The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-13 00:00:00

IN THE ARMY.

Sir DE LACY EVANS begged, on going into Com-
mittee of Supply, to bring under the consideration:of the
House:— _ _

1. The treasury regulation respecting ration stoppages
in the colonies, whereby the Government derives profit
at the expense of the soldier, by the variations in the
price of provisions in several of those colonies, contrary
to the treatment of the troops stationed in the home
territories.
2. Whether the treasury order or arrangement re-
specting the liquor rations in Australia has been of a
decisive and general nature applicable to other colonies.
and sufficient in the judgment of the Commander in
Chief to prevent any future probable recurrence of
mutiny from this cause.
3. The propriety of amending the 72d clause of the
Mutiny Act, containing a special provision for the
" wholesome" maintenance of troops on a line of march
in England, no similar or proportionate allowance being
made for troops on the same duty in Ireland or Scot-
land.

4. The case of the former pensioners of the army,
whose petitions have been lately presented to the House,
complaining of having suffered great misery and distress
during many years, owing to their having agreed to an
inadequate commutation of their pensions offered by a
warrent issued from the War Office in 1832, which they
were unfortunately induced to accept, through delusive
promises emanating from authority—the warrant res-
pecting which having been cancelled in the following
year.
5. The omission again in this year's estimates, of any
vote being proposed for improving the barrack accommo-
dation (especially with regard to the sleeping rooms), so
requisite, in many instances, for the health of the troops,
and for more suitable and decent quartering of the mar-
ried non-commissioned officers and privates.
6. the claim of old Peninsular officers who have sold
their commis-ions to the medal to be granted:for that war.
7. The claim of the retired officers of the line (cavalry
and infantry) who, worn out by wounds or broken
health, c,ccasioned by service with their regiments or on
the staff, have reluctantly accepted the retired pay
offered by the warrant of October, 1840, but who,
though by seniority sufficiently eligible, find them-
selves excluded from the last brevet, which in their case
would have cost the country nothing, although they see
this farour extended to their brother officers similarly
situated on the retired lists of all the four other branches
of the service—namely, the marines, artillery, engineers,
and navy.
S. The expediency of gradually modifying (but with
all regard to the just claims of those at present filling
these posts) the rules practically observed for more than
a century in our army, in selection for the responsible
command of regiments, whereby seniority and money,
coupled with influential connexion, are almost the ex-
clusive grounds of appointment.
9. Why it is that general officers of the engineers,
artillery, and of the East Imlia Company's army, who
may have distinguished themselves by their ability and
conduct, should be deemed ineligible for appointments
on the general staff, in whatever part of the world their
services may be available.
10. The inconsistency and injustice, both as respects
individuals and the public, of the warrant of the Ist of
May last, regulating the pay of the higher class of offi-
cers, which admits some as eligible to the allowance at-
tached to their rank, without the least proof being
required of meritorious conduct in peace or war ; while it
precludes others whose conspicuous and useful exertions
before the enemy on many occasions may have been
repeatedly recognised by their commanders and the
Government.
11. The system of late years pursued in respect to the
Military College of Sandhurst, the only source of profes
sional education provided by the British Government for
the officers intrusted with the discipline, guidance, in-
struction, and ultimately with the commands in chief of
our armies.
And to move an humble address to her Majesty, pray-
ing that she may be graciously pleased to direct an
impartial inquiry into the foregoing matters, with a view
to their correction, if such should be found beneficial.
After reading those details, the Hon. Member proceeded
to say that there were several other passages in the re-
port which referred to those circumstances, and he had
to say that, in the following year the Government bad
endeavoured to make emends for this misgovernment.
By the decision of the following year it was decreed that
these men should have their pensions, but still this ap-
peared something like a deception, ar.d he strongly sus-
pected that there was not sufficient publicity given t
these announcements. Now, by the decrees of 1843 and
1844, there was an evident intention to give these men
their pensions, and he claimed for them a fair and equal
apportionment ; and he trusted the House would give it
him, notwithstanding that the Hon. Gentleman seemed
indisposed to give it to him. lie was quite sure that
the House was anxious to contribute to the a ell-
being of the British soldier, but still he could not
see how his object was to be attained. There was a
vote of 5,0001. to be apportioned for the washing and other
conveniencies for the soldiery. Then what was shown
as to the extra conveniences of their barracks. Why
there was five inches between the beds. And then, as
respects the delicacy of the troops, why, there was not
the slightest preservation. And even in cases of confine-
ment for the wife—if a marrried woman—none in the
least, for the only distance between those beds was
nineteen inches ; and he believed that the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, whom be exonerated from all blame.
had been sadly deficient in their provisions for the men
of the army. He certainly thought that some provision
ought to be made for the several members of the Go-
vernment. and he hoped that a supplementary list would
be brought ir. If he were correct, he trusted that the
deficiency would be altered, and that some mean-.
would be provided for a recompense for the officers
who had suffered.--(Hear, hear.) He was sorry to
find that the fears of the men in the army were
too well grounded, when they asserted that their
pleas had received no attention, and that they had been
denied promotion of any kind. Now, it so happened
that in the army generally, but especially in the Irish
army, those who had served thirty-six years were en-
titled to promotion. The Hon. and Gallant Member
then went into a comparison of the several services of
the different members of the service. He held in his
hand a return of 35 years, all of them were of about 40
year's service. The majority of those had received
wounds in the service, and though others might be in-
clined to refrain from acknowledging their merits, yet
he thought that a public acknowledgment was justly
their due. Then there was another subject, and that
was, the assertion that public rights were the first to b(
considered. To this he might say, public
thatiocfthe the rightsa had cer-
tainly their due, but they might obtain much more than
ssisietance
assistance hthaedirbedeune'vearnyd r he
aedywtaso avve aryil glad to seesservice
evidentlycivilian
mshownght
theof benefitord Metcalfe,t
ha that
be of to the country in the t. re ul g a ion of the army.
With regard to the general officers his Hon. Friend the
Member for Montrose had told them that they were too
old to be fit for service. Well he
.admitted much, as but
they formed but a small
portion of the commanding
officers of the army. They numbered only, he believed,
305, and the majority of these were performing
very
active service. Then as to expense, his Hon. Friend
seemed to think that the expense of these general
officers far exceeded that of other countries, but really
his Hon. Friend was mistaken. The expense fell short,
of the same item in France, while in this country
it was a fact that the 300 officers of the class
he was now alluding to had paid to the
nation upwards of a million for their Commissions. He
must now advert to the warrant of the Ist May last.
It was an injustice to the army that this warrant was
not given more publicity to than it received ; but above
all its spirit, which admitted of any officer of high rank
claiming a retiring allowance, without reference to good
conduct or merit, was highly objectionable. Many
officers, who had strong claims upon the country for
such an allowance, were debarred from receiving it be-
cause they did not possess sufficient influence to have
their claims brought before the country, while the same
warrant deprived all officers from promotion, or
retirement upon pensions, if no papers could
be found deposited in the War-office supporting
their claim to advancement. In some instances these
papers might be lost, and altogether ho considered the
principle of the warrant to be most unjust. No less that,
29 officers had recently been excluded from retiring
allowance under this warrant, of which number nine
were Companions of the Bath, while the other twenty

re.
1 :1 aCI Fr{ quently distinguished themselves in the service _O4
their country. It was his decided opinion, that all otb_
core who bed attained a particular rank, ought to be
,'ntitlicl to receive the minimum retiring allowance.
untit
attached to their respective ranks, and
that it,yst ern were estab ished, much injustice
would be done to the officers of the British army
He save sa no reason why some provision should not bed
made for the education of the sons of non-corninisioneif
officers as well as the sons of commissioned officers.
a gentleman of private fortune sent his son to be edirs;,.
catcd for the army, he had the means at his coaanisne"
to give that education, but with the poor man this icat
impossible, unless some increased facility were give° $
Sandhurst or elsewhere, for that purpose. He was sorri
to trespass so long on the attention of the House, 13:0
the importance of the subject was his apology. and bye
hoped the details he had given would have the effect of
drawing attention to the subject. Steam had compleitre
changed everything relating to the art of war, an°, _ie
hoped her Majesty's Government would direct tntehe
attend n to improve the national defences, otherwise .
most disastrous results might follow should an ins'asloo
of
Mr. thi country ever be attempteds
FOX MAULE was afraid. if he alluded to all be
debate his Noble Friend brow ht before the Houma'
shed
would take up a larger portion of their time than t.ro'd
would be inclined to afford him. His Hon. Friend "
referred to rations, pension!, barracks, and almost erearie
s
subject comprehended under military discipline. , .110
ought, however, to consider that in carrying out mini.si.
regulations the Government had to look to other Oho,
derations as well as the improvement of the army- rf, ;01
had to look to the state of the finances, and to the 100
which the other branches of the public service ha lied
them. The first subject to which his Hon. Friend eOll.
attention was rations. With regard to that, he hell.e all
that the mode adopted in the service might not Inv
cases be an equitable arrangement —(Hear. hear.) the
subject had been brought under the attention 0 isie
Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the close of the tor
session, but when the House recollected the man)? °. of
considerations, which of late demanded the attention.sed
that Right Hon. Gentleman, they would not be surqbe
that he had not yet come to any decision on in beet
spirit ration he was happy to say had er
done away with in every colony, with the e%e„,ii
lion of Australia and New Zealand, and he was h!rere,
to say that the most beneficial results had fella/. ie
Some discontent had been manifested by a reginaenij
Australia, with regard to the rum ration. And he, ee
not think that the military authorities there had vett.
wholly exempt from blame in reference to the cirevete
stances connected with that. He trusted, however• tbrec
the discontent would be amicably put an end to, and Ithe
in future matters would proceed in that colony oe the
same footing as the other colonies. With regard to
.0
commutation of the pension, he thought, that to °I.
'eye '
it was an act of fraud committed on the perisl-siele
was too harsh an interpretation of that commute of
The next question which he touched upon Was
shed
barracks. He was quite ready to admit that in Wei la
gress of civilization there is much fault to be foun sat
the over crowded state of some of the barracke.o,
the fact of the matter was, that new times were aPPr ejer
ing for the army. Men of the old school did not cerl'sa",et
that the soldier could be better off than at the gr,,:teti
moment ; but the progress of public opinion inaw-ti,
that the accommodation to the army should be gee n et
extended, and that their wants should be looked t"tee
the earliest moment. The finances of the count* to
permit.—(Hear, hear.) He would not desireeno
do away with the canteens, but he would Prise
to put them under better regulations, and "(toe
was no reason why the canteen room should not
OiS
one of recreation for the men during leisure hours. ef'
Hun. Friend complained of the accommodatlellsteil
forded to married men. It was no doubt to be regreeeee
that far better provision was not afforded ; but the Were
Lion was one of a very delicate nature, If theree, the
only a certain number of married women allowed 'op
army for the necessary domestic arranges:tease.' lOC
then, he considered that they were bound to Sy" 130,
they were maintained in a respectful mannered
with regard to those soldiers who o'olol
without the leave of their commanding t
cers, he was very sorry to say Oa {or
would be most injudicious to afford faciliiowo
such a practice—(Hear hear)— and though h
elesseliefl
blushed at the little convenience afforded to the isee,
women, yet he was rot prepared to advise any lord
tinder the circumstances he alluded to.--(flear, oee!
With regard to another point, namely, the pas siege
in the brevet of such officers as had entered Orreire
pay, he would only say that, if it was otherwise, nt tiOe'
ment upon full pay would not be permitted e% net
der very extraordinary circumstances. With re.hy, tto artillery officers and engineers being ineligt"
being placed upon the staff, he would obserrureof
such was not the fact. There were oel
instances to the contrary. He remernberehier 0
case where an officer of artillery was Gevel'oetP
Quebec, and had many regiments under his coo:11,1
several instances of the same kind had 0011;00:
Ireland. There remained only seventeen or P• 00 0
cases in which any doubt existed, but of these se t °sit
eight more were granted, leaving at this monien.k.
nine or ten officers who were promoted under !cub ledbrevet, who had not received the reward to willed tlif,
were entitled. On his entering into office be for11"sor the
a warrant had been prepared by
payment of these pensions. Ttiat warrant as
and
to the public as any Act of Parliament, ea,
the army could not be kept in suspense or doulonsgce4
that warrant the pay of unattached general r"'"
was granted. In 1814 that principle visl 111,
forward, but was found to be too expensive',
his predecewssang
si fro
1822 an alteration eras made which ,1100
the system almost upon its present rgir 13'
Several alterations were made until 1844, when 001
Hardinge framed a warrant with reference to thdeo,
then before the House. It explained, on more elettlilesnill°
specific terms, what the services were which wont% ore
officers to the benefit of unattached pay. If ther tef
any gallant officers who did not come within theitieslr
lations of that warrant, but who were really en`reeol:;
good service pensions from the State, upon the BO f
mendation of the commanding officer, would coneot roCi
within its benefit as to receive the pay or 4°Gell
annum. Tbe only other point which hie edorio
Friend had touched upon, was the system °4O
tion in the army. That was a wide r 00Or•
ciiscuse ; but, in the present state of the „wird,
it would not be advisable to start so in)°,:eiaere
topic. His Noble Friend at the head of the Gore;eooo,e
and the Commander-in-Chief, had been in coorroayle'r
tion on this subject, and in a short time step' etOdo
taken to establish a proper examination fm. offieeerid, Poi
ing a higher rank than they had forme-11Y h, 013 so
Hon. Friend had further stated that there Su °4o,i
some le
place for the education of the children ofed
and non-commissioned officers. There was ,1110110,
already established where the orphans of those rr eaoo,
died in action, and of those who had served thelksyle„o,
try, were educated—that was the Royal Military peeks
There was also the Royal Hibernian Asylum is Ole
which was devoted to the same purpose, an Abbe
was found to be most effi ctive in its operati° ,t e
question, however, was one which could 11'r' df
to be entertained by the Government, and Preeroe see
sures sures adopted to effect the object which his "-:led
Gallant Friend so much desired. He entre7strori)
[louse to place that confidence in the Adiniel it Y
which he thought it deserved, by the measeres
already adopted. 0010
Colonel LINDSAY wished to make a fee,' nee ad
upon what had fallen from his Rie;lit Hon. Fr'e,bet
Right Hon. Friend was wrong in saying TorOdt
women, or wives of soldiers, were kept in the the hvir
in London, for there was barely room for teed
themselves. He thought that the ventilation inelesOte
rack-rooms was badly effected, for the men freer'"
complained of the lassitude induced by the lnirosoilie,if
mosphere in which they slept. There was also Cp. Ilia-00
able difficulty in the men obtaining lodgings ,Lee, 40' If
wives at a price commensurate with their 050
many of the teen, in order to save their wives frei BFir/e4
lived, or starved, themselves upon bread and b.O
There was another hardship to which the seltliebe solo
exposed. Though the allowance to them Enighteleo9
cient for them in a single state, they had e° 119
meet any extra expense that might be incurred ,efe,o
in a married state. If a wife or child died, theno Nelf"
the same expense as a civilian; yet there wag these,
whatever made for the contingency. He
tention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fox eOOO
to this circumstance, with the hope that he "ilsoldiltd
remedied. He further thought that those
~„0,
whose case Lad been brought forward by the Otivtledors
Gallant Member for Westminster, were fairly et se
consideration and redress. He would conclart4.l.ool
serving that of all the grievances brought feir-n-er
night, none was so much entitled to the attentie- sji
Government as the case of the married soldiertn
.4 Se
Mr. HUME wished to make a few obserYstil;er
had at an earlier period of the night objected tna",As
vet as an expensive and useless affair, and the .7,0111 t,
Gallant General objected to what he said, 1),"01,50.
would appear from his speech that that brevet lie ‘,lO
most unfair and one-sided. In reply to hin39 ,001"001
Hume) would say that he was as anxious as henelrlAt
for the real welfare of the soldiers, but he et- rig'
agree to the abuses which existed in the artni:bet
in the service there were 368 generals, while be.
jl
were in active service. This ought not lid be 00
hoped that the condition of the soldier vv°e. 00611
proved, especially in regard to ventilation, sea. l'etu,
health of the army might be kept unimpaire pro 30'
he would do all justice to the active service he:Fel set'
against the inefficient portion. At present th,neJeieool
the efficient service 4,175,0001, while the inel'er,
vice cost 2.150,0001., or one-half of the fornlthet
brevet of last year alone cost 250,000/., an I/o°oi
given entirely to the inefficient service. )•;`b be of
abives as these that he objected to, and wh'efjoe'l tl°
always opposed. He entirely agreed with .Onothe ',l
Gallant General as to the defective educatlue
army, and hoped that the Government would , ge°
sures to have it redressed.
hieh
Mr. WILLIAMS said the harmony wre-es ye",
among the officers of the army in t"-ii to 00'
appeared most extraordinary. They seemed 0, etre se
, tee e
that there was nothing right in its presentteied o'
The Hon. and Gallant General had coinplaL",,-0, l!„010.';
present amount of half-pay, when the fact' wihe wl;
equal to one third of the whole sum paid for Owe"
tenance of the army. The Hon. and Gallsl tordsl
complained that no accommodation was We'd 1:0e,,
soldiers' wives ; he (Mr. Williams) wood 00AV:
attention of military gentlemen in that Iluescsoioegs
been directed to the hundreds of thousands cce0)111
beings in the country, who had not only life'f
co;
tion, but who wanted the bare necessaries Berg 00
(Mr. Williams) did complain that the sheoff tel
Guards were immoderately paid for icedt jor'
. I
trivial services. Certain gallant men had r 1110 [JO
selves to high and honourable vositions, lelirn);0000
and Gallant Frinel e,eite hue stir bteiog
these gentlemen of the Guards, witnout Olivet)
service, worthy of the name, without basil, 00:00
out of the metropolis, were entitled to rob,bo
veterans of the line. When a gentleman in

obtained the title of Captain, be was entitled to rank
with the Colonels of the other regiments. It was against
this system that he (Mr. William) entered his protest
eese protest that was of double force in the present cir-
cumstances of the country.
Captain PECHELL referred to the naval force at
present employed on the coast of Africa, for the sup-
pression of the slave trade, which was alleged to he
combined with the American and the French navies, for
that purpose, and thought that it was extraordinary, to
say the least of it, that no documents had been laid
before the House, to show how this object was carried
out, and whether any irregularities had arisen from joint
captures by the three countries. Considering the arduous
duties, and the fearful risk of life which the officers
and men on that station had to undergo, he could not
conceal his indignation at the wholesale sysh m of
plunder which was pursued by the Admiralty Court, at
the Cape, when called upon to adjudicate upon the prize-
Money which was due to them—the produce of the
captured slave vessels. He found that in a recent case
of this kind, a slave ship, the Diana, captured by one of
her Majesty's ships, sold for 5591. From this sum
2731. 17s. was deducted by the Admiralty Court, leaving
the captors only for their share 2851. 3s. The Hon. and
Gallant Member instanced other cases of the same kind.
Ile called on the Secretary of the Admiralty to see to
these things, and to put matters in such a train that
justi .e would be done to those men who risked their
lives an their country's service, on this pestilential coast.
Mr. WARD said that with respect to the first obser-
vation of the Hon. and Gallant Member, no joint cap-
tures had Net been made by the ships of the three
nations employed on the coast of Africa, and as re-
garded the system pursued by the Vice-Admiralty Court
at the Cape, he could assure the Hon. and Gallant
Member, and his assertion would be borne out by his
Hon. and Gallant Friend beside him, that no complaints
bad reached this country of mismanagement in the busi-
ness of these Courts. It was the desire of the Govern-
ment that every precaution should be adopted to preserve
the health of the officers and men employed on the coast
of Africa, and for that purpose steamers were employed
for the purpose of entering and exploring the rivers, and
such preventatives, against the influence of the climate as
'experience dictated, had been adopted. He could assure
the Hon. and Gallant Member that the circumstances
'which he had brought under the notice of the House
should have the utmost attention from the Government.
SUPPLY.
The House then went into Committee.
Mr. WARD said, that after the lengthened observa-
tions which had been made that nignf, and the discus-
sion which had already taken place on the naval estimates,
he did not intend to occupy their time, but would con-
tent himself by simply moving the remaining votes.
On the motion that 42,2704 be granted for the wages
of artificers and labourers employed in do...lyards abroad,
Mr. WILLIAMS said it appeared to him that the
naval department of the public service required more
looking into than any other, and seeing the great increase
from year to year, he had looked into the estimates for
the last fourteen years, and found that in the course of
that time the sum of 22,800,0004 had been expended in
the dockyards, including the building and repairing ships,
and purchase of stores. The country ought to be satis-
fied as to what had become of these enormous sums.
The Hon. Member then referred to a letter which ap-
peared yesterday in the columns of a morning paper,
signed J. Ryder Burton—an officer of judgment and ex-
perience, pointing out that unless the Admiralty arrested
the progress of the ships now building, it would be found
that they would be totally unfit to maintain their position
as blockading ships, or fight their guns in bad weather,
with a heavy sea; and complained that the Government
persevered in building those ships, notwithstanding the
evidence they had received on the subject from naval and
scientific men. He had thought it necessary to make
these remarks; but he confessed he had no hope of being
able to procure a reduction in the estimate this year.
Lord INGESTRIE must also add a hope that here-
after these estimates would be as much as possible eco-
nomised consistent with the due maintenance of the effi-
ciency of the service. He was rejoiced to see that the
Admiralty had improved the sytem of promotion in the
dock-yards, and he sincerely trusted the Admiralty would
not relax their efforts to encourage and advance the naval
architecture of the country. He should be glad to hear
from some Member of the Admiralty what was doing
with that class of ships known as the Albion class?
A variety of experiments had recently been made with
respect to the merits of different ships, and he had never
seen the report made by Admiral Sir H. Parker
on the first experimental squadron. He thought it of
the greatest importance that all the information that
could be obtained on these points should be laid before
the House. His position was that there were scien-
tific men available at the present moment who were able
to build better ships than the present surveyors. It was
certain that the steam vessels built by the present sur-
veyors were very defective in their construction. A
Committee had been appointed in 1844 to investigate
the merits of the different ships in the navy
and he wished to know if that analysis, which
be believed had been a careful one, would be
laid before the House. He hoped some tribu-
nal would be established by which real merit would be
encouraged. As the first maritime nation in the world,
they ought to have the best navy in the world, and this
could only be done by calling into requisition the scien-
tific resources of the nation. Before he sat down, he
wished to know if any ships had been sent to make a
survey of the coast of New Zealand ?
Mr. WARD said it would be to no purpose to expect
anything like an unanimous opinion with respect
to the merits of the Albion class of vessels. There
was as much diversity of opinion with regard to
shipbuilding, as there was with regard to religion ; and
the partisans of each system were quite es zealous in the
propagetion of their views, as the adherents of each re-
ligious sect. In reply to the Hon. Member's question,
he would say that he did not know that there was any
intention of the Admiralty of establishing the screw
principle. He felt very much obliged to the Hon.
Member for his suggestions, many of which had proved
most valuable.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir C. NAPIER was very glad that the House had at
last opened its eyes, for he had been endeavouring to
do so for the last five years. He did think that it was
a disgrace to the Admiralty to permit such vessels to be
used as the Albion and Aboukir, which rolled tremen-
dously, so that under a small weight of canvass they
could not fight their guns. Now, the three-
deckers which were at present on the stocks, it
was fair to presume, would roll equally if they were
built upon the plen of the surveyor's report. For the last
fifty years, all the vessels in the navy had been
built upon the plan of one or two persons,
whether that was right or wrong. The surveyor
should only report upon the timber and iron in the
ships, and the shipwrights in the different ports should
be allowed to construct vessels upon their own plans,
and they would have better vessels, as they would have
a competition between them.—(Elear, hear.) He did
not allude to steam vessels, as he had gone over that
part of the service so often that he would not trouble
the House again—but if thew wanted the return,
of the expenses of the Queen's yacht they would be per-
fectly astounded. They were tremendous. Yet in spite
of them they would have to give a new one, and he
would vote for it, as in her present one she had to get up
on a chair to look out of the windows.
The vote was then agreed to.
The next vote was 1,536,4981. for the expenses con-
tingent upon maritime stores.
Mr. HUME said that a great amount of money had
been wasted upon the construction of vessels. He con-
sidered that an enquiry was absolutely necessary.
Such an officer as Sir Wm. Symonds ought to
be removed, as, since he came into office,
10,000,000/. had been expended upon vessels,
and not one good one had been turned out.
For fifteen years this system of misrule had been carried
on, and he wanted the Government to declare what they
meant to do in redressing these matters. If the Hon.
and Gallant Admiral (Sir C. Napier) would take the
sense of the House on the question, the would certainly
vote with him on it. If he judged aright of the reports
which had been made to the Admiralty, they all con-
demned, in toto, the system pursued by Sir W. Symonds.
Now, what he wanted the Government to do, was to pro-
duce these reports to the House, and then it would be seen
what was really the truth. It was said that there had
not been a single ship turned out by Sir W. Symonds
but what had cost one-fourth of her original expense in
altering and improving her, to make her fit for service.
Captain BERKELEY did not rise to defend the Ad-
miralty generally, but he rose to defend Sir William
Symonds from the attacks made upon him. Lie would
call the attention of the House to the fact, that both
during the late, as well as the present Admiralty, the
greatest compliment had been paid that gentleman for
the ships he had constructed. It had been said that he
bad turned out no good ships, but, in answer to that, he
would point out the Vernon and Cleopatra, two of the
finest ever launched.

Lord INGESTRE thought there were many things
in the navy that required full inquiry into, and in order
to do so, a Committee ought to be appointed. But it
should be a full and searching inquiry, that all the facts
might be brought out.
Sir C. NAPIER said he would move, in place of the
sum proposed by the Government, as an amendment,
that it be 1,500,0001. In doing so, he would remark
that in his observations he confined himself to Sir Wil-
liam Symond's line of battle ships alone, and not to his
small vessels or frigates, to which he had paid bat little

attention.
Captain PECHELL defended Sir Wm. Symonds from
the attacks made upon him. During the American war
they endured the greatest mortification, because their
ships did not equal in sailing qualities the ships of their
opponents. But now, thanks to Sir W. Symonds, their
navy was wonderfully improved in this particular. Let
them compare them with the French navy. Why, Prince
de Joinville, in his report, declared that even a smart
breeze paralysed half the guns of their three
deckers, and this could scarcely be alleged against
the British ships. He did not know what was the ob-
ject of the G allant Admiral in this amendment, but he
(Captain Pechell) for one, would not vote against the
ropes or the canvass, or any other of the naval stores,
merely because he wished to pass some censure on Sir
William Symonds. While on this subject he would wish
to know what the Government intended to do with a
very valuable invention by a gentleman (Mr. Jeffrey) for
the caulking of ships ? It was a most useful discovery,
and one calculated to save a very great sum to Govern-
ment.
Mr. WARD said that the marine glue had given very
great aatisfaction, and he hoped that it would receive
the favourable consideration of the House at some future
period.
Sir C. NAPIER said that lion. Gentlemen seemed to
consider that his amendment was intended as a sort of
censure on Sir W. Symonds. He intended it for no-
thing of the kind. All he desired was, to express
his disapprobation of the manner in which the public
• stores had been wasted for years past. He had cer-
tainly expressed hi_, opiniou.of Sir William Synaonds
mode of building ships of the line, but he bad done so
Candidly and openly. He would not on this occasion

I put the House to the trouble of dividing, if the Secre-
tary to the Admiralty would give the House some hope
that a Committee would be afterwards appointed to exa-
mine into this subject.
Mr. WARD could not give any hope of the kind.
If the evil existed to which the Gallant Admiral re-
ferred, the present Board of Admiralty would endea-
vour to remedy it, but he saw no necessity for a Com-
mittee, and he could hold out no promise that such would
be appointed.
The vote was then agreed to.
A vote of 559,6001. for new works, improvements, and
repairs in naval stations was agreed to.
The sum of 22.839/. for medical stores, was also
agreed to.
The sum of 59,8471. for miscellaneous services was
agreed to.
On the vote of 725,788/. to defray the charge of the
half-pay of officers of the navy and marines,
Mr. HUME objected to the system of promotion.
Eie thought that no favour whatever should be ex-
hibited, but that merit alone should be the passport to
promotion.
Admiral DUNDAS defended the course the Govern-
ment adopted, and maintained that they had adhered to
former precedents.
Captain PECIIELL complained that the masters on
board of her Majesty's vessels were not properly con-
sidered. Although they ranked with a lieutenant, they
were subordinate to each of the lieutenants, and in case
of the death or accidental removal of one of the lieu-
tenants, a midshipman would be chosen to supply his
place in the room of any of the masters.
Mr. CRAVEN BERKELEY Laid, that he acknow-
ledged the utility and the claims of the masters, but he
thought that the sphere which they then occupied, was
the best calculated for the display of their powers, The
highest ranks in the service were still open to them.
After a few words from Captain GORDON and Admiral
DIINDAB.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER said that he could not
agree with his Gallant Friend the Member for Glou-
cester, for he thought that the masters were not
in their proper sphere. They were liable to be under
the command of a mere boy, whose knowledge in the
service could net be compared for a moment with theirs.
He could mention many instances, in which younger and
less experienced individuals had been promoted over the
heads of old officers of this description.
The vote was then agreed to.
A vote of 486,4471. to defray the charges of military
pensions, was then agreed to ; also, a vote of 153,4581
for civil pensions.
The following votes were also agreed to:—
A vote of 243,2021., to defray the expense of tran-
sports and the conveyance of troops and stores.
A vote of 21,674/., to defray the expenses of main-
taining and conveying convicts.
A vote of 564,3771, for the packet service and Post-
office expenses.
The House then resumed, and Mr. GREENE reported
progress.

ARMY SERVICE BILL.
The report of the Army Service Bill was brought up
and received, and ordered to be read a third time on
Thursday next.
HARBOURS, DOCKS, AND PIERS CLAUSES
BILL.
This Bill was read a third time, and passed.
REGISTERING BIRTHS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Captain GORDON trusted the Lord Advocate would
postpone the Registering Births, &c. (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill was postponed.
EXCHEQUER BILLS (18,310,700/.) BILL.
This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed to-morrow, (this day).
PORTLAND HARBOUR OF REFUGE, &c., BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
PAYMENTS OF RATES AND TAXES BY
ELECTORS.
Sir DE LACY EVANS moved for leave to bring
in a Bill for the regulation of the payments of rates and
taxes by Parliamentary electors. —Granted.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of,
and the House adjourned at a Quarter past One o'clock.

HOW EVIL SHOULD BE TURNED INTO BLESSINGS.

—We have already said that our towns ought to be
looked upon as so many gigantic farmsteads ; that
they should, in fact, bear the same relation to the
surrounding country which the farm-yard does to
the farm. Is it not strange that this obvious ana
logy should have so long escaped notice ? and that
when the proposition is announced, it should sound
strange in our ears? But so it does, and will continue to
do, till we condescend to pay more attention than we have
hitherto done to the merely physical part of man's com-
pound nature. This body—what is it but a furnace of
flesh in which, as in other animal bodies, the watery parts
of our food are evaporated, the charcoal burned away,
and the ashes discharged ?—the products of combus-
tion going to reinforce the ocean of aerial manure, the
ashes to be used or wasted as man in his wisdom or loll)
shall decree. That which passes into the air cannot but
be put to its proper use. Nature, who wastes nothing
takes care of that; but man, foolish man! misunderstand-
ing the intent of providence in endowing those ashes with
offensive properties, treats them as mere waste, and is
but too happy if he can see them blackening the pure
stream in their way to the ocean. Or, not content
with merely wasting that which ought to be most scru-
pulously saved, he adds to the sin of extravagance the
greater crime of so'disposing of these ashes, that they
become the prolific source of disease. Thus, that which
should be the material of food for the support of man's
life, is converted into an active poison for its destruction.
—People's Journal.
THE DUKE'S STATUE AS THE COMMITTEE DESIRED
IT.—The consummation of the Committee's hopes (the
removal of the scaffolding, and a waste of a little more
money), seems likely, if anything in this world can
do so, to open their eyes, so long wilfully blinded.
Every spar that is taken down makes the monstrous
disproportion of statue to arch, the former being
looked at as a part of the latter, more evident,
and the height and impropriety of the arch as a pedestal
merely, if it is to be so considered, more glaring. The
proceedings here have been so discreditable to us as a
nation, in an artistical point of view, that we blush when
reflecting on them. How much longer the farce is to be
played seems uncertain. It must be much more to the
amusement of neighbouring nations than ourselves.—
The Builder.
BARRA, SOUTH UIST, AND BENDEC UL A. —We
learn from a private source, that a stringent but neces-
sary measure is to be adopted with respect to the poor
on the estates of Colonel Gordon, of Cluny, in the West
Highlands. The Board of Supervision for the poor, in
Edinburgh, are in course of appointing a commissioner
to proceed to the islands of Barra, South Uist, and Ben-
becula, for the purpose of taking cognisance of the state
of the inhabitants. His object will be to place upon the
poor's roll such persons as are entitled to temporary or
permanent relief, and along with the commissioner will
be sent a supply of meal and provisions for distribution
among the paupers. The supplies judged necessary by
the commissioner arid the additional burden imposed by
the operation of the poor-law will be laid upon the pro-
prietor. According to the statute the commissioner in
such cases must be a member of the Scottish bar, and
we have no doubt a gentleman will be selected who will
arbitrate fairly between the owner and the people of
those islands—between the duties and the rights of pro-
perty.—lnverness Courier.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH.--MANCHESTER, APRIL 10.
—This morning, about six o'clock, a respectably dressed
man was found in the drain or sewer at the side of the
Liverpool and Manchester Railway, near the Weast-lane
station, quite dead. In his left hand was found a third-
class ticket, from which it appeared that the deceased
was booke:l at Liverpool for Manchester, and must have
left by the third-class train, which leaves Liverpool at
half-past six P.M. The only way in which this accident
can be accounted for is, that the deceased must have
jumped out of the carriage before the train stopped at
the Weast-lane station, or that he was drunk and fell
out. The latter, however, is improbable, as some of his
fellow-passengers must have noticed such an event, wifo'r
does not appear to have been the case.
ACCIDENT AT TWICKENHAM.—On Saturday after-
noon Mr. Wakley, M.P., coroner, held an inquest at the
Prince Blucher Arms, Twickenham-common, on the
body of Frederick Nicklewright, aged 50 years, bailiff
to Sir William Clay, Bart., MP. From the evidence it
appeared that the deceased hail been in the service of
Sir William Clay for the last twenty years. About four
years ago bir William Clay purchased the property
known as Fulwell Lodge, Twickenham, which consisted
of the mills and a farm. The mills were subsequently
let, and Sir William Clay placed on the farm a thresh-
ing machine, which was worked by the water-wheel of
the mills. On the morning of Thursday last the de-
ceased went to the premises to set the machine in mo-
tion, and was drawn therein, and before assistance could
be rendered him he was almost literally torn into pieces.
The only person present at the time was a boy of the
name of Brenchley, who hastened for assistance, which
was promptly obtained, but not in time to save de-
ceased's life. When extricated the body presented a
most frightful appearance, the head being completely
severed from the body, the heart, liver, and lungs liter-
ally torn out, and the legs and thighs broken. The evi-
dence clearly showing that no person was to blame but
the deceased himself, the jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental death."

INCRLASB IN THE PRICE OF PROVISIONS.—A con-
siderable advance has taken place within the last week in
the retail prices of butcher's meat, bacon, pork, &c.,
althougt no visible increase can be perceived in the prices
obtained in the wholesale markets. In Clare-market,
Newport- market, Oxford-street, and the vicinities, New-
cut, and Lambeth- walk, the prices usually asked and
obtained are as follows:—Breasts and necks of mutton,
6d. to 64d. per lb.; shoulders, 6id.; legs, 7d. to 7id. per
lb., being an advance of a penny, and in some instances
lid. in the lb. Beef has advanced a penny in the lb.,
and a similar increase has taken place in dairy-fed and
Berwick pork; the rise in bacon is lid. per lb. American
provisions have also advanced in price, the only article
remaining stationary being cheese. The prices of
vegetables, particularly potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and
turnips, have so much increased, that it is an impossi-
bility for the poorer classes to purchase; potatoes sell at
lid. to 3d. per lb.; those at 2d are scarcely edible, and,
in consequence of the quantity obliged to be cut away,
the price is increased to nearly sd. per lb.
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following
gentlemen having undergone the m cessary examinations
for the diplomas of this College, were admitted members
at the last meeting of the Court of Examiners, viz.:—
Messrs. Ernest Powell Wilkins, Newport, Isle of
Wight ; Edward Lund, London ; Charles Jones Gihb,
Newcastle-upon• Tyne ; Richard Jones, Brackley, Nor-
thamptonshire ; Claude Mackechnie, St. Kitt's, West
Indies ; Wm. Edward Hayman, Judd-street, Brunswick-
square; Richard Budd Painter, 13roudway,Westminster;
John Hanston Prosser, Clonmel; and Walter Battershell
Gill, Leominster, Here:,-.,rdbbir.. At the same meeting
Mr. John Gallagher, a member of the Edinburgh Col-
lege, passed his examination for naval surgeon.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON
COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31.
After the transaction of the ordinary business,
Mr. FRANCIS BENNOCH rose and taid, it wes now
his duty and his privilege to introduce to that Honour-
tilA Court a motion of surpassing Interest—one which
related to a matter in which was involved the happiness of
millions, and the success and the continued prosperity
he believed, of the Empire. The motion had been oe
the business paper for a considerable period; but he had
been prevented by various matters from brinein,
earlier forward. Had this not been the case, the ik)r-
poration of London might have, ere this, uiscussed ctu
great question of education, which was now agitatini.
the public mind, instead of discussing it at a perioi
when some of the effects which might have been derived
from such a discussion might have been lost. This was
to be attributed to certain unhappy circumstances to
which he could not further allude, because they were
well known, and duly appreciated by the member, o
the Court. But it was a great gratification to know
that, in discussing the question of education, they could
approach it deliberately and consider it calmly, withou;
agitation of an obnoxious character, and without any 0,
those feelings which would prevent them from doing ful:
justice to the question. The motion which he had to pro-
pose was:--"'That the state of education in Grea'
Britain and Ireland is confessedly deficient and lament-
ably defective. That the existence of so much ignoranc,
is a reproach to the nation, and greatly to be deplored;
inasmuch, as poverty, destitution, misery, and crime are.
if not the consequence of it, seldom found dissociatec
from it. As the means hitherto employed for th;
increase of knowledge among the people havt
proved insufficient for the necessities of the popu,
lotion, the assistance of the State becomes an
imperative necessity.—(Cheers.) It is not onl,
an act of justice and mercy, but also to the interes!,
safety, and security of society, that no subject with ii
these realms should longer continue without the oppor-
tunity of mental enlightenment, as a means of moral
elevation and mental improvement. That an hunabl,
address, based upon the foregoing considerations, be
presented to her Majesty the Queen, praying that
she will be graciously pleased to exercise ever 3
legitimate influence vested in the Crown to urge
forward in Parliameat such measures as than pro-
vide for the general education of the people." The
motion partook more of the nature of a petition
than of an ordinary motion, and somewhat argued th(
question. He had so worded it in order that no one
might attend without being perfectly confident o'
the whole of the arguments, which he should feel it his
duty to make. With him it was no new queAticn, as it
was one which he had discussed and debated on all
fitting opportunities during the last 12 or 15 years--
nay, more, he was instrumental, and in fact responsibl;
for a course of lectures which were delivered in London
ten ye ars, by a gentleman who was at that time one o
the most popular writers on the subject. He was glad be
was enabled to bring four or five Peers, and twelve or fif-
teen Members of Parliament to listen to them ; but h,
had to regret that he was unable to interest the then Lon
Lord Mayor on the subject of the promotion of educe•
tion. He wrote and waited upon him; but he woulc
neither countenance by his presence, nor patronis,
with his name, the series of lectures on t:tis impor•
tent subject; believing, as be said, that they were in
tended "for the promulgation of some unimportant sub.
ject some new fangled doctrine likely to disturt
the public peace and the safety of society."—(Name,
name.) He would tell them. He alluded to Alder-
man Wilson. From that time he confessed that hi,
heretofore profound reverence for the Lord Mayor and de
Court of Aldermen began to diminish ; but his opinion:.
had of late years been much modified, and there wee;
many who had filled the high office of mayor for whom,
he entertained much respect. But to come to the sub
ject of education. The necessity for education was, le
believed, conceded.—(llear.) There had been a demand
for education almost since the first existence of society
They recollected the saying of one whom they all reve
rented—" Go and teach all nations." It was the firs;
law of nature, for even the brutes must be tutored be
fore they could perform their daily tasks. Thus savag,
man i❑ his turn must yield before civilised man.
and a civilised man was only produced
educ ition. Were man a mere animal, he would requir;
littl education, because his instinct would be sufficient t;
provide for him his daily food, as that would be all le
would require. But he _ was _ gifted with intellectu?

qualities, the power and knowledge of judging and c
discussing, added to which was his moral nature, whict

controlled the other qu tlities, which, without it
aid, might prove injurious. Therefore it was eviden
that any education which did not embrace the (lc velop
meat of these three qualities, was inferior as a scheme o
national education. The labourer in the fields re•

quired probably the least education, but stil
he required education, because it was a knowledge
of the instruments he wielded which gave him power

over the soil he digs ; it was education that taught the
higher man gifted with a greater intellect the way t,
produce the most intricate machinery—to have edutAtioi,
was all• important—because it gave him his peculiarly
distinguishing feature. Thus in every stage of life i
demonstrated the ne'essity for education. By it the
early lispings of childhood are invested with intelligence
Through boyhood that intelligence becomes expanded.
until in manhood, the student can draw from the wells o

the knowledge which exalteth, and in his retirement
hold sweet communion with the rays of antiquity, whose
spirits are enshrined in books, and this surely is one of the
highest prerogatives of man. The motion which he had Vl*
honour to propose divided itself into three parts—first
the deficiency of education, next the defectiveness o.
education, and lastly the consequences of this deficiency
and defectiveness, and the necessity for the adoption o
some different system. He intended to compress his
facts and arguments into the smallest compass
consistent with the magnitude and importance
of the subject. To prove the deficiency of education, lit
should refer to reports, and other documents of unques-
tionable data. In 1833 he found that the population o:
this country was 14,400,000—that there were 3,600,00 t.
of the population between the ages of five and fifteen—
that there were 1,200,000 day-scholars between thos(
ages, 2,400,000 attending no day-school—that 1,548,000
attended Sunday-schools, 548,000 only being in tin
habit of attending day-schools. The result came to this
that out of that number, 1,000,000 :were Sunday-school
scholars, 1,200,000 day, and that 1,400,000 were in total
ignoraiice, without an atom of education. Thus above
one-third went to day-schools; less than one-third t,
Sunday schools, and over one-third to no school at all
More than one-third of all the children of this vas;
empire, between the ages of five and fifteen, are without
any means of education whatever 7.--( Hear, hear.) Bu
the reports published in 1844, proved that the state o
education, at that time, was worse rather than better
That was, the general character of education. Th,
particular character was somewhat more remarkable. It
his estimation, statistics proved everything ; but soul
were of opinion that anything might be proved 1)1
statistics ; but here they were undoubted as they wee(
collected by parties employed by the Government,
and by educational societies ; the results thus collecte:
demonstrated, that instead of showing the darkest silt
of the picture, the actual state of things, previous e
these inquiries, had been much underrated. In Man-
chester, there were 50,000 children between five anc
fifteen, 10,000 of whom attended day schools, 23,00(
Sunday, and 17,000 attended no school at all. Salford
was the same. Liverpool was worse, as fully one-hal
were without the means of education. Hull, York,
and Bristol presented the same results, and were al'
equally bad. The lion. and Rev. Baptist Noel, whop
everybody respected, telt so much interest in the sub-
ject, that he made a private inspection of severs,
schools, in order to ascertain whether the Government
reports were, or were not, correct, and he found that
no exaggeration had taken place, and that thk
state of education was as had been represented.
Mr. Bennoch read a number of other extracts, showink

the same result. By a report made by Lord Kerry, ii
appeared that there were 2 664 parishes and hamlets,
wholly destitute of schools ; 1,042 possessed Sunday.
but no day, schools, making a total of 3,706 without
day-school of any description.—(Shame.) It was a
palpable shame that such a state of things should be
allowed to exist. With respect to many of the rural
alsei
might
toomppaili
districts, from a return published by the Registrai-
titrhimantaidmoitneyslLosnraeornhgeahpl
that Gen marriedetrahil Registrar-
General,
icouldatraopspalgafnrroetmdh e
timidity—(Laughter)—as
in such a situation were apt to get exceedingly
nervous ; but why they should be timid and nervous in
the most honourable act of their whole lives, be was
wholly at a loss to know.—(Laughter.) It also ap-
peared that 8,000,000 of the population could not write,
and that 5,000,000 could not read. Then, with respect
to the schoolmaster. It had been shown and proved
by competent authorities, that the care of the rising
generation was, in the majority of cases, confided to the
care of those who had failed m all other pursuits ; and
that the schoolmaster was the lowest, instead of being
the highest and most respected occupation in the
kingdom.—(Hear.) The greatest number of schools
in the large towns were these day and dame schools,
but from certain reports which had been published, they
would perceive how monstrously defective was the
system of education pursued in them. He found
extracts from these reports collected in an excellent
article on education in the last number of the British
Quarterly Review. With respect to those schools he found
a report of the Hon. and Rev. B. Noel, stating that—
"ln Liverpool, with few exceptions, the dame schools
are dark and confined; many are damp and dirty; more
than one-half of them are used as dwelling, dormitory, and
school-room, accomodating, in many cases, families of seven
or eight persons. Above forty of them are cellars.
"In Manchester, the greater part of them are kept by
females, but some by old men, whose only qualification for
this employment seems their unfitness for any other. Many
of these teachers are engaged at the same time in some other
employment, such as shopkeeping, sewing, washing, &c.,
which renders any regular instruction among their scholars
absolutely impossible. Indeed, neither parents nor teachers
seemed to consider this as the principal object in sending the
children to these schools, but generally say that they go
there in order to be taken care of, and to be out of the way
at home."

And with respect to common schools:—
"It was a room on the ground-floor, up a dark and narrow
entry, and about twelve feet square. Here forty-three boys
and girls were assembled, of all ages, from five to fifteen.
Patches of paper were pasted over the broken panes of the
one small window, before which also sat the master, inter-
cepting the few rays of light which would otherwise have
crept into the gloom. Although it was in August, the win-
dow was closed, and a fire added to the animal
heat, which radiated from every part of the crowded
chamber. In front of the fire,- and as near to it as a
joint on the spit, a row of children sat, with their faces
towards the master and their backs to the furnace. By this
living screen, the master, though still perspiring copiously,
was some*hat sheltered from the intolerable heat. As
another measure of relief amidst the oppression of the steam-
ing atmosphere, he had also laid aside his coat."
This was a perfect sample of them all. But let them
look at the condition of the National and British
Schools—
The great majority of the patrons and conductors of the