The Sun.
London, England, 1832-04-04 00:00:00

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE said he had been anxious to
obtain information to lay before the House upon the sub-
ject to which the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir H.
Hardinge) had on a former evening drawn t eir attention.
Since then he had inquired into the facts, and he was
justified in saying that when an examination had been made
into the commutation of pensions, he found there were
circumstances with which the country ought to be
quainted, and which, when detailed, would relieve the
War-office of whatever share of blame had been at-
tached to it. But the sietject was of such im-
portance, and it would be necessary to go so much
ioto detail, that it would be far better to have a
specific 'lay appointed for taking it into consi-
deration than to discuss it upon an incidental
vote of the eitimates. Although he was pet fectly
ready at the present time to make the statement, yet if it
met the views of the Right Honourable Gentleman, he
would propose that another opportunity should be taken
to discuss it, when the country would be informed of
that which it had certainly a right to be informed of.
namely. that the interests of the old soldiers were well
attended to, and that the country had not tried to rid
itself of the hurthen. 'ode, d, while he remained in of-
fice, he never would agree to carry economy to that ex-
tent.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore, would propose that
the vote should be taken this evening in the usual form.
Sir H. HARDINGE said it was gratifying to him to
hear the statement of the Right Hon. Baronet, that he
would not consent, for the sake of an economical
Reform, to sacrifice the interests of the old soldiers
That point was, in fact, the one which he wished to in:-
press upon the House. He was anxious to shew that
great misapprehension existed, or that a great deal of
abuse existed in the niode f Foraying the commuta-
thou into execution. He imputed no intentional blame
to the War Office. He merely stated what lie then and
even now considered to be facts; and he would take an
opportunity of moving for returns by which the accu-
racy or inaccuracy of the statements that had been
made to him could be proved. When the House
were in possession of these returns, be would then state
the period on which he would bring forward the discussion,
anxious only to see the old soldier protected after many
years service. It might be s,id that his language on a
for the reason strong, but he felt deeply for the interest,
of the soldier, particularly when a regulation was made by
himself while he was in office, and which he was informed
had been ranch abused.

Th.. House then proceeded with the estimates, and tha
following votes were at.reed to :

117,274/. 19s. 10d. for defraying the chArges of the
General Staff Officers, aad the Of of Hospitals in
Great Britain and Ireland, and un Foreign Stations, India
excepted.
103,0141. 15s. 7d. for allowancas to the Officers of the
principal public departments in Great Brit tin and Leland.
12,0001. for medicine, &c , for the land forces, and for
contingencies.

33,670/. 16s. 2d. for the garrisons at home and abroad.
On the motion that 2,6381. I Is. Id. be granted for the
Royal Military College,
Sis H. HARDINGE said when the House recollected
that the Military College of France cost 50,000/. a-year,
and the sons of officers and other persons were educated
in it at the public exaense,—when they recollected that
in the United States 400 cadets were educated at au expense
to the state of 30,000/. a-year, and that the present esti-
mate was only 2,000/., he thought that to deprive the
orphan cla•s of education at the expense of the
public was very ill-judged economy. He thought
that department was of the greatest value
to the army. If he went into detail he could,
when that from 200 to 300 officers of the Bri-
tish army were educated at that College ; and he thought
that to make the parents of the children pay every far..
thing of the expense of education was very had econonly3
There was a large building capable of holding 500 stu-
dents, but there were at present only 170 students there,
and indeed in time of peace the building could not
be wholly occupied. There was also a large quan-
tity of land attached to it.—(Hear.) Now he thought
it very unfair that the parents of the students
should be compelled to keep that establishment in repair.
He contended that at least a certain portion of the expense
of the education should be found by the public.
Lord ALT HORP explained the object of the vote, and
justified the present system ; after all, he was of opinion,
that the education at the Military College was cheaper
than at any other place.
Sir J. C HOBHOUSE explained.

Sir. H. HARDINGE replied. And,
After some obs,rvstions from Captain Boldero, Sir
John Burke, and Mr. Warburton, the vote was agreed to.
The sum of 22,885/. was granted for defraying the
charge of the Royal !lilitary Asylum and Hibernian Mili-
tary School : as was also

The sum of 99,6801. 12.. 4d. for the Volunteer Carps.
17.5001. for Exchequer Fees.
125.0001. for the pay of General Officers not being
Generals

90,000/. for full pay and retired Officers.
660,500/. for half pay and military allowances of re-
duced and retired Officers.

Sir H. HARDINGE rose for the purpose, not of op-
posing this vote, but merely to state some few facts re-
lative to the persona in mhos~ favour the vote was made.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)