The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-23 00:00:00

paid to the crews of her Majesty's ships for the capture of
slaves.

JOINT STOCK BANK.

iLord SANDON begged to ask the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether fie in-
tended to renew the Bill passed last year, which enabled
Joint Stock Banks to sue their partners ; and whether it
was the intention of the Government to bring in any mea-
sures on the subject of Joint Stock Banks generally.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-QUER-. stated
that soon after Easter he should introduce a measure on
the subject of Joint Stock Banks, and he would take that
opportunity of stating that it was his intention to move for
leave to bring in a Bill to suspend laws of usury. The
temporary measure that had been passed on the subject
would expire in the present Session, and he bad reason to
b. lieve that a permanent measure on the subject would be
d esirable.—( Hear, hear.)
RAILWAYS (IRELAND).
Mr. SHAW begged to ask the Noble Lord, the Secre-
t•ary for Ireland, whether her Majesty's Government in-
t.ended to take any steps for the purpose of promoting
private enterprize in railways in Ireland; and when the
resolutions which bad been submitted to the House by the
Noble Lord would be again brought forward?
Lord MORPETH stated, in answer to the Right Hon.
Gentleman, that the further proceedings upon the resolu-
tions already adopted, would be taken on the 22d April._

PROBABLE itESIGNATION OF MINIS'fERS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL—Sir, I rise for the purpose
of postponing some of the orders of the day. The
first of those orders is the Municipal Corporations
(Ireland) Bill ; and with respect to that measure
I. propose to the House that they should gointo Committee
upon it, on Monday the 15th of April. Sir, in moving
this postponement, I take the opportunity of stating
to the House, that it is my intention in the very first
week after the recess—on one of the first days after
the holidays, to ask the opinion of the House with re-
spect to the Government of Ireland of late years.
--(Great cheering.) Sir, it appears by the minutes
of the proceedings of the House of Lords, that that House
at an early hour this morning, appointed a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into the state of Ireland since 1835, in
respect of the crimes and outrages which had rendered
life and property insecure in that country. Sir,
without wishing to enter into the circumstances
as to the propriety of appointing that Committee,
I think it is obvious that the appointment of such
a Committee, fixing the year 1835 as the time of crime
and outrage, must give a general belief throughout the
emyire, and more especially in that part of the
United Kingdom which it affects, that it is intended
to transfer the Executive Government of Ireland to a Se-
-I•.!ct Committee of one House of Parliament, and more
especially intended to call in question the exercise of one
of the highest prero4atives of the Crown, that of
mercy, by calling witnesses before the Select Com-
/ mittee. Ido not say that there may not be circumstances
which may justify such a course—l do not say at this nio-
I ment whether there are or are not—l will not enter

into the question now whether the House of Lords has or

has not done • right.—( Hear, hear.) It doubtless heard
arguments before it adopted the course which it has done;
but this I must say, that no person can proceed to carry
on the Government as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
without being assured whether it is the intention
of the House of Commons that those principles which
have governed the administration of Ireland since
1835 should be adhered to, or whether they should
be now abandoned.—(Great cheering.) In conformity
with the declaration which Lord Melbourne has made at
various times—but in conformity, more particularly,
with one special declaration of that Noble Lord, that
be held office only al ,long as he retained the confi-
dence of the House of Commons—( Hear, and cheers)—
I think it incumbent upon me, nut leaving it to any other
Hon. Member not connected with the Government, to
bring this question to an issue—( Great cheering)—whether
this House adheres to the principle upon which the admi-
nistration of the Government of Ireland has been conducted.

I am perfectly aware that with respect to Legislativemea.

sures, various causes have interfered to prevent their being
carried. The measures we ourselves have thought it ad-
visable to pass, I candidly admit we have not been able
to carry through Parliament ; but this we have been
able to do with the confidence of one House—(Hear,
hear, hear)—and the forbearance of the other, we have
bean enabled to carry on the Administration of Ireland in a
manner that has conduced to the peace and prosperity of
that part the Empire.—(Cheers.) On these grounds we
think it necessary to ask of the House of Commons whe-
ther it is disposed to approve of my Noble Friend,
Lord Fortescue, continuing to adopt the measures
which have hitherto been adopted. Ile will continue to
execute the laws in the manner in which the Executive
has hitherto been carried on, if the House is pleased to
agree to those measures ; but if, on the other hand, the
House does not approve of this plan but is
willing that it should be abandoned, and other
principles be adopted, then there is nothing left but
to relinquish into other hands the Government of the
country.—( Vociferous Cheering).
ELECTION PETITIONS BILL.
_ _ _

to the advantages held out by the warrant,
and the estimate for the present year was increased
to 6,396/. It appeared to him that the' working
of the warrant had been extremely satisfactory. Notwith-
standing the strong reason which existed to induce soldiers
enlisted under the warrant previous to 1833, not to
refer their claims to the advantages held out by this
warrant, he was happy to say the number of soldiers who had
done so, had gone on progressively increasing. The first year
after the warrant was established the number was 1,944,
last the year the number was 2,490„,and in the present
year the number had been increased by 284. The number of
soldiers who had made good their claim to the advantages
held out by the warrant was in the highest degree
satisfactory, and he trusted it would be found to be
the most powerful means of assisting commanding
officers in maintaining discipline in the army without
having recourse to punishment. There was also an in-
crease in the estimates for beer money of 8,6501. ; there
was also an increase with respect to the cavalry provisions,
arising from the increased amount of force necessary to
be sent abroad ; there was also an increased charge of
5,0001. on account of the activity carried on in the recruit-
ing service. The additional recruits amounted to 2,500
men, which would make an addition under this head of
15,0001., but this would be met by a smaller grant for
horses, making a saving of 13,1001., so that the addi-
tional increase under this division would amount to
only 1,9001. The House would find two new charges
introduced for the first time into- the army
estimates this year. The first item was for the sum of
4,5001. for warm clothing for the recruits in Canada.—
( Hear, hear.) It had been brought to his notice some
time ago, that one of the principal causes of the desertion
which took place in Canada was, that at the beginning of
the winter season the soldier was compelled to provide him-
self with articles of warm clothing, such as fur caps,
gloves, and moccasins—the Consequence of which was
that he got into debt, was subjected to continual stoppages,
and became disgusted with the service. He directed his
attention to the subject, and he proposed as a regulation,
that all soldiers in Canada, at the commencement of the
first winter should receive a sum of 11. 10s. to
provide himself with warm clothing,, and that every
subsequent year he should receive 11. for the
same purpose ; this regulation had received the
sanction of the Board of General Officers, and he believed
that it would prove satisfactory. As it had been impos•
sible to include this in the Estimates of last year, and as
the regulation, of course, had come into operation at the
commencement of the present winter, it had been found
requisite to have recourse to the Army Extraordinaries.
It was natural to expect that the expense would be greater
the first year, than in any subsequent one ; they had recourse
to the Army Extraordinaries for the sum of 18,0001., and
the 4,500/. which appeared in the Estimates this year, was
only required to keep up the stock. The other new item
was an item of 2 0001, which he proposed as a grant for
the purpose of forming Libraries at the principal Barrack
Stations in this country and the colonies. ( Hear,
hear, hear ) This was a part of the general
policy which had been urged on the Government
and the House, the object of which was the adoption of
measures which should tend to diminish crime, and do
away with the necessity for corporal punishment. He be-
lieved that one of the principal causes of crime in the sol-
diers, more particularly in hot climates, was the difficulty
they found in filling up their leisure hours, which drove
them to intemperance. He had found that in the East
India Company's service the establishment of libraries
had been attended with the best effects. This plan had
obtained the consent and approbation of the Commander-
in-Chief and the Master-General of the Ordnance. He
proposed that a room should be set a?art in each of the
principal barracks, and fitted up as a library, be well
warmed and lit, that the soldiers should have access to the
books on the. payment of a nominal sum, which he the uglat
would make the soldier value the principle more highly--
the libraries at each branch station would be different, so
as to afford variety, and he had made arrangements with
publishers for the supply of these books at a reasonable rate.
In furtherance of the great object of diminishing, as far as
possible, the necessity of having recourse to corporal
punishments, there was a vote in the Estimates of 10,000/.
to carry into effect the plan recommended by an Inspector
of Prisons—the building of separate cells attached to some
of the principal barracks ; and he ( Lord Howick) hoped
that before long there would not be a barrack in Great
Britain or the Colonies without such cells. The total in-
crease in the Land Forces' vote was 168,4101. ; the increase
in the Staff was 2,7931., arising partly from the increase in
the Medical Staff. Deducting the decrease in the non-
effective from the increase in the effective departments, the
increase was 140,852/. ; the actual increase, however, was
130,8521. The Noble Lord conclued by moving a vote of
3,421,383/. for the Land Forces.

Sir H. H A RDINGE said nothing had fallen from the
Noble Lord to deter him from expressing his conviction
that the present estimates were quite inadequate. There
was, in fact, no increase in the estimates. The
regiments were only recruited up to their full establish-
ments. He (Sir H. Hardinge) had formerly, when in office,
laid down the principle, that when the exigencies of the
public service allowed of a deduction in the military force,
that deduction should be made by suspending the recruit-
ing. In 1830 that suspension took place ; in 1831, 1832,
and 1833,
. the estimate was raised to the proper establish-
ment. In 1834, the recruiting was suspended. In 1837
the Canadian insurrection broke out, and the military force
was then 8,000 men below the regular peace establish-
ment ; and in 1838 the Noble Lord only proposed an ad-
dition of about 2,000 men, making the number below the
establishment between 6,000 and 7,000 men. Now,
the Noble Lord merely raised each regiment up to its re-
gular establishment, which was, in his (Sir H. liardinge's)
judgment, totally inadequate. There were 103 battalions
of the line, of 740 men each, making 76,000. The Foot
Guards were 4,600 ; the cavalry, 9.000 ; colonial (we be-
lieve), 7,000 ; total, 96,000. In India there were
twenty battalions, making 14,800 ; New South Wales,
four battalions, 2,960. In Canada and in North
America, 18 battalions, 10,600 ; other countries, 20,400 :
in all, 48,960 rank and file. On their passage, there was
generally, taking the average, 1,500 men. The number
abroad was 50,000; at home, 26,000 troops of the line—
two men abroad for one at home. But deducting casual-
ties, there could not be reckoned more than 17,000 effec-
tive men at home. A regiment would be twenty years
abroad, come home for two or three years, and
then go on foreign service again for ten years ; thus, out
of thirty-three years service, thirty would be passed under
a tropical sun.—( Hear, hear.) Including cavalry and the
Foot Guards, there were not above 36,000 men at home;
when in Earl Grey's time there were 45,000; showing a
decrease of about 10,000 men.—( Hear, bear.) When be
(Sir H. Hardinge) recollected the illegal and dangerous
meetings which were taking place in the country, and
the number of ill-disposed persons who were exciting
the people to rebellion, he could not but think the present
military forces quite inadequate.--( Hear, hear, hear.)
The state of India imperatively called on Parliament to
make some addition to our force. He would not say whe-
there the force in India was sufficient or not, but it was a
great deal less than it had been on ally previous occasion,
and the affairs of India were now in a more critical state
than they were on the occasion of the Burmese war.—
( Hear, hear.) He thought, looking to the feeling of dis-
satisfaction throughout the Bengal Presidencies, seeing the
discontent within the districts of India, and the hostilities
openly declared on almost every part of our frontier, that
it did behove the House to look to the state of preparation
in which India was. In 1837 there were 110,000 men
less in India than there were in 1826, and he considered
that he should not have done his duty, seeing the diffi-
culties that were likely to arise, if he had not brought that
reduction prominently before the attention of the House.
He would now beg the attention of the Noble Lord to the
state of Canada.—(Hear.) The Noble Lord had said
that he was unable to give the Estimates fur the ensuing
year of the expense of the force in Canada; but perhaps
the Noble Lord was aware that the expense incurred last
year was somewhat about half a million.—(Hear, hear,
and a laugh.) He was aware of the difficulty of
giving Estimates for foreign expenses not incurred, but
still some slight idea could be formed from expenses in-
curred in previous years, while Lord Durham in his
dispatch stated that the expense of keeping up the irregu-
lar force in Canada was one-third greater than the expense
of the regular regiments. In referring to the state of
Canada, he must say that he entirely agreed in that part
of her Majesty's speech in which her Majesty expressed
her firm reliance that both Houses of Parliament would do
all in their power to maintain her authority. Not only
ought they to maintain the authority of the Crown,
but they ought to show their British fellow-subjects in
that country that they had a high opinion of their loyalty
and gallantry, that they approved of the manner in which
they had shown their attachment to the mother-country,
and that they would do all in their power to relieve them
from their sufferings. The sooner her Majesty's Govern-
ment placed the North American Provinces in a state of
safety and security the more honourable would it be to
the character of the Crown, and the more conducive to
the interests of the country. But the number of men in
the two Canadas was not more than it ought to be ; and
when he looked to the state of New Brunswick he felt
they were not in such a state of preparation as was ne-
cessary. What was the state of New Brunswick at the
time Sir John Harvey wrote the letter informing the Go-
vernor of Maine, that he ( Sir J. Harvey) had commands
to repel aggression by force, unless the Governor removed
his troops? From what be (Sir H. Hardinge) knew of
SirJ. Harvey, both as an officer and a private individual,
he was confident that he would never have made that
statement unless be had received instructions from her
Majesty's Government to that effect. Now let them look
to %%hat was the state of the two contending powers on that
frontier. The State of Maine was abeet as large as the
half of Ireland, and he believed from the reports that had
been received that the legislature of Maine had voted
800,000 dollars, about 170,0001. sterling, in order to equip
10,000 militia, to go and defend the disputed territory.
One would have imagined that before Sir John Harvey
wrote that letter, according to his instructions, be would
have had a force that would have enabled him to carry out
those commands. Every one would have imagined that
before her Majesty's Government thought of issuing such
tenor odersrto
twelveSi battalionsrJohnHarveyt.
But
thathewhwar
wldoubladvetheeigHhotuoser
suppose was the force that he had at his command?
Sir John Harvey had one weak battalion in Nova Scotia.
—( Hear, hear.) He had not 350 bayonets at his com-
mand in February, when that letter was written. There
appealed to have been on the part of the Government a
r
lv(aelinr yte
agor:Efiehacteeadrre. ri)nileeslutficohhneaohfapdiptiouabrbdllieee d r
si:unittdy
was
la
es
g etrhaavediing the Gal
dnuotysotafte_
Go-
vernment to give him the power of inforcing them.—..
( Hear, hear.) Bat it was said we were to have an acces-
sion of force in North America. Where did they suppose
the two battalions were to come from ? They were to come
in the depth of winter from the West Indies. One had come
from Barbadoes, and the men were in such a statetchcaetptiatbwiaes.
impossible for them to perform their duties.—(Hear,
hear.) The other battalion was to come from Jamaica.
But what was the state of the West India Islands them-
selves Instead of Jamaica sending away a bat-
talion, an additional one would have been very acceptable.
The battalion from Jamaica had been ready to embark for
a considerable time, and why was it 't°P'tcd ? The reason
was, that the whole of her Majesty's squadron belonging
, to the North American station, with the exception of one

Sir ROBERT PEEL was understood to ask the Noble
Lord when the Election Petitions Bill could be read a
second time.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN suggested it should not be read a
second time till after the Easter holidays.
Mr. O'CONNELL said the principles contained in
this Bill were so objectionable that be would divide against
the second readinc, if he divided alone.

Sir R. PEEL proposed to take the second reading be-
fore Easter, and on the motion that the Speaker do leave
the chair, Hon. Members would have an opportunity of
expressing their opinions.
ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS- SUS-
PENSION BILL.

Lord J. RUSSELL moved the second reading of this
Bill.

After a few words from Mr. AG LIONBY,
The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed on Monday next.
TRADE WITH THE CIRCASSIANS.
Mr. MACLEAN wished to ask the Noble Lord the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether this country had
the liberty of trading with the Circassians, or whether by
the 6th article of the Treaty of Adrianople, the Circas-
sians had been ceded to Russia; and whether under the
dominion of Russia British merchants were entitled to traffic
with them as an independent nation.
Lord PALMERSTON understood the question really
to be, did the treaty with the Porte apply to Circassia ?
It did not. It applied to all territories and persons under
the dominion of the Porte. He did not apprehend that the
Porte claimed the Circassians as any part of its subjects.
Mr. MACLEAN then gave notice, that as our com-
mercial relations with that coast were so uncertain, he
would on an early day after Easter bring the subject
before the House.

The House then resolved itself into a Committe of Sup-
ply, and
Lord HOWICK rose for the purpose of bringing for-
ward the Army Estimates, but in consequence of the noise
occasioned by Members leaving the House, and the low
tone in which the Noble Lord spoke, we were not enabled
to hear what he said for some minutes. We understood him
to say that the House would be called upon to provide
for a considerable increase in the force. In consequence
of the renewed disturbances that took place in Canada, it
was found necessary that all the regiments of infantry
which had been reduced, and all those regiments serving in
North America should be raised to complete establishments.
insteadot
army;wt would
accordingly,
of
moving the Committee of last year, he had stated that
it
regimentse r d inecessarynn
w effectivemake further alteration in the
d,e d
iutc t iwn ga s theall amountallowed
to
of
stand as it was. In 1837 and 1838 a deduction
was made of 181,000 of non-effective men. In the esti-
mate of last year this charge had been reduced to 100,000,
but in conquence of the renewed disturbances in
Canada, it was deemed expedient that all regiments'
of Infantry should be raised to complete establishment, that
had caused an augmentation of the force of 5,648. He
had also to inform the House that, comparing the present
force with its amount two years ago there was a further
addition. In consequence of the practice of recruiting
regiments abroad, the army had been kept below its
original number, and it was found desirous that a larger
force should be obtained for the purpose of meeting that
difficulty; it was thought desirable that recruiting should
go on, not only in consequence of the vacancies that
had occurred, but in consequence of the vacancies that
might take place. Accordingly, the Commander in
Chief was directed to recruit for 1,500 men in anticipation;
the result was, that the increase last year in cavalry and
in recruits was 5,648. The total increase in the army
was 9,411. The Right Hon. Gentleman had asked him
a few nights ago, whether the estimates now proposed
would cover the whole increase in the army, it was the
intention of the Government to make. In answer, he
had to inform him that the estimates did provide' for the
force which, at the time they were prepared, the Go-
vernment conceived necessary. Since the estimates
had been prepared, however, it had been found expedient
to make further augmentation of the force in India,
but that would not be an ;ncrease of the charge
on this country, and therefore it did not require to be
provided for by a supplemental estimate. It would also
be necessary for him hereafter to propose a supplemental
estimate to provide for the expenses incurred in keeping up a
very considerable irregular force in Canada, that it had been
found necessary to raise in those colonies, but the materials
forming an estimate of the costs, not having been
yet received in this country, it was not in his ( Lord
Howick's) power at that moment to state what the probable
amount of the Army Estimates would be beyond those
he had hitherto stated. He was not aware that a
further increase in the army would be required. He
need not, however, tell the Right Honourable Gentlemen,
that in making this statement, he spoke only of the present
time and the present circumstances. It was impossible fur
any Gentleman or any Secretary at War, to state that it
would not be necessary in the course of a short time,
to make further alterations. All he could say was, that he
was not aware of any necessity for it at the present moment.
There was an increase of 5,600 men, as compared with last
year, and as compared with the year before of abote. 9,400.
Upon the remaining heads of estimates he had very few
observations to offer, but there were a feud which he would
shortly mention. The first was good conduct pay, which last
year amounted to 4,7451. Since that period a considerably
greater number of men had established their claims

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, MA.RCEI 23, 1539

or two small vessels, had gone to Vera Cruz —(Hear, I
hear.) It appeared to him necessary that the force should •
be increased. If the pressure was only temporary, he
would allow it to remain rather than make any unneces-
sary ;augmentation, but it the pressure was likely to be
permanent, it was the duty of the Government to remedy
the evil. There was no instance of an army which did so
much hard se: vice as the t nglish artily, and when Gen-
tlemen considered that the army and navy had conquered
and maintained for this country about one-tenth of the
whole globe, and 150,000,000 of subjects, they were
bound to place it on an efficient footing.—( (Tear, bear.)
Lord H 0 WICK said the Right Hon. Baronet had
made some statements which deserved the consideration
of the House. He had adverted to the pressure on the
infantry of the line. The question was, what was the
actual amount of that pressure ? It was not greater
than in former years. In 1820 there were at home
26,650 men, and in India and the colonies 41,770
' the proportion being 61 per cent. abroad, and 39
at home. In 1823 the proportion was 63 per
cent. abroad, and 37 at home, the number of
1 men in India, and the colonies being 37,700, and at home
23,000. In 1830 there were 41,440 men in the Indies
and the colonies, and 28,140 in this country, being 60
per cent. abroad and 40 at home. In the present year
the number abroad would be 47,000, and at home
29,137, so that the proportion this year was precisely
the same to a fraction as in 1830. This showed that there
was no such great pressure of service on the infantry of
the line as the Gallant Officer wished the House to ima-
gine—in fact, the pressure was not greater than when the
Gallant Officer himself was Secretary at War.—( Hear.)
With respect to Canada, the Gallant Officer said that the
' free there was exceedingly insufficient, and that
Government was liable to great blame. The whole
amount of the regular force which, at the close of the
last yew was either in North America or ordered there
exceeded 13,000 rank and file, which was a considerable
regular army to have in addition to the irregular force.
'I his force was thought to be so amply sufficient pre-
vious to the breaking out of the rebellion that it
was in contemplation to disband the irregular force.
When the insurrection broke out, it was true that a consi •
derable irregular force was called out ; but how could it be
otherwise? How could such a frontier, exceeding 1,500
miles in extent, be kept in safety by a regular force. There
was a militia force of 38,000 to protect it, and how could
such a force be made up by the regular army. It was
stated by the Hon. and Gallant Officer, upon the autho-
rity of Lord Durham's Report, that the militia force was
more expensive than regular troops ; but it was
to be remembered that a large expense must be
incurred before they could embody so large a
number of regular troops ; a great expence must be in-
curred in carrying them across the Atlantic, nor could
they be got rid of. when the necessity for their services
ceased. Sir John Colborne, by the improved situation of

the frontier, had been enabled to put two battalions upon
what was called the second iry footing—viz., they were
called out one day in the week for training, and they were
paid only for that day, so that a thoroughly efficient force
was kept up at a little expense. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man had alluded to New Brunswick, and he complained
of our having a very inadequate force in that colony ; but
in calculating the force of the statement made, he forgot
that it was wholly composed of militia; and, at the same
time, in calculating the ford in New Brunswick, it totally
excluded the militia in that province, which he was assured
was in a most efficient state. He did not think it would be
either expedient or proper for him to state the amount of
force which we could command in New Brunswick or Ha-
lifax. The Hon. and Gallant Officer had been exceed-
ingly severe, because, as he stated, the troops had ar-
rived in the depth of winter. With regard to the 36th
regiment, it could not be said that they had arrived in the
d,ptii of winter, because the ship which carried them to
the colony actually arrived in this country back again in
the month of December. Then, with respect to the other
regiment, the 69th, the Hon. and Gallant Member had
talked of their arriving in a miserable state, but he had the
authority of Sir Colin Campbell—he had the official let-
ter of Sir Colin Campbell—stating that they had ar-
rived in excellent order. Then with respect to the West
Indies, the Honourable and Gallant Officer com-
plained of troops being withdrawn from those colonies,
when in fact there required a greater force. In that
the Hon. and Gallant Officer was mistaken. In Jamaica

there was a great want of legislation, but there was no
want of troops in that colony. It never was in a better
state, nor in a state of less danger. Then with regard to
Bermuda, the Hon. and Gallant Officer seemed to forget
that that was a great naval station, and that its safety did not
depend upon its garrison so much as its naval superiority.
He for one did not maii.t tin that it was proper to keep up a
war establishment in a time of peace.—( Cheers. ) If any-
thing was more likely than another to lead to war with
the United States, it would be the jealousy which would
be shown by a large increase in the establishment. He
believed that a war with the United States would be one
of the greatest calamities to both countries.—( Cheers.)
And each were bound most cautiously to avoid anything
that would tend to lead to it. If the Hon. Gentleman
opposite thought that the policy of the Government was
wrong, in place of questioning the number of troops in
this province, or in that, they ought to take the sense of
the House deliberately upEn the principle of the policy
pursued by the Government, and if the House agreed with
them, it would be only fair that they should
succeed to the Executive Government, and that they
should upon their own responsibility propose to Parliament
those increased estimates which they thought necessary.—
( Cheers.) To show with what facility they could augment
the Army, he would only state the fact that in thirteen
months they had recruited to the amount of 15,000 men;
that in December and January, after the orders had been
given for increasing the Army to its full extent, it re-
cruited no less than upwards of 4,000.
_ Mr. C. BULLER was one who had always voted with
his Hon. Friend the Member for Kilkenny for a reduction
of both the Army and Navy ; but when the Noble Lord,
as Secretary at War, came forward with his reduced esti-
mates, it was a pity that he had hot whispered to his Nobl e
Friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that he ought
to speak with bated breath—it was a pity that he had not
told his ambitious colleague the President of the Board of
Control, that he must not indulge his propensities by con-
quering new countries—it was a pity that he had not whis-
pered to his Noble Friend the Secretary for the Colonies,
that he must give way to any rebels that may choose to op-
pose his sway. And with respect to Canada, would it not
be wiser to send troops of the line to maintain our superi-
ority there, than to create asperity in the country by
keeping one party in arms in order to keep down the other.
( Hear.) He was one of the] first to admit that Sir John
Colborne was a very able soldier ; but in the present time
it would be quite impossible to transport troops from Ha-
lifax to Quebec. He (Mr. Buller) did not exactly know
what the number of soldiers was in New Brunswick. A
New York paper said that the number was 500 regular
troops, and that a few more might be got from Halifax.
Now, the State of Maine, long anticipating an event of
this description, had organized a well trained militia, im-
patient to decide the frontier question, by fighting
with Great Britian. Maine had now 42.000 militia, and
she might bring these, leaving out of the question what
number of militia and regulars the United States might
bring into the field, against the force of New Brunswick,
which did not consist of more than 15,000 militia, and 500
regulars. No doubt Sir J. Colborne was making his ar-
rangements, but if our troops were withdrawn from Lower
Canada, would not the Sympathizers make another
attack ? He (Mr. B.) did not dread a war with America
but for the sake of the commerce and social interests of
both nations. He deprecated it as the greatest mutual evil
that could happen ; and after what had happened, be should
not be surprised if by the Liverpool packet, which would
be due on Sunday, we should learn that a serious action
had already taken place between the forces on the fron-
tiers very much against the wishes of the inhabitants of
both nations. Why, then, should our negotiations on
the Boundary question be procrastrnated.—(Hear, hear.)
The Governor of New Brunswick said he must use
force, and the Governor of Maine said he knew his
troops would do their duty. In this critical juncture it
was lucky that Mr. Fox, our resident at Washington, had
committed the humiliating act of withdrawing our
pretensions.—(Hear, hear, hear.) The disputed land
was most valuable, and was eagerly resorted to by members
from either side on account of the valuable pine timber it
possessed—that of North America having been in a great
measure destroyed. He thought it therefore of the highest
importance that this question should be settled as soon as
possible. Ile would remind the House, that it was not as
regarded Maine alone that the boundary question was to
be settled, but it had to be settled over a line of 1,500
miles, with the state of Massachussette, New Hampshire,
Vermont, and others. Ought nut the House, therefore,
to compel Ministers to settle this question.—( Hear, hear.)
His opinion, and that of the few English gentlemen who
had studied this question, was, putting the American side
of the controversy out of the question, that the
claim of the British Government was the most pre-
posterous, absurd and unjust, that had ever en-
tered the annals of diplomocy. The American people
felt very strongly the justice of their side, and were
determined to maintain it at all hazards—if .then, we were
determined to maintain our pretensions—our Government
should at once collect a strong military force upon the
frontiers, or renew the negotiations upon a basis that
might speedily afford a settlement to the satisfaction of
both the British and American people.
Lord PALMERSTON was ready to give the Hon.
Gentleman credit for great ability and research, but
he would ask whether his speech was in any way
calculated to afford any additional facilities for the
settlement of that difference between the two coun-
tries which had already existed for half a century,
and which certainly would have been settled long ago, if
it were not of a very difficult nature.—( Hear, hear.) He
(Lord P.) had carefully studied the question, and had
come to a totally different conclusion from the Hon.
Gentleman.—( Hear, hear.) It was well known, of course,
that the arbitration of the differences had been referred to
the King of the Netherlands, who had decided upon two
of the three points against the Americans, and had re-
served the third for farther consideration, and that the

Americans had refused to admit, because his Majesty had
not given a decided opinion upon all together.—( Hear. )
Anybody who had heard the statements of the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman, would believe that all the contests
that had taken place between the borderers on either
side had been occasioned by some absurd pretensions set
up by him ( Lord Palmerston) on the part of that country.
Such was not the case, but here was a large tract of
thinly peopled country, which some one of the two
Powers concerned was required to keep in order, and to
prevent those riots and disturbances which would other-
wise necessarily take place. It had been arranged that
until some definitive arrangement was come to, the care of
that district should vest in the mother country. The
Hon. Gentleman had also referred to a disputed boundary
on the coast of the Pacific, and had said that nothing was
easier than to make a satisfactory settlement of the
matter. Het. ajesty's Government was well assured of
the amic.. ing that existed on the part of the Ame-
rican Gov ~•nt, and therefore he could not allow him-
self to thiiik that it would be either wise or expedient
to make a large addition to their force on that station
cc, the pul p.,so ru:tirg down the borderers. He thought
at a time when they were at peace with other countries, it
would not be judicious to take such a step, although the