The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-16 00:00:00

FIRE IN THE HOUE.

Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether Lord Sey
mour could give the House any information with regard
to the fire, or alarm of fire, in a Committee-room of

the House on Saturday?
Lord SEYNIOUR said he hari not vet received a re-
port upon the suoject, but he had heard it aroee from an
ecapo of gas.
POPULATION RETURNS.

Sir B. HALL said a return of the number of elector&

[n the dlfforent towns had been made out and delivered

this morning, which was inaccurate as to the numbers
returned for Finsbury and Marylebone; and he should
he glad to know it it was intended to correct these inac-
curacies?

Sir G. GREY was not aware that there was any, but
he would make inquiry into the matter.
Sir DE LACY EVANS said Westminster was re-
turned as containing a population of 120,000, whereas
it was 220,000.

Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON said a similar mistake
had Leen made in reference to the Tower Hamlets.
HARWICH ELECTION.

Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice that he should
to-morrow move that a new writ be isssued for the
borough of Harwich without previous notice.
THE MILITIA.

Lord J. RUSSELL then movel that the part of her
Majesty's Speech which related to the raising of the
militia be read. This having been done, the Noble Lord
moved that the House do resolve itself into a Com-
mittee for the purpose of taking into consideration the
laws relating to the militia.
Mr. HUME hoped the Noble Lord world state what
was to be done before going into Committee.
He saw no necessity for calling out the militia
on the contrary, he thought such a proceeding would
produce great evil and much confusion, as it would call
p:aceable parties from their homes, and thus be the
means of breaking up their businesses.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought it better to state what
he intended to be done when they got into Committee,
as the House would then have the opportunity of asking
questions upon the details.
Mr. REYNOLDS wished to know if the proposed
measure was to apply to Ireland.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he world state in
Committee.
The House then went into Committee, when
Lord JOHN RUSSELL again rose and said, in 1848
he made a statement to the House with respect to the
defences of the country, and in the course of that
statement he said he thought it would be desirable to
form a foundation for a permanent reserve force in the
country, to meet the wants of the active suvice in case
of attack. Unfortunately the proposition for a
militia force aid not meet with any very gene-
ral approbation, and it was ultimately withdrawn.—
(Hear.) He merely recalled the recollection of the
House to the circumstance to prove that in the opiniun
of the Government it was then, as indeed it was now, wise
to make some additional provision for the defence of the
country.—(Hear, hear.) At that time King Louis
Phlilipe was on the throne of France, and there was no
sign whatever of any approaching danger; nor,
indeei, was there any now, but it was never-
theless still necessary to make some addi-
tional provision for the peace of the country,
without in any way intending to throw any doubt upon
the assurance of her Majesty that we were at peace,
and hoped to remain so, with all the world.—
(Hear, hear.) But at the same time it never could be
assumed that a country in a position like that of this
country could be secure from the danger of war for
ever. We might for instance have to repel some ag-
gression on the part of some powerful enemy, or we
might have some dispute with respect to the
right of some of her Majesty's subj,cts abroad. In the
third place, we were bound by treaty with respect to
many countries in Europe to defend them in cases of
attack.
An Hox. SlEnsinu asked what countries ?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL raid we were bound by
treaties; for instance, to protect the Queen of Portugal
end other similar states en the continent. In the
fourth place for more than a century we had
been closely connected and deeply interested
:a the maintenance of the Continental system of Europe,
and under that system we might be called upon to resist
any aggrandinment or increase of power on the
part of any state that was a party to that
system, or to maintain our moral strength while
with foreign nations upon the subject of
caonryres
suP;pnodigsnedor actual increase of territory in that
way.—‘ -H I
(ear, hear.) It was necessary to be prepared
for such emergencies as those, but unfortunately
there was another question which bad arisen
of late years to show the necessity for a
reserved militia force, and which had been so much
made a topic for discussion in books, in pamphlets, in
reviews, and in newspapers on both this and
the other side of the Channel that it
Was quite unnecessary for bins to more than briefly
allude to it.—(Cheers.) Ile referred to the fact that
since the invention of the steam - navigation
this country could no longer be considered
2° safe from aggression as it was formerly, when
an invasion was rendered almost impossible by the ob-
stacles which nature had thrown in the way.—(Hear.)
hose obstacles, or at least many of them,
had however, been in a great measure re-
moved by the development of steam navigation
and there wall
effecting a land!'" no longer the same difficulty of
thought necessary —(Hear, hearingNupon our coast as existed formerly.
Now under these 'circumstances it was
more so, as itYwta° reorganise the militia, the
ect which country did not nese a notorious fact that this
(Rear, hear.) for its protection, as duipd 8° large a military force
hence this was a subj
of continental affairs called foriethh its neighbours, and
in the piculiar state
)iramediate attention
of the Legislature.—
pgeleet to
ebservation at present,
few words, and only a few words, with
navawlouflodrcessayhae
wiltlleregard to our
Friend the First Lord
should
nett forces.fim
Honourable
n oWu irtshb eeb
believing hat knits would be much better for
his Right
ct on a futureje o„mion._
(Hear,
respect to our minter
of the Admiralty to disclose what ssas to be done with
that branch of the sub.
hear.) Now, withforce, he
of stating that it was
proposed number of our regular
proposed to increase
by 1,000 men. troops
and the artillery
would take the opportunity
by 4,ooo,make h These two ,
an had al-
numbers together woufor the purpose of carrying 0
ready been drafted off .
ld not more t
the
the
war.—(Hear,
bCaodmtmearbndeder-tihne-iCr hear.) With regarnd
n he stated that the
r of the Ordnance
to the second question,
improved arms and
were well known
muskets which had been introduced, andte have than those used formerly
a much longer range with these
and steps would be taken to furnish the army
haietfteanntidonthteo Master
te
improved arms when they were found to be successful.
The Noble Lord then proceeded to state the naturelu ofa_
his Bill for amending the laws relating to the 9 1
inilitis. H' detailed the objects and provisions of the
previous Acts on the subject, and said the militia which
he now proposed would be of a very different de-
scription. He Proposed in the first piece to mvke
ceauge with reaard to Lue offiers. fig, propnat:d
two-thirds should be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant,
and one field officer and one-third of the captains by the
Crown. The Lord Lieutenant would not be re-
stricted as to the qualification of the officers---

he would not be required to appoint only those
who possessed property in the county. There would
also be an alteration with regard to the men—formerly
all were liable tee be balloted between the ages of 18
and 30. Now he thought if a shorter number of
years was fixed as the lfmit, there would be a great
diminution in the cost of the militia, as well as a great
relief to the population. He, therefore, proposed that
for the first year the ages between which persons should
be subject to ballot should between twenty and twenty-
three. In future years the limit would be from twenty
to twenty-one years of age. The first limit
would give about 80,000 men, and in the second, 30,000.
The balloting would be conducted upon the following
principles:—one-fifth of those ballotted would be
taken, and ten per cent. of those remain-
ing would be left as a reserve to meet
all cases in which excuses were made or disqua-
lifications proved. There would be the same examinei ion
and the same right of appeal as formerly. Provisions
had been introduced to enable persons between 20 and
30 to volunteer for the local militia ; they would have to
serve one year less than the local militia. The
service of the local militia would be four years,
and by an order in council they might be required
to serve six months longer. The Crown, on an address
from both Houses, might require an additional six
months, making altogether twelve months additional
service when the country was menaced with danger.
Next came the question as to how the men were to be
trained. The militia would be formed into battalions
and they would have to ataemble for fourteen and
twenty-eight days (not necessarily consecutive) for the
first year, and fourteen days for all subsequent years.
They would have to undergo three hours training and
drilling, which would be counted half a day.
They would have the pay and allowance of
regular soldiers, and be subject to the Mutiny Act.
In the present year not more than 30,000 men would be
secured, and the expenses altogether would be under
200,000/., but a larger sum would be taken in order to meet
contingencies. Places would be exempted where there
wai a large police force drilled and armed, and
where volunteer corps had been formed.—(Hear, hear.)
In answer to a question from Sir T. PAKINGTON,
Lore JOHN RUSSELL said that the militia of each
country would not be moved from its own country ex-
cept by its own consent, or in case of a foreign invasion.
Mr. HUME had heard the statement of the Noble
Lord with great regret. He saw no reason for any
augmentation of the military force, and if there was
to be any increase, he thought it would be more
advantageous to increase the regular army.—(Hear.)
He thought it would be morally and physically injurious
to the people, dragging them from their home and em-
ployment and endgenderiag in them military habits and
ideal. The idea was that we were to have a militia in order
that the regular troops might be ready to be sent out of
the country. But where were they to be sent to? Did
any one fancy that a British soldier would ever again
be seen on the Continent as an aggressor.
Certainly not, and he thought that this was the
first step of a return to that system which had plunged
the country into an enormous deb:. He should certainly
oppose the proposition to every extent in his power, and
he would give them notice that at a future stage he
should move that every man called eut for the militia
should ever af:er be entitled to the suffrage.
Colonel THOMPSON could not held thinking that
the country woula be too glad to see the Government
doing anything to be ready, not for what sensible and
intelligent men should do, but for the attempts of hot-
headed and rash men.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

FR AN CE.
A portion of the property belonging to the
heirs of the late King Louis Philippe was put up
to sale on Saturday in the Civil Tribunal of
First Instance of the department of the Seine,
wi4la all the formalities required by the law. The
property was composed of three lots, namely,
what is known as the Pavillon de Wurtem-
berg and its dependencies ; a house, situate at Neuilly,
end an orchard appertaining to the great park of
Neuilly. The first was sold for 95,000 F., exclusive
of charges ; the second, 9,0001. ; and the third,
7,050 f., The sale attracted a considerable
number of persons, no doubt in consequence
of the decree of confiscation of the 231 of
January. It may be right, however, to observe, that
the sale was without reference, and may be said, not-
withstanding that decree ; and the fact of its not
having been arrested by the law officers of the Govern-
ment in consequence of that decree has appeared strange,
and in fact inexplicable to the friends of the Princes of
the Orleans family. The sale was decided on before
the decrees in question, indeed, in virtue of an order
of the T. ihunal of First Instance of this department,
hearing date the 12th of April, 1851, the 23i of
July of the same year, and the 10th of January,
1852, and at the request of the heirs of Louis
Philippe ; and it would appear as if the execution of
that order took place in order to try whether the
decree of confiscation would be attempted to be
carried out by the Government. No opposition, how-
ever appered, though the sale had been previously
made known, and the Procureur of the Republic
was present. It is not, however, believed by the
friends of the Orleans family that the absence of
interference on the part of the Government is any
indication that the wrong committed by that decree
is intended to be remedied by its repeal; but they
declare they believe themselves unable to explain
the fact of nothing having been done or said to put a
stop to the proceeding. The orders for carrying the
decree into execution have not yet been transmitted
by the proper officer to the party charged with the
management of the property.