The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

WEICS.P.APET

talaneXl-41rt; ttightwar=aartallt& WOW: t
conveyance c additional troops, rerta. )1'
and, conside. ring the call made n . .04 On'
vide for the effective service of th. . • • # t
house would admit that they had n.. „At' .. •
been idle in newiding conveyance for tristroo# (Chars-)
With reseed .to what had just fallen from the n.-le-
man, he 'beg ged to say that, if there was want of acco-
modation on merchant steamers for the conveyance of
soldiers, the Is ccommod.ation was ten times worse on a war
steamer. In. conclusion, he thanked both sides of the
house for the cordial and generous support they had
afforded the Clorernment in passing the estimates. (Hear.)
Mr. PERG.T made an inquiry respecting the applica-
tion of the sn toke-consuming apparatus to Government
steamers.
Sir J. GRA HAM observed that-the apparatus had been
under trial in tale dockyards, but had not been applied to
government steamers; and the result of the trial induced
Tim to believe \ that, though the apparatus was effoc-
ual in consuming smoke, it occasioned a much larger con-
uinption of coals (Hear, hear.)
Captain SCOBELL inquired whether the Admiralty
were not aware that there were some Russian men-of-war in
Austrian ports, and whether it would not be deeirable
under such circumstances, to have an escort to accourpany
our vessels conveying troops?
Sir J. GRAHAM said, it was true that three Russian
men-of-war were in the Adriatic, but he had great plea.-
sure in telling the gallant officer that there were also three'
English men-of-war there—(cheers)—and, if that were not
enough, two very powerful French vessels were likewise in
the Adriatic. Those three Russian men-of-war had been
in the outer harbour of Trieste ; but they were afterwards
hauled up within the inner mole, so that our men-of:War
could not get at them. (Laughter.)
Tile vote was agreed to.
ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
Mr. MONSELL, in submitting the ordnance estimates,
said he should endeavour, as shortly as he could, to explain
the reasons for the increase in the different votes ; and he
thought he should be able to satisfy the house that some,
at least, of that increase would leave for future years a
permanent annual saving. Upon the first vote, the in-
crease of the Royal Artillery was 53,023/. ; the Engineers,
29,461/. ; and the increased recruiting Recesaaty for the
addition to the forces, 20,1671. It would be hardly neces-
sary for him at present, after the statements made by his
right hon. friends who had preceded him to give any rea-
son for this increase ' • but he thought he would be justified
in giving very. shortly a statement of the condition in
which the artillery force now was. He was happy to say
that the schools, which for several years had been pro-
gressively increasing, were admirably regulated. The
Royal Military Repository had now in it a class of 24 non-
commissioned officers, who, besides acquiring a know-
ledge of the use and transport of military machines, were
taught geometry, mensuration, and all those other studies
which were necessary to the discharge of Leak duties.
The Royal Artillery Institution, which was andnstitution
of more recent foundation, had this year been opened, and
already it had conferred very great advantages indeed in
the way of a thorough system of education upon the offi-
cers of the artillery force. So great was the interest taken
in this establishment that the annual subscriptions on the
part of the officers themselves, which were last year 1531.,
had risen this year to 4201 A course of lectures w: a about
to commence upon those subjec's which were the most use-
ful for the officers of the artillery to• be acquainted with— A
military carriages, polytechnics, &c. —and in addition to
this Lord Raglan, the Master-General of the Ordnance, last
year, for the first time, established a class of young men
who had just received their commissions, and sent them
to the continent with an experienced officer to visit the
best fortifications upon the continent, se that they might
become acquainted with those improvements in the sciences
connected with the artillery which were likely to render
them most efficient in the discharge of their duties. Ile
did not know if it had ever occurred to any gentleman
here to compare the state of the artillery force now about
to leave these shores for the East, and the condition of
that force which, under the late Duke of Wellington, and
amounting to about the same number, quitted these shores
for the Tagus in 1808. He thought nothing could be snore
remarkable or more satisfactory than such a comparison.
In every singular particular the greatest possible iauprove-
ment was manifest. In the first place, instead of the small
howitzers of 4 2-sths and 5.4, inches, the howitzers now
sent out are 12 and 21 ponnders, longer, heavier, more
effective, and of the best possible description. In the ord-
nance in 1808, in each of the batteries there were three
kinds or different sorts of guns used, which caused
great confusion in the supply andb expenditure of ammuni-
tion. At present there are only two kinds in use, and the
system adopted is very simple end uniform. In 1803 eivid
artificers accompanied the field batteries, and were fou ud
most unserviceable and troublesome ; but now, instead to
civil artificers, military artificers form a component part
of every troop. At the former period there were no in-
structions for exercise, and every captain used his own
discretion ; at the present time the most clear and precise
instructions are laid down, and are in the hands of every
artillery officer, the effect of which has been to secure a
perfect uniformity in the execution of all duties committed
to them. The code of finance regulations was not dettled
in 1808, from which many hardships arose ; but now the
finance regulations are in the hands of every commanding
officer. Perhaps one of the most striking contrasts between
the two forces was in the sort of horses sent out. Any gentle-
man who would refer to the despatches of the Duke of Wel-
lington would find that the horses which accompanied the
artillery in 1808 were very inefficient, and were described
by Colonel Hardinge as a set of broken-down Irish horses,
taken from the Irish commissariat. They. were utterly
useless when they came into action, and their inefficiency
frequently necessitated the leaving behind of guns at a
time when their services were most important. The ar-
tillery force about to leave our shores would have 1.000
horses in the highest possible condition and order. Then
with regard to pontoouing, any gentleman who had at all
studied the history of the Peninsular War would be aware
that the difficulties occasioned by a deficiency of pontoons
were remarkable. He believed it was only the year before
the expedition he was now referring to, that in South
America our forces were stopped for several days by a
trench eight or nine feet wide, on account of the absence
of pontoons. A sufficient number of pontoons would start
with our forces now, and thev would be altogether in the
highest possible efficiency. He might mention many more
particulars to the house, but he would not weary it by
going any further into the subject. He had, however,
thought it of importance to point out the greatly increased
state of efficiency of the artillery force, which everybody
knew was the most important arm at the' disposal of any
country in a time of war. He would proceed next to the
increase in Vote 2 on the commissariat supplies, the greater
part of which increase was occasioned by the extraordinary
rise in the price of forage and other articles. The increase
of price iu that vote alone amounted to 158,0001. In the
barrack supplies which were necessary this year he took an
increased quantity on account of a miscalculation last
year; 35,2981. was the increase occasioned by the increase
of price ; and the increase of 32,0001., was for the increase
necessary to be made to the number of stores. Upon Vote
3, for the Ordnance-office, there was a decrease. The
Treasury committee, which sat upon the Ordnance and in-
vestigated most minutely the whole of the proceedings car-
ried on and the payment of the officers employed, state that
several of them are most inadequately paid, and, instead
of a reduction, he was happy ,to say they recommended
several of the payments to be increased. Upon Vote 4, the
salaries, allowances, and contingencies in establishments in
the United Kingdom and colonies, there was a decrease of
somewhere about 10,0001. The decrease in the colonies was
very large, and was likely to be a permanent decrease, as
many of the establishments which had been decree ed in
the West Indies, Canada, nd other places, were not likely
to be again augmented. Upon Vote 5, the wages of arti-
ficers, there was an increase of upwards of 20,0001., alto-
gether occasioned by the increase of wages rendered neces-
sary in the Royal carriage and other departments, through
the anxiety to provide an additional number of carriages
for the ships now fitting out for the Baltic fleet and s.
change in the batteries of the Royal Artillery. The next
vote was for stores, and there was an increase upon it
amounting in the whole to 267,8551. Of this sum the in-
crease occasioned by the new machinery which it was pro.
posed to erect at Wdolwich and in its neighbourhood, in-
cluding the gun factory, upon which he should have to
say a few words hereafter, amounted to 138,0001. Deduct-
ing that 138,0001. from 267,0001.,129,0001. remained, of
which 79,0001. was for increase in price, leaving 50,000/.
only to be accounted for. 25,600'. of that sum was on
account of small arms, 6,8271. for gunpowder received on
account of the equipments of frigates of the navy ,• and
there was another Item for the carriages of the artillery,
which had already been referred to. The next vote, for
works, buildings, and repairs at home and abroad, was
902,8217.; and of that sum 336,753/. was required for for-
tifications and other works already sanctioned by Perlin.
ment ; and 262,637/. was for ordinary and current ex--
posses. Now, that 262,687/. for ordinary and current ex-
penses was an increase upon the same item in last year's
estimates of somewhere about 40,0001, and he thought
it right to mention to the house that that increase
was mainly occasioned by the incidental items having
been in no instance this year reduced. It had been
considered expedient to pursue that course, though the
system had been usually adopted of reducing every
troentsostataee
yearaons thtehrionacgihdoeonttal
thitemuscounotryt ,in atmoouthnetindgiffe
23,000/. At the end of the year it was found imposSible
without suffering serious injury, to take away this surplus,
and applications had then to be made to the Treasury to
allow the money to be given from some unexhausted sur-
plus, so that the apparent reduction at the beginning of
the year was no real reduction at all. Of the remaining
increase in this vote there was an item of 100,000/. for the
purchase of land at Aldershott for a camp, which was to be
immediately enclosed. The ground had been purchased at
a very moderate rate, at sums varying from 10/, to 121. an
acre, and at any future time it would be quite possible to
realise any idea of the house with regard to the formation
of a camp. The next item he had to allude to was one of
85,0001. for a practice ranee at Woolwich, and he had
shortly stated the other day, in answer to the hon. baronet
the member for Westminster, the reasons for that vote.
There had been for many years a practice range at Wool-
wich, which, ho believed, had answered every purpose per-
fectly well until some 12 or 14 years ago. At that penotle
when the use of steam upon the Thames had become so
largely increased, the range was found unsafe in conse-
quence of the number of vessels continually passing. As
it was perfectly essential, however, that the artillery force
should have constant practice, it was of the last importance
that that arm of the service should be preserved in every
way possible. He thought the house would agree with hies
that no vote he had to propose was really of greater import'
ance to the service than this, and he believed none w9uld
be more cheerfully acquiesced in. Abroad a sum of ,5001.
was required for the erection of a garrison hospital at Ce-
phalonia, which would be the means of effecting an annual
saving of 1901., now paid. The increased accommocla,`
required at Malta would entail an expenditure of abGa
7,0001., and a sum of 10,0001. would be required for the
improvement of the defences of St. .Helense It was
theught proper, however, merely to ask for 2,r.00/. this year.
3,0001. would. be required for additions and alterations
ntsontsar.
the cadet,. barracks at Woolwich, and lie though, leilutely the'
tions were more imperatively required; for abso
cadets at Woolwich were obliged to sleep two or three to study in. By.
irp
a room, and they had no place whatever
or.
A sum , .
the proposed alterations every one of the 49 cadets would'.
be provided with a separate room. of 70001
&c. Upsn
emnmodation, drainage at various stations, gas,
25
8,00.4. would also be required for increased hospital acy•
I
urvey ant he
additional was taken for the ordinaryfs
this 'natteith
Vote 8, for the Ordnance surveys of the kingdom,
now mention the °now stood. The house
gaud to the scale of 'the surveny
ss
the authority of the Duke a
would, perhaps, he an are,. o
precise positiont
Weßrit lliugtain.o It hathd been found to answer exceedingly well ire
n, at the Irish scale was adopted in Great
Ireland, but in Scotland, a. year or two ago, a strong feel•
ing arose against it—it was either too large or too smell—
he believed it was considered too large. During last :,vest
tnehieenqtnestionwas submitt
submitted by the treasury to the 04
ifin men in the country, who
generally thought t./1°
scale should be larger. It was now proposed by the Tree*
fiery teretbmit the question again for the decision of miens