The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-03-17 00:00:00

THE EIGHTH' REPORT.

The Eighth Report from the Select Committee
on Finance has been printed. by order of the House
of COOIIIIOIII. As the Seventh Report, the first in
the present Session, related altogether to the Army
Estimates fur the service qf the current year, so the
Report now under our consideration embraces solely
the Eistiinateti of the /Vary. In each Report, bow.
ever, the Committee couteut themselves with merely
stating the Estimates as they have been submitted
to Parliaineut by the Minister', and. act as if they
imagined that the expression of an opinion on the
propriety of these Estimate" was out of their
power or province. We must, indeed. *arrow..
ledge that we review the proposed Estimates
for the Naval and Military Services with feel-
ings of a widely different character. We should
lenient a parsimonious spirit of economy in the for.
user, as we do the extravagance that too evidently
prevails in the latter; esteeming," in► the words
of the Sixth Report, '4 the naval superiority of
this country as the principle on which its external
power, iniereusl safety, and general prosperity, in
the highest degree depend."
lit the proposed grant for the prevent year, as
compered with that of the year inlet, there is I:de-
crease to the amount of 1,097,61:31. hut in the
former grant were included 1,060,0001. fur Navy
and Transport Debts; so that the amount of the
estimate. for. actual service within the year exceeds
the own granted for 18i7, for the same purpose,
by 50l:,3871. In this sum . however, is inclsided
178,948/. fur the Transport Service, now brought
for the first time into the Navy Estimates. There
is then an actual excess of 400,000/. which is ac-
counted for by au increase of 1,000 men in the
vote of seamen, making the whole 'lumber for the
present year twenty thousand men. This causes
an increase of wages to the amount of 141,700/.
which with an increase in victuals, wear and
tear, and ordnance, amounts to 4224,9001.--
The remainder of the excess is made up of in-
creased expenses in the Medical Establishment, in
the purchase of stores, and in works. lm this last
item—the works, we can trace the cominencemeist
of a system of expenditure, which is likely to press
heavily on the country for many years. 111 making
this observetiosi, we must concur with the Com-
mittee in believing such an expenditure necessary;
but this concession must be attributed solely to
our want of local information. We are, however,
aware of the nature of some of the works in the
dock-yards, which we have no hesitation in con-
sidering as little better than jobs. Let such
of our Y 1411614 as possess equally partial know-
ledge, reflect on the object and nature of what.
ever public works they chance to be acquaint-
ed with, and in forming en opinion on these isolated
parts, they may render it general, and conic to a
tolerably correct conclusion in estimating the cha-
racter of the entire.
A sum of 27,000/. is inserted for the Victualling-
ofli.c wall of Deptford, and 7,000/. fur roofing a
slip. The wharf wall of Woolwich is to be imme-
diately rebuilt. The sum proposed to be expended
at Sheerness is 170,000/. and is said to be the least
that could be taken in the presort year to produce
any thing like a sheer of activity in the new works.
" The expediency of such exertion." observes the
Report, " will ht seen more forcibly, when it is
considered that there are no leas then 18 sail of line
of battle ship* lying at Slwerness molly for equip-
ment at a moment's notice, arid that the Dock-yard,
in the uutinished stale of the works, dots not afford
the means of fitting them out with that expedition
which a sudden armament would require. in
Plymouth Sound 60,0001. were expended last year.
and 65,000/. are proposed for the present. More
than 10,0001. was expended last year at Hatilbow.
line bland iu the Cove of Cork, and an equally
large sum this year will probably be necessary.
Should all these works be neceasary, as some of
them (such as the Breakwater in Plymouth Sound)
undoubtedly are, the time of peace is properly
chosen as the best period for completing them.
—We cannot avoid remarking ou the unusually
large establishment of revenue cruisers in the
present year, being notes. than seventy-two vessels.
It is a matter for serious consideration for Govern-
ment, whether the enormous expense of a military
and naval force. expressly and exclusively employ.
ed in the trade of contraband, dues oat call loudly
for *diminution in the Custom Duties, which at
present hold out so very large a premium for smug.
Kling, and render this expense necessary.

Ou the morning of Thursday week. the woollen
mill. belonging to the proprietors of the Bradford
Carla Company, wav completely disttop d by
tire.