The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-10 00:00:00

ncickr-OF-LEAVE SYSTEM.

Mr. A DIDEEIII moved tha an iiddreei bs
masted to her Majesty, thanking kw Majesty for having
issued • commuaiou of inquiry into the operation of the
acts relating to transportation and penal servitude, and into
the manner in which sentences under the provisions of
those acts had been carried out ; and praying that, pending
that inquiry, the conditions ou which any remission of
puuisliment or licenses to be at large are given may be
strictly enforced according to the intention, of those acts.
The right hoc. putlem in complained that the government
had not carried out the acts relating to the punishment of
the more flagrant class of offenders. He did not uk for
say additional restrictions on convicts who had obtained
tickets of leave, but be called upon the government to put
the existing law mom vigorously into operation:
Sir G. GREY said that great inconvenience would
arise if the house were to adopt a resolution of that
daseription while the whole subject to which it related
was under the consideration of • royal commission.
He did not think that the light hon. gentleman had made
out a case for the adoption of his motion, as the records of
our criminal mute showed that • great number of persons
charged with street robberies accompanied by violence had
of late been tried and °caskets&
Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR supported the resolution, and
advocated the extension to this country of the system
adapted towards ticketaf•lave men in Ireland.
Mr. HENLEY said he believed it was inexpedient that
they should adopt the resolution pending the inquiries of
the royal C 0031111116311. He thought that the right hon.
gentleman the Secretary for the Home Department was
perfectly right in deciding on not proceeding to extremities
against the ticket-of-leave men without obtaining some
eatiefacton proof of their having relapsed into crime. He
recommuded the withdrawal of the resolution. ,

Sir 8. NORTHCOTE also expressed sToPe that the
motion would be withdrawn.

After some further discussion,
Mr. ADDERLEY said he would not prose his resolution.
The resolution war scoordin le withdrawn.
THE ARMY TES.
The hones having then gone into a committee of supply,
air G. C. LEWL9 proceeded to bring the army estimates
under the conakkestion of the committee. The total charge
for the army lest year was 16,060,360/. ; in the present year
it was 13.060,237/. • so that there would this year be a
reduction under that head of a little more than 1,C300001.
That reduction would take place principally uodik the
heads of guns and stores • and the diminution in the
charge for guns arose from the large ,apply of those
implements of war at present in the hand' of the govern-
ment, and from the conviction that it was undesirable
they should make any addition to them pending the
inquiries which were at present being oonducted by a com-
petent committee into the relative Win of the Armstrong,
the Whitworth, and other guns. The number of men last
year was 152,4013; the number this year would be 148,212,
showing a diminution of 4,161. The number of battelions,
however, would remain the seats aa last year; but there
would be a reduction of 100 rank and file in all bettelions
at home and abroad, except those at Ceylon, China, and
New Zealand, and the filet five regiments in this country
under orders for foreign service. The British • nil at
home and abroad extended over an area of 7,383,000 square
miles, and contented a population of 183,191.000 souls ;
and he did not think that 148,242 soldiers would constitute
an excessive force for the defence den vast an empire. The
right bon. gentleman concluded by moving a vote for
148,242 mee.

CiaMrral PEEL said that vote uses one of special import-
sacs, insemsoch se the whole of the army expenditure must
neoressrily be regulated by the Dumber of men. It was,
therefore, desirable that a vote at that description should be
mewled in the most complete and accurate form ; but in
bin opinion, that condition wee not complied with in the
present instance. The vote did not include 2,115 men
employed in China, and who had to be paid for out itf the
general military expenditure of the state. Under these
oirsamstames be moved that the vote be increased by 2,115
men.

The CHAIRMAN said it vu not competent to a member
to propose in a committee of supply a vote for a greeter
number of as than that demanded by the minister of the
mown ; and he, therefore, could not put that amendment.
General PKEL expeumed his readiness to yield to the
decision of the chairman upon that point.
Mr. W. WILLIAIL9 moved that the vote should be re-
duced by 10,030 men.
After some discussion this amendment via negatived on
a division by 77 votes to 19 ; and the vote was than
agreed to.
A vote of 5,709,733/. having been proposed for the general
staff, regimental allowances, and charges of the army at
home and abroad, . . . .

General PEEL moved that the vote be reduced bye sum
of 38,G00/.. which tt was proposed should ba applied to
defray the charge incurred for Sikh troops employed in
Chia& Those troops did not form any portion of the
number of men voted by the committee, and were not sub-
ject to our Mutiny Act.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that those Indian soldiers were
subject to more severe articles of war than the British
army, so that they could not properly be Included is the
number of men voted by the House of COlllllOOlll. He had
to add that if they were withdrawn from China they mast
be replete/0 at a greater cost by European troops.
After some discussion,
The amendment wee negatived on a division by 64 votes
to M.

AMnendment moved by Sir M. rzTo for reducing the
vote by 256,1674, wee rejected by 96 votes to 28.
A motion that the Chairman should report progress was
negatived by 130 votes to 26.
A mottos that the Chairman should leave the chair was
subeequently adopted.
WAYS AND MEANS.

Ia orearafttee of the whole home,
Mr. F. PEEL moved for a groat of 10,000,0001.
Agreed to.
CUSTOMS ACTS (TOBACCO DUTIES).
The report of the committee on these rota was breught
upend agreed to, aad the bill wm committed pro forma.