The National Register.
London, England, 1811-03-17 00:00:00

In the last year, the amount did not •
exceed
•
There was an excess therefore in this
item of
Which was to.be accourted for by the additional -
-number of troops which had been sent abroad.
The last topic, to which the Right Hon. Gentle-
man directed the atention of the House, was the
Transport Service. The expenses of this depart-
ment had increased from two causes; first, from
the great augmentation of prisoners 'of war, and
the consequent charges arising from providing for
them proper places of confinement; and, secondly,
from the salaries and expences of the Transport
Office having been brought into the Estimate, con-
trary to the usual practice. There were some ar-
ticles of saving, I4owever, which amounted to
9•t,2t571. but the excess was still very considerable.
The Estimates for the present- year were in-
eluded under the following heads :
Transports • •, • .
Sick and Wounded
Prisoners of War . . .

Salaries an,l Stationery
Making a Total of

2,752,662
352,463
924,336'
33,338

~ t.

4,06.2.4q9

The Right Hon. Gentleman having gone through all the Esti-
mate, remarked • that he had forgotten to state that the value of
the old Stores, 420,3691. was to be deducted from the gross
amount of these Estimates.
On the first resolution, founded on the first item of the Esti..
mate, being put from the Chair,
Mr. HuTcriiNSON drew the attention of the HOuse to the in-
justice with which that highly respectable, long-tried and faith-
ful body of men, the marines, were treated. Many of the Cap-
tains of this corps, whose services had extended from twenty to
thirty years, still remained stationary,- without the opportunity
of rising, while every other officer, in every other regiment, had
the satisfaction of a. progressive advance to the rank of Field-
Officer. Tne artillery corps in particular, to which the marines
bore some resemblance, although consisting of 17,600 men, had
eighty Field-Officers, while the inarins, forming a hods! of
35,000, had but from forty to forty-five officers of a similar rank.
This unequal distribution of favour was so palpably unfair, that
he trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Yorke) would see
the expediency, as well as the propriety, of rewarding the long
and tried fidelity of the latter corps, with advantages, at least,
equal to their merits. It might be said that so many Field Offi-
cers could not be employed in the service to which the marines
were destined, yet when it was considered that a great number
of Admirals arid Field Officers who were never employed, en-
joyed their commissions as a reward for their service, Aiglioped
this objection would not be urged, the more especially when the
long and arduous exertions of the marines, su beneficial to the
community, were recollected.
Mr. YORKE expressed his readiness to agree most cordially
with every word which had fallen from the Hon. Gentleman as
to the gallantry, perseverance, fidelity, and activity of the marine
corps. He thought, however, that the Officers did not stand
upon Olt same footing as the Officers in the regular service,' in-
asmuch as they did not purchase their commissions, and conse-
quently could not be said to be equally entitled to the rack to
which they aspired.
Mi. WILBERFORCE understood that there was not the same
provision made for the widows and orphans of Marine Officers,
as for widows and orphans of other descriptions. He trusted
the Right Hon. Gentleman on tic opposite si.ie of the House
(Mr. Yritke), if this was the case, would turn his attention to the
subject; and that he would, in accordance with that benevolent
feeling which was known to pervade the country, see that the
same provision was made for widows and orphans of one set of
meritorious soldiers as the etlier.(Hear f)
A long discussion took place upon the several resolutions,
which were agreed to,andthe House adjourned. • •

•••••••••••
SATURDAY, MARCII 16.
The SrEmaii gave notice that he should take the. Chair on
Monday, at half-past three, o'clock, in consequence of the quan-
tity of private business now before the House,
Mr. Mitaitylr-r piesenttd twn Petitions, one from t.1.•.e
Mayor and Corporation of Port Glasgow, and the other from
certain persons residineon the northern coast of Scothind,.con-
cerned in the Herring. and Cod Fisheries, against the l3iris rnw
pending before the douse, praying that they may not', Ft.'s i4to
law.;--Ordered to l-e on,the table. 3.1 •• •
On the motion of Mr. Mellish, the second reidire+tetlqw
Theatre Bill; was postponed from Monday ttf n (11.0 itel-
night. . a
Several Elll3 were forwarded, Out the Ilottael'adibi4#o,4.4
five o'clock. • • . • .z`
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