The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-07 00:00:00

CLOTHING FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.

Lord A. V. TEMPEST asked the Secretary of State for
War, whether Her Majesty's Government would sanction
the issue of clothing, at contract price, to regiments of
Volunteers; also, whether they will consider tho expedi-
ency of giving a contingent allowance, per man (according
to the strength of the corps at the annual inspection), in
aid of renewal of clothing and equipments.
Sir G. C. LEWIS deferred answering the question until
the house went into committee of supply.
EXPENSES OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

------ -
On the house going into committee of supply,
Sir H. 'WILLOUGHBY objected to the amount
£209,901 for the above department, which was an increase
during the last two years of £15,000.
Major KNOX also objected to the number of messengers
employed in these departments, and thought these offices

would be best filled by soldiers on half-pay, -
Mr. 'WILLIAMS thought a naval captain was not a very
fitting person to have the charge of the clothing of the
army.
Sir G. C. LEWIS explained that the increase under the
heed of law expenses arose from the acquisition o: land by
the Government for the new fortifications. There had been
an increase in clerks, but that was more apparent than real.
He considered that the gallant gentleman referred to by the
hon. member for Lambeth was an exceedingly valuable and
efficient public officer. The suggestion of the gallant major
should receive attention the first time that he (Sir G. C.
Lewis) had occasion to appoint a temporary messenger.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY thought the explanation of the
right hon. baronet very unsatisfactory. He considered that
the expenditure on these enormous fortifications was very
unwise—(cheers)—but at any rate the legal expenses ought
to come out of the special fund provided fer the fortifica-

tions themselves. He moved to reduce the vote by £4,000.
Sir G. LEWIS doubted whether it would be legal to ex-
pend the fortification loan on any object other than the
works themselves. He promised that if he were in office
when the works were completed there should be no attempt
made to render the situations held by the persons employed
under the vote permanent.
After a few words from Col. Dxcxsoii and other mem-
bers,
The amendment was negatived without a division.
Mr. WILLIAMS pointed out an extraordinary item in the
vote —£5,985 for chimney sweeping. (Laughter.)
Mr. CHILDERS thought that the right hon. gentleman
should give some more distinct assurance that the annual
increase upon the vote should be arrested. He showed that
there was
of an additional sum voted for the staff to the
wuttts
We £5,000 since the year 1856. The auditors' ac-
crease 1,3. the number
at a much larger expense, and the in-
„aces
watshfronumber of clerks since the consolidation of the
explanation m 115 to 120. He thought that this required
Sir G. c.1.412175r.)
sat on military orga !aid that about a year ago a committee
That committee weauT.tion, presided over by Sir J.Graham.
_wimp-mud° the whole question of the consti.•
tution of the
conclusion that any great economy
and if they had come to the
no doubt they w 0.04 haveer runny could have been effected,
branches they recomLeraewindaVuanat
recommended it In some
increase rather than a dimi-
nution. He (Sir G.
those
eally enough compared the
estimates of this year with
back, as his hon. friend did, to th°telaat, instead of going
1856. The new
duties thrown upon the War Depo.rtyear
at
wheifirst place, the
increase of the estimates necessary. nllirtt had rendered an
great manufacturing establishments
field had been almost entirely created °°einwl:ll,,,,,anr. a En-
added a large proportion of business to the they
went. Then there was the conversion of the Inardi -liepart-
into the Queen's army. Although the Indian ?ea: army
were paid out of the Indian treasury, yet there war:age:B
deal of additional business incidental to the change. The
correspondence connected with the volunteers formed a
large branch of bu.iness, and there was also a new subject
of fortifications. It had been his (Sir G. C. Lewis's) busi-
ness to inquire into the staff of the War-office. The num-
ber certainly seemed large, but from all the information he
had been able to gather from the heads of departments, he
believed they were all employed, and that the office was by
no means overhanded. The audit branch of the department
was very extensive, inasmuch as it was the great establish-
ment for auditing all the details of the accounts of the
army, a work which could not be accomplished without a
tc) the emmnittee; but if his hon friend or any other mem-
ber•
"44 t"? Undertake a rigorous. investigation he (Sir Q.