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

PRISONS (IRELAND) BILL.

The report on this Bill was brought up and received.
After the transaction of some other business the
:ouse adjourned.

The Countess of Lonsdale steamer arrived in the
river early yesterday morning, with the Hamburgh mail.
13omat EXPLOSIONS.—We have, before this, urged

the necessity of some supervision of boilers. Scarcely a
w,ek posies without the occurrence of an accident, as
well with new boilers as with old ones. Every new
boiler should be tested by a responsible inspector.—The
Builder.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE C)1 COMMONS. April 12.
ADDRESS TO HER M AJESTY.-REGULATIONS
IN THE ARMY.

Sir DE LACY EVANS begged, on going into Com-
mittee ot 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 gem ral 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, ❑o similar or proportionate allowanCe being
made tur 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 c ,tnniutation of their pensions offered by a
aarrent issued titan the War Office in 1832, which they
acre unfortunately induced to accept, through delusive
promises emanatiug from authority—the warrant res-
recting 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 commissions 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, occasioned by service with their regiments or on
the staff, have reluctantly aceeleed the retired pay
offered ,by the warrant of ()et ber, 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 favour extended to their brother officers similarly
situated on the retired lists of ail 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 India Company's army, who
may have distinguished themselves by their ability and
conduct, should be deemed ineligible for appointments
OD 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 recce 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 had
endeavoured to make amends 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 to
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. He was quite sure that
the House was anxious to contribute to the well-
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 ether
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 eases 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 he 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 e supplementary list would
be brought it. If he were correct, he trusted that the
deficiency would be altered, and that some means
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 bad 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
:he ditla-rent 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 be
considered. To this he might say, public rights had cer-
tainly their due, but they might obtain much more than
their due, and he was very glad to see that the service
had been very ready to avail themselves of the assistance
of Lord Metcalfe, who had evidently shown
the benefit that the assistance a civilian might
be of to the country in the regulation 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 as much, 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
thatat
of
active service. Then as to expense, his Hon. Friend
,sety4i-
(u,i,erda
farto exceededthin k t h
oexthpeerucseounoit.rieths,esbeutgerneearliayl
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 SOO 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 he considered the
principle of the warrant to be most unjust. No less than
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

,f

had frequently distinguished themselves in the service 0,
their country. It was his decided opinion, that all offi-
cers who had attained a particular rank, ought to be
entitled to receive the minimum retiring alloivane!
until
attached to their respective ranks, and
that system were established, much injustice
would be done to the officers of the British aril.
He saw no reason why some provision should not be,
made for the education of the sons of non-commisionee,
officers as well as the sons of commissioned officers. II
a gentleman of private fortune sent his son to be edit:
cated for the army, he had the means at his commas's
to give that education, but with the poor man this west
impossible, unless some increased facility were given
3
Sandhurst or elsewhere, for that purpose. He was 5°1.11
to trespass so long on the attention of the House, bit::
the importance of the subject was his apology, and f
hoped the details he had given would have the effect o
drawing attention to the subject. Steam had completehlfe
changed everything relating to the art of war, and
hosed her Majesty's Goren ment w uld direct their
attenti n to improve the natiensl defences, otherwise tbe_
mest disastrous results might follow should an WORM
01 k his country ever be attempted.
all the
Ai r. FOX MAULE was afraid if he alluded to
dcbste his Noble Friend brought before the House, be
would take up a larger portion of their time than tbeld
would be inclined to afford him. His Hon. Friend b
referred to rations, pensions, barracks, and almost evege
subject comprehended under military discipline. e
ought, however, to consider that in carrying out thes•
regulations the Government had to look to other consv
&rations as well as the improvement of the army. 1, 111
had to look to the state of the finances, and to the oar",
which the other branches of the public service lied
them. The first subject to which his lion. Friend called
attention was rations. With regard to that, he beliera
that the mode adopted in the service might not lie
cases be an equitable arrangement.—(Hear, hear.) the
subject had been brought under the attention 0' ''..s
Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the close of the lays
session, but when the House recollected the manY,et of
considerations, which of late demanded the attention
that Right Hon. Gentleman, they would not be surf
that ho had not yet come to any decision on it. heel
spirit ration he was happy to say had --pa.
done away with in every colony, with the ele"'
tion of Australia and New Zealand, and he was bap"'
to say that the most beneficial results had folloWe is
Some discontent had been manifested by a reginl,entdiS
Australia, with regard to the rum ration. And ilessse
not think that the military authorities there had u7s,
wholly exempt from blame in reference to the eireillho
stances connected with that. He trusted, however; :het
the discontent would be amicably put an end to, and `bet
in future matters would proceed in that colony on do
same footing as the other colonies. With regard ta.,'-a
commutation of the pension, he thought, that to r;
it was an act of fraud committed on the pantie uo'
was too harsh an interpretation of that commets-°of
The next question which he touched upon was tbet,
barracks. He was quite ready to admit that in therio
gress of civilization there is much fault to be feu° saf
the over crowded state of some of the barracks.
the fact of the matter was, that new times were apPrrd er
ing for the army. Men of the old school did not e0125,,,' ot
that the soldier could be better off than at the P!° sod
moment ; but the progress of public opinion illarto
that the accommodation to the army should be gr: si
extended, and that their wants should be looked 'lee,
the earliest moment. The finances of the countrP to
permit.—(Hear, hear.) He would not dis'ers
do away with the canteens, but he would Pre, ere
to put them under better regulations, and NO
was no reason why the canteen room should not ilil
one of recreation for the men during leisure hours' of,
Hon. Friend complained of the accommodatientol
forded to married men. It was no doubt to be regreser
that far better provision was not afforded ; but the Here
tion was one of a very delicate nature. If tberejilis
only a certain number of married women allowed 'op
army for the necessary domestic arrangements, that
then, he considered that they were bound to see oat,
they were maintained in a respectful manner.o' 001
with regard to those soldiers who A.
without the leave of their commanding 't it
cers, he was very sorry to say !II:is for
would be most injudicious to afford itself:JAl
such a practice—(llear hear)— and though u.orieu
blushed at the little convenience afforded to the "'Ala;
women, yet he was not prepared to advise fill bear,)
under the circumstances he alluded to.—(Gear' over
over
With regard to another point, namely, the passi
~ fail
in the brevet of such officers as had entered ore-tior
pay, he would only say that, if it was otherwise, rt 00'
ment upon full pay would not be permitted exeeireets
der very extraordinary circumstances. With re.beie ts
to artillery officers and engineers being ineligis shill
being placed upon the staff, he would observ-osei
such was not the fact. There were 1 oilt
instances to the contrary. He rememberether of
case where an officer of artillery was Gever°ooo4;
Quebec, and had many regiments under his cons d 10
sere ral instances of the same kind had c'eeurreotee°
Ireland. There remained only seventeen or liineo or
cases in which any doubt existed, but of these se v eolf
eight more were granted, leaving at this taoraene lest
nine or ten officers who were promoted under tb thef
brevet, who had not received the reward to which, that
were entitled. On his entering into office he found she
a warrant had been prepared by his predecessor Mote
payment of these pensions. Teat warrant was at
to to the public as any Act of Parliament, and therwiff
thatth e army could
warrant
hneo t
rbaeyof unattached
kept in suspense or doubtioo
general o ~01
was granted. In 1814 that principle was ris
forward, but was found to be too expensive. d
1822 an alteration was made which Pliisicot
the system almost upon its present fge„" Jae
Several alterations were made until 1844, when Pi;00
Hardinge framed a warrant with reference to the , gol
then before the House. It explained, on more details title
specific terms, what the services were which would emote,
officers to the benefit of unattached pay. If tkererf
any gallant officers who did not come within tbi,a to
lations of that warrant, but who were really ent) iseaoar
good service pensions from the State, upon the 'so for
mendation of the commanding officer, wouloft, per
within its benefit as to receive the pay . Gall a 9
annum. The only other point which his sdi
Friend had touched upon, was the system Geis t"
tion in the army. That was a wide 1' 000 i!
discuss ; but, in the present state of the ftso ~"
it would not be advisable to start so isne'lloiee"
topic. His Noble Friend at the head of the G°leffir tjOiCsh;
and the Commander-in-Chief, had been in eon2;:old w",,.
tion on this subject, and in a short time step 3 ''.:eote%
taken to establish a proper examination for offleei'ici, it
ing a higher rank than they had -formerly he old be
Hon. Friend had further stated that there sliseoldiel:
some place for the education of the children 01 9 plsco
and non-commissioned officers. There was „rip b
already established where the orphans of those :. Oa"s
'
died in action, and of those who had served thleflel9'
try, were educated—that was the Royal Military' ptibl,s;
There was also the Royal Hibernian Asylum i 0 lAX,
which was devoted to the same purpose, fo!us. Tel
was found to be most effective in its operauchet ir
question, however, was one which could st, oil
to be entertained by the Government, and Pres/Peso ess
sures adopted to effect the object which his Hied ro
Gallant Friend so much desired. He eintr;„-9 , trisil
House to place that confidence in the Aaill''.it P
which he thought it deserved, by the measures
ktsl
already adopted. eenco
Colonel LINDSAY wished to make a few r yl
upon what had fallen from his Right
Right Hon. Friend was wrong in saying leorrscl
women, or wives of soldiers, were kept in the ,",,,, in
in London, for there was barely room for I,h' i, hr,
,
themselves. He thought that the ventilation ill 7,0011
rack-rooms was badly effected, for the men frel,re at.
„
complained of the lassitude induced by the ion)" OP
mot here in which they slept. There was also COs9tsaiti
Hon. Frietd.t eof,
able difficulty in the men obtaining lodgings fer. so'
wives at a price commensurate with their ines°"'wer
many of the men, in order tosave their wives from ifitS'
lived, or starved, themselves upon bread and bad sPoet°
There was another hardship to which the soldiers op
exposed. Though the allowance to them might be 1.410
cient for them in a single state, they had no merEo
meet any extra expense that might be incurred bf te 0
in a married state. If a wife or child died, they were"
the same expense as a civilian; yet there was no allow ye
whatever made for the contingency. He called troll!)
tention of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fox Moil
to this circumstance, with the hope that he wouldidietli
remedied. He further thought that those Woad t,
whose case had been brought forward by the Woad t"
Gallant Member for Westminster, were fairly eptl,,,, dr
consideration and redress. He would conclude
swi's t°:
serving that of all the grievances brought fern dr
night, none was so much entitled to the attentie° di
Government as aEs
wthieshceadsetoofmtahkeemaarferwiedobsoseldriveartsile
bredP
had at an earlier period of the night objected to 0,05
mwoustldtuadpapireaarndfroomne
vet as an expensive and useless affair, and the fih°ooBl/1
one-aided. esdpe.
Gallant General objected to what he said, bad bee,
would :s._
couldrseo;
.fume) would say that he was as anxious as he „ 4 li"
for the real welfare ofthe soldiers, h ee-liir''
but e
agree to the abuses which existed in the arnsi'bot ke
in the service there were 368 generals, whiletie .
I
were in active service., This ought not toe eb; i.hsse
hoped that the condition of the soldier WOutss_,S it
be
especially in regard to ventilation, ae - iviljefl
health of the army might be kept unimpaired•
fetes
or
he would do all justice to the active service he Posicl or
against the inefficient portion. At present theYis'ot„,se a
the efficient service 4,175,0001, while the inemeS: "sigle
vice cost 2.150,0001., or one-half of the fornseb'; g Vito
brevet of last year alone cost 250,000 L, and isyss ssefsi
given entirely to the inefficient service. •St,,- he P_4l
abuses as these that ho objected to, and winessi'so, see
always opposed. He entirely agreed with the of of ty,
Gallant General as to the defectived catie° etas
e u sue
army, and hoped that the Government would t"'"
tio
sures to have it redressed. 1, 016 /0
Mr. WILLIAMS said the harmony whie-t life9res-
among the officers of the army in that wag' Sa
appeared most extraordinary. They seemed alley tin
that there was nothing right in its present, tee of slis
The Hon. and Gallant General had complained it if!
present amount of half-pay, when the fact Wit ntes;
equal to one third of the whole sum paid for tliefekhese
tenance of the army. The Hon. and Gallant for isl's
complained that no accommodation was warms if '"r
soldiers' wives ; he (Mr. Williams) wonder bad eke
attention of military gentlemen in that HousL•aerala
been directed to the hundreds of thousands Of l's" 0100''
ora Os
beings in the country, who had not only no ace,.se.
.4
tion, but who wanted the bare necessaries of iii of tf,B
(Mr. Williams) did complain that the offieen tar„
Guards were immoderately paid for t'a Oen',
trivial services. Certain gallant men had raise fiel
selves to high and honourable positions, like „I'); blio
and Gallant Friend beside him (General Er:;,. 00%
these gentlemen of the Guards, without bays" u t 0
beathe
service, worthy of the name, without having bole
sAe
out of the metropolis, were entitled to ranis,_s
veterans of of the line. When a gentleman in Pe