Star.
London, England, 1830-02-20 00:00:00

osseque had passed, at least 10,000 men ntlglit be spared front Ire.
hedowd4o,ooo men in other quarters, which would make endue-
d., •Ist 1111,100 men. He should recommend too, that they should
inquire We colony after colony, and see what reductions could he
made, and whether there were more troops than were. necessary.
He vas opt else to despair of the country, but he would say that
England should not sink for the colonies. There had been a
coesidendffe falling off in the revenue to the amount of 1,700,0001.
Taking, therefore, such a deficiency into consideration, as well as
the distressed state of the country, he should support:the motion of
his hen Mend, and inquire whether the country, under such
elr-
dumstttacea, ought to maintain such a large establishment.
Mr. MABERLY said that, if the guards and cavalry were kept
up at home, the infantry could not be reduced while the present ex-
tent of colonies were supported.
Lord PALMERSTON, would at once declare that he could not
vote for the amendment;though he was ready to admit that the
house was called on to make every reduction that could possibly
tend to relieve the distress of the country. Considering the cir-
cumstances of the country at home, and its relations in every part
of the world, he would not willingly perm an estimate below the
standard fixed on by his right hon. frith& He would not go into an
explanation of the reasons which led him to form that opinion, be.
cause the house was in possession of all that could be said on the
subject by the observation of the right hon. Secretary at War. He
could only say, that whether or not a reduction could be effected by
the giving up of certain colonies, was a separate question altogether,
and it should not be mixed up with the present debate (hear.) He
was bound to say that his right hon. friend had proposed to the coin-
mittee every reasonable reduction ; and be (Lord P.) who knew so
well the difficulty which existed in making abatements on such a
variety of estimates, was well cement with what bad been done. He
said that it was not in one estimate that the reduction had been ef-
fected, but in several (hear.) He would abstain front any remarks
on the reduction proposed by the right hon. gentleman, the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, but only say that be was glad to hear that so
much bad been done ; and he trusted that it would end in some re.
lief being afforded in the shape of diminished taxation to the country.
Mr. LABOUCH ER E would vote for the amendment. He weld
not annwive that so many as 5,000 men were necessary to Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick ; nor could he believe that the enormous
estimate for Canada was required. The conduct of government to.
wards that colony showed that they intended to uphold them on a
garrison principle.—(Hear.) In his opinion the militia of the
country ought to be encouraged, and he bad no doubt, with rea-
sonable support, it would be quite equal to defend it from aggres.
sion.—(Hear.) He protested against the principle, and he felt most
strongly on the treatment which certain officers of" the militia had
experienced; and he thought that his majesty's ministers were
called on for explanation.
Sir H. N'IVIAN said, In reply to the observation of an hon.
member, that there were four regiments of Guards always on service.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE was convinced that the reduction pro.
posed by the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer would only
tend to the disappointment of the country; and that disappoint.
meet would be enhanced by the declaration of the right hon. gentle-
man, that he was unable to come down with any proposal for the
reduCtion of taxes.