The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

Auo. 4, 1855. rote6ings arlianunt. COMMISSARIAT. The supplementary estimates for this branch of the public service, amounting to 2,500,0001., caused some discussion on Tuesday. Many complaints were made that this large expenditure was not under proper control, and that the definite plans for the final arrangement of the Commissariat Department had not been explained. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the house had shown great jealous) that the wants of the army should be supplied, even at a great pecuniary sacrifice. The transition of the business of the Commissariat from one department to another might for the moment have occasioned some relaxation of control, which proper measures were taken to re-establish, though that control must always be less perfect in time of war. On this sub• ject Sir F. BAtusG thought that a commission should be appointed to devise a proper system of accounts, under which a due control would be perfectly easy, in which he was supported by Mr. HENLEY. The supplementary estimate was moved on Thurs day by Mr. PEEL, after some explanation of the reasons why the expected sums had been exceeded. The vote passed, after a brief discussion. THE ORDNANCE ESTABLISHMENT. Mr. MoraEtr., on Thursday, in moving for 70,7061. for the expenses of this office, explained in some detail its new arrangements. The first object re quired, he said, was centralisation, and the next responsibility. For these objects the first step was to place the management of the artillery and engi neers under the Horse Guards. All plans for ford•• fications, and othet things of the same kind, were now submitted to the commander-in-chief, the inspector of fortifications, and the director-general of the artillery. The civil departments of the Ordnance and the subordinate officers were subject to the direct control of the Secretary of State for War, care being taken that civil offices should be intrusted to civilians, and military ones to military men. He then proceeded to detail the minor arrangements for the immediate control of the several subordinate officers, and the duties of the scientific commission appointed to overlook the efficiency of the service. The head of each department was strictly responsible for its working, and had, in consequence, the right of recommending persons to all the clerkships in his office. He detailed the arrangements for keeping proper notes of all transactions, and explained the changes, which were very few, introduced at Wool wich. The principle, he repeated, of all these changes was the establishment of a central control, from which he anticipated important benefits. Mr. A. STAFFORD regretted that these plans were submitted at so late a period that it would be impos sible for the Government to avail itself of the suggestions of Parliament, and urged s further discussion of the important plans just propounded. Mr. EWART trusted that more attention would be paid to mechanical inventions applied to war, which were, he said, peculiarly in accordance with the genius of the country. Sir ti. TYLER made some remarks on the naval department of the Ordnance, the head of which ought, he contended, to be placed on a par with the director general of artillery. Capta►n J. V. VERNON criticised in detail the regulations under this head of the orders in council, and on a multitude of official removals and appoint ments. Colonel DuNNE approved of the separation of the civil and military command of the department, but had his doubts as to the other changes, which were not approved by the highest authorities, and especi ally blamed the introduction of civilians to military departments. After a few words from Admiral WALCOTT and Mr. Wu.uAis, Mr. MONSELL replied to some of the objections to matters of detail which had been brought forward, and explained that in future all the war estimates would be consolidated and moved by the clerk of the Ordnance. A committee appointed by Lord Pan mure would inquire during the recess on the best mode of carrying out the plan. He bore testimony to the success of the new arrangements during the short time in which they had been in operation. WAYS AND MEANS. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. The votes of Tuesday included a sum of 10,0001. to the discoverers of the north-west passage, and 8001. for the erection of a monument to Sir J. Frank lin and his unfortunate associates. One half of the first sum was given to Captain M'Clure, and the other to the officers and men of the ship under his command. High compliments were paid by several members to the skill and courage of Captain M'Clure. THE KAFFIRS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER on Thursday moved the following resolutions : What towards making good the supply granted to her Majesty, the her Majesty's Treasury ' - authorised to exceeding Tuesday's votes contained a sum of 40,0001., "for executing public works, maintaining education and benevolent institutions, and promoting civilisation among the native tribes of Africa." This grant, Sir W. Mot.Eswosim said, was an experiment, intended to try if we could not by some such means so far civilise the natives as to put an end to Kaffir wars, and reduce our military expenditure, now 600,0001. a year, in South Africa. LORD G. PAGET. The good service pension given to this officer was the subject of comment on Thursday, several mem bers complaining that officers equally meritorious were passed over. Mr. F. PEEL denied that the House of Commons was qualified to form an opinion on such a subject, and said that one such pension was due to the cavalry at. Balaklava, where Lord George VMS the senior regimental colonel, and had led his regiment in the most gallant manner. Ln.d PALMERSTON observed that the practice of debating this question would lead to great incon venience, as every officer who thought himself aggrieved would find some one to urge his sup posed grievances in Parliament. NAVAL HONOURS. Admiral IVALcorr on Monday complained that the Companionship of the Bath was not grunted to cer tain officers who had been specially recommended by the Board of Admiralty for their gallantry in action against pirates. The main reason alleged as an ex cuse fdr the disregard of this recommendation was that these services were not gazetted. This brought on a general discussion as to the distribution of honours, the main complaint being that the Bath was not properly distributed, and that officers with very great claims to it were overlooked.. Lord PALMERSTON and Sir C. WOOD contented themselves with protesting against any interference with the prerogative of the Sovereign, as the fountain of all honour, as unconstitutional and improper. FOREIGN LEGION. Lord PALMERSTON stated on Thursday that the recruiting for the Foreign Legion, found to be incom patible with the national regulations of the United States, had been there abandoned. He admitted that ships of war were stationed at the German porta in the Baltic, intended, he said, simply to serve as means of transport to persons who chose to proceed to the depot at Heligoland—a proceeding not at with The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER 011 Thursday Society for scientific purposes, complained of some !'""‘ °"'F' ". as time since by Professor Owen, was the subject of in the Baltic, intended, he said, simply to serve moved the following resolutions : remark in both houses on Tuesday. Earl Giusvir-Tog piThat towards making good the supply granted to her Majesty, . in the one, and Lord PALMERSTON in the other, ex- means of transport to persons who chose to proceed to the depot at Heligoland—a proceeding not at the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury be authorised to raise any sum of money, not exceeding seven millions sterling, plained that in 1850 the sum had been granted to variance with any law. by the issue of Excheouer Bills. the Royal Society from a fund called the Queen's NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. That in case the said Exchequer Bills be not issued for the Bounty, a fund more especially applicable to chari- Major REED on Thursday moved a resolution full sum of /7,000,000, then the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury be authorised to issue Exchequer Bonds, bearing table purposes. This grant had been continued, as pledging the Ministers not to consent to any arrange- interest at any rate not exceeding ,C 4 per centuin per annum, to a special one, for two or three succeeding years ; but, ment with Russia without consulting the house. such an amount as with the total amount for which Exchequer we hn in May last the grant was applied for "as usual," Lord PALxii.harom admitted the principle, but de - Bills sha ll be issued will make up the whole auiu of 117,000"1 authoolood to he wised bp show lowietiees. it was thought that the special temporary objects for • clined the pledge. • THE PRESS. That such Exchequer Bonds, if issued, shall be paid off at par at the expiration of any period not exceeding six years twin the date of such bonds. That the interest of all such Exchequer Bonds shall be payable halryearly, and shall be charged upou and issued out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kiugdoin, or the growing pro. duce thereof. In so doing he explained his original estimates both for the income of the year and the civil ex. penditure. Those for the navy and the transport service would, perhaps, exceed the estimate by be tween three and four millions. The military expen diture involved supplementary estimates, which had been sanctioned by the house since he made his financial statement, and he had reason to believe that such supplementary estimates would more than cover the expenditure. The proposed resolutions would leave here a margin somewhat over two millions, which, however, would be practically ab sorbed by ways and means bills issued before the first instalment of the loan was paid, and which must bo provided for out of the revenue of the current year. He, however, anticipated that suffi cient accuracy had been obtained in the estimates, so that there was small chance of unforeseen con. tingeucies. The number of Exchequer Bills in cir culation would nut, he added, be equal to what it was for many years subsequently to the close of the late war. _ Mr. GLADSTONE observed that the country might feel uneasy at the rapid increase of the unfunded debt, especially as the market was now subject to various kinds of •.;ompetition unknown to our fore fathers, and which restricted our own ground of action. He reminded the house of the admitted principle that the needful supplies were to be met by taxes as well as loans, a principle which he trusted would be borne in mind next year, when, he hoped, any comprehensive arrangement would include en larged proposals of taxation. Mr. DISRAELI expressed some misgivings whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with the resources at his command, could see his way clearly to the close of the year. He asked, likewise, if the arrange ment was in accordance with the promise given to the loan contractors, that no other loan should be raised this year? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the issue of Exchequer Bills and foreign loans were expressly reserved. He did not anticipate that he should have to bring any large amount of bills into the open market before December. After some further conversation, in which Mr. GLYN expressed his satisfaction that the issue of Ex chequer Bonds formed part of the scheme, the reso lutions were agreed to. SUPPLEMENTARY NAVAL ESTIMATES. The sum of 1,141,1681. was voted on Tuesday for the year 1865-6. In moving it, Sir C. WOOD stated the progress that had been made in building gun boats, for the expenses of which great part of the money (526,000/.) was required. In course of the discussion reference was again made to the plan of Lord Dundonald, whom Captain SCOBELL declared to be—so far from a rash man—one of the coolest in the service. The same gallant member recom mended the construction of war rafts, of which a hundred could be built for the expense of one gun• boat, and in two or three weeks' time. Sir G. Pacmcf.f. made some observations on the Russian fleet in the Pacific, which had managed to keep together, might elude our squadron, and even enter the Channel, doing incalculable damage. SUPPLEMENTARY TRANSPORT SERVICE ESTIMATES. On Tuesday 1,584,8001. was voted for these esti mates. This sum was due, Sir C. WOOD stated, to the additional services it had been called upon to per form for our allies, France and Sardinia. It was but due to France, who maintained so large an army in the Crimea, to afford her all the assistance in our power in the transport of that army and its equip ments. We had likewise many Turkish troops to transport. A discussion followed, in which the Government were blamed for paying for transport by time instead of service, and complaints were made of the waste of money by negligent management. The transport service ought to be, it was argued, under the War Department in time of war. Sir C. Woon opposed the last doctrine, giving reasons why the department should continue to be intrusted to the management of the Admiralty. GRANT TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY. The withdrawal of the grant of 1,0001. to the Royal Society for scientific purposes, complained of some time since by Professor Owen, was the subject of remark in both houses on Tuesday. Earl GRANVILLE in the and Lord PALMERSTON in the other, ei which it was first given had ceased, and it was refused accordingly. ART MUSEUM. The vote of 15,66(11. fora building to hold the various objects of art and science now scattered in different directions, caused some remarks on Thurs day. The building is to occupy part of the ground purchased at Kensington Gore; and Messrs. SPOONER and BRIGHT, with others, referred to the enormous plan which had been proposed for covering this ground with museums—urged that. the commence ment should not be lightly undertaken, and that it would lead to consequences which no one could fore see. In reply, Lord PALMEWTON, Mr. DISRAELI, and Mr. GLADSTONE explained that the articles in ques tion intended for the special instruction of the peo • ple were now stored away in cellars, cases, and trunks, quite unavailable for any useful purpose ; and it was now proposed to erect a cheap iron building of a temporary kind, to make these impor tant objects accessible. The building would not exceed the estimates, and the materials would sell for nearly the cost. The vote was agreed to after a division of 85 to 33. PUBLIC OFFICES. The vote of 11,0001. for the purchase of the Crown lease of Buckingham-house passed on Tues day, when Lord PLLNERSTON stated that some blanches of the Ordnance, now functioning at Wool wich, would be removed there. A sum of 40,0001., as part of an estimate of 585,0001. for new offices in Downing-street, was voted, such sum to be applied, until further consideration, to the purchase of land and repairing old offices. Lord Palmerston said that the present Foreign-office consisted of four old houses, which were tumbling to pieces. The whole estimate contained a sum for state Ministerial dining-rooms, which produced many comments.