The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-17 00:00:00

-- D

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1849.

The Navy Estimates for the ensuing year were last
night brought under the consideration of the House
of Commons, which sat as a Committee of Supply,
and several votes on account were taken. Before the
House went into Committee, the Honourable Member
for Montrose moved, as an amendment, " that in the pre-
sent state of the finances of the country her MAJESTY'S
Ministers, before calling on the House to vote ',the
estimates for the public service, should submit a
general financial statement of the whole or
expected revenues and the total intended ex-
penditure for the ensuing financial year." It

certainly appears rather an unbusiness-like pro-
ceeding to enter into engagements, and to decide on
the amount to be expended on the national establish-
ments, before we can form any opinion as to the pro-
bable income of the country. During the last two

years we exceeded the means at our disposal, and
large additions were made to the public debt during
a peridd of peace, when considerable reductions
might reasonably be looked for. There can be no
question• of the propriety of the course sug-
gested
.by the Honourable Member, and which,
it appeared, bad been adopted not only by
Lord ALTUOR? in 1830, but during the years
1845, 1846, 1847, and 1848. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, however, urged the impossibility of present-
ing the financial statement before the beginning
of the financial year, which now commences on the
sth April, and declared that the effect of the motion
could only be to delay the course of public business.
The amendment was subsequently rejected by a
majority of 49. We trust, however, that arrange-
ments will be made by which this reasonable ground
of complaint may be removed, and that henceforward
the fullest information will be afforded before any
demands are made on account of the public service.
In Committee, the Secretary to the Admiralty en-
tered into a very elaborate and able explanation of the
different items contained in the estimates. It appears

that there is a nominal saving of 1,691,1021. upon
the year ; but, as we have already explained (on the
22d Feb. last), a great portion thereof is more appa-
rent than real—various charges having been merely
transferred to other departments, and being still re-
quired, although under different names. Thus, the
whole of the vote for the Home department, No. 18,
amounting to 53,9501., has been transferred to the
lliscallancous Estimates. The contract packet service,
611,662/., and a sum of 161,6981. for the packet
service in vessels of the royal navy, amounting toge-
ther to 842,2951., which were included in the navy
estimates last year, will now be voted under their
proper heads. The total saving will therefore be
only 938,8561., from which is to be also deducted
208,0001. for the reduction effected upon the revised
estimates last August—the actual saving for the
ensuing. year will therefore be 730,000/. This is
certainly something, although it may not answer the
expectations of some of otfr financial reformers.
Although as anxious as any persona can
S possibly
be fa every
practicable retrenchment, we confess
'
that it is not in our effective naval force that we
would desire to see extensive reductions. It would
be. 'bid `an unwise and injudicious economy
to -reduce, our actual naval strength below
the wants \ and requirements of the nation.
The truth of-the adage "Si vis pain para beam"
is universally: acknowledged. There is no better
;code o avezting w" 014,4 king at µli timed
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