The honourable gentleman complain ed of the manner in which the vacant commissions were filled up by new appointments, instead of taking them out of the half-pay officers; also of the foreign enlistment bill, which prevented our gallant unemployed officers from finding subsistence and employment abroad.

Mr Goulburn observed, that the gentlemen opposite not having gone over the items of our colonial establish ments, it was difficult to meet their arguments. There were only 7000 men for Gibraltar, Malta, the Ionian Islands in short, for the whole Mediterranean. The establishment at St Helena, he thought, could not be ob jected to, considering the nature of its

object. It could not at least be diminished without imposing severe personal restrictions on the individual with reference to whom it was kept. The noble lord now at the head of the colonial department had introduced numerous reforms. He had obliged the individuals holding offices to reside, and to do the duties of them in person. He had reduced many appointments; that of the governor of the Cape by 3500l. a-year; that of lieutenant-governor (4000l. a-year) had been abolished. All offices of importance in the colonies were filled up from the half-pay list. With regard to foreign enlistment, the colonial states, to which it took place, had published a proclamation, declining the services of European officers.

Lord Castlereagh wished to state the several numbers as they were writ. ten down in these estimates, the whole amounting, exclusive of the East India service, to 70,350 rank and file.— ("No, no.")-He begged that he might not be interrupted; he was only` taking it as the grand total of rank and file, not including the officers. If from that number they deducted 10,000 men, as the honourable member meant to move-("No, no," and " Order,")

In

that would leave 60,350 men. examining these returns, it was necessary to allow for what the army was short of this complement; and that. deficiency he (Lord Castlereagh) had taken very low at 5000 men, which would leave 55,350 men rank and file for the whole of the service at home and abroad, excepting the East Indies only. From this, if they deducted the foreign service in the old and new colonies, which he took at 25,500 men, they would have 29,850 men for the home service of Great Britain. If the House deducted the Guards and the cavalry from this last amount again, they being about 14,000 men, there would remain 15,850 for the whole

service of Great Britain and Ireland, and for the relief of an army abroad of 50,000 men.

After observations from Sir H. Vivian, Sir H. Hardinge, Mr J. P. Grant, Sir R. Ferguson, Colonel Wood, Sir R. Wilson, Mr Evans, Mr Calcraft, and a reply from Mr Macdonald, the House divided, and his amendment was negatived by 211 to 115.

Mr Dawson now made a proposition for a reduction of 5000 men. It was negatived by 195 to 130.

On the following evening, Mr Hume again brought forward the proposition for a reduction of 10,000 men. After a debate, in which Mr Wilberforce gave his support to the motion, it was negatived by 116 to 46.

On the 30th March, the subject coming again under discussion, Mr Hume moved a series of resolutions, comparing the expenditure of the staff in 1792 and in 1821, and importing that it had risen from 33,7941. to 117,710. He did not press it to a division, but immediately after moved a resolution, that, in consequence of the diminution of business, and the restoration of the currency to its former standard, there ought to be a revision of all salaries increased since 1797. After some discussion, it was rejected by 50 to 29.

Lord Palmerston now proposed 105,94-31. for the expenses of the staff. Mr Hume pointed out the extraor. dinary rise in different departments since 1792. In Ireland, the staff had risen from a few thousands (he could not ascertain the exact amount) to 20,000.; the foreign staff from 17,000l. to 50,000l.; the Windward and Leeward Islands from 8442l. to 29,000l. The staff of 15,000l. for South Britain was most extravagant ; and that for North Britain was treble of what it had been. He moved, there fore, a reduction to 85,000/-Lord Palmerston explained, that the duties

of the staff were much more laborious, and the efficiency of the appointments greatly increased since 1792.—Mr Hume finally agreed to raise his allowance to 90,000, which, however, was negatived, and the original motion carried by 116 to 61.

On the subject of the staff of Ireland, Sir Henry Parnell moved a reduction from 25,3821. to 20,4721. Negatived by 140 to 43.-Mr Hume moved a reduction of the allowances to the commander-in chief and personal staff from 14,474l. to 12,256. Not pressed to a division. He moved a reduction of 5000/. on the paymaster's department. Negatived by 25 to 20.

On the 6th April, Mr Creevey moved a reduction in the expense of the office of secretary at war from 50,418. to 45,000l. Negatived by 106 to 67.

On the 11th, the sum of 68447. being proposed for the adjutant-general's office, Mr Hume moved a reduction of 16611. Negatived by 83 to 54. He then moved a reduction of 1500%. on 61921. proposed for the quarter-master general's office. Negatived by 104 to 60.-Mr Bennett proposed the reduction of the same office in Scotland from 9221. to 600l. Negatived by 98 to 56.-Mr Chetwynd proposed the reduction of the allowance to the judge, advocate-general, deputy, &c. from 5180l. to 3180l. Negatived by 92 to

44.

On the 13th, the same train of motions and divisions was resumed. Mr Hume again moved a reduction of 20007. on the allowance to the commander-in-chief. Negatived by 94 to 23. The motion, in a different shape, was negatived by 90 to 27. A smaller reduction was negatived by 125 to 40.

On the 16th, the vote of 10.5177. for public departments in Ireland, was proposed by Mr Hume to be reduced to 7000. Negatived by 99 to 45.On the proposed vote of 27,8241. for

the medical service of the army, Col. Davies moved a reduction of 5000l., and Mr W. Smith a postponement. The postponement was negatived by 109 to 59, and the reduction by 110 to 58.

The vote of 170,000l. for volunteer corps gave rise to a pretty warm conversation on the origin of the discontents in Scotland.

On the 30th April, when the House was about to go into a committee, Mr Creevey said he wished to address to them a few words. They had been now sitting six weeks upon the army estimates, without a single reduction in any one item proposed having been agreed to; still, however, a sensation had been felt elsewhere, as he understood that circulars had been addressed to the inferior clerks in the public offices, to intimate a probable reduction of their salaries. Now, he was anxious, that, when the gentlemen opposite began to reform the public offices, they should begin at the right end. The lower clerks were the most useful class of persons in the public departments, and yet their salaries were to be curtailed, while the salaries of those at the head of the offices were not to be touched. He therefore moved a resolution, specifying a number of large salaries, and stating the resolution of the House to consider the expediency of reducing them, after receiving the report of the committee of supply.

Lord Palmerston said, he had never known a resolution so extraordinary in its nature, or so singular in its grounds. The honourable member had heard that some reductions were about to be made, and therefore he called upon the House to re-consider certain votes it had already come to. If the government had not come to any determination to reduce its expenses, then there might be ground for the amendment; but it was a most singular reason for it, that government had determined to

see what reductions might be made in particular departments. In a few days, the items to which the amendment alluded must come before the House, and he conceived it would be only stultifying itself to declare now, that it would consider what, in the course of business, must come under its consideration in so short a time.

After some observations from Mr Bennett and the Marquis of Londonderry, Mr Creevey's resolution was negatived by 55 to 22.

Mr Hume proposed, that the vote of 16,915l. for the Military College should be reduced to 97711. He admitted that there had been a reduction since 1816, when it was 33,000l. The expense, however, in the last five years had been 115,280l. while only 160 cadets had obtained commissions; so that the education of each cadet cost the country 720l. 10s.

Lord Palmerston said, those students who had passed the examinations were regularly provided with commissions; at present there were only 14 without them. The whole number educated at the college since its institution had been 2528, of which 1817 had joined the service. The amendment was negatived by 32 to 23.

On the vote of 28,2047. for garrisons, Mr Hume inquired if there was no intention of reducing sinecure garrisons.-The Marquis of Londonderry replied, that government considered them as a suitable mode of rewarding the services of distinguished military officers.-Mr Hume, however, moved a reduction of 24447. on the garrisons of Berwick and Gibraltar. Negatived by 87 to 27.

On the motion of 115,2661. for full pay to retired and unattached officers, Mr Hume merely made some strictures on the increase of this list, consequent upon the temporary embodying of the militia. On the motion, however, of 121,265l. for disbanded

and wounded foreign officers, and allowances to their widows, he said, if the House had the smallest regard to economy, they would oppose this resolution. He complained of the arrangements being such, that foreign officers were better provided as to halfpay than British. This was explained by Lord Palmerston; and Mr Hume moved, finally, a reduction of only 2000, which was negatived by 89 to 35.-The allowance of 42,7961. for Chelsea in-pensioners, was passed with out a vote, Mr Hume only remarking, that it might be afterwards considered whether Chelsea ought to be continued. On the 1st May, the report of the committee of supply being brought up, Mr Bennett rose, and expressed his intention, and that of his honour able friends, of discontinuing the discussions upon the different items of the estimates. After the ordnance estimates should be gone through, either himself or some honourable friend of his would move a series of resolutions upon the whole amount of our army establishment. It was impossible not to see that the House was tired of the discussions which had taken place, from the scanty attendances, and particularly that of last night. Therefore it was that they intended to make their objections upon the whole sums, and to hold them up to the public, so that the country might see what votes the House were willing to grant. With all their efforts they had not been able to prevail upon the House to reduce one shilling upon the whole of the estimates. He was confident, however, that the country would never again see such estimates brought down in a time of peace.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that the House had agreed to the present estimates without correction or diminution, because they were judged to be such as the existing circumstances of the country required.

By such circumstances the estimates were always regulated, and were never considered as fixed and permanent expenditure. As to the resolutions of which the honourable member gave notice, on a general scale, when they were brought forward would be the time to meet them.

On the question, that the resolution respecting the half-pay be agreed to,

Colonel Davies made a motion relative to the employment of officers from the half-pay list. There were at present on half pay 8816, costing annually 765,781. In the five years, 1816-1820, the new appointments were 1105, of which 54 only were made from this list.

Lord Palmerston replied, that of these 1105, there had been 508 filled up by purchase, 114 by cadets from Woolwich, 80 from the half pay, the remaining 314 without purchase. Only 62 commissions had been given away annually, of which 38 to cadets from Woolwich and officers on half pay.-The motion was not finally pressed to a decision. On the following day, however, Colonel Davies proposed an address to the King on the subject, which was negatived by 46 to 14.

On the same day, Mr Hume moved a clause for the revision of superannuation allowances.-The Marquis of Londonderry stated, that a measure for reducing the scale on which they were granted was under the consideration of government; and the motion was negatived-63 to 22.

On the motion for 35,000l. for fees to be paid at the Exchequer by the Paymaster General, Mr Hume ridiculed the idea of the public paying for the payment of its own money. After some explanation, however, no amendment was moved.

This long series of debate and conflict was now drawing to a close. On the 25th May, the vote of a

million was proposed for the extraordinaries of the army. On this sum, a variety of animadversions were made. It was complained that, in many cases, the accounts were indistinct, and that particular specification was wanting. It was answered, that arrangements were making to render them more detailed and intelligible.-Mr Hume, however, moved a reduction of 36,612, which was finally merged in Mr Bennett's motion for a reduction of 100,000. It was negatived by 84 to 32.

On the same day, 401,569. was asked for the Commissariat department. Mr Maberly and Mr Hume complained of the great expense of the storekeeper's office, and proposed that it should be merged into the ordnance department. In 1813, there had been 300 commissaries, and there were still 231.-Mr Arbuthnot said, 800 clerks had been dismissed from this department. Col. Davies, however, moved a reduction of 42381. Nega tived by 89 to 40.

On the motion for 137,500l. to the barrack department, Colonel Davies opposed it both in a financial and constitutional view. He particularly objected to the rise since last year, and to the charge of 74,000l. for new barracks It was for garrisons in disaffected districts, and augmented the ferment of distress, which it was meant to relieve. The people demanded relief, and ministers gave them a barrack; they asked for bread, and they received a stone.-Mr Arbuthnot declared, that no part of this expenditure had been undertaken, unless from a belief of its necessity. The new barracks were necessary for the preservation of tranquillity, and to protect the people against themselves.-Mr Hume's motion for a reduction of 78,000l. was negatived by 53 to 29.

Amid this general sifting and search ing of all the details of public expen

diture, the ordnance was not neglected. On the 16th February, Mr Ward presented the annual estimates for that service. On this occasion, Mr Hume rose to move for the production of more accurate and detailed accounts. The estimates, as at present framed, gave none of the requisite information; they entered into no details, but left the House utterly ignorant of all the items which went to compose the separate heads of expenditure. It was certainly singular that the House should have hitherto been content to vote the sums demanded, on an inspection merely of their total amount. The consequence was, that the sums actually disbursed did not correspond with the finance accounts. In the year 1817, the sum charged was 1,435,000l., whilst it appeared in the finance accounts to be only 1,189,000l. He alluded now to the third report of the finance committee. In the year 1818, the amount of expenditure, as stated in the latter, was 1,200,000, and according to the estimates laid before that House, it was no less than 1,400,000l.; and in 1819 there was a difference between 1,100,000l. as represented by the finance accounts, and 1,538,000l., being an excess of 400,000l. actually disbursed. He wished only to refer for one moment to the ordnance expenditure during the three years previous to the war. The amount of it in the year 1791 was 506,000%., including a sum of 70,000l. for the discharge of debt contracted. In 1792 it was 419,000l. ; and in 1793, just before the armament, it was, including the charge for artillery, 513,000l.— The average was about 440,000l.; which average, after all the reductions and alterations made, amounted in 1819, the fourth year of peace, to 1,400,000/., and in the following year to 1,500,000l. It now appeared, by the estimates for the service of the present year, that the same amount