IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume II, Issue 99, 21 June 1854, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

[From the Times, Feb. 28.] The Earl of Ellenborough called the attention of the House to the advanced squadron of frigates and corvettes held in readiness by tbo Russian Government to leave the Baltic ai soon as the ice broke up, and, after commenting on the number of Russian vessels in different parts of the world unwatched by British cruisers, wished to know whether the Government was about to take any steps to prevent that squadron from leaving that aca 1 The Earl of Aberdeen, on the ground of public expediency, declined to answer the question. He bogged leave, however, to deny the aisortion thnt the Russian vessels of war in various paits of tho world wcro uuwatched. After flonio furthor discussion between Lord Ellanborough nnd .Lord Lansdowno, tho matter dropped. Iho Lord Chancellor laid on the tabio a bill for tho further amendment of proceedings in the courts of common law, and in a lengthy speech detailed the improvements contemplated by tnc measuro. Lord Cainpboll and Lard Brougham having expressed their general approbation of the Bill, it was read « first time. Somo other business was then despatched, ond their Lordships adjourned. House of Commons. In the House of Commons, in reply to Sir William Clay, Lord J. Rubioll said that directions had been given to British cruisers, in the event of war, to respect certain Russian eliipa chartered by British merchants to bring corn from the Black Sea, and pormitted by a firman of the Sultan (issued alter his declaration of war against Russia) to pass the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, and that Her Majesty's Government would me its good offices with that of France to insure for thorn; particular I vessels a safe conduct from French cruisers. Tho nohlo Lord gave notice that tho supplemental, citimatOß fur the army would ha laid upun tha

lablo this day, and that the House would be moved to go into Committee upon those citimatei. On Monday, he added, the Chancellor of tho Exchequer would bring under thn consideration of the Houso, in a Committee of Ways and Means, his financial statement. Mr. M. Gibson inquired whether the Government had luid down any pitnciple upon which they meant to act with rcsprat to the rights of ncntrals — whether a neutral flag would raukc a ncutra 1 ciirgo? Lord John Russell replied that the whole quci> tion, which was a difficult otic, was under the consideration of the Government, nnd thui, after a declaration of war, they would be prejiaied to lay down a principle of nction, Tho report of iho Committee of Supply was brought up and »grc>d tc On tho order for going into Committee of Supply, Sir H. Willou»;bby railed the attention of iho Houso to the destruclion <>f tho Turkith flotilla at Sinopc, and inquired of the Government how it happened that that lamentable event had not been prevented. Sir J. Graham reminded the Homo that this part of the caie had, in the course of the late discussion, been, dwelt upon hy various members, and bad received, on the part of the Government, what ho considered to be a full ond direct answer. Ha explained the circumstances which had lrd to what lie termed the " outrage" nt Sinope, at'which he expressed his deep regret and indignation, and which, he said, ought to bo imputed to the neglect, the culpable neglect, of the Turkish authorities. Admiral Dun dun (whom Sir James defended against the charge of having manifested a want ol decision) had stated to him that the cause of the disaster wan the leaving the Turkish squadron in an unprotected bay, or open roadstead, for so long a period, a difference of opinion having prevailed between the two Pashas. Warning had been given of the dnngcr of the flotilla, and orders were issued in ample timo for its reircnt, but they hod been unhappily revoked by the Turkish authorities. Inquiries were addressed to the Government and observations made by various honourable member* with reference to the catastrophe and to the operations in the Black Sea, which were brought to a rloso at the suggestion of Lord J. Russell, who briefly stated what hail taken pluce m the sea since, the affair of Sinope, comprising no occurrence ot importance, and The House went into Committee of Supply upon the remaining Navy Estimates, when the following votes were agreed to, after discussion : — 50,0001., Royal Naval Coast Volunteer* 51,7221., Scientific Department 131,4511., Establishment at homo 22,2971., Establishments abroad 883,6181., Wages to Artificeis at homo 37,2591., Wages abroad 1,142,7321., Naval Stores 372,6421,, New Works, &c< In the Yardi 32,0001., Medicines 54,6531., Miscellaneous 657,5751., Half.pay 476,6391., Military Pensions 148,7981., Civil Pensions 225,0501,, For Conveyance of Troopi Mr. Monsell then moved the Ordnance estimates, Before proceeding to explain tho reasons for increasing tin different votes,— tbe number of men being raised from seventeen thousand live hundred and ninety eight last year to nineteen thousand two hundred and sixty six, and the total charge icven hundred and ninety two thousand three hundred and eleven pounds above the votes of last year, — be dwelt upon the immensely increased efficiency of the artillery force, in respect to the condition of tho ordnance, the military artificers, finance regu« lations, the artillery horses, and tbo pontoon train. The increase in some of tbe items, he showed would produce in future years a pormanent annual saving. One of there items was that for ordnanco stores, in which 100,0001. was included for machinery and buildings for tho manufacture of small arms, upon the advantages attending which Mr. Moniell expatiated. A Government factory, like that In the United Statoi of America, which by moans of machinery, could turn out fire hundred muskets a-day, would, he said, obviate the delays and difficulties attending contracts, provido for a sudden demand, render unnecessary a large store of arms, and save one half in the cost of munufao ture of a better article. The Government machinery wonld, moreover, he added, give an impulse to improvement in the gun trade of this country, which, unless It could be enabled to compete with tho American, would be eventually annihilated, The following votes wero tbeu agreed to after discussion :— 19,266 officers and men, 902,817 pay and allowances. 557,170 commisariat and barrack supplies, 73,719 Ordnance-Office, 281,645 Ordnance and barrack establishments at home and abroad, 162,334 wages of artificers. 539,552 stares for land nnd sea. '