The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-25 00:00:00

FINANCIAL REFORM.

The following is a further issue from the Finan-
cial Reform Association :---- Subject " The War
Establishments. The Home Staff."--Having shown
how the irregular nature of the business of the Ord-
nance swells' the mere office expenses, for salaries,
postages, stationary, Ste:, to 91,1361., the association
proceeds in this section to show that in the Army-
office-and in the staff of the Home Department enor-
mous office expenses are incurred to repeat- in part,
the duty paid for by the Ordnance-office. But, first,
it is necessary'to state that Britain is divided into
the following districts and sub•districts tor military
ptirposes. •
The first chief diatrict is the Northern-and Midland,
! with head-quarters at Manchester,Lieutenant-Gentral
Sir The& Arbuthnot commanding ; with Lieutenant
Fane, of the 50th Foot; and Lord Burghersh; eon of
the Earl of Westmoreland, a Captain of the 17th Foot,
(both absent from their respective regiments, but
drawing regimental pay,) as his aides-de-camp ; with
Colonel H. W. Barnard, of the Grenadier Guards, ab-
sent from that regiment, acting as assistant adjutant-
general, receiving regimental pay and the pay and
allowance of that office ; and Colonel 'York, receiving
double pay as assistant quartermaster general.
The sub-districts of the northern and midland
Counties are, first, the north-West counties, the head-
quarters of which is at Chester, where Major-General
Sir William Warre commands, and reports all his
business, through a staff of clerks, to Sir Thomas
Arliuthnot,'it Manchester, who, 'by his staff of clerks,
reports froth Chester to the head-quarters of the army
in London ; where, it may be observed in passing, the
Postages alone amount to more than 30,0001. per
annum. The officer* at head-quarters -send answers
or orders, by their secretaries and, expensive compli-
catibn d clerks, to Chester, by way Of -Manchester,
where, in defiance of railway convenience; and the
progress of the age the answers or ordem must be
delayed to be copied by the' stiff there, then lent 'on
to Cheater to be copied, and issued, after more delay
and copYing; to :regimental quarters. The' counties;
or parts of counties, which thus' receive their Military
-orders from-. London through Manchester, and 'from
Manchester through Chester, areLandashire, Cheshire,
Shropshire, Flintihira; Denbighshire, and the Isle of
Man ; a roundabout- way: this of . communitating
orders from London to Shrewsbury.,
To transact this roundabout businewat Chester,
Captain Warm, of the 57th Foot; is taken from his
regiMint, fiis regimental' pay following him, and is
put ;upon staff pay and' Allowance as an aide-de-Camp.
Also Captain Gordon, ottfie 91st Foot, is taken from
his regiment in like manner to be Brigade-major: '
The second sub-district of the midlands is formed
of the --shires of Northumberland, Cumberland; Dur-
bath, Westmoreland, York, Derby; Nottingham; and
Rutland ; the head-quarters of which are at York,
Major-General Thorn commanding, Lieutenant
Kennedy, of the - Sikh- Foot,: ' aide-de-camp,' and
Captain Wynyard; major fot 'brigade. In 'this district
there are all the seine expenses and 'delays in commu-
nictiting.with London, through-the superior officer at
Manchester, that occur in- the first sub-district. In
vain the railways 'acceleretethe carriage of travellers
and letters- fiorn I:Ondon to-Nottingham, 'or Derby,
or York. The multitude' of military officers for
whlm there' is 'no ";legitimate employment must be
provided • for!--yoUnger sons, 'diriaherited by primo
genitUre, must be provided' for; the connexions' of
corrupt- peliticiana must proiided for; and
this is part of the-provision that a "refuge for the
destitute ". shill -be formed
~at Manchester, under a
Lieutenant-General;-: and' another at York, under a
M.ajor-Generil; and that all reports from regiments
at Nottinghatif or Derby to London shall go to York
tor:employ a staff of tax-paid officials there, who send
them to Manchester to employ the officials there, who
at last send the Corrrespendence to London.
The third sub-district comprises" the counties of
Warwick, Stafford, 'Northampton, and Worcester, the
head -qUarterii of Which are at Birmingham, Colonel
Arbuthnot commanding; Captain Mein of the -13th
Foot, eimient from' hia regithent; major of brigade.
And here, again, at the 'distance of four hours from
LOndon,reports must be sent to'be declared'and'copied
at Manchester, before they take that short journey Of
four boura to London direct..
The second chief district of England is the south-
west, comprising the counties of Wilts, Dorset, and
Hants, the head-quarters of whiCh are at Portsmouth,
Major-General Lord 'Frederick' Fiticlarence corn
Mending ; Major Harvey, .87th Foot, absent from his
regiment, acting- as - aide- ie-camp ; captain J. H.
Purvey, as major of, brigade. In this " refuge for
the destitute" there are all'the usual tax-paid chiefs
and assistants. ' •
The third chief district of England is the western,
comprising the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and
Somerset (exclusive of Bristol and its vicinity, 'which
sends its reports direct to London, and receives them
direct). The head-quarters of this district are at
Deionport, Major-General the Hon. H. Murray
commanding ; Captain Prothero, of the 14th root,
with double pay, acting as aide-de-camp; Captain T.
Nelson, of the 40th Foot, with double pay, major of
brigade ; with all the usual staff of tax-paid assistants.
As a sub-district, subject to the foregoing, there
are the counties of Monmouth and part of Wales;
head-quarters at Carmarthen ; Colonel Lowe com-
manding; • Major Parkinson, unattached, aide-de-
camp ; Captain Mann, of the 90th Foot, both with
double pay and allowances, major of brigade; with
all the usual staff to report to Devonport, and so to
London.

The next district is Jersey, Major-General Sir J.
H.• Reynett commander and governor, with pay and
allowance in his threefold capacity. • •
The next district is Guernsey and Alderney;
Major-General John Bell; commander and governor,
with similar pay and allowances according •te his
rank and his two offices ; . Lieutenant-Colonel Le
• Mesurier, town-major, with two-fold pay.•
There is next a district for the inspection of cavalrj,
called the district ofLoridon, at 'the head of which is
'Major-General Brotherton, with 'Lieutenant Rourke,
of the 75th FOot, for his aide:de-camp, and Lord De
Ros, a Colonel on half-pay, acting as major of brigade
(the nature of-whose duties no Soldier can even guess
.aty, receiving the halt-pay with one hand,' the full
pay of a brigade-major with the other hand, which,
having'put in his pockets, he, whose dignity in the
peerage is six hundred and fourteen years old, holds
out both hands for "forage," which having received
,he holds out another hand for " lodging money," and
then both handi for. " postage and • stationary," and
after that'opens his pocket for "travelling expenses,"
and lastly 'for "salary for d- clerk," to do such duty
as by any contrivance can attached to the office.
The young De Roies are also, ;by their political con-
' nexions, the Dukes of Richmond, Leinster, Rutland,
..
&eel perching themselves.; or are perched upon mili-
tin" positions where they can pick' up something to
live upon.
' Thenext district is that of North Britain; Major-
General Riddell commanding ; captain -- Riddell,
Royal Artillery, aide-de=camp ;, Colonel John 'Eden,
assistant adjutant-general.; Lieutenant John'O'Nell;
staff adjutant; each receiving pay according to army-
rank, and staff pay according tO staff rank ; the first
drawing pay for'- the ,sinecure office of GOvernor of
Edinburgh Castle ':(Which costs 8641: for its govern-,
ment, charged upon the ordnance estimates, besides
Gen. Riddelrs 'pay as Governor,' charged upon the
army estimates). The Governor's charges are,_ in
dition to his army pay, staff pay,-and castle pay, 1381: r
132. 2d. ' for ;forage,' .2001. , -for lodging —money, if
21, lOsi Id.- frit Stationery, 1051, 13s. 6d. for travelling I
expenses, ' and -11. ls. ' for miscellaneous expenses. 1,
His relatiVe, the aide-de cant,' drawn artillery pay e
as.captain, additional, artillery pay because he is em-
played, - and staff pay hecause• he is not employed "with ,
the artillery; and then' takes '7Ol. ls. 2d. for "' fo-
rage"-iis : it- staff officer,. and.46l. 13s: for " lodging
money." Theitem's ore- not individual)`rheavy, but
they are"-repeited throughout: the kingdom and the
Colonies until they amount to millions sterling. ' • '
The Contities -or
_part of cotinties ofr-England not -
included in military districts, are Bedford; Berkshire,
Bricon, BriStol and, its vicinity, Buckingham, Can.i.-
bridge,' '-Essii,... Glatticirgnn, • Glouceiter; Hereford),
Huntingdon, Leicester,. Monmouth, Norfolk; Oxford,.
Suffolk,'Snireyi Sussex; SonthiWales and North
Wales, except Denbigh and Flint! '.' ' ' '. ' •'-
It is 'clear that.' if -thole counties can' baicoin.L.

mended fitni-head,quarters in London, the- , ,
Might be, so commanded, "and the staff expenies
saved --For ' any purpose - Of real service, wben
troops- are` called Upon to set -as an armed pollee,,
the actilai -commanders- are the civil magiAtnites
and the reginientitlunfficers. But With forces of
county and borough (vonstabulary; such- as are ridvi
estiihlished throughout the icingdorp, no' Longer
be urged; as' heretofore it:was urged, that the girri-
;eons. and regiments serving` nt borne are required as
an armed police.
,It was one of 'the argumente-Used
to reconcile the'rate-payers in boroughs and counties
to an. increase of local:taxation to maintain an aug-
mented pollee' force; that feWer soldiers would be
necessary, and the- national taxes wouldthereby be
reduced in amount; This is not the result. Although

police forces, and though the railways facilitate
the counties, boroughs, and cities have their formid-
ablethe movement of rendering one regiment as
effective as many regiments were before, when in-
fantry, by forced marches, could not exceed thirty
miles a day, thet garrisons and home service" troops
are not reduced in number; on' the contrary, they
are augmented. -
It may be urged that the regimenta retained as
home are so retained for exchanging relief with regi-
on
tg.teims ef Military
'relieve those"forces
ts Arend ; that- stir colonial dependencies require
. abvseoar+fdic.. e:
This
they regiments he gist,, that the forces ...ai hem, are' requisite to
But what is the fact? . The most expensive of the
ibeegienmeirgtse•Lof,
regiments on henie Service de not take their turn in
relieving the -regiments: Abroad.' 'lf they did, the.
period of home
service iiiight tie as favourable as it
is, and the troops,' at hoine be reduced onehalf.. A
reference ;to the-Armyik4,eiter iliCiivi 'that.-the regiP'

meats which do not take their turn of foreign service
are almost exclusively officered by connexions of the
aristocracy and Members of Parliament, the only
exceptions being in the' class of officers who have
positive hard work to perform—the lieutenant-
•olonels commanding, the adjutants, and quarter-
masters—though they are not in all cases exceptions.

TWO ENGLISHMEN
.SEIZED BY
BRIGANDS.—RANSOM OF TEX THOUSAND
DOLLARS CLAIMED.
Our Malta correspondent sends Ili the following
singular event :
" Extract froth a letter dated Marsala, Nov. 3 :
" ' We have all been in a state of excitement here
during the last fortnight in consequence of the strange
_adventure which happened 'to poor Mr. Barlow and
Mr. Alison. They 'were out at Infersa for a viliagia-
tura, and one morning the two gentlemen rode up-to
Mail, leaving Mrs. and Miss Barlow at Inferia, with
a promise to return early 'in the evening. However
they did not arrive that night, and the alarm of the
ladies may be conceived when they learned next day
that they had left Mall about duik the previous
evening, as agreed on, and no news of them could
be learned from Marsala or the neighbouring
country. Still thinking it might be some freak
of Barlow's, messengers were sent to Mazara,
Trapani, &c., but nothing, could be jeArned of the
missing travellers, and the, unpleasant truth began to
be evident—viz., that they must have been carried
off by robbers and detained for a ransom. There
was great excitement in consequence, and detach-
ments of the National Guards and a considerable force
from Trapani, made diligent.
,search about the coun-
try; but in vain. After two or threedays it was
determined to try a different tack, which suceceded
better. The forces were recalled, ,and the parties
most nearly interested led•it to be understood that
they had no further intention of adopt_ing hostile
measures, and were ready to negotiate. Very shortly
afterwards a letter was found at Mail from Barlow,
stating that they were in the hands of the Philis-
tines, and that the Picciotti wanted 4,000 oz. as
ransom. The letter was of course in Italian, and a
postscript written by one''" of ' the robbers indicated
the spot where the money was to be brought.
After some negotiation the moderate sum of 500
ounces, or 1,250 dollars was accepted, and the cap-
tives were liberated, being 'brought back blindfolded
'to near MO, and there left by their honourable escort.
'They were very badly- treated during their capti-
vity, contrary to the general. usage of the Sicilian
brigands in similar cases, bread and cheese and water
forming the staple -of their Tare, and their lodgings
being a miserable hovel
_with only some dirty straw
to sleep on. As soon as they. got safe home the
search was actively re-commenced ; several arrests
were made under circumstances of strong suspicion,
and' fortunately the place, where they had been de-
tained was discovered, anti immediately identified, in
consequence of which several. other suspicious parties
were arrested, and the affair, is being thoroughly sifted.
The Palermo Government has issued very strong
orders for the apprehension and summary punishment
of the offenders (Mr.. Goodwin and the American
Consul having of course shown- great interest in the
affair), and no doubt a severe example will be made
of theirascals, as their discovery and conviction are
now certain.'
" Another letter mentions that the discovery of the
late prison-house of the above "gentleman was made
in consequence of Mr. .Alison having cut his name
on a table, and- written it on one of the walls, little
thinking perhaps of what value the stupid practice
employed try Englishmen of letting all the world into
the secret of their having visited such or such a place,
would prove to be:
""
The- following are extracts from two other letters
received on the subject :
1 ', Marsala, Nov. 3, 1843.
On Tuesday evening, the 24th October, Mr.
Barlow and Mr. Alison were returning to Infersa
from Mafl,' where they had been dining with Mr.
Hervey. 'lt Was about seVen o'clock, and of course
quite 'dark, When,- as they were- quietly riding along,
two armed men:sprung upon them from behind a rock,
and, holding their loaded guns at their heads, ordered
them to follow them without saying a word.
Neither Mr. Alison nor Mr. Barlow were armed—
they had not even a pistol with them—so that resist-
ance would have been not only useless, but
dangerous.. • Mr. Barlow, however; beginning in
hist usual way to argue, was severely struck
on the side with a gut', and then both' were knocked
down; their hands tied, their eyes bandaged, and in
that state they were. compelled to follow the villains
fortseveral hours, till towards daybreak they arrived
at an out-of-the-way plebe, where they were shut in
and guarded, their eyes still bandaged so that they
could not make out their situation. Of course Mrs.
Barlow was much alarmed at their remaining out the
whitle night, and began to fear they had been robbed
and murdered. The whole of Marsala was soon
alarmed. On Wednesday Morning parties of armed
men scoured the country in all directions. Not a
town was left unsearched_ ; whole compapties darmi
visited Mazzara, Castel Vetrano, Trapani, the moun-
tains—in short, wherever there was any suspicion of
their having been taken. Dispatches were sent up to
Palermo; telegraphs were in motion day and night,
but not a trace of them could be discovered. On
Thursday the alarm began to increase, and the search
was more vigilant than ever. Mrs. B. of all others
feared the worst, and had almost despaired of hearing
anything more about them.
`t ' At ten o'clock at night- a loud knocking was
heard at the gate of the' Niglio at Mall, where
'Messrs. Ilecart and Whyte were on .the look-out in
hopes of discovering some clue to the lost ones. On
opening the gateway cautiously no one was seen, but
a little tin box was on the. ground, in which was a
letter, stating that Mr. B. and his companion were in
safe -custody somewhere, no matter where, and that
the! piesiotti (so they styled' themselves) were very
willing to release them ca the payment of only 4,000
oz.? (equal to nearly 2,0001. sterling), which were to
be deposited at some place near Mafl, which was
specified. This news, of course, allayed the general
Peak, and particularly 'that of Mrs: B. Suffice it to
sayl 'that th3'pi•ciotti were content with 500 oz.,
and that' after soma days spent in negotiating, the
twe unfortunates' returned to Marsala .'last Monday,
the 30th, where they were received with un-
usdal demonstrations of joy. A band of music
went out to meet them; and all the respectable
inhabitants of Marsala; the flags were hoisted
°lli the forts, at all the. Baglios ; and every thing was .
said- and dtme to welcome' them. Mr: B.' is very
'mdch pulled down by his imprisonment; he had
scarcely recovered from an illness when this affair
hatpenedi and the rascally pi&iotti, instead of treat-
ingthem well, as they always do persons taken as
hostages, 'gave them nothing' but bread, cheese, and
water ; nothing but straw to sleep upon, and in a con-
fink' room with a, horrid-efiliviia. Mr. A. being a
yoiing man'wris' not so Inlidh affected by it,_and the-
y* next morning after his. arrival in Marsala, he
sett off accompanied, by a guard of about twenty armed
mdn in search of the place and the robbers. It seems
that when the guard was not very wakeful, they made
in" observations as' to the locality, .and several
marks on the chairs which afterwards materially as-
sis ed Mr. A. in his search: - After two days he suc-
ce ded in discovering the `precise spot and the chairs
3enwhich. they had znade.their marks. One of the
i
olObers was arrested, And- they have already extorted
°tine confessions out of him. The money paid was,
ipMr. Whyte's advice, marked, ' and thus it is to be
toped that in.a *erg short time they will be all seized
~ .. -
nd shot,. •

" Mra. L'Azzar!i, a Hell old Marsaleie lady,' ,was
robbed on the same-night of 'Mr : Barlow's release, of
I2b bUllocks, which Were-found-two-days after quietly
zing in a valley' some miles off, • The parties have
1 beer/bp:night up-to justice pand it is the universal
) nion that they will be shot. Theys think of arming
llt
;hit country people-igatiii. as during the; revolution,
vkich will effectually.preventeverything of the-sort.
[ti the vicinity of Marsala (we are secure enough,
,h ugh, of course, to,be: on-Ahe safe side, we do not
out after Ave Maria. ''• .1 / . -•• , , ~.. - .
ct
' ' ES. Upwards of twenty-arrests have been made
diput-Mr: Barlow's affair, . and . the• matter has 'been
aken 'up by 'the Sicilian, English, and American
3 vernments or theirrepresentatives. : Mr. Goodwin,
ht
English Consul in Palermo, has insisted on severe
n asures being used to bring the offender's to justice,
the last orders from Palermo were ittictlyl6 in.-
+
-e tigate. the matter, and to shoet, not only those
li ectly implicated, but even such persons as may be
petted of connivance, althoo.gb..positive proof bp
w nting. , '
tii
.-
1 - : .- '
j"' The Commission :is hourly expected from- Pa-
leimo about Mr. •Barlow's affair, and it is said up-
w rds of a dozen of the offenders will be shot at Porta
Maggiore. . • •
i" ' Last weeks most •horrible murder was com-
mitted in Telorio's Baglio in broad daylight, and in
the presence of all the men at work there. It seems
that the murderer bad had a quarrel . with his victim
some tithe before, and had determined to take away
his life. Accordingly, whilst the poor fellow was at
his work, he came up to him,with an immense rasp,
and taking advantage of a moment when the other
was stooping, struck him on the neck with such force
as! almost to sever his head from his body. It need
scarcely be added that the deeeas-ed lingered but a few
Jnoments, and then expired. The murderer succeeded
in, escaping from the Baglio, and up to this moment
bds not been heard of."

. ,
ARE PICTURES. AT THE TOILEXIES.—Some of the
pitures yet remain, and' it is curious W observe the di-
rection of popular' fury with regard to the portraits.
Those of the Due de Nemour&are battered moat wofully,
while the likeness of the Prince tie Joinville has, been
everywhere.treated with, great respect. ”The Queen of
Stain and the Duchess de Montpensier. have both had
theiraoses cut clean: WHIP LOWS Philippe's head is
missing in every picture. :„.1-;r,L,