The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-03 00:00:00

PAGET.

Mr. DILLWYN called attention to a report that
Lord George Paget has received a good service pension
of 1001. a year, with the view of inquiring into the
truth of such report, and of ascertaining, if true, what
the special services have been for which such pension
has been awarded. (Hear, hear.) He did not doubt
the gallantry and merit of Lord George Paget, but he
believed he had not seen much active service. It was
true he was engaged in the brilliant affair of Balaklasa,
and no doubt had well and gallantly•discharged his duty
there ; but he (Mr. Dillwye) believed he, had not
seen active service since ; that be spent last winter in
this country, and was now, as be understood; at Con-
stantinople. He knew nothing personal of lord George
Paget, and therefore wished to say nothing of him, but
he thought it was due to the house and to the army,
that the house should know that pensions of this de-
scription were not awarded on account of birth or
patronage, but really on account of good service in ac-
tion.
Mr. PEEL said it was quite correct that Lord Geo.
Paget had been made the recipient of a good service
pension by Lerd Hardinge, who was alone responsible
for such pensions. Ho was a good deal surprised at the
animadversions which this pension had given rise to,
for the hon. gentleman ought to be aware the house
could not properly distinguish the merits, of individual
officers. The reason why Lord George Paget got this
pension was, that at the battle of Balaklava, where there
were ten cavalry regiments engaged, Lord George
Paget was the senior regimental colonel present, and led
his regiment and rallied them with the utmost gallantry
and therefore he teas judged a fit and proper recipient
for a good service pension.
Colonel LINDSAY said no man could deny that
those gallant officers who had done their duty in the
Crimea deserved every reward that a grateful country
could bestow. At the same time, he thought the coun-
try had not been sufficiently grateful in rewarding the
distinguished services of those officers who had served
in the Peninsular war, and he hoped the attention of
the military authorities would he directed to the subject.
After a few words from Sir W. GALWAY,
Lord PALMERSTON put to the house whether
this was a time to discuss such a question as this.
These rewards were intrusted to the discretion of the
Commander-in-Chief by virtue of his office ; and he
asked was it possible that the members of this house
could detetmine whether any particular officer was or
was not deserving of those rewards, and he believed such
discussions would have a most prejudicial effect on the
public service. (Hear, hear.)
Captain SCOBELL said as this matter had been
alluded to and commented on in the public papers, it
was better that the explanation now given should have
been given is this house.
Major REED believed the hon. gentleman the Under
Secretary at War (Mr. Peel) was incorrect in saying that
Lord George Paget was the senior colonel eresent at
Balaklava.
Inre.I.PEED said he bad said the senior regimental
pensions ought to he given to the oldest officers. (Hear.)
coll\soir
P. BARING expressed his opinion that those
Mr. WILLIAMS protested against the doctrine laid
down by the noble lord at the head of the Government,
that the House of Commons had no right to canvass
those questions. (Hear, hear.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he had not stated that—
he had only said it was not a.fit question for discussion.
Mr. A. PELLATT thought the present was a case of
great hardship, and if it was consistent with the rules of
the house he would move an address to her Majesty,
that men who had so much .right to receive a reward
from their country bad been overlooked, and entreating
her Majesty to take their case into her serious consi-
deration. He thought that the course pursued by the
Government in the present instance was without a pa-
rallel.
Colonel DUNNE thought that the present system of
promotion in the army was very defective, and ought to
be amended. As it at present existed men that were
made corporals would receive less than the common

A sum of 109,2001. was voted for the expense of the dis-
embodied militia to the 31st of March, 1856.
A sum. of 70,716/. was proposed for the expense of the
establishment of the Ordnance-office.
Mr. MONSELL rose to propose the vote for the Ord-
nance establishment, end to explain the changes that bad
taken place in the Ordnance-office. After dwelling upon
the evils of separate and divided control, under which he
said it was impossible to know who was responsible for
anything, he proceeded to state the changes ; the first of
which was that the discipline of the Artillery was placed
under the direct control of the Commander-in-Chief. The
effect of that was, that the road to the highest military
offices was opened to the Artillery, which had hitherto
THE WAR. been closed t) them in this country, but which the bril-
liant career of many French Artillery offiJers, from Na
On the vote of 3,000,000/. for the additional expense poleon to General Bosquet, showed they were so well qua-
of the war with Russia being put, lifted to fill. With regard to the offices placed under the
director
til.e.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said Secretary of State, he explained that in every subordinate
that this sum had been allowed for in the additional department which was conceined 'with military matters a
estimates that had been brought forward, and it only wintery man was placed at the head of it, and civilians
required that the sanction of the house should be given were only placed at the head of the civil departments. To
the inspector of fortifications had been added the duties of
in order to enable the Treasury to meet the demands
ecatordi
that might be made upon it. It did not follow, in beanrrearcatr sAtsetriltervnerfaolr.
thTehaerrme
ywearendtao
director
granting the vote, that the amount would be required, tavye-both would-be placed 'ripen the scientific committee,
After some short discussion, and would have a voice in all changes in the arms of both
The vote was agreed to. sex vices. Then there was a director-general of contracts,
Mr. PEEL then rose, pursuant to notice, to move a and another of stores. Each of these heads of departments
supplementary commissariat estimate for the service in would report from day to day to the Secretary of State.
the Crimea. The house bad already granted to the The manufacturing department had undergone little or
Government for this department a sum of 1,440,000/., no change, The great principle in all these changes was
and a further sum of 2,260,000/, was required to
to combine central control with individual responsi-
it • chne had been to
carry it out effectually. The right hon. gentle-
ad bilvany. tag The es ;buta heg co too recent
show its
had great
its nfidence in the benefical
man at some length entered into the details character of effects. He concluded by propobin the
of the course that had been adopted by the Government
in buying cattle and providing for the provisioning of vote.
Mr. STAFFORD complained of the long delay that had
the army, in the course of which he stated that lai take
n place in giving these explanations. It had been
depots had been, formed in the Crimea, by which the till period
postponeda of the session when it was impos-
greatest comforts had been afforded to our army there, Bible for this house to examine the plan or to pronounce
and by which they were insured for four days a week any opinion on its merits. Under these circumstances,
upon
he
fresh meat. Equal attention had been paid to the horses, must throw the whole responsibility of the changes
and a full amount of food had been secured to them. the Executive, and he could assure .mesahis.hon friend tohattnoe
tgreonotpl es mi
is
eaafrtte refpcaoyoiknigit
is
the
cam
p,
Thein right
upon M. Soyer for the effective service he had rendered new plan.
an eulogium one was more anxious than he was for the .s f h
t use was not
schoolingiwtlenes existing
concluded by moving the vote. made of the scientific resources of this country a
Mr. ENVART complained that sufficion
Mr. HENLEY deprecated the course that had been in various private establishments.
the director of the
pursued by the Government, and expressed his surprise stron.l urged that .. the
pursued G. TYLER es' . higher position than
naval armament should be placed in a
that at the last moment the Government should come as •di ated in the new scheme.
down and talk about depots being made that ought t 4) wCaptain L. "V ERNON commented with some severity
have been erected months ago. He thought the greatc_ t upon the now appointments made in the subordinate de-
neglect had taken place on, the part of the Government, partmenta of the Ordnance-dace, which he contended

sokller.
The subject then dropp ed , and the house resolved
itself into a committee
SUPPLY.

On the question that a sum cf 3,7111. shou'd be
granted for the Statute Law Commission, some short
discussion took place, and the vote was ultimately
agreed to.