The Sun. — London, England, 1857-05-26 00:00:00

land, relating to probates and administrations, and to divorce and matrimonial causes, similar in principle to the bills for England now before the Howe of Lords ; Alio, whether it was intended that the bill relating to Clergy Discipline, which the Lord Chancellor stated, shortly before the Dissolution of Parliament, was then in preparation, should be introduced this session, and whether it would include the Church m Ireland ? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that when the bills relating to the first part of the question came down from the House of Lords, the Attorney-Gensral for Ire land was prepared to introduce similar bills for Ireland. With reference to Church discipline, it W 33 not his in tention to legislate on the question otherwise than as a whole in connection with the United Church of Eng land and Ireland. • THE SOUND DUES. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EL CHEQUER that part of her Majesty's speech, in re ference to the sound dues was read, and he moved that it be taken into consideration on Friday, Jug(' sth. THE ALLOWANCE TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL. Mr. FITZROY appeared at the bar, and brought up the report of the committee on the annuity to the Princess Royal. The resolution was read a first time. On the motion that it be read a second time, Mr. CONINGHAM rose and said—l rise for the pnr• pose ;of proposing an amendment to the resolution, adopted apparently uoanimouly the other day. I regret ♦ery much that we had not au opportunity of dividing on that occasion, as I am fully convinced that the public out of doors would have been undeceived on the subject. If we had divided I believe that a very large minority would have opposed the proposal of the Chancellor of the t xchequer. I object to that proposal on principle, I object to the amount. I object to it as a precedent (laughter at the pronunciation of the word). I re-assert, as a precedent (repeated the hon. gentleman, utterly unconscious of the cause of the house's merriment). The reasons I have before urged against the anhuity I still entertain ; but I shall content myself with proposing a reduction of the annuity. I move, then, that for 8,0001. a year 6,0001. be substituted. In pro posing this annuity the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a remarkable omission in referring to the revenues of the Duchy of Lancaster. The reason why only 20,0001. has been pail into the Queen's privy purse that, the property has been grossly mismanaged. It will shortly be my duty to bring that matter under the consideration of the house. With these few observa tions I content myself with moving the substitution of 6,0001. a year for 8,0001. a year. Mr. COX seconded the amendment. The SPEA_KER having put the resolution and the amendment., Lord PALMERSTON rose and said—l cannot help expressing my great regret that the hon. gentleman has thought fit to raise a discussion on this provision. (Cheers.) I really had hoped that after (as he has.ad mitted) the apparently almost unanimous opinion of this house experienced on a former evening, that oven those who entertained individual objections or differences of opinion as to the relative amounts which should con stitute the marriage portion of the Princess Royal vmulci have acquiesced on this occasion. I must say again that, on a question as to the provision to be made for the person whom the hon. and learned member for Sheffield has called " the eldest daughter of England," and who is now going forth to hold probably a great and important station in a foreign kingdom—l had hoped that we should not have been called‘apon to discuss the difference between 60001. and 8000/ , and matters of that kind, which may be held to be utterly insignifi. cant as regards the reionrces of the cckuntry, but which are of value as indicating the confidence and attachment df this house to the sovereign of these realms, and to the dynasty under which we have the happiness to live. (Cheers.) I shall follow the example of the hon. member in one respect, by not entering into any lengthy dia. clission. I shall not follow his example by urging the house to diminish the vote, but I most earnestly entreat the house to divide in favour of the vote. Colonel FRENCH regretted thatthe noble lord should have thought it necessary to address the house at all. He felt assured that the house would record its unani- MOUS decision against the amendment. Mr. GILPIN—Had Mr. RJebnck divided the house —(cries of " Order")—he begged to apologise for calling the hon. and learned gentleman by his right name—(a laugh)—but bad the hon. and learned member for Shef field thought fit to divide the house on a former occa sion, he (Mr. Gilpin) should have voted with him. He did not think, however, that it was wise for his hon. friend the member for Brighton to re-open the question. lie would yield to no one in a desire to do What was right for the Royal family, and was not prepared to divide against the vote. (Cries of "Divide," and " Withdraw.") Mr. F. SCOTT asked whethei• the amendment had been seconded ? (Cries of ". Yes.") The SPEAKER again put the resolution and amend ment. For the former there was a perfect storm of " ayes ;" for the latter, the single voice of the hon. member for Brighton (Mr. Caningharn). The hon. member persisting in his opposition. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and The SPEAKER again put the question, and with the same result. The numbers were— For the amendment Against it Majority The announcement of the numbers was received with cheers, and some laughter. The resolution was then agreed to, and leave was given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to found a bill on it. ... 14 ... 328 ...-314 On the motion that the house should resolve itself into a committee of supply, in order to grant the dowry of 40,0001., • Mr. MAGUIRE said that he was by no means averse to making a Sc allowance for a Royal personage, but he thought he should not prove himself a proper represen tative of the people if be did not declare his cpinion that 8,0001. a year was an ample dower to the Princess Royal, and that the 40,0001. was a piece of unnecessary liberality on the part of Parliament, considering that the Rersons who would have to pay that sum were many of them in needy and distressed circurnstanceg. Ile thought that on Friday Bight the home had not been very fairly treated by the hon. and learned member for Sheffield. (Hear, hear from the ministerial benches below the vang way.) The boo, and learned member by the course he had taken, had precluded others from placing their oppo sition in a more practical form. If the hon. and learned member had gone to a division afteriaii speech he should have supported him, and many other hon. members would also. He now moved, as an amendment, that no sons be given. (Laughter.) What he meant was that the'proposition to add the 40,0001. to the 3,000/. a year sk.ould be negatived. (Hear, and laughter.) The SPEAKER informed the hon. member that the proper time for expressing his dissent would be when the motion should be put to the house. The SPEAKER put the question amidst a storm of "ayes." Mr. CONINGHAM said he considered the annuity of 3,000/. a year an amply sufficient provision for her Royal Ilighnesa. Pledged to reform and retrenchment lie should act in direct violation of his pledge if he sup ported this vote of 40,000/. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY was prepared to justify his support of the resolution on the ground that on two for mer occasions the daughter of George 11. had 80,0001. dowry and 5,0001. annually, and that the same sum was given to the daughter of George 111., on her marriage with the Prince of Wurtemburgb. Although ho thought it 'would have been better for the government not to he.ve altered the precedent, still, .As the amounts were 'nearly the same in effect, he should support the proposal of her Majesty's ministers. He thought her present Majesty was entitled to be 'treated with quite as much liberality ae either George 11. or George 111. (Hear.) Lord R. CECIL rose to a point of order. Would it not be pos si bl e, in the case of these exceedingly vexati tlone divisions, to revive the ancient rule of requiring the " noes" to move out of the house, and thus prevent In eelnvenience to the "ayes?" (Cheers and laughter.) Sir J. TRELAWNY asked whether the noble lord ap lied the term " vexatious" to the public of England? He should have much preferred dividing the other night, when he should have been prepared to Ruppert any rea sonable proposition. He now f erne himself in a some -what difficult position. He should be the last person to withhold admiration of her Majesty, or not to desire that the greatest amount of happiness might follow her Royal Highness the Princess Royal. The revenues of the belonged to the Cro wn i n cases Duchy of Cornwall belong 'where the eldest son of the Sovereign died, and Burke said that they could be disposed of for the benefit of the Crown for life. He should divide with those who pro- posed to reject altogether the dowry of 40,0001. Lord PALVIERSTON—I wish to set the hon. baro net right as to the-supposition that in the event of the country being deprived by death of the Prince of Wales the revenues of the duchy of Cornwall would go to the Crown. Such is not the fact, the revenue of the duchy of Cornwall would go to the next heir to the Crown. I elan not stop to argue the question, but will simply ex press a hope that the house will abide by the decision it has already come to. Sir J. TRELAWNY Would reiterate his statement, that according to all the authorities in the law books, if the eldest on of the monarch died the revenles of the duchy of Cornwall would go to the Crown for the life of the reigning Sovereign. The house then divided— Ayes... Noes Majority The resolution was accordingly agreed to. THE NAVY ESTIMATES. gUN, LONI3ON, TUI SDAY 4 .4 4 „ 1 .4 ] E t j N 2 MA V' .0.6 an army. And therefore my hon. friend the member for Lambeth is entirely mistaken in depreciating the value obliged when the war broke out to have recourse, not only to our own trade, but to manufacturers of arms in Belgium and America. Very objectionable in principle this no doubt way, but at the same time necessity has no law, and we had to choose between leaving the army with their old Brown Bass, which everybody hcliniti ed to be an inferior weapon, or to go abroad to procure pro per weapons for our troops. Even now, with all the contracts which have been fulfilled, and those which are in course of execution, we shall only be able to furnish a few Enfield rifles to the troops of the line; there will still be the militiamen to be armed with them; and I of that 0:4 ahlishrnent at Aldershott. Whatever may have been the cost, I , ay that the money has been economi cally laid out. (hear.) It has been laid out with the greatest advantage to the public, that I do trust that nothing will ever pass in this house which will in terfere with the continued benefit that Aldershott will afford to the public by being, as it is intended, the place where, between the months of April and October, con siderable bodies of troops shall be collectad to pet form those movements and evolutions which they would have to perform if they were called upon for active service either at home or abroad. (sear, hear.) There were other points in which our army was deficient, and those deficiencies were greatly and severely felt at the outset of the late war. Ar d, by the by, I may say that even the practice in the late war was not a practice particu larly calculated to instruct officers in great field move , ments, because our army was stationary during the greater part of the time. It was not like a war carried on in the interior of a country with army movements and marches over a great surface of ground. But, in the first place, there was a great want of that which is es sential to the movements of an army—namely, a field train, or what used to be called a waggon corps—men trained to attend to the sick and to the different things apprehend this force ought to have as good a weapon as the soldiers of the lice. There ought also to be a certain quantity of muskets in store to be ready for emergencies; besides which there is an annual consumption which re- quires to be supplied ; and if we were ever called upon to defend ourselves what would the peoplecf this eoun- try say if, offering themselves in hundreds and thou sands as volunteers, we had nothing but broomsticks to place in their hands. (Laughter.) We must, then, have a certain stun of small arm% in hand, and that is the ___ object the Government has in view., Wed, then, there is the establishment at Wool ivich, which is really deserv- ing of a visit from any gentleman who takes an interest in these things. There is a perfection of machinery, a perfection of ingenuity, a successful application of science to practical purposes which must afford the greatest pleasure to anybody who can understand these things and take an interest in them ' • and the advantage of this establishment at Woolwich during the list war can hardly be exaggerated. (Hear.) If we had not had there men of great talent and machinery of great power it would have been impossible to have furnished the connected with the supplies of an army. There was great want of a hospital staff, men practised in hospitals and conversant with the methods of treating the sick. These things have been remedied. By the pre- sent estimates it will be seen that two new corps have been formed—one a field train and the other a hos- pital staff—composed of men trained to attend on the sick in hospitals. The committee will see that with re gard to numbers there is an increase of about 6,000 over the numbers of the year 1853-4. That increase arises principa'ly from the creation of these new corps, the augmentation of the artillery, and the employment of those supernumeraries who were appointed during the late war, and who might have been reduced, but whom the Government thought it would be hard to reduce. We determined therefore to keep them on full pay. The Commander-in-Chief willingly agreed to that arrange ment at a sacrifice of that patronage to which some people think, he attaches so much importance. We thought it better to retain as supernumeraries a great portion of the men who were about the establishment on full pay than discharge them at once and have to replace them afterwards by recruiting. The general wear and, tear of the army may bereckoned at about 12,000 men— includingdischarges, deaths, and other causes of decrease —and we thought it better to retain efficient men as supernumeraries than discharge them, and then have to go to the expense of raising other men. Then, I think it will be seen that the increase of expense, so far as the land force is concerned, - arises from these super numeraries, officers and men, the augmentation of the artillery, the field train, and also the hospital staff. Now, considering how much modern war turns upon artillery service, I think the house will be of opinion that it was not bad economy or bad foresight on the part of her Majesty's Government to augment to a cer tain extent the' artillery force of our army. (Cheers.) At the beginning of the last war we could not have put into the field 50 pieces of artillery, and to judge by com parison what that amount is it may be well said that when the Russian army entered Hungary to assist the Austrians to put down the Hungarians they brought into the field 660 pieces of field rrtillery. By the aug mentation of oug artillery I think that we could put well into the field, instead of 50 pieces, 140. I do not think that the house will be of opinion that that is a greater amount than is necessary. The total increase of charge upon the land force in the estimates, as compared will the year 1853-4, the last year before the war, is 600,0001, odd, a charge temporary in its nature, partly arising from these supernumeraries, and partly but mainly from those augmentations that I have mentioned. There is ne increase in the infantry of the line. There is, in point of fact, a slight diminution of about 120 men. There is a slight increase in the cavalry. There is an in crease in the engineers, and also in the artillery. Now I think that it is not very material, within certain limits, what is the amount of your infantry force. It should, of course, always be sufficient for the service of the year. Ail infantry man can be made (I trust that the military officers in the house will excuse me If I appear to make too light of the time necessary for the instruction of an infantry man) in a few months, and by recent results I should say even in a few weeks. At all events an in fantry may be rendered available for service in a very short time. A cavalry man requires a longer training, because not only have you to teach him what he him st if has to do, but how a horse should be treated, and what it has to do. A double instruction is thus necessary iu the case of the cavalry man, and that, therefore, is a reason why you should in time of peace increase your cavalry force rather beyond what, perhaps, might otherwise be considered necessary. Tae increase now proposed is entirely in dismounted men, and not in the number of horses. These dismounted men, however, will all be drilled to horse exercise, so that if it were necessary to render theeregiment more efficient it would be only requisite to buy an additional number of horses and mount your men upon them. Then the artillery is a corps which requires great practice and instruction. An inexperienced artilleryman is of very little value, and un less you have a good corps of artillery depend upon it your army will he very inefficient in the field. (Hear.) N, xt come the Engineers, and that of all corps is one which requires most scientific knowledge, longest train ing, and tee greatest amount i,f skill, ex-erienee, and in struction. The proposed increase of 1,100 men to the En gineers is, therefore, one wed deserving the approbation of the house. The total increase in respect to numbers is 6,917 ; the increase of charge is 636,0001., part of which is temporary. These estimates, in fact, must be considered as estimates of transition, for, as I shall have to state very briefly (leaving the details to Le treated by my hon. friend), there is an increase in other items, which arises out of contracts made during the war and not yet exe cuted, but which must be completed and paid for, as well as out of works, which will not, it is hoped, occur again to the same extent in future years. Independently, how , ever, of having a force sufficient for the defence of the country, there is another consideration which has of late years been much d welt upon and much forced upon public attention, but which for a considerable time did not suffi ciently attract the notice either of Government or of the country—l mean the necessity of defensive works for the protection of your dockyards and commercial ports, and for the protection also of such points as Dover, which may be said to be the key to the southern coast of Eng land. (Hear.) These works were for many years almost entirely neglected. Of late years more attention has been paid to them ; from tlme to tune annual sums of money have been voted for the completion of such works, and thus the object in view has, to a certain extent, been ac complished. But Portsmouth and Plymouth may now be said to be unassailable from the sea side, but they both I require additional fortification on the land side. Dover is becoming a fortress of considerable strength. That place is certainly of the utmost importance, because if the enemy were to get possession of Dover, with its har bour and the facilities it would offer for their landing, this would of course be a very inconvenient position for them to occupy. (Laughter.) It is therefore obviously of the greatest importance that Dover should be placed in a situation which would enable it to defend itself if attacked until assistance and support could arrive. It is necessary also to impress upon the house the high importance of protecting the dock yards—our great arsenals at Portsmouth, Plymouth, Sheerness, and Pembroke—against the attacks of a small army landing in the neighbourhood and ,shel. ling them on the land side, because if your naval resources in these dockyards were destroyed there would be at once an end to your naval superiority, and you would be left comparatively. defenceless. These, sir, are matters of the utmost importance, which for several years past have seriously occupied the attention of her Majesty's Government, and my right hon. friend Sir J. Graham knows well (because he entered heartily and constantly into these deliberations when he was a teem- Ler of the Government) the importance of this subject ; he is aware that what has been done has not been use less, and that further application of the same means is required to accomplish the object we have in view. Tuere is another item of expense which also belongs to the improved notions of the present day—l mean that connected with our barracks. In former times it was too much the habit to consider the soldier as a mere animal—(hear)---to carry a musket during peace and to shoot and be shot at in time of war. (Hear, hear.) Too little attention was paid to his moral and intellectual wellbeing, or to his comforts as a man, whether single or married. The attention of Government has been properly and useful'y called by Parliament of late years to the necessity of better arrangements for tne decent and comfortable habitation of soldiers in barracks at home. Such arrangements, however, are attended with considerable expense. When you have to provide for married men separate from the rest of their comrades ; when you have to build places for their recreation, read ing-rooms, and libraries, all these things require great addition to what used to be considered a tolerable bar rack ; and the construction of barracks upon new prin ciples, as well as the alteration of old ones in conformity with those principles, necessarily increases the annual charge under this head. It is a'so very desirable that as far as possible the troops at home should be lodged in barracks. (Hear.) It is better for them as soldiers ; it eases the civil population from that which is felt as a burden—(hear)—it contributes to the steadiness of the men ) to their moral habits, and is in all respects theie fore a most desirable arrangement. (Hear.) But then, again, these arrangements cannot be effected without a considerable expenditUre, and if the house there fore sees an increase under the head of " barracks," as compared with the expenditure of former years, I trust it will feel that this is really a sacrifice necessary for the accomplishment of objects which everybody admits to be most desirable, and which it is the duty of Parliament, as far as it can, to carry into effect. (Hear.) Then there is in the military departments a small increase, which may be the subject of diminution in a future year. The whole of the military departments are now brought under the Secretary for War, who is, as my hoe. friend has stated, responsible for all'the expendi ture ; and a great advantage to the service has arisen from the concentration of the Army, the Ordnance, and the Commissariat. In the manufacturing establishments there will be found an increase of 57,0001. as compared with the expenditure 'of 1553. Now, I am quite aware of the jealousy with which those who represent the private manufacturers of arms regard the manu facturing establishments of the Crown. But I can assure the hon. gentlemen the members for Warwick shire that the Government never contemplated having establishments of this kind sufficient in magnitude to dis pense with the employment of the trade. Such a thing would be out of the question. There is a great advantage in the possession by the Government of manufactories carried on under their superintendence,where experiments Can be made, and where standards can be used with which to• compare the works or private traders ; .but it would be absurd to suppose that any Government estab lishments could be upon such a scale as to supply the en tire wants of the army with regard to muskets. We were quantity of ammunition and projectiles which were neces sary to carry on the war in the Crimea. Among other things, I may mention that Capt. Boxer, one of the dis tinguished officers in that establishment, invented a method of exploding a shell by a well-regulated fuse, which produced the greatest possible improvement in that weapon of war. Whereas, before, shells used to explode ne man could tell when or where—sometimes on issuing from the mortar, sometimes in mid-air, sometimes not when they hit their object; by the fuse which Capt. Boxer invented the utmost precision was attained as to the txplosiort of the shell at the very point at wiiich it was desirable it should burst. There is also a manufactory for iron and brass ordnanse, which is scarcely of less importance than the manufactory of small arms. The amount taken this year is comparatively small, but we have made this year as large a number of iron guns as it wilt be possible to make carriages for. The great improvement which has taken place in the calibre of guns, both by sea and land, has entirely put out of the question the small pieces of ordnance which were thought sufficient in former years to arm our yes. sele and defend our forts. It is absolutely necessary that both our floating batteries and batteries on shore should be armed with guns equal to any which can be brought against them. In the wages of artificers there is, of course, a proportionate increase. With regard to the clothing of the army, there is a small increase of 3,7831. The hon. gentleman the member for Lambeth charac terised the change which had lately been made in regard to the clothing of the army, but I think that change has been productive of great benefit. Formerly a certain sum—so much per man—was voted annually for clothing the troops, which was banded to the colonel of each regimeni. He provided an army clothier to clothe the men, and the surplus which remained after his charges were paid was the profit of thecolonel. Of course it was the the interest of the clothier, and of the colonel too, but I know that that was not an object which was looked to—to make the clothing pass muster as nar rowly as possible. Now, an allowance is made to the colonels, in addition to their pay, in lieu of their clothing emoluments, ant the clothing is provided by the War Department. I am enabled to say that the clothing now supplied is of imcomparably better material, while the expense to the public is very much the same. In the items of provisions, forage, and matters of that sort, there is, of course, an increase, depending on the num ber of the troops and the price of provisions. With re gard to warlike stores there is a slight increase as com pared with .the year 1852, owing to contracts made during the war not yet fulfilled, which the Government are compelled to pay for when the articles are delivered. With regard to fortifications and barrack accommoda tion, there is an increase on the whole of 242,0001. These charges arise out of the considerations which I have mentioned as connected with the defence of the country. They comprise certain works at Portsmouth, in the Channel Islands, at Dover, and a certain sum is taken for continuing works at some of the principal com mercial harbours in the country. There is another object which has attracted, and most deservingly attracted, the attention of the house,—l mean the provision for the education of the officers of the army. (11,ear.) It is quite obvious that, whatever may be the courage of your offi cers, and whatever the bravery of your men, unless there be with your courage a mixture of a certain amount of science , and familiarity with the operations of war, if there be not a mixture of cultivation of mind generally as well as a cultivation of technical knowledge —you do not get your full value out of your courage, and you 'sacrifice lives which might be saved. Though the 'dogged courage of the British officer and soldier may, under any circumstances of disadvantage, carry out the objects for which they strive, still it is the duty of the cJuntry to give its military men that instruction which will enable their courage to accomprsh its objects with the least sacrifice of lite and with the least loss to the army. Great improvements have been made in the regimental schools, and, with regard to the officers, a council has been appointed (of which the Commander in-Chief is the head), consisting of officers of great dis tinction, in communication, of course, with my hon. friend the Secretary for War (though he is not actually a member of the council), its object being to frame a system of education for the officers which will be calculated to secure to the army men skilled in the profession, and whose minds, already generally cultivated, have been improved by a course of particular study and training. When that commission has reported its - report will be laid on the table, and I trust they will be successful in framing a system of education calculated to accomplish the objects I have mentioned. The total amount of the csaree for the effective service of the army was in 1853-4, 7,403,291/. ; in this year it is 9,025,3601., making an in crease of about 1,658,787/. This is diminished by a de crease in the charge for the yeomanry, which we do not propose to call out this year, and there is a diminution in the non-effective services of 9,5341., which leaves a total increase of 1,611,526/. We are sensible that it is the duty of the Government to endeavour to combine a due regard for economy with that efficiency which I am sure this house and the country will wish should belong to the military service. We have made a reduction as compared with the last year of the war, and we propose these estimates for the present year after a careful con sideration of the various items of which each charge is composed. I hope the house will vote for the present year the number of men and the amount of charge which we propose, and during the nex; year it will be our duty to endeavour to see what items can be diminished. Some portion will naturally cease by the operation of causes which are now in action. I do not think that the amount of force is greater than will be required for the-service of the country in time of peace, and many of the other charges, the excess upon which com poses the greater portion of the aggregate excess beyond the estimates of the year 1853-4, I am in hopes will cease during the present year. My hon. friend the Uunder-Secretary for War is ,quite ready to give the committee every detailed information as we go step by , step through the votes, and I am quite sur e he will do it with that ability and clearness which have distin guished him on every occasion when he has presented himself to the house. (Heat., hear.) Though I have thought it my duty to undertake to make this general statement to-the house, it was not from any doubt of the perfect competency of my hon. friend. (Hear.) In another year, when he has had an opportunity of making himself better acquainted with the subject, he will per form that duty which I have thought it better to per form fur him on the present occasion. The noble lord concluded by placing in the hands of the chairman the first vote :—" That a sum of 2,921,017/. be granted to her Majesty, in addition to a sum of 1,467,000/. already voted, for defraying the pay and allowance of her Ma jesty's laud forces at home and abroad, (allusive of those stationed in the East Indies." Mr, STAFFORD, after some general remarks, called attention to an omission in the noble lord's statement re lative to the Army Medical 'Department, and charged the Government with a desire not to carry out the recommen dation of the committee on the subject. The resolution of the committee had been carried by large majorities ; but nothing had been done by the Government but to appoint a camtnittce. No inclination had been shown on the part of the Government to ameliorate the condition of the officers of that department. The state of the army medical department was, as far as regards the satisfaction and comfort which those gentleman felt in performing their duty, worse than it bad been before any inquiry took place. If the future conditionof the department were settled, the officers would know whether to relinquish their pro fession or whether to enter with spirit on the efficient exercise of their duty. He trusted the experience we had gained in the last war would not be thrown away. It was a must noxious error to say that any disasters arose from . the numerical weakness of our establish ments, or from the reluctance of the house to vote sup plies. We bad to look rather to the re-allotment of our establishments for efficiency, than to any great increase in numbers. How could they expect a department to be efficient when they did not offer sufficient induce ments to officers to enter it ? He begged the Govern ment would not object to do something towards remedy ing the defects in the army medical department, a de partment connected with the health, the lives of soldiers, by offering to the officers more inducements than the miserable inducement which these estimates held cut to them. That department was inferior at present to any other department in the army. Much required to be done fur the sanitary state of the army. Statistics showed that the mortality of the troops was much greater than among civilians. That arose from the ne glect of the army medical department. So long as they neglected to draw the best talent of the country into that department, so long they would fall to draw the exoerience they ought from the lessons of the Crimea. Mr. WATKINS congratulated the Government on their determination to keep pace with improvements in the mechanical world in relation to the manufacture of arms. He should advise a system similar to that of the United States in reference to the manufacture of small arms. Mr. MAGUIRE condemned the present system of conveying the wives and children of privates and non commissioned officers from place to place. It was moat expensive to the private eoldfers, or the non-commissioned officers. It was a matter of great , consequence, and he hoped he should have an assurance from the Govern ment that the system would be altered. Sir F. BARING- having adverted to the enormous oxpense of Alderehott, said that if the estimates should -...--...-eseeeeeeseseiseesseesseiesees , eseseesessessesee .,,,,,,,„.,,,„, not be very materially reduced next year the house country, which would make it very nearly whet be lied would do well to refer them to a select committee. stated. Making every deduction, it wee impossible to put Sir DE LACY EVANS was of opinion that it was down the cost for sending out the 2,300 men at less than impossible to adopt the motion of the hon. member for 200,000 Z. He had asked the right lion. gentleman (Mr. Lambeth ; but at the same time be was quite convinced Labouchere) to show what equiva.'ent the country was to that cud a course, Provided it could be carried out with- receive for this outlay, or at Last that portion of it which out interfering with the executive Government, would be ; constituted the difference between the coat of disbanding of very great advantage. Such a committee would col- ' the men and sending them to Germany, and that of pro lect evidence which would. be most valuable. He was viding for them-at the Cape, but he had received no sa not at all convinced that they had not time to conduct tisfactory answer. He now begged to repeat the question, an inquiry into the expenditure, even during the present and he reminded the house that it would abdicate its session. They had still three months, and much might ; functions if at the bidding of the minister it consented, be effected in that time. If the hon. gentleman the ! without explanation, to vote five tunas as mace as member for Lrutheth should renew his motion and sag- was required in any case. (Hear, hear.) Why should the gest that they should be assembled to consider that ha- government fix on these Garman soldiers to defend the portant subject, he would certainly vote for such a Cape frontier ? Were there no English soldiers to send motion, though be could not have supported the motion out—men who had served in the late war, who bad which the hon. gentleman had propos e d that night. gained military experience, but whose services, now that He could not refrain from according his humble Mead peace was re-established, were not requir -d in our army ? of praise to the honourable member opposite (Mr. I The committee should also understand that there were Stafford), for the benefit he had rendered to the army more troops at the Cape now than at any farrier time, medical department. That department was not in the even during the Kaffir war. He believed there were no state that it ought to be for the advantage of the lees than 10,000 troops at the Cape at this moment. It army. He agreed as to the duty devolving on the GI- men were wanted let them be sent, but let them be sol vernment to see to the transport of the wives and chil- diers, and placed in the position of soldiers. drew of soldiers, without involving the privates and non- Mr. LABOUCHERE paid a high compliment to Go commissioned officers in such heavy expense. The pre- vernor Grey, to whose great ability and energy he said sent system required improvement. For the camps at we owed the preservaion of the Cape colony. He alt ., - Aldershot and Shorncliffe they were indebted to -the late ;ether denied that the proposal of sending the German Lord Hardinge. He (Sir De Lacy Evan.) had been Legion to the Cape bad emanated from Governor Grey gratified that the Government had adopted the sugges- —it was the government at home that had suggested, tion; but he did' not think that permanern huts had 1 and they alone were responsible for it. formed any part of the original plan. He qeite con- I Major WORTLEY said it appeared -to him that it curred in the observations which the noble lord had made I was hardly understood what the German Legion had with reference to placing our maritime depots in an effi- 1 gone to the Cape for. They were that sort of hybrid dent state of defence. No doubt the question of eco- soldier which never answered. When the threatening tinny ought not to be lost sight of, but expenditure in aspect of affairs at the Cape ceased they would be die order to the maintenance of a due defence was not an bawled, and would go as servants to the borers, arid in extravagance. The number of troops in England was case of their being required and ceded out, you could certainly reduced to a quantity to which he would take not get 800 out of the 2,800 men that had gone there. no objection ; whether the expenditure with regard to But the German Legion having gone there, he thought those troops might not be reduced, he could not say, but the expense in the estimate was net large, and it seemed be thought that some objection might be taken to the to him that as they were there the estimate ought to be number of general and staff officers. (Hear.) voted. Col. BOLDER() took occasion to complain of the de- Mr. HENLEY said the men were at the Cape, and fenceless state of Woolwich, and pointed out the error he did not see how the house was to avoid paying the which was at the present moment being committed by money which was required. But the right hon. gentle the erection of storehouses near the river. Some years man had brought back the question of the enlistment of ago land was bought at Weedon for the very purpose of trained soldiers (which all foreigners were supposed to placing stores inland, but the prudent step then taken' be) during the emergency of the war ; but these was now being undone. He also wished to call the troops who were said to be trained soldiers were put attention of the committee to the system upon which into training again when they came to this country, officers were paid, when compared with the outlay to and they were kept in training to amuse the hon. which those officers were necessarily subjected. He had I member for Colchester in his park—(laughter)—and made a'ealculation, and he found that at the end of his to protect the " nursemaids" of Essex—(laughter) first year's service an ensign, supposing him to spend and the training was kept up so long that not only such sums as were absolutely necessary, and 'to one of thorn ever saw a Russian. (Laughter.) He waste not one penny either in amusement or extrasa- should be the last man to wish the Government not to ganee, at the end of the first year would be out of pocket keep faith with these men, but he could never under 10Z. 10s. 9d., and at the end of the second year 7/. odd. stand why you should have enlisted them on such con- This State of things ought to be amended. ' ditions, hslt of which would have made Englishmen Capt. VlVlAN'thought that the referring the army jump at the offer. After all, the settlers of the legion estimates to a select committee would lead to no good re- were picked out of the different regiments, and were not suit, beyond, perhaps, the obtaining of some small more acquainted with each other or capable of working amount of evidence. He was of opinion that the staff at toeether than Englishmen picked out of regiments in the the present time was too large—(hear)—and that, in lieu same manner. The right hon. gentleman said the ele of reducing the rank and file, the amount of the staff ment of calculation was uncertain, but the element of should be reduced. He also bore testimony to the useless payment was quite certain—(laughter)—and every far manner iu which the land at Aldershott was being em- thing that this country was liable to pay it would be ployed. called on to pay. He wished to know if the pay of Gen. THOMPSON could give unqaalified approba- these men was to be the same whether there was peace Lion to the Statement which had been made by the noble or war ? lord. If he added anything to what had been said on the Mr. LABOUCHERE said that, as far es this coun present occasion, it would be to impress on the commit- try was concerned, the pay would be the game at all tee that true economy consisted in haying everything of times, but when the men were palled out 33 militia the the best. colony would increase their pay. Major KNOX urged the claim which the Italian le- Mr. HENLEY said that if they got a taste for fight gion which had been stationed at Malta had upon the ing they might have an understanding and kick up a Government, and expressed a hope that the noble lord row with the Kaffirs—(laughter)—for the purpose of at the head of affairs would see justice done. being put on the war pay and establishment. He Col. HERBERT called'attention to the fact that hoped his hon. friend would not divide, as, at any rate, Woolwich was our only depot for arms, although in case faith must be kept with the men with whom it had of invasion it was one of the first pieces teat would fall entered into an engagement. into the handset the enemy. He alio complained of the Lord PALMERSTON said it was very easy to make reduction of our regiments of infantry and cavalry to the a joke of a thing. (Loud laughter). The right hon. old peace establishment. In his opinion regiments should gentleman (Mr. Henley) with his grave and serious loos, be kept up to their full strength, and if redaction were generally contrived to throw a great deal of jocularity necessary, that it should be of regiments, not of large into his arguments. Tae last proposition of the right numbers of men from each regiment. hon. gentleman had certainly surprised him, for he put Col. SYKES was strongly in favour of referring the it to the house that the German Legion would, for the votes annually to a committee. sake of pay, persuade the Kaffirs to come out to be shat Lord J. RUSSELL supported the proposition before by thhse same Germans, iu order that they might get the committee, but he had beard with apprehensein 6d. a day. It was ell very well to treat lightly the several suggestions that had been made in the course m e asures which bad' been taken by the Government of the discussion. He feared that, unless considerable during the war, in order to increase the disposable forces reductions were made, it would be necessary next at their command. H rn. g-ntlernen said the Govern year to propose new taxes to a consiSerable amount. His went could have got British soldiers; but the fact wg, right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would that they tried to get them, but were unabloto obtain have enoughtbisyearfor hisestimates, but next year there them, at least not in sufficient numerical force for tie svould be a reduction offour and a half millions in the taxes, purpo-es required, and they obtainedthe services of hese andthereforehetrustedthattheabsolutenesessity ofreduce Germans, and excellent troops they were. As to their tion and retrenchment would be seen and provided for. being kept at home for the amusement of the hon, memo- He hoped that if a select committee should be appointed her for Colchester, the fact was, that a great many of next year, sonic attempt wool i be made to produce them were sent to Turkey ; an , i all of them would have reduced taxation. It ssas t ru e that they hat to be gone if there had been another campaign. It was use prepared for a great milit ar y o peration last year, but less to send them out in the winter; and if the spring they were not to have a siege of Sebastopol every had not brought peace, they would have gone out, and' year ; and if it were proposed to be p re pared for such no doubt have done good serv,ce. But when the war an operation every year, 200,000 men would be quite was over, the question was, what was to be done with lirole enough as an annual vote. (Hear. hear.) He them There was some anxiety felt at the Cape with trusted that next year, when everything good was to be regard to the Kaffirs, and it was determined to send done—(a laugh)--the state of the finances would attract them there. The hon. gentleman said that these men the serious attention of the government. (Hear.) were not adapted for colonists • but the Government had Sir J. RAMSDEN explained that with respect to the reason to know that it was a wise and prudent measure barrack expenses in former times, 60/. per" man was eon- to send them out as military colonists. The hon. gentle. sidered a fair average ; whereas 100/, was rendered ne- man said, let the colonists defend themselves. Very cessary now in consequence of the many modern im provements in the accommodation for the men. With respect to Aldershott it was not intended that the en campment there should be more than a summer encamp ment. He admitted, with the gallant officer opposi‘e, that Woolwich was in an unprotected state, but the mode of defence, in ea-oil of threatened invasion, would be in the mooring of blockehips and gunboats in the river. In answer to inquiries respecting the condition of Alder shott, he was happy to say that the average of sickness there was only tbree per cent., while at all other bar racks throughout the king mom it was four per cent. With reference to the medical department of the army, the government had received the report of the commis sioners, to which they attached high value, and he trusted that with the information furnished by that re port some satisfactory reform would be effected. gr. MACARTNEY thought this the proper oppor tunity of bringing for ward the case of thirty-six cavalry officers who had been put on half pay last December, after having been previously assured that the two troops to which they were attached were to be a permanent aue mentation to the army. Six had been since absorbed by other corps, but thirty still remained on half pay. Atter some further conversation, Mr. MAGUIRE hoped that sergeants and privates who were permitted to take their wives with them would receive some allowance for their travelling ex penses. Sir W. WILLIAMS hoped that next year the case of the sergeants would be considered, and their pay in creased. At present their pay was quite inadequate to their position. Sir DE L. EVANS objected to the amount of the votes for barracks. He congratulated thr Under Sec retary for • War on the lucid manner in which he had explained the estimetes. (Hear, hear.) Sir J. RAMSDEN, in answer to the hon. member for Dungarvon, said the soldiers' Wives were formerly permitted to travel in the waggons, but that since the introduction of railways that aceorenaodation had ceased. The matter should be attended to. (Hear, hear.) The suggestion of the hon. and gallant member for Calne respecting the sergeants' pay should receive the most serious attention. Tne vote was then agreed to. 355,0551. miscellaneous charges for the land forces. Sir J. TRELA.WNEY complained of the charge of 11,0001 in lieu of stock purse fund for recruiting and hospital charges of the Guards, called attention to the privileges enjoyed by officers of the Guards as compared with those of. the Line, and mentioned that through the Crimean expedition instances had occurred of offi cers of the Guards being placed over other officers of more experience and equal actual rank, but who did not enj )3 , the nominal step above their rank which officers of the Guards held. He believed too that in the appoint ments to commands in thearmy in the Crimea favouritism had been shown to the Guards on account of their aristocratic connexion. Mr. BYNG thought it unwise and unjust to endeavour to draw a distinction between the Guards and the Line, between whom it was mest desirous that the utmost good feeling should exist. Mr. STAFFORD suggested that it was inconvenient to discuss the relative position of the Guards and the rest of her Majesty's forces incidentally ; but having visited' the hospitals of the Guards, he wished to bear testimony to their effiziency. They were perfect models of what military hospitals should be. Mr. WILLIAMS complained of the higher rank and higher pay the officers of t he Guards enjoyed as corn pared. with the officers of other branches of the same ser vice. He saw a charge for 104 assistant-chaplains. He was informed that the men in the dockyards and in garrison formerly attended the churches in the neigh bourhood, but that now chaplains were appointed with salaries of 2001. and 303/. each to perform divine service in the garrisons or dockyards. This was a needless increase of expense. Lord LOVAINE reminded the house that the officers of the Guards were deprived of their legitimate promo tion in consequence of the recommendation of the com mittee on army promotion. Lord-A. VANE TEMPEST denied that the Guards enjoyed any privilege to which they were not entitled. Mr. CONINGRAM wanted to know what necessity there was for a general inspector of Foot Guards. SirJ. RAMSDEN replied that the appointment of the officey in question was merely following out the system that prevailed in other branches of the service ; the only difference being that the number of men under the in spection of the Inspector-General of the Guards was less than that which each brigadier in the line bad to inspect. Mr. ADDERLEY referred to the expense of sending the German Legion to the Cape of Good Hope, whibh he said amounted to 1001. a man, whereas they might have been disbanded at a cost of 201. a man. He had made this statement before, but it had been disputed. Since then he had gone into the calculation, and found, taking the Blue-book as his guide, that he was pretty nearly cor• rect. He took the three years' pay to which they were entitled at 94,0001. ; buildings' allowance, 50,000/. ; 115,0001. for outfits ; conveyance at 121. a man, including officere, 30,0001. ; conveyance of families, 10,0001.; one year's rations, at 9/. a man, 22,500 ; rations for families 7,5001. ; road making, bridges, and other works for opening the country, together with churches and chap lains' salaries, 20,0001. ; full pay during the voyage, 7,5001. ; arms and calf equipege, 15 000/, ; sad free passage for supernumerary offieere 1,000/. ; making to gether 268,500/. The grape of 40,0001. made by the C•ipe authorities was for the whOle German Legion, but as not more than ooe-third would go out, some 14,0001. must, be deducted from that, and added to the net cost to this good. But who were the best kind of colonists to defend the colony ? Were they not such men as those who had received military training and acquired military expe rience ? The right bun. gentleman said that English soldiers should have been sent to the Cape instead of Germans ; but most of the English soldiers who were discharged were invalided, and those who were nut inva lided preferred to go to their own homes and their own counties rather than going to lead a wild life at the Cape. With all deference to the right hon. gentleman and the jokes he had'cut, the Government thoueht that they were perfectly justified in the measure they had adopted, and he believed that the result; would show that they were perfectly justified in adopting it. The right hon. gentleman, however, agreed that, right or wrong, the thing was done, and that the house must not cut off the sum necessary for carrying out the arrangement, and those who thought that it ,was a right one were so much the more fortified in their opinion, that the sum required for the comfort and will-being of the men who had gene out to the colony on the faith cf that arrangement, ought to be voted. After some further discussion the vote was agreed to. On the vote of 36,282/, for volunteer corps, Sir J. RA.MSDEN, in reply to a question, said it was the intention of the Government to call out about one third of the militia. Col. GREVILLE wished to know whether the men would receive 6/. bounty whether called out for training or not, and whether any alteration would be made in the remuneration allowed to the surgeons. Lord PALMERSTON said that the militia formed no part of the charge in the present estimates. When the militia was embodied it was under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, and formed a part of the army ex penses. But when it was disembodied' it did not form a pert of the army estimates. The estimate for that branch of the service was framed by a committee of the house appointed for that purpose. That would he done later in the session, and it would be more coevenient to post pone any discussion relative to the details of the militia service until the vote came regularly before the house. • BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY (IRE LAND) BILL. Mr. FITZGERA.LD moved that the house resolve itself into committee on this bill for the purpose of pass ing some of the on , posed clauses. Mr. WHITESIDE objected to the hone' going into committee at that late hour (12 o'clock). The bill c tamped 330 clauses, manly, of which were of great import ance. Tne house divided. The numbers were— For the motion Against it The house then resolved itself into committee, but after a short discussion the chairman was ordered to re port progress and ask leave to sit again. The house then resumed. PORTLAND HARBOUR BILL. The house resolved itself into coinroietee on this bill. The various clauses were agreed to, and the house re sumed. CINQUE PORTS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Th,s bill w,as read a second time, and was ordered to be committed on Thursday next. MINISTERS' MONEY (IRELAND) BILL. • Lord PALMERSTON intimated that the Govern ment would take charge of this bill, and said that if the house did not object, he would at once move that it be committed. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON hoped the noble lord would not press the bill at that late hour. Lord PALYIERSTON said' he would postpone the committee until Thursday n ex t. PRINCESS. ROYAL'S. ANNUITY BILL. This bill was brought in and read a first time. EQUALISATION OF POOR RATES. Mr. AYRTON said in consequence of the Meese of the President of the Poor-law Board, he should postpone his motion on this subject. The house then adjourned shortly after half-past 12 o'clock. [AnysitTiszstssr.]—Medicine always aggravates chronie dis eases, such as dyspepsia (indigestion), flatulency, habitual con stipation, ner'fous, bilious, and liver complaints, &c., but Du Barry's delicious Revalenta Arabica Food invariably cures them in a very short time. We extract two out of many thousand expressions of gratitude , from invalids :—From the Dowager Countess of Castlestuart. Cure 52,612.—Rosstrever, County of Down, Ireland, December 9, 1854. The Dowager Countess of Castlestuart feels induced, in the interest of suffering hu manity, to state that Du Barry's excellent Revaleuta Arabica Food has cured her, after all medicines had failed, of indiges tion, bile ) great nervousness and irritability of many years' -standing. This food deserves the confidence of all sufferers, and may be considered a real blessing. InquirL s will be cheerfully answered.—Trevagler, Gulval, near Penzance, Feb. 20, 1851.—Eighteen years' nervous debility, violent palpita tion of the heart, throbbing of tho temples, violent pains on the left side and back, shortness of breath, cough, numbness of the extremities, cramps, spasms, flatulency, retching, and such general weakness, that I was consequently fearful of fall ing when on my legs; all these symptoms have been removed by Du Barry's excellent Re valen ta Arabica Food. —MARY GELBERT bupiiorted by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry; Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Harvey Dr. Campbell ; Dr. G-attiker ; Dr. Wurzel.; Dr. Ingram Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Castl. , li•ftir a t.h re ei r • apfealirteicaua toDul s r ß es a p rr e y %- Stuart; Major-Gen: Thomas King, and many other res pec t a :t persons,:who s e health has been 'restored by it, after all, otbe, i m n e g this ansc i f nv c a lu lu 'e ab ha le d fo f o a c i l le o l ur readers .For advertisement in another part of this paper, 361 18 ..--343 The report on these estimates were brought up and agreed to. THE ARMY ESTIMATES. On the motion tor going into committee of supply on these estimates, - Mr. WILLIA MS moved that the Army Estimates be referred to a select committee. He contrasted the esti- mates of the present year with those Of 1835 and 1852, showing that they were higher now than at any former period by some two or three millions sterling. The esti mates were five millions higher than they were in the time of the Duke of Wellington in the last year of the un reformed Parl lament. He inveighed against the establish ments at Aldershott and Shorncliffe, where he said there were six generals over some 2,000 men, and predicted that in spite of all this expense another war would find us as unprepared and inefficient as we were before. As he did not think those estimates would be properly Ex amined in a committee of the whole house, he moved that they be referred to a select committee. After some general conversation the motion was nega tived without a division, and the house went into com mittee. Lord PALMERSTON—Sir, according to the usual course it would have been the duty of my hon. friend the Under-Secretary for the War Department (Sir J. Ramsden) to move the whole of these estimates ; but. as my hon . friend has but recently come into office, and has only been able to make himself master of the details of these estimates, which he will clearly, and I doubt not satisfactorily, explain item by item as they are proposed, I thought it would be more satisfactory to the house that a member of her Majesty's Government should give those general explanations with regard to the principles that regulate the amount of force which we propose shall be maintained during the present year and generally in time of peace. And therefore I trust that in departing from the usual course—on the present occasion only—l have not done that which is useless. (Hear.) I would state, in the first place, that these estimates comprise estimates which in former years, owing to the separation of the departments, formed the subject of separate and distinct estimates. They now contain everything con nected with the military departments—namely, those expenses that were heretofore proposed under the management of the Secretary at War, those that were heretC - fore under the Ordnance Branch, and those con• nected with the Commissariat, and which were under the Treasury, and formed the subject of a separate vote. . . The house have therefore now the means of seeing p one view the whole of the military expenditure. lam sure that the hon. member for Lambeth did himself in justice when he said that from the alteration in the mode of framing the estimates he was unable to make himself master of the details. I am uuwilling to believe this modest statement on his part —(a langb)—and I am sure that these estimates, which are in substance the same as those proposed before the dissolution of Parliament, are not too much for the grasp of my hon. friend. (A. laugh.) Sir, the first question that must naturally suggest itself to those who are charged with the duty of proposing the amount of the military establishments is what, under the circumstances of the moment, is the establishment which, on the one hand combines the greatest regard for eco uomy, and on the other, the greatest regard for the effi ciency of the service and the defence of the country. Nov, it is a wed known maximthatif you wish for peace you must be prepared for war—si vie paceia pars bellum. In one sense I differ from that maxim ; in another I think it is a sound maxim. If it is meant that this coun try should imitate the example of the great military mo narchies of the continent, and in time of peace maintain a military establishment adequate to the emergencies of actual war, I say that such a system would be ruinous to the country and calculated to defeat the very object for which it professes to be framed. When we see a great country maintaining in time of peace armies of 300,000 or 400,000 men, we find that an unnecessary deduction is made from the productive industry of the country by. the abstraction of so many hands from useful labour. An unnecessary drain is thus also made upon the pecu niary resources of the country, and we els° see that there is a defect that counteracts the very object in view, be cause the people of those countries are accustomed to rely entirely on large standing armies for the public service wnenever an emergency shall occur, and they are there fore not imbued when it does occur with that enthusias tic public spirit which we have seen in this country rise equal to any emergency which the accidental circum stances of the moment may require. Therefore the system of large armies exhausts unnecessarily the financial re sources of the country, and prevents the development of public spirit. Well, Sir. I should be sorry to sea any Go vernment in this country imitate the example of those governments. If, on the other hand, we were solely to consider what is necessary for the internal maintenance of order, a very small military establiehment would be sufficient, because here we do not rely as in some foreign countries on the military system for the maintenance of public order. There are civil means of enforcing an obe• thence to the law which supersede in a great degree, i. not entirely under ordinary circumstances, the action of'a military force. But we must consider the peculiar cir cumstances ~f this country. We have not only our own islands to defend, but we have possessions of great value, of great political and commercial importance, scattered over the most distant regions of the globe. We must theiefore Consider what is necessary for the pro tection.of those possessions and of the country, not in C. 1.13 otactual war, because that might require exertions of a very different nature, but what is sufficient to pro tect us against attacks arising from not much previous notice. Therefore the military establishments of the country must be calculated to provide for the defence of the country against any sudden and unexpected danger, and to provide also a -sufficient defence for the colonial possessions of the country. Our position'is one which, without meaning to imply any doubt as to the con tinuance of peace, requires peculiar caution on our part. These considerations were well explained by my right honourable friend the First Lord of the Admiralty in moving the Navy Estimates. We have close to us a great military and naval Power—a Power far supe rior to us in her great military establishments—a Power which is nearly equal to us in the amount of her. naval establishments. And we must recollect that modern improvements have in agreat degree altered the conditions of both naval and military war. (Hear.) The improvements in pr jectiles, the great improve ments in shipping, have altogether altered the relative position of countries so near to each other. In former times, when we were at war with France—long may it be before that happens again I—the means of assault were confined to the collection of a great number of sail ing boats in the ports of the Channel, of which notice could be naturally given, and it was therefore easy for the Government to take precautions against any danger that might arise therefrom. But, as was stated by my right hon. friend, there is now at Cherbourg the means for collecting a large naval force. The ships which we now build are of such magnitude that whereas formerly only a few hundred men could be transported by one ship now more than 1,000 or 1,200 can well come upon one '1 eel. The circumstances of the country are pecu liarly fortunate. It is impossible for this country to rely entirely fir its defence upon its naval means. (Hear.) There must be within the territory of the country I the means of effectually maintaining ourselves, even sup posing our naval protection to be denuded or ineffectual. (Hear.) On the one hand I think it is the duty of the Government (and if the Government neglected their duty it would then become the duty of Parliament) to take care that our military establishment is not numerical) , larger than is really required for the emergencies of the time-; but, on the other hand, having, as we ought to have, a comparatively small military establishment, it ought to be so organised as to be capable of speedy and great enlargement, and to contain within it those ele ments of science which are becoming every year more necessary for military establishments. It should also be so organised that those who may have to command it should be practised in those military evolutions which they may have to perform upon taking the field either at home or abroad. Now, the great fault in our military arrangements hitherto has been that they have ended with the regimental system. (Hear, hear.) But I may observe that our regimental sys tem is as perfect as that of any service in the world. Nothing could be superior to the British regiments. I re member hearing the Duke of Wellington say that the British soldiers led by the gentry of their country would do anything that was within the scope of human beings to accomplish. (Hear, hear.) If we wanted any examples we should find them in the late war in the Crimea. (Cheers.) Many of us have read that anecdote of tee battle of Inkermann when the gallant soldiers, assailed by numbers which to many other men would be over whelming, being almost exhausted, and their ammuni tion in a condition in which any troops might with hon our have retired, the cry went from one to the other, " Well, lads, we must stand our ground ; for if we go I back the girls of England will laugh at us." (Laughter.) That simple expression of determination was just as heroic as any of those more eloquent and inflated senti ments of patriotism which are to be met with is the most eminently classical authors. Well, then, the ar rangements in our regiments were as good as possible, but they were stopped. The condition of our army in a time of peace precluded that practice of evolutions and movements which belonged to larger bodies collected to gether. The brigade system and the divisional system were studied in theory, but were seldom capable of being practised in. the field. Those officers who have the g ,od fortune to serve in India see these things on a larger scale, but cur officers at home were compeded to study them only theoretically in the closet ; and a man might as well expect to learn how to swim by extending him self on a mahogany table, as to learn military evolutions by reading books in his arm-chair by the fireside. (A. Laugh.) A great and most important improvement was made by the purchase of the land at Aldershott and by the arrangements made there. The Governmenrcaused a considerable number of troops to be collected there for summer exercise. They were there organised in the same manner in whi c h th e y wou ld b e org a nized for ser vice in the fi e ld, 'i n brigades and divisions; an d b y that ma o n s the e stiaaffracticy officers aT a c n o d nve th rs e an t men w i t t h h em th s o el: e op esh e a r v a e . 1 lions and movements which before the greater part of them only knew theoretically. Every Government en the continent that has military establishments has in variably practised these collec • tions and exercises of troops. The French, the Austrian s , the Prussians, the R uss ians, have invariably practised large bodies collected together, and by that means have enabled th • eir general officers and staff officers to acquire that practical know ledge which is essential in Conducting the operations of Countr7 Markets. OFIELNSFORD-MAT 22, Whoa to-tlay experienced a rail - L.2r firm sale, fetching fully the prices of last week. 6pring corn of all kiuds firm at last week's prices. Wheat, white, old, per s. qr.3l new 3.1 red, old 29 new 29 71 Oats, 70 Peas, 8. s. per qr 2- 30 Partridge . 41 44 White... 39 47 Boiling 39 46 7 40 Barley- - 35 Chevalier 40 Grinding . 35 Nialt 73 Chevalier 75 90 I Dun 3 64 I Beaus, Tiok ... 35 4 0 4i; Harrow tick.; 39 98 77 I Mazagan 34 37 79 Ditto, new 34 38 Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c., rec. in the port of London, from the following Forts, Dtay 18 to Mg 23, both inclusive. ° Colchester Fl arw i c h 41 3( 20 Leigh 88 -- 30 Nlalclon - A 8 g i g aa N r-' 3 ° 12 - (302 -- COLCHESTER- MAY 23 To-day wo had a small supply of wheat, which had a ready sale at about is to 2s per qr. advance on last week's prices. Barley and oats were i❑ small supply—the former sold slowly at is decline, and the latter at prices the same as on last market day. Prices to-day were as follow :—Wheat, white, 603 to 68s; red, 51s to 60s; barley, 44s to 48s ; oats, 24s to 28s ; Ifazagan. 36s to 403 ; middle and small, 38s to 44s ; peas, white, 38s to 42s ; grey, 10s to 425. KIRKCALDY-MAY 23. A very moderate supply of wheat to-day ; the prices asked for best samples must be quoted at a slight advance. In barley and oats very little doing, and prices for all sorts at is to 23 per qr. higher. Wheat. I Barley. Oats. I Beans. First sBs Od I 37s Od 32s Od Os 0 , 1 Second Third 32s Od —s Od I 26s Od f Os ol Oatmeal, 36e per bag of 2801 b. COAL 4A KIS Prices of Coals per ton al s. d, Bates's West Hartley 15 0 Bebside's Hartley 16 3 Howard's West Hartley Netherton 16 3 Longridge's Wst Hartley 16 3 Hastings' Hartley l6 North Percy Hartley _l5 (1 Canfield Moor l5 0 Canfield Moor Butes 14 9 Walker Primrose l3 9, Wallsend, P 243 _ _ Cassop 16 0 Tees l7 0 Acorn Close l5 6 Lambton l6 6 Russell's Iletton 16 0 Ships at market, to 38s -MAY 25. t the close of the market. Wallsetat, eku s d Eden l5 6 t}ostorth l4 6 Eden Hain Kepler Grainge l6 6 Braddyll Framwellgate l5 6 Pensher l5 0 Eleugh Hall ..15 6 South Fletton 16 9 Hartlepool Hettou l6 0 tewart's l7 0 Riddell l4 6 Barton 11 aswell 17 0 107 ; sold, 76. LOCAL SHABA MARKETS. LIVEItPOOL, MAY 25. STOOK EXCEIANGE.—The market was quiet to-day, but prices slightly improved. North British, 10$—North Eastern, Bermck, 21k—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1004 Ditto, new 91., issued at L dis., 1/. ls. 3d. prem.--London and North Western, 1041-51idland, 83—Blackburn, 6 —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 414 2—London Eighths, 3s. 9d. d.—Graud Trunk of Canada, 161- Dutch Rhenish, d. h. ls. 3d.—Great Wester❑ of Canada, 22t Ditto, new, l p.—South Eastern, 22i 2. MfANCHE'STEIt, MAY 25 STOCK EXCHANGE. - The market was quiet, but with only a moderate business, and an improved change in prices. The sales were—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 42.4—Grand Trunk of Canada, 16/—Great Western of Canadas, 22i— Ditto, new, 1 5-16 p.—East Lancashire, 97I—Ditto, new, d.—Midlani.s, 828 —South Eastern, 22 a —Lontions, 104 i Lancashire and Yorkshire, 104— LJeds, 1014. BIRMINGHAM, MAY 25, STOCK EXCHANGE. —The market is quiet to-day, and prices are about the same as yester day. Great Western, 664 —London and North-Western, 101{ to i—Ditto, Eighths, to dis.—Birtningharn Banks, 32--Birmingham and midland Banks, 1:40. MR. BARON CHANNELL AND THE HOME CIROUIT.—A banquet was given to Mr. Baron Channel! on Saturday evening at the Albion, Aldersgate-.treat, by the mem ber. of the Home Circuit, to celebrate his elevation to the judicial bench, Otte h'indred gentlemen sat down to dinner, which was admirably served. The party was joined by Sir F. Thesiger, Mr, Russell Gurney, and other foi mer members of the circuit. Mr. Serjeant Sbee, the present leader, presided, end the hearty reception given by the company 'to their distinguished guest indicated the gratification unanimou&y felt that one who had for maey years been known and respected as a member of their own circuit should have been ap pointed to the well-merited preferment which he Der enjoys. REPORT ON IRISH CONVICT PRISONS.—The third annual report of the Directors of Cunvict Prisons in Ireland was printed on Saturday. The accommodation in the Government prisons for convicts on the let of January last is estimated at 3,436, and the number in on that day was 2,614 in the Government prisons, and 162 in the county and city gaols, making a gross total of 2,776. 389 convicts were sentenced in 1856. Generally speaking,' the industry of the convict: , has been very satisfactory ; the record of industry being known to effect their progress in the advantages of classification has been a constant stimulus, which, it is hoped, will become still more powerful with the men 'now under sentence of penal servitude, when the dire° tors are able to piece before them comb more tangible reward than is afforded by the mere increase of earnings consequent on their attaining higher classification. THREATENED INVASION OF NORMANDY.—At the last meeting of the Newcastle npon-Tyne Society of Anti quaries, Dr. Bruce stated that an archmological excursion of some duration was projected, in which, he believed, any member of the Newca,tle society would be allowed to join. An invasion of Normandy had been planned by the Sussex Atchmalogicel Institute. A steamer was to sail from Newhaven, and if a landing were effected at Dieppe, a week would be spent in ransacking Normandy. Master Lower, he hoped, would be the Master Wace of the enterprieke, and indite a poem thereupon ; and the facts of the invaeion would be pictorially handed down to 'posterity by the facile fingers of certain Lewes Matil das.—The Builder: , • • (A D.V ar IS !WANT. 1— SIGHT AND HEARING. —SPECTACLES.. ' POV7ERFUL TELESCOPES OPERA, RACE, AND PERSPECTIVE GLASSES.—Messrs. S. and 13. Solomon, opticians, 39, Atha marle-street, Piccadilly. Oliseeve--onposite the York Hotel, W.--By her Majes,ty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvement's in the most powerful and bril /lent Tlescopes, Camp, Racecourse, \ Opera, am, Perspective Glasses, to know the distances. These telescopes possess such extraordinary powei; that some, thiee and a-half inches, with an e: , tr, eye-p ece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, baturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same ttleseouct can be seen ac, el sJn's countenan three-and-a-half mile • dis tant, end an object from 16 to 20 miles. For the wai-tcoat pocket, an are or tare er, and all sizes, with inc. easing powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851 —A valu able ewly-inveute i very small pow rful Waistcoat Pocket Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known one and a half mile distant, they an wer every purpose on the race-course, and at the Opera Houses. Country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. hey are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalkine, yachting, to st ortt.no. , , ge ,t'emen, g mele‘ epers, ncl ton ists. Opera, Camp, Perspe t de, ud R classes, with wonderful pow• rs. —ln. aln blo preserving Spectacle Lenses u r the greatest transparent power The great advantage derived from this invention is, that vision imp - tired becomes pre' served and strengthened, and very age i persons are enabled to employ their sight at the mdst minute occupation-7 - can see with these lenses of a much less magnifying power —and they do not require the frequent change. to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance Persons can be suited at the mo t remote part of the world by send in one of the glasses out of their spect Iles in a letter, and stating the dist ,ace from the eye they can read small grille with it, and thirse who have not made use of .pectacles by stating their age. Deafness. —New Dis 4v ry.—T ,e Or ganic Vibrator, an extra reli,,arily powerful, smal newly' invented nStrumenr for , teafues, entirely diff rent from all otLers, surpasiet , anythi g of the kind that .a- I een, or pro bab y ever can be trod :cod. Being pf th t same col our to tn., skin, is not pert ptiblt. It enables deaf persons to heat distinctly at church and at I.nblic assenalle ; the unpleasant sensation ef singing noises in the ears is entir•ly iemoied, and •t affords all the assistance that possibly could be d esired. —3,, .I,etuarle-street, Piceadillye—Observe—opposite the York Hotel. W. BIRTHS. OF A SON On the 25th inst. at 21, Pavement, Finsbury-square, the wife of G. M. Hill, On the 25th inst., at 127, Chancery-lane, the wife of Dfr• G. H. Beckford. OF A DAUGHTER. • On the 23d inst., at Leamington, the wife of Chas. Vi r • Digby, Esq. On the 23d inst , atDoughty-street, liecklenburg.square , the wife of Mr. M. Pound. MARRIED. On the 22d inst., at St. James's Church, Paddington' William Surrey, third son of Christopher Surrey, Esq . ' of Selwood Cottage, Old Brompton, to Mary, eldest oar viving daughter of the late Wm. Poole, H.E.LC S. . On the `22d inst., at Hockliffe, Beds, Captain Horl Priegtley, 2.5 . h Regiment, t o Ch ar l o tt e Ch erry, you ng° daughter of F. N. Ba'main, Esq. DIED. On the 22.1 inst., at the University Club, very suddeell' David Arthur Saund ers Davies, Esq., M. P. for Carw sr- thenahire, aged 65. On the 22d i ns t , a t F a l mou th , J o h n Hill , E 3 q., Cow" mander R.N., aged 71. On the 22d inst., at Hendon, Henry Walker, Bg" H E.1.C.5., aged 14. On the 24th inst., Sarah, relict of the late Benjamin C. Grimes, of 2, Osborn-street. Whitechapel, aged 64. On the 23d inst., at Turvill-heath, near Henley ul, Thames, aged 60, Maria, widow of the late John T ravel° of 19, Swithin's-lane, aged 70. On the 24th inst., at 6, Clarence-terrace, Stoke Newington, Miss Maria Rhodes, at an Ovalle _d o _t a On the 2.3t1 inst . at Bcothby Hall, Lincolnshire, %;est Elizabeth, wife of John Litchford, E wa ., and you laughter of Sir C. Egleton Kent, Bart. Albione-roaecle: LONDON: Printed and Published by MIT DO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Th,e 'Sun -112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count/ of Middlesex, Tuesday, May 26, 1857. • - dived ticm ~~ r Amu tal I rune Ad:n 1 rapt, Von', hai a CUM Laura Prine eight. ten. Dr. 4—Tl Eat; Unie unriv. till Itl Lectu green atteni are p, With at tei Cooki impor ceiv,•( 509/. : The the P 1 whop 14 1 TI Paid. Al street, kt.n, Henr i Lift 2C.r 23 Pc/ S' The has ar ;longs 1 . 11( takes Profit May Ceatr Distri porta ' , relit( made their twice Props . N.) being Coi I " ' Mine CON Mr Eltr at th Th ICONI