Denouncing half and half measures, he complained that
nothing like a definite and consistent purpose was
apparent on either side of the house. The country,
he believed, was heartily weary of vacillation and
imbecility, and sick, not of the war, but of those who
had conducted it so inefficiently.—Lord PALMERSTON
observed that it was now unnecessary to vindicate the
justice of the war or the policy by which it was commenced.
Confessing the existence of some imperfections,
and the commission of many faults in detail, be
defended the conduct of the war, especially as regarded
the Crimean expedition, and the management of the
negotiations, in which he observed no undue or
inexpedient advantage had been given to Austria. So far
from being embarrassed by the Austrian connection, the
allies had derived much benefit from it, as the Turkish
forces under Omer Pacha had been liberated for active
service, and a vast Russian force kept on the Transylvanian
frontier, by the interference of Austria, though
in a neutral character. The progress of negotiation had
never for a moment interrupted the active prosecution
of hostilities; and after describing the several elements
of which the British forces by sea and land were composed,
and the allied armies that co–operated with them,
he took credit for the strength and efficiency which they
now displayed. Lord Palmerston then referred to Mr.
Gladstone's speech, contending that the question
whereon the conferences were suspended, involved a
point of extreme importance, which it was impossible to
waive if it were desired to afford Turkey a practical
security from aggression. The great object which they
had kept in view was to render peace permanent and
safe even when England and France had withdrawn
their fleets and armies, and reduced their military
establishments to the ordinary scale of quiet times. The
government were carrying on the contest with vigour
and a fair prospect of success. It was not, he submitted,
in the ranks of the opposition that the country would
find ministers better fitted for the great work. But
whatever might be the texture of the administration, he
was convinced that the heart of the nation was set upon
the energetic prosecution of the war.—Mr. Disraeli
replied, and the house divided: for Mr. Disraeli's
resolutions, 219; against, 319; majority, 100.—Sir F.
Baring's amendment being then proposed as a substantive
resolution, Mr. LOWE moved the amendment which
he had placed on the paper, expressing the opinion that
the refusal of Russia to limit her power in the Black
Sea had exhausted the means of negotiation. After
some discussion the debate was adjourned till after the
recess, and the house then adjourned to Monday the 4th
of June.

            PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.

House of Lords.—Monday, April 30th.—Militia (Ireland) Bill
read a third time and passed.

May 1st.—University of Cambridge Bill recommitted.

3rd.—Loan Bill read a second time. Lord Clarendon's
Statement as to the Vienna Conferences.

4th.—Loan Bill read a third time and passed.

5th.—Royal Assent to the Loan Bill.

7th.—Conduct of the War—Lord Ellenborough's notice of
Resolution. Affirmations (Scotland) Bill read a second time.
Income Tax Bill read a second time.

8th.—Income Tax Bill committed. Vienna Conferences,
papers laid on the table.

10th.—Vienna Conferences, Lord Grey's notice of Resolution.
Fisheries Bill read a second time. Church Patronage
Bill read a second time. Income Tax Bill read a third bime
and passed.

11th.—Private Estates Bill read a first time. Fisheries
Bill committed. Charitable Trusts Bill committed.

14th.—Newspaper Stamps Bill read a first time. Conduct
of the War. Lord Ellenborough's resolutions negatived.

15th.—Intestacy (Scotland) Bill read a second time. Trade
with Russia, Lord Albemarle's motion negatived. Affirmations
(Scotland); Bill read a third time and passed.

18th.—Army Reform, Lord Panmure's Statement.
Intestacy (Scotland) Bill committed.

21st.—Charitable Trusts Bill referred to a Select Committee.
Custom Duties Bill, Spirit Duties Bill, Religious Worship Bill,
read a second time. Intestacy (Scotland) Bill read a third
time and passed.

House of Commons.—Friday, April 27.—Education (Scotland)
Bill read a second time. Loan Bill went through committee.

30th.—Lord John Russell's statement as to Vienna Conferences.
Loan Bill, as amended, considered. Income Tax Bill
committed. Newspaper Stamp Bill committed. Registration
of Births (Scotland) Bill read a second time.

May 1st.—Loan Bill read a third time and passed. Maynooth
College, Mr. Spooner's motion. Carlisle Canonries Bill
read a first time.

2nd.—Education Bill, adjourned debate on second reading.

3rd.—Poor Law (Scotland) Bill withdrawn. Sunday Trading
(Metropolis) Bill road a second time. Land and Assessed
Taxes Divisions Bill thrown out. Income Tax Bill read a
third time and passed.

4th.—Tenants' Improvement Compensation (Ireland) Bill
read a second time. Customs Duties Bill committed.
Metropolitan Buildings Bill read a second time, and referred to a
Select Committee.

7th.—Newspaper Stamp Bill, adjourned debate on third
reading. Supply. Miscellaneous Estimates. Illness of the
Speaker, Deputy-Speaker appointed. Registration of Births
(Scotland) Bill committed. Parliamentary Representation
Bill (Scotland), and Intestacy Bill (Scotland), read a third
time and passed.

9th.—Marriage Bill thrown out. Marriage Law Amendment
Bill read a second time. Vienna Conferences, papers laid on
the table.

10th.—Indian Army, Sir E. Perry's motion for Inquiry
negatived. Government of Victoria Bill read a first time.
Forms of Pleading Bill read a first time.

11th.—Vienna Conferences, Mr. Gibson's notice of motion.
Newspaper Stamp Bill read a third time and passed. Spirit
Duties Bill committed. Stamp Duties (Drafts on Bankers)
Bill withdrawn. Registration of Births (Scotland) Bill read
a third time and passed. Consolidation of the Statutes, Mr.
Locke King's motion.

14th.—Metropolis Local Management Bill in Committee.
Infants' Marriage Bill read a third time and passed.
Bankruptcy (Scotland) Bill read a first time.

15th.—Hardware, &c, Trade Bill read a first time. Excise
Duties Bill read a third time and passed. Alterations in
Pleadings Bill read a second time. Mortmain Bill read a first
time.

16th.—Church Rates Abolition Bill read a second time.
Carlisle Canonries Bill read a secoud time.

17th.—Public Prosecutors Bill postponed. Parish
Constables Bill read a second time. Intestates Bill committed.
New South Wales Government Bill read a first time. Australian
Waste Lands Bill read a first time.

18th.—Education (Scotland) Bill committed. Militia Bill
committed. Alterations in Pleadings Bill committed. Pauper
Children Education Bill committed. Dublin National Gallery
Bill read a second time.

22nd.—Local Management of the Metropolis Bill considered
in Committee. Mr. Wise's resolution for a revisal of diplomatic
establishments carried. Mr. Berkeley's motion for
leave to bring in a Bill for the Ballot rejected. Leave given
Mr. Horsfall to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to
Bills of Lading. Absconding Debtors (Ireland) Bill, and
Railways (Ireland) Bill read a second time.

At the sitting on Friday, the 27th of April, of the
Select Committee of Inquiry into the State of the Army
in the Crimea, Captain Dacres, K.N, and Captain
Milne, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, were under
examination throughout the sitting. Their evidence
referred principally to the condition of the harbour of
Balaklava, and the conduct of Admiral Bruce and the
Harbour-Master, Captain Christie.

On Monday, April 30th, the examination of Captain
Milne was continued. He affirmed, that if the army
had suffered from any want of transports in the Black
Sea, the Admiralty were not to blame; and he defended
the character of Admiral Boxer, who was a most able,
hard working, and meritorious man, who, from being a
common seaman, had raised himself entirely by his own
merit, and not from any Parliamentary influence.
Captain Tallon, of the Sea Nymph, was then examined.
He stated that he had taken twenty–four casks of boots
and shoes on board at Constantinople in August with
orders to convey them to Varna; that they were not
received at Varna, because no papers had been sent
with them; and he carried them on several voyages;
that they were three times refused at Balaklava, and at
last "shoved" ashore there on the 8th of November.
Commander Hillyear, of the Agamemnon, said that the
Naval Brigade was much better off than the troops
during the winter. They were supplied from a store–ship
made of a transport, dismasted on the 14th November:
when the roads became impassable, the men and officers
carried up their own provisions. The men were in bed
three nights to one out; they found their messes ready
cooked when they came from the trenches; they dug