The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-12 00:00:00

SUPPLY.

On the vote of 27,8101. for Pimlico Improvements,
Mr. WILLIAMS said it was time to put a stop to the
expense incurred in the purchase of houses around Buck-
ingham Palace. The house ha 1 alrealy voted 70,0001. for
this purpose, and now they called for another large sum.
Sir B. HALL said his hon. friend could not have read
the paper which was laid on the table of the house, and
which gave an account of the proceedings connected with
this vote. Its object was to carry out the provisions of
an Act of Parliament which was passed in 1833.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that the expenditure of the pre-
sent year was most exorbitant. The civil service expen-
diture, which was 2,000,0001. under the Duke .of Welling-
ton's administration, was now 7,465,0001.; and in the
present year there was an increase of 741,0001. over the
expenditure of last year. It was time to put a check to
this extravagance on the part of the Government.
After a few words from Sir H. VERNEY,
Lord J. MANNERS supported the vot3.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS opposed it on the ground that it
was a vote not for Pimlico Improvements, but for improv-
ing the vicinity of Buckingham Palace.
Colonel KNOX supported the vote.
Mr. D. NICOLL objected to such a vote at a period
when co much money was required to re-conquer India,
and intimated that be shculd divide against it.
A call was made for a division, but none took place, and
the vote was agreed to.
On the vote of 80,0001. for the purchase of the site of the
proposed new public offices,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER cbserved
that that amount wax necessary to carry out the object of
the 18th and 19th Victoria, under which the notices for
the prchase of the land fur two new offices had already
been served.
In reply to Mr. HENLEY,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
before anything definitive was done in the way of buiiding,
the plans would be submitted to the house, and a further
sum of money asked for. All that was wanted now was
the means of acquiring the land.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought that an estimate should
be given of the contemplate f outlay after the ground had
been cleared.
Agreed to.
7,5001. was voted for the erection of new buildings in
connection with the Rgistry-office in Edinburgh.
THE MILITIA.
- - -

On the vote of 200,000/. for the expense of embodying
the militia,
Sir J. TRELAWNY wished for explanation of the
delay which had occurred with regard to the settlement of
the accounts of the militia—a delay which had in many
instances caused great inconvenience. Its the case of one
regiment, the accounts for the quarter ending the 30th of
June, 1855, were outstanding at the beginnuing of this
year. One consequence of such delay was that the pay-
masters had to pay an additional amount to the guarantee
societies. Another point requiring explanation was the
long period which had often elapsed between the issuing
of the warr ,nts for the embodying of militia regiatents and
their actual embodiment. In one case, the regiment hav-
ing been called out ou the 17th of November, 1851, it was
not embodied till the 18th January, 1855 ; the result being
that an expense of 2,0001. was incurred without any ser-
vice having been performed.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said the cause of the delay in making
up the accounts was that the work thrown on the depart.
ment during the war was so enormous that though the
number bf clerks was considerably increased, it was never-
theless quite impossible to keep pace with the amount of
work required. He thought the hon. bed. was mistaken
in supposing that any additional expense was thrown on
the paymasters by the delay. He believed the Guarantee
Society remained liable after the regiment had been dis-
embodied, without the payment being continued. As
regalded the money paid previous to actual service, it was
not possible for the Government to prevent that, because it
took place under an old act; but in the bill which his noble
friend at the heal of the War Department had introduced
in another place, and which would soon be before that
house, there was a clause to the effect that the militia
should not be entitled to any pay between the period of
issuing the warrant for embodiment and the period of
actual service.
Colonel KNOX knew many instances in which great in-
convenience had arisen from the want of promptitude a ith
regard to the accounts.
Mr. RIDLEY hoped the noble lord would take into his
serious consideration the best method of lodging the militia
after they were embodied.
Colonel NORTH wished to know whether any decision
had been come to by the Government with regard to the
memorial presented by the surgeons of the militia staff
complaining that their remuneration was very inadequate.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that the subjects referred to in
the memorial had been fully investigated. With respect
to the surgeons' allowance in the militia it was not thought
advisable to increase it ; but in all cases where medical
assistance was necessary, it was wished to give the militia
surgeon a preference over the civil practitioner. The sub-
ject had been referred to the Consmareler-in-Chief, brit his
answer had not as yet been received. With respect to the
billeting sytem, it was the intention of the authorities to
dispense with it as much as possible, because they deemed
it a great bar to the efficient „discipline of the soldier.
(Hear.)
Mr. ADAMS complained of the difference in the allow-
ance of line and militia surgeons for the examination of
recruits, the former getting 4s. and the latter only half-a-
crown for each. He saw no reason why such a distinction
should be made.
Colonel GILPIN considered that the militia surgeons
had been liberally treated by the Government.
Sir J. RAMSDEN said that with regard to the case of
the militia surgeons, their position should ho considered ;
on the whole, it was one now much coveted, for in addi-
tion to the actual allowances, it gave au introduction to
private practice, and
,the Government did not intend to
make any change.
The vote was then agreed to.
450,0001. for the disembodied militia.
Mr. WILLIAMS wished to know on what principlo
this estimate was framed. In 1855 a vote was taken of
3,813,0001. for 136,000 militia ; it appeared from a subse-
quent return that only 62,4001 were actually embodied,
yet the expenditure was 2,930,8841. If the whole number
had bean raised the expenditure would have exceeded the
estimate by nearly two millions, and it showed that the,
militia was a more expensive force than the standing
army.
Lord C. HAMILTON wished to know whether the hon.
gentleman had taken into account the number of men sup-
plied to the army by the militia, whose bounty was de-
frayed out of the militia estimate.
Mr. WILLIAIIS—said the total expenditure on that
head was only 161,0001.
Sir J. BULLER wished to know whether the Govern-
ment would take into consideration the case of the rifle and
other volunteer corps raised daring the war? They got 110
assistance from Government, not even a supply of ammu-
nition for practice, and if some help was not afforded them
the colonels would find it difficult to keep them up. He
suggested that they should be allowed ammunition for
practice, and par day when so engaged.
Sir J. RAMSDEN remarked that these corps were vo-
lunteer corps, and when they were raised it was understood
that they should not cost anything to the public. There
was no intention of altering that arrangement.
The vote was then agreed to.
On the next vote, 32,000/. for the Ordnance survey in
Scotland,
Sir D. NORREYS inquired whether the noble lord had
agreed to the appointment of a commission, as recom-
mended by the Lords, and if so, on what terms, and whe-
ther the scale was to be uniform for the whole kingdom.
He also inquired whether there was any system in con-
templation for the registration of title and the transfer of
land, and recommended that if there was, it should be re-
ferred to the commission. He likwise wished to know
whether if any change in the scale should be recommended
the house would have an opportunity of expressing an
opinion upon it?
Lord PALMERSTON stated that the appointment of
the commission was not intended to override the decision
of the House of Commons. The commission would inquire
and report, but that report would by no means involve a
decision. There would be no change in the scale without
an opportunity being afforded to the house to consider the
matter. When the commission was issued the names of
the commissioners a d a copy of the instructions on which
they would be required to act would be laid before the
house.
In reply to Mr. LOCKE,
Sir J. RAMSDEN said this estimate was merely to
conclude work already begun, not to commence the moving
of any fresh ground.
The vote was agreed to, and the announcement was re-
ceived with loud cheers, it being the last veto in the esti-
mates.
The report of the votes agreed to on the previous day
was then brought up and agreed to.
Parochial Schoolmasters (Scotlanl) Bill was read a
second time and ordered to be committed.
Pinilico Improvements Bill was read a third time and
passed.
Police (Scotland) Bill was read a third time and passed.
REFORIIATORY SCHOOLS BILL.
The Lord's amendments to this bill were considered
and some of them having been disagreed to, a committee
was appointed to confer with the Lords on the subject.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and

agreed to. '
PROBATES AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
BILL.
The adjourned debate on the consideration of this bill
was then resuined.
Mr. ROEBUCK sail that if Leeds was entitled to he
constituted a district, Sheffield was equllly entitled to the
same privilege. In his opinion the West Riding ought to
constitute only one district, anti the court ought to be held
at Wakefield, but as tho West Riding was to be divided,
he submitted that Sheffield ought to be made a separate
district as well as Leeds.
Mr. BEECROFT said the registry at Leeds would be

most convenient for a large and important district, and
onght b) the registry for the northern district of the
Wst Riding.
After some discussion, in the course of which Mr.
Vance and Lord Goderich supported the registry being at
Leeds; a Sir Charles Wood and Mr. Hadfield advoca,d
its being at -Wakefield,
The amendment was negatived without a division.
Mr. CLAY then proposed to substitute Hull for York
as tho place of registry for the East Riding; but after a
short discussion the schedule was agreed to as it stood.
Mr. BIiRESFORD moved that the two divisions of the
county of Essex be added to the schedule as one district
for the purposes of registration under the bill, and that
the town of Chelmsford be the place of district registry.
The house divided--
For the motion 9
Against it
Majority ' —46
Mr. HADFIELD (for Mr. DILLWYN) moved after
" counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembroke," to
insert " with the deaneries of East and West Gower, in
the county of Glamorgan ; " and after " counties a
Glamorgan," to insert " with the exception of the
deaneries of East and West Gower."

Agreed to.
Sir J. EAST moved to insert "and Isis of Wight,'
after tho word Southampton.
Agreed to.
The third reading of the bill waq fixed for Ibis day.
CROWDED DWELLINGS PREVENTION BILL.

On the motion for the second rea ling,
Mr. AYRTON asked whether it was decent to bring
forward at two o'clock a bill to put all the dwellings of the
poor under the control of the police ? The meqsure was
perfectly monstrous ; and he moved that it be read
second time that day three months.

Mr. CO WPER, said the hon. gentleman misunderstood
the bill. Its object was merely to stop a flaw in the
Lodging House Act. The measure was badly worded, but
it should be corrected in committee. -

The bill was read a secon I time, on the understanding
that it should ba committed this day, pro forma, in order
to introduce the proposed amendments.
CHARITY TRUSTS CONTINUANCE BILL.

The bill was read a first time.
The house adjourned at 23 minutes to three o'clock.

R AIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

EASTERN COUNTIES.
The directors of this company have declared a divi
dend of per share on the consolidated stock for the
half-year ending the 30th of Jane last, carrying forward
a balance of 6,8791. to the credit of the current
half-year.