The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-13 00:00:00

The house then watt inte committee.

i;-.l7ll.iiiicfiiirolci;i;;;c4oo. to the complaint
that no ministerial statement had been made, that Lord
Derby in the other house, and Mr. Disraeli elsewhere, had
made a complete declaration of their intentions. He then
proceeded to move the navy estimates, which were founded
on those of the late government. They had accepted ogee
too reoenty to be able to make a fun statement as to those
estimates. He therefore proposed at present to take vote@
on enema for four months, reserving the full statement till
he wee able to mike it. He dvated to the great maws of
the manatee between 1852.3 and 1868-9, amounting in the
first tartans to above six millions, while in the second it
wee shove tea, showing more than 50 per mint. increase.
Them were evident masons for this up to the last
year, hot the aril:Data for the present year &bowed
int increase over those of the last year, which the present
government were bound to examine before they adopted it.
Last year the gems total of men voted was 66,700, while in
the meat estimate. they were set down a. 69,380. Their
increase ma, however, instilled by the exigencies of the
service. The estimate for last year was 9,172,5901., and for
the present 10,118,6251. He did not wish to hold out any
hope that they would be able upon a fuller statement to make
any reduction in the estimates, desiring to leave the govern-
ment altogether unfettered.
The Seat vote, for 59,380 men and boys, wan then agreed
to, after some discussion.

Other votes on amount for the servioe were U.BllllO
Sreed to.

General PEEL then moved the army estimates on amount,
observing that the number of men was increased from 122,796
last year to 130,135 this year. This was dos to the events in
India.

The number of men was then voted after a short dis-
cussion.

Certain money votes on amount were likewise agreed to.
In the discussion of these votes

Mr. P. O'BRIEN referred to the change in the arrange-
ment by which the principle of open competition for com-
missions in the artillery and engineers, which had worked so
effectively and so satisfactorily, was to be abolished, and
asked whethr the present government intended to adopt
that change.
General PEEL was glad the hon. gentleman had given
him the opportunity of stating what had taken piece as far
as he (General Peel) was conoerned. It rem recommended
by the Council on Education that all candidates for the mili-
tary service should come through Sandhurst, by which they
would be required to undergo not only a competitive exami-
nation, but • double examination. It +es, however, punted
out that great hardship would be inflicted by this new
arrangement upon • number of young men who were pre-
peeing for the competitive examination, and wbo were part
deers at which they could be admitted at Sandhurst. He, in
conjunction with the Commander-in-Chief, had determined
to allow two more competitive examinations, in order to
afford to these young men the opportunity of presenting
themselves. (Her, hear.) So far from its bang intended
to do away with the examination, every person who was a
candidate for • commission in future would have to undergo
two examinations. Nnr was there any more difficulty is
going to Sandhurst than in going up for the competitive
examination.
Mr. P. O'BRIEN asked whether the sstem of com-
petitiee examinations had been found to fail? If nit the
meson of its abandonment oug'at to be stated.
Mr. GLADSTONE said that the hon. gentleman bad
certainly fully exercised the undoubted right of hos.
members of that house to put questions to the government.
(Hear, her.) The question raised by the hon. gentleman
was one of the greatest importance, but be thought that the
bon. gentleman had not caught correctly what fell from his
right hon. and gallant friend. His right hon. and gallant
friend, se he understood him, said that the interposition of a
preliminary course of instruction at Sendhurat was recom-
mended by the Council of Education, and it was not only not
to restrict the principle of competitive examination,
hat • double for • single competitive examina-
tion. Another statement was made by his right bon. and
gallant friend which gave him great pleasure, end was im-
portant as coming from the Secretary for War, and with
= dastro which he was anxious thet there should be no
tending. His right boo and gallant friend had
rated, as he urrood, that the competition fur Sandhurst
would emetically be free to all her bitqrsty's subjects in the
erne manner as bad been the car at Woolwich. It he cor-
rectly stated the words of his right hon. and gallant friend,
Ist the house recollect that the assurances of •
member of that house in his place and of a minister of the
Crown in his place in parliament we. the highest ruction
that amid be given to any statement ; and holding the
opinions he did on the subject of competitive examinations,
be had heard that statement with pleasure.
General PEEL said that any pinion on the list of candi-
dates for Sandhurst, on application by his parents or ally
person, would be allowed to enter into a com-
petitive erminsuon ; and he was sum It would be
agreed that some such reference wee neoessery before a midi-
date could be admitted. (Hear.)
The vote wee then agreed to.
Votes on account were then taken for
The Embodied Militia.
For Volunteer Corps.
For the Department of the Secretary for War.
For the Manufacturing Departments.
For the Weiss of Artificers end Labourers.
For Clothing and Neceraties.
For Provieions, Forage. Fuel, and Lights.
For Warlike Stoma for the Land and flea Service.
For Fortiffeetions at HOMO and Abroad.
For Barracks et Horne and Abroad.
For the Edeestional and Scientific Branches.

For the Pay of (}rral Officer,.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS called attention to these general
eilloers. It was imposoile to ascertain from the estimates
the number of the general °Moos; but he found, hum the
Army List, that they amounted to 384. There ought to be
some check to the Morena of this high class of odlosra.
The vote wee agreed to, se were votes on account—
Foe the pay of reduced end retired officers.
For plosions of widows of &Stem
For pensions to offioers for wounds.
For Chelsea and Kilmainhaux Hospitals, and the
In and out pensioners, and
For the superannuation sad retired allowances.
The CHAIRMAN then reported progrtes, and the house
rimmed.