The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-27 00:00:00

HALF-PAY AND PENSIONS.

..... ...
Mr. HUME was sorry that it was so late bcfdre he had an op-
portunity of bringing forward the motion of which he gave notice.
fle would be inclined to postpone it; but the Session, eat approach.
lug so nearly toe close that he did not expect to find a more fit
occasion than the present. It was Important to have got some
returns, waiting for which had caused the delay. The Hon. Mem-
ber then proceeded to detail the delusion of the bargain between
Government and the national Bank, which was known by the
name of the "dead weight." During the last four years there was
no reduction effected, nor would there be fora hundred years any relief
to the country f rom the taxation to which the grievances of that de-
partment subjected the nation. In the case a privates the increase
had been 50 per cent., and there was an excess of 500,0001. at the
present time over the year 1819. In fact, in all the accounts there
was an ittcrease, though the Finance Committee of 1817 stated
that a reduction of from 5 to 7 per cent. should be expected every
year. But retrenchment did not seem to be contemplated; and a
strong proof was furnished by the tact that there were two
hundred officers now to he provided for more than in the
year 1821. There was an older issued by the Commander in
Chief, permitting the sale of comm i,RiOfl4 by officers under till years
of age, the effect of which practically was to introduce younger
officers instead of old ones, by which substitution the public was
defrauded of the difference which the naturally quicker lapse of life
In the aged would furnish. Another cause of great detriment to die
public was in the appointment of officers to veteran battllions.
from which they, almost immediately after being appointed, told
out, thereby subjecting the public to the difference between their
half-pay and the full pay so obtained. The system of new rates also
caused considerable loss to the people. It was extraordinary that more
Colonels should be made than the number of regiments required.
The number of promotions since the war was unusually great. A,
many officers were promoted during the present year as in the tour
years preceding. Since the year 1817, as many had been promoted
as there were officers in the army, so that It may be said the whole
army was renewed. In these promotions the public Interest was
not consulted, which was demonstrated by the paucity of promo.
Gans in other branches of the service. In the marines very few
promotions had taken place. In the navy, however, which was a
source of patronage like the army, the number of promotions was
very great. in the last year 294 promotions had taken place in the
navy. In fact, no reduction had taken place ; we were going on
promoting just as in the time of the war. hooking at the mode in
which promotion had gone on, our expenses, instead of diminish-
ing, had increased : instead of being relieved we were exactly in
the same stater as in 11121. The lion. Member concluded by mov-
ing, That an address be presented to his Majesty, praying that he
would be pleased to employ in his army, when vacancies shall
occur those who are now on hull-pay, as well to diminish the bur-
dens of the country as to reward those who had served during the
last wur.

Lord PALMERSTON said the total amount of the half-pay
was diminished. In one year the charge of the army had actually
diminished 100,0001. In the year 1822 the army cost 750,0001.,
and in the year 1320 the charge was only 715,0001., making ■ dimi.
notion of 43,0001., instead of an increase as stated by the lion.
Gentleman. The Hon. Member was also mistaken when he said
that the number of officers had increased. In 11122 the number of
officers was 8342, and in 1820 the number was only 7606. His
Royal Highness (the Duke of Vora) was most anxious to promote
the interests of the service, and had no object in Promoting any per-
sons for the saLe of patronage, as had been insinuated by the
Honourable Gen,lenian. It was matter of great importance
that persona connected with those families who had the greatest
interest in the country should hold commissions in the army,
but this principle had never been acted upon to the preju-
dice of old officers. A young officer was newer allowed to
purchase over his stiperior, until the senior officer refused to pur-
chase. If the motion of the Hon. Gentleman were to pass, it
would disgust every officer who was on full pay, and prevent in.
ferior officers from trying to get on full pay : besides that, it would
bring others into active service, who would be totally unfit for the
appointment, either by age or other infirmities. There would,
for instance, be ensigns of 40 or 50 years of age, with their wives
and ten or twelve children, following a marching regiment. lie
would leave it to the House to judge what sure of an army that
would appear.
Mr. HUME replied.
The motion was then put and negatived without a division.
Mr. W. HORTON brought up the Report of the Select Com-
mittee on emigration.—Ordered to be laid on the table.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at HALF-PAST ONE o'clock to Wednesday next.

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