The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

part and carriages for the militaryforce that were moved irom Martaban to Rangoon, wh;ch was to the east of Prone, and was that force wither': the means of trans port ? Lord Dalhousie, with the energy : which charac terised him, went himself and personally gave orders for the assembling of elephants and for the collection of other necessary means of transport. It had been stated that the elephants were useless, because they had to pass through the Arracan mountains; but, that was never contemplated, the route selected being by the way of Chittagong. Such animadversions.should not be made, unless the fact of their being merited was established 'beyond all possibility of question, and supported by pa pers. Such representations were most mischievous, and tended to paralyse the efforts of those who were employd. The exaggerations had been so preposterous that he must beg the attention of the house while he answered some .of them. It was represented that the first expedition had cost 240,000/., but it appeared that the whole of the expenses amounted only to 30,0001. It was said that the War expenditure of the year was 500,000/., but it was not 40,0001. a month. The melancholy scenes that had oc curred during the former Burmese war were to be attri- buted to the want of food and clothes, and covering ;;d medical treatment. Lord Dalhousie knew that well, and before the war broke out he gave orders for providing 'skeleton houses for the reception of 6,000 or 7,000 men, and they were conveyed in steamers to the place where they were required. The result was that the medical returns from the troops during the rains showed the health of, the soldier, on an average, to be as good as the health of the troops on the plains of Bengal at that time. It;was done with economy, but done effectually ; and, in fact, all that could be effectually done was done by Lord Dalhousie. By his personal superintendence in that province he had established order sooner than it had been established in any province that had previously been annexed to the British empire. (Hear, hear.) There was one consideration of responsibility that pressed upon Lord Dalhousie, and that distinguished officer, General Godwin, who had performed his duty assiduously, and that was the fear of compromising the inhabitants of the district ofPegu... There was an apprehension in the minds of General Godwin and Lord Dalhousie that if they gave anything like an intimation to the Peguese to side with them, and if they were subsequently to retire from Pegu, the state of those men would be wretched if General Godwin allowed them to do anything to assist him, or if Lord Dalhousie b a d issued such a proclamation until he was sure the annexation would take place. Scarcely had the procla mation been issued, when offers were received from two of the leading chiefs, offering to put down the dacoits and plunderers, and a thousand muskets having been supplied to them, great confidence was th er eby given to the natives. (Hear, hear.) Lord Dalhousie 'had been requested by the court of directors that he would not allow the usual period of five years to be the termina tion of his government, but that he would continue to afford the state the benefit of his services ; and though Lord Dalhousie had strong reasons to induce him to return to his native country, he had acceded to the request, and he trusted that as they had been fortunate enough to have the services of the most distinguished men in the country, they would stilk longer enjoy the services of the present Marquis of Dalhousie. (Hear.) The subject then dropped---en order having been pre viously given, as stated by Sir C. Wood, to lay the papers moved for on the table. ' ARMY BREAD. Sir W. JOLLIFFE begged, pursuant to notice, to call the attention Of the house to the 'quality of the bread that was supplied to her Majesty's forces in Great Britain, under the existing contracts. In the union workhouses, in the county gaols, and in , their convict establishments, the most unexceptionable quality of bread was supplied, and when it was found that the bread supplied to the troops was not of a good quality, it was natural that it should excite discontent amongst thew. (Hear.) Representations had been made at various periods with regard to this evil, and the mode in which it was attempted to be redressed was felt to be ten times more mischievous than the evil itself. Per mission had been most unwisely given that the troops should pay the difference to the contractor to be fur nished with a better description of bread than he was bound by the contract to furnish. In his opinion, that led to serious evils, and tended to make the contractor furnish a worse description of bread than he would other wise have been able to do, even under the contract. It might have the effect of inducing him to take the con tract at an extremely low rate, by which he might be a loser, hoping to be able to pay himself by what he might receive in addition from the soldiers. The household troops were differently supplied. They were allowed through their colonel to make monthly contracts for their bread. The consequence was, that the burden which bad fallen on the line was totally avoided by the household troops, and no charge was made to them for receiving good bread. He thought it was not too much to expect that a wholesome kind of household bread should constantly be in use among all classes of troops in the service. In the event of a bad harvest, which would, of course, considerably increase the price of bread, the most serious inconveni ences might ensue to the service. It was on these grounds that he had felt it his duty to bring this subject under the consideration of the Government ; and he could ildiv only beg that the right hon. gentleman the Secretary at War would give the matter his serious consideration. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, the subject of the mode of supplying the soldiers with bread came before a committee on the army ordnance department, which sat two or three years ago, and in consequence of the recom mendations of that committee, which were drawn up by Lord Hardinge, Sir W. Gordon, and Sir Randolph Routh, it was - decided that for the future the quality of the bread which was called "seconds" should be used among the soldiers. It was further decided, on the evi dence given before that committee, that, upon the whole, what was called the regimental system of contract gave the most satisfaction to the troops individually ; but there was this disadvantage in it, that in case of distur bance or 'war, that system of contract would break down ; for they would then require an organisation for which they had no preparation. There was also this difficulty ; where a whole regiment was together in one place, the contract would be made very cheap, but where companies of the regiment were stationed in different counties, they were supplied with bread at a very exor bitant rate. It was not, perhaps, just to describe the bread in use among the troops as bad, seeing that the same kind of bread was frequently used by thg aristo cratic classes on account of its exceedingly wholesome and nutritious quality, and generally by the labouring and all other classes who were accustomed to use bread as a principal article of food. THE AIitEMY ESTIMATES—SUPPLY. The house then resolved itself into a committee of supply upon the Army Estimates, Mr. Wilson Patten in the Chair. Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said, in moving the estimates for her Majesty's forces for the ensuing year, he should, perhaps be best consulting the convenience of the house by refraining from going into any lengthened statement with respect to the number of men which would be proposed for the year. On the first night of the session his noble friend sitting near him (Lord J. Russell) expressed the intention of the Government to make no increase of men for the army, navy, and ordnance upon the number proposed by the late Government ; and as that statement was received with general satisfaction by the house, he (Mr. Sidney Her bert) thought he would be uselessly taking up the time of of the committee were he to enter upon a statement of the reasons which had induced the Government to retain the number of men now in the estimates. He did not mean to say positively that there would be no alteration in the numbers, because, in fact, there was a slight increase, re sulting from the return of a regiment of cavalry from India, which now augmented the aggregate number pro posed to be maintained by between 200 and 300, and affected the total charge to the extent of about 17,0001. He would just shortly state what were the heads of difference in the principal votes, before he drew the attention of the committee to cer tain points which he thought worthy of their conside tion. The changes on the first vote arose principally from the augmentation occasioned by the return of a cavalry regiment from India, to which he had already ad verted ; and there would be found alterations resulting partly from that reduction of the staff, which the vigilance of the War-office was always endeavouring to effect, and partly from other causes. The committee would find that the whole charge of the Tower had been transferred to the vote for rewards for distinguished services. The hon. gen tleman the member for Montrose would recollect that in 1834 and 1835 there was a recommendation from the com mittee of the army and navy departments that for the all governors of sinecure garrisons should be abo -'-isiledi and th a t th e procee d s o f th em s h ou ld be devoted to the forming of a fund which should be distributed as re wards for:4listinguished services to officers who had been recommended for such rewards in consideration of their long VI -, .ad that that should continue augmenting till th, Dole sum had reached the amount of 18,0001. The transfer of the vote for the Tower to the estimate he had mentioned completed that sum of 18,0001., and for the future the proceeds of that department would be distributed in the shape of rewards for distinguished services among deserving officers. In the meantime it would be necessary to place on the staff a 'shall effective force, which should perform the duties of the garrison. The reductions under the head of the foreign staff were effected by the diminution in the troops in Africa, Bermuda, Australia, Canada, and, gene rally speaking, in all the British colonies. The vote for the public departments would be found almost in the sam e state as it was last year. It included, however, a charge for postage at the War-office, in consequence of calling out the militia, of 5,9001., which he was afraid was an indica tion of the very large increase of business in that depart ment. Application had been made at the War-office for an additional force to meet the pressure of business arising from embodying the militia, and therefore he was afraid that the present npparent reduction in the expenses of the War -office would be, next year, converted into an augmen tation. Upon several minor heads there was no very great change. In the vote for the Royal Military Asylum, there was some small augmentation, arising chiefly from a - a increase of the staff for the education of schoolmasters. It would be recollected that there had been some complaint in that house, when good conduct rewards were first esta blished by Lord Howick, and augmented by himself (Mr. Sidney Herbert) in 1845, that sergeants were excluded from all participaiion in those rewards. He confessed for himself he thought they had no title to share in those re wards, seeing that, as sergeants, they received adidtional pay- There were circumstances, however, under which such an exclusion pressed somewhat prejudicially on a meritorious body of men ; and he must say there was no bucly of men to whom the army owed so much as to its sergeants, both in the formation and the discipline of its regiments. (Hear, hear.) He therefore proposed to increase, by a grant annually of 1,000/. until it to arms, Lord Hardinge had made great efforts to procure the best arms which modern science could produce. That noble lord had sent to America and to every continental state, and had caused the newest arms to be brought over to this country, and had instituted numerous trials for the completed. There was one quota for last year, and another for this year. Sir G. PECHELL would like to know the exact state the militia was in. Mr. EVELYN regretted that the noble lord would not afford any encouragement to the formation of volunteer corps. He believed that in Surrey a very efficient regi ment might be raised in that way without costing a far reached 2,0001., the sum that could be, distributed for good service rewards among non-commissioned otacers. With respect to the vote for half-pay general ' officers re duced, and widows of foreign officers, there was, as there had been for some years past, a considerable di minution, though this year it was not so large as usual. _ _ _ purpose of testing their relative merits. The result of these trials led Lord Hardinge to hope that he would be able to produce a weapon lighter and more effectual than the present musket, and carrying equally as far, but lighter than the Minie rifle, and with as correct aim and as great thing expense. Lord PALMERSTON did not undervalue volunteer corps, but, being pressed, would admit he could not con sider them as efficient, or nearly as efficient as the militia. That was felt at the beginning of the last war. In 1803 there was a large amount of volunteer force, but after a couple of years that force was diminished, and the local militia was substituted in its stead. The committee would just consider who formed these volunteer corps. Trades men, professional men, clerks, apprentices, men accustom ed to a comfortable existence, and to take care of them selves, not men accustomed to rough it. (Hear, and a laugh.) And if these men were called out to live in camp, to sleep in the fields, and to rise with their clothes ringing wet in the morning, they would all be in hospital in a week. Besides, what was to become of the business of the country if men, the most closely connec t e d w ith it , were t o be taken awe/from their homes and business, and carried to the coast to serve in the army? Volunteer corps might bo very useful for the police of the district, or no doubt in sea port towns, as evidence of national spirit, but he did not think, as part of the present system of military organi sation, that they could reckon on a volunteer force with the same confidence as on a militia regiment. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WALPOLE observed that in about three months not less than 35,000 men were raised for the militia, the most extraordinary instance of recruiting an effective mili tary force, as he trusted the militia would become, which could be found in the annals of this c o untry. (Hoar.) The object of the militia was to raise a permanent force, and a force on which they could permanently rely. In the event of war, they could never rely on a volunteer force with the same confidence they could rely on a force consist ing of men who could not retire from the service when they pleased. The discipline, too, of a volunte er force was not so effective, because it was not continued for so long a time. The Government which preceded the Government of Lord . Derby were appli e d to to sanction the enrolment of four volunteer regiments. When he succeeded to office he wrote to say they must submit to all the regulations prescribed by the act of Parliament, and also to inspection. Three out of the four declined to be embodied on these nient to induce the G overnmen t t o go on an d sanc ti on terms. (Hear, hear.) Th a t was no t sufficient encourage more voluntary corps when they had undertaken the more effective task of raising a militia. (Hear.) Sir DE LACY EVANS remarked that the militia would cost a considerable sum, whereas a voluntary corps would cost nothing. Mr. HUME was still dissatisfied. He could not recon cile the statements that volunteers were useless, and the proposal now to vote 88,0001. for volunteer corps. Lord PALMERSTON thought a voluntary cavalry force was useful, but that a voluntary infantry force was of very little use at all. The persons who composed volunteer corps were totally different from those who composed the militia. The bulk of the privates in the militia were fitted for hardships, and for military duty, and were not engaged in ordinary business. If they carried away to other parts of the country those who were engaged in the daily busi ness of the towns where they resided, it would put an end to the business of the country. Mr HUME said the noble lord was now very solicitous about the business of the country, but on a former occasion he talked of their being plundered and destroyed and all business suspended. The noble lord seemed to him to be blowing hot and cold. (Laughter.) Sir G. PECHELL was still anxious to know the exact state of the militia force. The vote was then agreed to. On a vote of 20,2501. as rewards for distinguished ser vices, Although there was a considerable diminution in the half- efficiency. The army would then, he believed, be in a state of great perfection and -efficiency. (Hear, hear.) This country must always, no doubt, possess an army nu merically small, but there was no reason why that army should not be drilled and put in a state of the highest effi ciency, and made an instrument quite perfect to our hands, as in other nations. (Hear, hear.) The United States, for instance, kept a small standing army, but the weapons se lected for that amy were those which required the highest amount of training, and the greatest time for preparation, in order to be used with efficiency. In the same manner we had in this country a large artillery force, and if our army was small in number, the material of it was un doubtedly good. (Hear, hear.) We possessed great wil lingness and good conduct among the men, and, in fact, all the necessary materials for making the most perfect army in the world. The country had a right to expect that the army to which it contributed so largely should be put in a state of the most complete efficiency. (Hear, hear.) So long as he had the honour of occupying the post in which he was then placed, he should feel it his duty to give every assistance in his power to such endeavours on the part of the military boards. At the same time he felt convinced that by keeping that vigilant watchfulness over the expen diture which it was the duty of the War-office to keep, and keeping down as far as possible the burden of the dead weight, which, if allowed to increase, could not fail to be injurious, there was every reason to hope that the country would see the British army in a state of higher efficiency than it had ever yet been seen. (Hear, hear.) He trusted the committee would excuse the length of the details into which he had gone, and hoped that no difficulty or oppo sition would be made to the passing of the vote, which ho would conclude by proposing. The right honourable gen tleman then proposed a vote of 102,283 men, for the pay, there was an increase in the out-pensioners at Chelsea of 8,9971., for which it was very difficult to account. It was the first increase of that choice that had taken place for some years, and he trusted it would be the last one. Those were the principal heads of difference between the present estimate and that of last year. His right honour able friend (Sir J. Graham), in moving the navy estimates the other night, pointed out how great had been the dimi nution in the charge by which the country maintained that force in the present times. But that was nOt peculiar to the navy. Indeed, he (Mr. S. Herbert) thought in the army he could show that a diminution had taken place to a still greater extent. The War-office had been occupied for a long succession of years by some of the most saga cious men who had. ever shared in the administration of _ _ Public affairs, including Lord Hardinge, Lord Howick, Sir Bohn Hobhouse, and Lord Panmure. Those were men who had devoted great care and attention to all the details of the department over which they presided, and they had especially met with great success in the efforts they made, first, in increasing the comforts and well-being of the soldier ; and secondly, in reducing the expenditure of that department. In 1835, which was always taken as the pattern year for economy, the whole estimate was 5,907,782/. ; and in this year it was 6,025,0161., being an apparent increase of 117,0001. odd. But from the latter sum—that was, from the whole charge for the effective and non-effective services—in order to institute a fair coln- parison between this year and 1835, those items in the eati mates ought to be deducted which, on the recommendation of various military authorities, had been added to the esti mates since 1835. Then, comparing the two, he found there had been additional charges placed upon the esti mates since 1835 amounting to 250,0001., in round num bers ; and therefore, if those were taken off, there would be a decrease in the present year amounting to 137,0001. odd. Then it was to be recollected that we had now about 21,000 more men than we had in 1835. It might be said, in instituting that comparison, he was taking off items of expenditure which it was impossible to avoid, and which were necessary for the improvement and efficiency of the army ; but he could assure the house that the increase upon the estimate of 1835 had been to a great extent upon the non-effective portion of it. Taking that into account, and the sums voted for schools, for the new system of i prisons, for barrack libraries, and many other things ntro-, duced for the benefit and comfort of the soldier, they came to the result that in 1853 they were maintaining 21,000 more men than in 1835 for a less sum than they spent in the maintenance of the number of men in that year. He thought he could show that that was not entirely effected by the half-pay reduction, for, upon a comparison between the two years he had mentioned, he found the cost for the bearing of each man on the estimates had diminished since 1835 by 21. Ils. Bd. Nor was it attributable to any less regard being now had for the comfort and well-being of the men ; for he (Mr. S. Herbert) did not believe that the sol dier was at any time so well off as he'svas now. Whether it was that the short service was beginning to tell, or whether it was owing to the increased comforts which now ob tained among the troops, this much was certain, that the recruiting, both for the militia and the army, had never been more easy than now, nor had it ever before produced a better class of recruits drawn from a better poptaation. (Cheers.) What had been the steps taken for the ad vantage of the soldier ? The stoppage of rations abroad had been lowered. That stoppage had been at first pitched too high—a lower rate of stoppage had been substituted, which was now universal throughout our colonies ; and he believed it halgiven general satisfaction the men, without occasioning any loss to the service. The good conduct money, too, had been increased to 65,3001. a-year • and li braries had been established to a great extent. They had /50 barrack libraries, containing in the aggregate 117,000 volumes ; the men paid for admission to those libraries, and at present there were 16,000 subscribers. By a late arrangement the officers had been permitted to subscribe, and to have the use of those libraries ; but as it was feared that their presence there might operate as a restriction •on the men, that arrangement had been modified, so as to give the latter a perfectly free access to their libraries. Then there were the regimental schools, which were established n 1846 ; and there he must say that he owed a great debt of gratitude to his noble friend Lord Panmure, for the manner in which he carried out those instit u ti ons . They originated with himself (Mr. S. Herbert) just before he left office, and they met with a good deal of prejudice at first ; but all those difficulties had been removed, and so far from those schools being objected to by the men, there was a great de sire shown by them to be put under the management of schoolmasters properly, trained. There were now a, large number of those schoolmasters who had passed their period of probation, in addition to 58 masters who were now em ployed in the schools of the different regiments, and 16 assistant-masters. The recruits were required by a regu lation to attend the schools ; that was the only compulsory attendance there was ; but it only lasted so long as their drill continued, and it was found that many of the men afterwards returned to the schools of their own accord. He had the greatest confidence in those schools working well. They had already contributed, among many other circumstances, to that increased good conduct which was now remarkable throughout all ranks of the army. (Hear, hear.) He would just give, as another proof of the increas ing comfort and well-being of the men, an extract from the returns, showing the amount of deposits in their sav ings' banks. The savings banks were established in 1844. There were then 819 depositors, whose deposits amounted . 11,894. In 1852 there were 9,447 depositors, and the de posits had reached to 111,9251. Again, he knew some years ago the facilities given for the acquisition of know ledge were thought by some as likely to lead to a re laxation of discipline. There had been a great di minution of punishinent in the army simultaneonsly with the introduction of the new system. The number of cor poral punishments in 1838 was 875 ; in 1843, 620; in 1846, 461; in 1849, 311; in 1850, 247—(hear, hear, hear) ; and in 1851, 206. The return for 1852 was not yet complete; but for three-quarters of the whole force 96 was shown to have been the number of corporal punishments in the last year. Nor did he find that this change was owing to any relaxing of the discipline among the men. There had been an increase of imprisonments ; but the question was, had there been an increase of offences, and was there= increase in the persons tried before courts-martial ? The returns of military imprisonments, comparing ] 850 with 1851, showed the contrary ; it was true there was a slight increase in the number of those imprisonments in 1852, as compared with the preceding year, but that increase was not greater in proportion than the increase in the effective strength of the army last year. Then, again, they must recollect that their object in imprisoning the soldier was altogether different from that of punishing the civilian. There was but one other point with respect to the well being of the army in general to which he would call the at tention of the committee. That was the health of thearmy. He believed at no former period was the army so healthy as it was at present. Some years ago there was great mor tality among the troops, especially in the colonies, from the situation of their barracks in many places. Lord Howick was at considerable pains to remedy that grievance, and was to some extent suscesaful. Taking Gibralter and the lonian Islands, the mortality for the last year had been 12 7-10ths in a thousand, whilst the average there since 1846 had been 19 1-10th in a thousand. In the American colonies—always favourable to health—the mortality of the last year had been 14 in a thousand; whilst the average of the preceding pe riod had been 15 in a thousand. Fourteen in a thousand was as high a state of health as was enjoyed in Great Britain. St. Helena, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land were all very healthy colonies. The average rate of mortality at the Cape of Good Hope had been of course affected to some extent by the Kafir war. In New Zealand the average was 12 in a thousand ; and in Van Diemen's Land 9 in a thousand. The mortality in the West Indies (exclusive of Jamaica), up to March last was twenty-two in a thousand; and in Jamaica, owing to the prevalence of the yellow fever, it was exactly double that rate. He did not believe, how ever, that there had been any instance where the yellow fever had broken out among the troops before, in which the mortality had been so small as on the late occasion. At the Mauritius, the mortality was 22 in 1,000 against 43 in preceding years. At Hong Kong, which was one of the most unhealthy of the stations, the mortality in the pre vious year, 74 in 1,000, had diminished in the past year, to 44 in 1,000. The results for the past year, indeed, showed a general improvement in every case. The accounts from India, which he had received but that day, bore out fully the statement of the hon. baronet the member for Honiton, that the troops at Rangoon were not suffering in health, and he found that the mortality had been under four per cent. Throughout India, generally, there never was a time when the troops were in a more healthy condi tion. (Hear.) He believed that this had been the result, in a great degree, of the improvements made in the medi cal treatment and a great deal was undoubtedly due to the improved habits of the men, and the diminution—still leaving, however, some room for improvemegt—of the habits of excessive drinking, by which the constitutions of the men were undermined and their health destroyed. (Hear, hear, hear.) Having thus recapitulated the differ ent measures adopted in late years by the Government for !the purpose of imprOving the condition of the soldiey, it was now necessary that they should pay increased atten 4ion, to the task of making the army as efficient as possible for service in the field. (Hear, hear.) No doubt they had been too remiss in this respect, because they had chosen to use the army, to a degree far too great to be com patible with its efficiency, as a police force. The army had been scattered in minute detachments throughout the world. In Ireland alone there wero as many as 200 stations oc cupied by about 20,000 troops. In England and colonies the same thing to a great extent occurred. It was not reason able to expect that troops could be fit for field duty when• they scarcely ever had the opportunity of seeing even two regiments assembled together. (Hear, hear.) Her Ma jesty's Government entertained a sanguine hope that they would be able gradually to concentrate more troops in this country, by withdrawing a portion of the army from those colonies which had now obtained the right of self-govern ment, and, with that privilege, the duty of contributing something to their own defence, so far as domestic enemies were concerned. *Hear.) It was essentially necessary that they should make arrangements for concentrating more troops in this country. There was a great difference in this respect between the army and navy. In war or peace the navy led exactly the same sort of life. There was no necessity for any additional preparation in the navy, in the event of war. The navy carried its Own bar racks and appointments, and, with the exception of firing shotted guns at the enemy instead of the target, there was no difference in the duties of a man-of-war between war and peace. The army, unlike the navy, was broken up in into small detachments, posted in barracks, and had not the opportunity of exercising large bodies of men. These were defects which ought to be corrected. (Hear, hear.) It was proposed, therefore, in the present estimate to take a sum—which by inadvertence had been mis-stated—of 1,000/. for the establishment of stations where there could be ball practice with the Minis rifles, to which non-com in officers and men in certain proportions could be drafted from the several regiments, in order to acquire the habit of using these rifles at different sights and distances, having obtained which, they would go to their regiments, and there impart the instruction which they had acquired, so that there might be throughout the army one uni form system of target firing. (Hear, hear.) It was also proposed to form encampments in some parts of the country, to which the regiments could repair for the pur pose of instruction. (Hear, hear.) He anticipated good results from these measures, and believed that they were arrangements calculated to give very general satis faction, and could be carried out at a ver y small expense. In point of fact, the movements of the men to and from the camp would be no more than the natural movement of at no additional exp ense except the of quarters r rte an rs tearevderY year, of the tents and the increased allowance to officers and men when in camp. With respect effective service of the army. Mr. HUME thanked the right honourable the Secretary at-War for the very clear and able statement which he had made. (Hear, hear.) Anxious as he (Mr. Hume) had always been to keep down the expenses, no person had been more anxious than himself to see the character of the troops improved, and their moral and social comforts in creased. He believed that no department of the public service was under better management than the army at the present moment. (Hear, hear.) He deprecated, how ever, any increase in the present establishment, and fully concurred in the opinion 'expressed by Lord Aberdeen, in 1842, with respect to the large military establishments of Europe, and the fallacy of the opinion that the best secu rity for peace was always to be prepared for war. Tho abstraction of so large a number of persons from the pro ductive industry of this country was now beginning to be a matter of serious import, and to no class was it of greater moment than to the landed interest. Few persons ap peared to be aware of the actual state of our establish ments and the number of men taken away from the in dustry of the country. We had now in the regular army 155,000 men, pensioners, dockyard battalions, and yeo manry, 42,000 coast guard, Irish constabulary and police in England 31,000, and the militia, enrolled last year, 65,000, making a total of 293,000 in arms, or ready to take arms, drawn away from the productive industry of the coun try. The Government had the power of adding in the pre sent year 23,000 more, to make up 80,000 in the militia, and further power to increase this army o f reserve t o 120 , 000, when they would have altogether not less than 358,000 men in arms. All these were drawn away from the industry of the country, and the expenses of their support saddled upon the rest of the community. With respect to the pay of both officers and men in the army, he did not think that they were paid too much, but considered that the expenses of the staff might be considerably reduced. A considerable saving might also be effected by the union in one depart ment of the army and ordnance. It was calculated that there were in Europe at the present moment 7,000,000 of men capable of bearinc , arms, and that of these 4,000,000, or more than one half,' were in arms, and paid by the rest. Let the house think of the double evil that such a system created—the abstraction of such a number of able-bodied men on the one side, and the abstraction of the fruits of the labour of others to maintain them on the other. (Hear.) He would not, however, oppose the proposition, but he would enter his protest against keeping up these large establishments. He admitted the good government of the army ; he believed that its administration was as well conducted as it was possible for an army to be ; and he could assure the right hon. gentleman that he folly appre ciated the importance of the improvements he proposed, and he would suggest to him the necessity of still further carrying out those arrangements for the reduction of the half:pay list which Lord Hardinge commenced when he was Secretary -at-War. Colonel SIBTHORP said the hon. member talked of the army [interfering with the industry of the country. He could tell the hon. member what interfered with the in dustry of the country . ; it was the infernal free-trade sys tem. (Laughter.) Be was for encouraging native indus try ; he would not be like the free-traders, and prefer the foreigner to his own countrymen. If the honourable member for Montrose would talk of not interfering with native industry, he would say to him— keep out the foreigner—keep out the free-trade system. He (Colonel Sibthorp) would go so far as to say that he would expel every member out of the house that was in favour of free trade. (Roars of laughter.) Look at the mischief done by the Crystal Palace. (Renewed laughter.) He could not go into the city of London without being told—as he was told the other day by a tradesman, in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange—" We can't do anything, sir. Why ? Because the foreigner steps in and undersells us—cheap, but nasty." (Laughter, and oh, oh.) He had offered, and he would continue to offer, double, or even ten times, to an English tradesman for an article which he produced, because he believed he was honest.—not like your foreigners, who would cheat every body, down to the people who were unfortunate enough to lot them lodgings. (Oh, oh, order, and question.) Then he had heard of the Peace Society. The members of the Peace Society would be the first, if there was any danger, to call out for the military, whom they abused, to save their mills, while they themselves would be found either down in the cellar, or below the bed. (Laughter.) The Peace Society were, in his opinion, both directly or indi rectly, the great encouragers of war ; they carried fire and fagot with them wherever they went ; and, for himself, he would rather see the devil in his house than one of/them. (Roars of laughter.) He thanked the right hon. gentleman for the able manner in which he had brought forward these estimates ; and though he differed from right hon. gentle men opposite, yet they would always find in him not an opponent, but a regular supporter on all questions that would contribute to the security, the welfare, and the dig nity of the country. Tho vote was then agreed to. On the question that 3,625,7831. be voted for the land forces, Mr. HUME called attention to the vote for recruiting. It appeared that 80,0001. was spent on that branch of the service. It had been suggested, in the committee upstairs, that a saving might be effected by committing that service t o the pensioners ; and Lord Panmure promised to consider the subject. He wanted now to ask what steps had been taken in consequence ? Mr. S. HERBERT said Lord Panmure instituted an in quiry into the subject in several quarters, and the result of the whole induced him to decline the alteration. The evi dence he (Mr. Herbert) had seen induced him to concur in Lord Panmure's decision, as it seemed to be clear that the recruiting could not be effectually carried out in the way proposed. Vote agreed to. On the question that 162,8971. be voted for the staff and hospital departments, Sir DE LACY EVANS called attention to the propriety of instituting a professorship of military surgery in one of the colleges in London, and also in Dublin, of the same nature with that instituted in the college at Edinburgh, where Sir George Ballingale had instituted a course of lectures that were admitted on all hands to be eminently , beneficial. He also suggested that the museum of prepara tions of military nt at iu Fortthir ePitt,prese position Chatham, should be they were all but unavail able to militar y students. Mr. HERBERT said he had instituted inquiries as to removed to diseases London, now* as the cost of establishing the professorships referred to by the honourable and gallant officer ; and till these measures at Chatham, it would but advantage to remove it to London, were completed, he could no t undertake to g ive au answer. With respect to the m useum cer tainly be of great of them filled. _ one of In answer to a qu estion from Mr it was difficult to o btain a site for it any of the public offices, which wer e alread y every continued, as it was the opinion of m ilitary men that it was better for can teen system was still solders to get drink the Mr. HERBERT said (as we understood), that the ks from Mr. HUME, urging After some remarks within the barracks than to be seen drunk about the streets. (Laughter.) the cense- The vote was agreed to. On the vote of 98,464/• for public departments, soldiers were not iidation of the ordnance with the military department, Mr. HUME wished to know why the withdrawn from ob tained self-government ? entered Mr. HERBERT said that by an arrangement Australia, now that the colony had 11 the maintenance of the troops the colonies were to pay a ception of the cost of stationed there, with the single ex into with the Australian colonies by . the late nment, their arms. The vote was then agreed to. A sum of 16,8881. 'tory Asylum, were sum of 18, • 020/ for the Royal Mill agreed to. On the vote of 88,000/. for volunteer corps, men of rank for the Royal Military College, and a to be allowed to should pay the Government the appearance they would Mr. HUME ventured to say enter this corps, for the sake of o and jackets. that something oung make at balls and reviews in their fine c for regular troops. t Government would Sir D. L. EVANS hoped the presen volunteer nt to the establishment of v He expressed his disapproval of the vote, and a preference give some encouragement corps throughout the country. Lord PALMERSTON s aid it was ould. They thing at a time, and to do that as well force as theyat p c resent were engaged in organising a mill r to postpone any steps for a good plan to d o one he thought it would be better on the peop country volunteering wh enever le of this ganged.ganged. He placed every reliance their se *ces were re h however voluntary, , owe the formation of volunteer cor p s until the militia was or quired, but those vo lunteer corp s would be attended with some expen e. as possible. wanted the country defended at asexpens e that the militia was The noble lord seemed not to be aware hich was taken from costing the country 100,000 1 . a Y 9 obliged them to continue the Mr. HUME did not agree with . a l li s e noble lord. They the industrious classes, and ob Why would not the soap and other objectionable taxes.olunteers ? He thought noble lord try if he could get those If Surrey and Middlesex re the taxation of the county. 1 t th people of those of riflemen, e e • quired a certain number choose their own officers. They counties turn out and c every man bound to contribute t w o the defence as well as to and one which, in his case of need to defend their country, the paltry, miserable better than opinion, would be much would then create a corps with hearts and hands ready in corps at an expense of 88,000/. of State for the Home De onl st that in Kent and Sussex partment, so late as December a d for the militia. He Admiral Sir G. PECHE LL understood from a return the table by the late Secretary laid. not one-half the quota nad been raise lord would,information of re turn. He hoped the noble give„ the actual state of the militia at the present moment. lAt . thought it very desirable they should have an amended litia than they were of the French. (A laugh.) Lord PALMERSTON said the state of the militia now Brighton, he knew the people were more afraid of the mi litia was very different to what it was in December. q Sir G. PECHELL asked fo r the number of men raised and the various uota. Lord PALMERSTON said the numbers were not yet , Mr. LINDSAY asked if the office of Warden of the Tower was to be abolished ? Mr. S. HERBERT said all existing offices which were sinecures would be abolished. A sum of 55,0001. for the army pay of general officers ; A sum of 50,0001. for the full pay for retired officers ; A sum of 358,0001. for half-pay and military allowances ; A sum of 34,6281. for foreign half-pay ; A sum of 117,6371. for widows' pensions ; And a sum of 79,5001. for compassionate allowances— were all agreed to. On the vote of 28,1491. for Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals, Mr. HUME observed that the abolition of Kilmainham Hospital was recommended by the committee appointed some years ago. Mr. S. HERBERT said the recommendation was being gradually carried out, as no new appointments were made. Mr. H. DRUMMOND and Colonel SIBTHORP dis sented from the suggestion of the committee, and hoped the hospital would be kept up for the poor Irish soldiers. Mr. HUME said the recommendation of the committee was in accordance with the wishes of Irish members. If they allowed to the Irish soldiers in their own homes the same amount expended in Kilmainham Hospital, they would be much better off. He did not object to the vote for the purpose of saving the tnoney. The vote was then agreed to, as were two other votes, one of 1,235,8001. for out-pensioners, and the other of 36,0001. for superannuation allowances. This was the last of the army estimates. The house they resumed, and the Chairman reported progress; and asked leave to sit again on Monday. ' METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS (REPAYMENT OUT OF CONSOLIDATED FUND) BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, Mr. BLACKETT hoped that some explanation would be given of the nature of this measure, which had been said to be a bill for paying off charges on the Crown lands, by payments out of the London-bridge Approaches Fund. He must say, that he could not find any explanation of its nature and objects in the bill itself, and half-a-dozen learned members of the house, to whom he had shown it, had said that it was neither Queen's nor lawyer's English. (Laughter.) The 12th clause was simple nonsense. But it appeared that the measure was likely to affect the coal in terest ; and he thought, therefore, that the second reading ought to bo postponed until the coal-trade committee of Newcastle and the north of England should have had an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon it. (Hear.) Sir W. MOLES WORTH hoped that his hon. friend would not oppose the second reading of the bill. Not a single farthing of the expense would be charged by it upon the coal fund. Lord SEYMOUR thought that the bill was a very desir able one. It did not in the least degree affect the coal fund. Mr. PHILLIMORE said that the bill was simply unin telligible, and he hoped that the Government would not press it to a second reading for the present. Mr. INGHAM said there existed some misapprehensions in the North of England on the subject of the bill, which he hoped might be removed on its passage through committee. Mr. J. WILSON would briefly state what the object of the bill was. Some years ago a commission had been ap pointed for the purpose of executing certain improvements in the metropolis. Large sums of money had to be bor rowed, and the commissioners had applied to the Bank of England for a loan. The Bank had been unwilling to lend money on the security of the commissioners, and it had been proposed to give the Bank the security of the land - revenues. Interest had been paid for many years out of the proceeds of the land revenues, but subsequently it had been found that this was a very onerous and expensive way o .h) d ie b h e wereat present of raising money. The obj ec t o f th e presen t bill was t o en able the land revenue s t o b e di sc h arge d f rom th e obliga tion which they now labou re d un d er , an d th a t th e paid out ofthe yie b l a d l i a n n o i n ng c en now in s t u r e t h s s t e . b Exchequer, r r r H ow e ar ed , s ha ul w r h e Mr. DISRAELI said that considering the great talents of the present Government, he had to express his regret that this bill had been brought forward in a manner so unsatis factory. It appeared to be the intention of the bill to ter minate what • had originally been a very improvident arrangement, by a method which, however desirable it might be in a merely financial respect, would yet result in diminishing the balances in the Exchequer. He should like to know to what amount the balances in the Exche quer would be diminished by this arrangement. It was of great importance that the amount of those balances should be sustained. That was a consideration which the house ought to entertain, and they must not consider that they were terminating a pressure while they were imposing a charge of a far more injurious character. It certainly appeared to him that this bill had been drawn up in a very obscure manner, and that it was founded on a principle which the house ought to look at with very great suspi cion. They ought at least to know to what extent the ba lances in the Exchequer would be affected. (Hear.) Mr. WILSON said that the amount for which the ba lances of the Exchequer would now in the first place be charged would be 960,0001., which, with interest, would amount to more than 1,000,0001., and the present state of the Exchequer rendered the charge rather convenient than otherwise. In the present year there was an income from the coal fund which was applicable to these purposes, of 80,0001., and all duties arising from that source in future years would be applied to the payment of what was now taken from the Exchequer. Mr. PHINN said that this bill was discreditable to the house. If any question should arise upon it, there was no lawyer who could tell what the decision would be. Mr. DISRAELI begged to repeat the question which he had already put. The house had a right to know what was the amount of the balances in the Exchequer, to what amount they would be reduced by this measure, and in what period the sum taken away from the Exchequer would be repaid Mr. WIL' 4 d that the balances in the Exchequer were about' v,eut, JO sterling, which would be reduced by 1,000,000/., or thereabouts, by this measure. This sum would be repaid by the accruing duties on coals, which amounted in the present year to 80,000/. Mr. HENLEY suite agreed with the hon. and learned gentleman (Mr. Phinn), who said that this bill was so drawn that it was impossible for anybody to understand what it provided or what it meant. Mr. WILSON quite admitted that this bill was un usually difficult to understand, but he believed this arose not so much from the drawing of the bill as from the ex traordinary complication of the arrangement itself, which was discreditable to the management from the beginning to the end. Under the acts of Parliament on the subject, the coal tax was charged to the Government not only for the principal sum of the expe . nditure for metropolitan im provements, but also for tho interest at tho rate of 5 per cent.; and ho believed that there was now due to the Go vernment under the act a sum of about 900,0001. as princi pal, and 130,000/. more for interest. Mr. WALPOLE thought it would be remembered that the Chancellor of the Exchequer (who was now in his place) when ho introduced the bill, explained that its details wore complicated and difficult to understand ; and, there fore,m he (Mr. Walpole) would sugg est to the hon. gentle an who now had the charge of the m easure, that it would be better to postpone the second reading till Monday, in order that the house might receive an explanation respect ing the bill, for really nobody who read it could understand it as it stood. • Sir ROBERT FERGUSON hoped that an explanation would be given of the security that was given for this money, as the bill referred to other acts, and the matter was unintelligible to everybody. Mr. WILSON said that the details of the bill would be Sir W. JOLLIFFE thought the ought to be post poned, and that an inquiry , should be instituted into the explained when it was in committee. bill na ture of the coal tax. He understood th at the securit y at of present rested upon the coal tax and the land revenues the Crown conjointly, and that the moment this bill passed 1 tax alone. the whole liability would be borne by the coa of the bill till the matter could be better explained. The question was then put and the house divided. The Mr. ALCOCK also urged the postponement numbers were— - For the second reading .................. Against it 102 55 -47 Majority The bill was then read a second time. OATHS IN CHANCERY BILL. The bill was read a second time. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26, _1 8 5 3. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. This bill, as amended, was considered and agreed to. COUNTY RATES AND EXPENDITURE BILL. Mr. M. GIBSON moved that this bill be committed pro forma, in order that the amendments might be printed, agreeably to the arrangement that was assented to by the Government on Wednesday. The bill then went through committee, pro forma, and the amendments were ordered to be printed. Mr. M. GlBSON.moved that the bill should be ordered to be recommitted on Wednesday, the 16th of March. Mr. HENLEY suggested a longer date for the re-com mittal, as the bill had to be sent into the country. Mr. IL PALMER asked for an explanation of the altera tions. . . Mr. M. GIBSON said that the bill would be put into precisely the same shape as the bill which came out of the select committee of 1851, with the exception of the single provision as to the mode of electing the financial boards. With regard to the recommittal of the bill, he hoped the right honourable member for Oxfordshire would take into consideration the great difficulty a private member ex perienced in passing a measure, and not press for a further postponement than the day he (Mr. Gibson) had already named. _ _ ~ The bill was then ordered to be recommitted on the 16th of March. INLAND REVENUE OFFICE BILL. This bill was read a second time. SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.—MAN CHESTER AND SALFORD, &c. Mr. M. GIBSON moved that the following members be elected to serve on the above committee : viz., Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Peto, Mr. Bright, Lord John Russell, Mr. Pellitt, - Sir George Grey, Mr. Ker Seymer, Mr. Christopher, Mr. Miles, Mr. Bowyer, the Marquis of Blandford, Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Cobden, Mr. William Fox, and Mr. Brother ton.—Agreed to. INCLOSURE OF LANDS. Mr. FITZRQY moved for leavo to bring in a bill to authorise the inclosure of certain lands, in pursuance of a report of the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales.—Leave given. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. WILSON gave notice that ho would on Monday move that the house resolve into committee for the purpose of considering certain advances to be made in pursuance of the treaties and engagements mentioned in the Slave Trade (New Granada) Bill, and the Slave Trade (Sohar, in Arabia) Bill LANDLORD AND TENANT (IRELAND) BILL, &c., COMMITTEE. Mr. FRENCH asked when the Government would pro ceed with the nomination of the committee to inquire into this important , subject ? Lord J. RUSSELL replied that he hoped to do so after the ordinary business on Monday. The house then adjourned at a quarter-past eleven o'clock. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FEB. 25. Prom the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. ) METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT (REPAYMENT OUT OF CONSOLIDATED FUND) BILL. Order for second reading read; motion made, and ques tion put, " That the bill be now read a second time."—The houie divided ; ayes 102 ; noes 55. MAJORITY—AYES, 102 A'Court, C. H. W. Graham, Sir James Price, W. P. Baines, M. T. Gregson, Samuel Richardo, 0. Ball, John Greaten, C. Robartes, T. J. A, Bass, M. T. liadfleld, G. Russell, Lord J. Bellew, Captain Hall, Sir Benjamin Russell, F. C. H. Bland, L. Herbert, Sidney Sawle, C. B. G. Boyle, Colonel Hervey, Lord Alfred Seymour, Lord Brady, John Heywood, James Sheridan, R. B. Bretherton, J. Keating, Henry Smollett, A. Browne, V. Kirk, William Stafford, NI arqtfs aruce, Lord E. Laslett, William Stanstield, W. R. Byng, G. H. Charles Layard, A. H. Stapleton, John Cardwell, Hon. E. Lowe, Robert Strut., Rt. lion. E Charteris, F. Lace, T. Strutt, Edward Cheetham, John Milligan, It. Thornely, T. Chriaty, sarnuel Mills, T. Tomlin, G. Clay, J. Moffatt, G. Towneley, C. Cockburn, Sir Alex. Molesworth, Sir W Tynte, Col. C. J. K Coffin Walter Monck, Lord Vernon.G. E. H. Cowper, W. F. Monsell, William V liters, C. Crowder, Richard B. Morris, D. Vivian, Henry H. Drumlanrig, Viscount Mostyn, E. M. Wells, W. Duckworth, Sir J. Mulgrave, Earl Whalley, G. H. Duncan, George Norreys, Lord Whatman, James Dundas, G. Osborne, Ralph Whit br,ad, Saltine' Dundas, F. Otway, Arthur John Wilkinson, W. A. Ferguson, Sir Robert Paget, Lord George Wilson, J. Ferguson. Joseph Palmerston, Viscount Wilson, Mathew Fitzroy, Hon. H. Patten, J. w innington, Sir T Freestun, Colonel Pt ellen, Sir G. Wise, J. A. French, F. Peel, F. Young, Sir John Gardner, R. Pellatt Apsley Gibson, W. Philipps, 1. H. Gladstone, William Phillimore, K. , Goderich, Viscount Pi.tott, -- r rands Haytcr, W. G. Goodman, Sir George Pilkington, Janies Berkeley, Granville TILLLEI9. ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. LAST WEEK BUT TWO of Mr. BATTTS MANAGEMENT, THIS EVENING, FEB. 26, The Entertainments will commence with the superb spectacle of MIZEPPA. AND THE WILD HORSE, reproduced with all its splendid and startling effects After which, a brilliant, Routine of Scenes in the Arena, sup ported by the first native and continental talent. To conclude with a Laughable Farce. Doors open at ltalf-past Six J'clock. To commence at Seven. Box-oftice open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. MINORITY-NOES, 55. Adderley, C. Jolllffe, Sir W. G. H. Robertson, P. F. Alcock, Thomas Kendall, Nicholas Sand..rs, G. Astell, J. H. Kennedy, Tristram Scobell, Capt. Baldock, E. H. Knot; W. S. Seaham, Lord Barrow, W. 11. Liddell, H. G. Seymour, W. D. Bell. J. Lindsay, Colonel Shelley, sir J. T. Bentinck, Geo. P. Lovaine, Lord Smijth, Sir W. Blair, Colonel Lucas, F. Stanhope, James B lioldero, Colonel Id acartney, G. Stanley, Lord Crook. Joseph Mackenzie, W. F. Sull van, M. Mara , 11, Benjamin Macgregor, James Tyler, Sir G. Da Cane, Charles Marshall. W. Vyse, It, H R. Forester, Colonel Michell, W.• Walcott, Adm. Greenall, Gilbert Miller, T. J. Walpole, S. H. Greene, John Morgan, C. Rodney Wynn, Herbert W. Greville, Col. Miming-3 J. Randolph Halsey. Thomas P. Murrough, J. r. Hamilton, Lord C. North, Colonel Henley, Joseph W. Percy, J. Blackett, J. F. B Ingham, Lobed Phinn, Thomas Phillimore, J. TELLERS. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCLXXXI. COVENTRY SPRING MEETING.—The frost having taken its departure, the Coventry Meeting will come off to-day and Monday. It is, of course, superfluous com menting upon to-day's races, as within an hour or so of the publication of these notes, the telegraphic dispatch of the issue will have reached London. The General and Ringleader are considered good things for the Craven Steeplechase on Monday, and Friendless is not exactly in the position his name in dicates. ,Peter Simple, Abd-el-Kader, Victress, and Benedict, do not run. The Hurdle Race, it is presumed, will show Maria Bennett, Victress, and Tom Gurney in the three first places. The Selling Steeple Chase does not close until this evening. THE DERBY.—In continuation of my analysis, I shall now proceed to examine J. KENT'S lot at Goodwood. The Duke of Richmond has four Derby horses at work ; three of whom b c DAGIBERT, by lon, dam by Langar, out of sister to Cobweb, nomi nated by Mr. Cooper' a winner once in three runs, and a very useful horse ; b c WILLIAM Rufus, by Touch stone, out of Duvernay, nominated by Lord Strad broke, the defeated of five fields ; and br c by the Emperor, out of Coral, nominated by Lord Stradbroke, a loser in the only race he has run—are not worthy of consideration as they will not figure in the field at Epsom. The Duke of Richmond's br c PHAROS, by Touch stone, out of Refraction, by Glaucus, out of Prism, by Camel, out of Elizabeth, by Rainbow, has figured in public twice ; both times, however, in the vicinity of his training ground. His first essay was for the Ham Stakes, which he won very cleverly by a head, beating, Defiance (second) and nine others. His other perform ance was for the Bentinck Memorial Stakes, which he won by half a length, beating Sittingbourne and four others. He was first backed for the Derby on the 30th of July at 25 to 1 ; has been supported very heavily off and on ever since, and is now quoted at 15 to 1. He is a compact, racing-like animal, and admirably adapted for the peculiarities of the Derby course. T. ESKRETT - - of Mitchel Grove, has three Derby animals in prepara tion. Mr. Magenis' ch c SANDHURST, by Chatham, out of Clementina, nominated by Lord Strathmore, has never run. Is a fairish animal, but will not do for the Derby. The same remarks will apply to Mr. Magenis' b c CLAIR DR LUNE, by Lanercost, out of Moonbeam, no minated by Mr. Brook. Mr. Magenis' b c PANTOMIMH, by Lanercost, out of Burlesque, nominated by Mr. Carew, has run four races, been defeated. in all, and will not do for Epsom. ROYAL OLYMPIC: THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farrel. THIS EVENING, FEB. 26, Will be presented LILIAN GERVAIS. Supported by the entire strength of the Company. After which, the TYROLESE SINGERS will give their National Entertainment. To be followed by the Farce of A DEED WITHOUT A NAME. To conclude with CHAMBER PRACTICE. Box-uflice open front Eleven till Five, under the superintendence of Mr. E. Chatterton. JOHN DAY, SEN., of Mitchel Grove, has Mr. Howard's ch c RATAPLAN, by the Baron, out of Pocahontas, at work. He is nomi nated by Capt. Thelluson,- and was sold by him at a stiffish figure to his present owner. At Epsom, in the race for the Woodcote Stakes, he wag beaten off by Orestes ; at Goodwood was placed in a like predicament by Catherine Hayes for the Nursery Stakes ; and at Brighton beat the Lucy Banks colt easily for a small sweepstakes. Is an improving horse, and will be heard of favourably, but later in the year, I fancy, than the Derby. The b c LASCELLES, by Touchstone, out of Cara, is of no account ; and the ch c by Iletman Platoff, out of Maria, is out of training. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. MIS DAT —Morning 42 min. after 3 1 Evening 0 min.aft. 4 To-MORROW—Morning 20 min. after 4 1 Evening 40 miu.aft. 4 THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF, PASSENGER.— BREACH or CONTRACT WITH A CA yesterdaylt was the Sheriffs' Court, before Mr. Russell Gurney. case of Hill v. Roskell, and was an action to recover family from Australia to London. A very important case was tried ßlN in the laid at 501. From the evidence ad- The damages were duced, it appeared that in June . last the defendant, plaintiff, his hfoisr wife, i b fe r , ea n c n h d ofcontract in the conveyance of , p w la as int t&en h l i y s iwngifea,t con tractedAandctel.afaidmeilytosupplying them with pro in consideration of a payment of 1301. He, however, w v L i hr s 3 i no o ds ns n , vte & aoss c s . ecc , lou' o ndt f vdheY t ey l A - e t hsiea first q passengers,ua quality, medical comforts, &c., failed, inasmuch as there was a deficiency of water and medical comforts, there was no milk, an insufficient supply of bread and preserved tin meats, and other comforts and luxuries to which first-class passengers were entitled, the result being that plaintiff and his family suffered severely, and one of the children, from want of medical comforts, contracted scurvy, and was not yet recovered. Captain Roskell and the cuddy ser vant gave testimony that the passengers were amply supplied., except when interrupted by stormy weather ; the pas sage had been very tempestuous, and the sheep, pigs, a nd other stores provided for the passengers' use were. •washed overboard, and could not be replenished until. the vessel had reached Bahia. His Honour con - construction, M e r o. v S e a r n n g u e f l rg s 0 0 0 m n e , s t o dw f e oeßp to n b than three,u r y con side se. 1 defend an t h a d not fulfilled his contract. Verdict digging. It is simple in for plaintiff. D amages, 30/. recentlyleas produ ce d and patented a n ew mac hi ne f or the pl. )ugh by several inc h es, times . its breadth, and reducing the land to a tilth equal to sew rid ploughings and harrowings—in fact, to trench ing. It is equally effective for breaking up land for railwa, y and other public works. A. 4 • • LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1853, The apprehensions entertained, when the ap pointment of Sir CHARLES WOOD as President of the India Board was first gazetted, will speedily be verified. Unequivocal indications were last night afforded that the " do-nothing" policy would be adopted with respect to the administra tion of the Government of our Eastern Empire. So far as the Government is concerned, it would appear as if the existing abuses were to be perpe tuated, or that the alterations will be of such an infinitesimal character as to be worse than useless. The malign influence of the Ministerial Marplot is thus perceptible. In fact, there was no office in the Cabinet (except that of Chancellor of the Exchequer) to which his nomination would have been so objectionable. The so-called Charter of the East India Company was rapidly approaching to its termination. It was essential that some deCided amelioration should be introduced--an amelioration calculated to remove the well-founded complaints of those who have so long been smart ing under the maladministration and misgovern ment of the company's officers—who objected to juvenile, judges, and boy collectors —parties, we cannot call them " men"—who, fresh from Halley bury, and without a particle of experience —with out knowledge either of the vernacular or of the primary principles of law —are pitchforked into situ ations for which they possess no single qualification. Was Sir CHARLES WOOD, in whom, perhaps, the vis inertice is more strongly developed than in any other person that could be mentioned, the man to be selected under such circumstances ? Could any nomination have taken place more likely to dis gust and alienate the minds of our Hindu fellow- subj ects, nearly 150,000,000 of hu man beings—one-sixth of the population of the entire globe ? There will be no difficulty in framing a suitable response to this in terrogatory. It requires but little argument to sustain the opinion. There will be a general concurrence on the point. The Right Honour able Baronet is however in. He forms a leading feature in the Joint-Stock Administration. It is, therefore, only the more essential that the greater zeal and energy should be exhibited in other quarters to stimulate the Anglo-Indian, " King Loqt,into something like action, or, at least, to provide a .suitable substi tute to discharge the duties of the well-paid official. From what fell from the First Lord of the Treasury last night, in answer to the temperate and able statement with which Lord ELLEN BOROUGH introduced the important petition from the members of the Madras Native Association and other native inhabitants of Madras Presi dency, it is manifest that everything in the shape of inquiry is to be' ignored, and that the ridicu lous farce now enacted is to be repe indefinit e per i od ated for an change. The , with but little, if any, Noble Earl declared that it was the intention of Government, after much consideration, to propose a measure on the subject during the present Session, and that . he would, " without the slightest reserve what ever, reject the proposal to have a continuing Act for one or two years." This might have suffi ciently indicated the decision that had been ar rived at ; but, as if to make assurance doubly sure, ho also stated that " the contemplated measure, although embracing modifications of the Indian Government both in this country and in India, would be founded on the system now exist ing." It is, therefore, but too palpable that the Honourable Board of Directors are to be con tinued in the exercise of their anomalous func tions ; that the patronage of the Eastern Empire is still to be vested in the twenty-four elderly gen tlemen who nominally administer the government of India, but who really are cyphers in the hands of the real Autocrat of Hindostan—the President of the Board of Control—who, although he allows no real power to the body, is yet willing to use it as a twenty-fourfold shield to cover his own pecca diloes whenever an occasion should arise' for such cover. But, as if - to remove any doubt or hesitation that might exist after hearing L. astute and veteran leader, his youthful and fiery colleague, the Duke of ARGYLL, rushed to the rescue. His Grace, who, with commendable industry, had perused the lengthy statement of existing grievances, commented on• the terms in THEATRE ROYAL, H AYMARKET Farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager, THIS EVENING, FEB. 26, Will he performed the new and original Comedy, in five acts, called NOT SO BAD AS WE SEEM; or, Many Sides to a Charac ter. Supported by Messrs. B. Webster, Barry Sullivan, Keeley, Buckstone, Leigh Murry, Stuart, Howe, Miss Rosa Bennett, Miss A. Vining, Mrs. Leigh Murray. To conclude with, at second price, the Comedy of MASKS AND FACES; or, Before and Behind the Ctutain. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Yates. THIS EVENING, FEB. 26, • Will be performed A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK-FROCK. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and nomeastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell. After which, the popular new Fairy Extravaganza entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews, Suter, Horncastle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wynd ham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosins Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. role Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, NeVI B ,nd-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Preprletor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENISG, FEB. 26, Will be performed THE CHILD OF THE WRECK, by Messrs. F.mery, Farselle, and Cullentord ; Madame Celeste and Mrs. Keeley. After which, at thcond price, the Drama of SLAVE I.IIE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, 0. Smith, S. Euler), Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Keeley, Miss Collins, and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with the Comic Ballet of THE DANCING SCOTCII• MAN. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, FEB. 26, ' Will be performed the new and original Comedy, in three acts, by Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID ; or, Dorothy's Fortune (as played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal charac ters by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, llarley, J. Vining, Ryder, F. Cooke, Everett, and Chester ; Mrs. W. Lacy and Miss Murray. After which, THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER, in which Mr. Wright will appear. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. THE WEATHER.-Sux OFFICE, FEB. 26. THERMOMETER, IN' THE SHADE. 37—highest since noon yesterday. 29—lowest this morning and during the night. 38—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29—a fall of half an inch since yesterday. WIND, W.S.W.—Strong breeze, and cloudy, THE PUBLICATION OF " THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND THE ---- LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT THE SAME EVENING, With all other News arriving up to the hour of Post, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. which it was couched, in language that unVa' tionably betrayed the Ministerial spirit. If Lord NORTH could be resuscitated, and a new petition were presented from the North American depend encies before they had ventured on a declaration of independence, greater indignation could not have been exhibited at the impertinence —the audacity that induced persons smarting und er serious grievances, to express their feelings in strong, and unmistakeable language. They should have appeared as serfs— " With bated breath, and deep humility," to represent not their " complaints." What right had they to complain of anything sanctioned by the collective wisdom—but their modest requests that the matters put forward should be inveeti gated, and that no irretrievable step s hould be taken until the result of that stringent inquiry should be ascertained. LEGRER himself was not more astounded at Uncle ToM's absurd idea, that lie was not a slave, in soul as well as in be d Yl than the Noble Duke at the tone and man ner of the petitioners. They dared to use such exPres- sions as the following : " Your petitioners submit that it is the bounden dati of the State, which reduces them to their miserable con dition, and keeps them in it from charter to charter , t° spend a far larger portion of the revenues upon the ilia' provement of the country whence they are derived than it does at present. It can find money to carry on wad to for self-aggrandisement, to allow immoderate sa laries its civil service, to pension off the whole of its member: on five hundred pounds a year each, and to pay inte St r : k at ten per cent. to the proprietors of East India o —all from the labour of the ryot ; and when be re quires roads by which he might find the means of bette ing his condition, and that of the revenue, he is told that he must make them for himself." • This is one of the three selections from a v ci i long document, consisting of forty-one 010019 printed octavo pages, and when this is put_ for ward as a specimen of the boldness and audaelv that renders their memorial unworthy of noti ce ' we can easily conceive the spirit of virtuous inclig; nation that actuated the Duke in his pr otes against its reception. Another point is their objection to support couple of State Establishments for the Pref e°^. sors of a foreign creed." This, with their reasonable and ridiculous application that the establishment at Haileybury should be a bolisbe ci l or rather that " the educational institutions , r e ' quisite for training persons for Government eral 3l4 o might be established and maintained in Inclia) . L that the money derived from the revenues of t4'7 country by which they are supported, maY 1 spent within it," was characterised as " the ow monstrous request ever addressed. to a Briti sh Parliament." It is necessary, then, for the frien d of India to be up and doing. It is clear that the Government measure will have to be resisted. Let all, then, I love Equity and Justice, who desire mat we should . administ e r the affairs of our °rl ; ental Empire with a mild and beneficent rule, look to the p e titi on of the Madras Natjsr,, i Association (which has been referred to the sel ect committee on the affairs of India), and see how f3e the statements therein contained warrant ti l t demand for further inquiry, and a postponsul eli f of any permanent legislation until the result .° that inquiry be ascertained. Embroiled as the Vi ennese Government hss recently become with the Government of Cons" at tinople, it is essential that amongst ourselves , least, there should be- no misapprehension vrli % ever as to the real origin of the quarrel betw ee m , the •KAISER and the SULTAN-CALIPH--MOre egli ; cially seeing that the contention referred to c `' e f stitutes a new and very formidable source anxiety to the rulers of Christendom. It bebe sl l A every conscientious Journalist to submit the n al l truth in this important question to the calm, te deliberate, and conscientious judgment of " ive British population. Such, moreover, we cone e ,,, , should be done at the very earliest opportim„l 4 and with the utmost possible degree of lucialr, and explicitness. Fortunately it no longer those islands to be averred that the people of co islands are at a ll ti mes requ i re d in pruclell to keep a wa t c hf u l eye upon th e relation: maintained between the various countries of th European Continent. The day has long sine passed by when it w as d eeme d ra ti ona l onlyfor ov" community to restri c t a tt en ti on t o whatever °ill' cerned its internal welfare, leaving the color ! cated system of foreign affairs to its official o ' 4 ; dians, the diplomatists. Historians have taus o us the lamentable consequences flowing front habitual negligence on the part of the intelligL multitude. Among the latest illustrations of was the atrocious war which for twenty-two Y deluged the eastern hemisphere in blood, and _i this nati on an i mmense i ncrease o f it s 9 1 7, - 0 1, enormous debt—th a t i ncrease o f 500,000, 0 u fei sterling, of w hi c h we h ave w i t hi n t h e last o f weeks bee n so .very forc ib ly rem i n d e d by on t¢' the most gifted of the popular repret of livin g tle tives, as h e i s also one of the most remar7 it -- Pamphleteers. No ---we rePe 3 ". l , o rs there, h app il y, does __not remain novtaut,4 any ne cess it y f or explaining that the inhabits,, a a free State, like the United Kingdom, l ' o rcr direct and pecu li ar i nterest i n o b serv i ng the gress of eve n t s b eyon d th e wa t ers o f th e Chti . t i ro e supposing even that those events are transr l o ter (as in th e p resen t i nstance ) i n one o f the rerc4 corners of the Continent, The fact has be e t to mated by o ur s t a t esmen . It h as come at la g 0 ,,0 be universally appreciated. England P °E; ' s , o 4* advantag es , no d ou b t, i n her geographical tact tion, advant ages i nsu l at i ng her from direct °° t en' with the rest of the civilised peoples of Cl'o all dom— but the circumstance of her beiev the island does not exonerate her inhabitants fr °l3l o ,l duty of scrutinising whatever occurrene es al take pl ace of a purely external or interO tio aro et character._ H ow f ar t h e commun ity ill to it° Britain has already contrived to apprew a ' lo ,l o responsibilities in this particular, w 6 not igot been l a t e l y ena b le d to recognise dealt' the from the extraordinary interest shown by of" humbler and less educated classes in the ments of distant, and until very re them) but vaguely comprehended nation;oo That a better understanding should be sP r o f up amongst its, as to-I,lle inalienabiet tigh ts oit s immediate neighbours, tile French, w as a. could alone have been reasonably an ticipat e 0 y t h° was inevitable that the descendants of t ll° Cen tti were deluded towards the close of the last 1 01 by the rhet or i ca l ran t o f M r . BURKE, Sh ° o ite derstand at length that the French have c 1 efir much right to select their own form of ° J . pe r ment as we had to select ours, and sh ° . ea tiool ceive, in spite of prejudices and preys ° l ibel' the honesty and manliness of thos e t t for arguments which have been lately nog ward in the exquisitely logical rea c° D ri Mr. COBDEN. But, while all this 1141 : r bile what might have been expected , _it was in a manner, so to speak, inevitable:oloW encouraging, it was exhilarating, it wa,.. 5 ever y P t justifying the pride and admiration 01 40 0 0 7, triotic observer when weremarkel the 81 `" 0001 0 03 0 with which the industrial masses of ou r 01 . 1 10, 4 nity participated in the hopes and fears tat rt°v than one of those far-removed continelitic,3l of who, in 1848-49, were struggling for P ° d. s olo° o f provements, for social ameliorations, an „, t hat them even for the highest boon of all t ve" „„ n o national independence ! Yes--we „oti , t , readily forget the manner in which t ' e t o tool e f ii e population of England displayed at tha r d to "0 ous period so much anxiety in r e g a tho vi sl° o . dreams of Italian Unity, in regard i t° to the of Hungarian Freedom, regard for the pirations of the sons of Germany4.her"" o , f F a v nisation of a gran d an d homogeneotw e peo pl Yes —w e remem be r w i t h j oy bow t c l iet y iv. t i l e these islands, the humbler ranks of s ° i n g Of ~0 , 1 United Kingdom, exulted in the op t hie theY r oe Congress of imperialFranlifort —he . fo with breathless solicitude the A. B' de fie of the heroic and patriotic CABL ° " ---- elr sc arc 11 , fluctnating_o,-110 they followed with a profound an"- o f the., ttc y able admiration the dauntless armie s . on s Dc b r t ,heir strength by seven gyars as they drove the Austriannleragiagoifierec,cu" 'on) fr ° o victories gained in rapid success]. d ;40 , zin to the walls of Vienna. tartling IlLu - Pt' in recollection yet more s G . 600 ,144# they loathed the unnatura l barD r How they ex ecrated the treason 0 . 1 f