The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-24 00:00:00

BUPPLY.-ARMY 1117pLATES.

On the re-ciiiiitlifai.the housere;Xe-iteeli into committee
of s:=c VIVIAN complained of want of explanation on
the art of govenument with regard to the national defences.
Mr. DEL:4IIIOND likewise complained that the govern.
meat had asked the hones to pees the Army Estimates with-
out melds. any general statement as to their application.
The curse of Europe at the present time was its large stand-
ing armies. Wand was universally hated on the Conti-
nent, and she had brought it upponm herself by her irritating
conduct towards our nearest ndgkkocm. They kept a den
of assassins which were a provocation to all Europe, and he
called on them to put their defences in such a state that we
might defy those whom we persisted in insulting.
General PEEL mid that, in moving the next army esti-
mates, be should make a general statement.
Mr. HORSHAM made some observations respecting the
necessity of a declaration by the War Minister of the condi-
tion of his department.
Colonel SMYTH called the attention of the house to the
recent deeded= of the government relative to the disembodi-
ment of sixteen regiments of militia.
Lord BIIRLBIGH hoped the government would recon-
sider their decision respecting the militia disembodiment.
Colonel KNOX maid that the late government were re-
sponsible for this mesenue.
Colonel NORTH urged the retention of the militia
force.

16. RICH said that the militia had not been the fruitful
suresey for soldiers which had been expected.
Sir DE LACY EVANB denied this. The militia had
furnished a conaiderable number of volunteers to the line.
He bore testimony to the efficiency of the militia force.
Lord PALMERSTON said it wee an entire mistake to
'appose that the chief object of the militia was to supply troops
to the line. He defended the conduct of the late government
with regard to the militia. It had only acted from motives
of necessary economy.
Captein JOHNSTONE complained of the precipitate way
in which the militia was disembodied.
General PEEL explained the principles on which the
militia was disembodied, without favour to any one. He
contended that the men at their dismissal had been liberally
dealt with.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed
his high sense of the value of the services of the militia, and
protested with much warmth agalnat any allegation that the
government had neglected its duty towards them. They
were compelled solely by the state of the national reeottroes„
to disembod them.
Lewd A. VANE TEMPEST called the attention of the
house to the allegations contained in a petition presented to
this haws from the officers of the Land Transport Corps, on
August 11, 1851; and to move for the appointment of a select
committee to inquire into the justice of the petitioners com-
plaints, that they have not received the rate of half-pay
which they state they are entitled to claim.
Mr. COWAN Pomaded the motion.

circumstance* under
which the late government had acted with maid to then
officers, eonteng that they had been nested with all the
liberality which wee possible.
After some further diecuasion the motion for a committee
was withdrawn.

The house then went into committee of supply, and voted
several items in the navy estimates.

ARMY ESTIMATES.
On the first vote being proposed under this bead, 21,5371.
for the Secretary of State for War and the Commander-in-
Chief,
Mr. WILLIAMS moved to report progress
Genend PEEL said this vote wee a reduction on the
amount of last year, and hoped that it would be agreed to.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS saidh should peer his motion.
The committee divided—
For repeating progress as
Against
The vote was not preseed, and the Chairman reported
EXCHEQUER prog.
EXCHEQIIER BILLS (20,911,6001.) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (No. 2) BILL.
The order of the day for the second maw of this bill via
discharged.
CHELSEA HOSPITAL AND WATERWORKS