Star.
London, England, 1808-02-27 00:00:00

la contravene their former vote, by agreeing to
AW°:.-ppn dage that had been attached to it. He cer-
hould rather witlidraw his own motion, how.
ainiT 'portant he might think it, for the sake of justi.
self from misrepresentation, than consent to
jthra"tbwilimch had been tacked to it.
Mr. TIERNEY supported the ametteltnent, on the
s,asielhat the Right Honourable Secretary ought,
67„ieito himself, to produce eyery paper, in order to
imputation thrown on the Government
ilirearj—ie-4 foul
this country
Mr. Secretary CANNING explained • and after a
fee words from Mr. W. Dundas, the ;and
was
Ford to be cleared, when two divisions took place.
For the Amendment, 40--Against it, 110—Majo-
• eo.—And on the Original Motion, Ayes, 140—
rY" • 131
Noes, 9--/s.ajority, •
ARMY ESTIMATE&
When the Gallery opened we found the House in
aCOrinalltee on the motion of the Secretary of War,
the Army Estimates. The Right Honourable
on
secretary said, on the subject of the Estimates it was
setisfactory to say, that the Army at present was su-
perior in strength and discipline to any army in this
'country, during the year previous, and that a con-
siderable addition had taken place in the effective
strength. It had the advantage of the same number
e acme as last year, and it was not possible for the
British army to be placed in a more prosperous situa.
ewe The difference had been principally in the
regular increase of the infantry, which was eight thou.
d men stronger than before. The cavalry was in
sanre same situation, in point of number as it remained
last year, and it was intended to make a reduction:—..
He thought it necessary to call the attention of the
House to the royr waggon train. The horses had
been reduced to 500, which was the whole of -the ex-
isting force. It was known that these five hundred
were employed in the public service, and that the
public service was performed cheaper by the waggon
train, than it could possibly have been by any other
means. They were employed in works carried on at
,fferent barracks, and trom their utility, it was con-
sidered necessary to retain them in the service. The
next article he would call the attention of the House
to, was the embodied Militia. Notwithstanding the
delights from them, the Militia now stood higher in
point of numbers than before the balloting took place.
The General Staff remained nearly what it was. The
establishment of officers was the same as before. The
Royal Military College did not appear to have cle-
ansed in expence. Some salaries had been raised,
as it was found necessary the Lieutenant Governor
should have a small addition. In regard to this estab •
lishment, his wish was, that it inight increase, and
take a firmer establishment, and that means may
be taken for so laudable a purpose. The institution
must be productive of the highest advantages. It
was perhaps more necessary in this country than in
any country of Europe to promote military educa-
tion. It was necessary to increase army salaries this
rear, in addition to the army expences of 195,0001.
since last year. The difference arose from includ-
ing Staff at home with the Staff abroad. When they
had increased 20, or 30,000 men, it consequently oc-
casioned additional expence. In the half pay no de-
crease had taken place, owing to accidental circum-
stances. In the Pension List 30,0001. had been de-
ducted. The Volunteer Corps estimates remained
nearly the same. A small decrease had taken place,
owing to finding their own cloaths. A decrease had
taken place in the German Legion, because several re.
giments formerly attached to that corps, sa ere re.
moved from it. The sum amounted to 10 or 12,0001.
There were also a decrease in the Barrack Depart-
ment. These were the different objects on which the
estimates were made. He had only a few words to say
of the amount of the army. The regular infantry
was 157,000 upon the present establishment, and the
expences of the army 1,1300,0001. The Right Hen.
Secretary then moved for the effective force required
for the service of the United Kingdoms.
General Fitzpatrick, Mr. Long, Lord •H. Petty;
Mr. Calcraft, the Secretary at War, and COlosiel Ro-
binson then entered into a conversation on the:recruit-
ing of the army, Inspecting Field Officers, and other
topics connected with the estimates.
Mr. WINDHAM complained of the precipitancy
with which public business was carried on, and par-
ticularly on the manner in which Ministers pressed
the consideration of the subject, printed copies of the
Army estimates having been only twenty-four hours
before the House. The Right Honourable Gentle-
man touched upon the various heads of the estimate,
but as he promised to discuss the whole more fully
upon future occasions, we do not think it necessary
to follow him. He approved of the reduction of the
waggon train, and expressed a wish that this reduc-
tion had been much more considerable. He reverted
to the saving of £92,000 per annum produced by the
last Administration in the volunteer establishment,
and commented upon the mischiefs that resulted from
the operation of the plan instituted b) the present Mi-
nisters for the military system of their predecessors.
Among other evils he mentioned the amount of boun-
ties fie substitutes for the militia generally at 25 gui-
neas, and not infrequently so high as 50 and 60 gui-
neas. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded with
an able vindication of the military project of the last
Administration.
Lord CASTLEREAGH expressed his surprize
at the complaint with which the Right Honourable
Gentleman conimenced, recollecting, as the House
must, that when the Right Honourable Gentleman
was in office the army estimates were not printed at
all when they were voted, and that the Right Ho-
nour.thle Gentleman very reluctantly acquiesced in
the Proposition to have them printed. For a full re-
ply to the Right Honourable Gentleman's objections,
the Noble Lord reserved himself untilthese objections
should be more fully stated. At present, however,
he though:, it necessary, for the satisfaction of the
House and the country, and in vindication of the
system pursued by his colleagues, to say a few words.
Of the two great military measures brought forward
last Session, the success had been most remarkable II
indeed. By the Militia Ballotting Bill, which was I
to continue in operation until May, it was proposed
to raise +7,000 men for Great Britain and Ireland ;
aentadnof these, according to the last returns,
Mil no less
37,000 were already raised. By thtia
Transfer Bill, which was to continue in operation un-
til August next, it was proposed to raise 27,639 ; and
of this number, according to the last returns, 2e,689
had a‘•tually volunteered into the line. So that a
force of above silty thousand men had been raised

within the last year, in that country resieciing the ca.
pack), of which to produce men the House had heard
such gloomy predictions from the Right Honourable
Gentleman.
The Noble Lord stated the whole amount of our
regular military force at nearly 300,000 men, which
exceeded by 40,000 any force this country had ever
possessed, and this excess he alledged to have been
produced, through the operation of the measures so
violently opposed by the Right Honourable Gentle-
man, during whose stay in office only the small num
her of 8000 men had been added• to the line, and even
that addition was, he contended,ln*iug ipitht legacy
which his predecessors left.him in the Addit►onal
Force Act.
The number of battalions now in the service, the
Noble Lord stated at 27/, which he averaged at- 700
men each. After some further statements, the Noble
Lord concluded with expressing his conviction, that
he should be able to shew, that the system which the
Right Honourable Gentleman introduced, when in
office, and to which he would trust for the supply of
our army, was not less unpromising as to the future,
than it had been unproductive as to the past.
After a very lengthened desultory conversation be-
tween Mr. M. A. Taylor, Mr. Rose, Mr. Windham,
Lord Castlereagh, Mr. Johnstone, Mr. Montague,
Lord Milton, Mr. S. Stanhope, General Fitzpatrick
and others, the motions were agreed to without a di-
vision.
The Iton. CROPLEY ASHLEY COOPER
then moved the different sums necessary for the Ord-
nance Department, amounting in the whole to some-
what upwards of five millions three hundred thou-
sand pounds.
Mr. CALCRAFT expressed his disapprobation of
the proposing sueh a vote at the then late hour,
(half after one o'clock). Besides, that it was to he
observed, that the total amounted to about one mil-
lion and a half more than the estimate of last year.—
A great deal of the expence he ascribed to the extra-
vagant manner in which several public works were
carried On, and the total want of any thing like sys-
tematic plan at the outset. The Corps of Drivers,
he also thought might be reduced, without any in-
jury to the public service.
Mr. Cooper and Mr. Wellesley Pole defended the
conduct of those at the head of the Ordnance Depart-
ment, by stating, among other things, that there was
a heavy debt to the Navy, and very considerable ar-
rears under the head unprovided, of Ireland, which,
though included in the present estimate, could not be
fairly said to belong to the present year.
The works which had been alluded to, were mana-
ged under the direction of a very able engineer, Colo-i
nel D'Arcy, who conducted the bombardment cf Co-11
penhagen, and as to the Corps of Drivers, by a late
improvement of Lord Chatham's, they were brought
to such a state of perfection, that in case of invasion,
we could bring a most formidable train of artillery
into action in one sixth part of the time that we could
formerly have done. The resolutions were then se-
verally put and agreed to. Report on Monday.
Lord CASTLEREAGH moved the postpone-
ment of the consideration of his Majesty's Message
till Monday.
On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the Committee on the Orders in Council Bill was also
postponed to Monday.
Lord MILTON gave notice, that he would on
Monday move for a Committee to consider of the
Cloth Workers' Petition.
Adjourned at half after three to this day.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Consols, moray, 63-I—for April account, 64 If—Reduced 64-;
Omnium, :04—Exchequer Bills, par.

'The Russian papers laid before Parliament last
night embrace three objects. The complaints of
Russia on account of the interrnptions experienced by
her commerce ; communicat ens relative to a proposed
loan ; and requisitions for military co-operation.
On the first, Russia has had no just cause of com-
plaint : she suffered her subjects to trade with France
doting the war, and of course, our Ministers, ignorant
of the permission. allowed such vessels to be captured;
but on being informed of the permission allowed to
Russian ships, these prizes were liberated, and no other
restriction was imposed by our Government but that
the Russians should not carry naval stores to the
enemy. On the subjeot of a loan and military co
operation, there will be a difference of opinion among
the public. Sure it is that neither of these measures
were adopted.
As to the Lcan, Ministers had a right to demand
something more than a promise to secure the pay-
ment of half a million of yearly interest, which, in
the event of any whim or change of mind, (no un-
usual circumstance) with the Autocrat of Russia,
was to become a load in perpetuity on the people of
this country. The very higgling and stickling about
entering into any treaty of commerce for more than
two year:, while insisting on a loan not to be liqui-
dated in less than twenty, will be thought by many to
have furniished a strong_ ground for deliberation and
caution.
The demand for a military diversion was not re-
fused, though never sent. Lord Howlex said he
would not sacrifice men wantonly, but that as soon as
the season would permit, this country would act upon
every vulnerable point of the enemy.
That prudence and every consideraAir of interest
demanded prompt, vigorous and extensive measures,
will not be denied on either side. The question then
remains--Were our exertions equal to the crisis ?At
the same time two other imp3rtant questions should
be considered—Was the conduct of Prussia what
might have been expected ? Did Russia follow that
line of conduct which should have marked its pro-
ceedings ?—Could any exertion of this country have
r.inedie4 the blunders committed by both of them!

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