the men had been withdrawn from them for the purpose of making a road, the enemy would have advanced upon the trenches and the rear, and the army could hardly have kept its camp. He considered many complaints were exaggerations, but said that all our institutions for the field were extremely inefficient.

Mr. Sidney Herbert, the late secretary at war, was examined on the 9th of May; Vice-admiral J. W. Dundas on the 10th; Lord Hardinge, the commander-in-chief of the British forces, on the 11th; and Sir James Graham, late first lord of the admiralty, on the 14th. The following day the Earl of Aberdeen was questioned by the committee, and with his examination their inquiries closed.

indispensable to its healthy and effective condition. The imperativeness, or otherwise, of the fatal amount of overwork to which the troops were subjected, the committee regarded as a matter beyond the limit of their inquiry.

The second division of the subject was treated at great length, and under no less than seventeen headings. The first of these related to the conduct of the government at home, upon which the responsibility of the expedition to the Crimea rested. It pointed out that the government gave orders for the expedition without having obtained the requisite information concerning the harbours, roads, and water-supply of the Crimea; or of, what was most important, a statement of the force by which it was defended. One On the 18th of June, Mr. Roebuck pre-estimate it obtained set down the Russian sented the report of the committee to the House of Commons, and it was read to the members by Sir Denis Le Marchant. As it is an historical document which gives as much light as can readily be thrown upon the miscarriages in connexion with the gigantic war, and as it will be referred to by political writers for many years to come, as an enduring monument in commemoration of the evils arising from aristocratic mismanagement and a system of blind, unreasoning routine, we shall give such an account of it, accompanied by brief extracts, as will render its nature clear to the reader; the report being, as a whole, far too bulky for insertion in a work of this kind.

forces in the Crimea as but 30,000 men; while another estimated them at 120,000. Our ambassadors at St. Petersburg or Constantinople, had been unable to furnish any information upon these important points. The report considered that the members of the cabinet had not given that earnest attention to the war that so great a proceeding required, and that evils resulting from delay were justly laid to their charge. This heading concluded with remarking-"Your committee must express their regret that the formation of a large reserve at home, and also in the proximity of the seat of war, was not considered at a much earlier period, and that the government, well knowing the limited numbers of the British army, the nature of the climate in the East, as well as the power we were about to encounter, did not, at the commencement of the war, take means to augment the ranks of the army beyond the ordinary recruiting; and also that earlier steps were not taken to render the militia available, both for the purpose of obtaining supplies of men, and also, in case of necessity, for the relief of regiments of the line stationed in garrisons in the Mediterranean-measures which they found themselves compelled to adopt at a later period."

Having referred to the complicated nature of the inquiry, to the variety of subjects investigated, the number of witnesses examined, and the frequent inconsistency of their evidence, which threw difficulties in the way of presenting a clear, definite, and just exposition of the subjects presented to the committee, the report laid down the opinions that body had arrived at. First, on the condition of the army before Sebastopol; and, secondly, on the conduct of the departments, both at home and abroad, whose duty it was to minister to the wants of that army. The reader of this work is but too well aware of what the condition of The report gave the Duke of Newcastle our army was, for it to be requisite here to credit for the best of intentions, and even repeat the dreary list of frightful miseries put forward some apologies for the difficulthat assailed it. Granting that much suf- ties of his position; but it inferred that he fering was necessarily unavoidable, the com- was unequal to the onerous duties assigned mittee expressed their opinion that the to him. "The duke," it says, "was imamount of it was mainly to be attributed to perfectly acquainted with the best: mode of dilatory and insufficient arrangements for exercising his authority over the subordithe supply of the army with the necessaries nate departments, and these departments

were not officially informed of their relative With respect to the transport department. position, or of their new duties towards the at home, the report observes-" The unneminister for war. His interference was cessary sufferings of the soldiers, directly sought for in matters of detail wherein his referrible to this neglect, form one of the time should not have been occupied, and he most painful portions of the evidence; but was left unacquainted with transactions of on what department the blame should rest,which he should have received official cog- whether on the office of the commander-innizance. Feeling his large responsibilities, chief, or of the secretary at war, or of the he took upon himself to remedy innumer- secretary of state for war,-your committee able deficiencies which were brought to his are unable to decide." In the same way, notice; and, in the meantime, matters of no one seems to have been able to say who paramount importance were postponed. The was responsible for the management of the evidence, moreover, shows that the duke transport service in the Black Sea. Sir was long left in ignorance, or was misin- James Graham said that Admiral Dundas formed respecting the progress, of affairs in was; but the admiral declared that he had the East. He was not, until a late period, nothing to do with the transports, but that made acquainted with the state of the hos- they were under the management of Lord pitals at Scutari, and the horrible mode in Raglan, Rear-admiral Boxer, and Captain which the sick and wounded were conveyed Christie. If these gentlemen could have from Balaklava to the Bosphorus. Lord been examined, it is probable that they also Aberdeen has significantly observed, that would have repudiated all responsibility for the government were left in ignorance the Black Sea transports. One of the sad longer than they ought to have been of the results of this want of responsibility, and, real state of matters in the East. The consequently, of proper management, was ministers, he says, were informed of the condition of the army from public papers and private sources long before they heard it officially; and, not hearing it officially, they discredited the rumours around them. Thus, while the whole country was dismayed by reports, and was eagerly looking for some gleam of official intelligence, the cabinet, according to the statement of ministers, was in darkness."

the wreck and loss of so many valuable ships during the dreadful storm of the 14th of November. It was ascertained that the transport service in the Bosphorus was under the orders of Rear-admiral Boxer, who, although his rough manners had caused him to be harshly spoken of, had endeavoured efficiently to discharge his duty, which he was prevented from doing by the inattention of Sir James Graham, then first lord of the admiralty.

Of Mr. Sidney Herbert, the late secretary of war, the report expressed itself to the Of the commissariat, the report observedeffect that, although very well-intentioned, "The military system in this country affords he was more busy than useful. It employed the commissariat no opportunity of becommore courtly circumlocution to express this ing acquainted with the army, or of minthan we have done; but we content our-istering to its wants; so that in a campaign, selves with tlae sense of its language. The the officers in this department find themordnance department was described as working improperly on account of the absence of Lord Raglan, the master-general, whose duties were imperfectly attended to by a substitute. The consequence was, that a struggle for authority arose between the members of the board, and they were quarrelling with each other and making trivial appeals to the Duke of Newcastle, when they ought to have been engaged in attending to the business of the country. The report spe aks severely of the disordered condition of this department, and observes "The supply of inferior tools must be ascribed to carelessness or dishonesty on the part of the persons responsible for the supply."

selves called upon to furnish supplies in regard to which they have had no experience; while the officers and men, being often ignorant of the proper duties of the commissariat, consider this department responsible for everything they may require.” The land transport service was condemned in severe terms by the committee; and with regard to a road from Balaklava to the camp, they stated there had been a want of due foresight and decision. They observed, that the consequences resulting from the failure of the transport service, would have been in some degree obviated by the formation of depots in the neighbourhood of the camp, or between the camp and Balaklava. Some attempt to do this was

made, but not persevered in; one reason for its abandonment being, that after the battle of Inkermann, and the storm of the 14th of November, all the available animals were employed for the daily requirements of the army.

outbreak of war, have still fettered Dr. Smith, as well as other public servants, who dreaded to incur responsibility for any expenditure, however urgent, which was not guarded by all the forms and documents usually required. An excess of caution, in the first instance, led probably to some evils which a lavish outlay could not afterwards repair."

The committee referred mournfully to the medical department in the East, and declared it to be so wretched and painful a subject, that they gladly avoided repeating its deplorable details. They observed-" The medical men, it is said, were indefatigable in their attention; but so great was the want of the commonest necessaries, even of bed

comforts, that they sorrowfully admitted their services to be of little avail."

The mode in which the soldiers were supplied with food was censured, and the explanations of irregularities in this respect declared to be unsatisfactory. The circumstance of distributing green coffee to the soldiers, who were unprovided with any means of roasting or grinding it, was dwelt upon. "The more immediate comfort of the troops," said the report, "appears to have been overlooked; while ingenious arguments on the volatile aroma of the berry, and on the Turkish mode of pack-ding, as well as of medicines and medical ing coffee, were passing backwards and forwards between Commissary-general Filder and the treasury." As the men were so neglected, it can scarcely be supposed that the horses were properly attended to. When the army first encamped before Sebastopol, stacks of forage were found in the neighbourhood; when these were consumed, the horses were soon in want: after the hurricane the supply of forage failed; and, under the combined effects of work, exposure, and insufficient food, the cavalry gradually ceased to exist as an effective force. In this matter, also, the committee were in doubt as to whom they ought to lay the blame.

The state of the hospitals at Scutari-one of the darkest spots in this perplexed career of mismanagement-the committee considered last in their report. Of these hospitals Major Sillery was military commandant; while Dr. Menzies, with Dr. M'Gregor under his orders, was medical superintendent. Major Sillery was totally incompetent to the discharge of the onerous duties devolving upon him, and ridiculously timid of incurring any responsibility. Dr. Menzies seems to have been impressed with old-fashioned notions of routine, and to have been, moreover, somewhat deficient in natural kindness to the hosts of sufferers under his charge. The committee censured him for not correctly reporting the circumstances of the hospital, and stating that he wanted nothing in the shape of stores or medical comforts, at the time when his patients were destitute of the commonest necessaries. They modified this censure by adding" In justice to Dr. Menzies, it must be admitted, that

With respect to the medical department at home, Dr. Smith, the director-general, said, that he was under the immediate authority of five different superiors-the commander-in-chief, the secretary of state for war, the secretary at war, the master-general of the ordnance, and the board of ordnance. Under such circumstances, it excites no wonder to find that he did not properly understand or discharge the duties appertaining to his office. In this department, he was engaged in incessant and onerous. as in most others, the inexperience arising from many years of peace, proved a serious obstacle to its efficiency in a time of war. Dr. Smith was animated by a desire to discharge his duty, but on many points he suggested and remonstrated in vain. Before the fearful calamities arising from official negligence fell upon the army like a curse and a plague, a zealous officer seems to have been regarded as a rather troublesome person. The report observes-"The strict economy enforced, during a long period of peace, by means of a rigid system of audit and account, may, doubtless, at the first

duties. He was consulted in all difficult surgical cases; he performed the most serious operations himself. His time was occupied in invaliding men, holding boards, making monthly returns and quarterly returns, daily reports and weekly reports-reports to Dr. Smith, who could not interfere-reports to the Duke of Newcastle, who was never informed of the real state of things. Amid all these labours, he had no time left for that which should have been his principal duty, the proper superintendence of these hospitals. Dr. Menzies states, that he was overwhelmed by the work of three deputy

inspectors when he gave up his charge; his lives of the patients. When the quantities health being then broken down.' This of hospital stores which were sent from statement is confirmed by Dr. Dumbreck, England are contrasted with the scarcity, who, having heard Dr. Menzies' evidence, or rather the absolute dearth of them, at says, the clashing of responsibility and Scutari, and when the state of the purconfusion that existed in the administration veyor's accounts is remembered, it is imof the hospitals, was not creditable to our possible not to harbour a suspicion that some system; we seem to have fallen into a state dishonesty has been practised in regard to of inaction; we had no purveyors, no order-these stores."

lies, no hospital corps. Dr. Menzies I be- The report terminated with the following lieve to have been clearly overworked, and observations:-"Your committee, in concluput in a position that no one man was able sion, cannot but remark, that the first real to cope with.' improvements in the lamentable condition In connexion with this point, the com- of the hospitals at Scutari, are to be attrimittee further expressed themselves totally buted to private suggestions, private exerat a loss to comprehend the report of Dr. tions, and private benevolence. A fund, Hall, which they considered to have misled raised by public subscription, was adminboth Lord Raglan and the government at istered by the proprietors of the Times home, and to have occasioned much delay newspaper, through Mr. Macdonald, an inin measures taken afterwards for the remedy telligent and zealous agent. At the sugof evils which might have been arrested gestion of the secretary at war, Miss Nightearlier in their progress. The committee ingale, with admirable devotion, organised a referred to the selection of an improper band of nurses, and undertook the care of person as purveyor, and to the retaining the sick and wounded. The Hon. Jocelyn him in office after he had been pronounced Percy, the Hon. and Rev. Sidney Godolphin unfit to discharge its duties. They severely Osborne, and Mr. Augustus Stafford, after condemned the state of the apothecary's de-a personal inspection of the hospitals, furpartment at Scutari, of which no account nished valuable reports and suggestions to whatever seems to have been kept; at any the government. By these means much rate, no entry was made in the books by the suffering was alleviated, the spirits of the officer in charge of that department from men were raised, and many lives were saved. the 24th of September to the 28th of No- Your committee have now adverted to the vember. "Your committee," continues the chief points contained in the replies to report, are not aware under what instruc- above TWENTY-ONE THOUSAND QUESTIONS, tions he was acting; but the late secretary and, in noticing these various subjects, at war admits that such conduct was a gross they have divided them under distinct dereliction of duty. It is, moreover, mani-heads, in order fairly to apportion the refest that the government had been deceived sponsibility. Your committee report, that in regard to these hospital stores, since Mr. the sufferings of the army mainly resulted S. Herbert had stated in the House of Com- from the circumstances under which the mons, there had been all manner of forms expedition to the Crimea was undertaken to be gone through before these stores could and executed. The administration which be issued; with plenty of materials, the forms ordered that expedition, had no adequate were so cumbrous, that they could never be information as to the amount of the forces produced with the rapidity necessary for in the Crimea. They were not acquainted the purposes of a military hospital.' It is with the strength of the fortresses to be atnow proved, that if there were cumbrous tacked, or with the resources of the country forms inconveniencing the service of the to be invaded. They hoped and expected hospital, and aggravating the sufferings of the expedition to be immediately successful; the patients, there were, at least, no forms to protect the public purse against negligence or peculation. The distress in these hospitals would have been more severe, and the sufferings more acute, if private charity had not stepped in to redress the evils of official mismanagement. Assistance which had been discouraged as superfluous, was eventually found to be essential for the

and, as they did not foresee the probability of a protracted struggle, they made no provision for a winter campaign. The patience and fortitude of this army demand the admiration and gratitude of the nation on whose behalf they have fought, bled, and suffered. Their heroic valour, and equally heroic patience, under sufferings and privations, have given them claims upon their

country which will doubtless be gratefully valour which this noble army has displayed, acknowledged. Your committee will now and that none may hereafter be exposed to close their report, with a hope that every such sufferings as are recorded in these British army may in future display the pages."

CHAPTER VI.

ENGAGEMENT IN FRONT OF THE MALAKHOFF TOWER; EXERTIONS OF THE RUSSIANS; EARTHQUAKES AT BROUSSA AND AT CONSTANTINOPLE; ERECTION OF THE MAMELON; REPULSE OF THE FRENCH FROM THE RIFLE PITS; ENGAGEMENT ON THE 22ND OF MARCH; THE VIENNA CONGRESS; SPRING IN THE CAMP AT SEBASTOPOL; SAILING OF THE BRITISH FLEET TO THE BALTIC; ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING CAMP AT ALDERSHOTT-HEATH; VISIT OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF THE FRENCH TO THE ENGLISH COURT; REFLECTIONS ON THE EMPEROR'S RECEPTION; RETURN OF NAPOLEON; PIANORI'S ATTEMPT TO ASSASSI

NATE HIM.

LET us return to the Crimea-to the neigh- | scaled the works and entered the redoubt bourhood of Sebastopol, and take up for a brief period the thread of our narrative in that locality. The French lines were being pushed gradually nearer and nearer to the Malakhoff Tower, to the very foot of which they hoped soon to approach. On the other hand, the Russians, with their usual untiring activity, had thrown up considerable works behind the tower, and commenced demolishing it to allow full play to their batteries. Nor did they stop there; but on the night of the 21st of February, they intrenched themselves between the tower and a little to the French right. In that position they commenced important works of counter-attack, to stop the advance of the French trenches.

General Canrobert immediately resolved to destroy these works and carry the Russian position. On the night of the 23rd, two battalions of the 2nd Zouaves, one battalion of marines, and some companies of workmen, started under the command of General Monnet. The advance on the Russian position was made in profound silence. It was arranged that one battalion of Zouaves should take the right, the other the left of the attack, while the marines were to meet the enemy in front. On arriving near the redoubt thrown up by the Russians, the dim outline of a body of soldiers was discerned in front of it. General Monnet gave the signal of attack, and advanced. Instantly the Zouaves, with the daring impetuosity which is always characteristic of them, rushed upon the enemy, and were received with a murderous fire. They soon, however,

by sheer fighting. There a sanguinary handto-hand conflict took place. The loss of life among the French was very severe; but the Russians were driven out, and compelled to take refuge in Sebastopol. Several Russian ships in port sent a shower of projectiles into the redoubt, and the nearest batteries opened their fire upon it. Still, in the midst of this deadly storm, the French knocked the works to pieces and spiked all the guns, before they were compelled to retire. The retreat was rendered doubly necessary; for by this time the whole garrison of Sebastopol was under arms, the drums and bells of the city were distinctly audible, and they could hear the word of command of the avant garde advancing against them.

This affair, dashing as it was, caused the French a heavy loss. They had accomplished their object, but at the price of about 100 killed and 300 wounded. Seven or eight officers were included amongst the slain, and about twenty amongst the wounded. General Monnet himself had the thumb of his right hand carried off, and was also wounded in his left hand and in the arm. Notwithstanding these injuries, he was the last man to leave the redoubt, after seeing all his wounded carried off. Prince Mentschikoff's despatch represented, that the French had been repulsed with a loss of 600 men. The French marines lost their way in the dark, and did not come up in time to take any part in the contest, much to the disgust of the brave Zouaves, who accused them of cowardice.

The Zouaves fancied not only that the