The Sun.
London, England, 1834-02-08 00:00:00

CORPOREAL PUNISHMENT.

Mr. HUME rose to move for the return of the orders
respecting corporeal punishment in the army, which he
moved for a return of last year. In doing so, he wished
to ask the Right Honourable Secretary at War, in
what manner the Commander-in-Chief had carried into
execution the wishes of the House of Commons as
expressed last year, by the great number of Honour-
able Members who supported his motion on that
occasion. For his own part he was not able to judge,
but from all be could learn, those wishes had not been
very satisfactorily acted on. He now renewed his motion
that there he laid before the House a copy of the order of
the Commander in-Chief issued for corporeal punishment
in the army, from April, 1832, to April, 1833, and of
the punishments which had taken place from April, 1831,
to April, 1833, signifying the number of each year, and
the respective regiments.
Mr. ELLICE could have nohesitation in giving the Hon.
Member the returns he moved for, and when they were on
the table he should be able to show that measures had bee
taken i❑ pursuance of the opinion expressed by the).
House, and to satisfy it that Ministers had Bona
all they could to meet the apparent views of Parliament..
Mr. HUME wished to know from the Right Hon,
Secretary whether there would be any objection to making
a similar return for one year for the colonies?

Mr. ELLICE intimated there would be none.
Mr. HUME wished to draw the attention of the
House to another point, pretty much on the same
subject. He did not think the House was aware of the
immense sums employed in keeping up an establishment
during peace, which he contended was wholly unnecessary.
In the Committee on the Militia Estimates it was proposed
by some Members to go into the merits and necessi-
ties of maintaining the militia at all. He would not state
what the opinions of some Hon. Members on that occasion
were, but the Committee concluded with a recommen..
dation, that a Committee should be appointed expressly.
to consider that ; and he now wished to know whetiv:r it
was the Right Hon. Secretary's intention to have any Corn,
mittee appointed in the course of this year to carry
that recommendation into effect. An established militia
differing altogether from a standing army was unnecessary,
and when the expense was considered, it being no less than
that which would maintain ten standing regiments. it could
not but be viewed as immense. From 1806 to 1617,
exclusive of 1816, the expense had not been less than five
millions eight hundred and thirty-nine thousand pounds
for the militia and the militia staff alone. The reason
always assigned for this in the House was, that it was
necessary to have a body of non-commissioned officers
always ready to call forth, in order to drill and to exercise
recruits, in case of necessity. Bat he had never heard,
and be believed no officer would stand up in that House
r
this
a sl
service,s y, that,
sergeants
gi
aen. aisse of
its
laiknedw ieb ein
necessary
officers
necessary
ho
tohabde
bte
called drill
o nf 0 erotf ont,•
cant duty were not
r.
chat te
it v
r e could‘a notnecbee necessary for ar difference
rmilitary men to b
ofopinionupon
ekept
the ficr,
constan ly in exercise or on duty, so as to be fit
for immediate service. If, therefore, the keeping
op o; that non-commissioned staff was merely for
-ice purpose, at an expense of four hundred thousand
pounds per annum, of billettli g pensioners on the country,
it could not fail to be a sui•ject requiring immediate at-
ention. The same observations would apply to the
yeomanry corps, which was in iintained et an expense of

diree hundred and six thousand pounds a-yeir. It was a
.aitter of great importance to know whether this half.
‘nilitary force was to be kept up, and he wished to be in-
limed, therefore, by the Ri;tht Hon. S:.cretary whether
there was any intention on the pact of Government to
nice a Commit!, e appointed. Mr. Hume condoned by
roving for an abatiact of the sums expendei for the
wiitia staffs from 1616 to 1834, both years inelostve.
Mr.ELLIOE could have wisoed that the 1-I,n.Gentleman
t i:1
ikintatiqe uhhnii cemo(io
rn.en simply
tiuiri in
icinfo,ttit:,:t tio‘ay, asnv.iie toe:tlifrotrl
t;,
:oncurrtd with the Bon. °olden4n in hie sta-rmente

that money was not only expended but (brown away ; yet
it was not in the power of the Committee of last
year to correct this error, as it was a Sessional
Committee for inquiring into Militia Estimates;
and of course any numerical alteration was out of their
power. As far as concerned the financial proceedings,
every thing was done in diminishing the amount, as
far as was compatible with their maintenance. He
had before him the repert of last session, in which the
whole amount of this force and the services of individuals
were detailed; and he had reason to hope that he would
have shortly the pleasure to communicate the resolution
of Government, which would accord in the fullest extent
with the Learned Gentleman's wishes.
Sir JOHN WROTTESLEY considered that it was
no ways necessary to maintain such an inefficient
force, as the non.coiamissioned officers were completely
unable to discharge ti e duties, and totally unacquainted
with the late improvements which the army had under-
gone, especially as concerned maroavring. He (S:r J.
W.) remembered in 1819, that some non-commissioned
officers of militia had been quartered in the same barracks
with himself, and he could bear testimony to their entire
ignorance as far as concerned drill service. It would
be much more expedient that several who had
served in the colonies, and who were enjoying a pension
some of them of 2s. per day, should he employed in tbit
service, and thus keep alive the spirit of discipline. This
was a subject which required much deliberation, and be
hoped it would meet with it.
Colonel EVANS considered Sir John Wrottesley's
plan was worthy of the best consideration.
Mr. ELLICF. promised that a return as complete as
possible, should be furnished, in order to meet the views,
and answer all the intentions of any benefit which
could he derived from change, upon which the motion
was withdrawn.
Several motions were made for the return of half-pay
officers, and the sums voted for the maintenance of yeo-
manry and volunteer corps.
Mr. GROTE presented a petition from an individual
named John Cook, of Kentish Town, praying for the
establishment of local courts.
Mr. PINNEY presented a petition from Lyme Regis
against any change in the corn laws.
Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition from the
.Medical Students of Bristol, praying for a Committee of
Inquiry into the Medical Institution,.
The House then adjourned at half-past six, till Monday.