The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

790

militia, however, that he chiefly looked, and he had been
very much disappointed when an estimate of 200,0001.
only had been proposed on account of that lorce. He had
heard that some time between this and Christmas 30,000
men would be embodied, and he bad also seen it stated, as
a reason for not calling them out before, that it was not
thought desirable to run the risk of interfering with the
harvest. hut the harvest was proceeding rapidly, and in
the south of England it must be nearly completed.
Arrangements, therefore, ought immediately to be made
for calling out the militia. As to the number under the
present circumstances, not less than 50,000 ought to be
embodied. He was almost afraid to mention the small
number of troops of the line that we had now at home. On
a former occasion, when the peace estimates were brought
forward, he had pointed out that there were not above
thirty-one or thirty-two battalions of the line at home, but
that number was very largely diminished now. To supply
the deficiency it was stated that all the battalions at home
were to be raised from 840 to 1,000 men, but the number
of battalions at home was so small that he was afraid that
this would not give us more than :1,000 or 4,1100 men. It
was also stated that ten new 2nd battalions were to be
raised, and we should thus have altogether an increase of
some 11,000. This increase was totally inadequate. In
the present state of things, although there was a strong
feeling of public security, and though no country on the
Continent was at all likely to commence warlike opera-
tions, yet we ought to present an appearance of complete
preparation, and every means ought to be resorted to to
restore our home establishment to its proper strength.

Lord PALMERSTON regarded the opinions of Sir
De Lacy with the respect and deference due to his
high military character. The gallant general had,
however, in his opinion, over-estimated the European
difficulty that might be produced by the events in
India :

He seemed to think that foreign nations may, by seeing
how large a force we have been compelled to detach to our
Indian possessions, be led to imagine that we are weak
and defenceless at home, and may therefore assume a
higher tone, or adopt other measures with regard to us
than would have been prudent under different circum-
stances. I think that the concluding observations of my
hon. and gallant friend afford an answer to such apprehen-
sion. The nations of the world have seen with what
unanimous spirit and energy the British people have re-
sponded to any call for efforts and exertions which the
Government has thought it right to make upon them in
moments of national peril; and any Government or any
nation which thought that the particular circumstances of
the present moment rendered it safe for it to assume an
unusual attitude towards this country would, I am con-
vinced, very soon find out its mistake, and would without
loss of time resume its accustomed bearing towards Eng-
-1 tnd.

With respect to the measures taken by Government,
while some 30,000 troops had been sent to India,
troops were being raised at home as fast as possible;
and not only was the regular army being increased
by ten '2nd battalions, but a portion of the militia
was about to be embodied. Recent events in India
were undoubtedly serious, but, as far as Europe and
foreign countries were concerned, nothing had oc-
curred to alter the conditions of peace :

I am not aware of anything which leads to the appre-
hension that we are likely to be engaged in serious dif-
ferences with any foreign State, and therefore I think that
it is more consistent with the duty of the Government to
abstain from calling upon Parliament to give extraordi-
nary means until the moment arrives when there is a
prospect that they will he required.
There are two errors into which men may fall. One is
to overlook a really existing danger, and the other to
imagine dangers which have oo real and actual existence.
It is the duty of the Government to endeavour to avoid the
latter as well as not to fall into the termer. In the present
state of things I do not apprehend that any circumstances
are likely to arise which would place us in difficulties at a
period earlier than that at which the measures which we
are now taking will restore our defensive force to the
amount which, at the beginning of the year, was thought
to be sufficient as an ordinary peace establishment. These
events in India are very afflicting; they are very serious,
and will require, I fear, continuous efforts on oar part ;
but, as far as Europe is concerned, nothing has happened
to disturb that state of peace in which we fortunately found
ourselves at the commencement of the year.

In conclusion the noble lord added that orders had
already been sent to the Cape to forward all the
troops that could be spared to Calcutta, while ar-
rangements were made for collecting horses at the
Cape, in Mesopotamia, and on the shores of the
Persian Gulf. Bearing testimony to the courage and
skill displayed universally by the English residents,
civil and military, in India, Lord Palmerston de-
clared that the Government wore neglecting no
means in their power for rein'tating the British do-
minion in that country upon its former basis of un-
questioned supremacy ; and that he did not believe
that the interests of the country demanded the im-
position of fresh burdens to meet eAisting diffi-
culties.
Mr. BENTINCE, Sir HARRY VERNEY, and Mr. NEW-
DEGATE urged upon the Government the necessity of
preserving the defences of the home country in an
efficient state.
Mr. WurvEsrnu in forcible terms reviewed the
conduct of the Calcutta Government with reference
to the crisis in India, and, entering into details with
reference to the Government having abruptly
changed the larva of inheritance and marriage