The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-16 00:00:00

THE RESERVE FORCE.

The Earl of LUCAN moved for a return of the strength
of the reserve force. The noble earl referred to the discus-
sion which had taken place a few evenings ago on the sub-
ject, and said it was of the greatest importance that the
matter should not be lost sight of. In the year 1854,
owing to the Crimean war, about 33,000 recruits entered
the army, and, according to the terms of enlistment, a
very large number of these men would be entitled to their
discharge. He had heard it said, and he believed there
was founeation for the statement, that upwards of 10,000
men intended to take their discharge, and not, as had been
stated, that 10,000 men were merely entitled to their dis-
charge. Now that he thought a very serious state of things.
Again, in the year 1855, there were 29,000 men entered,
mad next year between 7,000 and 8,000 men would be
entitled to their discharge, and this would go on year after
year until things were brought to a very alarming point.
The army of the country amounted to over 210,000 men,
but then a very large portion of that force was in India, and
the casualties of course would be very great. He must
confess that he had heard with alarm the Secretary for
War state that the Government did not intend to take any
steps in the matter. It was said there was to be a lowering of
the standard, but he thought that would be a very unwise
proceeding, because a man of 51t. Sin. had not the strength
and muscular power of a man sft. 6in. Then, with respect
to the army of reserve, in his opinion the whole thing
had been a failure, and the best thing the Government
could do was to break it up altogether, and to get
the Akers to join the Militia. The Limited Enlistment
Bill had been productive of nothing but bad results, and
the only thing it had done up to the present was to drive
men out of the army in order to save the pension which
the Government had after all to pay in the shape of
extra expense incurred in inducing men to serve for an in-
creased term. The act was looked upon as one of unadul-
terated mischief without ono single redeeming poist to re-
commend it. Whatever might have been the object in view
of those who framed that act it was not in consonance with the
opinion of the late Duke of Wellington, who always laid it
down as a principle to keep the old soldier in the army as
long as he choose to serve, and certainly not to drive him
from the service before he was 40 years old.
Earl DE GREY said, from the best information he had
been enabled to receive from the Horse Guards, 10,000 men
would be entitled to their discharge, but only about 4,000
men, it was estimated, would leave the service during the
present, year. The question; therefore, they would have
to consider was how to supply the loss of that
4,000 men. What he had done was to hold out extra in-
ducements to old soldiers to re-enlist, and the Government
were not at all disposed to avoid tho effects of the Act of
1817, the Government were quite ready to meet and accept
its consequences. He did not think the act of 1817 was a
failure.

Lord DALHOUSIE, as a member of the Government of
1847, by whom the present Enlistment Act was passed,
stated the reasons when it was proposed. At the time it
was introduced the old term of service had become un-
popular among the classes from which recruits were drawn.
The enlistment was, in fact, for life, and some change in
the system had become necessary. The measure had the
assent of the Duke of Wellington, who, having satisfied
himself that it would not have the effect of inducing old
soldiers to leave the service, both spoke and voted in favour
of the enlistment for 10 years. Private employments now
competed with the Government for men, and Ireland no
longer furnished such number of recruits as in years past,
If they reverted to the old system or greatly extended the
present term of service, he was convinced they would com-
mit a grave error.
The returns were then ordered.
The Settled Estates Act Amendment Bill was read a
read time.
Their lordships then adjourned,

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER. ,

Mr. FXYWICK. took the oaths and his seat on his elec-
tion for the borough of Lancaster.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Hamilton and Strathaven and Caledonian Railway
Companies Bill, and the Llanidloes and Newton Railway
Bill were read a third tilLe and passed.

THE BOROUGH OF BELFAST.

Sir H. CAIRNS moved that the copy of the report of
the commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the
affairs of the borough of Belfast, with the minutes of the
evidence be referred to the committee on the Belfast Im-
provement (No. 2) Bill.
Mr. MAGUIRE objected to any such reference. He
said that for some time the corporation of Belfast had been
charged with a malversation of the funds entrusted to
their care, not for the purpose of peculation, but
to exclude Liberals from the corporation and from
the representation of the borough. They now wanted to
obtain indemnity from their responsibility to the Court of
Chancery in their administrative character, but their claims
had been twice rejected by Pailiament. Using the influ-
ence they possessed with the then Government, they ob-
tained a commission to inquire into the circumstances con-
nected with flask position, but it was of a limited
character.

Sir H. CAIRNS, in support of his motion, contended
that the hon. and learned member (Mr. Maguire) was not
acquainted with all the facts of the case.
Mr. BUTT supported the amendment, and Colonel W,
rATTEN the original motion, which was agreed to.