The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-14 00:00:00

FEI3RUARY 14, 1845,

these-Colonial dependencies, and to make no provision
for the relief of the troops serving in them, will be in-
consistent with humanity in the first place, and incon-
sistent with true economy in the other. To lay aside
its want of economy, in point of humanity nothing can
be more precious than the life and health of a
soldier.—(Cheers.) The army thus that you possess is
a very expensive and complicated machinery, and you
may depend upon it you will not consult tree economy
if you permit it to be dislocated and deranged by reduc-
tions without calculation. Now in the year 1792, which
has frequently been referred to as the criterion of what
our military establishments ought to be—in theyear 1792
you had 22 colonial dependencies. In the year 1820
you had 34 colonial dependencies, and in the present
year, 1845, the colonies, which were 22 in 1792,
have increased to 45 at the present time.
It is the number of your colonies, and the
dispersion of the forces employed in them,
that leads to the necessity of frequent relief;
and imposes on you, with reference to your army par-
ticularly-, as distinguished from the armies of the Con-
tinental powers, in order to maintain the efficiency
of that force, a considerable annual expenditure.
It may be said it is not our advantage to defend our
colonial empire, but I deal with the fact that you have
colonies—that you must provide a competent force for
each, and that having a competent force, you must have
some supply for the relief of them. Sir, I should be un-
willing—though I know our colonies are expensive—
I should be unwilling to give up that policy which
led to the foundation in different parts of the
globe of dependencies animated by the spirit of Eng-
lishmen, speaking the English language, and laying
the foundation, perhaps, in future times, of important
commercial States.—(Hear, hear.) Looking to our own
population—looking to its numbers—looking to its en-
terprise, I cannot say that I think it is unwise to pro-
vide an outlet for that population and that enterprise.
—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) And though it
may be attended nt times with something of expence
you must remember, however that may be, the fact that
you have at the present moment forty-five colonies, for
the military defence of which you must provide. Fur
the service of each of these forty-five colonies you have
a force, consisting first, of three battalions of the
army, 6,500 cavalry, rank and file, and you have one
hundred and twelve battalions of infantry, con-
sisting, rank and file, of 92,500 men, and that
is the amount of the British army with which
you are to garrison all these forty-five colonies, with
which we are to provide against occasionally internal
commotion, and the chance of foreign attack, and to
provide also for the internal service of the
country. And this is to be effected, and is
effected, by an infantry force of 112 battalions,
amounting to 92,000 rank and file. Now, what is the
rule established with regard to relief ? The rule is this.
That a regiment shall remain ten years abroad, and five
at home ; and will any one say that that is an unreason-
able regulation—that it would be desirable for the effi-
ciency of the army, that any regiment in the British service
should remain more than ten years abroad, or that it
should not have the advantage of remaining five years
at home. After their return they generally arrived in
such a state that it required some years to bring them to
a proper degree of health.—(Hear, hear.) And if her
Majesty's Government thought it acvisable--that it
was consistent with true economy, with humanity and
with the efficiency of the service to reduce the
military force it would be their bounden duty to do
so. What is the fact with regard to the

You have 35 battalions at home—not, as it is supposed,
for the purpose of restraining, but for the purpose of
maintaining. the system of relief. Your rule is five
years at home, but ten years abroad, but you
have not been able to adhere to it. The military force
that you have at home, does not enable you
to supply the demand for the necessary relief. Now,
let me take a series of years, from the year 1824
to the year 1842, a period of eighteen years of profound
peace—at least, there was during that period no general
warfare. There was no interruption to tranquillity from
1824 to 1842, and the number of battalions during that,
time remained the same. Now, what was the
service during that period ? Why, the average
service of the whole of the battalions was
ten years abroad and five at home. For the whole of
the battalions, therefore, there was fourteen years abroad
and four at home.—(Hear, hear.) It might be said that
I speak of rank and file, and that there is necessarily
a number of officers included. Now, look at the
effect of that. You hare a number of reduced
officers, and what was the effect I' Why,
in reducing the officers you would reduce the regiment,
and the consequence therefore was that officers ought to
be increased. 'Now, what was the effect with respect to
services in India? There were twenty-three battalions
in India, twelve of them whose period of foreign
service has been thirteen years. There were
four battalions in India whose period of service has
been upwards of twenty years, dad there is one battalion
which has been on foreign service for twenty-three
years, which is now returning home, and if you allow it
to remain five years at home, and send it out again
for ten years, when it comes back it will have
been thirty-three years abroad on foreign service and
five at home. Now if you adhere to your own rule of
fire years at home and ten years abroad, you would
require no less than forty-seven battalions for India.
Independently of that we have only thirty-five battalions
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mended a diminution of the British army. I know that
some temporary popularity might be gained
by advising that reduction, but when I look
to the system of relief, however imperfect
are those principles upon which it is founded,
and of the present course at home which is carried into
effect, I am bound to say that I don't think it would be
consistent with sound policy, or with economy, to pro-
pose—considering the great importance of our vast colo-
nial empire—a reduction in the military establish.
ments of the country.—(gear, hear.) I hope the
House will excuse me for dwelling thus in detail
upon our expenditure, because, as I said before, I do not
feel that any prosperity justifies any increase in the ex-
penditure which can be made. We propose no increase
in our military establishments, but at the same time, we
do not think it would be desirable to recommend to the
House to diminish the military force of this country.
Consequently, we propose that the vote for the army
estimates in the present year shall be a vote of 6,600,0001,
the amount of last year's estimate. I now proceed to
call the attention of the House to the state of the nary,
and the, demand we shall feel,. it our duty to submit to
the House for an increase in the estimate for it. We
shall propose, in the course of the present year, an in-
crease in the number of men serving in the navy, of
about 2,500 more than those that are now actually
employed, and of about 4,000 more men than
those voted last year. He would make that proposal on
-the following grounds. On account of our extended
colonial empire, and the new commercial interests con-
nected with it. There is a growing necessity for pro-
tection of our commerce in almost every part of the
world. Within the last few years three great naval
stations have grown up. There is the coast
of Africa, the Pacific, and the China seas.
Now I will just compare the number of men
employed in these several stations in 1841, with the
number of men we felt it our duty to employ; for, really
we had scarcely any option to exercise with respect to
that employment in the course of the autumn of last
year. In 1841, on the coast of Africa, there were em-
ployed 690 men. Last year, for the purpose of making
a more vigorous attempt for the suppression of the slave
trade there were employed on the coast ofAfrica 2,590 men
In the Pacific, in the year 1841, there were employed
706 men ; in the last year there were, and there are at
present, employed, 2,437 men. In the China seas, in
1841, there was only a small frigate. I believe that was
previous to the commencement of hostilities ; but our
ordinary communications in the China seas were con-
ducted by the occasional presence of a small frigate. But
after the treaty which we entered into with China, there
were employed on the coast of China 2,805 men. We
have attempted to make a reduction. Under the China
treaty there was a stipulation that we should
have one vessel for each of the five ports
at which our commerce was to be carried on.
We attempted to reduce the number ; we tried to
adopt the plan of having steam-boats to pay occasional
visits to those ports. But we were immediately met by
the strongest representations from the most eminent au-
thorities, from Sir Heury Pottingcr and his suc-
cessor, Mr. Davis, earnestly entreating us, in
consideration of our new relations, and of the
importance of imposing a check upon those who
formed those post, and preventing any infraction of
the Chinese laws, immediately to dispatch an additional
force; and so convinced were we of the justness of the

commerce is greatly blitend!ng on the west
coast of South America, and it is ittipoesible
to deny that the presence of a British vessel has a
great effect in maintaining relations of peace.—(Hear,
hear.) lam sure that upon those three stations alone
there has been an increase in the men employed at such
a distance from this country of not less than 6000 men.
You are to observe too that the very dispersion of your
naval force has an effect like that produced by the dis-
persion of the army. The necessity of having your
naval force dispersed over the habitable globe does in
fact diminish the efficiency of the naval complement at
home.—(Hear, hear.) We purpose, therefore, with per-
fect confidence in the justice of the requisition to increase
the naval force of the present year to 4,000 men. The
expense caused by that increase will be about 184,0001.
I do not vindicate that increase merely on the ground
of fiscal arrangements. I say, without hesitation, that
I think it is of great importance that this country should
have the means of perfecting discipline, of improving its
officers, and of keeping at its command a certain num-
ber of ships of the line.—(Hear, and partial cheers.)
I do not believe that it ought to give, or that it would
give, any cause for jealousy, if this country should have
the command of nine or ten sail of the line.—(Hear,
hear.) It is of great importance that we should test the
quality of vessels in sailing, and we have no means of
doing so unless we send them to sea.—(Loud cheers from
Sir Charles Napier, followed by shouts of laughter,
in which Sir Robert Peel joined heartily.) Sir, I
am afraid that the approbation of the Gallant Officer

The increased number of men which I mean to propose
is 4,000, and if you attend to the requisitions of our com-
merce in different parts of the globe, you will find that
they will not enable us to have, under any circumstances,
more than ten sail of the line at our command.
It is impossible also, I think, for this House to
overlook the progress made in the perfection of
steam navigation.—(Hear, hear.) Last year this House
sanctioned a vote for two basins for the construction and
repair of steam-vessels—one at Portsmouth, and another
at Deptford. I shall therefore propose this year to take
a vote for proceeding with the formation of those basins
which the House sanctioned last year. The vote I pro
pose to ask for is 187,0002. I shall also take
a vote for the purpose of enabling us to
maintain the steam navy in a respectable
condition suited to a peace establishment. Now, on ac-
count of the naval service, and of the ordnance con-
nected with the navy, there will be an increase in the
estimates of nearly one million.--(Considerable sensation,
much murmuring, and whispers in all parts of the House.)

of 30,795,000/. The vote of supply for the army,
6,678,0001., for the navy, 6,936,0001., for the ordnance,
2,142,0001., for the miscellaneous estimates, 3,200,000/,
being together, 18,895,0001, and added to the charge
for the debt of the Consolidated Fund, 49,695,0001.,
for the revenue of next year I will take 51,100,000/.
The charges for the present year, 49,690,0001. And,
even with this increased expenditure, there would be a
surplus of the sth of April, 1846, of between one and
two millions.

An HON. MEMBER on the Opposition benches—The
half-year's income-tax ?

Sir ROBERT PEEL—Of course the half-year's in-
come-tax. lam not now estimating the permanent ex-
penditure of the country. I am stating what would be
the state of the finance of the country on the sth of
April, 1846.—(11ear, hear.) It is quite clear, that
if the income-tax was not to be renewed,
unless there wou!d be some considerable in-
crease in the public revenue from other sources,
there would probably be a deficiency. I have thus at
tempted to lay before the House the present financial
condition of the country, and estimated the revenue to the
sth of April next, and for the year ending the sth of
April, 1846 ; and I have also laid before the House what
amount of expenditure her Majesty's Government, with a
provident care for the public interests, shall feel it their
ditty to recommend to the House. The next questi,m
that arises is--and it is a most important one—in what
manner this inccease of expenditure is to be provided
for ? Will you run the risk of curtailing the risk of
curtailing the revenue for future year', by making no
provision for the future, and because that in 18.16 the
revenue will admit of increased expenditure, we should
postpone the consideration of future wants until they
came upon them. Her Majesty's Government did not
consider they would be doing their duty by acting in
such disregard to the future condition of the country.
I know it does not conduce to popularity to propose a
contivance of taxation, but it is the duty of a Govern•
ment to consider the prospects of the future, as well as
the present, exigencies of the country, and if they are
satisfied that the public interest demands a continuance
of taxation, even though it may be unpopular, it be-
comes their duty respectfully to submit to consideration
a proposal on that important subject. We are now in-
duced to propose a continuance of the property-tax for a
further period, and before I am led to ask the assent of this
House, or any Gentleman in this House, to that pro-
posal. I feel it is absolutely necessary that I should
explain, as I shall now proceed to do, what are the view,
of her Majesty's Government with respect to the appro•
priation of the surplus revenue, which will be placed at
their disposal, after fully providing for every exigency
of the public service. I know well, as the Noble Lord
opposite stated the other night, that it is impossible to
give an opinion upon the question, abstractedly,
can the property-tax be continued or not, with-
out knowing what are the measures in respect
of relief from taxation, which would follow as a conse-
quence of its continued imposition. Let me assume, for
the present—and I merely assume it for the pur-
pose of argument, and to make my state-
ment more clear—let me assume, I repeat, for the
present that the House has granted the continuance of
the property-tax. I will then give a short estimate
of the revenue arising from it, together with other
sources. Suppose the property-tax to be continued,
the estimate of the revenue for the next year on the
sth of April, 1846, aided by the 5,200,0002 of the
property-tax, will be 53,700,0001. and as long
as the other sources of the revenue remain equally pro.
ductive, and as long as the property-tax is continued,
53,700,000/., subject to a reduction of 600,0001., will be
the amount cf the revenue. This 600,000/.
is the amount received as Cnina money ; it
will be received fee one year more, but
for the purpose of calculating the revenue,
I had better strike it out altogether. The re-
venue for the year, then, on the sth of
April, 1846, will be 53,100,0001. The charge for the
debt, and on account of the different branches
of the public service will be 49,690,0001. ; so
that there would be left, as long as the income-
tax should be continued, and deducting the
Chinese money, a nett revenue of 3,409,000/.
That is the surplus that will remain if the House should
acquiesce in the proposal which I shall make to increase
the expenditure on the nary, and if they shall also de-
termine that the income-tax shall be continued. Now it
is a most important matter for consideration, in what
mode that surplus, or any part of that surplus, shall be
employed for the relief of taxation. What are the in-
ducements in the way of the increased efficiency of the
public service, and of the diminution of taxation, whicn
I hold out to the House of Commons as a motive to
induce them to consent to the continuance of the income-
tax. I should not propose to the House the continuance
of the income-tax unless I had the strongest presumption,
partly formed on the experience of past years, that it
will be competent to the House of Commons, by
continuing the income-tax to make such arrangements
with respect to general taxation, as shall be the founda-
tion of great future commercial prosperity, and shall
materially add to the comforts even of those which shall
be called on to contribute to the income-tax.—(Hear.)
[LEFT 8 PEA XING. I

16th Light Dragoons—Lieutenant G. T. W.*Pipon to:be
Captain, by purchase, vice Smith, who retires; Cornet J. T.
Waller to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Pipon ; A. M.
Knight; Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Waller, Feb. 14.
Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards—Ensign and
Lieutenant J. Reeve to be Lieutenant and Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Allix, who retires; G. W. A. Higginson, Gent.,
to be Ensign and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Reeve,
Feb. 14.
Scots Fusilier Guards—Ensign and Lieut. IL P. De Bathe
to be Lieutenant and Captain, by purchase, vice Davies, who
retires ; Lieut. W. B. Parker, from 60th Feot, to be Ensign
and Lieutenant, by purchase, vice De Bathe ; Lieut. and
Capt. F. C. A. Stephenson to be Adjutant, vice Davies, Feb. 14.
Ist Regiment of Foot—W. J. Gillum, Gent., to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Coote, promoted in 7th Foot, Feb. 14.
7th Foot—Ensign C. C. Ncame, from the 47th Foot, to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Moore, who retires; Ensign R.
Coote, from the Ist Foot, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Mackay, who retires, Feb. 14.
19th Foot—Captain I'. Unett, from half-pay Unattached,
to be Captain, vice William Bernard, who exchanges, re-
ceiving the difference, Feb. 14.
34th Foot—Lieutenant J. Gwilt to be Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Hutton, who retires ; Ensign C. Wi G. Burrill to
be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Gwilt ; J. Jordan, k,;,ent.,
to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Burrill, Feb. 14.
45th Foot—F. 0. Barker, Gent. to be Assistant-Surgeon,
vice Hearn, appointed to the Staff, Feb. 14.
47th Foot—Ensign H. Nangle, from the 50th Foot, to be
Ensign, vice Neame, promoted in 7th Foot, Feb. 14.
60th Foot—Second-Lieutenant J. Bailie to be First-Lieute-
nant by purchase, vice A. R. Saunders, who retires, Feb. 14.
V. Tongue, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice Bailie, Feb. 14. _ . _

66th FoOt—Lieut. F. C. Trench to be Captain, by pur-
chase, vice Taylor, whose promotion has been cancelled;
Jan. 24.

77th Foot—Ensign T. 0. Forster to be Lieutenant, by
purchase, vice Denys, who retires ; W. W. G. Dilke, Gent.,
to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Forster, Feb. 14.
Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Assistant-Surgeon A. B.
Cleland, M.D., from the Staff, to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice
Millar, promoted on the Staff, Feb. 14.
BREVET.—Captain T. Unett, of 19th Foot, to be Major in
the Army, Nov. 23, 1841.
HOSPITAL STAFF.—Assistant-Surgeon J. Millar, M.D.
from the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, to be Staff-Sur-
geon of Second Class, vice A. W. Murray, who retires upon
half-pay; Assistant-Surgeon C. B. Hearn, from 45th Foot,
to be Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, vice Cleland, appointed
to the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, Feb. 14.
Erratum in the Gazette of Jan 24.

Commission signed by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

For H. Yillebors, Esq.., to be Deputy •Lieutenant, read IL
Villebois, junior, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant.
WHITEHALL, JAN. 7.
_ _ _

The Right Hon. Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, Knt.,
Lord Chief Justice of her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas,
has appointed Thomas Tudor Trevor, of Guisborough, in the
county of York, Gent.. to be one of the Perpetual Commis-
sioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be exe-
cuted by married women, under the Act passed for the abo-
lition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of more
simple modes of assurance, in and for the North Riding of
the county of York.
WHITEHALL, JAN. 16, 1845.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed Francis Soames, of
Wokingham, in the county of Berks, Gent, to be a Master
Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
BANKRUPTS.

Algernon Lindsey Flint, warehouseman, Aldermanbury.
William Alexander Christian, innkeeper, Newcastle-street
Strand.

John White, leather seller, Great St. Andrew-street, Seven
Dials.

Robert ➢iayow Herbert, tea dealer, Reading.
Joseph Turner and Samuel Weeks, stone-masons, South-
ampton.
John Oldham, ironfounder, Kingston-upon-Hull.
William Howell, jun., bookseller, Liverpool.
John Sanderson, merchant, Liverpool.
Francis John Rawlings, cabinet maker, Cheltenham.
Samuel Watson, stone-mason, Highbridge, Somersetshire.
Richard Hill, currier, Exeter.
James 111‘Williarn, hosier, Gloucester.
Jacob Wicks, grocer, Bristol.

PRICE OF SUGAR.
The Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, for the
week ending Feb. 11, 1845, is 28s. 1 4d.per cwt., exclusive
of the Duties of Customs paid or payable thereon on the im-
portation thereof into Great Britain.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
Owing to the press of Parliamentary Intelligence, we
are compelled to omit our report of this Afternoon's
Markets.