The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--(YESTERDAY.)

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition against
church rates ; and also one from the corporation of
Plymouth, in favour of the speedy trial of offenders.
The Earl of DARNLEY presented petitions from Ro •
chester and Chatham, praying for the entire closing of
public houses on Sundays.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
Fordyce, in Banffshire, against any further grant to
Maynooth.
THE BRITISH ARMY.—INCREASE OF PAY.

The Duke of RICHMOND called the attention of
their lordships to the advertisements issued by the War-
office, offering 100 guineas for the best plans for the
erection of barracks for infantry and cavalry, and ex-
pressed a hope that due care would be taken to provide
the most decent accommodation for the wives and families
of the soldiers, which would afford the best guarantee
for the morality and good conduct of the army. He
wished to ask if it was intended to provide such accom-
modation in the barracks as that to which he had re-
ferred, and he was also desirous of knowing whether the
recruiting for her Majesty's forces was going on satis-
factorily?

Lord PANMURE said that the tendency of public
opinion as well as the public acts of the House of Com-
mons in voting supplies for the army was to improve
the condition of the soldiers. Although no good had
been done in that direction much more remained
to be done in the way of accommodation and comfort of
the soldier. In respect to the noble duke's question as
to the construction of barracks, the committee appointed
to consider the question bad not as yet reported,
and he was, therefore, unable to say what the
result of their inquiry had been. He concurred with
the noble duke in thinking that without dry rooms the
barracks of the soldiers could not be either wholesome
or decent. If married men were to reside in these
barracks it was absolutely essential that special
accommodation should be accorded them. He,
however, confessed he was one of those who pre-
ferred to see the army without women, and that the
young, soldier should be taught to do that for him-
self which was ordinarily done by women. He
thought that a young soldier entering the army
at the age of eighteen should Lot marry until he had
passed his ten years' service. As to the re-enlistment
in the army their was no doubt that the present establish-
ment was much below the necessities of the country.
Although a great number had been enlisted, there
were nevertheless great losses by war as wall as by
disease. It occurred to the Government that it might
be desirable to increase the bounty for enlistment. Hav-
ing, however, consulted with the noble lord at the heal
of the army and other persons of great experience he
had been dissuaded from doing so. Her Majesty's
Government intended to adopt a plan, although novel
in her Majesty's army. That plan was to grant to al!
soldiers actually engaged in the field double pay
but that the additional shilling should not
be given to the soldier at once, but should
be saved for him in the eavings' bank. It was not to be
drawn by him as his regular pay, as he (Lord Panmure)
considered the usual rate adequate for all his wants.
Should the soldier unfortunately not survive to receive the
savings, then the accumulation should go to those rela-
tions nearest and dearest to him. But should he survive
the saved sum would be paid to him, not in lieu, but in
addition to any pension he might become entitled to. He
trusted this system would be found to work much better
than an increase of the bounty, and that the young men
of this country would come forward, and render that
assistance which the country at the present moment
stood in need of. (Hear, hear.)