Loss of Life nea . r Sebastopoi .. —William Russell has again resumed his post in the Crimea ; and one of the first things he has had to chronicle has been a dreadful catastrophe oil the slope above Kadikoi . Some huts there are occupied by men of the Commissariat Works Corps . On the night of the 17 th of March , an alarm of fire was given , and assistance hurried to the spot . " Several huts , " writes' Mr . Russell , " were in flames , and , notwithstanding the utmost exertions' of English and Sardinian troops , they were entirely consumed . Sixteen bodies were taken from among-the ashes , and lay side by side iu horrible array during the whole of the following afternoon . Recognition was out of the question . Had one of the corpses been met lying by the roadside , it would probably have been passed imlieeded as a charred log . Most effectually , indeed , had the fire done its terrible work . The massive frames of these strong men were shrunk and shrivelled into mere cinders . None exceeded two feet in length ; the limbs bad . disappeared , or , nt most , in some cases , did stumps , mere vestiges of legs and . arms , remain . The entrails , hearts , and lungs were , in some of the bodies , exposed ; but they were burnt as black as coals . Onlyhere and there a red tinge appeared . On the left of the ghastly line , a few fragments of "burnt bones were heaped together ( they might have been contained in a handkerchief ) , and at first it was supposed that these were the remnants of a seventeenth body ; but it is now believed that they were merely detached bones and morsels of limbs belonging to the sixteen sufferers . Of course " Accidental death" was the verdict of the inquest held . Fourteen of the victims belonged to the Commissariat Works Corps ; it has not beeii ascertained positively who the other two were , but it is said that they were men of tho Army Works Corps , who had been passing the evening with their frionds . It is not easy to ascertaiu with anything liko certainty tho origin of the misfortune . The first report concerning it was that the men were intoxicated ( it was St . Patriok ' s night , and there was not a little drinking going on ) , and that tho smoko had suffocated without tiwakeuin " them . Contradictory accounts have sinco been spread , and probably the oxact truth will never bo known ; but men who wore in tho huts , aud escaped , declare that their uuforbunuto comrades were certainly not under tho influence of liquor . " Sin CJkougk Maci . kax has loft the Crimea for England , owing to ill health . ^ Honour ok the Imperial Piunob , the Frouoh , English , and Sardinian armiorf , and tho fleets , ilrod salutes of 101 guns ouch on tho morning of the 23 rd \ ilt , " During the day , " says Marshal PeliHsior , " tho Comnmndorn-in-Chiof of tho English and Sardinian armies camo officially to ofl ' or mo their congratulations . Thoro have boon illuminations in tho camps ; and the Russians illuminated their lino at Inkormanu . " Turn Ahmisticm , —Tho officers of the two arniios , who wore present u , t the intorviow for signing tho ar-mintioo , brought wine , aud dmulc to tho ' reoonoiliation , iu tho midst of loud ohoors , tho signal for which was givon by a Russian offiqor , who drank to the health of tho Zouave who luxd wonndod him . Tina Enoush Mun . Ui to the Puisnoii Soldiers . — Marshal Poliwuior has issued tho subjoined uddrosH to Iuh army : - " Soldiers , — -A modal has boon instituted by tho Q , ueon of England in oommomoiution of tho war in tho ( Jrhr . oa . That august ally of our Emperor has awarded thin to you iuh a proof ' of tlio \ alua hIio places upon tho many hardships and dangoru you have shared in common with her own soldiojoi . You areabout to roooivo this no ]> lo distinction—a mark on your broasta of tho glorious and fraternal uohiovouionta of twonty fighte and an eVor-momorablo aiugo . lioturn to your homos . Thiw modal will bo a rooord , iu tho moat nooludod pariahow , of tho ullianoo of two yrout nations . " M . \ m NiaaWNQALH . —Tho wifo of a private soldier ,
belonging to the 89 th Regiment , Btaying with her children at South Shields , not having heard from her husband for many months , and hearing of Miss Nightingale , was induced to write to that excellent lady , begging of her to communicate , if possible , some information of her husband . She received a reply , commencing "Dear Mrs . Lawrence , " and communicarting , in terms of great sympathy and kindness , the fact of the poor man ' s death , as far back as February 20 th , 1855 , about the time when the mortality at ; Scutari reached its height . On that day , eighty men were buried . Some directions to the widow for obtaining her pension are annexed . The Health of the French Army is rapidly improving . Several well-ventilated huts are being erected on , elevated spots .
Imperial Parliament. Monday, March 31s/....
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . Monday , March 31 s / . The House or Commons resumed its sittings , after the Easter recess , on Monday . The House of Lords did not meet . The Daily News records that ' - ' considerable excitement prevailed , and an unwonted gathering of members was presented shortly after the commencement of the sitting , some Ministerial statement respecting : the just-concluded "treaty of peace being anxiously anticipated .. After the usual transaction of private business , and the presentation of some petitions , the first order of the day , for going into Committee of Supply , \ va 3 put from the chair , and agreed to without a word of comment or explanation , to tlie evident disappointment of the crowded house . Lord Palmer .-iton , who had previously been absent , entered shortly after the Speaker had left the chair , and his entrance caused some slight commotion . "
COJIMITTEE OP SUPPLY . A discussion arose on the Civil Service Estimates . The first vote submitted was-- £ 195 , 141 for the royal palaces and . public buildings . To this , Mr . W . Williams objected , on the ground of the large increase in the amovuat as compared with former years—an increase which was denied by Sir BjGNJAiirnsr Hall . ' IV tlie discussion on that part of ¦ . the vote which had : reference to the repair of Glasgow Cathedral , Mi * . Gladstone complained , of the charge for admission levied atthat cathedral , as well as at others . He thought such charges should be abolished . After some further discussion , the vote was agreed to , with , a reduction of £ 550 . The second vote , which was for £ 7 , 868 , for works , gas , lighting , and warming the soxtth front of Buckingham , Palace , was agreed to without discussion .
Some resistance , ou the ground of extravagance , was offered by Sir Henry Willoughby and others to the third vote , £ 91 , GS 4 , for royal parks , pleasure grounds . & c . Mr . Bowvsu moved that the- sum . do not exceed £ 69 , 544 ; but , on a division , this was negatived by 119 to 35 . Some other attempts at reduction were also successfully resisted ; and the vote was finally adopted , with a , reduction of £ 2 , 570 , for making a road from Holyrood to Duddingstone , which was postponed On the vote for . £ 52 , 5-10 for works at the new Houses of Parliament , sumo particulars wero elicited with , respect to the further expenses of that building . Sir Benjamin Hai . l said that hia predecessor , the late Sir William Molesworth , uuulo a report to the Houae
ou January 9 , 1855 , in which it was stated that the sum required to complete the building from that date would ho £ 280 , 272 . Ho ( Sir- Benjamin Hall ) had every reason to believe that tlmb sum would bo sufficient ; but he afterwards added that it would ouly ttuffico for tho works iu actual progress . At thu beginning of tho session , Mr . Sponger had asked him if ho ( Sir Benjamin ) hiul ^ ven any sanctum to tho further plnii * of Sir Charles Harry . Ilia reply to that quostipis was , that ho hud not , and that ; ho should not until the works which luvl boon commenced wero completed . Tho new plans were of a vory elaborate chn . ract . or , and it would cost . £ 500 , 000 or . £ 800 , 000 to carry thorn into effect . ( O / iceiv , )—Mr . Wilson- gavo name
do tails of tho terms which havo boon offered to Sir Charles Barry . 'Wliou the ostiinatoa for < ho now Houses woro first ; taken thoy wuro fur about ; . 0700 , 000 , and Lord Bessborough , them tho Fiivsfc Commissioner o £ Works , Bottled thu !; tho urehitoot should rowive £ 25 , 000 . It houu beonmo apparent , howovor , thut tho buildings would oust , nearer throe tinun tho original estimate , and Wir Churlon Barry hud goua on from time- to tiiuo rouoivinjj payments on nocounfc . Tho Hum Lord BonHborouyh proposod to nllow the ivrclutool , wiih iiLout throo percent . ; and the TrenBurv
tliorofoiv , proposed to allow Sir Charles Barry three per cont . upon tho wliolo cost of tho building , what ' over that ; mi & ht bo . Wir Charles , howovor , had ro .-iintG ( l thu , ( , proposal , ivu . l ho continued to ronist itfcq this day . Thou u cuioMtiou had nrlson with regard tu paj'inout for nicai-mroinont . That was not a verj Matinfaotory inodo of payment : but tlio Troiisury had ovontually pro ^ owod to ul } o \ v Sir Chnrfos o » o percoufc upou the wholo cost of th ( jsc portions of tho worl whioli woro oapablo of inonsuronmont . Tlio minu whioh luvd boon advanced to Sir Charles Barry tt
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), April 5, 1856, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05041856/page/3/
-