The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-28 00:00:00

THE SIX-MILE-BRIDGE AFFRAY.

Lord A. VANE wished to ask the Attorney-General,
whether the exposition of the law with regard to the
duty of soldiers in riots or emergencies, as set forth by
Judge Perrin, in his charge to the grand jury of the
county of Clare, on the subject of the Six-mile-bridge
affair, is really the law, and whether it is in accordance
with the opinions of her Majesty's legal advisers.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in ans*er tos the
question, said he had to state that it was the duty of the
Attorney-General, and of those who belonged to his
profession, to take the law from the judges, and not to
dictate it to them. (A laugh.) But at all events, it
would not be proper or courteous for him to review a
judgment of the bench in that house. (Hear.)
Lord A. VANE said, under those circumstances, he
would give notice, that on the motion for going into
supply, he should call the attention of the house to the
circumstance of the charge of the judge, being at vari-
ance with the articles of war, and the terms of the
Mutiny Act, and move a resolution to the effect
that the soldiers who were engaged in the Six-mile-
bridge affray, were fully justified in what they
did, and that they were to be commended for the disci-
pline and forbearance which they exhibited on that occa-
sion. (Hear, hear.)
NORWICH ELECTION.

Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved the appointment of a
select committee to inquire into the circumstances under
which the petitions against the return of the sitting
members for the city of Norwich have been withdrawn ;
and that the petitions presented to this house upon the
24th day of February be referred to the said committee.
Mr. WARNER said he had no objection to the ap-
pointment of the committee, but he thought it right to
state that no compromise had ever been offered to him
and that if it had, it would have been indignantly re
jected

REFORM IN THE ARMY.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,

Mr. HUME compiainea that, in filling up the vacant
colonelships in the army, the Government had not at-
tended to the recommendations of the committee of 1347,
of giving those appointments as a reward to distinguished
and experienced military officers, and not to persons who
were not possessed of the requisite qualifications. He
found that both Prince Albert and the Duke of Cam-
bridge had been appointed to colonelships, though neither
of them had any claim on the military service
of the country, and though they were both liberally en-
dowed by Parliament. The hon. member also called
attention to the various other reforms suggested by the
report of 3847, such as making the Secretary-at-War a
Cabinet Minister, and placing him in a more responsible
position, and dividing the civil and military duties of the
ordnance among two distinct departments. The way in
which the affairs of the army were controlled was extremely
anomalous, and he thought that when 3,000,0001. was
about to be voted away for its maintenance, the Govern-
ment ought to see whether some improvement could not
be introduced. He hoped some member of the Govern-
ment would state whether it was their intention to carry
out the recommendations of the committee he had
alluded to.

Mr. S. HERBERT said the question was so large a
one, and required so much consideration, that he could
not undertake to give any pledge as to what the inten-
tions of the Government were on this subject.
Mr. E. ELLICE, as a member of the committee of
1847, bore testimony to the great reforms which they
had succeeded in effecting in the army estimates, and
said the result of their labours was to be seen in the faci-
lity with which they now passed through the house.
He thought that if some responsible government and
control over the military expenditure was not established,
it would be vain to expect those reforms and retrench-
ments which the public demanded.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in al-
lusion to some observations made by Mr. Ellice with re-
pect 'to the army in the colonies said, he admitted that
the principal hope of any reduction in the national ex-
penditure depended on the measures which would have to
be taken with regard to our colorial policy, and he should
be sorry if it were supposed that the Government felt any
indifference on that subject. (Hear.)