The Express. — London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

prembed te neettler the estgeet, but in consequence of the various other calls opus his time, and on the finances of the country, he had nee been able to undertake it. However, he bad every deposition to give it his serious and attentive consideration. With regard to the spirit ration, ho was ham y to say that it es ea taken as sy in all the colonies ex cept Australia and New Zealand. Its commutation for a penny a-day bad given no dissatisfaction in the colonies gevierelly, and had been productive of great benefit to the soldiers, by removing from them the temptation to drink, and enabling the sober men to give the additional penny for better purposes. In Australia and New Zealand, house rev, itled a portion of the troops to depart from that path of disci pline for which the British army was so much distinguished. But the - military authorities were themselves somewhat to blame, for the ration to the troops there was 1./tilled in kind, and the price of rum being much higher than it was in the other colonies, it was not surprising, when the order for com mutation came, that they should be discontented in receiving only a penny instead of 3ed. As soon as the intelligence arrived of the circumstance which gave rise to. the discontent the Chancellor of the Exchequer entered into correspondence with the authorities in the colony, but owing to its distance, that correspondence was not yet brought to a conclusion. In the mean time the former practice with regard to the rations tens proceeding. The next point to which his hon. end gallant friend had alluded, had reference to tke petition presented by him some days ago from nine pensioners, who had accepted commuted pensions in 1832. This had been described as a fraudulent trans action, but after looking into the matter, he (Mr. Fox Maude) could not give it that character. It was unfortunate in its result, but he denied that the government who sanc tioned the system of commuted pensions, by an Act passed in July, 1830, intended it either as a fraud upon the legisla ture, or the pensioners themselves. Sir D. L. EVANS was convinced that the government never intended any fraud, but the results had practically shown it to be so, and it had been so represented by the late Secretary at War. Mr. F. MAU LE was not aware of any such a representa tion having been made. The act was passed in 1830 to commute pensions at four years' purchase, and in the years 1831, 1832, and 1833, certain pensioners were told if they would accept the commutation and go to the colonies, they would there receive grants of land to a certain amouut, oft which they might settle with their families. This was an unfortunate arrangement, insomuch as it was carried out is a very loom and unsatisfactory manner, and without due care to ensure comfort to the pensioner when he arrived at his destination. In many cams they arrived in Canada be fore the intelligence of their approach reached the authorities, and the consequence was that many of the pensioners seat out, in 1832, and in the early part of 1833, fell into greet distress and destitution. Some fell victims to the cholera, and many settled in the neighbourhood of Toronto, in miserable huts, until at last the officer in charge of the colony was obliged to remove them to a military station. until the instructions from the home government with respect to them arrived. Lord Duette= in his report made strong remonstrance with respect to the condition in which these men were left, and to every sue of those pensioners who had accepted the commu tation without any compulsion being practised towards then and, in consideration of the sufferings they had undersea% restoration was made of 41d. per day of their pensions, an he (Mr. F. Haute) could not conceive how the nine pelt. tioners had not been included in that grant, which extended to Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and New Zealand. It had been remarked by the hon. nod gallant member for Westminster, that this ought to be a lesson to the govern. ment as to the manner in which it should deal with old sol diem. It had been so, and at the present moment a small military section wee now on its way to New Zealand, but un der a very different system to that practised in 1832. These men, retaining their pensions, were gone out under the conduct of officers who would look to their comforts, and under whose care they would not only become good orderly military set ters, but would provide the defence of that colony during a certain number of years. If this system thrived, as he did not doubt it would, a system of militarycolonization might be tarried out to a very considerable extent. The next point urged upon the attention of the house was in reference to the omission in this year's estimates of any vote for the bar rack accommodation of the troops. At present there were some barracks which afforded ample accommodation, and military men had no ideas of providing day-rooms, main rooms, or mem-rooms, but the march of public intelligens left him little room to doubt that this matter must be lead to as speedily as the public finances would permit. (Rear, hear.) lie thought that the canteens and moo teen rooms might well be appropriated to day read. ing and mess rooms, in which the soldier might take advantage of the library proposed to be furnished he each regiment. With respect to the accommodation gives to the married moldier, he had himself often blushed to aml the system in barrack-rooms, and wondered how any women could agree to occupy a bed with her husband surrounded only with • cotton screen in the midst of 18 or 20 ems. Still this was a matter which meet be regulated by the state of the finances of the country. With rasped to the billeting system under the 72nd clause of the Mutiny Act, be fount upon inquiry it was more complained of by civilians who were subject to it than by the soldiersthemselves In reference to the claims of retired cffieers of the line, cavalry, and in fantry, who had been excluded from the late brevet, he could only say they were in number from thirty to forty. All them officers have retired on full pay, and the rank of colonel, knowing that the acceptance of the retirement would prevent any future promotion, and hence they had been excluded from the lee brevet. On the sixth point raised by the hon. and gal lant member he (Mr. F. Manic) could only my that he was not aware of any intention to withhold the medal to be granted fer the Peninsular war from old Peninsular officers who have sold their commissions. With respect to the eighth resolution proposed by the hon. and gallant member, he (Mr. F. Mnule) was not prepared to sap and destroy the system of selling commissions until some system more effi cient was suggested. The hon. and gallant member inquired why it was that general officers of the Engineers, Artillery, and of the East India Company's army thould he deemed ineligible for appointments on the general staff in whatever quarter of the r mid their services may be available. There was no mom why a general officer of the Artillery or Engi neers should not be so employed in the command of a brigade or division ILI in the government of a province, and this had been the case in Ireland and et Quebec : but with regard to the employment of general officers in the Dot India Com pany's service it had always been held to be unwise ICI to mix up the two services together. He (Mr. F. Mauls) now came to the 10th question put by the hon. and gallant member. The practice, regulated by royal warrant, was to refuse pro. motion to those who had not, since the period when they ob tained their last rank, made the offer of their services to the commander-in-chief; and this practice had been adopted early in the time of the Duke of York at the Horse Guards. It wairsaid the system was unknown to officers. Why, it was mentioned in the report of the military and naval commission, and, therefore, was known to the service. The hon. and gal lant member had mentioned the name of Col.Thompeon as hav ing, by the operation of this rule, been excluded from the last !want, but to show that the rule was impartially, fairly, and without favour and affection, he would mention that a gal lant officer, the brother of the coble lord behind him (Lord John Russell), was on the same ground excluded. Another point had been raised as to the refusal to grant the minimum amount of pay (4001. per annum) to naval officers who had been promoted to the rank of major-general. Those ex cluded were officers upon whose claims the COMM= ritT•ill. chief and the secretary-at-war were not prepared to give a decision. These were twenty-nine in number, and on look. ing over their claims, all had been allowed with the exception of some nine or ten, under the win rant of the Ist of May let; the rest had the sine luments of major-general adjudged and paid to them. In establishing scales of reward a line must be drawn some where, and he mast say that he did not think a mole liberal one could have been adopted than that complained of by his bon. and pliant friend, seeing that under it, out of the whole =Mil! Si gem' officers, only eleven or twelve were excluded Inn the geed service pension of 4001. a-year. The only ether *et ea which his hon. and gallant friend had touched WM the system of education neosesary for officers is the army. He did not think it expedient at that moment, or in so thin a house, to go extensively into m important a question. This however he would state, that the attention of government had been turned to the point, and it had been made the subject of consultation between the First Lord of the Treasury and the commander-in-chieL Be felt confident that no time would be leo! in establishing an educational test for officers on entering the army, and a further one preparatory to their promotion to more import ant posts. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the defences of the country, he trusted that the house would be contented to leave their case in the hands of the executive government, Col. LINDSAY took that opportunity to complain of the miserable sleeping accommodation which the barracks gene rally afforded to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, moecielly those who were married. The rooms were so small and ill-ventilated, that he had frequently hoard sol diers complain that they felt more languid and fatigued an rising in the morning than they had on retiring to rest the previous night. He trusted that in the general scheme of reformation, this important point would not be overlooked, Mr. HUME complained of the enormous number of ge neral officers-368—upon the army list. He was anxious to spare unnecessary expense, but, at the same time, he was sad always had been, an advocate for every rational increase that could be made to the comforts of the soldier. He could corroborate what had been said by the gallant member oppo site, as to the small and ill-ventilated sleeping rooms in the barracks, and trusted that the subject would meet with im mediate attention from the War-office. Ile thought that in the recent promotions the Indian officers had been unfairly dealt with. Mr. WILLIAMS said that every one complained how ill paid and badly requited were officers in her Majesty's ser vice. If that was the case he wondered how it was that for every vacant communion there were generally about a hun dred applications. (A laugh.) He complained of the amount of the half-pay list, which formed about one-third of the whole expenditure of the army. Captain ?SCHELL expresse d his surprise that while a forte of 34 cruisers, and on an avenge 4,000 seamen were employed on the coast of Africa in the suppreesion of the slave trade, as statement had been made, or documents pre sented, at to the amount of success which had resulted. He aka wilted to know what was to be done in respect to joint capharea made by our cruisers in conjunction with those of this =dor with whom under treaty we co-operated the attempt to put down the traffic in slaves (Hear, lieasa.) He complained, too, of the system of plun der carried se by the Vice Admiralty Courts who ad. joileated wee the rises, and by whom the captors were Dabbed of halt tba produce of their captures. In the ease of lin name delLailed by the Marine and carried into the Ow a Gaol 8e,., the value was declared to be 6591., and Sr ego= ensinianation and sale amounted to 2731.11 c, laaVas kw Os • only 28.51. 31. 117. RAID ahsrwd that no difficulty had arisen as to blisaelflissar-lassie lining as yet taken place, neither had may emplekb seseholl slie Admiralty as to the proceedings .-. _~. of the Vice Admiralty Courts. On the part of the govern. meat there was every disposition to ensure to the officers and men engaged in this arduous service the fullest extent of re ward to which their exertions entitled them. Measures had also been taken by the Admiralty to render this service lighter and less unhAilthy th n it had herztofore been. Llder those new regulations, Moue, the Ma/it:IWO period of service on the African station war fixed at two years, it seldom exceeded eighteen months. The squadron was also assisted by • force of steamers which was employed in keeping up a constant communication between the cruisers and home, and in conveying to them constant supplies of fresh provisions. Orders bad recently been issued by Sir C. llotham, the commanding officer on the station, by which the men would not for the future be employed, except in cases of great emergency, on the African rivers, where the deleterious induce* of the climate was moat severely experienced. The motion for the address was then withdrawn, and the house went into committee* of supply. NAVY ESTIMATES. 42,2701. for wages to artificers employed in the estab lishments abroad. On this vote, Mr. WILLIAMS, in reference to the question of the expenditure of the navy, said that is two periods of the last fourteen years the difference had been very great, for from 1831 to 1840 the expenditure on dock-yards, wages, stores, &c., was 7,900,0001., while in the seven years from 1841 to 1847, the expenditure had been 14,913,0001. He wished to understand why this great difference should exist. The ship which had been built in that period'were pro nounced to be unfit for the British navy. The naval esti. mates had inetaued (very year since 1834, and while this was the case, there should be some efficient supervision of the building department of the navy. He hoped in the neit year that there would be a reduction in the estimates, which might be dune without interfering with the effkiency of the seivicv, Viscount INGESTRE complained that all the students of the school of naval architecture had been subjected to perse cution, and had not, as they were taught to expect, been allowed to fill the superior poets in the dockyard as they became vacant. He regretted that the house did not possess sufficient information as to the result of the lute experiments made with regard to naval ships. There were several scientific men at that moment who were able to build better ships than those of the surveyor of the navy ; and it was certain that the steamers built under that gentleman were very defective. He trusted that some permanent tribunal would be established fur the encouragement of reel talent Mr. WARD said there were almost as many opinions on the building of ships as on mattersof religion. It had been decided that the Princess Royal should be altered, and that she should be reduced nearly two feet in breadth. In many instances adduced by the noble viscount with refe rence to the experiments on the ships, the advantage had been as he had stated, though perhaps not to so great* degree. By the contemplated improvement in the dock yard schools, it was antiemated that a good supply of practi cal ship-builders would be secured. He thanked the noble lord for the many excellent hints he had thrown out, which would have due weight with the government. Sir C. NAPIER was glad to find that the government had at last opened their eyes to an evil which he had been pointing out for the last five years. At present, there were five 92-gun ships on the mocks, the orders for which had been given so far back as 1835, and which were building on the same plan as the Aboukir and Exmouth. It was on record that these ships rolled so tremendously that it would be impassible for them to use their guns; sae of them rolled 43 degrees to leeward, and 4,5 to windward. It was absolute waste to expend another shilling oa those two ships; the best economy would be to break them up. It was • great risk to proceeed with the five three-deckers, before the merits of the plan had been tested. It was said by the hon. the Secretary of the Admiralty that the plan had been altered ; and he understood that • plan had been sent in by the sur veyor of the navy, but he doubted whether that plan bad been approved by the committee to whom it had been sub mitted. The surveyors had no right to build ships; fifty years' experience had convinced him that the system was a bad one; and he rejoiced that the government had adopted the plan of letting the master of each yard build • ship on his own plan, and the duties of the surveyors ought to be confined to inspecting the quality of the materials used in the various dockyards. Bo thoroughly was he convinced of the way in which the public money had been wasted, that when the vote far stores was proposed he should divide the committee in favour of a smaller sum. He should allow these two votes to go on, but when they came to the stores he should certainly divide the home. Captain GORDON wished to know what were the respon sibilities of the Committee of Construction, and whether the government were determined to act on their advice ? Admiral DUNDAS said that their suggestions would be taken into consideration, but that the government would not bind themselves to act on them. The vote was then agreed to. On the question that 1,556,4951. be granted to the naval store. for the building, repairs, and outfit of the fleet, Mr. HUME said that he wished the report of the com mittee of construction to be laid on the table, as he believed that it would prove to them that the whole plan of Sir W. Symons for the construction of vessels was bad, and that no thing but abuse had taken place since his system had been adopted. Not one ship that he ever launched was correct in floatage, or was fit when constructed to go to sea. Capt. BERKELEY said, that while Sir J. Graham and Lord Minto were connected with the Admiralty, moat favourable reports came before them of the vessels which were constructed by Sir W. Symons. Of the Vestal, Cleo patra, and Vernon, the highest reports were received by the Board of Admiralty. The Board of Admiralty were, there fore, fully justified in going on with his ships ; and though he failed in his line-of-battle ships, yet the system which the committee of reference adopted, was only a modification of his. -- After a few worts from Lord Inonstatn, Sir C. NAPIER moved, as an amendment, that 1,550,0001. be voted instead of the sum proposed, and he would take that opportunity of saTing that to the observation, which he had made aa to Sir Vi in. Symons ships, he limited himself to his line-of-battle ships and steam-boats, and therefore he could not go the length of saying that all his small Tenets had not answered well; on the contrary, he believed that many of them had. Captain PECHELL thought the country was much in debted to Sir W. Symons for introducinitthe service a most valuable set of cruisers and small frigates for the sup pression of the slave trade. Whilst upon the Tote for stores, he would ask his hon. friend, the Secretary for the Ad miralty, what had been the result of a valuable invention by Mr. Alfred Jeffery of certain glue for the caulking of ships, which he had understood was most useful in hot climates. He believed it would save thirty or forty thousand a year to the country. Mr. WARD said the trial of the invention bad been most satisfactory, and he hoped at a future time it would be con sidered by the house. Captain PLUMRIDOE hoped that the hon. and gallant gentleman (Sir C. Napier) would not divide the house, as it would be tantamount to a vote of censure on Sir W. Symons. He thought it would Ise better to ask for a com mittee. Sir C. NAPIER merely complained of the waste of the public storeß, and did dot wish to pass a vote of censure on Sir W. Symons. He had no objection to a committee. Mr. WARD said the Admiralty were disposed to carry out every practicable reform, and he hoped the vote would be lees n•xt year. After a few words from Mr. Hume, Captain Gordon, and Sir C. Napier, the amendment was withdrawn, and the vote was agreed to; as were the following: 539,6001. for new works, improvements, and repairs in navel establishments. 22,8391. for medicine and medical stores. And 59,8471. for miscellaneous service. On the next vote of 725,7881. for half•pay and retire ment to ofileen of the navy and Royal Marine being przposed. apt. PECHELL tailed the attention of the committee to the claims put forward by the master', paymasters, and pursers, in memorial' to the Admiralty, and in petitions to that house. The master' laid claim to be put on a footing of equality with the lieutenants, and the paymasters and pursers claimed an increase in the amount of their half-pay, misaideration of their surrender, in 1832, of a part of their emoluments whit serving on board, namely, a per tentage which they had formerly been allowed on the waste provisions, and the difference in met prices. The amount of the surrender was 7,8001. He urged the claims of both these dares of meritorious officers upon the liberality of the Board of Admiralty as at present constituted. The present board had done some 'notice to the pursers, but still one grievance remained uu . The retired list for the third elan should be fifty instead of thirty, as at pre sent intended. After an observ►tion from Captain GORDON, Admiral DUNDAS said that he bad received severs letters from persons approving of the present arrangements. Capt. PECHELL was determined to delay the vote until he received an answer to the case he had stated on be half of the pursers. Capt. PLUItRU:KiE thought the parsers had a fair claim on the consideration of the government. Sir C. NAPIER thought that the masters in the navy were not placed in the position to which their merits and importance entitled them. The vote was agreed to; as were the following:- 486,4471., fur military pensions and allowances ; 153,4381., for civil pensions and allowances; 243,2024., for freight on account of the army and ordnancedepartments ; 21,6741., for conveyance of convicts, on account of the Home department; 564,3371., for packet service, on account of the Post-office department. be house then resumed, and the reselutions were ordered to be reported this day.—The house adjourned at a quarter past one o'clock. GRAND DUCHY OF BADLY.—The Frezburg Gazette of the 30th of Much announces that the Grand Ducal government, considering the present want of priests in the Roman Catholic Church, has been induced to have the aunt of 3,600 florins to be distributed in stipends among those scholars in the Lyceums who have revilved to devote them selves to the study of theology. The Frezburg adds : " The government justly chooses this remedy to the seminaries for boys, proposed by the archbishop's ordinance, which would probably he little calculated to make the young priests sc. quainted with the various relations which the nature of the can affords." CHEAP METROPOLITAN TRAVELLING.-Yesterday, omnibuses commenced running from Battersea to Houton conveying passengers the entire distance, about nine miles, for sixpence. The Ant and Bee, steam vessels, running from London Bridge to the West End, reduced their farts to one halfpenny; and the Citisea Bteam.boat Company commenced running their vessels to Hammersmith, Wands worth, and Putney, at reduced fares. 71h8 o4' pproji. MAILS. The Hod India Malls, excluding those for Mexico, Honduras, and the tlavannah, will be made up on the morning of the 17th April. The mails for Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Madeira, and Gibraltar, will be made no on the morning of the 17th April. The overland mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greets, the lonian Islands, Carpi, Aden. Ceylon, iaiia, llosg-Kong, and China, Ha Southampton, will ►e made up on the morning of the 10tti April. The overland closed reads, rim Marseilles, to the Mediterranean, Egypt, Aden, C.evlsei, Jodie, Moog Kong, &e., will be made up on the evening of the 21th April. The malls for New South Wales Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand will be made up on the evening of the 30th April. The mils for British North America, Bermuda, and the United Mates, will be made op on the evening of the 3rd May. The mails for the &mile, the Hirer Plate, Monte Video, Pernam buco, hails, Madeira, and Buenos Ape*, will be mole up on the evening of the Ith May. .... Adrertiontenta intended for TM &p m*, London evening paper, melt be et the Moe by Two o'clock on the day of publication. HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE. Tun DAT—Normng, 0 min. past 0; Afternoon, 30 @tin. past 0 To4lonsem—lforning, 5 min. past 0 ; Aftsrucan, 19 inns. past 1. LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 13. THE House of Commons resumed its sittings yesterday. Lord CHARLES RUSSELL took his seat fee Bedfordshire, and Lord Jc.ur4 RCRSELL gave notice of his intention on Thursday next to move for leave to bring in a bill for the suppression of va grancy in Ireland. On the question of going into committee of supply, Sir HOWARD DoucLas brought under the notice of the house the cases of paymasters and surgeons in the army, who had not been in cluded in the limited list of retirement in common with other officers in the various branches of the see vice; contending that this was a distinction which ought to be abolished. Mr. Fox Mat;LE admitted that the officers alluded to formed most meritorious I classes of the British army, but as regarded pay masters, seeing that their retiring allowances had been increased so lately as 1846, it would require a very strong case to be made out to justify a departure from a rule so recently established. The case of surgeons was more worthy of consideration, but they were on a different footing from paymasters, inas mach as there was a regular system of promotion from the highest to the lowest, as affecting this class, in continual operation. He could assure the gallant officer that the government had every disposition to place matters with reference to the army on a fair and liberal footing, as far as was consistent with the finances of the country, which had been evinced by grants which had already been made during the pre sent year. Mr. HuME contended that the expense attendant upon the late brevet had been thrown away, calculated as it was to increase the follies of officers of the higher classes. Colonel LINDSIY admitted that the government had done a great dent for the benefit of the army, but thought a good case had been made oat for the surgeons. Sir De LACY EVANS drew the attention of some honourable members who thought the army a mere unproductive mass, and that money spent upon it was thrown away, to the fact that Mr. M'Cullloch, whose authority on other matters they respected, was of an entirely op posite opinion, and the French army, whose labour was as nothing compared viith that of the English, had more than double the *nount of money expended upon it. The subject then dropped. Sir DE LACY EvsEs then proceeded, in an explanatory speech of some length, to move an address to the Crown, for an inquiry into various subjects con nected with the army, particularly as regarded soldiers' rations ; commuted pensions ; barrack accommodation, and decent quartering of the mar ried non-commissioned officers and privates; the . . • claim of old Peninsular officers who had sold' their commissions, to the medal ; and that of retired officers to the advantage of the brevet, from which they had been excluded. Also, as to the expediency of modi fying the system of promotion to the responsible com mand of regiments ; and why it is that general officers of the Engineers, Artillery, and the East India Com pany's army are ineligible for appointments on the general staff wherever their services may be avail able. Also, as to the warrant of the Ist of May last, regulating the pay of the higher class of officers, and the system pursued in respect to the Military Coll me of Sandhurst. Mr. Fox MAULE proceeded to reply in detail to the various propositions submitted to the consideration of the house by the gallant member for Westminster, several other hon. members taking part in the discussion, after which, the motion was with drawn. The house then went into committee of sup ply on the Navy Estimates, the discussion on the votes proposed occupying the remainder of the sitting. SIR DE LACY EVANS called the attention of minis ters and parliament last night to several important points of military reform, such as the providing more healthy and decent secommodatioa for soldiers, especially married soldiers. If the story of three priestlings in a bed was so effective in inducing the house to vote the grant to Maynooth, the description of soldiers and their wives pigging in a barrack-room ought to have added a figure to the estimates. The important question of military promotion was more touched upon than developed by the gallant general, and yet the great defect of our system la, un doubtedly, that money is the great test of military merit, and the only means of advancement. To change so deeply rooted a system altogether would, no doubt, be dangerous and difficult. But it ought to be modified in practice. And even allowing that birth, and the wealth which represents it, should continue the great title to military advancement., still a certain proportion of advance " ment ought to be reserved for merit. Even seniority is a fallacious guide, especially in the higher ranks of the army, and has been known to produce the most monstrous and laughable absurdities. Coupled with the difficulty thrown by this very law of seniority in the way of government's appointing the ablest officer to command, is the absurd exclusiveness and distinction of services. Who can have read the life ' of General Norr, or any one of the military accounts of the expedition to Affghanistan, without being struck with the monstrous disadvantages and evils arising from the slur thrown on the Indian service? Were not all oar disasters at Cabool owing to the in capacity of the commander ? And was not the appoint ment of that superannuated and incapable com mander owing in a great measure to those very trammels, which we complain of? Her Majesty and the government ought to have ample liberty to appoint the commanders whom they judge most capable ; the very nomination bestowing the re quisite superiority and rank. Our great school of military experience is India. Company's officers have more, if possible, of that experience than the officers of the line. The only mode of giving the country the full advantage of its military talent I would be to render it equally available to Her Majesty in whatever service it was acquired. These considerations are of more importance, because the pending measures of military reform are by no means complete in themselves. The bill for shortening the period of enlistment of the army strikes us in somewhat a similar light with the Irish Poor Law. Both are good mea sures to begin with, but one and the other are utterly inefficient alone to effect the improvement sought by them. In the mood in which most young men enlist, ten years or twenty years are of very little difference to them. This is proved by the period of short enlistment being never thought of or insisted on hitherto. We do not think that a farmer or his dame would be reconciled totheir son's enlisting, by promises that he would come back in ten years. Ten years is a man's youth, a man's life ; it is a period that no hopeful arrangement of life, either in the way of trade or marriage, can overlook or overleap. It is a length of time that stifles all dreams or plans of affection or earning. Ten years a soldier, always a soldier; if the ten years amassed a fortune, or put a man in any way of civil life, then indeed the youth of the middle or lower classes might sacrifice the ten years. But this is not the case. And when a young man enlists, the beet thing his friends can hope for him is that he may become a soldier, and of course serve out his twenty years; for no other mode of life will he be St. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 13, 1847. NOTICE. The Proprietors of the Daily News (Morning) and Ezpren (Evening) papers have been induced, in consequence o the representations from various respected quarters, to open Offices at No. 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE-BUILDINGS, tse r•rner of Ccrnhill, and fr wting the Roytt Exchengs, in addition to their other offices. This arrangement will afford greater convenience to the numerous connexions and friends of these mere in the City and its eastward environs, who may desire to communicate intelligence of interest and utility: and a geatleman will be in daily attendance there to receive such communications. The office will be open from nine in the morning till eight in the evening for advertisements.--No. 4, Exchange buildings, corner of Cernhill, fronting Me Royal Exchange We doubt, therefore, very much, that shortening the period of enlistment will alone have the effect of in ducing a better class to enter the army. Educa tion, future pensions, and the eight of a respectable - cured class of soldiers in every town will in time supply the defect. Althougk the shorter term may not induce a better class to enlist, it will probably render the enlisted a better class. They will be re garded by o ffi cers and sergeants as no longer slaves for life. There will be an anxiety to keep the service of the steady, and farriers' whips will not do this. As the Irish poor-law is destined not so much to feed the poor as to force the landlord into proper care of them, so the Short Enlistment Bill, by compelling officers to employ new modes of discipline and manage ment, will indirectly have the effect of improving the soldier. . _ . With a view to the working of this bill and its concomitants, let us consider how the French system works with regard to those who enlist voluntarily. Such soldiers arc of two kinds ; those that enlist for the sake of the bounty or redemption money—some 60!. or 801.—which they invest, and thus a little capital is obtained to begin with on retiring from the army, which the soldier may virtually do in four or five years. He can then marry, pursue his trade, purchase a cottage and land. The redemption money secures his existence. The other class of French recruits embrace the army as a profession, they rise to be non commissioned officers, or full officers, serve to the last, and retire respected with cross and pension. We cannot hope to attain either of these results by our present plan of military reform. We can only take a few steps towards them. Tire state of public opinion on the subject of educa tion on the continent, generally, forms a curious con trast to that now expressed in England. The pro viding means of education is in most countries sup posed to be one of the most important duties which a government has to perform. In Germany, where, on all other questions, religious and political opinion is so jealous and so divided, all the government can do to enlarge the sphere of education is received with unanimous applause. At the present moment petitions are lodged in the bureaux of the chambers of all constitutional states, and with the ministers of public instruction where there are no chambers, praying for an appropriation of a portion of the state revenue to increase the salaries of country schoolmasters. In some cases extra allowances have been made to them this year on account of the dearness of provisions, and no measure has been more popular. The univer sality of government education argues its beneficial working. Provision is made by the state for the rudi molts of education, and every subject is bound to show that his parents and guardians have not allowed him to VO wup in ignorance. An examination is imposed wheriffiren well be introduced, at all points of entrance into life; the smallest place in the civil service, even the office of turnpike-keeper or messexger, is applied for with certificates from class teachers, that would excite some surprise in England. An unmistakeable social result is obtained by this general diffusion of education. It has been objected that the continental schools have not helped the people to political advantages. The truth of this asser tion remains to be proved : that it has pre served them from rash attempts to overthrow exist ing forms of government is certain. It is equally undeniable that the most despotic governments who have done anything for education, are rapidly conced ing to the growth of public opinion in the mass of the I people, whatthey haveall alongrefusedtothe influence of the noble and learned classes of their subjects. This is the ease both in Prussia and Austria, countries which a few years will see in possession of full con stitutional rights, that cannot be withheld from think ing and mentally trained millions who demand them. In Spain and Portugal, free institutions have been thrown away upon ignorant nations. The Germans and northern Italians, as nations, are so far in advance of their present institutions that they shame the rulers who deem it possible to keep them longer in slavish dependence. This is the natural result of awakening the power of thought, whether through government or any other schools. Let the mind be awakened in youth, and it will find work for itself in later years. With the provision for good schooling, partly at the expense of the state, and partly defrayed by the contributions of the school children, the government task is done, and then commences the sphere of the voluntary principle. Private schools of all kinds, private instruction with every grade of latitude is allowed and encouraged in Germany. The state only adheres to its test. On the occasions when the fre quenters of public schools are examined, privately educated persons must show that they have been properly dealt with. The arrangements of Prussian schools are generally known, having been frequently treated both by French and English observing tourists. Those of Austria are less known. We, therefore, subjoin a succinct survey of the state of public education in the Austrian empire, from official sources, which will show the pains that are bestowed upon schools and educational establishments by the government, which is generally supposed to be adverse to progress. The statement may, therefore, be taken as the minimum which the government of a continental state holds it to be its duty to perform towards the nation. Table 1 shows the number of children that attend school in all the provinces, with those who have left the daily schools, but who attend the Sunday repetition schools. Not more than two-thirds of all the children appear to attend the day schools : Tans 1.-BtMe 44 popular education In 1849. I la the Provinces. No. a( Children of Children repetition schools. ached age. at echo& echeols. Loner Austria :Upper m 631 Austria 107,336 81,491 ' 36,308 Carinthia A Candela 371 85,245 48,236 16,489 Illyrian Coast 197 62,462 12,707 3,934 Tyrol Bohemia 3,309 342,143 511,444 226,339 Moravia ad Walk 1,924 290,033 977,681 174,832 Galicia. 2,070 538,123 81,361 36,061 Dalmatia 56 13,254 3,703 148 Lombardy ....... %Unice 1,628 260,212 82,949 651 Total 17;311 2,593,361 1,622,069 i 631,384 In Table 2 we see the labour which the Minister of Public Instruction goes through, on account of the varied mass of languages which are spoken through out the empire : Tama L--nasals divided by languages. d,4i7 seneols. °arena hallos 6 . 106 ss .... tso66 st liaegarima viallactsiaa-.7 Ore* „ 4 „ Annals Mud 41136 „ 10,293 do*, Table 3 shows is the funds appropriated to the support of these Mateo* whence it appears that to schools which draw to the amount of 132,3461. from municipal sources, and 117,492/. from foundations, government allots no less than 88,290/. out of the public treasury. The school money, which is very moderate, brings in, nevertheless, 111,4401. in day school', and 264,7391. in the free boarding schools : T.■uL 151 appropriated to tie all at horAtutioos of edueatim BY the end of this month, most, if not all, of the new county, or small debts courts, will be in opera tion. The want of a cheap mashinery for the reco j very of debts under 20!. has been so long and vexa ' tiously felt, that it will be no woreler if these new tribunals aro inundated with plaints. Causes will bring lawyers. However small or meagre the car case, the eagles will gather round it. Compensation for the loss on write will be sought in the costs of the county court. The dream of tribunals without attor neys, briefs without barristers, a statute without loop holes for chicane, and pegs to hang the pettifo,zgers' springs on, is a pleasant, but we fear, a delusive, one. There are symptoms in the courts already opened, that " the profession" anticipates employment, and will demand privileges. in me Ciergenweli application has been made to the judge to take those causes first in rotation in which attorneys or counsel are employed. This has provoked reproof and remonstrance. It is urged that these courts are intended to serve the interests of the suitor, and not of the attorney ; and that the convenience of the former has a right to be consulted before that of the latter. There can be little question of this. The time of the tradesman claimant is, probably, as valu able to him as the attorney's time to the attorney. We cannot see any ground for affording the pre ference applied for. One effect of it would be to render the employment of professional aid a help to the speedy hearing of a cause, and to induce the re taining of such assistance when it was not required by the intricacy of the case. It would call into activity the pestilent flock of legal harpies whose usual prey has been withdrawn from them by the institution of these courts. We should have a set of touting attorneys and ear wigging banisters, their respectability measurable by the exiguity of their fees. The mischief of such a class allowed to impose itself without restraint would go far to neutralise the benefits of the new courts. The bill itself will not restrain them. It is true that the provisions of the act keep their court costs within narrow limits. But this is not enough. The judges are bound, besides, to discoan tenanee the employment of these persons in all cues unless where some legal difficulty renders them necessary to justice. It is to be feared, however, that the number of such cases may turn on' to be considerable. It is not only the conducting of a demand before the judge, which is to be thought of. Tho preparation of the evidence to support a claim is a matter not easy to unprofessional wits. Those untrained in the laws of evidence are very apt to mistake for proof everything which carries convic tion to their own minds. A tew failures from this cause will drive many suitors to the habitual employ ment of attorneys, if not of counsel. Although the costs are limited by the act (no attorney being entitled to any fee at all, when the demand is under 405., nor to more than 10s. for fee and costs when the demand is under 31., nor more than 15s. in any case within the sum mary jurisdiction of the act, and no banister to more than 11. 38. 6d., and that only in canes of debt above 5/., and by allowance of the judge in taxation) it will still be in the power of attorneys to insist on ready money payments for the getting -up of cases ; and the attor ney's costs as distinct from his court fee, in cases above 51., are, in the same clauses which fixes the above restrictions, left to be awarded at the discretion of the judge. A very decent livelihood (in one sense of the word) may no doubt be picked up under these condi tions by gentlemen of the law, who are about as un scrupulous as to the savouriness or source of their gains as VESPASIAN himself. Besides, very nice legal ques tions may grow up in the discussion of very petty claims, and in many cases the judge will shrink from the responsibility of deciding such points by his sole authority. On such and similar grounds we do not anticipate, nor do we think any perssn conversant with legal matters can contemplate, the banishment of profes sional men from the new courts. It is certain that however expenses might b.: diminished and cases shortened by the exclusion, actions would often be confused, and substantial injustice done by following such a practice. We are afraid that reasonable men must face the alternative, leaving it to the judges to confine such professional aid to proper limits and to justifiable canes. If they are careful to do thi s , and to consider themselves lees as members of the legal profession than as portions of a machinery for lightening the intolerable burden of legal exp e ns es and securing prompt and cheap justice, we do not think much need be feared from the employment of attorneys and barristers in the new courts. It would, indeed, be lamentable that any want of firmness in this respect should impair the value of this great boon to the public. We have spokes of these courts as " new," but they are really older than our superior courts of record. The great mass of the judicial business of the country was carried on in such warts during Saxon times. The first Norman con querors crushed them for a time, as being so many focuses of resistance to the pressure of new insti tutions, and the encroachments of exaggerated feudalism. But their suppression hardly lasted for a century. HENRY I. was forced to restore them to much, though not all, of their original importance. The statute of Gloucester (6 Edward 1., e. 8) secured to these court, the exclusive jurisdiction of claims not exceeding 40s. in amount, and involving simple questions of law. It was only the marvel lous obstinacy of our lawyers which kept up i this limitation through all the fluctuations in the value of money, up to our own times, when 401. would hardly represent in kind the value of 40s. in the 13th century. This part of the subject has been admirably illustrated by Mr. KFANE, in his pamphlet on these court,, reprinted from the Law Magazine. ' The restoration of local jurisdiction in minor matters , of contract is the greatest legal reform our times have yet seen. We will not believe that such a work can , be rendered inoperative by anything that can be done by the united pettifoggery of both branches of the legal profession. But it will depend chiefly on the ' newly-appointed judges to neatralise any mischievous effects likely to flow from even the necessary employ ment of professional advisers. The Paris journals with our correspondence have reached us. The opposition journals persist in ascribing the expected proposition of the Cabinet to protract for another year the present free importation of subsistence to a latent propensity for free-trade in general, and they intimate that what the Cabinet dare not or cannot do directly and openly, it will accomplish indirectly and gradually, by exciting the fears of the public, creating an agitation without, and thus frightening the monopolist interests in the Chamber into the extension of free importation till the harvest of 1848. This encroachment on the pro hibitive system being accomplished, they trust to time and circumstances to render the permanent free dom of importation inevitable. Such are the theses of the principal journals of the opposition opposed to the free-trade doctrines. The truth is, that the cabi net, or at least some principal members of it, have not forgotten the blunder committed in the circular issued last autumn by the minister of agriculture, assuring 'the public of an abundant harvest, the signs of scarcity having been manifested before the ink was dry with which it was written. They are determined not to commit the sameblunderagain, and they propose the extension of free importation as an absolute secu rity against the recurrence of the present 'scowls e prices. The banking establishments in France exhibit a curious discordance in the commercial and financial principles which guide them. The Bank of France and its fourteen provincial branches, raised, as is well known, some time since, their rate of discount to five per cent., besides imposing certain other restrictions on the commercial paper to be accepted by them. Some of the ,rincipal provincial banks, nevertheless, have iteeLi'ly resisted, throughout the whole crisis, any similar proceedings. The bank of Lyons, for instance, has maintained and still maintains its rate of dis count at three per cent. The Bank of Bordeaux, which has for several years discounted local paper at four per cent., still maintains the same rate of dis count, and accepts commercial paper even more libe rally than usual ; the only exception it makes to this is in the case of bills drawn on Paris, and this merely to prevent the refluence of paper from Paris upon its establishment. For a time it refused to discount bills on Paris at less than five per cent., but it now does them at four and a half. The National says that the Minister of Finance is disposed to bring into the Chambers a project of law having for its object to release several of the railway oempanies from the engagements they have contracted with the state, and to grant increased time to others. The latter expedient we know has been offered long since, but declined, as being altogether inadequate to relieve the exieting embarrassments; and it is believed in the best-informed quarters, that a majority of the Chamber would oppose any measure to c.incel th e contracts made with the state. La Frew states that it is certain that the Count d e Montemolin has effected a loan of 200,00%. and that his arri.N.l in Spain is immediately (..ipecte(t. m en , time his Highness is to be seen nightly in his box tt Covent-garden. We have received, in anticipation of tlri French journals, the draft of the project of law on the twit which was to have been delivered to the members of the chamber on Sunday evening. It is exp cted that the discussion of this project will lead to Import ant debate=, involving the whole question of , ree trade. The measure now proposed is direct to •hc tion of several nrohibeilinst s the modificatio rari nn , existing duties, and to the absolute free adolission of numerous articles, especially those which ire metal for the construction of merchant vessels, an I the con. elusions of treaties of commerce with Hanna and New Grenada. The prohibitions to be discontinued air , ct fifteen classes of articles, the most important of which nankeens, chemical productions, cashmeres a d d carriages. The reduction of duties affects hair an d woollen thread, guano, soda, and potash, p•ilk had. kerchiefs, and crape alms Is It is proposed to admit free of all duty, whatever may be the toxi,t of their importation, or in whatever bottoms they nay arrive, 115 articles of the tariff, and to exempt from duty ISS other classes of objects, provided the; arrive in French bottoms or by land. No Madrid mail arrived in Paris on Sunday. The discordances manifested among the Swim cant ons give increased grounds of uneasiness for thetranquillitv of the confederation. We announced sometime sineethU the Vorort, or executive body of the confederacy, m en after its establishment in the canton of Berne, alarmed a note to the cantonal government of Lucerne, demand ing explanations touching extensive military prep. rations which were known to be in prove on in that canton. The answer given to this was calculated only to increase the alarm, and, indeed, rendered it mane- fest that the design of the seven cantons of the uhr a . montane league was to carry into effect their object, independently of and even in oppositi on t o the federal government and legislature. A further manifestation of this has just been made by a declaration addressed by the seven cantons to the cantons of the confedera tion, of an intention to re-establish the convents of Argovia. This question thus reanimated hos been already decided by a vote of the diet, from which the league of the seven cantons now appeals. CONSTANTINOPLE, MlllOl 27. The Porte, as I had predicted in my former letter, has rejected the counter proposition of M. Coletti. The Turkish government is still further determined in adhering to their original demand by the warm sup port given them by the British cabinet. Th e d ee patches received from the Foreign-office by Mr. Wellesley, on the 25th inst. condemn, in the strongest manner, the conduct of the Grel govern. ment, and advise the British minister to aid the Porte by every possible means, to obtain a full and entire satisfaction. On the Ist of April, the delay accorded by the ultimatum will expire ; if, therefore, within four days, the government of King Otho do not yield,' rupture will be inevitable. Anaval force has arrived from Malta at the Piraeus, consisting of the Rodney, the Albion, and the VaNquari, and Lord Pahnerstoe has renewed his demand for the payment of the Greek kiati. M. de Bourg ueney has received instructions from his go. vernment, by the same steamer as that which brought Mr. Wellesley despatches. They are of that equivocal character which harmonises with the prew nt anoma lous position of the French ambassador. Ills endue. throughout the affair is approved of, and a word or two of feeble praise is given to the I'orte. Coca& tory measures are recommended, and there is a good deal of hypothetical reasoning upon the serious consequences of too mach precipitation. It is evident that the French government do not wish to break with the Porte after their recent professions of friendship, but that, at the same time, they will not abandon Coletti. Independent of political rea sons, neither M. Onizot tor 'M. Bourqueney will feel disposed to show themselves inimical to the Greek minister as long as he remains the attached friend of M. Piscatory. M. Piscatory is intimately connected with the French press, and he is, moreover, a de and one of the most influential members of a party in the chambers. These are the reasons w y M. Piscatory has created for himself an almost inde pendent position at Athens, and why he has of late rather dictated to than received instructions from his government. I can aver, from personal observation. that M. de Bourqueney has shown, in the course of this affair, more anxiety about the opinion of M. Pis catory than of that which the Minister of Foreign Affairs might form of his conduct. Accounts from Asia Minor state that Bederhan Bey had refused to lay down his arms on the appeal of the Porte. He was placing the defiles in the mountains of Kurdistan in a state of defence, and was making every preparation for opposing the advance of the Turkish troops. The roads are not safe, and the caravans are pillaged by the marauders. On the 22d inst. the newly constructed govern ment silk manufactories at Brume were consumed by fire. It is supposed the damage exceeds 300,0001. We hear that the Sultan ties subscribed munifi cently to the fund raised in aid of the distressed Irish. FRANCE.— TOULON, APRIL 10.—The steam frigate Montezuma arrived at this port on the 9th, from Senegal. She brought home the captain, officers, and Crew of the Caratbe. M. Montagnis de la Rogue has sent a list of the men drowned during the wreck of this vessel . they are 20 in number. DEATH OF COUNT DOUMERC.—It was but a few days since that we announced the death of General Drouot, to. day we have to announce the decease of one of his brotben in arms, Licut..General Count Doumerc, who died at Pans, on the 30th ult. Jean-Pierre Doumerc was born at Mont auban in 1767. Owing to the protection of a relative who was commissioner-general of stores of LOWS XVI., at the age of of fifteen he accompanied the escort appoint - 4;d to ac company the envoys of Tippoo-Saib beck to India. This was the commencement of him military career, which closed with the French campaign of 1814. Few actions took place in which he did not take • prominent and distinguished part, having served in the different French armies in all parts of Europe. The second re. storatio• in 1815 compelled him to leave Paris ; bat he returned there at a later period, and lived a retired life. lo 1823, at the time of the intervention in Spain, the Duke de Beaune, then minister of war, offered him the command of the cavalry in that expedition. This, however, he declined. and did sot enter into active service again, until after tke revolution of July. Marshal Gerard intrusted him with the command of the 18th military division. Having reached the appointed age for retiring from the Denim, he Wm a 5 grand cross of the legion of honour. For the last ahem years of his life he had lived in private retirement. ITALY.—ROME, MARC!! 31.—Disturbances took place at Rome on the 30th ult. A mob of 500 indiri duals attempted to pillage the bakers' shops in the Sorra faubonrg di San Pietro. The troops were called out mad dispersed the mob. The price of bread is raised considerable , and the people blame Cardinal Gizzi for having allowed the exportation of corn until the rabbi° reached the price of 12 Roman scudi. The present price is 13 scudi. It ." ported that Cardinal Gizzi intended resigning his 015 ee of Secretary of State, on the plea of bad health. Cardinal Cialetri had left as delegate to Ferrara. Some disturbers. had taken place at Bologna 2,000 peasants shack for triple the amount of their usual wages. The troops were called out, and prevented them hunt marching on the town. The ringleader have been snout Fresh corn riots have taken place at Viterbo, and some me. sons hose been murdered. The delegates, who had d° troops at their disposal, took to their heels. The Pope sits greatly incensed at their cowardice. Suspicion hasing..hew excited that the monks of a monastery at Dodi, near Peso' Ries, were in secret communication with the enemies of et Pope, the monastery was watched, and the suspicion brio/ confirmed, it was surrounded by the troops and marched The monks have been dismissed. ANCONA, MARCH 31. The prohibition on the exportation of corn from Greece has been extended to the Ist June. The Chevalier Agresti, who was sent by the Kill of Naples to Malta to sign the arrangement with the Mlle of Capua, had returned without haring succeeded is his mission. The Prince objected to certain clauses in the ar• rangement ; but it is hoped that these objections will be se moved. GERMANY.—PitaifiIa.—KONIGSBERO, APRIL 4. —One of the excise houses In this town was burnt on the inst. The act was said to have been that of incendiaries who intended to smuggle in meal and meat during the cos" fusion. The difficulty in getting in the taxes is daily mete felt. Rye is from 70 to 80 silo. gra. per bushel. Cana quantities of grain are to be sent to the Rhine, where ri° l are higher still.—Cologne Gazette. AUSTRIA. —GALICIA. LEMBERG, MARC!! 30: Some alarm was felt at Lemberg on the 29th ult., ow ing to rumours elan intended rising against the Germans. It wr said that the water in all the fountains had been polies , . The governor of Posen announced that every military Pre' caution had been taken. It was remarked that the pow at the powder magazines had been doubled, and also at the public fountains, which latter feet probably gave rise to WW, rumour. Great anxiety still was felt, ea these measame m precaution were still sacred to. The misery in some Med of Galicia is extreme: the peasants have been reamed Mew; necessity of slaughtering their horses. Lane sloosti td. corn were exported from Podolia. Upper Austria—. Lower Made Illyrian Cart ..... rrml Bohemia Moravia NM Oalicu ......... Iltsa7 hostler . IT Public day scools. income (row OAT wirenn, State raw. Ms. ida . . Imes. schools with . State F X 22,91.8 32,737 20 1 I,9 isu l 7 3 0 78 3 17,255 2,599 2,990 278 1,180 193 11,67 1,779 2,746 3,132 12,592 1,290 2,595 2,37 19,18/ 2,082 10,078 2,281 1,290 1,624 , 11,68 160,-2-71 4,061- 5,192 136 3,311 13 5,283 - 11,618 60 5,732 - 8,778 2,121 110 1,563 6,346 - 6,114 - 1,893 - 3,310, 50,711 22,016 lu,em~ The pauper schools have their own dotations, amounting to 7,144!. As supplementary to the other sources of revenue which the universities command, the state gives 50,0001. per annum for the higher institutions, so that the total expenditure on the part of the state is 133,1171. The sums raised for this purpose from various sides amount as follows: boot saw .ssav#93 non Ism sad poi& bogs 143,776 Clergy From tae Treasury £897328 This expenditure does not include the kingdom of Hungary, which has eleven millions of inhabitants. The rest of the empire counts about twenty-five mil lions, or something less than the United Kingdom. - ~- s,eeo Ziiii I It_',,* 4171 3,1331 400 309