The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-10 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER STAMP BILL.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to know if it was the'
intention of the Government to proceed with this bill; and
if so, when? -
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was-
Mr. RICARDO pressed the right hon. gentleman to fix.
a day for the second reading.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that
he should be prepared to move the second reading on Mon-
day, the 19th inst.

EXCHEQUER BALANCES.

Mr. MgGREGOR moved as an amendment to the ques-
tion "that the Speaker do leave the chair," that the 1 °f-
lowing returns be ordered, namely :—Returns of the ba-
lances at the credit of the Exchequer on the 24th day of
Feb:nary, 1854, and on the 24th day of February, 1855 :
Of the amount of the Treasury Deficiency Bills at
the Bank of England on the 24th day of February,
1854, and on the 24th day of February, 1855 •
Of the number and amount of Exchequer bills outstanding
on the 24th day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of
February, 1855, stating the interest per cent. per day,
and when payable : Of the number and amount of Trea-
sury boads outstanding on the 24th day of February, 1854,
and on the 24th day of February, 1855, stating the dates
when signed, when payable, and the rate of interest :
Of the amount of the capital of the Bank of England on
the 24th day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of
February, 1855, stating the details of the said capital as to
how invested, and if in Government Securities, showing
the value per cent. of such securities on the above dates, and
also the value per cent. of other than Government Securi-
ties held as capital by the Bank of England on the sam e dates.
Of the amount of the sum called the Rest in the Bank of
England on tin 24th day of February, 1854, and on the
24th day of February, 1855, stating the particulars iu de-
tail of the amount of the said Rest, whether consisting of
bank capital,. profits, Government and other securities,
specie, and Bank notes. Of the amount of other than
Government securities held by the Bank of England on the
24th" day of February, 1854, and on the 24th day of February,
1855, stating the particulars of such securities, whether on
real estate, mines, foundries, bonds, bills of exchange; or
moneys, and how convertible and payable : of the amount
of notes of the Bank of England on the 24th day of Feb-
ruary, 1854, and on the 24th day of February, 1855,
stating the amount in circulation, and the amount
held on those days' by the Bank; distinguishing
separately the am onu t issued on acccoun t of
the Bank capital, and on account of the bullion in
the Bank : And, of the amount of moneys due as deposits
in the savings' banks of England, Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland, separately, on the 24th day of February, 1854,
and on the 24th day of February, 1855, stating in what
securities the said deposits are invested, whether in the
Funds, Treasury Bonds, or other and what securities.

Mr. WILSON said the returns could not be granted.
'The amendment was withdrawn.
BREECEI-LOADING ARMS.
Mr. MAGITIBE brought under the notice of the house
certain improvements in the manufacture of breech-load-
ing fire-arms, and urge,' the importance of adopting
such improvements in the British service. He parti-
cularly referred to Sharp's breech-loading rifle. The
inventor of that arm was a few years ago a humble me-
chanic in America, but he introlnced his invention to the
American Government, and having been thoroughly tested
and found to be the best weapon of the description in ex-
istence, it was now universally adopted in the American
army. It was brought under the notice of the authorities
at Woolwich, in May last, but although trials and experi-
ments had since been made to test the value of the rifle, no
intimation whatever of the result had been communicated
to those who were the most interested in it. To-day the
weapon had been tested at Lord Ranelagh's at Fulham,
and he would tell the house the result of the experiment.
The great advantage of.the weiapon wee, theb
loaded at the breech with only three movements, whereas
the ordinary rifle required five. The minie rifle could
only be discharged two or three times in a minute, but to-
day he had seen Sharp's breech-loading rifle fired off
21 times in a minute and a half, 14 times in a minute,
and 40 times in five minutes and five seconds. It had
been approved of by some of the highest military autho-
rities in this country, and under these circumstances, he
did most earnestly trust that Sharp's breech-loading
rifle would have a fair trial at the hands of the
Board of Ordnance. He also urged upon the
attention of the Government* Adams' improved pistol,
which was worth two of Colt's.

Colonel B. KNOX had been a witness of the experi-
ment to-day, and so satisfied was ho of its simplicity and
importance, tbat he had no hesitation in urging the Go-
vernment to give it a trial. It was the best adapted
weapan for cavalry in existence. _ _

Mr. MONSELL admitted the importance of introducing
into the army with the least possible. delay a breech-
loading rifle, and why it had ~not already been in-
troduced was simply owing to the anxiety of the Go-
vernment to obtain the best weapon. (Hoar, hear.) Last
year an intimation was conveyed to the principal gun
manufacturers of the country that the Government were
disposed to introduce into the army a breech'-loading car-
bine, and they wore requested to send in their inventions
for the purpose of being tested at Woolwich. (Hear,
hear.) .Accordingly a large number were sent in, in-
cluding Sharp's carbine, and these had been fully
tested by a co:nmitteo of military °deers. That committee
had not yet decided which was the best, but the moment
it was decided on no time would be lost in having a large
number manufactured for immediate introduction into the
army. He believed at present the choice lay between
Sharp's carbine and another of an equally valuable and im-
portant character invented by a Monsieur Lenroi.
Mr. DITND.A.S attributed the delay to the system of
governing by boards •, if the matter had been left to the
dacision of one man the beat weapon would long ago have
been found out. _ _ _

(Jul. DUNNE wished to know if any report had been
received upon the carbine of Mr. Sharp. 'Ter© was no
doubt that breech-loading carbine was the best
that could be adopted in cavalry regiments, but they
were generally attended with the inconvenience of
gancrating too much gas, which could not escape in suffi-
cient time to admit of its being hurriedly loaded.
Mr. MONSELL said Mr. Sharp's carbine had been
favourably reported amongst others, and in a very short
time the best of these would be selected. ([Tear, hear.)
The subject then dropped.

RILE CRPS.
Arr. WILLI A.MS agaiFn urged upon the Government the
expediency of sanctioniue, the establishment of volunteer
rifle corps. Ho believed 'offers to form such corps had been
already made to the Home-of6ce, and ho thought they
ought not only to be accepted, but encouraged.
Lord PALMERSTON said ho received repeated offers of
the kind while he was at the Home-office ; but, consider-

ing that they came from civilians engaged in trade, and
living in inland localities, he &d not it wol.h
while to put the country to the expense of sanctioning the
formation of such rifles corps.

The subject then dropped, and the house went into com-
mittee of supply on tho

ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.

On the question that 1,387,5001. be voted for the expense
of works, buildings, and repairs,
Lord SEYMOUR, complained that the vote was exces-
sively high, considering the large Ordnance expenditure
which must take place this year abroad. He asked for some
explanation relative to the establishment of barracks at
Aldershot. Ho wanted to know vied was its object, and
whether it was to be of a temporary or permanent clue-
meter. Ho should also like to know what number of men
the building would accommodate ?
Mr. MONSELL said the barracks would be partly tem-
porary and partly permanent. The temporary barracks
were required for the immediate accommodation of
troops and the militia, no as to obviate the necessity of
resorting to the demoralising system of billeting. (Hear,
hear.) Besides, it would give the troops the advantage of
being drilled in large masses. It was believed that these
barracks, which would be built partly at Aldershot and
partly at the Omagh of Kildare, would accommodate
50,000 men.. The permanent barracks to be erected at Alder-
shot would be sufficient to lodge 20,000 men. The tempo-
rary barracks at Aldershot would have 20,000 men allotted
to them, and those at the Curragh of Kildare 10,000.
Mr. ELLICE thought it an extraordinary proposition, at
a time like the present, to ask for a sum of 60,0001. for
barracks at Dover, on the ground of having so made those
fortifications, when they would only require to be protected
uuder the exceptional circumstances of war. It was, too,
beyond his comprehension why, at this particular time,
the country should be asked to expend a large sum of mo-
ney for the defence of commercial harbours. With re-
spect to accommodating the embodied militia, he had not
yet heard of any very great inconvenience arising from the
difficulty of lodging them ; the inconvenience was no doubt
coming upon us ; that was, however, but of a temporary
character, and ought to be mot by t.iesporary expedients,
because he hoped next year to be saved a vote of three
millions for the embodiment of the militia. To require,
too, at this particular moment, when every energy was
required for carrying on operations abroad, a sum of
250,0001. for permanent barracks at Aldershott was to
him a matter cf the greatest surprise. Did the Govern-
ment intend that after the war was brought to a close we
were to become a great military nation. Were we really
to set ourselves up in competition with the military na-
tions of the Continent in maintaining vast standing armies?
That might perhaps be the intention of the Government,
but this he knew thatwhen the question came to be raised
by some worthy successor of his lamented friend Mr.
Hume, the house would not be induced to vote the money
required for such a purpose. He warned the Govern-
ment that when this war should be at an end, which he
trusted would be much sooner than appeared to be anti-
cipated by the Government, they would not be able to
have a vast standing army, and by the course which they
proposed to take in providing accommodation for it they
would only be throwing away the public money. (Hear.)
The people of this country believed their defensive power
to consist mainly in its maritime supremacy, and all that
the country required in time of peace was that which was
sufficient for our defence, and for the service of our colo-
nies. (Hear. )
Lord PALMERSTON said that If he could agree with
his hon. friend that the vote now proposed was a vote fur
erecting a great establishment of a .permanent nature,
which would not be required after the moment of emer-
gency had ceased, he should be ready to concur with him
in opinion that the statement made to the house was of an
alarming character. (Hear.) The great mistake which he
thought the House of Commons, the public, and the Go-
vernmeut had committed ever since the close of the last
war, had been that they had acted by fits and starts, not
upon any settled and steady system of policy, but accord-
ing to the impulse of the moment and the circumstance of
the day, The great mistake after the termination of the
last war was, that the Government and the public
seemed to consider that halcyon days were beginning, and
that we should never again have occasion to defend our-
selves from aggression, or to vindicate our honour. The
consequence was, we had rushed to the demolition and dis-
posal of a great part of the barrack accommodation of the
country. One of the consequences of that policy was, that
even in times of peace, when he had but the. ordinary
amount of military force, we bad not the means of
lodging that reduced peace establishment in barracks,
(Hear, hear, hoar.) They were, therefore, compelled
to billet the troops, to the groat inconvenience of those
persons upon whom they were billeted. Of course it was
well known that innkeepers took their licenses subject
to this inconvenience, but still the system entailed con-
siderable hardship upon them, especially in populous towns,
and it was also exceedingly detrimental to the discipline
and mot al feeling of the troops. (Hear.) From the incon-
veniences attending the billeting of large bodies of men in
particular towns had arisen the necessity of distributing
the troops in small detachments, and scattering them over
the country, often in places whore they were not the least
wanted, answering no purpose whatever, and materially
injuring the discipline of the regiments. Bat what had
been more strongly urged upon the Government was that,
however good might be the regimental organisation of the
army, still that, being scattered in small bodies, no oppor-
tunity was afforded for educating and preparing officers
for the discharge of those staff duties which belonged to
the aggregation of large bodies of troops. (Hear.) Every-
body admitted that even the exercise of the troops at Chob-
ham, where not more than 5,000 or 6,000 men were assem-
bled, had 'been of great advantage to the staff and regi-
mental officers, as well as the men, and it was a fact that
those regiments which were at Cholihana had shown them-
selves in the Crimes much more able to,ahift for themselves
than those which had pot had the advantage of being in

the camp. (Hear, hear.) What the Government proposed
was, not vast establishments such as his right hon. friend
would lead the house to suppose, bat very moderate estab-
lishments necessary for the service of the country. What
was proposed at Aldershott was to have accommodation
for about 7,000 infantry, with the proper proportion of
cavalry—such accommodation, in short, by which, they
would be able to train that moderate number of men.

With respect to the militia, ho could assure his right
honourable friend that the greatest inconvonienos pos-
sible seas experienced from not having proper lodging for
the regiments. The right hon. gentleman the member for
Buckinghamshire had taunted him lately with a deficiency
of foresight last Year, because he had not embodied the
militia. But as much had been done in that respect as the
barrack accommodation available would allow of, and the
Government were unwilling to call out the militia when
they would be obligiA to put them into billets. (Hear.)
Then with respect to Aldershott and the Carragh of Kil-
dare, the only intention was that of providing those means
requisite for training on a scale usual in times of peace.
With respect to Dover, his right hon. friend asked why
they were going to erect barracks there, and to defend the
seaport towns? Were they to wait for a time of peace,
till there was no enemy, to make their defences ? or was
the proper moment for making our military defences when
eve had a time of war ? With respect to Dover, the ar-
rangements made were not dependent on the circumstances
of the day. For several years it had been a topic of re-
proach that our coasts were not in a proper state. Dover
had been considered an important place, and ita fortifica•
tione had been put in repair, and improvements had been
made in the western heights; which were fortified, but the
fortifications would have been useless without a proper
place was provided for the men. Cassmates were not
places in which troops could bo permanently. and willingly
placed, and the barracks on the western heights wore not
more than were Le • nary If t was determined to have de-
fensive works at all.• With respect to Hull and Liverpool
and several smallerharbours, he (Lord Palmerston) wasbesut
last year with applications for some means of defence, even
against the attacks of privateers. When hon. gentle-
men thought more of the situation of these ports they
would come to be of opinion that the erection of some
small batteries only was an act of necessity with a view to
defend thorn ; and his astonishment was great when he
found what a small sum would be required to defend these
ports from attack. From Liverpool atul Hull he had re-
ceived urgent entreaties on the subject, and he hoped the
house would not be led away by the eloquence of his right
hon. friend, but that they would feel that these were not
works which were wanted for this particular year and not
afterwards, but that they were necessary to maintain our
military defences, and keep our army on a peace establish-
ment, enabling it to perform the duties of an army. His
right hon. friend was on the committee now eneaged in in-
quiring into circumstances arising from bad arrangements
made in times of peace, and he would find that the defici-
encies complained of were not in our regimental system, or
in the bravery of our troops, or in the military qualities of
our army, but deficiencies in those arrangements only which
were required for the organisation of comparatively large
bodies of troops—for arrangements belonging to a system
of war. His right hon. friend said that we had not large
armies to deal with, such as existed on the continent; and
it was truo that we had not armies like those of France, or
of Prussia, or of Austria ; but, however that might be, our
army should be as good and as perfect as care and the best
arrangements possible could make it. It was the worst eco-
nomy, and the most impi evident system, to have an army
and deprive it of the means of making itself efficient. We
should have the means of practising our army in all those
things which belong to and make the effic:enev of a force,
an-a ?non, snouts ae ue oteieed te go to war, we should have
a basis that would be complete, and that would enable us
to enter upon war on a well-organised system, and with
effective arrangements.
Sir J. TROLLOPE was ready to give his approbation to
the Government for their plan for the. concentration of the
troops on home service, for he believed that nothing was so
injurious to the discipline of an army as td be scattered in
detachments. He wished, however, to know if it were de-
termined that Alderahott barracks would be a permanent
one ? It had been suggested that the huts should be built
on a brick foundation, and if so, that they would last for
many years,. These barracks would be of the greatest ad-
vantage
to the service, not only in training superior offi-
cers, but in perfecting discipline and practising the army
in acting together. (Hear.) With respect to the commer-
cial ports of Hull and Liverpool, he had very lately been
down in Hull, and ho thought that the old fort might be
disposed of, and that with the money which would be got
for its site, and some small expense besides, a sufficient de-
fence might be provided.
Mr. MONSELL was happy to inform the right hon.
gentleman that his views relative to the old fort were being
carried out. Tho sum of tB,OOO/. was to be expended on
the fortifications. They would not dispose of the old
citadel till some other fortification was erected in its stead,
and for the ground of that ohl fort a sum sufficient to pay
for the erection of the defence in lieu of it would be ob-
tained.

Colonel KNOX had been down on the preceding day, a-..d
bad seen all the arrangements at Ablershot, and he con-
sidered them creditable to the country. But they wore
putting timbers on the ground, whereas it was said that, if
they were placed on bricks or concrete, they could be main-
tained for thirty years. The want of accommodation in
barracks had boon felt for a long series of years. There
was not in this metropolis a single barrack to which in a
time of popular excitement or riot we could lodge a bat-
tery of horse artillery, and for infantry we had not above
3,000 beds. In Brighton the barrack accommodation was
likewise deficient, and when the militia wero called out,
they were obliged to be billeted, and the evils of the billet
wero very great. He hoped the Government would turn
their attention to the matter of providing proper barrack
accommodation, and he thanked the noble lord for grap-
pling with the subject.
Colonel LINDSAY wisbedto know on what principle
the barracks at Dover, Plymcuth, Winchester, and Gos-
port wore to be established—vhether on the old system or
a new one. He gave the Ordnance credit for what they
had done. The letters frog the East proved that the
Biitish soldiers were well deserving of care, and he did not
think that the Government or Parliament had done all
that was in their power. Several of the barracks were not
sufficiently commodious. It was necessary, too, for the
comfort of the soldiers that they should have a day-room.
The soldier had no place but the canteen. He had no place
to sit, or write, or talk, and the consequence was, that he
found he was more comfortable out of barracks than in.
It must be a great point to ensble the soldier to live in
barracks. Another point whiol required attention was,

that a sretem still exi-,tiel in sine re,,irnents of allowing
otueu to live ~ iv leg iu the barrack-
rooms. Lodging-money was allowed, but the amount was
not sufficient. He saw that the Ordnance were now in-
troducing gas in the barracks, after it had been pressed on
them by him for years.
Sir J. PAXTON desired to know if the huts specified
required what could not be carried out in this country.
The hon. gentleman the Clerk of the Ordnance stated that
there was no difficulty in procuring the timber specified ;
but he (Sir J. Paxton) should like to know if the huts
were being erected according to the specification, two-
thirds of the timber being Christiana deal?
Lord HOTHAM was quite sure that the committee—if
they were aware of the present state of the pelt of Hull—
would not be surprised at the anxiety expressed by the in-
habitants of that town with respect to its defenceless con-
dition. It should be recollected that Hull is the great
emporium of the trade of the North of Europe, and of late
years there had been a great deal of accommodation fur-
nished by the dock company of that port.

Mr. M. SMITH called attention to the vote for the
defence of the river Thames, and also to an item for 2,000/.
for the erection of buildings for the accommodation of
military lunatics at Fort Pitt. It seemed contrary to com-
mon sense that a lunatic asylum for the whole army should
be placed in the middle of Fort Pitt, where unfortunate
invalids were now experiencing comfort after their return
from the Crimea.

Sir G. TYLER had urged upon the Government the
necessity of establishing defences along the coast, and did
so with the conviction that the Bristol Channel was not
sufficiently defended. He had called attention particu-
larly to the ports of Cardiff and Swansea, and he hoped a
portion of the grant intended for the protection of harbours
along the coast would be applied to the defence of those
two ports to which ho referred.
Mr. WILLIAMS called attention to the fact that the
veto for the building rew barracks last year amounted to
871,0001., and the vote fc.r the repair of existing barracks
amounted to 285,0001., making a total of 1,156,0001. In the
present year there was a vote for 300,0001. for wooden huts,
which were to be used as barracks, making altogether a
sum of 1,456,0001. voted for barrack accommodation in the
past and present year. Assuming the army in the United
Kingdom to amount to 60,000, that would give a sum of
251. for the barrack accommodation of each man, which
was about one-half the sum that was paid for well-built
cottages for the labouring classes in the agricultural and
manufacturing districts. It appeared to him to be mon-
strous that the soldier was not better accommodated than
almost any other class when that enormous expenditure
took place. He thought the question should be referred to
a committee for the purpose of inquiring how this vast ex-
penditure had been incurred. It appeared that there was
a vote of upwards of half a million for fortificatiops ; but
out of the sum granted for barrack accommodation there
had been only a sum of 1,0001. applied to Liverpool, and
out of the sum required for fortifications only 12,0001. was
applied to Liverpool. He should like to know what had
been the cost incurred for barracks in this country during
the last twenty or thirty years?

Of
Mr. MONs'...ELL observed that a groat number of their
troops during the war had been lodged in barracks, but
those barracks, through a principle of false economy, were
disposed of in time of peace. A question had been asked
as to whether any description of amusement bad been
provided for the men, and it would be found that some of
the barracks were prov Lied with racket courts. An bon:
member had observed that the canteens were only let to
the Ist of September; the reason for that arrangement was
that the Government was prepared to considerthe question
of canteens, and were most anxious to introduce some im-
provements in the arrangement of them. In answer to
another question, he could state that the barracks would be
constructed on the newest principle. His attention had
been very much turned during the last year to the state of
the barracks in the metropolis. Ho quite agreed in what
was said by an hon. and gallant gentleman with regard to
the barrack in Portman-street ; but it was only kept from
year to year, and they would get rid of it as soon as pos-
sible. They, however, found it difficult to get a proper site
for barracks at a convenient distance from the Horse
Guards, and at this side of the river. With regard to the
question put to him respecting the erection of a military
asylum at Fort Pitt, he must refer the hon. gentleman who
asked for information to the Secretary-at-War.
Sir J. Y. BULLER said it was the fault of preceding
Governments that such a large expenditure was now neces-
sary for providing barrack accommodation. In the place
where his regiinent was stationed there wore only a few
small barracks for the reception of the men, and the great
outlay for barracks was now absolutely necessary. A large
sum was expended on the lines at Plymouth, and it must be
considered that that money was thrown away. When the
lines were condemned by the late Duke of Wellington, it
was to be regretted that such an expenditure had taken
place. He wished, in conclusion, to draw attention to the
absence of warm water' or warm baths, in tho military
hospital at Devonport. Ho thought it would be of great
assistance to the sick and wounded arriving from the Crimea
if some accommodation of that sort could be provided.
Mr. COWAN was not aware whether any provision was
made in these estimates for erecting fortifications in Scot-
land. The east coast from Peterhead to Berwick-on-Tweed
was very unprotected, and since there was a large amount
of property exposed to danger in that district he hoped the
claims of Scotland would not be lest sight of. He wished
to ask the hon. Secretary to tha Board of Ordnance if it
was true that a gentleman named Andrews had offered to
erect six or seven fortresses on the east coast of Scotland at
an expense of about 20,0001. for the whole. That gentle-
man, he understood, at the instance of the Board of Ord-
nance, had made a survey of the Island of Inchkeith with
a view to the erection of fortresses ; bat that, survey was
not deemed to be sufficient, and, under the direction of
the officers of the Ordnance, Mr. Andrews made a second
survey, which was upon a considerably more extensive
scale than tho first. Mr. Andrews, with a patriotic spirit
that did him great credit, claimed no remuneration for
himself, but he wished to be reimbursed the expenses he
had been put to, and ik was to be hoped his claim in that
respect would be allowed.
Colonel NORTH confirmed the statement of the hop.
member for Devonshire with respect to the barracks at
Devonport. Twenty-five years ago he was quartered there,
and although the barracks were then in a disgraceful state
he believed nothing had been done to improve them, nor
had anything been done to improve the citadel of Ply-
mouth, which was in precisely the same state now that it
was twenty-five years ago.
Mr. DUNLOP urged upon the Government the necessity
of erecting fortifications for the protection of the chipping
of Greenock.

After a few words from Colonel LINDSAY,

Sir DE LACY EVANS said he believed a false economy
had hitherto prevailed with regard to the erection of barracks
and the accommodation provided in them for the soldier.
Now, some few years ago a commission was appointed to
inquire into the state of the barracks in Prussia, France,
and other continental States; but the report of that com-
mission, though made at the public expense, had never
been laid before Parliament. If it had, he believed it would
have demonstrated that the barrack 'accommodation pro-
vided far the soldier in France, and two or three other con-
tinental States, was far superior to that afforded by the
British Government. (Hear.) There was some hoe. goa-
-1 tlemen holding office who entertained the notion that it
was better to accustom the British soldier to hardships in
barracks than to provide him with ordinary comforts. it
was thought, indeed, that such a training would better
enable him to rough it in foreign service, but he doubted
that very much, because the officers, when they were
obliged to rough it, were able to do so quite as well as the
privates. The fact was, the system which 'these gentle-
men advocated was not only injurious to the health of the
soldiers, but it also deterred men of a better class of so-
ciety from entering the army. Now the importance of this
question could hardly be overrated, because experience
had always proired that au army selected from a better
class of men was far more efficient than an army raised
from the lowest orders of the people. For instance,
honourable members, perhaps, would remember the co/IL
versation betweec Oliver Cromwell and some other man
of the time as to the difficulties he had in obtainiug troops
capable of resisting the cavaliers at the commencement
of the civil war; it was represented to him that his army
was then composed of mere tapsters and persons of an
inferiorclass of society, who could not resist in the field
the sons of parents of the better class who enlisted under
the royal standard. (Hear.) Now, it appeared to him that
the only cause of the difficulty of obtaining the sons of far-
mers and shopkeepers for the army was the bad barrack
accommodation provided for the soldier. (Hear.) The sol-
diers as well as the officers were quite prepared to encoun-
ter the difficulties of the field, to lie in tents or anything
else, or upon the ground, when necessity required it, but
they objected to being left in a state of discomfort while
they Overeat home. (Hear.) Depend upon it, if Parliament
wished to raise the moral condition of the army, the bar-
rack accommodation must be improved, and that being so,
ho, for one, could not understand the reluctance which
Government invariably evinced to bringing these estimates
prominently forward. It was absuri to think that in this
metropolis, the greatest that ever existed in the world, there
was only barrack accommodation, and that of the worst de-
scription, for about 3,000 men. (hoar.) Besides, it was
notorious that there were one or two barracks in the metro-
polis which wore totally unfit for the maintenance of the
health of the troops. Medical men who had directed their
attention to the subject had stated that it required a car-
teln number nr .üblv fwb nf for tee preservanon of
health—the number he believed was 800 feet per man—and
yet there were several barracks in the me' ropolis which (lid
not contain half that quantity of air. With regard to the
camp at Aldershott, being ignorant of its details, he was not
prepared to speak upon it; but be certainly was rather sur-
prised at the, speech of the right hon. gentleman the mem-
ber for Coventry ; it led him to eepect that we were about
to have a general election. (A. laugh.) The right hon.
gentleman seemed to think that this was only a maritime
country ; but the disasters of the Lest few months had shown
that if we Over o not essentially a military nation, at all events
we had not sufficient military means at our disposal.
Mr. W. BROWN called attention to some huts which
had recently been exhibited at Willis's Rooms. They could
be divided into four parts, the whole weighing 18cwt., and
each quarter 44 cwt. They were glazed, double-boarded,
and lined with india:-rubber. They could be taken down
in four minutes, and put up in eleven. The cost was
221. 10s. each.

Colonel DUNNE deprecated the practice of building
small barracks all over the country. It was much better to
have an extensive barracks at a fixed spot, where the troops
could be concentrated and easily removed to any quarter
where their services might be required. If a large town,
such as Sheffield, required the assistance of troops for their
own protection, they ought to contribute to their support,
and provide the barracks themselves ; but those troops
which were needed for the service of the whole country
should be brought together in ono barracks. With regard
to what had fallen from the hon, member for Wigan as to
the canteen sysfero, he could assure the committee that the
system both at home and abroad was perfectly disgusting.
It was the practice of the Government to let the canteen
to the highest bidder, and the consequence was, the worst
wines and spirits were sold in them. (Hear.) He observed
in the estimates that there was an item for erecting stores
and a hospital in the Tower; now, as he happened to know
that there was only one site vacant in the Tower, he
should be glad to bo informed if either the stores or the
hospital was to be erected outside the Tower. (Hear.)
Mr.OTWAY observed that there was an item of 2,000/.
put down' for providing accommodation at Fort Pitt for the
lunatics of the army ; but he would suggest that such ac-
commodation could be morn economically provided, while
greater comforts could be insured to. the lunatics them-
selves, if Government had recourse to some of the large
lunatic establishments of the country. (Hear.)
Mr. A. PELLATT asked for some explanation of the
item 3,5601. for the erection of chapel schools at Sheerness.
He wanted to know whether a school or a chapel was re-
quired ; and if the latter, would there be any additional
expense in providing a chaplain ? There was also an item
of 6,0001. for new officers' barracks at Sheerness, What did
this mean ?

Mr. MONSELL replied that there had been some new
barracks built for the soldiers, and now there were new
ones required -for the officers who commanded them: As
to the item for chapel schools, the building would be used
as a school on week days, and for the purpose of celebrat-
ing divine service on Sundays ; but there would be no ex-
tra charge for the services of a chaplain, That matter was

not in his department, and therefore he Nit ,ul3 not oiTor
any explanation of it. In answer to the obacrvatis,bq or
hon. and gallant member opposite upon the barracks at
Winchester, he begged to say that there was no barracks
at present existing which could be used for the accommo-
dation of the officers, and it was therefore intended to pro-
vide them now. The hon. and gallant, membar also com-
plained that the barracks at Aldershott was temporary; but
the truth was, that they proposed to erect permanent bar-
racks for 10,000 men, which would be constructed accord-
ing to the most approved plans followed in France an r Bel
glum, as ascertained by the commission of eraiaeer officers.
He quite agreed with the hon. and gallanf member, and
the member for Wigan, that it Was extremely desirable to
promote the comfort of the soldiers in barracks, and that
object had not been lost sight of in the present estimates.
On the Ship-street barracks in Dublin, a sum of 5,030/.
had been already expended ; they had commenced the con-
centration of troops in that city, and hoped that the system
might be found advisable in future years. As regarded
harbours, he was happy to assure the hon. member for
Edinburgh that Scotland has been very liberally treated.
At Dunbar alb whole battery was to be restored, at Leith
considerable fortifications were to be erected for the de-
fence of the harbours and roads, and at Arbroath, Aber-
deen, Peterhead, as well as in the Orkney and Shetland
Islands, and in the Clyde, the old batteries were to ba
restored, and new ones constructed, whilst at Banff the
question of restoring a battery was under consideration.
With regard to the Tower, certain storehouses, which were
absolutely necessary, would be erected, as well as an hos-
pital outside, which would not interfere with the stores.
Mr. ADDERLEY wished to observe, in reference to the
exaggerated threat of a new Kafir war, that he thought it
was high time that the Cape of Good Hope, having now a
representative government, should undertake its own de-
fence. The only force which could really defend the coun-
try were the volunteers, local troops, militia, &c. With
respect to the disturbances at the diggings in Victoria, the
colonists themselves should be called upon to suppress them.
We had already very much reduced our force there, and
thought it would be a wise policy of we discontinued the
very small forces still kept there, which induced the colo-
nistsito lean on England, and to neglect the development of
their own defensive means.

Mr. MONSELL assured his honourable friend that the
attention of the Government had been directed to the sub-
ject. They had taken steps this year to withdraw the gar-
risons from all places in Canada, except Quebec and King-
ston. In Australia, the military force was at present about
one-fourth of what it was. In regard to the Cape, the ne-
cessity of the large expenditure proposed arose from the
removal of the head-quarters to Graham's Town. It was
impossible to effect the desired object at once, but conside-
rable progress towards it had been made.

Mr: M. CHAMBERS thought it highly desirable that,
when a Government contract was ordered, the fullest in-
formation should be given to all who were in a situation
to tender for it. If it were not contemplated that the war
was to last for ever, he saw no advantage in building addi-
tional barracks for 50,000 men.

Mr. LABOUCHERE wished to ask whether, before
these estimates were formed, any general survey of the
barrack accommodation of the United Kingdom had been
made by competent persons ?
Mr. MONSELL said that a most minute and careful in-
vestigation had been made. He had stated a few nights
ago to the house that they would be deficient in barrack
accommodation to the extent of somewhere about 70,000
men when the whole of the militia were embodied. They
now proposed to provide accommodation for 50,0;10 men,
and were at present constructing barracks for 30,001
Lord SEYMOUR wanted to know what was the present
amount of barrack accommodation for infantry and cavalry
existing in the country, and what was the force Government
expected to get from the'embodied militia? It was de-
sirable that the house should net be led, as it often had
been, into useless expense. As to the contract system,
there was a great deal of deception in reference to pre-
tences to cheapness, as very often what was thought a
good bargain for the -overnment turned out a very expen-
sive one.

Mr. MONSELL said it would be his duty in -a few days
to make a statement to the house in regard to some altera-
tions which were to be-made in the Ordnance, which would
satisfy the noble lord that the subject of contracts had
been most carefully attended to, and he trusted that any
faults existing under the old system might be removed
under the new. One great point towards the improve-
►nent of the barrack system would be to get rid of that
multitude of small barracks scattered over the country,
many of them holding under 200 men, which he thought
were perfect pests, not merely on economical, but on social
and political grounds. The document to which' he had re-
ferred as being the basis of the estimates was not a report,
but simply a calculation showing the number of troops
which would be added to the present by the embodied
'

Mr. FITZROY thought large barracks capable of accom-
modating considerable numbrs of troops, with plenty of
ground for exercise and manoeuvres, far preferable to a
great number of small barracks, each accommodating only
an insignificant number of men.
The vote was then agreed to.
The vote of 158,1361. for the scientific branch of the ser-
vice was agreed to.

On the ioto of 197,657/, for the non-effective services,
Colonel NORTH said that he believed good service
pensions were included in this vote, and he wished to ask
whether any4liing had been done to mark the approbation
of tho Government for the services of the subalterns of the
artillery during the last campaign ? There was not in that
branch of the force the usual meane of rewarding by pro-
motion. He thought that when subalterns got their com-
pany, they ought, if they performed distinguished services,
to receive the rank of brevet-major. .
Mr. MONSELL said that he had no control over this mat-
ter, but would lay before the proper authorities the sug-
gestion of the gallant colonel.
The vote was agreed to, and the chairman reported pro-
gress.

The house then resumed.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS (IRELAND) BILL.

On the order for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. POLLARD-UE,QUILART moved that the bill be
read a second time that day six months.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER suggested
that the best plan would be for Irish members to meet the
Government and make their suggestions, which would of
course be duly considered. Such a mode of proceeding would
be more likely to bring the matter to a satisfactory termi-
nation than referring the bill to a select committee.
Mr. Sergeant SHEE asked whether, in the event of the
Irish members differing from the Government, the Govern-
ment would then consent to refer the bill to a select com-
mittee?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that
if the result of the conference should not be satisfactory, Irish
members would still have the right to move that the bill be
referred to a select committee. Their position would not be
at all damaged, and they would stand in just as good a
position as they did before the second reading of the bill.
Mr. DISRAELI said the bill appeared to him to be a bill
of indemnity to the Government. Such - a bill, if not
viewed with suspicion, ought at least to be looked at with
considerable vigilance by the house. Some hon. members,
it appeared, thought it would be convenient to discuss the
matter at the Treasury chambers, imagining the difficul-
tiei which now existed would then disappear, and this was
evidently the opinion of the right hon. gentleman, but in
the meantime tie asked the house to read the bill a .tecond
time. He (Mr. Disraeli) did not object to the propriety of
Ministers of the Crown cultivating .a frank acquaintance
with inembers'of the house ; but it was preposterous, when
difficulties arose, that a Minis or should propose to make
those difficulties vanish by private communications behind
the Speaker's chair or at th Treasury, 'asking the house at
the same time to assent to the principle of the measure.
The proper course would be to postpone the second readine,
until the difficulties could be settled. Nothing could bee
more inconvenient and unconstitutional th in the habit,
which was growing into a practice, of conducting public
affairs, not with reference to the opinion of the House of
Commons or the House of Lords, but by an understanding
to be arrived at between Ministers and piivate members
of Parliament under the influence of ()facial quarters. • If
the right hon. gentleman really believed that grave objec-
tions existed to the measure, and that they might be re-
moved by frank explanation of a private character, he was
justified in taking the course which he proposed ; but he
was not justified in now pressing the bill to a second read-
ing.

Lord PALMERSTON said, if he understood the matter
rightly, this was not exactly a bill of indemnity to the
Government. He believed the irregularity had been going
on for a considerable time, and was equally applicable to
other Governments. The difference which existed was
more in appearance than reality. The bill could not be
referred to a select committee until it had been read a
second time, and therefore, in order to attain the object
sought by hon. members, it was necessary that the motion
for the second reading should be agreed to. If no agree-
ment were come to between the Irish members and his
right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it would
then be as competent for any member to move the reference
of the bill to a select committee as it was at present.
Mr. S. FITZGERALD thought that there ought to be a
distinct understanding that if an agreement wero not come
to the bill should be referred to a seloot committee.

Mr. HORSMAN said that if the house now assented to
the second reading, and it turned out afterwards that, in
the conference which the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
invited, the matters about which there was a difference of
opiuion could not be adjusted, there was no doubt that the
Government would feel that it would be proper to refer
the bill to a select committee.

Mr. URQUHART withdrew his motion, and the bill
was then read a second time.

The Luiaatic Regulation Act Amendment Bill was read
a second time. The Marine Mutiny Bill was read a third
time and passed, as was also the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill.
DEAN FOREST, &c., BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill, the several
clauses of which were agreed to.

METROPOLITAN LOCAL MANAGEMENT.
Sir B. HALL postponed his motion for leave to intro-
duce a bill for the better local management of the metro-
polis until Monday next.
Some returns were ordered, and the house adjourned
shortly after eleven.

MR. SHIEL'S LEGAL AND POLITICAL ►SKETCHES.
Those who remember Mr. Shiel as he appeared in his
later days in the House of Commons will recognise, in
these volumes, much of the vehemence and fire for which
that eloquent orator was distinguished. They give
proof of the hold which his native country had over his
mind. We have sketches of the ornaments of the Irish
Bar at that day—Bushe, Saurin, Joy, Leslie, Foster,'
Lord Norbury, &c.; together with papers on the state of
Ireland, and the conduct of th 6 men who then wielded
her destinies. Altogether these volumes will constitute
an interesting monument of the memory of their author,
as well as a vivid picture of a state of society which is
fast passing away.—Morning Chronicle.
[ADVERTISEMENT.];—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills—
Exti aorditiars. Remedies for the Cure c,f Quinsy.—Mr
Knole, of Allogate, Durham, hat a severe attack of
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sago for several weeks. Many things were triad to alle-
viate his sufferings without success, until he used
Holloway's Ointment and Pills, which remedies effected
a perfect cure, and he has never since had any return
of the complaint; this wascommunicated by Mr.. Morton,
chemist, Durham, who states also that a friend of his
was afflicted with bad legs for a number of years, and
cured solely by these invaluable remedies. Sold by all
medicine venders, and at Holloway's Estsbliehments,
244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New York.
NOTTINGHAM, March B.—There has bee❑ very little,
if any, improvement in the lace trade during the week,
the GermEn and Dublin► orders having been very small.
The hosiery trade is a shade brisker, which may be at-
tributed to the fineness of the weather and the fall in
the spring markets for agricultural produce, particulaily-
meat and breadetuffs.