The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at
five o'clock.

PRIVATE BILLS.
The Midland Railway and Derby Gas Works Bills were
read a second time.

PETITIONS.

The Earl of DARTMOUTH presented a petition against
the opening of public houses on the Sabbath.

THE MILITIA.

The MarqUis of SALISBURY moved an address rela-
tive to the returns belonging to the Militia, and also its
condition up to the end of the year 1866, and stated that the
object which he had in view was to ascertain the condition
of the militia sinee it had been revived from its dormant
state during the Crimean war. Since that period he was sorry
to say that it had not been much heard of. And he
now wished to ascertain the returns of the mffitia
from the year 1864. He was sorry to say that it was
apparently rather difficult to get officers to join militia
regiments. The noble marquis then went into an arith-
metical detail, which was totally inaudible. He then
mentioned that, to keep up the average force, a number of
recruits, amounting to 12,500 a year, must be levied.
The expense of the militia in local rates and direct
taxation was so high that it was a subject which
deserved the most carefal consideration. The enlistment
and every other progressive step was of a similar cha-
racter.

Lord LONGFORD said that it was very requisite that
every information on this subject should be given, but
he considered that the noble marquis took a too desponding
view of the matter. It appeared that in 1862 and 1863
29,230 men wore enrolled ; in 1863 and 1864, 26,000 ; and
in 1865 and 1866, 23,449. In 1864 there were certain
' changes which might perhaps have acted prejudicially,
but this was owing to the unwieldy size of some
of the regiments, but he was informed that
with a little relaxation of the medical requirements, and
some other stringencies in enlistment, there would be the
enrolment of quite a sufficient number. In 1852, a year
of considerable agitation, a revivalment of the militia
had taken place. The subject had often been brought
before both houses, and one gentleman had stated that
ho could got up a competent militia force without hardly
any expense. He was afraid that this gentleman was dead,
but if he were not and would come forward, they would be
happy to give him a very high position at the War-office.
Notwithstanding all that had been said against the defici-
ency of the militia, he had no fear of its not being adequate
to the demands made upon it. With regard to the
officers of militia some complaints had been made by
them concerning their quarters, &c. ; but they all knew
there, at that "slaughter of the Innocents"—the estimates
—a great many noble-hearted schemes of amelioration
had to be given up. The noble lord then
read several extracts from a report, showing
that proper regulations were not enforced, and
that the few days devoted to training were not turned
to the best advantage. It was a matter of very serious
consequence that proper accommodation should be pro-
vided for the militia embodied. The noble Marquis spoke
of an army of reserve, and it was now proposed
that that portion of the militia who had served thorn,
should form a corps of reserve who could join
the regular army if called upon, but this would not be
until an emergency occurred, and in the meantime they
would only drill precisely as other militiamen. Much re-
mained still to be done, nevertheless, to make this force
effective. The papers the noble marquis asked for should
be provided.
The Marquis of SALISBURY having made a few fur-
ther observations,
Eail DE GREY and RIPON said this was a most im-
portant question.
The Duke of SOMERSET then formally moved for re-
turns of the number of Lieutenants in the Navy, stating
his object in so doing was to show that, instead of having
too many, we had really too few junior officers in the
navy. He supported that view by referring to the events
of the Russian war, and by the necessity which arose even
in time of peace. of reappointing Lieutenants to other ships
immediately upon their return to England from foreign
service.
The motion was agreed to.

The house then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-LAST EVENING.
Tho SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Farnworth Park and Improvement, Herne Bay Water,
Metropolitan Railway, and Ross and Monmouth Railway.
Sir J. COLLIER gave notice of his intention, on Mon-
day, to ask whether there would be any objection to lay
on the table a copy of the shorthand writer's notes of the
trial of a person named Toomer at Reading.