The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-15 00:00:00

who knew whether a soldier ought to begin to march
with his right or his left leg first.—(A laugh.)
Lord G. LENOX objected to the depot at Maidstone,
which entailed a great expense on the country without any
adequate benefit. The riding establishment, in particular,
was even looked upon by the officers as utterly useless.
Sir H. HARDINGE said, that when he was in office,
he had an opportunity of knowing that the officers thought
these riding establishments of the greatest service.
An Hos/. MEMBER corroborated the opinion expressed
by the last speaker. If there was any fault in the system,
it arose from the false economy of the Government, by
which the plan had not been put on a full and effective
footing.
Mr. WYNN had no doubt, after the comments of the
Gallant Colonel (Davies) that he (Mr. Wynn) was quite
unfit for the office; and as there was likely to be a vacancy
soon, he trusted that the Government would take the hint,
and appoint the Gallant Colonel to the office.—(A laugh.)
He, however, was certainly of opinion that a man of mo-
derate talent, who chose to give his attention to the business,
might make himself master of it.--(Hear, hear.) With
respect to the riding establishments, he must say that he
had had great doubts of the expediency of continuing them
to their present extent ; but at the same time he was bound
to state that the Commander•in-Chief was in favour of
their continuance. He himself thought that great good
had resulted from the establishments by producing one
uniform system of equitation.
Mr. HUME said, that as long as we kept up the sys-
tem of interfering with foreign countries, it was in vain
to expect that their could be any effectual reduction of the
expense of the army. He wanted England to keep to her.
self, as her situation justified, and not to imitate Russia,
or Prussia, or Austria. In his opinion, if we had not so
heavy a National Debt, we should have been at war before
this, through our interference with Belgium. He hoped
and trusted that these estimates would be reduced
1,000,0001., as he was sure they might he.
Mr. IRVING professed himself a friend to ships, colo-
nies, and commerce. He hoped that the best interests of
the country would never be sacrificed to the sordid eco-
nomy of the Hon. Member for Middlesex.
Mr. WARBURTON agreed with Mr. Hume in his
principle of non-interference, and should be ready on all
occasions to support such policy.
Mr. C. W. WYNN said the House had already agreed
to the number of men voted for the year, when it might
Lave been proper to discuss the policy of the measure;
but on that vote, which was for the contingencies of the
service, such a discussion was misplaced. With respect to
the Hon. Member's observations on the expense for Bibles,
he was not aware that there was any waste ; and if the
Hon. Member could point out any instance he would
readily attend to him. The compensation for officers to
which the Hon. Member had alluded, would he a saving.
Lord EUSTON said a few words, after which the vote
was agreed to.
Mr. C. W. WYNN next moved the vote of 124,5221.81.,
for defraying the charge of Staff and Hospital Officers in
Ireland and abroad. The Right Hon. Gentleman stated
that his Noble Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colo-
nies, had directed his attention to the Staff in the Colo-
nies, and he hoped, before the end of the year, to be able
to make a large reduction.
Colonel DAVIES said that the Staff in North America
was too large for the force, and he thought the force too
large. He could point out several reductions which ough
to be made.

Mr. WYNN thought that some reductions in the Staff
in the Canada, might hereafter be made. Inquiries would
be instituted upon the subjebt.
Sir H. HARDINGE was ef opinion that neither of the
General Officers in the Canadas could be dispensed with.
Mr. HUME objected to the allowances made to officers
independent of their pay. The Commander-in-Chief re-
ceived not less than nine guineas a day. In England there
were not less than four Adjutant-Generals and four Quar-
ter-Master-Generals at head-quarters in time of peace,—a
most useless expenditure, against which he most strone/y
protested. He hoped that the time would soon come when
pounds, shillings, and pence, ridiculed by the Member for
Ltramber, would be attended to.
The resolution was then agreed to.

The next resolution was for 103,8971. 6•. 4d. for al-
lowances to officers in the several military departments of
Great Britain.
Mr. HUME remarked that in 1796 the whole expence
was 46,000/. He objected to the number of clerks em-
p!oyed.
Sir H. HARDINGE slid, that even the Member for
Middlesex could not make greater reductions thin had
been made.

Mr. WYNN confirmed this statement, and added that
during the last four years no fresh appointments had been
made. Additional clerks might even be necessary under
particular circumstances.

Mr. HUME saw nothing to be alarmed at in the pre-
sent prospect of affairs.

The resolution was carried.
Mr. WYNN proposed that 12,4201. be granted for
medicines and surgical materials for the land forces.--

Agreed to.

Also, 33,8351. 15s. 10d. for defraying the charge of
garrisons at borne and abroad.

Mr. HUME adverted to the mere sinecures kept up by
such votes, both in England and the colonies. The vote
might he easily reduced by the sum of 20,0001.
Sir H. HARDINGE defended the vote as a means of
giving due rewards to old maimed officers.

- Colonel SIIITHORPE agreed that no reduction ough
:o be made.

Mr. WARBURTON asked the Gallant Officer (Sir H,
fardinge) what had been the great services of the Go.

vernor of Dartmouth Castle, to entitle him to a pension of
1741. a-year ?
Sir H. HARDINGE explained that the grant of the
Governorship of the Castle was granted to the family of
the individual in the 'reign of Charles 11., for services
then performed. He hoped, however, that when a va-

, ..._,... _ .--
. cancy occurred, if the place were not abolished, it would
be filled up by some meritorious officer who had served
his country long and faithfully-
Mr. it. GORDON contended, that the House ought at
all events to refuse the grant, even if the King appointed
the Governor.

Mr. HUME had no objection to his Majesty's making
all the privates in the army Genera's, if he did not call
upon the House to vote money in proportion to pay them.
Mr. WYNN objected to the principle of making officers
of the army look to the House of Commons as the source
Of reward.

After a few words from Mr. RomNsoN,
Mr. BEAUMONT said, that these discussions would
be quite needless as soon as the Ref irm Bill was pas,ed.
No such votes would then be even proposed.
Mr. GUEST said, that he should divide the Committee
on the vote.

The Committee divided accordingly—
For the resolution (15
Against it IS
Majority........— ..... —77
The grant of 5,0001. for the Military College at Sand.
burst was agreed to, after a short discussion between Mr.

WYNN, Mr. HuatE, and Sir H. HARDING Ep On the =loon'
of the salary of 1,0001. a year to the Governor.

VESTRY BILL.
Mr. HOBHOUSE moved that this Bill be-recommittet;
a Select Committee of the House.

The motion was agreed to, and a Select Committee ap