again," he could safely affirm that it never was intended
the troops should come back unless the Emperor of
Russia ahandoned his views. The troops, from 25,000
to 30,000 strong, were sent to Malta, and thence to
Turkey; where, with the exception of some regiments
of cavalry, they had all arrived before the end of April;
and on the 22nd of that month Lord Raglan received
instructions to move his forces towards Varna, to
support that place, and subsequently Silistria, as the
Russians had crossed the Danube. About the same
time, French and English troops were sent to the
Piræus to secure the neutrality of Greece. It was
erroneous to say that the expedition to the Crimea was
ordered in spite of the representations of any general.
The despatches that passed between the Duke of
Newcastle and Lord Raglan would show that when Lord
Raglan was ordered to move to Varna, he was in a
separate despatch instructed to make inquiry with
reference to the reduction of Sebastopol, the forces in the
Crimea, and the best means of carrying out the invasion.
As far as any military opinions were received, they were
in favour of the undertaking. The moment the siege of
Silistria was raised—on the 22nd of June—government
felt that it was time to strike a home-blow at Russia;
and on the 29th of June a despatch was sent to Lord
Raglan directing him to undertake the expedition.
Such reinforcements as would enable him to take the
field effectively—the Fourth Division, a second battery-
train of forty-two guns, and two regiments of cavalry
—were instantly sent out. When it was said that the
force was insufficient, it was forgotten that the expedition
was not undertaken by us alone, but in conjunction
with a great military power. The ammunition sent out
was double the amount considered sufficient by military
authority. With regard to the delay at Varna, so
vehemently complained of out of doors, the blame
attached not to the army, but to the government, if to
any one. This delay was caused by the necessary
operations of the Turkish army, by the sending forward
a portion of the French army, by the preparations for
embarkation—so great that Sir George Brown and
Admiral Lyons were occupied nearly a month in obtaining
the necessary materials and planning the operations;
by the cholera, which broke out in the camp after the
order to embark had been received—not before, as
stated by Lord Derby; and by the outbreak of cholera
in the fleet. The loss, although very serious, was not
so great as had been represented; its worst effect being
that it debilitated the survivors. Then as to the
preparations, they were not only "immense, but minute;"
and the quantities of stores pronounced sufficient by the
best judges were in some cases trebled by the
government. But he admitted that there had been some
mistakes in not having these stores in the right
place,—mistakes that he hoped would he avoided in
future. Reverting to the question of reinforcements, he
described how a body of 7000 men had been placed under
orders for the Crimea before the news of the battle of
Alma reached this country; how a portion were sent in
a French transport, but how the departure of the others
was delayed by want of shipping; and how as steamers
came in they were taken up by the government. He
described how, upon the declaration of war, regiments
had been ordered home from the colonies; some of
which had not even yet arrived, and others are not fit
for foreign service immediately. Look at France: at
the commencement of hostilities, even she was not able
to send reinforcements, which are now pouring in. Look
at Austria: she was certainly not in a condition to enter
the field when war was declared by this country. And
if that is the case with great military nations, what
must it be with a country whose military system rests
entirely upon voluntary enlistment? It is a proud thing
for us that we can assert our rights without compelling
men to fight our battles; but the economical policy of
the House of Commons renders it impossible that the
forces should be of such an amount as the keen anxiety
of the country requires. When a war seems likely to be
brought to an early close, recruits do not come forward
freely; but when success has been retarded then there is
eagerness to enlist. At the first declaration of war
recruits came forward freely; but they soon relaxed, and
during the summer months they were few indeed in
number—so much so as to cause very considerable
anxiety on the part of the government. But as soon as
it appeared evident that the siege of Sebastopol was
likely to he protracted, and that the undertaking was
one of greater hazard and difficulty than had been
supposed—from that moment when the energy of the people
was aroused, the zeal and readiness of the young men
of the country to enlist also increased; and week by
week it has been progressing, until last week, when, he
believed, we more than doubled the number of any
previous week since the commencement of the war, and
enrolled six or sevenfold the number which we had the
power of recruiting some five or six weeks ago. He
readily admitted that the government, in common with
many men of great experience in war, erred in thinking
that Sebastopol would have fallen long ere this. But
the moment it appeared that the siege would be
protracted, government used every exertion to send
reinforcements. The men sent out had been sent with
great regret, because they have not been trained so
efficiently as could be wished. The generals on the
spot did not desire that they should be sent out
prematurely; they would have been reserved for the next
campaign, had not events arisen which induced Lord
Raglan to press for them. It was not believed that the
Russians could send reinforcements in time for the battle
of Inkerman: the best opinions were taken on the subject;
few in any other country did believe they could have
been brought up: but the movement from Odessa to
Sebastopol was effected with marvellous rapidity, by the
aid of an unlimited number of cars and cattle; a march
of forty-two miles being effected in one day. The whole
number of troops which have been sent out from this
country by the end of the year will exceed 53,000;
and it was questionable whether on any former occasion
so many British troops were sent out in the same time.
The Duke then entered into details respecting the stores
that have been sent:—There were 62 position-guns, two
battering-trains of 42 guns; 22,933,000 rounds of small-
arm ammunition, 18,000,000 of which were for Minié
arms; and 42 large guns and mortars, 9000 shells, and
27,000 large round shot, have been sent from Malta.
With regard to warm clothing, it was sent out in time,
but did not arrive. In the Prince alone, there were
35,700 woollen socks, 53,000 woollen frocks, 17,000
flannel drawers, 2,500 double watch-coats, 16,100
blankets, and 3,700 rugs. The sum-total of the supplies
sent out is—of worsted socks, 150,000; of woollen frocks,
90,000; of flannel drawers, 90,000; of boots, 91,397
pairs; of shoes, 13,000; of woollen gloves, 80,000 pairs;
of over-coats, 30,000; of fur caps, 35,000; of leather
gauntlets, 20,000; of long woollen stockings, 80,000
pairs; comforters, leather mits, and other articles in
proportion. Also 40,000 railway wrappers, 40,000
waterproof capes, 12,000 buffalo hides, 12,000 pairs of
seal-skin mits, 40,000 fur coats, besides horse-cloths, and
a variety of other articles. The greater part has been
already sent out. Besides these, sheep-skin coats for the
whole army have been ordered; huts have been supplied
from Trieste, Malta, Turkey, and this country; new
suits of uniform—not the regular uniform issued at
stated times, but a third suit in addition—have arrived
in the Crimea by this time; and besides this, the troops
have been supplied with extra rations of meat, spirits,
and vegetables—without deductions. No army was
ever better fed. With regard to the medical service, the
Duke admitted the imperfection of the system; but
pleaded, that when the war broke out, instead of having
a hospital corps, we had nothing of the kind; the whole
thing had to be begun de novo. He showed that
government had adopted the advice both of Dr. Guthrie
and Dr. Smith, increasing both the regimental and the
staff surgeons; making a total of 495 medical officers, or
1 to every 77 men. Great improvements have still to be
made. With regard to the supply of medical stores,
while he rejoiced that the charity of the country has
been called forth, he could not admit that there had
been a deficiency. Beds hare been sent for 16,000
patients; lint, in weight, 26,564 pounds, in extent
86 acres; bandages 117,500, adhesive-plaster 20,550
yards. In reply to the charge that men had died from
want of wine, he said that 4,880 dozen of port wine,
1,200 gallons of brandy, 31,180 pounds of sugar, had