poverty of Russia; and that Russia's only chance of
even temporary success lies in rash and ill-considered
action on our part. Therefore let us not be over-
impatient for results. This war must give birth to events
of immense importance to the civilised world. It has
already produced two results which will make it
memorable in the history of nations: the one is the frank,
firm, cordial, and hearty union of the people, the
governments, the armies and navies, of France and
England in the same cause,—a union which I hope,
for the sake of both countries and of mankind, will be
everlasting; the other is the mitigation of the evils of
war by the establishment of the maritime rights of
neutrals on the firm and solid basis of reason and
justice,—a step in civilisation the importance of which
can scarcely be over estimated. If ere long, as I hope
and trust, Sebastopol shall share the fate of Bomarsund,
—if its fortifications shall be razed to the ground, its
fleet destroyed, and the Euxine set free from the incubus
of the might of Russia,—then I say that the first
campaign of allied France and England will neither be
aimless nor eventless, nor inglorious, nor unworthy of
the reputation of two nations renowned for military
and naval exploits. Gentlemen, though in war much
depends on causes beyond human control—on events
which the most sagacious cannot foresee nor the most
prudent guard against, yet I feel most sanguine of the
success of the expedition to the Crimea, because the
preparations for it were most complete, the soldiers
and sailors of France and England are unsurpassed in
valour, their commanders are most competent, and,
above all, because our cause is a just and righteous one."

At the dinner which followed the review of the
Staffordshire yeomanry, Earl Granville in acknowledging
the toast of "her Majesty's Ministers," made some
Statements respecting the Army in the East, and the
Conditions of Peace. "I believe that I may say that the
finest army has gone to the East which was ever sent
to a foreign country. Lord Raglan has under his
command 102 guns of very heavy calibre. When you
compare these with the six guns which Wellington was
able to collect in battle array, it does show that at all
events we have not fallen into that great error which
characterised the Government of that day, when the
greatest commander which this country ever knew was
in command. I am almost afraid to state the great
amount of ammunition which has been sent out; if I were
to state it to you, it would almost sound like the tale of
Baron Munchausen: I may, however, say, that if it is
all used it will actually wear out those 102 guns.
Government did not conceal from themselves the great
responsibility of their urging on the commanders of
both services an attack on Sebastopol. They were not
ignorant of the opinion entertained by many
distinguished officers of every country in Europe—that, if
not impracticable, the attempt was of a most difficult
nature: but they did feel that the integrity and
independence of Turkey was a mere joke so long as that
fortress was deemed impregnable, situated as it is in the
very centre of the Black Sea, as the only port from
which vessels can come in or go out with safety: they
felt that that was the very key of the position; and
they did think, that, with the assistance of the French
—of whose straightforward and loyal conduct it is
impossible to speak in too high terms—these two forces,
acting in cordial cooperation, could achieve all that it
was possible for men to accomplish. . . . . If we should
be successful, I believe the government will act only in
accordance with the public feeling of the country by
showing that we must not rest on our oars, but that we
must redouble our efforts to gain the victory: and I
cannot help feeling, that though it would be highly
criminal in any government to be carried away by the
excitement of military glory, (of which, God knows, we
have had enough in this country,) and to refuse to make
a peace when that peace could be made perfectly
consistent with the honour, dignity, and interests of this
country, and with the interests of Europe and the cause
of justice and humanity, yet, on the other hand, I do
feel, that if the horrors of war are unnecessarily
prolonged by the enemy—if those sacrifices of treasure,
which, even according to the resources of this country,
are considerable, are rendered necessary, and if precious
lives, both of our own soldiers, and, I will add, the
soldiers of the enemy, are sacrificed—it must be felt that
the rigour of the terms imposed should be in proportion
to the sacrifice occasioned."

Great improvements have been made in the Financial
Tables, showing the state of the revenue, commencing
with the quarter ending on the 5th instant. The tables
are no longer confined to Great Britain, excluding about
four millions of the Irish revenue; but they give the
figures for the whole of the United Kingdom. Secondly,
besides the comparison of the quarters, the tables now
give a comparative view of the progress for the part of
the financial year which has expired. Thirdly, instead
of showing only the income and charge on the
Consolidated Fund, omitting the corresponding statement
for Ireland and the disposal of monies not charged
permanently to the Consolidated Fund, the tables show
the whole of the expenditure as well as the whole
revenue, and thus present a complete debtor and
creditor account of public monies within the quarter.
The account is now so complete and clear that explanation
is scarcely needed to bring out the sound and
satisfactory state of our finances.

NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME

A Disgraceful Scene attended with Fatal
Consequences, took place on board the hulk Dauntless,
in Portsmouth Harbour. On Sunday evening, the
17th ult., two young women of loose character, Matilda
Lodge and Emma White were taken on board the vessel
by two officers, one of whom was Lieut. Knight, of the
marines; arrived on board, they went into Mr. Knight's
cabin, and were supplied by him with wine and brandy
and water, through the half open door leading from the
gun-room where the officers were drinking. The girl
Lodge became intoxicated, and ran singing into the gun-
room among the officers. Afterwards she became
violently ill, and after remaining for some hours, screaming
in great agony, she was put into a boat and sent on
shore, her companion having previously left the ship.
Lodge was found by her mother at the police station in
a dying state, and expired two days afterwards. An
inquest was held on her body. Her companion detailed
the circumstances till she left the ship at one o'clock in
the morning. A marine on duty stated that the deceased
screeched fearfully and lay screaming on the floor, until
she was carried into Knight's cabin and placed on his
bed. She continued screeching at intervals up to four
o'clock. The officer in command had wished to have
her removed from the ship; but the surgeon thought
this dangerous. Lieutenant Jervis, who had gone to
bed early, was waked up by her screeching and the
knocking she made against the bulkheads: he visited
her twice, and behaved with great kindness: Lieutenant
Knight was sleeping, with his head on a pillow, on the
table. Matilda Lodge fell twice out of bed. The boat-
man who rowed her ashore, said that her hair was
hanging all about; her dress was torn at the shoulder,
and in a terribly ruffled state. She was not sensible.
The police inspector stated that when brought to the
station she was insensible, and smelt strongly of port
wine; her dress was much disordered, and she had
nothing but her shift sleeve on her arm; her hair was
hanging loose down her back. Her mother gave the
following evidence: "I found Matilda in the station-
room, her clothes much disordered, the sleeve torn out
of her gown, and her scarf very dirty. I said to her.
'My dear girl, where have you been to get served like
this?' She appeared to be very ill. I tried to lift her
up. She said, 'Don't mother; I cannot move. Mother,
I am dying; I shan't live long. I have received my
death-blow.' I said, 'You must go home.' She said,
'I can't.'" She took her home, however. "I said to
her, 'You have been cruelly ill treated.' She rejoined,
'Yes, mother, I have; I shall die.' She said something
to me besides concerning the outrage, but I told her to
lie quiet, and when she got better we would talk it over.
I told her, 'I hear you were on board of a ship.' She
said, 'Yes, mother, and Emma was there too; we went
together.' She said, 'After Emma left I was