The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-09 00:00:00

ion., lert 'cod 3 had )vernw those Olt he s, but e. If L por either s, and Com e first the , non f the ; thus Twos st the )c the night, use of of the le ex° their vas an bking G iati) tweet& es'ahlishieeets is 1823 was 93; in 1349 92; end in 1850 only latterBo—thie u b "ao ore rvine r. c.ideraiele diminution in the • e ,role re d w i th the two former eerieds. n ✓ of b, rr'elf. e• 1c35-6 was 104, and 85Q,, 3 - eseoes..ments e various ith respect to these esteteisame.i.,, • .-LUCtio r ., „ . , ail+ otle:es NV , `IC also 11 5 pro gre „ n ee Cue question which had been brought under the consideration of the Government was that of the numberu of hired barracks, and Government had resolved dis trict with up six or seven of them in the northern die .ith as little delay as possible. To conclude his remarks upon this vote, he would only further say, that inquiry h a d b een made into every establishment, b ot h abroad and at h ome. They ha l a ll b een wr i t t en to for reportsWhae of the e xact state o f ever y one of them; and these report ; h a d b e en tubmittel to the au thorities here he was certain the Beard would be glad at t°}L,ecy° to found with the services of such of teem as with. The might with propriety be dispens ed of next vote, No. 5, was fir " Wages artificers, labourers, and others einploeed at the several establishments in the United Kingdom and the colonies." The sum required for this purpose for th e year was 129 , 0 0 31 ; i n 1849-50 it WIS i 41 ' 3301 .; thus showing a diminution of 12,327/. for the P re 'nt veer, and, as compared with the year 1848-49, of 29,564/ The Coitunitt , e haul recommended that the nunshace, de por 3 rdtininegets to at el of artificers and workmen in the manutacquing Woolwich nod elsewhere should be fixed the wants of the service in time of peace, and thee no additions should be made without the senc- Xn or the T reasury. R eturns h a d b een ca ll e d for to bii ° , lv „, wh3 c was the expense and the state of every este. - h "Int and the se wer e now under the consideration of the 'rieasury ; and in future no increase would be made to this department without its sanction and ap proval. The next vote was " Ordnance stores for land en d sea service," and it was one of great importance. The uont proposed for the present year was 21 1 , 631 /, u ?ilst in 1849-50 it was 323,4181.; showing a decrease there this vote of 111, 7 87 1 . This deer.. ase arose from e.re being 30,0001. less required for the supply and re= pate of small arms, 18 , 5601. l ess f o r the supply of iron Ch [fence shot, shells, Ste.; 58,327/. less for the pur ch ; 15001 CI ordnance stores, of every description; . less for the purchase and repair of stores, and forcarri age of arms and stores at the several out :I:Iens; and 3,0001. less for materials for packing. In the year 1848-.9 the amount of this vote was 502,585/ ; thereat upon th e p r esent year, as compared with that, had was a diminution of 290,954/. The Committee r ecommended that the quantity of stores to be kept hand should be made to approximate more .nearly to a r egiments of the service in time of peace, and every e xertion h a d b eea ma d e b y th e d e p ar t me nt to arrive at it conc lusion as to what that quantity should be. With th at object an inquiry had been instituted into the actual n S te of all stores, both at home and abroad. In August last i nstructions were sent to every department , to fur ntiiish an immediate return of its stores, distinguishing ler° which w ere serv i cea bl e , unserviceable, and obso e• And the course which it was proposed to adopt a rts, that these returns should be considered in the instance by tho principal storekeeper, who would 1 1 :111 , " " e , his report to the Master General and the a "u• who would thereupon give their instructions _S . to the manner i n w hi c h th e y were to be disposed • He had no doubt that there were many obsolete :Tabroad r( unserviceable stores in all the establishments there i)ing and that this th e might have arisen from no demand for m after they had become thus obsol e t e an d unserv i cea bl e . Th a t might be easily understood; at the same time, however, it was a ques tion whether it would be better to get rid of them at no ,:iti price at all, or re t a i n t h em th ere i n case they might be Wanted; in the event of a particular emergency. He ite agreed with the Committee that it was very unad 'sable to keep a larger stock of stores than was rea ll y t ‘ e qUired;!still it should be borne in mind that if t he y de tilarnained upon selling the stores on the spot , or sendin g er n home, it must be attended, in the one case, with a very heavy sacrifice, and in the other with considerable thpense. Th e y wou ld n ot produce a twentieth part of .aeir c ost. But circumstances h a d ar i sen d ur i n g the last ten or twenty years which rendered it necessary to !end more stores, for we could not have been unprepared 1 0 the case of alarms of war; and when those alarms had subsided it became a question whether they would send those stores back or keep them at the stations Until they were wanted; and what they now proposed to do, when they had got the returns of the state °f the stores at each station, was to decide what Portion of them was serviceable, what unserviceable, ser viceable, what obsolete; and then, with respect to the they would determine what portion of them it 'mould be necessary to keep back at the stations. If there were any serviceable surplus stores they should be removed to another station that might be in want of them, Those that were unserviceable or obsolete ahould, of course, be disposed of to the best advantage. They had asked this year for a small amount for small arms. That was a very important question, and they had been at large expenditure for perfecting the stores of arms, but those stores were not as large as they ought to be, for when the kind of arms to be used by the ser vice was decided upon they ought never to be without the quantity requisite for extraordinary service. Various circumstances, however, had modified their determina tion as to the quantity to be stored at present. On the Continent thew had been various inventions in the Manufacture of small arms made of late, which were supposed to give to their possessors a great superiority over others, and though, as far as he himself was con cerned, he was rather sceptical of the alleged su periority of those inventions, they proposed, however, that during the present year the different inventions in small arms should be examined, so as to enable them to ascertain whether they were behind any other coun tries in that description of arms, or whether they could compete with tho.e countries on equal terms if they should ever have the misfortune to be brought into coat i/I°a with them. The next vote to which he should call a ttention was that for works, buildings , and re p airs. This veal a most important vote, and one on which Lion. Gentlemen were likely to form an opinion without that d eer) consideration which it required. The amount re quired this year under this head was 440,0641., whereas last year the vote was 486,5364, thus showing a diminu tion in the estimate of the present year of 46,4721. This diminution arose thus:—Under the head of uew works at home there was a decrease of 52,4971., and under that of new works abroad a decrease of 25,7034 making altoge ther a diminution of 78,2004 on the present year as cone- Pared with last. But then under the head of repairs at home they required 35,0901. more this year than they did fast year, while under that of repairs abroad they required 3 ,362/. lees than last year. Modified thus, the total dimi nution of the present year as compared with last year was 4 6,472/. In the year 1848 the total amount of the Ordnance estimates was 617,4021., fur the present year t he amount was 440,064/., showing a diminution for the present year of 177,4181.; a very considerable reduction. This estimate had been most carefully considered by the Master -General and by her Majesty's Government, and !although it was lar g e in amount, the House would see h owsmall a sum was asked for new works and fortifi cations either at home or abroad. But this reduction Zas consequ en t on t h e l arge amount of money which ad been expended in former years oa those works. It !as needless fn• him to point out the state of r° evf degrade in which our works of defence had been in the last years. Our means of protecting our shores from % Fgressors were totally inadequate in the year 1835, and t hey had been permitted to continue until tho year 1845, ?'hen frequent complaints having been made on the sub leet, and the aspect of affairs becoming more threaten 'ilgv the n ecess i t y o f a remedy became glaring. At t time our fortresses were almost entirely disman tledat home, such as Portsmouth, Plymouth, t he Thames, and Pembroke, and he believed had a ti squadron of steamers chose to make their way into n y of those places, they might have committed any amountcome of aggression they pleased. Hal they chosen to V i rile up the Thames, they might have insulted her ajeaty's arsenals even there. The evil became so serious . 4 ,1 1 that year, that, on the attention cf the Right Hon. Ja e (tronet (Sir R. Peel) and the late Government being P r oposed to it, they immediately set about a remedy, and firoeosed to the House to grant a sum of money for im- L .t h ev ing the national defences. That course was followed considerable by the present Government in succeeding years to a the extent, so that the result was one of which la ° country might be justly proud. At the present mo lejnt Portsmouth was in a complete state of defence, and ah-Yasa.outh, also, was as perfectly defended as need be; iin the Thames, likewise, great improvements had on Made. They had also commenced some proceed lugs at Pembroke, which was one of the most important ~,,a rh outs in the world; and he had no doubt the House ould assent to any demands which might be requisite 1; )r Preserving the entrance to that and to those other at t l r houre. It was all very well to say there was no from of a war; but it was impossible for a person, C u ' One year to another, to know what would really al Ven, Besides, they must consider the advantage Lesulting from the feeling of security the country would R a ve when they knew our shores were protected from 1 1 1 14 re• s sibh. He admitted thet no demand should be the for new f or tresses without the whole of " expenditure being fully considered and esti - W” e d• and the probable time or number of years in htch the work could he finished. It was one of the e gresf est faults formerly committed, that they never t1, 3 ,, 11td soy when works would be finished. According to h,,, re commendations of the Committee, close attention had o een directed to the expenditure to be incurred for ne w works, and he thought he might say no ill-advised 'lPenditure had taken place in h been under take 1 1 by the Government, both what at ho ad me and abroad. lonian with respect to the latter, the expenditure at Corfu, the Islano s, Bermuda, and the Mauritius, the en dhtnre hail been well and carefully considered. In " r `u, no sum had bean taken for defensive works this a l a e _ar, with th e except i on o f w h a t wa s asked for the L uPletion of the bomb proof barracks in the citadel — ;_Work whi c h would be comp l ete d i n two years . With Peet to th e M aur i tius, t h e C omm i ttee recommen ded thea..ra consid era ti on o f re d uce d expen dit ure th er e—a rc auutnnaendation th a t wou ld be att e nded to ; but a small For was requisite for the compleiou of the Keep of tacit g. G eorge there, a most important point in our dis possessions. During the last war there we: e prizes g,l into the M aur iti us t o the value of six or seven millionsd,,o i sterlin g . I n B ermu d a , a l s o, s i m il ar recommen - E Z Os had b een atten d e d to, an d accor di ng l y t h ey h a d i a l t ,alfied from taking a flesh vote for works of chfeece taa'::.at place ; and the only amount in tee present esti wee a sum for the completion of the naval store -1„ "'es in those islands, the whole expenditure for which :: 1114 be about - • %-.{ Q 10,36eL, of which sum they proposed to 1 7 0 :55 vit,ll.ll :s tili y ew e r a : r sas 3,5001. On On the next vote which was the scientific branch, there re .e t its year of 3,9451„ the whole i t was b quired beingwhile last year 94,859/. This increase arose Irons the large r n tobent they had they incurred for the survey. Of l a t e y ea r, •lae t y ear „ i t ak"il 60,000/. annually for the survey, but tqb:eierukaii.yp.i: Committee recommended that the en g ravin g o fas th e l arge t owns s h ou ld b e iteeomp l is h e n POSt•ible ; and as there was a large accn to mutation " 1 the surveys which the • had not force enough en grave, it had been thought that 5,0001. more should TILE SUN, be sale ti thhs year for the eegravings of the large terms It the rest:, of the, large :wens were published, all the seeie.ry isepte.ements pso'isceed for those lecaliti-s stsielt oat. There W. is fatio cempletion of the tri4encreelrical tiur at and its heel, and the ordnance survey levels. But, eltogeher on the estimate for the survey, there was a diminution of nearly 7,000/. Corn• paints had been made by various Members connected with Sccternd of the elowness of the progress of the survey iu that country ; tin alteration, however, had iat-ly bean ma's in that respect, and in consequence of representations from Edinburgh, it was resolved that the survey should be proceeded with thereat once, instead of the county of Wigton. With respect to the R frit Mi litary Academy, there was a reductieu of nearly leooo/. this year in the vote for the est ablishment at Casehalton. In the item for the establishment there was a small in crease. The last vote was for the non-effective service, ou which there was an increase of 5,8771.. which wss the natural consequence of the reductions made in the effective force, lie did not know that there was any other item on which he need dwell. lie might observe that no person had been allowed to retire on boa or full pay, except in accordance with the rules aed regulations of the service. He had occupied so much time already that lie need not further dwell on the subject; but he had thought it re cessary to go through the recommen dations of the Committee of last par; and i,o,e with those estimates which he had detailed, and with the re port of that Committee, it was competent for t'se Ilouse to acquire for tlenaselves all the information they might require on those various and complicated estimates, with which he could assure the House it was no easy task to mike oneself perfectly acquainted. He asked the House, then, to give a unanimous consent to those esti mates—nut because they had bee; framed solely to meet the views of any persons, who might object to them hereafter, not solely because they had the merit of showing a diminution for the present year of 198,000 L, as compared with last year—but, because they had received the anxious consideration of Go vernment, and because they had been framed solely with regard to preserving the efficiency of the service. He should be ashamed to propose a low estimate whereby the eflicieccy of the service might be impaired; and, at the same time, he deemed it his duty to ask the sanction of the House for an expenditure re quisite to preserve the establishments of the country in an efficient state. He hoped, then, the House would express their confidence iu the Government, and thus inspire confidence in the country, by satisfying it that the money which they collected in the shape of taxation for the purpose was not expended in carrying on the public service of the country without being wisely, ma turely, and carefully considered. He would then pat now in the hands of the Chairman the first vote, which was for the number of men required for the ordnance military corps—viz , 14,569 men. Mr. lIUME bore testimony to the unremitting atten tion with which the Gallant Officer who had just sat down had attended for four months at the Committee of last year, and the ability and readiness with which he bad given all the information in his power on every point; but he reminded the House that the responsibility for expenditure for stores did not rest with the ordnance officers, who were in fact little more titan executive officers, for they were obliged to supply store: to the army and navy, when applied for by those arms of the service. The responsibility then rested with the Go vernment, and from them he wanted to know why it was that the reductions of the present year did not go back to a standard of a re moter date. For instance, the number of artillery men in the year 1792 was 4,346 men ; in the year 1828, it was 8,682 men; whereas now it was 14,000 men. Wbat circumstances had occurred to render so great an increase on those years necessary? The expenditure for artillery in the year 1792 was 151,0001., in the year 1828 it was 471,000/., but now it rose to 711,0001., while the number of battalions was raised from ten to twelve. What was the cause, then, of such a vast increase? There were no circumstances which had occurred to ac count for it, and it was, therefore, for the country to de cide—and it would decide before long—what should be the extent and cost of those establishments. The in crease in those military establishments was a sarcasm on the civilisation of the age. It was monstrous that, during the last twenty years they had been endeavouring to educate the people, and yet in direct proportion as the country had become civilised they had increased their military farces. The evidence of Captain Hastings, in 1844, showed the panic that prevailed, and the result was that the country was armed to the teeth, and fortifica tions erected everywhere. The Hon. and Gallant Mem ber had stated that it was necessary 80 batteries of can non should be kept in this country. This was sufficient to make every man reflect upon the cause. In his (Mr. Hume's) opinion it would be far wiser of the Govermeut to study economy and the reduction of taxation than to keep up batteries in all parts of the country. If the mili tary department of the ordnance was united with the army, and placed under the Commander-in-Chief, the stare department would be carried on at one-tenth of the ex pense. There was a report in existence, which was signet by five members of the Cabinet, which recommended that arrangement. Why was it not put into execution now, when they had the power of carrying out their re- Corded views on the subject? That question had been hitherto evaded, but he (Mr. Hume) hoped, neverthe less, that the Committee up stairs would enforce it as far as they were able. That House was placed in a sin gular position; they had the nominal command of the public purse; but in this respect they had no c Altrol over the accounts, and they might as well leave the whole expenditure to the Government for any thing they could do to check it. The Hon. and Gallant Officer deserved the credit of candour for his statement; but the reduction proposed by the Governu • it was so trifling in its character. that he (Mr. Hume) could scarcely accept it us such. He hoped that half-pay officers iu the artil lery would be employed as barrackmasters, storekeepers, and generally in other civil duties of the ordnance de partment, and non-commissioned officers upon pension as clerks; this would save greet expense to the coun try. That these things, however, would be done until the country ha 1 a Minister-at-War, responsible for the entire military department of the state, he did not ex pect. At present the land was studded with ordnance stores, notwithstanding the advantages offered by rail ways, and though any amount of material might be ex pedited to the most distant parts of the country in 24 hours. He (Mr. Hume) believed that there wise not a single individual connected with the artillery ser vice on any of these establishments. This showed at least that no peculiar education was necessary for em ployment in the ordnance. To reduce these establish ments would be a saving of 100,0001. to the country. The day of reckoning would come, and he believed it was not so far distant as .most Hon. Members calcu lated. He agreed with the Hon. Member that the House of Commons, and not the Government, should bear the blame of this extravagance; but there was no hope of amendment until there was a large measure of Parliamentary reform. To show the indifference of the House to the expenditure of the public money, he (Mr. Hume) needed only to state that he might during that evening have more than once stopped the business of the country, as there were not, on several occasions, so many as forty Members present, of which there were, perhaps, two or three on the side of the Opposition. tie (Mr. Hume) thought the artillery should be made t• do the duty in garrison towns, which would enable the House to reduce the amount of the infantry. He had no objection to the increase of the artillery if the infantry were reduced; but he had a decided objection to the in crease of both. He saw no reason why 60,000 in arms should be needed for this country when 45,000 was found sufficient at the worst periods. Neither did he see any necessity for keeping up a large military force in the colonies, nor for keeping up ordnance stores, when material, which could be easily procured by contract, was permitted to perish. Colonel CHATTERTON, as a military officer, ex pressed his great gratification at the statement of his Honourable and Gallant Friend. He, for one, wished the artillery to be increased rather than decreased, iu the interest of humanity as well as the country. It was the most effective arm of war in an engagement. Of late years the greatest artillery engagement fought by the country was that of Lord Gough's ; an engage ment quite as effective in its results, and much more merciful in its character, than, perhaps, any other on record. The vote was than agreed to, as was also a vote of 652,755/., for pay, allowances, and contingencies for 14,569 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. 173,8371. for the commissariat and barrack supplies. Mr. HUME considered the barrack establishments of the country quite uncalled for. If civilization pro duced nothing better than that result, all he could say was that civilization conferred an equivocal benefit upon society. The vote was agreed to. 66 9611. for the expenses of the Ordnance-office. Mr. HUME maintained that if the military depart ment of this office was transferred to the Commander-in- Chief's office the country would not have to pay 80,0004 a:year and upwards for the purchase of stores not worth more than 100,000/. Colonel ANSON maintained that no department of the Government was more severely worked than the Ordnance-office, and he assured, the House that the Hon. Member was altogether mistaken as to the amount of the business transacted. He did not believe that the amalgamation suggested would have the effect the Hen. Member predicted, for no great establishment could be broken up, and its business transferred to another depart ment, without a very large increase of expense. The Hon. Member quoted the establishment of 1835, and said the cost was only 1,135,0001., but the real cost was 1,497,0004 As to the employment of officers in the civil departments of the Ordnance, it would not succeed in practice; because they were not so fit for the several situations of storekeeper, &c., as those who had been brought up to them. Besides, as these persons looked to such situations as the ultimate reward of a life spent in the service, it would be unjust to deprive them of that reward by interposing other persons. Mr. HUME stated that if the military department was separated from the store department of the ordnance, a s it was in every other part of the world—in Bengal, for instance —the expense would not be one-fourth, there would be no waste, and there would be no ac cumulation of materials worth 6,000,0001., without any inquiry at to whether or not they were useful or obsolete. Neither would there be 221 individuals needed in Pall-taiall to manage these stores, With refer ence to the Hon. and Gallant Officer's statement on the subject of the cost cf the Ordnance in 1835, he (Mr. Hume) held in his hand a return ordered by Mr. Baring, and signed by Mr. Parker, in which the cost for the three years were -1833 1834 1835 £1,314,000 1,068.000 1,151,000 Either the Hon. Gentleman was oroug, or the return made by the Government was wrung, thac was all he (Mr. Hume) had to say on the subject. Colonel ANSON said the return was imperfect; it did not include the whole of the financial year, or the 200,000/, appropriation fund. Mr. lIUKE ! , .aid, the average of five years gave 1,2'.16,2001. If the rf turn of one year W 33 deficient, it I wo::!.1 have beet) 00 doubt made up in the year fel- Celorel ANSON still maintained that the return was not pe:-ect. The eefe wee then agreed ti'. 243e 1 261 for the establishments at home and abreact. Mr. COBDEN said there were upwards of 80 ord nance establishments where stores were kept, and store keepers afid clerks maintained by the country. That was one of the points to which the Committee had drawn the attention of the Government, in the hopes of a considerable reduction of the expense. The Hon. Gentleman had, however, said that four only would be reduced; though every ono knew the one at Harwich might bo easily dispensed with, as well as several others, in consequence of the facilities that existed for supplying stores in those places by railway. Of the 80 ordnance establishments there were 47 abroad. and the seine rule would apply to them as to those in this country. Ia Canada, for instance, there were seven, containing half a million worth of stores, some of which were perishing from age, having been there half a century and upwards. Tuese involved storekeepers, clerks, rent, Sec.—all of which might be got rid of. In the West Indies every little island was strewed with cennone, shot, and shells, though he (Mr. Cobden) had been told by a person perfectly well iii formed on the subject that the whole system might be changed, not only with benefit to the country, but with advantage to the establishments themselves. I❑ former times it was often a fortnight's voyage from the Leeward to the Windward Islands; but since the introduction of steam it was not more than 48 hours. The establish ments, therefore, that might have been seeded in former times were now nee led no longer, and consequently could be dispensed with. If the Hon. Gentlema❑ came to the House next year, and proposed the reduction of 12 or even 20 of these establishments, he would still leave something to be done in the matter. Colonel ANSON did not wish it to be understood that the reductions were all completed. There should, how ever, be time slowed to toisider the subject. Mr. HUME asked why, as the troops were to be re moved from Australis, the establishments in that colony were kept up. Colonel ANSON answered that provision was taken for six months; after that, the expense would fall on the colony. Colonel CHATTERTON called attention to the sub ject of barrack damages. He considered that the soldier should not be mulcted of his pay for small damages, fur putting a nail where a peg would serve the purpose, for example—which a whitewash brush and an expense of sixpence would set to rights. Colonel ANSON said the Hon. Member spoke profes sionally, and it was well known that professional men were frequently very much biassed. The public required some protection. If the little defects alluded to were to be passed over unnoticed, they would annually amount to a very serious sum. The system required to be closely looked into, in order that abuses might be prevented, and he would give it his best attention. Mr. HUME inquired whether any arrangements had been made, or were in contemplation, for each colony providing its own barracks? Colonel ANSON said, such arrangements had already been made in Australia, and would be carried into effect in the other colonies. Mr. COBDEN read a passage from the evidence given before the Committee last year by the Noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies, who said that they ought to contribute more than they had hitherto done towards barrick expenditure—that he had proposed that in Aus• tralia the whole charge should be transferred to the co lony. That had been done with regard to Australia, but he wished to know if the recommendation had been carried out in the other colonies ? Colonel ANSON was unable to answer the question, but as the Noble Earl had stated that to be his intention, no doubt it would be carried into effect. The vote was then agreed to. 79,0031.. to complete the sum necessary to defray the expense of the wages of artificers and labourers at home and abroad. _ _ _ Mr. lIUME was afraid the principle laid down in 1828 had been departed from, that no manufacture that could be supplied by contract should be provided by the Government. _ . Colonel ANSON said that the principle had not been departed from, and that the only articles manufactured by the Government were those for the supply of which they could not depend on contract. Mr. COBDEN said the parties examined before the Committee gave no very clear idea of the real cost of the articles manufactured by the Government. He found there was a large establishment for the making of gun powder, with a stock of saltpetre and sulphur sufficient fur thirty years' consumption. There was a large plant and a number of dwelling-houses and cottages fur the workmen. Now all the capital required for these de partments was put down as nothing. The cost of manu facture was then compared with the price charged by private individuals, whose capital formed a portion of the expense of manufacture. He was confident the very articles manufactured by the Government could be ob tained cheaper by contract—particularly finished articles, such as gunpowder and brass ordnance. Colonel ANSON said that three-fourths of the gun powder used was provided by contract, but it was neces sary for t}►e Goiernment to keep the power of manu facturing gunpowder in their own hands. With respect to brass guns, the evidence. taken before the Committee showed thst the Government could not depend upon being properly supplied by contract. The mixture of metil was very peculiar, and if it should not be properly amalgamated the manufacture would be a complete failure. Colonel CITATTERTON wished to know if any at tention had been paid to the building of sheds for sol. diers' wives? Mr. F. MAULE said that subject had attracted the alt ntion of the louse for several years. Every one acknowledged the impropriety of placing soldier.' wives in the barrack-room with unmarried men, and the House had sanctioned a vote of 4,0001. to enable such soLlicrs' wives as were married, with the consent of the commanding officer, to live out of the barracks. Colonel CHATTERI.'ON icquired if the soldiers were chuged with the expense? Mr. F. 51AULE—No; they arc allowed so much per week to find their own lodgings. The vote was agreed te. 111,6311. to complete the sum necessary f.jr defraying the expense of ordnance stores for the land and sea service. Mr. HUME said that although the whole force had been supplied with new arms, he found a charge of 90,000/. for the supply and repair of small arms. Colonel ANSON said the demand this year was less than that of last year. It was true the army had been supplied with the percussion musket, but it was neces sary to have a store beyond the number actually in the hands of the troops. Mr. HUME observed that he could not see the neces sity of keeping up a store of 200,000 muskets, when probably some improvement would, in the course of a short time, render them perfectly useless. Colonel ANSON said that the service could not avoid such charges, and if improvements took place they must be adopted. Mr. HUME did not see why we should still continue to purchase saltpetre, when there was already a stock on hand sufficient for twenty years. Colonel ANSON said the proportion necessary to be kept in stock was 4,000 tons, but the quantity proposed to be purchased would make up only 3,500 tons. Mr. HUME protested against the keeping up of such eaormous quantity of stores, a great portion of which were frequently rendered useless. So long as we re tained India we could command a supply of saltpetre at six we ks' notice. Colonel ANSON said the quantity at present on hand was equal to five years' consumption. If the Govern ment should be called ou to purchase on an emergency the price would be doubled. Mr. HUME remarked that much more was lost by the amount of waste and the loss of interest. The vote was then agreed to. 290,064/. to defray the expense of works, buildings, and repairs at home and abroad. Mr. HUME wished to receive some explanation of the charge of 35.0001. fur new barracks at Halifax. Colonel ANSON said that the work, which was abso lutely necessary, had been deferred year after year, but the barracks were at present in such a bad state, and the health of the troops had suffered so much, that it had been considered expedient at once to erect new barracks. The vote was agreed to. 78,6041. for scientific works. Mr. WYLD inquired why, as a portion of the expense of the sappers and miners employed in the survey had been paid by the cities of London and Westminster, cre dit was not given for the payment. Colonel ANSON believed the money had not yet been paid. Mr. J. E. DENISON said the total estimated cost for contouring the whole of Ireland was 30,000/4 but it turned; out that the real cost would not be less than 100,0001, and it had been stated by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, that if the expense had been known in the first instance, it would not have been sanctioned. The original estimate for the survey for the whole map was 300,000/., but it seemed the expendituro already in curred amounted to 758,0001.; 120,0001. would be re quired to add the lines of elevation and level. Of this sum 6,0001. only had been expended. He wished to know what decision had been come to by the Govern ment with regard to this expense. Colonel ANSON said the map had been completed on what was called a townland survey, and was new being revised on what was called a field survey. The system of hill sketching formerly adopted did not show the levels and altitudes so well as the contouring system now resorted to. He had no doubt that the map, when com pleted, would be of great value in more than one respect so Ireland. Sir L. O'BRIEN was of opinion that such a map would be of great use in the carrying on of all public works, and particulr.rly with reference to poor-law unions. Mr. WYLD said ho observed an item of 5,0004 for engraving the maps of large towns. He thought if the large towns were to be surveyed on the large scale the whole country ought to be surveyed in the same way, for it was a hardship on the agricultural interest to be called on to pay for a peculiar survey of large towns. Colonel ANSON said that the survey of large towns would proceed simultaneously with the rest of the survey, on the scale of six inches to the mile. The item re ferred to by the Hon. Member was for engraving the survey of large towns; applications having been made by them for copies of the engraved map, in order to assist them in carrying out sanitary improvements. Mr. E. DENISON was still of opinion that great ex pense would be incurred by contouring, and that as re 4arded large districts of Ireland it would not be of any great value. Sir 11. VERNEY thought the system of contouring was a superior way of laying down the elevations, and LONDO TUESDAY EVENING-, APRIL 9, 1850._ that a reap of six inches to the upon that system, 'would have saved millions expended in the construction of railrosds 2.1:(1 c.thor works. Cttptuin BOLDEitO thought that a fixed arAl uniform FCEOC ,ihoulit be adopted fur all surveys of the kind, and tIiPA a tribanal should be established to decide what that scale shr;;lld Colonel ANSON did not deny the inconvenience of the present system. The vote was then agreed to. 137,5361.. to complete the sum necessary to defray the exp, nse of non-effective services.—Agreel to. The Committee then proceeded to take the navy esti mate/. 137,1001, to defray the salaries and expenses of the Admiralty. Colonel SIBTHORP said he hal given notice of his intention to call the attention of the Cosnroil tee to this vote. He bad to propose a reduction of the present establishment of the Admiralty, particularly as regarded the number and salaries of the Lords. The Right Hon. Baronet opposite held the office f First Lord with a salary of 4,500/. a year, to say nothing of other advan tages, such as a large house in a dry, ail y, and whole- some situation. He thought the Right Hon. Gentlemso might maintain the dignity of his office on a mucn smaller sum, and he should therefore propose to re lute it hy 1,500/. Three" Loris had a salary of 1,0001. each. He proposed to strike off 2001 from fads, leaving their salaries 8001. inste id of 1,0001. The other two Lords had salaries of 1,2001. each. These he proposed to re-1 duce by 200/.. leaving for each of these two Lards a salary of 1,0001. ayi ar. He proposed, that instead of six Lords of the Admiralty they should have but four — too many cooks spoi'ed the broth,—(Dear,' and laugh ter.) He thought four Lords would do very well. It, after that seduction, they found that the service wa; not performed in the manner in which he would wish to see it performed, he had no ohjectien to pop on another. — (Laughter.) Now, what he proposed to do was to re duce the whole expenditure of that particular branch from 9,9001. to 5,800/., and he would be guided by the Chairman as to the manner in which he would take the sense of the Committee on the question. He was not aware whether it was the regular mode of proceeding to take the proposition first in that form, and reduce the vote for the Admiralty by the amount he had stated. The CHAIRMAN suggested that the amount pro posed to be reduced on the entire vote would be the regular course. The diminution in the larger sum would bo first put. Colonel SIBTHORP would go into a detail of the re ductions he proposed to make. There was one secretary who had 2,000/. a year. He proposed to reduce that by the sum of 500/, and give him 1,500/. instead of 2,0004 There was the private secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty too. Then there was the surveyor, who had 1,000/. a year; and as he should go on in the economical line, like the Hon. Member for Montrose—(Laughter) — he would reduce him to 800/. Then there were the accountant-general's salary and the comptroller-general of machinery, and other officers whose pay he would also diminish. The total reduction which he proposed to make in the expense of the Admiralty department would be from the present charge of 20,2501. to 13,1501. The CHAIRMAN then stated the original vote, and put the proposed reduction as the amendment. Sir F. T. BARING said the Hon. and Gallant Mem ber's amendment embraced several topics. He proposed to lower the salaries of the head clerks and officers, and to reduce the number of the Lords of the Admiralty to four instead of six. Colonel SIB I'HORP said he did not wish to touch the emoluments of the clerks at all, for they were the work- ing men. Perhaps those alluded to might be called the gentlemen clerks; but the real efficient working clerks he did not want in reduce. Sir F. T. BARING said it appeared that the Hon. and Gallant Member's remark.; applied to the heads of the department at Somerset House. There were two or three points in reference to the Hon. and Gallant Mem ber's proposition to which he would address himself. And first, with respect to those Parliamentary officers belonging to the department, he would only say, that after the notice given by his Noble Friend at the head of the Government, that that matter would be submitted for the consideration of a Committee of the House, on which occasion the question of their salaries could be fully en tered upon, he (Sir F. T. Baring) thought it would not be expedient to anticipate the decision of that Com mittee. He did not conceive it fair, however, that the Hon. and Gallant Member should confine the vigour of his attacks exclusively to the Admiralty, and that he had permitted the ordnanee estimates to pass without making any similar remarks upon the system of that de partment. But all these matters would be considered by the Committee to be appointed to inquire into them. With regard to the other officers, he thought his Noble Friend had acted wisely in leaving them to the discretion of the parties themselves more immediately concerned in the discharge of their duties. It was to be considered what was a fair remuneration to be paid for their services. He could assure the Hon. and Gallant Member, however, that he formed an erroneous estimate of the duties to be performed by those officers to whom he had alluded, for they were most responsible and oner ous. With respect to the accountant-general, he had been 50 years in the service, and was a most valuable, laborious, and useful public officer, yet the Hon. and Gallant Member, who professed his anxiety not to touch one sixpence of the salaries of those who were hard ' working officers, proposed to make a reduction in the emoluments of one who had risen by his own merit and lung standing to the station which he now occupied. He trusted, therefore, the House would not indulge the Hon. and Gallant Member iu that respect at all events, but would rather take into consideration the long and feith fal services of the individual alluded to. If a reduction wore to be made it should come into effect hereafter, and not commence in the way proposed with those who have lived so long in the service. But such reductions as were proposed might not be so economical as was supposed. Par ties might resign who would be entitled to retiring pensions in proportion to their ta!aries; so that if new appoint ments took place and retiring pensions were to be paid, the expense would necessarily be increased. The Hon. and Gallant Member proposed a saving of 100/. a year on the 6001. or 7001. of the office of c o mptroller of steam machinery ; now he (Sir F. T. Baring) contemplated cut ting off that post altogether, and thereby save the entire amount of the salary. The Hon. and Gallant Member thought that a much fewer number of Lords of the Admiralty could do the business to bo performed. Now he (Sir P. T. Baring) would be glad to see the number reduced if ii were conducive to the public service; but he considered that in case of war we could not do with our present staff. It was, in fact, not a war, but, strictly speaking, a peace establishment. Now, how had the business of the Admiralty been managed in 1821? There had been seven Lords of the Admiralty, 18 Commis sioners, and nine Secretaries, to perform the duty for the first six years after the war. In 1829 there had been five Lords, 16 Commissioners, and five Secretaries; and at present there were six Lords and five other officers. The expenses of the Admiralty were for the three periods just named as follows: In 1821 ... ... 39,0001. In 1829 32,0001. At present, only 18 000/ And this great reduction since 1821 had been made not withstanding a great increase in the business to be done by that department. He did not think, therefore, the House had any reason to complain of the want of work to be done by the board. There was a large mass of de tailed business to be superintended by the respective Lords, and, for his part, he did not think it would be g ood for the public service to r e duce their number. If they did so other parties should be got to perform the duties which now devolved upon the Lords of the Ad miralty. He believed the present arrangement had been made by Sir James Graham in 1833—that it had worked well, and therefore he trusted the Committee would not agree to the proposition made for reducing their number. Cul. SIBTHORP said, if the Noble Lord at the head of the Government pledged himself to grant such a Com mittee as that adverted to, he was perfectly ready to submit the decision on his proposal to such a tribunal. Mr. FITZROY said, if the Hon. and Gallant Member had confined his proposition to a reduction of the num ber of the Lords of the Admiralty, be might not have made any observations on the question ; but when it was proposed to cut down the salaries of two secretaries to the extent of 5001. a year ; and still further, when it was proposed to reduce the salaries of the accountant• general, the storekeeper, and other officers, ho could not consent to such a proposition, having had some personal experience of the admiriable manner in which the duties, particularly that of the ac countant-general, who had been 5t years in the service, were performed, and that public servant had an enor mous staff of clerks under his charge; and when the im mense extent of the accounts of the navy was considered it could not be thought that he was over-paid. With aespect to the salary of surveyor of the navy, as that was a new appointment, he thought that 1,0001. per an num was sufficient. On the subject of the number of the Lords of the Admiralty, he considered the service of one might be easily dispensed with. He knew that there was au immense quantity of work to be done, but all the duty to be performed was not done. In fact, a great deal was scarcely done at all. Two much was left to be done by t h e permanent officers. He did believe, however, that all the business to be transacted at the Admiralty might be done by one Lord less than 'the present number. However, as the Noble Lord at the bead of the Government had promised to appoint a Committee on that subject, he (Mr. F.) should feel great delicacy in voting with the Hon. and Gallant Member, if he pressed his motion to a division. Mr. ARKWRIGHT said that he believed that a good deal of time and money was wasted in the official visits of the Lords of the Admiralty to Portsmouth. The fact was that these visits migh becou sideed la a u s g m b. relf t ap.ex cuses for forming jovial parties.—(A peered to him that a great gain in every way would be effected if such inspections were made in an unostenta tious manner by one or two Lords of the Admiralty, without any previous notice given upon the subject. Mr. HUME said he quite agreed in the proposal to effect an aggregate reduction of 7,100/. in the vote. But ho thought that the items of that reduction ought to be left to the heads of the department. He might state as an instances of the economy which might be practised in the details of the vote, that it would be very easy to abolish the two sinecure offices of a vice• admiral and a rear-admiral of Great Britain. Lord J. RUSSELL said he should be sorry to find that the Honourable and Gallant Member had been led into any error with respect to the Committee which he (Lord J. Russell) proposed to appoint. The Committee would certainly inquire into the salaries of the First Lord of the Admiralty, and of other Lords of the Admiralty who were Members of Parliament. But it would not inquire into the salaries of the accountant-general or of other permanent officers of the department. It appeared to him that the heads of the department would be much better able to effect reduc tions in the details of the service than a Committee of that House. They found, for instance, that there had been a comptroller of steam machinery, whose services it would be difficult for a Committee of that house to undertake to dispenee with; but his Right Lion. Friend the First Lerd of the Admiralty, fin!iing thet those err vice. Caro no leeger neceseary, hal alzegether abolished the office A event had lately taken place at the Treasury. Oa the occasion of the lameeted death of Mr. Broolielearle, certain changes.in that deportment had be come indispensable; but it bad not been found necessary to introduce any new officer, and accordingly no such appointment had taken place. A reduction of 7,1001. in the vote would be a merely arbitrary one, and the amount might just as well be fixed at any other sum. Colonel SIIiTHORP wished to know whether the Noble Lord proposed that the inquiries of the Committee should be extended to the Beard of Admiralty. Lord J. RUSSELL said that the Committee would inquire into the salaries of the First Lord of the Admi ralty, and of other heeds of the department, hut not into the salaries of the accountant-general and of the other subordinate officers. Colonel SIBTIIORP said that would not do for him. Mr. DISRAELI hoped his lion, and Gallant Friend would carefully consider the course he ought to pursue upon that occasion. It was his (Mr. Disraeli's) inten tion to oppose the appointment of the proposed Com mittee of the Noble Lord, and in doing so he calculated on the support of his lion. and Gallant Fr'eed. It up ' e :red to him that the time had cline whin they ought at once t I proceed to effect in the salaries of all our gre it public officers every reduction e hich could be made con sistently with the efficient .discharge of the public ser vice. In his opinion, the Government ought, without any further delay, to propose the alterations which they themselves acknowledged to be necessary by their sug gesting the appointment of the Committee. On Friday next, when the Noble Lord should bring forward his motion upon the subject, he (Mr. Disraeli) should state the reasons which induced him to think that it would be most impolitic and inexpedient on the part of the House to accede to that motion. Colonel SIBTHORP said he should confice his amendment to the abolition of the offices of two Lords of the Admiralty; and he should therefore move a re duction of the vote by a sum of 2,0001. Sir F. BARING said he wished to observe, in reply to a statement made by the Hon. Member for Leomin ster (Mr. Arkwright) that the visits of the Lords of the Admiralty to Portsmouth were so far from being mere pleasure trips, that they invariably involved a great amount of labour and inconvenience. Indeed, he did not remember many days of harder work than those which he spent on such occasions. He should further observe that it would be advantageous that visits of that descrip tion should take place more frequently, if time could be found for the purpose. Mr. HUME said he should vote for a reduction of 4000/. in the vote, although he did not wish to decide on the precise manner in which that saving ought to be effected. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 33 Against it ••• 110 Majority ••• •.• ..• —77 The vote was then agreed to. A sum of 9,772/ was next voted for the General Re gister and Record Office of Seamen. A vote of 49,7031. having been proposed for the several scientific departments of the navy, Mr. HUME said he wished to know if any arrange ment could be made for reducing the price of the Nautical Alrnanack. He had received a great many complaints of the excessive amount which it cost at present. Sir F. BARING said he would make inquiry. Mr. HUME wished to know what reports had been received with respect to the observatory at the Cape of Good Hope. He had moved some years ago for a return on the subject, but he had never succeeded in getting it. Mr. PARKER :aid inquiries would be made. Mr. HUME, in reference to the Ordnance maps, called attention to the circumstance that, although no great number of surveys had been made, the charts were not completed. He knew Captain Beaufort's time was much taken up with the tidal harbour reference, but he under stood that as soon as he was relieved from those duties he would give his attention to these charts. He wished to know whether the arrears of any money had been brought up, and, also, whether the prices of the maps had been so reduced as to be accessible? It was known that many of the charts were very incorrect, land the result was the loss of many ships. He begged to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether ho knew that a vessel of considerable value last year ran on a shoal which was not indicated on the map? He believed a naval officer had been sent to inquire into the matter. Mr. LABOUCHERE did not carry in his mind the occurrence to which the Hon. Member had alluded; but there could be no doubt that our merchant vessels were often very inadequately provided with maps. Mr. HUME suggested that it might be advisable to have all maps authenticated by a stamp, to be impressed on them by the hydrographic department of the Admi ralty. He referred to the statement made by an officer, named Captain Ross, at the Geographical Society at Bombay, tbat three ships of war had been lost, in conse quence of not having maps on board. The East India Company had been at very great expense in having ex cellent surveys made; but they were not as yet engraved. It was a question of material importance, and even though it should cost a little mere money, the maps ought to be completed, either at the expense of the Com pany or the Government. Mr. WYLD thought the merchant service had some reason to complain of the slow progress made in engrav ing the map, for while 60,000/, were spent in surveys in different parts of the world, only 3,0001. were spent in engraving. The importance of the subject was much enhanced by the great increase of steam navigation, in consequence of the danger which steam-vessels ran of going ashore from their great steed. Sir F. BARING assured the Hon. Member that no one was more anxious than himself to give efficiency to the map department of the Admiralty. The delay he believed arose tram the great care and attention paid by the Government officers to those chartr. He should bo very glad to do all in his power to expedite the publi cation of the charts, and any suggestion which the Hon. Member could offer to further this end would be wil lingly attended to. The vote was then agreed to. On the vote of 135,856/. for the salaries of officers and expenses of naval establishments at home, Mr. HUM}, looking at farmer votes on this head,, could not see that so much progress had been made in economy as the public had a right to expect. Sir F. BARING said if the Hon. Member would take the whole ot the dockyard establishments, be would find a reduction of 81,000/. at home and abroad. The number ot men employed had been very much reduced. Mr. HUME said his objection was that the officers had not been reduced in proportion to the men. Com paring the establishments maintained in private yards and royal yards in other parts of the world with our own, it would be found that we maintained twice as many officers. The vote was then agreed to. Oa the vote of 23,713/. for salaries of officers and ex] penses of naval establishments abroad, Mr. HUME wished to know what reduction had been made in this vote? Sir F. BARING-1,100/. Mr. HUME—Only 1,1001. out of 23,0001. What did they want with these yards? The vote was then agreed to. On the vote of 689,9711. for the wages of at tificers, labourers, and others employed in her Majesty's naval establishments at home, Mr. HUME asked what reduction had been made here? The Committee of Inquiry had pointed out the enor mods increase of these establishments, beyond any pos sible wants of the service. It was doubly unsatisfactory when they knew the number of ships which were lying rotting, which had never gone to sea. He had moved for a return on that subject, which ought to have been before the House. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY bad heard that it was the „practice when the repairs on a particular ship were very large and heavy, to carry them to another, so as to ren der it impossible to ascertain the expense of any one ship. He wished to know whether it was in the power of the Right Hon. Gentleman to give an account of the repairs of any particular ship—of the Vanguard, for in stance. Such a practice would involve so fraudulent a system of accounts that he could hardly believe that such a system had been pursued. Sir F. BARING said it was in the power of the Ad miralty to give the information with respect to any indi vidual ship, but the Honourable Member must not ask for the expenditure under this head of every ship in the navy. The Honourable Member gave him intelligence of a practice which, if he could establish against any officer, would bring upon him the severest censure of the Admiralty. The charge was rather a serious one to make against any officer, and he must be permitted to say he did not believe it. The Honourable Member for Montrose would lead them to suppose that no reduc tion had been made under this head; but he would find that there was a reduction of 75,0001. in addition to the very large reduction of last year. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said the Right Hon. Gentle man had misunderstood him. He had made no charge against any individual. He believed that in former times such a practice existed, and he had asked whether it existed still. Sir F. BARING said his only answer was, that he did not believe it to exist. What happened many years ago the Hon. Baronet might perhaps know, but unfortunately he did not. Mr. BUCK hoped the queition put by the Hon. Member for Montrose, as to the number of ships rot ting which had never been to sea, would not be lost sight of. Sir F. BARING said the return would be furnished as soon as possible, but it must be recollected that the Admiralty clerks had something , else to do besides pre , paring these rsturns. Mr. S. HERBERT said, as long as they had peace, some ships kept is reserve, in case of war, must rot without going to sea, and in fact, the least expensive mode was to keep some ships in ordinary an d o th e rs cons tantly at sea, instead of sending them all to sea in turn; and it was certain that a great wase ot money had taken place in repairing ships which had much better have been broken up. Ask at Lloyd's, and the answer would be that the only ships fitted for the Admiralty service were those of the class Al. As much was frequently spent in repairs as would have sufficed to build a vessel. Admiral BOWLES said, if the Admiralty was to blame it was for taking to much care of the old ships, and it was this which filled our navy with vessels inferior to those of other powers. Mr. HUME complained that it was unjust that the public should be so burdened, particularly when 229 ships had been broken up from 1828 up to 1840, and also re gretted that the sum of 4,8.18,0001. should be lavished uselessly on ships of 11,000 tons for the gratification of the surveyor of the navy. On this consideration he should propose a reduction of one-half of the amount of the vote, but not at present more. Sir F. DARING said, as the Hon. Gentleman had given notice of a motion to reduce the vote for stores, it wouln probably be better to defer any discussion upon the question of the navy generally till then. He hoped the House would allow the two votes before it to pass, and 1.7 e would go no further that night. But with re gard to statements that had been made in that House and &owl - Jere, as to the number of ships broken up and their state of efficiency, he wished to make one or two observations. The average ago of ships that hal been broken up was 37 years, so they certainly could not bo considered very young. They had sold 18, the average age of which was 37 1-3 years. Of vessels taken from the enemy 24 had been broken up, whilst the averag age, since the date of their capture, was 26 years, and 26 ships had been sold, the average of which was 20 1-3 years. Now, with regard to the Canopus and Implacable, which had been so frequently cited as being better ships to repair than the new ones they were building, he wished to say that, beginning with the repairs of 1805 and ending with 1847, the cost of the Cenopus's repairs was 135,293/. The Implacable, captured at the same perio,!, ost in repairs 109,9121.—50 that, for the repairs of those two ships, four new vessels might twee been independently of the sums peid for their capture. Nov, when it was stated that they ought not to break up (Jr build new ship.e he thought it neeesseey that that st :cement should be made. With regard to the enint.ee of ships built since le2B, lie would ask the Hon. GerTharan whether it was practicable to turn old sailing ships into new steam ships, and it should be borne in mind that a new element—that of steam—bad been re cently called into action in naval warfare. If the steamers were deducted the numbers built would not ap pear at all large.—(Hear.) After a few words from Mr. HUME in explanation, Mr. BROTHERTON suggested that they should re port progress.—(Cries of " Hear," and " No, no.") Mr. HUME suggested to the Right Honourable Gentleman to postpone the vote, as he objected very strongly to the vote of the dockyard brigades, and meant to take the sense of the House upon that sum. Captain FITZROY hoped that the Right Honourable Gentleman would not accede to any reduction from the present vote. Sir F. T. BARING thought it would be most unwise not to be prepared for any emergency that might happen. It was easy to talk of reductions then, but if any dis turbances should arise the party most clamorous for these reductions would be perhaps the first to censure the Government. Mr. TIIORNELY asked whether it was the intention of the Government to abolish the old telegraph system in favour of the new electric telegraph? Sir F. T. BARING said that they were doing away with them as fast as they could. Mr. COBDEN asked whether any reductions were made iu the wages of these artificers and other workmen while they were being drilled? Captain BERKELEY replied in the negative. On the vote being put, Mr. HUME said he could not agree to it. He pro• posed, as an amendment, that it be reduced by 10,000./ The Committee then divided, when their appeared— For the original vote ... ... 66 Against it ... 15 Majority against Mr. Hume's amendment —5l The next vote was 36,9851. for artificers and other workmen employed in their establishments abroad. Agreed to. _ _ _ The House then resumed; the Chairman reported pregress, and asked leave to sit again. The Exchequer-bills (9,200,0001.) Bill passed through Committee. Tho report on the Brick Duties Bill was brought up, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time this day (Tuesday). The Judgments Bill, as amended, was considered, and ordered to be read a third time this day (Tuesday). On the motion of Mr. HAYTER, the Stamp _Duties Bill was read a second time, pro forma, with a view of being reprinted with amendments. On the motion of Mr. PETO, the Titles of Religious Congregations Bia went through Committee. The House having resumed, Sir W. SOMERVILLE obtained leave to bring in a Bill for promoting the public health in Ireland. Mr. C. LEWIS obtained leave to bring in a Bill to revise the laws relating to parochial assessments in England. The House then adjourned. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. ROME ClRCUlT.—Kingston, April 8. Mr. Justice Maule did not sit to-day as was ori , ginally arranged, owing to his Lordship's state of indisposition ; and Chief Justice Wilde was engaged the whole day in his court with the further proceed ings in the cause of "Wheeler v. the Bishop of 'Win chester," and it is expected to occupy another day before the case will be brought to a conclusion. NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Norwich, April 8. CROWN COURT (Berore Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.) Robert Willemont, aged 21, was in listed for wounding James Ems, while in the execution of his duty as a policeman, on the 10th of January, 1848. Mr. Power prosecuted, and Mr. Wm. Cooper de fended the prisoner. It appeared that the prosecutor and another police man, named Garrod, were entrusted, in 1847, with a warrant to apprehend the prisoner o❑ a charge of felony, and that they repaired to his father's house at half-past eight o'clock on the night of the 10th of January, 1848, and finding the garden gate padlocked, they climbed over the fence and rapped at the house door, which was also fastrned. After some little interval, old Mr. Willemont opened his chamber window, and asked who was there, and what was watned. Ems replied, "I want your son Robert ;" but being politely told that "he might be off, for he should not have his son that night," the policeman insisted on admission, as he bad a warrant and would show it to the inmates if they would come down and see it. The father then withdrew his head, and the officers of justice waited patiently for some ten minutes. At the lapse of that time they repeated their summons, and receiving no answer they broke open the door, and rushed up stairs. As soon as they entered they saw the father standing with a light in his hand, just inside the door, and a brother of the prisoner half way up the stairs, with a stick. Ems passed the latter, and just as he reached the landing he received a tremendous blow on the head from the prisoner, who laid about most vigorously with a thick broom-stick. The effect of this wound was to bring blood, and as the prosecutor was staggering under it the prisoner's brother knocked him down to the ground, with his stick. This done the whole family would seem to have decamped, leaving Garrod to carry his disabled companion to Norwich Hospital, as best he might. Mr. COOPER, in addressing the jury, echoed the statement of the prisoner, who, when he was taken on this charge, denied all knowledge of the character of the prosecutor, and asserted that he took him for a housebreaker rather than an officer of justice charged to keep the peace. Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN left it to the jury to say whether they attached any credit to this statement, and they having found the prisoner Guilty of the whole charge, he sentenced him to transportation for ten years, the offence appearing to him to be one wl.ich called for the most serious punishment. First POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GUILDHALL. Mr. Savage, a slop-shirt seller, having a warehouse in Gutter-lane, was summoned for 9d., being the balance left unpaid to Mrs. Wallis of 2s. for making three cotton shirts. It appeared that Mr. Savage gave the complainant three shirts to make, on the understanding that they were to be well done for Bd. per shirt. When they were delivered at the warehouse finished, Mr. Savage found fault with them and deferred payment. The husband of the complainant subsequently called, when ls. 3d. was handed to him, the remainder being with held on account of certain alteratio ns having been made, and which Mr. Savage stated was ld. less than he had been obliged to pay. He also stated that Mrs. Wallis had obtained the work from him under false representations. The ALDERMAN said he was surprised to see any tradesman or citizen of London who only paid Bd. for making a shirt deducting 3d. from so small a remuneration, even supposing the wo rk required redoing. H He said it was disgraceful to any respectable tradesman to waste his own time and that of the complainant by disputing such a trifling a mount as 9d. He then or d ere d t h e money t o b e paid with expenses, and said that if the defendant acted as he ought t o d o h e wou ld remunera t e th e complainant for loss of time. MARLBOROUGH-STREET. .Henry Georg e St an l ey an d his a ll ege d wife, lien rzetta Stanley, who were charged with fraudulently obtaining money to the amount of about 3001. from his Grace the Duke of Wellington, were brought up before Mr. Bingham to receive judgment. Previous to judgment being given the following additional evidence was adduced : John Sannington stated that the male prisoner was married to his sister in the year 1831, and that they lived together between six and seven years. His sister was still alive. Mr. BINGHAM then said—For the:offence which has been proved against the prisoners it is my duty to sentence them to an imprisonment of three months ; but, as they have already been confined three weeks, and as no other charge had been brought against them, the three months will be computed from the day of their first apprehension. LAMBETH. THE CASE OF THE MISSES RADFORD.--Two of the Misses Radford, the daughters of an army surgeon now deceased, but who had formerly belonged to the 14th Dragoon Guards, attended before Mr. Norton at the request of that magistra te, to hear his final decision relative to the disposal of a sum of money subscribed for their use by several benevolent indi vi Ina's, under the i mpr ession that they were deserv ing objects of public charity and sympathy. Th e c i rcums t ances connected with the crise of these ladies, three in number, and rather advan ,- ..ed in years, will be recollected by our readers. Mr. NORTON proceeded to express his opinion of the case. In alluding to the reckle as course pursued by the Misses Radford,. he said than from the state- CHELMSFORD, APRIL s.—Prices to-day were as follow: Wheat, white, old 35s to 445; new 36. to 455; red, old 33s to 39s ; new, 34s to 403; barley, 24s to 273 ; chevalier 25. to 28s ; grinding 21s to 23s ; oats 16s to 22s ; malt 54s to 565; chevalier 34s to 58s; peas, partridge, new 26s to 275; old, --s to ; white, new, 25. to 28. ; old, —s to --s ; dun, new, 24s to 265; beans, tick, new 24s to 26. ; old, 27s to 295; harrow ticks, new 25s to 275; old 28s to 303; ma zagan, new 231 to 25s ; old 24s to 27s per qr. COLCHESTER, Arum 6.—Wheat, white 42s to 465; red 36s to 403; barley 24s to 28s ; beans, mazagan 22s to 26s ; middle and small 24s to 283; peas 24s to 25s per qr. 1-lAnnitioroN, ArsuL s.—The following are the prices of Eraia at our market to-day : Wheat. I Barley. Oats. ... 40s 05 I 273 6d I 193 Od Second ... Third ... ... 37s ld 123 s ld 17s 8d .. 32s 6:1 18s Od 15s Gd Beans. 26s Od 24s id 23s ed Total quantity of Wheat in market ' 554 qrs.,' 553 sold Do. Barley do. 357 qrs., 278 sold Do. Oats do. 348 qrs., 298 sold Do. Beans do. 180 qrs., 151 sold KIRKALDY, APRIL 6.—The fallowing are the quovationa up to this date:— Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Peas. First 41s Od 23s 6d 20s 6d —s Od —s Od Second 38s 6d 19s 6d 18s 6d. —s Od —s 0(1 Third 32s Od 17s Oct 14s 6,1 —s Od —s Od Oatmeal, per bag ut 2801bs imperial, 243 to Os OJ. GLAscow, Artut. 4.—Provisions—Che,se, 49s to 50a Od per cwt ; retail, bd to 6(1 per lb. Skim milk, 18s Od to Os per cwt. Country fresh butter, Os 9d to lod per lb. Jrish pow dered, in lumps, 9d to 10d; country powdered, wholesale, lid to Bd. Country eggs, 9d per dozen ; carried hen ditto, 5s tid per hundred, or 7d per dozen. Hens, 2s Od per pair; Ducks, 2s Od. STIRLING, APRIL 4.—Wheat, foreign, 22. to 235; ditto, home, Os id to 08 Od; ditto ditto new, 16s to 20s; barley, per boll of 6 bushels, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto new, 13. Od to 17. od. Oats, common, 00s Od to 00s Od ; ditto new, 8s 6d to 10. 3d; ditto, Flemish, Os Od to Os Od; ditto ditto new, Os Od; malt, distillers, 32s Od to 3•18; citto brewers, 35s Od to 37s ; beans per boll, Os 6d to Os Od ; ditto new, 18s Od to 14s 6d ; pease lls 3d to 13. 6d; flour, new per sack, 32. to 335; ditto common ditto, 20s Od. to 22s 6d; oatmeal, per load, Os Od to Os Od ; ditto new 22s Od to 24s ; ditto per peck of 71b1, 7d to 8d ; fresh butter per lb, 7d to 10d; eggs per dozen, Gd to 7d; hal....per ton, 50. to 6Js. ELSO, ArItIL s.—Wheat, old, Os to Os ; ditto, new, 24s to 31s Od ; barley, new, 14s to 15. Od ; ditto old, Os to Or ; potato oats, 00s to 00s ; ditto new, 12s to 14s 6d ; coramon oats 12s to 131 Od; ditto new, 00s to 00s Od; peas, (~ 0 3 Od to 00s Od; beans, 18s to 00s per boll of six imperial bushels. PERTH, APRIL 4.—Wheat, 32s Od to 38. Od ; barley, 16. Od to 20s Od; oats, 14s to 18. ; peas and beans, 20s Od to 24. per quarter. Oatmeal, per sack, 25. to 265. flawicx, APRIL 4.—Wheat, new, 20s to 29s Od; barley, new, 12s to 15. 6d ; ditto old, 00s to 00s • potato oats, 10s Od to 12s 6d ; common oats, 8s to 12s Od; peas, 20s Od to 24s ; beans, 20s Od to 24s Od per boll of six imperial bushels. FALKIRK, Aram 4.—The supply of grain in this day's market was 420 bolls; wheat at 18s 6d to 19s 9d per boll. ; barley, 13s Od to 18s Od ; oats, 1 is Od to 13s Od; beans, 12s 6d to 15s Od per boll ; oatmeal, Os to Oa per load. BERWICK, APRIL 4.—Wheat, 34s 100 ; barley, 18s 9d ; oats, 14s 0 d ; rye, O 0 Od ; beans, 20s B.ld ; peas, 00s Od average per imperial quarter. COAL MARK E' Carr's Hartley Chester Main lss 6d Holywell West Hartley Wylam Eden Main l6s 6d T.— Y ESTRADA'S. ICownden Tees ... l7s 9d Maclean's 'fees 163 6d Seymour Tees South Durham l7s 9d Tees West Tees 163 Gd Birchg. Graigola Hartley ...... ..... Sidney's llartley Gwendruath Stone Ships at market, 31. Wall's End, &c. Jonassohns Whitwell ... l7s 6d Caradoc .. .... ..... 18s 3d Kelloe lBl 3d Adelaide Tess SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERS ALL'S.—YESTERDAY. THE GRANBY HANDICAP. 3 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Backbiter 6 to 1 agst Mr. E. Davis's Chorister 6 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Mrs. Taft BELVOIR CASTLE STAKES. Even on Penang. METROPOLITAN STAKES. 5 to 2 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Cheerful, 4 yrs, bit 8 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Raby, 4 yrs, 7st 91b 10 to 1 agst Mr. C. Hall's Ada Mary, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b 12 to 1 agst Major Pitt's Mounseer, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b 16 to 1 agst Sir G. Heathcote's Black Eagle, 4 yrs, 7st Illb 25 to 1 agst Mr. Douglas's Sir Gilbert, 4 yrs, 6st 21b 30 to 1 agst Count Bathyany's Valentine, 3 yrs, 4st 41b The settlement of several heavy accounts on the Northampton races did not prevent some rather im portant betting on the above event; its effect was to force Cheerful back from 2 to 1 to 5 to 2, currently offered, and to bring Raby from 20 to 1 to 9 to 1, as little as 8 to 1 having at one time been taken in two or three quar ters. Ada Mary and Mounseer were also in favour at improved quotations. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 2 to 1 agst Lord H. Lennox's Beehunter CHESTER CUP. The only bets were 14 to i in ponies agst Cossack, 20 to I to the same amount agst Roland, 30 to 1 to 651. azst John Cosser, 1,000 to 20, two or three times, &gat Vesta, and 10,000 to 100 agst Giselle and Rodney. DERBY. 11 to 2 agst Mr. W. Edwards naßolingbroke—taken 7 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Canute 9 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors—taken 16 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Knight of Avenel—take 20 to 1 20 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew 1,000 to 15 agst Duke of Richmond's Compass—taken The above was the last quotation agst Mayors, but at one time as little as 7 to 1 was taken; he had previously been backed at the West-end and in the City to a great a mount; it to 2 and 6 to 1 was taken about 13oliegbroke to 6001. or 7001., and 7 to 1 offered apt Ghillie Callum. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—BETTING. ---Mr. John Moore, the Sporting Publisher, St. Martin's-lane (established 1819), continues to lay Tattersall's Odds against all horses for the Metropolitan Handicap, Nevularket Handicap, Bath and Somersetshire Stakes, the 2, 000 Guineas, and the Derby. Abergavenny and Metkropo litan Steeplechases. Country commissions faithful] y at tended to on the remittance of a post-office ol'Aers , payable to John Moore, Charing-cross, London. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—THR EARL OF ALDBOROL 'Ole AND HormowAv'e PILLS.—An astounding cure by this miracu lour medicine, after every other means had failed. See extract from his Lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 11 145. Professor Holloway—Sir :I belt° acquaint you that your pills bay. le. fected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stomach which all then tos t eminent of the faculty, at home and all over the continent, had no I been able to effect ; nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or rienbad. (Signed) " .As.nsoaouou." These wonderful pills ea , • cure any disease of the liver or stomach.—Sold (also 1142110 ) gaft Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establishment. 244, Strand by ell medicine vendors tbigughput the elYikiSed WOK i , N <,.z.,E,5-s'-1-7.-77--i' , ---:- - --?;\ -+,;.t.-.•- ' 'Sag , - Ern': t meat of one of the complainants, a publican of p a : ~,.. ::,‘ , ,_ end, it appeared that his one week's score to .-o f the- , :-.. 1: Misses Raiford and their father, for ale and .in 0nei;,,.;;... ',, amounted to 18s. 3d.; that to a poor Aai . iiii . g - :; : , -; ~,' green.Toc2r in the same neighbourhood they owo 2 -.--0 , / upwa;ds of 8/., and was nearly his ruin; that the N--- amount of debts owing to poor people are consider able ; and taking into consideration the whole of their conduct, he did not consider them deserving objects for public charity, and should, therefore, withhold from them any portion of the fund in his hand. To this determination he had come with much reluctance. Yet he felt it to be but his duty to wards the benevolent individuals who had forwarded him their subscriptions, to withhold them from the parties, believing them, as he did, to be unworthy ob jects. The whole of the subscriptions received by him amounted to 49/. 103.; and out of this he had given the Misses Radford 101. He had also paid 6/. 14s. 91 to a few of the unfortunate creditors, and 141. was requested by four of the subscribers to be transferred to the poor. box ; so that the amount in hand at present was 181. 1.55. 3d. '.Cis amount should re -1 main for a fortnight, and if it was the wish of uny of the subscribers to have their money returned, or apply it to any oth,r charity, he should be most happy to attend to their directions ; but if he (Mr. Norton) re ceived no such instructions, he should at the end of the fortnight place it in the poor-box. o.le of the Misses Radford complained of the injus tice done to the memory of her father, who li.\d been honoured in the army, by the statements that had gone forth. Upon which Mr. NORTON observed that the /van who could have given so many bills to poor persons,. and who had shown such a thorough disregard to their being met or settled, could have been no great honour to the army. THAMES. A HUSBAND KILLED BY lIIS Wm.—Jane Kirt land was finally examined, charged with having caused the death of her husband, Wm. Kirtland alias Cutter, lately carrying on business as a butcher, in High-street, Shadwell, by cutting him with a chop per on the arm. The facts have already appeared in this journal. Mr. YARDLEY committed the prisoner to take her trial for manslaughter. A very respectable looking woman, named O'Shea, applied yesterday to Mr. Yardley for relief under the following circumstances :—She was the mother of five children, all living, and her husband, a sea captain, had the misfortune of being wrecked three times in the space of fourteen months, and he on one occasion escaped being cut to pieces by savages in Africa. After much endurance he was enabled to go out again as second officer of a small vessel ; but out of his ad vance he had been able to leave her only 3s. She had parted with all she possessed in the world, except the beds on which she and her children lay, and, though the elder ones bore the privation with firmness, her heart was almost broken when the infant two years old cried for food. Her landlady, she said, was most kind and indulgent, but she Was ashamed to let her know the privations to which the poor children were reduced. Mr. YARDLEY, baying ascertained through one of the officers that her statement was perfectly correct, granted her I/. from the poor-box. [IX MARKETS. statement of the quantities of lrt of London from the ports in ISSO, to the 6th April, 1850, THE COUNT The following is the official corn, &c., received in the poi Essex, from the Ist April, 1 both inclusive : 01 .1 G c 6. g 0 0 ;—=". Colchester — 250 50 Harwich Leigh 125 23 —; 16 Maklon 92 91 176 350 61 300 ria• t 01 010 ;il.- 1 v!, i s 0 1 The ads, ions ions ince sts' 1