Star.
London, England, 1804-04-28 00:00:00

•RMY ESTIMATF 3.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR cf the
EXCHEQUER, the Houle refolved into a Corn-
anittee of Supply, and the different eftirnates relative
to the army being referred To the Committee,
The SECRETARY at WAR role to move the
neceffary grants under the head of Military Services.
The ellimates now to be voted were, he Paid,
fupplementary ones, and, with the exception of the
charges for the Militia of Ireland, not now included.
the ellimates ..or the prefent year were of the fame
nature as thole of the lall. The eftimate for the ;I: y
and cloathing of Volunteers was 730,0001. The rrd
were much as before, and the only thing added was
for Foreign Corps. With refped to the Augmen-
tation of the Army, already propored, by an addi-
tion of new battalions, it had been hated fo fully to
the Houle on a former night, at to render any detail
on the fubjeft now unneeeffary. There are, befides
certain additional Corps for the ferviee both cf
Great Britain and Ireland, the climate of which, for
the former, was 130,0001. and that for the latter
70,0001. The only other item, whic:r it teemed par-
ticularly neceffary to notice, was, the Foreign Corps.
in the dal year, the Houle voted for the continuance
of feveral foreign regiments in our lervice, as De
Relic's, the Qt2een's German regiment, and lonic
otlitts; the only addition now • is, the Queen's Ger-
man Legion, cow-ailing of scroo Hanovetian troops,
of which number 4000 are already railed, and the
remainder expected to be completed in a little time,
all difcip;ioeil men, and well ufed to fel-vice. The
whole of thefe foreign troops together would make
7 or ficroo men, and thofe the only noes included in
the prefent eflimate. The next ;km on which there
was a difference from the climate of lalt year, was,
the allowance to innkeepers in Scotland, and which
the nature of the public fervice., and the circuits-
fiances of that country cenlidered, he trolled, would
be but reafonable. The red of the items were in
the ordinary entitle, and not requiring any particular
obfervatir.n. Under the head of Barracks in Ireland
was 461,81001. The next item was for the new mi-
litary eftablilhments in this country, the Royal Mi-
litary Coliege and Afylum ; the one for educating
yoiing men, the ions of officers, &limos of a reg
Illi;;tAT; education, with a view to the ferrite ;
the other, for the children of foldiers, who may have
fallen in the defence of their country. The t,f n ne•
to complete the buildings was 31,4001. In
!i:e latter eftablifhment it was intended to provide
for ic:o children, but the number as yet did not
esceed scio ; and the former required fume new ar-
e:logentents r—under its prefent regulations it was
required that Amid be paid with each pupil in-
ciiiertminatrl: ; but this, even though a fmall fum,
was found to be incompatible with the circom-
fiances of ro.,ny deferring Otiicers who were defirous
of ads.intag:ng by the Inilitriti,n ; and, therefore, it
was intended to open the tftablifhment upon a kale
of L.:pence, pi °portioned to the circumflances of the
yarcnts, and to educate gratis thole who could not
afford to pay any thi.T : betide. as it was dciirable
to add the advantaAct of art ordinary education to
thi le of a military nee. it was intended to acc,m.
mr,dait both under the faille r•iof, and pr 'side :vat:
molt. for Mailers, Sc. and I,tint a u ntil.ur •rra..ge-
mi. IA to the at Great MAIIJW. There was one more
Lad, under which the expellee was inderd of sier
.1., .!( able tnagnitude ; ranch, tint 01 Barracks.
tia.itiLli the lam w al tradmiLudly htoe, ict whet.

•
it was eonlidered, that by fuck' an arrangement there
would be a very confiderable Irving under the head
of lodging money, barrack hire, nabling, Ste. he
tinned the laving would in a very great degree war-
rant the expence. The hire of barracks In the WI
year already con 5,250,0001. ; and in the barracks
already built, there was an accommodationfor 26,000
troop; in cantonnients along the coed, and the efti-
mate for the new barracks was ;434,0001. including
premiles purchafed. The contra& was now before
the Houk, and was framed from a plan which met
the approbation of military men of the firft experi-
ence. The works were to be fubjeet to the controul
of a Barrack Mailer, whu was to judge anchcheck
levery proceeding of the Contra&nr, and without
whole certificate no money was to be paid to any
Contraaor. Betide this, the public would be com-
pletely guarded againtt any lois for walle Of time, ex-
traordinary wages, or debts contracted, as the work
was to be meafured, and both that and the materials
paid for at the ordinary rate of the vicinage where
Inch buildings were to be ereaed, iinlefs it were in
vet y remote filtrations whet e eNtra-rdinary expedition
Ihould be required, and where it would he but juts to
make a realonable allowance, when the Conttaaor
was unavoidably fubjeaed to extraordinary expence,
either in conveying his men to a confiderable dif-
Lance, or paying an extraordinary price for materials
or labour. Having Rated thus much for the fati•fai-
tion of the Committee, he fhould be ready to give
any further explanation which Gentlemen might re •
quire. He concluded with moving, " That there be
granted for that part of the United Kingdom called'
Ireland. for the recruiting, 98.000 l."
Mr. :R ANCIS enquired if in the prefent eflimates
the forces in India wet e comprehended ?
The SECRETARY at WAR replied, they would
appear by the accounts to be included.
Mr. FRANCIS remarked on the incontinency in
the reafoning of the Right Hon. Gentleman in refpea
to the Barracks. The expence had exceeded all rea-
tunable computation, and deferved the ferious atten-
tion of the Houle; the extent of the charge did not
at all correfpond with the expedients Rated to have
been reforted to for the -purpofes of public ceconomy,
and it fome fatisfaamy explanation was not given,
he fhould think it right to fubmit the abufes which
had prevailed to the attention of the Honfe.
The SECRETARY at WAR Paid, among the
more weighty charges on the Barrack Eflablifhment
was the condruaion of bartacks on the coati ; and it
was conceived that this meafure, on . variety of ac-
counts, would lave a very conliderable expence in ad-
jacent encampments. It is rather .premature to give
any decifive opinion on the total chafge in this impor.
taut and necelfat y fervice, as the accounts are not yet
made up, by which that opinion mull beguided. With
regard to the execution of the works, if the Right
Hon.Gentlemanentertainsany doubts on that fubjea,
it would be candid if he would advert to fome parti-
culars from which thefe doubts en iginate; he conferied
he h adunderfloodnothing of the kind from the Barrack
Office, and he trulted that the Hon. Gentleman, on
further enclairy, would difcover there was no jot
ground of complaint. The payments in that de.
partment were conduaed with the greaten regulari-
ty, at the fame time fecuring the interelt of the public,
and providing 14 the exigencies of the coniratior.
The terms on which the engagements arc made, ad-
mitt the latter ro the benefit of innalments, and he is
alto entitled for money on account, in the progrefs of
his undertaking ; but t 2 per cent. is retained until
the conclufion of the hufinets, to apply to any defer
that may be difeovered either in the quantity of the
materials, or the Itruelure of the edifice. No pay.
mein is made excepting it be authorifed by a certifi-
cate of the officers appointed to furvey the buildings,
and bad materials arc ordered to he removed, and
unfubliantial erections to he pulled down. No day-
work is charged at a fixed price, but the price is re-
gulated by the tate of labour paid in the refpeaive
counties where the fervice is performed. With thefe
precautions, it is not punible to fupprife much neglea
can arife, or that the public money is employed
without a correfponding advantage from its applica-
tion.

Colonel CRAUFURD fignified, he Ihould on
fome future day take an opportunity of expoling the
neglect of Minifters in every branch of the expendi-
ture for military porpofes.
Mr. W. SMlbii lamented the magnitude of the
btirthen of the Barrack department, and confidered
that, contrary to what the Right Hon. Gentleman had
flei!..l, tae ;arch:tit plan WAS fubjeill to objeaions, both
on account of the public and the individual. He
would mention a tingle tab, by which it would ap-
pear the interefl of the tail was not very feduloufly
confulted. A fmall Contraetor delis erzd in his ac-
count, and was furprifed to find a vrols deduelion
made in it. Ile appliA to the Barrack•office to be
informed of the particular items to which the de-
clitaion referred ; it was in vaia that he remondrated;
he could obtain no explanation, and he w is at 'aft
told that if be would not take the amount thus re-
duced, he might bring his aCtion. Although the
deduhi .n exceeded the amount of his profit, yet the
whole affair w.4s ft fmall that he could obtain no
tethers by !flinging an aelion at the expellee of Sol. or
601. The I iononrable Metnlser was of opinion, that
the largo ciifcretionary powers given to the principal
Barrac'so filters, was neizlier confiftent with the
',abbe or private convenience ; but at kart it
w lci i.e cxpcaed, where they have filch extenfive
coitti.!:nre that they v.••iiiid nfc it with fume
moderation, and not only ..said but the ap-
peara::cc a t ir, by explaining to a creditor their ob•
jeCion to his claim.
The SECRETARY at WAR explained, that the
geueral charatter of the Oiliccrs to whom the Bar•
rack department was :01'1i:fled, would incline him to
avoid !rattily concluding that they were culpable in
the particular to which the lion. Gentleman adverted.
AU the correeled accounts he had ken in tile cootie
of his official duties, had the ground of objeCtion
slated on :ACC of the account AgAine. the item to
which it applied. If the Hon. GenCenis n would
p.:vatrly communit.ate the circomftance of the girt
ante to lat:cli he attvcrted,te mat:cr :h .11: be
and Any juil ground of complaint Ewald be
iti.m‘diatitly ter:loved.
"I lie toilowing te!Atitions on the arnoin.:, to be
d:vc::,-1 to particular ferviccs sere th:n put and
agieccl to;—
; car'' Off r, . , - - - I'C4' •

11..1 kci Zr L 461

Mr 1.07, 1)17•.•, r. ,N h.if pay - •
• - • •

Reduced Half-Pay Officers on LLe Bi ifth rilataNdttnent 5465
Militia Officers - - - - - - - supoo
Chain Penfioners, in and out - - - - 2454345
Barracks tor Ireland

liorpitals - - . . - - - 12,500
Volunteer Cavalry - - - - - - sc op=
Further charge for Volunteer Corps - - - 370,000
" Foreign Corps - - 581,516
-- i t,alis
Military College - - - , --
_ _

. - - -..-
. MilitaryArylum - - - - 3 ,447 a 0
Augmentatio^ of the Military Forces in Ireland - aoesooo
°stilton Service in the Writ Indies . - - B,BEO

Barrack Dcpartigeut of Great Britain . - 2,181.932
Recruiting - - -
_ _ - 98,625

Incrcafe i,,r the Commirfary General of Stores (not
ufually in the }Ali rate) 330,000

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
obfervcd, that the excels lait year in. the extraordi-
naries of the Army would not appeit, tinder the ex-
Ming circurnflances, at all extravagant, when he
(Wed it to be 339,0001. He then moved, that it is
the opinion of this Committee, that there be applied
to the extraordinary expenccs of the army for the
year 1804:

I
n Great liritAin . . . LI Aoti,ooo
In Ireland - - - 600,000
Espeneet of the Journals of the Houle, and ether in-
cidental Charges - - 31.643
Alien Offices - 8 537
-

Repairs of Military Roada In North Britain - - giai3Q
Board of Agriculture 2,000
Cavil ERablillunent in Canada - - LAM

In Nova Scotia . ~ 7,05
Extraordinary Expences of Profecutions - - 3.309
Civil Utah Lament in New Brunfwiek - - 4,00
in Prince Edward's ISland - 1.300
in Cape Breton - ... 2,040
in Newfoundland - 1.715
in Bermuda - - 580
in Dominica - - 6co
in New South Wale, - . 10,069
Improvements in the two liou'es of Parliament, and
In the Speakers Houfe - - 11,345
Public Record Offices - 741
-
Repairs in the King's Bench Prifon - - 1,010
For the Lazaretto in Rent, under the MI - - 3c,100

Thefe refolutions being put a•id agreed to,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
again rote.—" The only remaining refolution f(hall
now fubmit to the attention of the Committee, re-
lates to what has been called the Caledonian Canal,
intended to conned the Eat-tern and Welters Seas by
Invernefs to Fort William, for which the fum of
25,0001. has been already granted. It will be im-
mediately feen that this is a concern of too much
magnitude to be undertaken by individuals. This
volt interfeCtion of the country is not to be on the
contracted plan of ordinary canals for inland navi-
gation ; it is intended to be conduded on a fuperior
fcale, and to admit the paffage of frigates of 32 guns.
There are many local confiderations connected with
this fubjed, which fhould not efcape the attention of
the Committee. In the year dot, the Lords Com-
miffioners of the Treatury direted a furvey to be
taken of that part of the Highlands. The Spring
and the er.fuing rummer were employed on this duty.
During the 1411 Sefton the report was made, and the
Houle in confequence adopted the meafure. Corn-
miff-inners were then under the fame authority acw
pointed, who purfued their enquiries with great dili-
gence and ability, and they were affifted by a Gen-
tleman perfectly converfant in undertakings of this
kind, from whom they derived the taloa valuable
information. The report was direCted to two prin-
cipal objects, the importance, and the practicability
of the work. The expence was ftated at from 4 to
500,0001. The zeal of the country has been fo great
to forward the projed, that in many inflances the
land for the Canal has been offered free of all ex-
pence. Among the motives, I muft not omit to no-
tice the confiderable emigrations from the Highlands,
which this improvement is calculated to prevent. I
beg it may not be fuppofed that this emigration is in
any degree to be attributed to the negled of the great
landed proprietors. A variety of eaufes have con.
duced to incline the Highlanders to abandon their
native foil, and it is the duty of Government, as
much as poflible, to remove there, that this gallant
and valuable body of men may be difpofed to Men
to the &dates of their own patriotic feelings. This
great national work will provide employment for a
great number of the people of that country, and it is
expelled that the bleflings of commerce and of the
arts will emanate from the fame fpring, and diffufe
not only the means of bare fubfiftence, but the
comforts, conveniences, and luxuries of life. I
than therefore conclude with moving, "That 50,0001.
be granted to promote the Inland Navigation of
Scotland, by a canal paring Invernefs and Fort Wil-
ham, and connecting the Eaftern and Wellern Sea."
The Refolution being •agreed to, the report of the
Committee Was ordered to he received tomorrow.