The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

public had a right to expect this from a service to which
bey contributed so largely. It would always be his endea-
vour to keep down the expense ; and he hoped they would
soon see the British army in a greater state of efficiency
than ever. He would now place in the hands of the chair-
man the first vote for 102,283 men. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HI: ME said he approved of the amendments pro-
posed, many of which he had advocated for many years.
He was glad to hear we had now 21,030 men more than in
1835 atno increase of cost. He hail urged a reduction of
the army; but there were such extraordinary changes in
the public feeling that it was difficult to effect any al-
teration. There was just now a paroxysm of alarm,
which he couside red was wholly unfounded. We were running
post haste ; the people seemed to have caught the same en-
thusiasm for arming as Vie government had; and the re-
sult would inevitably be that, if the present heavy indirect
taxation was continued on industry, with a debt costing us
28 millions a year, and our armaments 17 millions, the peo-
ple would seek employment on other shores, where they
were not exposed to such onerous burdens. It was because
he was anxious for the removal of indirect taxa-
tion that he objected to these heavy armaments.
On these grounds he entered his protest against tho aug-
mentation of the army. The entire military arrangements
of the country ought to be placed under one system and one
control. Ile had great confidence in the right hon. gentle-
man, and he trusted that he would abolish whatever abuses
he could. (Hear.)
Colonel SIBTIIORP said the hon. gentleman appeared
anxious to provide good accommodation for the soldiers,
but wuulsl he vote the additional expenditure which would
be necessary for that purpose? The hon. gentleman also
spoke of the army interfering with the industry of the
country. It was not the army, hut your infernal free trade
system that interfered with the industry of the country.
(" lieu, hear," and laughter.) His principle was,
keep out the for..imer, and he would go so far as to
say expel those who are in favour of free trade. (Laughter.)
Remember the Crystal Palace. (Laughter.) A respect-
able tradesman living near the Royal Exchange, told him
hat he could not dispose of his goods in consequence of the
foreigner—whose goods were cheap and nasty—stepping in.
(Laughter.) They had heard something of the Peace So-
ciety. The members of that society would be the first to
call in the military if their mills were in danger. (Hear.)l
They would let the soldiers fight whilst they would hide
themselves in their cellareor under the bed. (Laughter.) lie
thanked the right hen. gentleman for the manner in which
he brought forward the estimates, and however they might
differ in politics, he (Col. S.bthorp) would rapport any
measure that would contribute to the security, the welfare,
or the dignity of the country. (Hear.)
The vote war then agreed to
2

The vote of 3,025,7831., for the charge of the land forces
at home and abroad, exclusive of India, was agreed to.
Oa the vote of 162,8971. for the charge of the general staff
officers and medical department,
Sir DE LACY IiVANS drew attention to the expe-
diency and economy of the institution of a lectureship or
professorship of military surgery in the King's College, or
in ohe of the medical schools in London ; and a similar esta-
' blishment iu the University, or at the College of Surgeons,
in Dublin ; and suggested the removal to the metropolis of
the Museum of Preparationsof Diseases of Foreign Climates
' now in Fort Pitt, Chatham, where it was comparatively
seless, and inaccessible to medical students for the army
and navy.
Mr. S. HERBERT said it was true that there was no
profsuorship of military hygeine in England, and he was
ashamed to say that he was not at that moment aware from
what fund the profs ssonhip of military surgery in
Edin-
burgh was defrayed. He bad caused inquiry to be made
as to the cost of establishing one here, and till he received
information on that point be could not give an answer to
the hon. and gallant officer. With regard to the removal
of the museum at Fort Pitt, be did not well see haw that
was to be effected, as all the available space for such objects
was already occupied.
On the ioto of 93,4641. for the charge of the public mili-
tary departments,
Mr. lIUME wished to know why Australia, which was
I new wallowing in gold, should not pay the expenditure for
the troops ?
Mr. S. HERBERT said that at present the arrangement
with Australia Wall this—that any new regiments which
were sent to that colony should be entirely maintained at
the expense of the colonists. (Hear, hear.)
16,8881. for the Royal Military College, and 13,0201. for
•he Royal Military Asylum and the Hibernian Military
School, were then voted.
Oa the next vote, 83,0001. for the charge of volunteer

corps,
Mr. HUDIE objected that this was a charge for the pur-
pose of allowing country gentlemen to disport themselves in
military uniforms at reviews. He thought the force (the
Yeomanry Cavalry) wholly unnecessary, and that those
who were so desirous of appearing as soldiers for their own
amusement should bear the expense.
Mr. EVELYN was understood to ask what objection
there was to the employment of voluntary rifle corps.
' Lord PALMERSTON must say that he did not consi-
der voluntary corps equal or nearly equal in efficiency to a
militia. And this was so much felt in the last war—he
meant that of ISo3—that whereas in the beginning of that
war a largo amount of voluntary force was employed, it was
found necessary to gradually diminish it, and ultimately
substitute for it the militia. Who were the per-
sons likely to cumposo voluntary corps ? They were
tradesmen, professional men, clerks, and men accustomed to
a favourable and easy existence—men not accustomed or
fitted by their habits of life to undergo the privations of
military service, and the majority of whom, if called out to
serve and live the life of soldiers—sleeping in the fields, and
enduring cold and wet—would be in the hospital in a week.
(" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) In seaport towns voluntary
corps, under certain circumstances, might be usefully em-
ployed; but as a part of a general system of national de-
fence, he did not think they could place the saran depend-
ence upon them as upon a militia force.
The vote was agreed to.
On the next vote, 20,25C1., for rewards for distinguished
services, allowances to officers of garrisons, holding appoint-
ments, as rewards for military services, including the Tower
of London,
Colonel LINDSAY inquired whether as regarded the 40
yeomen wardens now on the establishment, vacancies that
occurred would be filled up ?
Mr. 8. HERBERT said all the existing offices in
the Tower, which were sinecures, would be abolished, and
a plan for the effective service of the garrison would be
substituted.

The vote was agreed to, as were the following:
55,0001. for the pay of general officers, not being colonels
of regiments.
50,0001. for the full pay of reduced and retired officers.
358,0001. for half-pay and military allowances to ,reduced
and retired officers.
On the vote for 34,6281. for the half-pay, and reduced
allowances to officers of disbanded foreign corps, of pen-
sions to wounded foreign officers, and allowances to the
widows and children of deceased foreign officers,
Mr. HUME asked under what arrangement these pay-
meats were made, and what check there was on the reci-
pients. The vote seemed likely to continue for ever.
Dlr. S. HERBERT said the parties had to pre-
sent themselves before the British consuls. The vote was
gradually being diminished.
The vote was agreed to ; as were
117,6371. for pensions to widows of officers,
79,6001. for allowances on the compassionate list of her
Majesty's royal bounty, and pensions, gratuities, and allow-
ances to officers for wounds.
On the next vote,
28,1491. for Chelsea and Kilmainbam Hospitals,
Mr. HUME said the abolition of Kilinaiuham was recom-
mended by the committee on the Army and Navy, and he
thought it had been carried out by the government.
Mr. S. HERBERT said two proposals had been made—
one to consolidate Kilmainham witn Chelsea Hospital, and
the other not to make any fresh appointments, and to let
the institution die a natural death. At present no new ap-
pointments were made.
The vote was agreed to.
1,236,8001. for the Out-pensioners of !Chelsea Hospital,
and
38,0001. for superannuation allowances, were agreed to.
The house resumed, and the Chairman reported progress.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS (REPAY-
MENT OUT OF CONSOLIDATED FUND) BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. BLACKETT had hoped to have heard some expla-
nation of this bill from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
When notice of the introduction of tke bill was given it was
described as intended to pay off certain charges on
the crown lands by an additional charge on the
London-bridge Approaches Fund; but it had since
been changed, and it was stated that there was to be no
further charge on the coal fund. The bill was' so drawn
as to be quite unintelligible. (The:hon. gentleman reed
the 12th clause in illustration of this.) It was very desir.
able that they should be told plainly what was the in-
tended operation of the bill. He had only received the bill
as printed on Wednesday, and on that day sent a copy to the
coal trade committee of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and it was
physically impossible that they could yet have had an
opportunity of forming en opinion on it, which it was fair
they should be allowed to do before the second reading;
and he hoped the government would consent to postpone it.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH hoped the hon. gentleman
would allow the bill to be read a second time, and take the
discussion on the report. The bill did not add anything
whatever to the mortgage on the coal duties. In order to
obtain money for metropolitan improvements a sum had
been borrowed at a high rate of interest; and as there was
a disposable balance in the Exchequer it was proposed to
pay off that sum, by which a considerable saving would be
effected.
Lord SEYMOUR said that formerly the offices of Works
and Land Revenues were in one department, and the head
of the department being pressed to make some public im-
provements, and money being wanted, the land revenues
were mortgaged for the purpose. The money was borrowed
from the soal fund. This circumstance led to the division

of the departments of Works and Land Revenues, so that
such confusion should not occur again. A sum of 800,0001.
had been borrowed, and the interest was paid out of the
land revenues, and it came to the same thing whether it
waslmid out of those revenues or the Consolidated Fund;
with this exception, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was enabled to raise the money at a reduced rate of inte-
rest. The bill did not affect the coal trade in the least.
Mr. PHILLIMORE hoped the bill in its present form
and in the way in which it was drawn would not be
pressed.
After a few words from Mr. IxonAw,
Mr. WILSON said that he thought that the particulars
of the various clauses should be discussed in committee.
The purpose of the bill would be best explained by the fol-
lowing facts:—Some years ago a commission was obtained
for the purpose of making metropolitan improvements, and
• large sum of money had to be borrowed. The commia-