The Sun.
London, England, 1829-02-21 00:00:00

4'114

maintaining an efficient colonial force, and that to weaken
it might hereafter possibly invite aggression. The cavalry
regiments had however no connexion with the foreign re-
lief. Why then at the present period not reduce these
cavalry corps ?
Mr. INIONCK could not help looking at the extravagant
scale on which the military expenditure of this country ap-
peared to have been conducted. If Russia, with her
600,000 troops, had paid as England did, her standing
army would have entailed upon her a debt of 40,000,000/.
annually, and not left a ruble in the Imperial treasury.
Neither Russia nor France bad, however, great es their
armies were, entailed upon their people such an expen-
diture as England had. This was most extraordinary,
when the people of Great Britain could boast of a free
Constitution, and a representative Government. He wag
afraid, however, that upon close inviry, the British people
would not be fonnd to have the share in their Legislature
which was theoretically supposed, and that their representa-
tives were too prone to look at their own personal interests.

Sir 11. VIVIAN—If it should be considered necessary
to have any cavalry at all, did not see the possibility of
reducing that part of our military force below the present
standard.

Colonel DAVIES thought the measure proposed by the
Secretary at War relative to the discharge of men an ex'
tremely good one.
After an observation from Mr. LEYCESTER, which (lid
not reach the gallery,
Sir H. HARDINGE observed that the plan of alloW--
ing men to obtain their discharge after a certain period of
service would prove highly beneficial to the army in va-
rious ways. It was to he entirely optional on the part of
the men to apply for their discharge or not. The plan he
proposed was, in fact, no innovation. Iu principle it w 3,4
the same as that of Mr. Wyndham.
The vote was then agreed to.
On the question that a sum not exceeding 3,186,759./.
15s. sd. be granted to his Majesty to defray the charge of
the land forces, for service in Great Britain, Ireland, and
the stations abroad, excepting the regiments employed is
the territorial possessions of the East India Company, from
the 25th of December, 1828, to the 24th of December,
1829, both inclusive,
Mr. HUME objected to the large sum of money annuallY
expended, he might say thrown away, in the recruiting de-
partment.
Sir HENRY HARDINGE expressed his surprise 3t
the Hon. Member's dissatisfaction at so necessary, and, as
it had been proved, so unavoidable an expenditure.
Mr. A. BARING complained of the excessive numbers
of the cavalry.
Sir E. KNATCHBULL said it had been contended that
it was necessary to keep up the cavalry to its present
amount, in order to assist in the suppression"of smuggling.
He contended that that was not a fair ground fur which t°
keep up the cavalry.
Sir H. VIVIAN observed, that a great number of ineu
belonging to this force were constantly called off to bupprese
smuggling ; and reiterated his opinion that its present
amount could not conveniently be reduced.
Mr. A. BARING objected to the practice of keeping UP
a force of 8,000 cavalry merely fur the purpose of being
able to send 5,000 abroad.
Sir H. HARDINGE contended that the numbers of the
cavalry were not disproportionate, when compared witb
those of the infantry. That force was now only 700 horses
more in amount than in 1793 ; but our infantry was much
greater at present than it was at that period--so much IA
indeed, that the proportion of cavalry was smaller as cone
pared with the infantry than it then was. If we looked t 4
foreign armies, we found that our cavalry was entirely die:
proportionate to them in point of numbers, as compare'
with the infantry. It was necessary to keep a consider"
able amount of this force ; and the horse artillery, though
it might not happen to be immediately required, must also
be kept up, because it was a force exceedingly difficult to
be raised in an emergency.
Mr. HUME asked whether it was necessary to keep up
the riding-house establishment at so large an expense 04
was at present devoted to t hat purpose. That expense hod
increased considerably : last
fear it was 1,100/.—its Pre'
ceding years it had been about 1,2001., but this year it
amounted to 1,478/.

Sir It VIVIAN could only say his opinion ',IA ahs3YS
been, that if we were to hare a hotly of eawcary, they ought
to consist of the best horsemen ; bit these advant4e4
could not be obtained without the establishment of a riding'
school.

Mr. HUME observed, that these might be reasons far
the original institution of a riding-school, but now that;
every regiment had been taught on the same principle, and
possessed a riding-master of its own, the riding-school rvo9
no longer necessary.
The vote was agreed to.
The question being put on the resolution, tieat a gn,%44 .
not exceeding 117,1361. 16s. be granted to lads Majesty, '-
defray the charge of general staff officers, and officers of the
hospitals, serving with his Majesty's forces in Great Bri"
tain, Ireland, and on foreign stat:aas, excepting India, fen •
the year 1829,
Mr. HUME, when, he looked hack on the stall, before
the French war, and found the expense of our present esta'
blishment doubled in that respect, felt satisfied a larger so°
was expended than was necessary in this department.
Sir H. HARDINGE had already stated there 102,1, bee'
a diminution in the expenses of the staff this year, as eon'
pared with that of last year, to the amount of 19,70,1'
Mr. HUME objected to the great expense entail,' "
the country by the office of Commander-in-Chief, and the
establishment connected with it. 'What was the t4se of
having four Adjutant-General; together with their several
deputies, and so many of in the Quarter-master Ge'
neral's department?
Sir H. HARDINGE said, the criticism of the Hon'
Meniber was not a just one. The Adjutant and Quartet'
master-General in question were those belonging to tbe
whole army, and their duties were neither few nor triflingi
With regard to other charges in this estimate, the Genera
Officers of districts were three of infantry and one of cr
valry in the whole South of Britain. One of these wa:
stationed at Portsmouth, a second at Plymouth, and a
in the manufact:aring districts. Surely this was uP,I
-
cessive. lc Ireland there were five Major-Gener and
less W.-in-Aber, considering the duties they had to Perfnr"
would be insufficient. He thought it would be adolitt`.od
that there could not be less than one General Officer
Scotland ; and as to the Staff abroad, let the H9O, Metnfr,',
paint out any instance of excess ur superfluity in it if 'l4
were in his power.
After further observation from Mr. ifuNtE, fl: vuteW3)
agreed to.
On the question that a sum of 1,925 t. ips, 2d. be
N
granted to his Majesty, to defray the charge of the aIIOP
ances to the print:ll:id oi.licers of the several public I)e'
partmepta, their deputies, clerks, Load contingent expene°
for the year IS2g.
Mr. HUME confessed he did expect that Governmettl
would have proposed a large reduction in the Pay-Master'
General's Department, which appeared to him to be 00-
only perfectly useless, but worse dime useless.
Mr. CALCItAFT would °Or no opinion on that poillt,
but he would challenge inquiry into the present administra-
+fizz: of she duties of the office.
After• a few words from Sir It PARNELL and Lord
PALMERFerON, ttio resolutioan was agreed to.
,-;10,06tt Is. ed. was next voted to defray the tlAvte
Of Metiio.l and surgi(sal materials, and hospital 0011'
geticiee,
£60,958 9s. rid., for the charge of tl,e volunteer corp.,
was the next resolution,
Mr. HUME, objected to the expense of 10 brigade 03-
jars .rs superfluous.
Mr. W. PEEL contended that every practicable reel°de;
tion consistent with the public benefit had been plat,
within the Inst few years in the N.olunteer departmen
Riesce the lat of Feb. 1828, not less than 15 corps
been consolidated.
Mr. MABERLY maintained that further reduction /139
very practicable. e
Mr. TRANT hoped that no more reduction would b
made in any of the constitutional forces of the country.
The resolution was agreed to,
£10,029. 7s. 2d., for the charge of the Royal Wilitari
College at Sandhurst, was next moved by Sir flend
Hard inge.
Mr. P. PALMER bore testimony to the humane Anil,
valuable services of the two resident surgeons at the Cfr„
lege to the poor in tho neighbourhood of Sandhurst. "ur
regretted that the small number had been reduced IA P.
medical officer.
• ,
Sir H. HARDINGE said, the reductiet-i was In Pi.ee
portion to the number of cadets, who were at present Y,,%e
216, but who were upwards of 400 when two revue
surgeon.; lad been annexed to the College.
Mr. HUME had visited the college since lie list ad,
o
dressed the House on its expenses, and he was enabled CO
say that its arrangement was as perfect as pert:aps it polr.ii,
bly could be.—(Hear, hear. )_li deed he wished the to' f
tution extended, so as to admit of a greater number .va
military students. He wished that no officer would be 1.,
future appointed to a commission in the army witho°,
having passed such an examination as would ensure a Pr.!.
per elementary military education, which .:hey would Plu,";
ewe at Sandhurst College. He had recommended thei,r'_,
system to the East India Company, who imitated the 1]
' venni-lent in sending out raw un ducated cadets to the CO'Li°
lonies,
Sir G. MURRAY ecntended, that while he admitted oi,e,
inestimable advantages of education to all prolefAioo4,