The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-18 00:00:00

THE CHINA WAR.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Chancellor of the Ex- 1
chequer, what proportion of the vote of credit (23,800,000)
taken for the expense of the China War had been actually
expended and paid out of the Exchequer ; what proportion
was estimated to be still payable out of the balances of the
Exchequer in respect of expenditure chargeable to that
vote; whether it was intended to surrender the right of
drawing from the Exchequer any, and, if any,what portion
of the sum so voted before applying to Parliament for a
further vote of credit; and, whether he can explain
to the house why a further vote of credit, to
the amount of £1,000,000, is likely to be required, when
there was an unexpected surplus, approaching £800,000; on
the vote taken last year ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
it would be difficult to give an accurate answer to the last
part of the question without entering into the whole ques-
tion of votes of credit. As far as the practicable object of
the question, he would make a short statement. With
regard to the first part of the question, the amount ex-
pended of the vote taken for the China war, it was stated
by him on Monday when bringing forward the budget, and
it was shown in the accounts published this morning. The
portion to be paid would come out of the balance in the Ex-
chequer. The right hon. gentleman then entered into
some details explanatory of his reply.
FORTIFICATIONS, &C.

Sir F. SMITH asked the Under Secretary for War

any steps had been taken towards forming a central depot
for the War Department stores ; and, if so, whether it
was to be a more appendage to IVoolwieb Arsenal, or
whether any mandfacturing operations are to be carried on
there ; and, if any works provided for in the vote taken in
August last for fortifications have been commenced ; and if
it is now contemplated not to construct some of the works
that had been determined upon ? He hoped the
Government would not proceed with the fortifications
at present until the capabilities of the iron ships were more
efficiently tested, for if vessels shot-proof entered the Solent
theso fortifications would be of no use.
ARMY EST IMATE S.

Col. DICKSON moved that the consideration of these
estimates should be deferred with a view to their revision.
He complained strongly of the increase in the medical staff
of the service in the War- office, when reductions were
made in horse cavalry and horse artillery, which was
10),*ti910)* 9; iIA9 gr 9144 alai, it Rffectigi gle etAciwicY

of the army. He did not consider that the vote of
£2,000,000 for fortifleat ons was required, and he olject• d
to the amount of £20,000 for experiments, which was
.4..:8,000 more than was voted for that purpose last year. He
considered it was not necessary to make Alders :lot camp so
much of a permanent institution, and that it was a hardship
to compel officers and privates, many of whom had spent
several years in the colonies, to remain 1 in that camp and
endure the privations which it necessarily imposed. Other
departments of the military service were in an un-
satisfactory condition with reference to expenditure,
and he thought the army ought to be better fed and
clothed for the money voted for that 3 purpose. He con-
cluded by expressing his opinion that their estimates exhi-
bited pitiful parsimony or profuse profligacy, and that they
would consult the wishes of the country in endeavouring
to reduce the military expenditure, of which the country
was heartily sick.
Mr. T. G. BARING said that the arguments of the hon.
and gallant member who had last addressed the house did
not prove the advisability of postponing these estimates,
but went to prove that it would be desirable to go
into committee, when the different items to which
he alluded to could be fully discussed. With
respect to the military hospitals, the increase in the
expenditure was rendered necessary to provide for the com-
fort of the soldiers, and the increase for barracks was caused
by a desire to carry out that object also. He then defended
the votes generally and expressed a hope that the house
would not delay going into committee, when all the
details to which the hon. and gallant member alluded t
could be fully considered.
Col. DUNNE said no doubt it would be more conve-
nient for the hon. gentleman (Mr. Baring) to go into com-
mittee than to answer in a satisfactory manner. He com-
plained of the expenditure for military purposes within
the last few years, and contended that the house should
have received full information with reference to the diffe-
rent items in the army estimates, but that infor-
mation was more meagre than ever. He hoped
the house would not grant these estimates until
they received the information that was necessary to
show that the requisite care had been exercised in regard
to these items.

Mr. B. OSBORNE was pleased that this subject was
brought forward, and strongly censured the system
of the camp at Aldershot. That camp he re-
gardoa as the most demoralising and useless
object for which public money had ever been
voted, and it was nothing more than a preparatory school
for making indifferent brigadiers. He thought, however,
that these questions would be better discussed in com-
mittee.

[LEFT SPEAKING.]

NEWMARKET RACES.—(This Day.)

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
SWEEPSTAKES OF 25' SOVS.

Estrelda

SWEEPSTAKES OF 20 SOVS.

Emily
SWEEPSTAKES OF 100 SOVS.

Asteroid
Carbineer