The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-06 00:00:00

XVENING EDITION

number of our frigates should have been increased. A
neighbouring c-untry ha i now nineteen frigates build-
ing, tad s.zinea in dock, making a total ot thirty-five.
lie [.,ought, Lao, that we should have trade a grea`er
use ot the two power of steam. We had now but six
steamers, while, France had thirty-three.
Admiael ADAM observed, that we could tv(11 dis-
pense pith an increased number of frigates, so long as
we wvore vvell supplied with seventy-fours, which were
much more efficient in battle. With regard to steamers,
the British Government had been yearly increasing
them, as much as was consistent with a proper cconomy.
Seven vessels had been built this year, and six more
wer.: on the stocks, and the Government were ent2ring
into contracts for engines for six or seven large steamers,
and tbo..ilon. Officer might be certain that the subject
would not be lost sight of.

Captain PECHELL said that in the last war they
bad been left a legacy of forty sail of the lire, which
might very properly be denominated the forty thieves.
His object in replying to the Hon. Gentleman, was
with respect to the steam-vessels. Now it was noto-
rious that the French Minister had complained in the
Chamber of Deputies that none of the French vessels
were to be compared with those of this country. Fur
any one therefore to stand up and say this country was
deficient in vessels, showed him that he had overlooked
whet bad taken place at Acre, where the vessels had
done tho grc atest service.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM wished for explanation
upon one item in the present vote. When he had the
honour of being at the Admiralty, the best relations
existed between this country and the United Stater,
bat it had always been considered necessary to
adopt such a courso as would keep up the su-
perior character of this country. Now, he saw
in this vote an outlay of 20,000/. for the pur-
i-ose of stetrn vessels for Canada. Now, he wished
ta know for what purpose that charge was
made, and whether any change was contemplated at the
Admiralty different to that which was adopted by him
to keep up the naval spirit of the country.
Mr. M. O'FEItRALL said there was no change
contemplated in the policy to which the light Hon.
Baronet had referred. It was not intended that the
steamers should be armed ; all that was intznded was
to transport troops.
Mr. HUME thought that preparations of this de-
toription excited suspicion. At the present time it was
not necessary to lay out such a sum.

Lord J. RUSSELL observed that the veiscli were
intended chiefly to operate on Lake Ontario.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that although our amicable
r*dations with the United States should be maintained,
it was not unimportant to consider that a military de-
fence was the best that could be adopted. That was
the substance of the resolutions adopted by the Go-
vernment of which he was a member.
Mr. WOOD said the House would remember that
on one occasion, at Lake Erie, there was great diffi-
culty in conveying troops from one place to another.
Lake Ontario belonged chiefly to this country, but on
Lake Erie, where the steam-boats were principally
American, the greatest difficulty was experienced.
Sir J. GRAHAM said that if the steamers were
intended merely to transfer troops, it was quite consis-
tent with his view. If they were proposed with a view
to naval superiority, he objected to the scheme.
Lard J. RUSSELL said they were intended to as-
sist in the coiliaary defence.
Sir DE LACY EVANS deprecated the practice
of rofierring 8e what any former Government might
have decided with regard to the best course to be
adopted rot the defence of Canada in any future war.
Mr. HUME said it appeared to him very extraordi-
nary beat three years after the insurrectionary move-
ment was at an end there should be this proposal to in-
crease the expenditure. The money of the country
was tteelessly expended by keeping the navy in a con-
dition for war when the country was i❑ a state of peace.
His first objection was to the number of men, namely,
43,000 in a time of peace, for the naval establishment,
when 14%000 was considered rufficient in the time of
Mr:Prtt. He was sorry to see this extravagance.

The vote was then agrecd to.
2543,760/. were voted for naval yards.
A vote of 24,601/. for tnedicines and medical stores
was agreed to.

t_240480.71(881
b/e. wereutl %,.attetdo for miscellaneous naval services.
„ .
~..,
aSuitosir T. CesoCon Ht, IlattAsNmEalibceopgged to call the attention
of the Committee to the importance of altering the
times 4 which steam-vessels started from that country
to 4,naorica, from once a fortnight to once a week. He
understood that each of these vessels took out 1,0001.
worth of letters, and if the times of starting were ac-
celerated the postage-duty would be considerably in-
creased. He unsiarstood that attempts were making to
get up a line of packets from Havre to the United
States, and if the Government did not take care the
great bulk of the trade and correspondence of the
country would be taken out of their hands.
Mr, HUME hoped the time would shortly arrive
whoa the postage of letters would no longer he con-
aidered a source of revenue.
After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN and
Mr. C. WOOD,
1111-. THORNELY said he thought the Govern-
ment had adapted great improvements with respect to
the Cove-caveat packets to North America. He wished
to repeat a question that had been put by the Hon.
Member for Kilkenny, namely, whether the Govern-
ment proposed to adopt electro-telegraphic communi-
cation between London and Portsmouth.
Mr. M. O'FERRALL said the Admiralty had
directed their attention to the subject, but had not yet
determined upo❑ it.
The rote was then agreed to.
On the vote for 728,628/. for half-pay of officers
being put,
Captain PECHELL said ho wished to call the at-
tention of the Government to the claims of Pursers.
He thought Pursers, who had served as Admirals'
Clerks, should be entitled to a higher rate of pay. He
hoped that something would be done to provide better
for men who served in confidential situations as secre-
taries to Admirals, and as pursers, and there was now a
gentleman who bad served as purser for 19 years,
and as iecretary to Admiral Codtingten for sight years,
and who was thrown, after those 27 years of confiden-
tial service upon his half-pay of ss. a day as purser.
Admiral ADAMS said that the regulations now in
force had beau adopted, i❑ accordance with the Report
of fati Commisisioaers of Naval and Military Inquiry,
and hs saw no reason for so soon disturbing them.
In reply to an observation from Sir H. HARDINGE
Mr. C. WOOD said, that two years ego Capta n
N 4V-ex (low fir C. Napier), was re-instated, and
,Plavold R.POR the full pension to which his previous rank
ectis.44
Sit H. 1/4-4DINGE hoped, that as this was the
case, 4001. alaar would stand opposite to Sir C. Na-
pier's yoga in the pension list instead of 20-0/.
Admiral ADAM said that no man had a higher ,
esteem thin be bad for Sir Charles Napier, but no in-
creosote his pensio❑ could be made out of the aecurnu-
Lied land until after the death of Admiral Cockburn,
an elect arllich be hope I was very remote.—( Hear.)
B.r H• HARDINGE thought that rewards for me-
rituricas services were distributed in the army upo❑
muchi more equitable principles than i❑ the navy.
N r. C. WOOD said that, with respect to half-pay,
lotb "4"e'legs were en the same footing. It was a rule
in both that no officer should receive half-pay together
with any ei•il emolument.
Sir J. DU KE wished to know whether it was intended
that a monument should be erected to the late Sir Syd-
ney Stale).
Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to an,wo: 'a
thu affirmative.
Sir J. DUKE gave notice that, in that case, ho
aboald Wove., an a future occasion, that a monument be
Also erected to Lord Exmouth, who had eo-operated
with Sir Sydney Smith.
The vote was then agreed to.
The following votes were afterwards passed
e
181,7891. for civil pensions wid allowances.d
190,957/. for the freight of ships awl
76"e721. for the conveyance of cow? cis.
The House then resumed.
ARMY ESTIMATES.
ktr. MACAULAY then rose to move the Armhie
Fts'timstes for the year. The Hon. Gentleman said
subject
would do so as clearly and concisely as the .
would allow. The estimates for the last year had
nirrotauted to the sum of 6,163,000/. At the latter
end of the. Session, however, he felt it his duty to call
ftritta additional sum of 22,0004, for the purpose of c tr-
lyicrg iato effect the recommendations of the Milir iry
4knamissioo, so that •the whole estimates for the year
exneuatel to 6,185,000/. The estimate which he was
stliefut to present for the present year would amount to
tk,13t3,0Q0/., showing a decrease of 471001. The
whole force borne in the estimate of last year amoun-
ted to 121,112 men. The whole force in the
estimate of the present year was 101,191 men,
showing an increase of only nine men. Of these 29,070
were deployed in India. It would Isejoerceived that
there was a slight increase in the regifflentil charges
throughout almost every department in the service.
The ordinary regimental charges of cavalry wh;ch
amounted to 17,001/. last year, amounted to 17,008/.
this year. The ordinary regimental charges of batta-
lions of infantry amounted, last year, to 26,414/., and
those charges would amount this year to 26,4781. The
increase in the cavalry expenses arose from the circum-
stance tits§ th 9 adjutants had received the advantages
recommended by the Naval and Military Commission,
and which was due to that very valuable class of offi-
cers. llis incresse in the infantry expenses had arisen
partly flora the same cause, and partly from the fact
that 1). laid thought proper to make some addition
t.s.,,slllllPmattagast alloosanoes of captains of depot corn-
P'"..e_e.:- lee n"lnatead. It had been deemed expedient that
gutPtnaaels dmould be kept up as nearly as pos-
/6141° INO talt7highe t '
hadlseaw se
od in tt point, and he
at wibkile e military history of the country
e • , eeie4topt‘eibi , the lumber of efree • e bad so
.nearly
...eOl4. u the numberrated tiv
s
"en:
flheoef
,) The eons in the estimates.
lane 4. ''' the depot compe -that policy had
1 it, ` - -cee• .---e... ~
i
.:0, • _ t..
captains for depot
g at 'llk:swat-Ice which
‘......