The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-18 00:00:00

ARMY ESTI mATEs.

The Howe then went into a Committee of Supply on the
Army Estimates.
Lord l'ALm sTON moved his first Resolution, that 353,2751.
Os. tid. be granted fur defraying the expense of the household
troops till December, 1,416.
Mr. CA teu.trr opposed the resolution, and contended that
the reduction of these troops to the number they stood at in
1711, was not an unreasonable proposition. In peace they
were only usefid fur parade ditties. He should therefore nm'e
to reduce them one half, which would leave them stronger than
in litg.

Lord CACTLEREAGii apprehended that the House had already
voted the number of the troops to b., kept up. Hut if this !no-
tion were entertained, It would be reducing the troops of the
line. One fonrth of the guards were to be stationed in France.
The Noble Lord proceeded to contend, that the proposed Inca-
sure of the Hon. Member mos not a measure of economy. It
had been determined by the House, that a certain force was
necessary ; and the army, as it at press ut stood, was by no
means complete. Would it then be cenuomy to discharge'looo
men of the guards, who had cost the country from 501. to 1001.
each, and were the best troops in the army; and fin titer, to
charge the country with pensions to the nit II thus discharged ;
and still further, to put the country to the espenee of raising
and training -1000 peasants at a very considerable expt nee, ;utd
thus to obtain green soldiers for veterot troops, only to save an
assumed difference between guards and line ? The home ser-
vice required a touch larger three now than it did in 179. At
this time Chatham alone would require ]OOO men to do the duty
on the lines and fortifications. The Noble Lord also contended,
that to attempt to reduce the household troops, who were all
completely ;wenn tied and mourned, and to sell their horses at,
perhaps, halt their worth, and then to have other troops to raise,
would be a measure of false economy indeed._

Mr. CALCIIAIT repeated his arguments in favour of his pro-
position, and contended, that if the Noble Lord's system were
adopted, it would go against any reduction whatever.

Mr. C. It NNE iup Fiurted the amendment. The snpport of
the household troops cot more by 35,0001. than the MIK' aunt-
her of troops attic line would do.

Mr. linocuilast commented upon the introdecing of novel
numes fur the national force, borrowing expresz..i.ois from the
French. He was at a loss to know why these tioops were now
to be called household troops instead ofgoards. He also wish-
al to know what change had tal.en place .0 the metropolis
since 1711:: which rendered nearly double the numb(r of troops
necessary to preserve the peace which or. Pitt felt to be ne-
cessary ; at that period, Mr. Pitt was content with pitqubing
4000 men, whilst now we were to hare 7‘oo. He (Mr. H.)
was fearful it was not for the preservation of the peace thnt
this force was to be kept op, hot for the purpose of military
pomp and parade, to insult the feelings of the p. hplc, and to
increase the patronage and inginente of the crown.

Air. C. WI;NNE wa; in tinoitr uf ilst anitr.lmcnt.

Gelb. LOFT contended that it would be unjust towards the
guards, and to the public. to diminish this 111141`, which iry Its
services on the Continent, hi Etty pt, ni,d t r Waterloo, had
proved itself *roc of the most potion corps :a the riny. No
greater number was I roposed to Ito kept up than ass neces-
sary, or thin' the service pet termed by them deserved.
Mr. Boor 6/1 A M contended, that the str% aces of the guards,
which he 11,41 uevi. r disparr.4eil, was no least's for See;da.:: up
a larger force than was necessary. The N. ietory, Lent Nei-
eon's ship, loud performed most splendid serviet'.4—at the battle
of the Nile, of Traficgar, .mil at several other plata 5, she
bore that immortal heto through great part ci his splendid
career, and up to the time of his glorious 11111, yet the Victory
was laid up in ordinary, aml her crew untied adrift.
Lord CA BTLER F.:.1011 deoird that the keeping ep this force
would increase the intluenee of the crown.
Me. Tisnaev was not yet convinced of the necessity. of
keeping up this large force of Household 'froops. It could
not be said that Cie state of the metropolis required the in-
creased number, unless it was coalessed that the reign of the