Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/366

 322 THE WINTER TROUBLES. CHAP, the care of them wlien sick and wounded, the TV • State enquiries, directed by Koyal and Parlia- Reportacon- meutarv authority, did not fail to brinfr in vast cerninj? the -^ », , •■ , , , •,. , health of the suppues 01 Doth knowledcje and ennghtemnf]; care of the counsel 1 (^^) whilst, to clear the same subject sick find ' / * wounded, yet further, a whole treasury of autlientic state- ment and wise disquisition was presented to our War Department at the request of its chief. Papers of The papcrs so acquired were confidentially ra^the^slme printed in the Department ; and there the sentedto^'^^ volumes remain, affording a complete elucida- partment^*^ tion of the causcs which had brought about failure in this difficult branch of administration, whilst also showing the means by which, in the wars of the future, our country might best hope to compass the truly sacred task of providing for the health of its troops, and tending them in their piteous helplessness when disabled by sick- ness or wounds. If I say that the volumes thus enlightening and guiding the State are volumes from the hand of a woman, I at once, without more, re- call an honoured name. Proceedings In obcdience to their instructions, the Com- of M'N^[ missioners. Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tul- the Com- ' loch, wcut out to the Crimea ;(^^) and after commis- there examining witnesses, they reported upon sionors ^-^^ management of our Commissariat in terms containing some strictures upon Mr Filder's ad ministration. (^^) Whilst investigating the cause of delays in the distribution of rations and army stores, they of course perceived that the question connected