to strengthen the regiments which will be left at home. And, if the extremely improbable emergency were to arise, which would require us to prepare for active service the battalions which compose the Second Army Corps, and which have Establishments varying from 550 to 850, it could be done without delay, by calling to the Colours a larger number of Reserve men to replace the men in these battalions who, from age or shortness of service, are disqualified for active service. Under our arrangements, which I have good reason to hope will prove successful, it is possible to send out of this country an Army which, including the Indian Contingent and the battalions for the Mediterranean garrisons, will not fall short of 40,000 men of all arms, without materially weakening the Force in Ireland, and without denuding this country of troops. The noble Earl raised a laugh last night by saying that the Army could not wait for the convenience of the Secretary of State. What I said was this-that last year the new organization was adopted, the main object of which was to have at home 12 battalions at a strength of 950 men, all serving for seven years, and which would at all times be ready to put 820 men into the field without calling up the Reserves. The 16 battalions next on the list would have establishments varying from 550 to 850, and would have to be filled up, if required for active service, by the Reserves. The remaining battalions at home would be at a low strength; and, if required for the field, it could only be for an emergency which would call into operation all the military resources of the country. The Establishments of the Army have been recast on this principle; and, considering the shortness of the time since it has been in force, I venture, without the least fear of contradiction, to say that it has been attended with marked success. But when the noble Earl expects us to manufacture in six months soldiers who have served for 12 months, he asks for an impossibility. An emergency had arisen at a time when these new Establishments are in process of being built up, and if they had had another year to harden, we should have been able to send an Army Corps into the field with greater facility, and with a smaller-if any-demand on the Reserves than we can at present. I take

The Earl of Morley

this opportunity of making some explanation as to "Separation Allowances," with the details of which I was not prepared last night. This subject has occupied the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War for some time, and a considerable improvement has been recently effected. Formerly the Separation Allowances were 6d. per day for wives of all soldiers, and 2d. for each child up to 14 years of age. The soldier was not required to supplement these allowances out of his pay. Now, the wife of a non-commissioned officer receives 8d. a-day from the public and 8d. out of her husband's pay allotted to her, and the wife of a private soldier 8d. a-day from the public, and 4d. a-day from her husband's pay. The allowance for each child (boys under 14, girls under 16) is 2d. a-day granted by the State, and in the case of sergeants 1d. a-day, and of rank and file 1d. a-day for each girl (up to a certain maximum) is stopped from the soldier's pay. I also wish to correct one point in the report of my remarks last night. I said, or intended to say, that no man under one year's service, or under 20 years of age, would be sent on active service in the field.

EGYPT (MILITARY EXPEDITION)–
DESPATCH OF TROOPS FROM

TURKEY.-QUESTION.

THE DUKE OF SOMERSET asked the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he could give any information respecting the Military Force proposed to be despatched to Egypt by Turkey?

EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, I will read to the House the latest communication we have received from the Porte. It is a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Turkish Ambassador there, in the following

terms:

66

Constantinople, July 26, 1882. (Communicated July 27.) "In continuation of my Circular of the 24th instant, I hasten to inform you that the Sublime cious manner, its incontestable Sovereign rights Porte, being resolved to exercise, in an efficaover Egypt, and wishing thereby to secure the restoration of tranquillity, has decided on immediately despatching to the spot a sufficient number of troops. The measures necessary for this object have already been taken, and this military expedition is on the point of taking place. I beg you, consequently, to bring the

I shall be prepared to lay this communication on the Table, and perhaps it will be right to read the answer we have sent to the Porte. It is a direction to Lord Dufferin, who is instructed to make to the Conference the following declaration :

"The destruction of the forts of Alexandria, necessitated by considerations of self-defence, and under circumstances constituting a case of force majeure, has been followed by occurrences

which made it incumbent on the commanders

of Her Majesty's Forces to take further steps to insure the safety of the Khedive, and to restore peace and order in the town and neighbourhood. The hostile attitude of the rebel forces, and the great importance of protecting the free navigation of the Suez Canal, have necessitated further preparations, which Her Majesty's Government believe will be sufficient of themselves for the restoration of the authority of the Khedive and the establishment of settled order in Egypt. While reserving to themselves the liberty of action which the pressure of events may render expedient and necessary, Her Majesty's Government will be glad to receive the co-operation of any Powers who are ready to afford it. They are accordingly prepared to accept frankly the assistance which the Sultan has now announced his readiness to

give in the restoration of order by sending troops to Egypt in accordance with the invitation addressed to His Majesty by the Powers, and subject to the conditions proposed by them. They now desire to learn what number of troops the Sultan intends to send, the date of their probable departure, and the proposed disposition of them. In the meanwhile the delay which has occurred in the adoption of measures by the Porte and the feeling of uncertainty which has

unfortunately prevailed as to the real intentions

of the Sultan, and which has been strengthened by the action of His Majesty in conferring on Arabi Pasha an important decoration and mark of his favour, make it, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, essential both for the assertion of the Sultan's own authority and of that of the Khedive that His Majesty should at once, and before the despatch of the troops, issue a Proclamation upholding Tewfik Pasha and denouncing Arabi as a rebel."

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: I wish to ask the noble Earl one or two Questions. I desire to know, in the first place, whether he will lay upon the Table the "Self-Denying " Protocol, and the other Papers relating to the proceedings of the Conference, as they obviously bear upon the communication he has just read to the House? I would also ask the noble Earl, whether the Turkish offer is in any way limited by any of those restrictions, or conditions, which the Western Powers, and, I believe, the Conference, thought proper,

employment of troops by the Porte? I wish to know, further, whether any terms of a proposed surrender have reached any officer of Her Majesty's Government from Arabi Pasha?

EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, I will see what Papers I can lay before your Lordships. It will be my duty to give every information, except what is excluded by the conditions of the Conference. With regard to the second Question of the noble Marquess, I have to state that the Sultan's offer is a complete acceptance of the conditions which accompanied the communication of the Conference to the Porte on the subject. With regard to the third Question, I have to state that no formal communication has been received from Arabi Pasha. Informal communications have taken place during the past few days; but nothing of a formal character upon which we can rely, or anything which would justify us in relaxing the preparations now going on.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: I am encouraged to ask further, from the noble Earl, whether the acceptance by the Sultan of those conditions is a matter which the noble Earl infers from the language of the communication he has just read, or whether he has received separate information to that effect?

EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, the telegram I have read refers to a previous Circular, which explicitly accepted those

conditions.

MERCANTILE MARINE-POURING OIL UPON THE SEA.

QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON, in rising to call attention to the effects said to be produced by pouring oil upon the sea in tempestuous weather; and to inquire, What measures the Board of Trade have adopted to test the value of recent experiments, and to encourage a discovery valuable to life and property at sea ? said, that, recently, a number of important experiments in connection with this matter had been carried on in the harbour of Peterhead by a Scotch gentleman named Shield. Familiar as was the phrase of "throwing oil on the troubled waters," it was difficult to say how it came into the language. It was not to be found in the Bible, it was not to be found in Shakespeare, and he was

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