The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-12 00:00:00

Lord J. RUSSELL mid that it would be inconvenient
postmee the as,, estimates till after the budget.
Mr. HUME did not tide k she budget had anything to
do with these estimates. (Hear.)
Copt HARRIS oossidered that it was a meet unusual
pr te go trom one committee le soaker. ("No, "
and aria of " order.") By taking this mane le was 4
barred a leak's( a statement le whlsed
forward ea the important subject eine nammies Mthminsepa
(Grits of "Ordezorder.") •
• sir F.:. uses rase and mid that lbeeelebe ens
abets to neve was Ise the Rumba of SWIM ma. The leet
yen ta whin be sbeitld allude +Nem of ilistokomotor while
he herd weeld be the last of its kind Mat the Mese would
oe called en to make—he meant, a vote te Enke up the deft.
eisncy of forma years. The easatalttos wee aware that be
vie calling on them to make up the defieierev of 18459 mad
1849.50, which anaunted to 211,0001. That sum bad
been exceeded beyond the estimates of those yam
The late Secretary le the Admiralty had estimated the de-
fide as likely to be hem 250,0001. to 260,0001., but he (Sir
F. Bering) was happy to say that the anal deficit wee lees.
The Admiralty had been extremely anxious to keep within
low estimates, but it had been found difficult to prevent
expenditure, and the result was that that expenditure was
not within the estimates Is the year now going on the
estimates would cover the expenditure • sad, though there
had been sameness for which the Admiralty were not pee-
pared, yet there would be a surplus accruing in 1850.51
which would enable them to covur the deficiency in 1847,
1848, and 1849. Now, the votes for the effective
service be 1860.61 were 4,325,0001. ; for the sea-
effective, 1,388,0001 ; making a total of 6,713,0001.
To that mat be added emu for the convey-
ance of totem, pecki service, els , making the total
6,638,0001. The reduction, as compared with 1849.60, in
the effective and non effective termer was 408,0001., to
which some additions w old have to be ;made for the Arctic
exped time and for pirates. In stating the reductions which
had been made, he thou eht it right to all the atten-ios of
the house to s comparison of these estimates with the esti-
mate for 1848 49. Comparing tho estimate sof the present
pear, 1860.51, with the estimates of the year 1848-49,
he found then was • reduction proposed now
M 1,126,0001, taking the snalogous votes. But
tin was mot a fair comparison. because, although the esti-
mates for 1848 49 were 7.739,0001., the expenditure few that
year bed been ,conaidersbly beyond the estimates. It was
therefore right to take into eonsiderstion the 211,0001. by
which the 'enemata had been exceeded. The figures then
would stand thus :—Experaiture for 1843.49, 7,946,0001.;
expenditure for 1860 51. 6,613,000; reduction for this year
compared with last, 1,333,0001. This showed that the Ad
neiralty were anxious to carry out s fair system of economy,
though they were not prepared to carry out that economy to
the extent suggested by the hon. member for Montrose.
The reduction of 1,000 mn, whom it was rimmed
to str.ks off, would reduce the wages and victuals
60,0001 On the Ist of April, 1848, the number .1
men actually on the b.oks was 46,000, and the number
proposed to be taken for the present jeer was 39.000.
The practical reduction within the last year wee about 7,000.
He meter, they had carried en the system of reduction as
far as could be consistent with the best interests of the
country leader the pre ant state of circurnstanars. (Hear,
hear.) TIIO house might be tut:loos to learn the distri
beaks of men; and he would therefore state it to theta.
he the East Indies and China, Including New Zeal •nd, there
were stationed on the Ist of Jenusry, 1850. 2.748 MO,
which was a very considerable diminution, by the way, since
1836, a diminution of some 2.748 men. At the Cape of
Good Hope, 719; Africa. 2,452. South Eastern Americus,
993 ; the P. wile, 2,600 ; North America and West !oda%
1,877; Mediterranean, 7,953; quadron of et-genetics,
2,096; home service 6,130; packet service, 513 ; sur-
veying service, 862% and troop ships, 762; with
340 retuning home and paying oil. (Hen-, Marl
Oe the la of January, 1850, the total r.umber of ships et
the line in commission was 13 ; steamers in conimisii pa, 811
(as we understood the right bon gentleman, who smoke in
so low a tone as la be at metal times all but it audible is
the gallery); ottani* see 'mere 12 were packers ; in ordi-
nary, 68 chips. Behr* !caviar! that part of the eubject be
begged to say it was the intention of the Admiralty to pin
pose that the number of Alan is the marine a rps should
he reduced in proportion to the number of mew
In the victualling department • redaction was eer.
taia to follow, by reason of the diminution of the
number of men, and the consequent limi-ation of the
eoa-
tract. The next vote had reference to the Admiralty-Woe,
in which department le had also to announce a redmetisw.
In all such offices be thought the amount should be ma-
early fixed, and no excess allowed without the castles elm
order in council. (Hear, hear.) He was happy to be able
to state that they had adopted that anise in effect though
not in words. The ditties having decreased in the AdneirAy
office, by reason of the reduction of men, a corneponding
ductioa of tea clerks was decided on. Upon the
estima-s of the present year as compared with
that of last, there was • reduction of 81,0001. The
whole of the di dyads had been examined, and the expendi-
ture checked by the commi-tee, at the had of which ••• kis
Ile hon. friend Mr. Ward. Abroad the work had not been
EP easy ; but each yard, both victualling and dock, bad been
=mined, and • small reduction was contemplated. He
might state to the house the number of workmen engaged is
IMP dockyards on the let April, 1844, 1849 and 1880.
The reduction commenced in January, 1848. ler
1643, the dockyard establishments Lumbered 9209 ;
in April, 1849, 9630, and in 1950, 9651. On
the let of July, 1848, the total number of hired work.
am la the dockyards was 12,215, and on the let of April,
1860, the number would be 9,621 ; but best le these there
were employed temporally for a particular sonic* 420,
mining 10,000 smelly employed, that was a reduction of
2,177 u compared wi- h 1848 in the numb: r of hired labourers
outplayed in the yards. In the number of factory labourers
tiler was • great reduction in the present year as compared
win the last. Oa the 18th of April, 1849, the number of
labourers employed in the Wailes at Woolwich and Ports-
ninth was 1,856 ; the number now proposed wee 1,155, being
a reduction of 700: and this smaller number would, he felt
maddent, ;be amply sufficient for the reduced quantity of
work to be performed. Another point upon which the
eammittee had made a re coamendstion was as to the per-
hem nee of the mall packet service. They recommended
OM that service should se hr as practicable, be
Milgrby contrast, and since the present estimate had
rted the Board of Admiralty bad entered into
a contract for the performsace et the packet service
between Holyhead and Dublin on favourable terms, a
median of the contract being, that the contractor' should
Ni. the government packets for the service. Toga was,
therefore, no danger of the efficiency of this service suffering.
The committee also recommended and urged strongly, (be
admitted with justice) that in the selection of cfficeri to
emperiateed the yard, that the Admiralty should not confine
themselves to old and worn out officers, but that they should
Ink eat for younger and more 'etre mon to undertake
this respoesibie duty. He had endeavoured to carry out that
recommendation also, and had endeavoured to select younger
officers for the duty, and he had every reason to believe
that their greater activity and vigilance would add to the
effilskoey of the establishments, and tend to greater coo.
away. He now came to one of the most imper-
ial votes of them estimates—the vote for naval stores.
Gate of the recommendations related to a matter connected
with this vote—viz , the supply of oak for the navy. He
Was happy to my that in the• respect considerable improve
meat had been effected. The monopoly by which the
supply of this most important article had so long been con-
deed to certain hands was dead, and a contract had been
entered into with new parties by which a reduction of 244
permed. bad been effected. The committee had likewise
somennended that the estimates for the supply of timber
Mould appear separately in the votes, which had been dame.
Ice the vote for stores generally there was a redaction of
1100001. as compared with last year, and as compered
unit 1848.9 the reduction was still greater. In 1848.9
the vote for snores was 1,434,0001, while the present vote
Wm only 878,0001., the difference on the side of economy
balled 55,6001. (Hoar, hear.) In the vote for sew
weeks there was a decrease of 67,0031. as compared with
the previous year, and if they compared it with the
OM for the yeas 1848 9, the saving would be found much
pester. In the year 1848-9, the vote taken on account of
ills item was 626,0001., and for 1850 lit was only 324,0001.,
Wig a reduction of uo less titan 300,0001. poet of this
educt'on was consequent on the completion of certain works,
which, in the previous year, had been going on at Ports-
mouth, and very much to the attention and ral which the
his Col. Hadley had paid to the subject. In ammunition
owl medical stereo there was • small diminution. In the
mindlenllo•l services, including the bounty money for pirates,
lbws was, as he had stated, an increase of nearly 100,0001.
Ileades the various recommendations to which he bed re.
lamed, and others which he need not now advert to, but
Meat of which the Admiralty had adopted, there were two,
bell of which bad been followed out: one being as to the
was a 'Promotion, that only one lieutenant should be ap
palmed is future for every three vacancies that tell in • the
ether, that • limit should be pissed to the number of cadet
admitted to the naval service. That limit was now fixed at
100, and during the past year the number had been kept
Main it, the actual number admitted bong 96. There was
Me other recommendation which, owing to an oversight he
was eery to say, bad net been carried out, viz., that the
senior Mader should appear in the estimates. He would,
bowever, take care that the omission should not occur
in future. (Hear, hear.) There was a reduction in the
an-effective service for the ensuing year, arising from the
Met that we had moreships in VlLlDiagi 'l2, and there was a
small increase in the civil pensions and allowance,. The half-
pay always diminished as the full-ply increased, and as
they reduced the workmen in the yards, they had
M increase the charge for civil pensions and allow•ners.
however, the half-pay question was alien fairly year by
year it would be found treat there wee • considerable reduc-
tion, though it did not appear on the estimates. The
writ Item. gentleman concluded by prolamin that 39,000
esanem, marines, and boys should be employed in the navy
during the ensuing year.
Mr. HUME said the hour was go late (it was 20 minutes
past 12), that he had almost deteendsed to leave the hours,
lad bit things take their coarse. (Laughter.) The
average of the eh years, 1833 to 1640 inelusive, was from
30,000 to 31,000 men and boys, the uterwt number that
could be required for the public service. He could not help
remarking, also, that the government appeared to have taken
no notice of the reeommendatioa of the committee up-stairs,
that the number of admirals should be reduced from 160 to
100. The prams of promotion had still been going on during
Me last two years. No reason had been assigned for keeping
me me large • fleet is the Mediterranean. (Hear, hear.)
TIM lass was willing the peace of Europe—( hear, hear)
Ilbe asps downwards recently proposed by the governir.ent
INN saps is tlice:intht direction; bat he considered the
Animation pro insufficient, and would now move to
Mince the number to 31,469.
Capt. PECHELL felt bound to support the amendment.
&Must take that opportunity of protesting against the foolish
&paid= which there was to interfere with the allowance
dreg to the seamen. (Laughter.)