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

T. heir
itiSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY.

fISPEAKEU took the chair at four o'clock.
PETITIONS.
,Yetitions were presented from Roman Catholics and other

dies in favour of the rejection or modification of
religious
Parochial Assessments Bill; against
Bill; in favour
of 1.,
the Abolition of the (Lurch Rates Bill,
.t.s.TBW WRIT,
On the motion of Mr. BRAND, a writ was ordered to
issue for the election of a ll:ember for the North Rifling in
the room of Mr. Cayley, deceased.
ARMY (SOLDIBRS) INSTITUTES,
Captain JERVIS moved an address for a return of the
reports of Captain Jackson, R.A.., to the Secretary of State
for War, respecting the present state of soldiers' institutes
in England.—The return was ordered.
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
Mr. CHILDERS moved for a copy of any communiea.
tion between the colonial-office and the Emigration Com-
missioners relative to the recommendations of the select
committee
Ron the transport service,—Ordered.
EVOLUTION IN GREECE.
In reply to Mr. B. COCHRANE,
Mr. LAYARD said that no information had been re-
ceived to show that the disturbances in Greece bad exten-
ded beyond Napauli.
MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.
Mr. WHALLEY gave notice that on an early day he
would move for a committee to inquire into the description
of education at Maynooth College and the allegiance of the
students and professors of that institution. (Laughter.)
MR. WHALLEY'S TOWER.

Mr. B. OSBORNE said that he had to correct errors
into which he had fallen the other evening in reference to
the hon. member for Peterborough. He stated that that hon.
member had given a tower on his estate for the use of
the Orangemen of Liverpool. He was informed by the
hon. member that he had given the use of the tower merely
fer pic nice and r.urposes of festivity. (Laughter.) He
was also in error in stating that the hon. member had
erected the building in question, and instead of being on
household land it was on fee simple estate. (Laughter.)
With respect to what he had stated relative to the speech
of the hon. member at the Rotunda in Dublin, he certainly
thought he heard him quote the line—
" A smile in the lip and a tear in the eye,"
but it appeared he was in error, and he hoped the hon.
member would never make a quotation again. (Renewed
laughter.)
THE MILITARY COLLEGE AT SANDHURST.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. SELWYN asked the Secretary of State for War
whether it was the intention of the Government to
enlarge the Military College at Sandhurst, and to insist
upon a compulsory residence there of all candidates for
commissions in the army, or whether the offer made by the
University of Cambridge for establishing military educa-
tion at that university would be accepted?
Sir G. C. LEWIS said—The vote taken last year
for Sandhurst was £15,000, which had not been expended,
and it would merely have to be revoted. In
reply to an hon. member he said that the vote for fortifi-
cations in tha colonies would be merely to complete those
already commenced. The fortifications in Nova Scotia and.
Halifax had been rendered necessary by the apprehen-
sion that was entertained of a collision with the United
States.
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 cons;der the 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 O. C. LEWIS deferred answering the question until
the house went into committee of supply.
EXPENSES OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
AND CMIMANDER-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
head of law expenses arose from the acquisition of 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 for 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, DICKSON and other mem-
bers,

The
amendmentmr.„ was negatived without a division.
zioLs5lItMS pointed out an extraordinary item in the
voter.M Cirm— Er chimney sweeping. (Laughter.)
should give
some more
thought that the right hon. gentleman ,
upon
the vote
distinct assurance that the annual
increase u
an additional there was should be arrested. Heehowed that
amount of 25,000 eiumal sum voted for the staff to the
counts were taken et ea the year 1856. The auditors' ac•
aerrich larger expense, and the in-
crease in the number of arks since the consolidation of the
offices was from 115 to
Rethought that this required
explanation. (Hear.)
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that aunt year ago a committee
sat on military organisation, presided
whole
over by Sir J.G raham.
That committee went into the ,
andellestion of the consti-
tution of the War Department
•
conclusion that any great economy could have
had come to the
no doubt they would have mem:Lune:re been effected,
branches they recommended an increase raedth it
In some
nution. He (Sir G. Lewis) naturally enough compared the
rather than a dimi-
estimates of this year with those of last, instead
of
back, as his hon. friend did, to the year 185 e. Theren new
going
duties thrown upon the War Department had dered an
increase of the estimates necessary. In the first place, the
great manufacturing establishments at Woolwich and En-
field had been almost entirely created since 1856 ; they
added a large proportion of business to the War Depart-
ment. Then there was the conversion of th Indian army
into the Queen's army. Although the Indian regiments
were paid out of the Indian treasury, yet there was a great
deal of additional business incidental to the change. The
correspondence connected with the voluntcors formed a
large branch of bupiness, 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-
berce
bretainly seemed large, but from all the information he
hen able to gather from the heads of departments, he
belie,/
ea they were all employed, and that the office was by
no means Overhanded. The audit branch of the department
was very extensive, i
.I:nent nns asugh as it was the great establish-
arm for auditing
y, a work which ail the details of the accounts of the
con
not be accomplished without a
great number of hands. He
hon,
only express his opinion
to the committee; friend or any other mem-
ber liked to undertake a rigorousn investigation he (Sir G.