The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

THE ARMY SERVICE BILL.

PROTEST OF THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY, C.C.S.
Dissentient--1. Because an attempt to introduce
limited service was first !proposed in 1713. The system
its
total plan lasted two years, and was abandoned from
total failure. E was tried, however, again in 1775,
and continued to the end of the war, but was unsuc-
cessful in its operations during the American war.
In later periods--in 1806—it was resorted to in
another form of periods of limited service ; but
signally and completely disappointed the expecta-
tions that were formed of the measure to obtain more
recruits and a better class of men ; and in the midst of
the war in the Peninsula much inconvenience and dis-
order might have arisen but for the foresight and
precaution of the Great Commander—the limited ser-
vice men being then his best troops, who had served
seven or eight years, and who had a right to their
discharge ; and had not very large bounties been given
they might have been lost to the army, and their loss
Would have been most fatal.
2. Because, while it is most desirable to adopt every
possible meats ure for improving the comforts and the
social and moral condition of our soldiers, it is highly
injudicious aatd inexpedient to attempt experiments
(which are av o wed as such), and which experiments may
tend to shake the good feelings now existing, and the
discipline hitherto prevailing in the British army, whichnever at any :moment in history stood higher for its
warlike achieve ments and admirable conduct.
3. Because, while it is admitted from the very highest
authority, that the old soldiers of the British army give
to it all its perfection and matchless excellence, it is
manifest that 11 e present Army Service Bill presents a
risk, and offers sin occasion of losing the very men who,
after their serviive of ten years, become the most velu-
able, and who trt ay still be in the prime of life (from 30 I
to 40) for all 'mix poses of hard fatigue and military ser-
vice. It is, therefore, highly impolitic to hazard this
experiment, and far more judicious to retain the present
regulations, whit h allow all soldiers, under a most libe-
ral plan and wi tit good characters, to receive their dis-
charge by the re commendation of their officers, and the
decision of the Commander-in-Chief.
4. Because, ats. has been clearly and unanswerably
shown, great inconvenience must result to our colonial
service from the plan now proposed, and especially in
the minutim of every regimental arrangement. If men.
had six or eight months to serve, and were ordered oust
to India, that circumstance might occasion a degree a t
discontent among them. The army in the East, as hat
been ably shown, presents many further obstructions tc
the eligibility of this measure; and it will be necessary.,
'when it shall be in full operation, and one-tenth annu—
ally of 72,000 men (our average force serving in the
colonies), shall be entitled to discharge, and must be
brought home, to make frequent reliefs of corps at grey.; t
cl.fficulty and inconvenience.
Finally, because the Government must either have a
most extraordinary confidence in themselves, or expect t
an unlimited confidence from others, if they imagilat
that a measure of such magnitude, sanctioning changes
so hazardous and on such fanciful theories, and, above
all, against the opinion of nine-tenths of the Britida
army, can be carried into effect without stronger aria
more cogent reasons than have hitherto been advance
iii
by them for these new experiments, under their Arun
Service Bill, on the British army.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HO USE.
REGISTER OF SEAMEN.-David Davies, W. E White,
and S. Cook, seamen, appeared before Alderman Mus-
grove to answer for the violation of the 7th and Bth
Victoria, cap. 112.
Mr. Coleman, of the office of the Registrar-General of
Seamen, stated that by the 22d clause of the Act, " If
any seaman shall lose his register ticket he shall forth-
with appear in person and represent his case to the Re-
gistrar-General of Seamen in London, or the Collector
or Comptroller of Customs at any of the outports, and if
it appear that no fraud has been committed, and the loss
was unavoidable, he shall be furnished with another
register; but if it appear that the seaman did not take
due and reasonable care of his former ticket, or if he
shall not give a satisfactory account of the same, he shall
be liable to a penalty of not exceeding 10s., and not less
than 25., and shall not be entitled to any other ticket
until such penalty shall be paid." There were multitudes
of seamen whom that clause, which had been introduced
for the particular advantage of the service, affected. The
three defendants were liable to prosecution under a more
penal clause, but as the exact offence with which they
were charged had never before been exposed, and it com-
prehended the cases of such masses of seamen, it was
considered most advisable to proceed upon that clause,
with a view to the efficacy of the example.
The register-ticket of Davies, which was numbered
348,460 was then produced by Mr. Coleman, who stated
that Davies's name was returned to the office, he having
signed articles in the Sarah Louisa, and received nineteen
shillings for wages, and not having performed the work
or joined the ship. The ticket had been identified by
Davies as his.
Similar proof was given in support of the charges
against the other prisoners.
Davies questioned the power of the Alderman to act in
such cases, and contended that he and the other prisoners
were the aggrieved parties.
Alderman MUSGROVE said that the registrar had, in
the most lenient manner, prosecuted under the clause
which inflicted the smallest penalty. If severity had
been that official's object he might have added thirty
days' imprisonment to a heavy penalty upon the trans-
gression, but no vindictive feeling prevailed. The
sentence upon each of the prisoners is, that he pay a pe-
nalty of 2s. for having lost his register ticket. Upon
the payment of that penalty a new ticket will be given
to each of them, but not before the fine is discharged
I inflict the lowest penalty, as these are the first cases
of the kind.
Mr. Goodman, the chief clerk, said the Act was ne-
cessary to ascertain the amount of desertions, and the
names of the seamen, and in what vessel they were
serving, so that the observance of the clause upon whieh
the prisoners had been prosecuted was quite indispensa-
ble to the improvement of the service.
Cook paid the penalty. The other two said they had
no means of discharging the fine, and were consequently
refused the privilege of the fresh tickets.
A waterman, named John Finnis, was charged with
'ha ving attempted to extort money from, and having
grossly insulted, Mr. Williams, a gentleman who resides
in Sackville-street.
The complainant had a few nights ago accompanied
• two ladies in a private carriage to Tower-wharf, in order
to see them safely on board a steamer bound to the Con-
tinent. The steamer lay in the middle of the river, and
the defendant was employed to row the party to her.
The complainant returned with the defendant, and upon
landing asked him the fare, to which question the latter
replied, "My fare is 7s. 6d." A volley of the most dis-
gusting abuse followed the refusal to pay so extortionate
a demand, but the defendant thought proper at last to
accept the offer of 2s. 6d., which was about twice as
much as he was entitled to.
The defendant said the hour at which the party em-
ployed him being a late one, he considered himself bound
for the sake of his family to make an extra demand, par-
ticularly as the watermen had scarcely anything to do
at present.
Mr. Williams said he happened to know a number of
instances in which ladies who went on board steamers
about to sail for the continent had been imposed upon by
the watermen. It frequently occurred that when ladies
were not accompanied by some person who inten:ded to
return and punish extortionists of this description, 153.
-or 16s. were demanded and insisted upon, and the me-
fenders generally escaped, as complaints must generally
be made within a limited time, which was usually ex-
.seeded by the necessary absence of the victims. The
language uttered by the present defendant was of the
.most revolting kind.
Alderman GIBBS said he was quite aware of the
pi 'under committed by the watermen upon parties who
mai( fact,fe fellows
st
as
sasthh
einmfaenmaaltetshteo
bvaerntwuirt
co uld not return to London in time to complain. It was,
xetfousrteidoni ehoinuttobtehinegpoawooeormo.f
r lied by somebody_ determined to punish any attempt
haft t labour fool'
le i The defendant was then fined 405., and as
aLethme
omtohney, he was sent to prison to
0 BO W-STREET.
A powerful y ung man, named John Jones, a porter
arden Ilarkefto,lwl as.
inthCeovento!ing
brought before Mr. Jar•
assault upon an old
tra, Coventapowrtietrh
also charged
Daniel Shannon said he wags
araden Market
it ty morning was passing the prysouruteerr, and on Thur s-
r/ hen he ran against him, and almost puslailettihe market,
e asked him what that„was for, when the prisonerm down.
'led, " You Irish -, and immediately knocked him
frj
,wn, and when he was down kicked him in the eye,_ and
cv t it so severely that he was obliged to go to King's
Alege Hospital and have it sewed up.