The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-23 00:00:00

( boys, was incorrect. With regard to -the amount of crime
in the army, there was at one time a coesiderable amount of
drunkenuess ; but General Codrington had stated that it
had declined ; and that not above stwo men a day
out of - a hundred wtTo now br •ught before the autho-
rities for such an offence. Other officers bore testlitony to the
admirable condition of the troops, and also that of the Fo-
reign Legion. During the past year, alterations had been
made in the arrangement and supplies of the army for the
benefit of the soldier. He had referred to the order of valour.
The kit was now supplied to the recruit without being de-
ducted from his bounty-money. The mode of screwing a small
rant out of the pockets of the soldiers for the canteens had
been abolished, and the canteens were let simply as other
shops or houses, without the extra premium which had to
come after all out of the pockets of the soldiers. A number
of clerkships had been_opened at Woolwich for non.commis-
sioned officers of Sappers and Miners, andwhich it was hoped
would ultimately be extended to the other parts of the army.
Sixpence a-day addition to the pay of the army in the Crimea
was an alteration the Government might justly take credit
for, and however much it might have been at first abused was
now working well, and large amounts of the savings of
the soldiers there were being sent home. That additional pay
had induced many officers' servants to volunteer for service in
the East. There were many other advantages that had been
conferred on the army—that of the medical staff board com-
prising ten companies of 320 men each. These men were not
selected at first with great care, but now the returns were
satisfactory. These 120 men were in attendance ou hospitals
containing 500 patients, and had to attend to their wants. The
civil hospitals established in. the East had been of great ad-
vantage as a means of relieving the military hospitals. The
hon. gentleman, after a few other remarks, said he now came to
the separate votes. He spoke rather indistinctly, but was un-
derstood to say lie required a vote of 221,997 men, which was
an excess of 30,378 men-over that of last year, making 224,997
British troops, and 21,719 foreign corps. The number of the
army iu India last year was 29,629 men,whieh was now reduced
to e 6,363 men, occasioned bytho withdrawal from that country
of two regiments of cavalry and two of infantry. • These would
have to be again made up, and it was the intention cf the
Government to increase the relative numbers of artillery as
compared with the rest of the army, and of keeping up a
larger force of this description than had been usual, the ex-
perience of last year having shown the necessity of such a
change being effected. ' 1,192 men would be required to in-
crease the Sappers aedMiners, which, for the future, were to
form part of the Engineer Corps. This body was to be in-
creased, and to go through a proper course of training. 1,202
men would be required for the Land Transport coqis. For
the Foreign Legion corps an increased
.vote would be taken.
The number of men voted last year was 14,950, and it was pro-
posed now to ask for 21,719 men. There had beenn-already en-
listed about 11,00) men, consisting of Germans and Swiss,
and 2,500 Italians ; and it afforded him great satisfaction to
be able to state, that so far the conduct of these men had
merited the approval dif officers of all classes. 9,020 would
be required for the Land Transport Corps ; and already 7,000
men had been engaged, and were in the Crimea ; and from
the arrangements lately entered into between Lord Hardinge
and General Cothingtoia this corps would have for the future
a more military character, and, be under the entire control of
the generals of division, to which their respective detach-
ments might be attached. 200,0001. increase would be re-
quired in the amount of pay over that of last year, arising
rom the establishment of the camp at Aldershott and at the
CuiTagli; the increase iu the medical staff, commissariat, the
staff in the Crimea, field trains, &e., arising from the exten-
sive operations in the East. The sum of 443,0281. would be
the required increase for the Land Transport Corps, but there
was an apparent decrease of 121,1801. on the levy money for
recruits, owing to the new regulations that have been issued
with reference to it.
The next item was 300,0001. for the Turkish Contingent,
the details of which were not given, because no accurate in-
formation had been received. It was for 29,000 men, at 41.
per annum each. -
The next item was for the extra 6d. a day paid to the men
in the Crimea.
The next item was for the purchase of horses, 351,8111.
This was for increasn.ha expenditure. He would now proceed
to the Militia vote, which last, year was 3,435,7281, and this
year 3,150,1201. Last year the number of men was 38,520,
and this year it is 66,317 ; and there would shortly be accom-
modation for five or six thousand more men. Tho number of
volunteers to the line between the 20th of November,. 1854,
and the 31st of December, 1855, was 22,014, and from that
time to the Bth instS the number was 4,830.
The next item was for the Army Works Corps. They had
rendered most valuable sorvises last year, and without them
we should have been in great difficulty both with the huts
and the roads. Though he mach wished they should be re-
placed by regularly trained military men, still their services
should not on' that account ,be overlooked. Among other
things, he could not help referring to the floating factory,
which had literally removed a considerable portion of the
Woolwich dockyard work to the actual scene of operations,
where it had been most useful.
The next vote was Vote 6, and there was there a decrease
of 36,2911., occasioned by the removal of the post-office, and
an increase of 11;390/s for extra clerks, and 5,0001. for the
topographical dep artmenss.
The next item was 1,8001. for increase of professional staff
in the Inspector-General of- Fortification's department, ren-
dered necessary by the great increase of duty.
The next item is an allowance to junior clerks who do the
extra work of the senior clerks. There were 15 clerks trans-
ferred to the War-office, and not charged; for this there was
3,5201. charged, and other sume, making altogether 24,2851.
The next item was for heaa-quarters of military establish-
ments, which last year was 19,6911., and this year is 22' 791/"
being an increase of 3,0971. s
The next charge is. for civil establishments, which last
year was 402,3351., and this year is 514,1411., being an ex-
cess of 111,8061 for extra clerks and works at the various
new establishments,' the details of which the right honour-
able gentleman read to the :house. While upon this item
he could not pass it by without paying the highest compli-
ment to the head of the Ordnance Stores Department at Da-
leaklava for the excellent manner iu which ho had performed
his duties.
The next vote was for wages upon which there was an in-
crease on last year of 289,376/. for artificers, extra workmen,
and labourers at the various factories- and establishments.
The hon. and gallant gentleman opposite (Col. Dunne) had
spoken disparagingly of the Government small arms factory,
but lee spoke as If contractors always kept their word. Un-
fortunately they did not, but the principal portion of the
machinery has now arrived. The contracts were made with
the best firms in America, and the Government could not help
their not fulfilling those contracts.
The next vote was for the increase in the small arms fac-
tory at Birmingham, on account of the large additional num-
ber of guns that had -been supplied.
There were then some small items of extra expense for em-
barkation, sec., not necessa-y to be further alluded to.
The next item was for clothing, which showed an excess of
131,0001., arising from the great augmentation in the num-
ber of men in the army this year, and partly for clothing sup-
plied last year. but not charged, for the Militia and Turkish
Contingent, Medical Staff, and Colonial Corps.
Sir DE L. EVANS 'called the right hon. gentleman's atten-
tion to the large extra sum charged for boots and shoe 3,
Mr. MONSELL said that would probably arise from a sur-
plus stock of 200,000 pairs being kept in hand. He could not
quit this subject without noticing the attacks that heel been
made on the clothing department. He must remind th a house
that this department was only formed on the 6th of June last,
so that many of the faults charged to it took place before it
existed. The great difficulty, however, was to get goo 1 cloth,
and to do this every., exertion had been used. From its very
recent formation, however, it could not be taken as a test of
experience, and he thought the house would do well to sus-
pend their judgment Until they had seen more of it; opera-
tion. The next item was for provisions, showing an increase
of 3,413, 6281., caused by the increase of men and the increased
price of provisions. Extra charge for forage was 1,100,4181.,
being reckoned for 60,000 horses, at 3s. id. per day. For
• bread, 347,8711.; for fuel and light, 78,0001,; to Wkell WAS to
be added 25 per cent. for loss in transmission, and from other
causes. The next item was the small-arms factory at Enfield,
for which the sum demanded was 13,378/. The re icon for this
vote was o A ing to the putting-up of barrel machinery, which
it was considered exreliont to establish. The next item was
an excess of 90,0001. for gunpowder. There were 50,000 bai.(-
rels above the supply of last year. The next item wax the
royal laboratory, in 'which there was an excess of 2411,5831.
over last year. The next' item was a sum of 96,234'. for wag-
gons and harness for the Land Transport Corps, which it was
anticipahed would save a large sum in the transport o' stores.
There had been lately established a gun fouudry at Woolwich
for the casting of iron guns. Hitherto it had been our cost in
to manufacture our owa brass guns, but to obtain the iron guns
from contractors. This system had given rise to great dissatis-
faction, and during the past year a commission was issued,
which had decided that a Government establishment ought
to be created for the manufacture of such pieces as 68-pounders
and 13-inch mortars. AlthOugh, under the old system, they
had gone to the best fact odes, and given orders without any
undue regard to economy, yet he was clearly satisfied, from
his own experience, that it was not safe to trust to the arti-
san. The work required very peculier artists, and from the
'small demand for iron of such high quality, and intended for
special service, it was not easily obtained in the ordinary
establishments. Ho believed that, notwithstanding they ex
cellence °four iron foundries, and though our brass ordnance
was of acknowledged excellence, our iron orduance was far
inferior to that of the rest of:Europe. Ile felt sure that the
house would net grudge the small sum of 60,0001. or 70,00 X.
for so important an establishment. The next vote was cer-
tainly a large one —nearly 2,041.900/. for works and bui d-
ings. Of this item there had been already expended the
sum of 1,072,1641. oisabout half the vote. Works now being
carried out would cost 317;6701., and the further sum of
654,2351. was for works not yet sanctioned by Government.
In these sums were included—for fortifications in Portsmouth
harbour, 25,232/. ; for the camp at Aldershott, 52,831/, ; for
the military hospital lately erected in Southampton water,
60,000/. ; and for barracks in Dublin, London, Chatham,
and elsewhere, 100,0001- The committee were aware that a
committee of officers had been appointed last year by Lord
Panmure to inquire into the improvement in barracks. That
committee had made an interesting report, and had issued
public advertisements to all architects in the country. In
consequence many plans had been sent in, and some has ac-
tually been selected, and the expense minutely calculated of
carrying them out. Their plans included increased accom-
modation for married soldiers, facilities for the amusement of
the men, barracks, hospitals, and other accommodation. The
expense of providing upon this improved principle for 1,000
men was 86,000/., or 861, a man. He had some difficulty in
proving what met I ropcsition to make to the house. It
would not do to bu.ld bar; acks partly on one systein and
partly on another ;. and, on the other hand, they should re-
flect before they altered the entire system. The Inspector-
General of Fortifications had been called upon to make re-
turns showing whatnumber of barracks were wo, th preserving,
how many do not come up to present requirements, what
would be the expense of bringing them up to those require- ,
meats, and what would be ' the 'further expense of bringing '
them up to the higher requirements of the barrack committee.
Till this report was obtained, the house could not come to a con-
clusion upon this important question, or come to a deter-
mivate opinion as to what extent they should carry out
the recommendation of the committee. The improvenments
introduced into Woolwich Arsenal were matters of con-
gratulation to the country. He wished that honourable
gentlemen would visit• and judge for themselves. A deep
sense of gratitude 'should be felt to the •officers, and espe-
cially to Captain Boxer. They had been the means of
saving large sums to : the country, and had put the fleet into
a state of efficiency which would never have been done with-
out their valuable assistance. The next item was an increase
in the educationalihnd scientific vote of 17,369/. On this
head ho would observe that a director of artillery studies had.
been appointed, whose duty.ii• Was to overlook the artillery
practice orthe cadets. This office Was filled by Colonel Wil-
ford, who had been the means of turning out several excellent
young artillery" Officers. There was an increase is the academy
increasedincsea h
at Woolwich of 1,440/• e se
a small increase in the military aca-
demy; at Sandhurst, owing to t price of provi-
sions; and an item for the school of musketry at Hytbo.
There was an addition to rewards for distinguished services. .
of 17.029/, and some other items under the head of, pensions
for wounds aed superannuatione, the, last' consequent, on the
consolidation of the different offices of the War Department.
He had now gone through the'aubiect. It was rather a dif-
ficult task to follow out so many flew arrangements, and if he
lad not niacin himself clear, he was willing to give any infor-
nation that Might be, required,
On the first vate,291174.k lor barracks, being piit from
,he chair, • ; •
COltlati DUNNE mid thg? ii. Gertainli could not wader..
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