been sent out. In order to rectify the errors in the
hospital system, a commission has been sent to Scutari;
and to show that it has not been organised for the
purpose of making up a case for parliament, he mentioned
that the commissioners had named the Rev. Sidney
Godolphin Osborne to supply the place of Dr. Spence,
lost in the Prince. He vindicated the policy of sending
out the nurses under Miss Nightingale, and spoke
warmly of their devotion. Referring to the allegations
against the late commander of the Prince, he showed
that a full inquiry had been instituted into his character,
with a favourable result; while Commander Bayntun
and another naval officer were placed onboard the ship.
He described how, in order to facilitate the operations
of the army, they were sending out a complete railroad,
with stationary engines, &c, and how Mr. Peto and Mr.
Betts had undertaken the work, refusing to derive a
"farthing of profit from the affair in any way." He eulogised
the conduct of the seamen for their kindness to the
soldiers, and their assistance afloat and ashore. He
described the cordial union between the French and
English; and the admirable discipline of the troops,
which he referred to the amelioration of the soldier's
lot. He spoke sympathisingly of the losses sustained,
and how keenly he felt "the publication of those
gazettes which carry grief to hundreds of homes." He
mentioned, incidentally, that Lord Derby's suggestion
of a reward for General Canrobert had been anticipated:
a fortnight ago her Majesty commanded the Duke to
convey privately to Lord Raglan her intention to confer
the order of the Bath upon General Canrobert.—Before
concluding, the Duke of Newcastle stated the object of
the assembling of parliament,—to enable the militia to
volunteer for service in the colonies; to enable her
Majesty to drill and pay within this country a limited
number of foreign troops; to add four companies to each
regiment of the line on foreign service, making eight
fighting companies, four in depot at home, and four in
reserve at Malta; and to add a third battalion to each of
the Rifle brigades. To encourage enlistment, two officers'
commissions for each battalion have been given to Lord
Raglan, who is also empowered to grant good-service
pensions. In all directions, at home, in Ireland, in the
colonies, there exists an ardent desire to prosecute the
war with vigour. He rejoiced that Lord Derby and the
country had put a pressure on the government. I can
assure your Lordships, (said the Duke in conclusion),
that, if we possess the confidence of parliament, we
will prosecute this war with a firm resolve and with
unflinching perseverance. My Lords, I do not understand
the phrase of "moderation" or of "moderate counsels"
in war. I believe that any such counsels as counsels of
moderation in war are counsels of danger. I have said
that we will prosecute this war with firm resolve and
with unflinching perseverance. While, on the one hand,
we will not refuse to entertain overtures of peace, we
shall not assent to any which are not only honourable
but safe. My Lords, we place our trust in the armies;
we trust with entire confidence in a noble people; and,
firm in the alliance and the friendship of a brave, a
generous, and a powerful ally, we have no fear of the
issue of this contest, but, believing in the justice of
our cause, and with a humble but firm confidence in
Him who rules the fate and decides the destinies
of nations,— with these aids and assistance, we
confidently hope to bring this mighty contest to such an
issue as may assure for a series of years the repose, the
civilisation, and the prosperity of those countries of
Europe which have been so unfortunately plunged into
war by the pride and ambition of the Emperor of one
great nation.—Earl GREY followed, and cordially voted
for the address; but while he admitted the candour of the
Duke of Newcastle's statement, said that mere faults of
detail were not those which weighed heaviest on the
government, and reiterated that want of foresight
had characterised their policy. He trusted, however, that
their future measures would leave no room for criticism.
Adverting to the commissions for the distinguished
services of sergeants, he said he hoped that the rank of
captain, and not that of ensign, wouid be given to them
on account of their age and experience; they would then
be in a position of respectability, and able to support
that position.—The Duke of ARGYLL defended the
ministerial war policy, and said that the time had come when
all the powers of Europe was called upon to make a stand
against the aggressive policy of Russia. It was the
universal feeling in this country that the present was
a war not only of justice but necessity.—The Earl of
HARDWICKE objected to the measures of government,
but was prepared to vote for the address.—The Earl of
CARLISLE spoke briefly on the admirable conduct of
the forces, both naval and military; and the Earl of
ABERDEEN wound up the debate by anticipating the
early fall of Sebastopol, and great benefit from the
treaty with Austria which was about to be ratified.

The address was agreed to unanimously.

On Thursday December 14, the Duke of NEWCASTLE
moved the second reading of the Bill to Enable her
Majesty to Enlist Foreigners as Officers and Soldiers in
her Service. Having briefly viewed the parliamentary
enactments upon this subject, the last of which, in 1806,
limited the number of foreigners so admitted to 16,000
he observed that from 1807 to 1815 there was scarcely a
siege or battle in which the German legion had not
taken a part.—The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH opposed
the bill, which, he said, had for its object the substitution
of foreigners for the present militia force in this
kingdom.—The Duke of RICHMOND bore testimony to
the services of the German legion in the Peninsular
war.—The Earl of DERBY said that the jealousy of
parliament against employing foreign mercenaries was a
well founded one. As to precedent, there was none of
the slightest value in favour of such a measure, for the
German legion was principally composed of
Hanoverians, who were subjects of the king of this country.
But from whence did they propose to form this
legion? Was it to be Polish? There would be a
significance in that. Such a force would possess
a common interest with us. He thought the fact
of the government demanding such an assistance
in the first year of the war was a humiliating
confession of weakness. It was to say that we had
exhausted our military resources, and that we could not
man our garrisons in the Mediterranean nor preserve
peace at home without the aid of mercenaries. Unless
he heard something more satisfactory about the bill he
would oppose it in committee.—The Earl of ABERDEEN
said that the purpose of the bill was to introduce a
limited number of foreigners for the purpose of training;
and that, as soon as they were sufficiently trained, they
would be despatched to the seat of war. The measure
was necessary in order to obtain a suitable addition to
their regular forces, and he could not look upon it as
open to any constitutional objection.—The Earl of
MALMSBURY opposed the bill, as he said it was fraught
with inconvenience, if not danger, to bring foreign
troops into this country. They had heard much of the
high spirit of the people of this country, and he believed
these boasts to be well founded, but this bill gave a
practical contradiction to them all, for it was an
admission that Englishmen would not enlist. He had that
confidence in the courage and loyalty of his countrymen
that he would try every means for raising men at home
before he would enlist a single foreigner.—Earl GREY,
though he regretted the necessityof employing foreigners,
would not oppose this bill. He had no doubt of the
spirit of Englishmen, but the exigencies of the case
required more speedy reinforcements than the necessity
of drilling our home recruits would allow.—The Duke
of NEWCASTLE said it was the intention of government
to embody the whole of the Irish militia. As to the
countries from which the foreign recruits were to be
taken, it would not be right to mention them now, as no
communication had yet been made to those countries
from whom they expected recruits. He complained,
with some warmth, that the measure had been entirely
misrepresented by former speakers, especially by the
Earl of Derby, whose speech to-night was quite at
variance with his professions on Tuesday night, of a
determination to strengthen the hands of her Majesty's
government.—The bill was then read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on Friday.

On Friday, December 15, the Duke of NEWCASTLE
moved a Vote of Thanks to the British Forces in
the East for the gallantry and heroism which they
had displayed during the recent struggle in the