The Sun.
London, England, 1821-02-27 00:00:00

;hat there would he an obviou, iriconvonlence in
postponing the Army E.timates beyond the day
fixed for them. Some particulars he should be
content to reserve, but the principal branch nniSt
besubrnitted on Friday. . •

Mr. H. G. BENNET said they would not vote
the Army Estimates till they were at least a week
in the hands of the Members. -The minority in
that House possessed means of resistance which
would be put in foree.—(Cheers.)—The subject
would not be so readily got through as the Right
Hon. Gentleman seemed to suppose. A discus-
sion might be continued' for days on the subject.
He, for one,, would not vote the number of men
by many thousands—(Cheers)----and Members on
his side would resist such a vote to the last ex-
tremity. At a time when complaints of insup-
portable distress came from all classes of the
people, retrenchment must be carried to the ut-
most extent. 64 We will," continued the Hon:
Member, with great energy—" we will cut down
the expenditure on this head to the utmost : we
cannot afford the present establishment, and we
won't afford it."—(Hear, hear !)
The CHANCELLOIt of the EXCHEQUER said, that
to pacify the lion. Member's temper, time mould
be allowed for considering the subject. The
navy estimates would be taken on Friday, and
the ordnance on Monday.
Mr. RicAnno said he took this opportunity to
ask the Right llon. Gentleman whether the
paper laid on the table contained all time trans-
actions between the Treastiry and the Bank re-
specting Exchequer-bills, and an account of all
the bills purchased in the market by the Bank,
between the sth January, 1820, and the sth
January, 1821.

The 61ANCELLOR of the ExclicgtTEtt said it in-
cluded every thins upon that subject ; and if any
bills had been purchased by the Bank, the ac-
count would Ie found there.

Mr. lI.G REY llcNNETasked, as was understood,
whether the money for ‘s hich Mr. Theodore
Ilooke had been detained had been paid ; and if
not, what steps %i,ere taken to recover payment ?
The C►HANCEr.r.ou of the EXCHEQUER said he
could not give a full explanation. The Gentle-
man mentioned was not blamed. Ile did not
know whether the money was paid or not.

TRANSPORTATION-OF OFFENDERS' BILL.

The second reading of this Bill was moved.

Mr. 11. G. BENNET said, that as this Bill was
for a very limited period, the business must soon
come again before the House. llis opinion would
soon be adopted, that there was a necessity for
the Executive taking the whole subject of trans-
portation into serious consideration. It—had
ceased to operate as a punishment. At Assizes
it was well known to be sought as a boon: His
bureau was filled with letters, entreating his in-
fluence to obtain as a boon what was enforced as
a punishment. During the last 4 years 11,000
persons had been transported. Such a stock of
new corruption was yearly sent to the Colony,
that no system of improvement was allowed to
produce any regular amelioration. The Hon.
Gentleman observed upon the disproportion of
males to females in the, Colony : they were 50,
60, 100, and in some districts 140 to one, which
led to a horrible and disgusting state of depra-
vity and licentioniness. He protested in the
strongest terms against 'the forced exportation
of so many males to a situation already so over-
stocked.

Mr. IL CLIVE had hoped that the Hon. Gen-
tleman would have abstained from his remarks
until the real state of New South Wales was
better known, not only by the inquiries Govern-
ment had instituted, but by the arrival of the
late Governor, who was daily expected. It was
quite clear that the number of criminals in this
country had decreased of late years ; but still
our gaols were not, and could not be, large
enough to hold them : the prisons would contain
only 16,000 at the utmost ; and, supposing only
13,000 convicted annually, it was obvious that
the places of confinement were insufficient.
Some must be sent out of the country ; and the
system of the Colony of New South Wales Iva's
good, but still capable of improvement.
Mr. BrssET explained, arguing that it was
absolutely necessary that the system of secondary
punishments shduld be re-considered.
After a few words from Mr. GOULBURN, the
Bill was read a second time.