The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-08 00:00:00

yeomanry being called out for drill this year, he hoped. the
committee would not agree to it, as their doing so would
have the effect stated, and prevent the yeomanry being
called out for drill this year. He (Mr. Baring) would cer-
tainly rather see the officers in the yeomanry not paid :at all
—but as many of the men, in case that rule were adopted,
would also refuse to receive pay, it might operate in juri-
ously in cases where men in the same corps ceuldnot afford
to bear the expense, and uneleasant feelings might be' gene •
rated in consequence. (Hear, hear.) He felt certain that
the reduced allowance would be perfectly sufficient to main
tain the yeomanry force in a state of efficiency. (Hear.)
Mr. WILLIAMS fully concurred in the propriety cif the
course proposed by the Government with respect to g.rant-
ing further assistance to the volunteers of this country, and
suggested that the increased expenditure incurred C this
account be obtained by a corresponding reduction in the
vote of L 15,000,000 for the regular army.
Major EDWARDS protested against the reduction of the
vote on account of the yeomanry corps.
Sir J. SHELLEY expressed his gratification at th e suc-
cessful result of the motion brought forward by the. noble
lord the member for Haddingtonshire, and felt assurciii that
the volunteers would receive with great pleasure the el •sist-
ance granted by the Government.
Captain JERVIS hoped that nothing would be de) ne to
interfere with the efficiency of that volunteer cavalry force
which was provided by the yeomanry corps.
Mr. WYLD thought that the Government might etc nder
some further assistance by facilitating the obtain nig of
tents and rifle practice grounds.
Mr. PE 4c 0 CKE pointed out the great distinct ion which
existed between the yeomanry and volunteer, forces, t ;he one
being responsible to the civil, the other to the n tilitary
authorities. He was of opinion that the best possible re-
sults would be obtained from that uniform system of drill of
volunteers, which would be ensured by the appoint extent of
,drill sergeants by the Government.
Mr. CONINGHAM hoped that the volunteers would
endeavour to preserve their independence of the auth orith s
of the Horse Guards, and referred to the field-day which
hail s aken place at Brighton as a decisive proof theet the
volunteers were able to conduct their own affairs.
Lord ELCHO said he did not think that the a ffair at
Brighton was such a very successful one, and stated that in
his opinion such extended movements ought to be under the
direction of competent officers, and in that opinion he was
confirmed by most of the officers connected with the volun-
teer corps in the metropolis.
After some further remarks in reply,
Mr. BERKELEY withdrew his amendment, and the
vote was agreed to.
A sum of £158,155 for fortifications was next proposed.
Mr. F SMITH proposed to reduce the vote by the , sum
of £4,000, required for land in Alderney.
Mr. CHILDERS thought that some further information
should be given respecting these works for fortifications
before the proposed expenditure was sanctioned. Tlris was
especially necessary in connection with the works in pro-
gress in the Mauritius, the lonian Islands, and Gibraltar.
Lord W. GRAHAM inquired whether the colonies would
bear any portion of the expenses on account of the fortifi-
cations in progress, and if so, what proportion ?
Mr. WILLIAMS asked whether the vote of £4,000 for
land at Alderney was in addition to the sum of £1,250,000
already expended in that island ?
Mr. CONINGHAM opposed any further expenditure on
account of the works at Alderney.
Lord HOTHAM wished to know what course the Go-
vernment intended to adopt with respect to the fortification
of the Humber.
Mr. T. G. BARING said it was intended to commence
the erection of a battery in the Humber this year. With
respect to the proportion of the expenses to be borne by the
colonies, a committee was now considering the subject of
colonial military expenditure, which was expected shortly
to make its report. The whole of the cost for the lonian
Islands for the year would not exceed £5,000. With respect
to the Mauritius and to the lonian Islands the committee
would not be pledged by the vote to any other works than
the Fort SI. George in the Mauritius, and the .small work
in the lonian Islands. The small portion of land required
at Aldee;ney was necessary, in order to complete the whole
of the purchase required on that island. The vote for forti-
fications was not a large one this year, and the committee
would be assured that no more would be expended than was
absolutely necessary.
Sir F. SMITH said he was not satisfied with the expla-
nations respecting land at Alderney, and moved that the
vote be reduced by the sum of £4,000 for the purchase of
land on that island.
Mr. LIDDELL wished to know whether Alderney was
intended as a military work or as a harbour of refuge ? If
a military work, he wished to know what it was intended
to defend.
Lord PALMERSTON said that Alderney was not in-
tended as a harbour of refuge, but as a military post for
the naval defence of the Channel, and in connection with
Portland would be of the greatest importance for that
purp )se.
Mr. GREGORY regarded Alderney as a sourceof weak-
ness rather than of strength, and quoted the opinion of a
French officer to the same effect.
Lord PALMERSTON said that if hon, members of that
house were to ask French cfficers as to whether we were
pursuing the proper course with regard to our fortifications,
they would not be very likely to arrive at correct conclu-
sions on the subject.
After some observations from Colonel North, Mr. Con-
ningham, Mr. Jackson, and Sir F. Smith,
The committee divided—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority against —93
Mr. CHILDERS thought the answer given rospecting
the lonian Islands was unsatisfactory, and asked for a
further explanation. He moved an amendment that the
£5,000 for these islands be omitted from the vote.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said we were fortifying the lonian
Islands as if they were perpetually to belong to us, whereas '
it might some day happen that we should find out we were
fortifying the islands against ourselves.
Colonel DUNNE thought that if we were likely to lose)
possession of them. the sooner we fortified them the better.
Mr. T. G. BARING said it was intended to expend the
£5,000 in repairing old works, not in erecting new fortifi-
cations.
After some conversation, in which Mr. Bouverie, Sir F.
Smith, Captain Jervis, Colonel Dickson. Sir J. Ferguson,
Mr. Coningham, Sir 11. -Verney, Mr. Monsell, Mr, Clay,
Colonel Dunne, and Sir F. Goldsmid took part,
The committee divided—
For the amendment . 59
Against it

. 35
. 128

Majority against —47

The vote was then agreed to.
The house resumed, and the chairman reported progress.

EXCISE AND STAMPS BILL.

The house went into committee on this bill, in which
some verbal amendments were introduced.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHE-
QUER, a proviso was proposed to be added to the clause
That nothing herein contained shall be construed to render
any person liable to any penalty for or on account of any
letters or correspondence by post, containing the terms or
conditions offered or accepted for the taking or letting of
any furnished house.
After some discussion, the CHANCELLOR of the EX-
CHEQUER undertook to reconsider the phraseology of
the clause, which was considered to be ambiguous.
THE LACE FACTORIES BILL.

Sir G. C. LEWIS moved the second reading of this bill,
the object of which was to apply the general principle of
the Factories Act to lace factories.
The bill was read a second time.
The Naval Medical Supplemental Fund Society Bill was
read a second time.
The Transfer of Stocks and Annuities Bill was read a
second time, the object of it being to facilitate the transfer
of stocks and annuities.
The Volunteer Tolls Exemption Bill was read a third
time and passed.