On this page
-
Text (4)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
Untitled Article
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT
Untitled Article
Ds Tuesday , the Queen opened the third Session > f the present Parliament in person . An unusually Bne day filled every avenue -with unusually large numbers of people , and there was a considerable " rush , " even at the ladies' galleries . The . Queen entered the House of tortteaaboutihalf-past ^ wo , -led by Prince Albert , and "< ttten < te& by the Buchess of Wellington ; the Earl of i £ ti « rdeen bearing * the sword of State , the Marquis df Winchester theeflp of maintenance , and the Marquis of Lansdownetthe crown . On takingiher seat on Hhe Throne , hflltfHfa .-
jesty gave directidljr that th * * Conimons ^ hotffd be summoned . A . little delay took place in consequence , but in a few minutes the rushing tramp of " the faithful" was heard along the corridors , and-tb& § peaker made his appearance at the bar , attended by the Sergeant-at-Arms , and followed by a vdisorclerly throng of the members , the Ministers present being iE / ord J . Russell and Sir " William Molesworth . Order beiag in a few seconds restored , her Majesty ,-in a clear voice , which was distinctly heard all over the house , read the following speech , which was handed to her t > y ihe Lord Chancellor : —
Je MT LOBDS ANI > GrENTLEBtE }? : 11 have called you together at this unusual period of the year , in older tha-t , by your assistance , I may take such measures as will enable me to prosecute the great ¦ war in which we « re engaged with the utmost vigour and effect . This assistance 3 ; know will be readily given ; for I cannot doubt that you share my conviction dff the necessity of sparing no effort to augment iny ibxces bow engaged in the Crimea . The exertions tliey lave made , and . the victories they have obtained , are not exceededin the brightest pages of our history , and have HHed toe with admiration and gratitude . " jEae hearty and efficient co-operation of the brave tooqps of my ally the "Emperor of the Irench , and the glory acquired in common , cannot fail to cement still more closely the -union which happily subsists between the two nations .
: tr'It xs with satisfaction I inform you that , together with the Emperor of the French , I have concluded a treaty of alliance with , the Emperor of Austria , from which I anticipate important advantages to the comnSn cause . , ' . ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . "I lave also concluded a treaty -with the United Statea of America , by -vrhich subjects of long and difficult discussion have been equitably adjusted . " "These treaties will be laid before you . " . aUthough the prosecution of the war will naturally engage . your chief attention , J trust that other matters of great 'interest and importance to > the general welfare will "not be . neglected .
" I -rejoice to observe that the general prosperity of my subjects remains uninterrupted . The state of the revenue afforfls Me entire satisfaction ; and I trust that by your wisdom and prudence you will continue to prbmoffce the 'progress of agriculture , commerce , and manufactures . " 'Genxiemen op the House of Commons : " In the estimates which will be presented to you , I trust you tvill find thatample provision hajs been made for the exigencies of the public service . "Ms Lords ajtd Gentlemen r
" I rely with confidence on your patriotism and public spirit . I feel assured that in the momentous contest in wMch we ore engaged you will exhibit to the world the example of a united people . Thus shall we obtain the respect of other nations , and may trust that by the blessing of God wo shall bring the -war to a successful termination . " The Queen having then returned tho copy of the speech to the Xord Chancellor , bowed , and left the House .
MB ADDRESS . SheiLorda re ^ asaemhled at five o ' clock , when the Duke <© f Imbeds made the customary motion of an address to- ; the throne . As usual , this mnttor of ceremony / was well received , and Lord Abhddr . ton ( iaihe . absence of iLord Abingdon , from indisposition ) seconded , £ he motion . > The tEiaiL of Duninr then courteously explained that if ho had had any intention of offering opposition , ho should , at all events , have given the Government-time-for explanation . They had done his friends and 'himself injustice by anticipating uny opposition . It was no * irne now to discuss whether t » jQ war might have been avoided < ov 'not ; the nation
VMS engaged in tho war . aa » d , was urging the Governta < jnt to carry it on with vigour . Ho r <\ joiced in the different tone of the present speech from the Throne compared with the last . Then the war was consiilered a slight matter , nnd Parliamentary JReform ¦ was proposed us tho principal event , in order to > produce a great moral otf ' eot , and to show how little tho war was regarded . Now , h mddeoin matgrd hi was fully nllve to his position . Of other measures contemplated flaw had beon brought forward , because the pooplo would hear of nothing but tho war . Ho did not know what wore tho " other matters of groat interest and importance " - —probably the Cabinet did not ^~ but when her Majesty ' s-Government proposed
them , he would answer for it that they would receive due consideration . After referring at some length to the French alliance , he suggested that some high militaiy honottTB should be conferred on General Canrobert . With ^ -espmlt to the conduct of the war , he said Go * ernmeift was too late in the declaration of war—tooimte in regarding the passage of the Pruth as a casua ? billi—too late in pending our troqps to the Black iSea—» too complaisant to Russia in not sending ourifleets totco-operateTOith those of T ? rance .- « t the projar time— -too late on entering the Black 35
eaandtwrongtna not preventing the massacre ofSSmope . Anfl twhen"We did go ttrwar , wliat was the course pur-Mied byttlle Government ? On the 6 th 3 Stareh , 1854 , a 3 btv days before the - . declaration or * < war , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , knowing that the war was imminent , took an increased vote for something Hke ^ O , 09 OTnen-in ^ the army , and a . small-number in the navy , and hi * calculation of the increased expenditure consequent on the war was , as he stated , the sum of 1 , 230 , 000 / . —that being the estimated expense , at 50 Z . per man , of transporting 25 , 000 troops — -where ? To meet the Russians ? To defend
Constantinople ? Nothing of the sort . To take them to Malta— -and bring them back again . ( Laughter . ) Their ideas on the subject were soon altered . On the 19 th of June last , Lord Clarendon explained that we were not going to protect Constantinople , but to settle for ever the question of Russian supremacy . The ''< Government avowed this , and provided a grossly inadequate army , which had never received anything like reinforcement . The country was able to supply every conceivable reguisite , and yet the army had suffered 'fearful privations . At the latest moment winter clothing and provisions had been sent to the Crimea , but they were sent in the mismanaged Prince , and all were lost . He asked if Government
didnotknow that the captain of that vessel had not been : previously found utterly incapable ? The indecision of the Government in fixing the meeting of Parliament wais inexplicable . It was summoned two days earlier , with no apparent reason . The news of the battle of Inkerinan was scarcely sufficient . The most splendid fleet ever known lias been quite unsuccessful . And why ? Because it was too powerful for the ^ Russians to come out to meet , and of too deep a draught of water to allow them to get near enough to Cronstadt . The result was that our fleet in the Baltic has all along been condemned to a state of ignominious inactivity , reminding one of the story of the duel between Sir Bichard Strachan and Lord
Chatham" Lord Chatham , with his sword undrawn , * Stood waiting for Sir Richard Strachan , Sir Richard , longing to be at him , Stood waiting for the Earl of . Chatham . " With respect to the Austrian alliance , he was simply glad to find her Majesty appeared pleased with it . He believed that the occupation of the Principalities by Austria had done great damage , as it had practically rendered Omar Pacha ' s army useless by controlling its movements ; and that being the case , he thought expressions of satisfaction would simply mean an easy way of getting over the address . As yet , nobody knew the terms of the alliance . The noble earl then concluded with an eloquent " address " to the soldiers in the Crimea .
Tho Duke of Newcastle then made a long and elaborate reply , with the intention of showing that the Earl of Derby was entirely wrong in his facts ; he admitted a few mistakes had been made , but submitted that the accidents which , had happened could by no means have been avoided . Earl Gkev reiterated his well-known opinions . The Earl of Habdwicke thought that Government had not at first understood tho case . A strong reserve should have been maintained . The Earl of CAnTjisr . B politely praised the bravery of tho troops , and assured the Government that they would go on well—in the long run . Tho Earl of Abhiidebn , —My lords , I should be sorry to detain your lordships at this lato hour for any length of time , but I feel bound to make a few observations in reply to tho complaint of tho noble
carl opposite . He said that this war was undertaken in defence of tho liberty of tho Turkish empire ; but , he added , you have changed tho whole character of tho war , and this expedition to Sobastopol haa removed you from tho possibility of Obtaining what you desire . Now , I humbly beg to remind the noblo carl that if there be one point moro than another more vital to the safety and indopondonco of the Turkish empire , and more clearly injurious to the power of Kussid , it . ia the destruction of the fort of Sobnatopol , Having driven the Kuasians out of the Principalities , tho next object of tho war , which everybody must have had in view from its very commencement , and which wo could only have boon restrained in by a doubt of its practicabmty > w T aB tl ) o attack and destruction of Sobastopol . Notwithstanding tho eager deairo and expectation with which this country viewed tho first
landing in tlie Crimea and its immediate consequences mistaken as they have been—a mistake in which all Europe ^ hared at the time—still I think that there are gooaggromeis to hope that success will attend cur efforts ; * nd I totally disagree from the noble eaiTdn tfthiking'that the prospect of peac e will be diminished-bythat success . Quite the contrary ; I feel saiiifiedfthat nothing could contribute so much to the probability of obtaining those terms of peace which iqgr noble friend near me has alluded to as the ¦ s ignalo ? ifhe success which I should hope we may achieve in this undertaking-. The noble earl also -refexuKl&oTthB tnentloa of the treaty with Austria Jnathe speech , *« nd saidathat he was unwilliner to
exjress satisfaction at a treaty of the contents of which he was ignorant , and whicTumight bind us to terms of a higniy . ob 3 eetionable nature , such as w ould not -be sanctioned by the people of this country - and hetalked of our supporting Austria in Italy , Poland ^ and Hungary , and denounced any such object a& a part of that engagement . The -noble earl may make himself perfectly easy upon that score , asno engagement of such a description either exists or ever entered into our minds . It is unnecessary ,, however , to say this , as I presume that your lordships do not think it possible that we should have made such an engagement ; but the noble earl * who spoke
early in the evening ( Derby ) did not , I think , correctly understand- the import of the Sentence in the-Address . We do not propose that the House should express any satisfaction at the treaty . We propose only { hat the House should learn with satisfaction that her Majesty has made a treaty from v whicu she anticipates important advantages . That is all the satisfaction . It is not that -we arc satisfied until we learn what it is , but-that we learn "with satisfaction that the Queen has entered into a treaty from which she anticipates advantage . SFow , my lords , I ihink that you may safely express as much satisfaction as that without committing yourselves i ; o a particle of satisfaction with the treaty itself .
The Earl of Derby then pointed the moral of . theevening , by saying : The ^ phrase , as interpreted , then ^ is , that we are exceedingly glad that her Majesty and her Majesty ' s advisers approre the treaty which they have made . QA laugh . ' ) The Address was then agreed to , and the Housed adjourned at 12 o ' clock . The House of Commons assembled on Tuesday at a quarter to four . After several new writshad been ordered , the customary Address was moved . The Speaker having read the Queen ' s speech , Mr . H . Herbert proposed the usual motion For an Address . Mr . P . Levbson Goweb seconded the motion in agraceful speech , calling for unity in the House as it is in the nation , it being not . only strength to ourselves , but discouraging to the enemy .
Sir J . Pak . jngton rose early , but had no desire to criticise what he had heaTd . He was glad that the Queen ' s speech contained nothing to which he could take exception . However , he subsequently made a long speech , which was very similar to that of Lord Derby . Mr . Sidney Hekbert then replied in an elaborate speech , which , of course , occupied precisely the same ground as that of the Duke of Newcastle . Mr . Laya « i > then rose . He supposed Ministers were sincere , but nothing could be done by . a Government holding such different opinions . Everything had been mismanaged . Ho himself had warned them that Varna was unhealthy , but tho troops were sent there to die by
disease . Doubtless the moral effect of their presence waa good . Itegarding Sobastopol , if it had beon taken by a coup de main , did they intend to retain the Crimea ? if a regular siege was anticipated , in either case , provision for winter should have been made ; as it was , they wore left to obtain supplies from the country . Tenta might have been taken , had not the means of carriage been neglected . Everything © lee which -was to tho advantageof the army had been sacrificed by similar . errors . . He was of opinion that the Austrian alliance would only load to fresh difficulties . It was impossible to carry on war on such a principle , and tho moment Russia saw the capture of Sebastopol was inevitable sho would withdraw tho troops from it , lcavo some , perhaps , at Pcrckop , and send the rest into Asia . They must conduct tho war 'by moans of Poland , They might depend upon it that it
was in Europe they must tako advantage of Russia ; in Asia it was useless to attempt it . Hw asked what was tho principle of economy which had been adopted in carrying on tho war ? It was to do everything on tho smallest scale at tho greatest expense . ( Cheers and lauffMer . ) He l » ad aeon a letter from Liverpool describing tho way in which tho Government took up vessels there , and tho way they throw away money . When pressed by difficulty , und by public opinion boing expressed against them , nnd when they had becomo desperuto to keep their places , they malted into every mcaauro of expense . Thoy engaged ships , and contracted for horflo-boxos to tako the cavalry , and incurred tho greatest posfliblo oxpoiiBO , but tho result was that they loot 200 horeoa , which woro thrown overboard at a moment when cavalry waa of tho utmost importance to thom . Ho warned them not to waste the resources of 'the
Untitled Article
* ThUj is altogether iuoorroot ; but wo lwvo given . In another part of ow paper , ft corroct voraion , with which-wo have been fwrourotl by a corruunondont .
Untitled Article
1178 THELEADEB . [ Saturday ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 1178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2069/page/2/
-