The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-08 00:00:00

was surprised to find that any Member could avow that
troops were necessary to keep under the populafon, whe-
ther of 4 rcland or of the colonies. But when he found it
avowed that the country was called upon to pay 3.900
in the lonian Islands in support of tyranny and mis-
rule, he (Mr. Hume) declared that 10,000 were not
sofficient for the same purpose in this country. lie
was surprised to hear it said that a loge army was
necessary in consequence of the increase of population.
Be hoped the slay would come when a much smaller mili-
tary force would be found safficieht. No friend to the
cogn•ry could wish to see the army maintained iu Its pre-
sent scale. He did expect a mock larger reduction than
nflve appeared, seeing that we had altered our Continental
policy, and that in future We were to cultivate a policy in
evtry way opposed to the system which made a large force
becessary. The motion was then negatived without a
division.

COMMITTIE OP SUPPLI.—AZIMT WriMATES.
The house then resolved itself into a Committee of
the whole whole house on the Army Estimates,
Lora PALMERSTON said it was not his intention to
take up the time of the house at any length, as the differ-
ence between the Estimates of the present anti the last
svear was so trifling. There was a diminution in the first
"charge of 18,0001. this year as compared with the last.,
Re stated last year that there would be a charge of
60.0001., more this year in consequence of its being ne-
• misery to maintain two regiments to send out to India,
• in the room of two other reginnots which were returning
borne. aThat increase, however, did not exceed 28,0001.
• snatbt*liihole of the regiments did not return. In the
'anima articles in the first class of Estimates—Land
Fenecis..Staff Officers, Public Departments, Medicines
"Yeluntiser Corps, there was a balance of decrease of
• 211126/.. • The NOble Lord then adverted to the increase
err decieise in the different items of the second and third
classes of Eitimates. The Committee would at once per-
ceive the whole amount of the reductions, when he
• suited that the total charge of the three classes of Esti-
' metes, including tare Veteran Battalions, did not exceed
6,061,8/8/. The house would take into consideration,
that no more than the half of this charge was applied to
the active sereice, the other half being granted exclo-
sively on acconnt of services already performed. The
hours ought also to be Informed that the amount of
charge this year, including Ordinaries, Extraordinaries,
commissariat, &r. seas less by 9001.thatt the amount fixed
by the Committee of 1817, as a re iv unable charge in time
ws peace. The Noble Lord concluded by moving, that
there be alkieed for his Majesty's land service at home
• wed ibrbael (Petering the regiments employed in the
• trellis:4rd pestesetons of the East India Company),
69,144 item from- the 25• h Dec. 1L22, to the 2 Ith of Dec.
lartanclnsire, twine 365 days.
Tbi Resolution bring put by the Chairman,
Mr. HUME entered into an explanation of the rea-
son why he thought the number of the Foot Guards and
the Cavalry too large, and entirely disprooortioned to
the neeessitles•of the service. The officers, in particular,
required much curtailing. He meant no disparagement
to those genilemetipersonally, Ent be must say, that a
more useless body the public had pot in its service.—
(A laugh.))
Sir ALEXANDER HOPE defended the character
of that branch <of the Army) to which the honourable
gentleman had allotted. Tse household troops had
at all times deserved well of their country.
Mr. DYNHAN said, that at was not his intention to
take a part in the particular discussion before the Com-
It appeased to him, that whoa:ever vote the house
came to upon she sat e of the Army, Mist be provision-
al, b-cause the country was n..)‘v in that tits:a:ton. that
in 24 hours intelligence might arrive from the Continent
whirls might have the effect of aleraeging the scale upon
whirl) they proposed now to fix the extent of their mili-
tary force. He nail been always active in supporting
ev re meesure thetiwent to reduce the burdens of the pub-
lic, being persuaded that in a time of peace there could
he na reason fur innintairing Esniblislanents that pressed
heavily on the people. But it did seem to him that the
present posture of affairs suggested very diffisrent feel.
ings. The country now saw, avowed and acted on by
thiPowrre of the Continent, that extravagant policy
which had hither e been considered as too absurd even
fur theadoption of that semi-barbarous State which had
'moused to promulgate it. When it was no longer du-
bious that Franco had aisknowleriged an iu• :2rition to co-
operate upon the wine unuetural printiples, and that up
on the avowal of one of lesr first Ministers, then the po-
licy of 'hose states assuteei a prartisal shape, and it was
for England to take the decisive step. '1 he Ministers
• had no ether alternative in the present state of circum-,
stance.: than to convey a dis.inct intimat'on to those Pow-
ers that if wer he underteken upon such principles, they
must consider Eisele:et as their enemy. The sentiments
that were put forward at Hare ich and at Liverpool af-
forded him noels pleasure. lie brevity joined in the
sentitnent—" Civil and Rol:gloms Liber:y all over the,
World." Hot what liberty would be permitted to prevail
if Spa'n seas to fell a sacrifice to the unprovoked wanton
aggressscn that now awaited her ; he could put it to
the house, if Spain was overcasts in this manner, might
rot Ireland be the next theatre of attack? The question
Is as thus brought home to their own door. If Consti-
tntiotall female:no teas the enemy to be put down,—
did they think iresion would stop after Spaiu was
subdued ? He . felt very strongly upon this sub-
ject, and was annoys to take this opportunity of avow-
ing it, as it would be the last time that it would
be in Isis power to do so for considerable period. What
would the case, he asked, if Spain was conquered, on the
ore hand, or if she t wee successfa!ly cut of the strutters
on the other band, nitisout our cceoperations ? What the
coneactoences would he let the house carefally consider.
This was a most important view of o w present circum-
stances; it brone,rit home to ourselves in the strongest
moaner the case of the Spaniards. We should without
delay resolve to assist them to the whole extent of our
means, for we might be assured that in the event admits
resistance was involved the fate of our own independence.
Ile trusted then that the inomeet the French oar com-
menced, that militant should be the beeiroting of
liries between Great Britain and that Purer. In the mean-
time it would be the must c r Ulnae( nsg lett in us if we did
n .t prepare manfully and resolutely ag sinst such an event.
In making these observations, he believed he was only
stating the sentiments of every man in the country. ; but
there was ano-her reason why this connrry should mune-
sts*mtely adopt a derisive part. Portugal had now merle
common carts. with Spain ; the prinriple was the satire
they had both to contend for. Ile believed he was not
in error when be asserted that there was a treaty between
this country and Portugal, by which that kingdom was
authorized to claim our support in ease of any aggression.
Ile was not wrong he lAtered, in saying, mat andel-
p ding the necessity of our assistance, she had already
reminded as of leer right, and that in return we had me
knowledgeil it in the most decided Mance-, as might be
seen in a state paper some time since printed in all the
public journals. Nut, if Spain was made the object of
atack, how could Portugal expect impunity, for her fault
ava.s the same in the eyes of the enemy r He was not dis-
couraged from avowiug these sentiments by seeing the
benches aboata • Welled, because lie knew that those
absent were performing the satne duty- —(A laugh.) Ile
was happy to say that there was at that moment a great
ccmpliment in the course of being paid to the representa-
tive of the Spanish ration. He trusted that it would net
be an empty compliment. • Such were the opinionswhich
lie thought it secessary to declare upon this occasion,
firmly persuaded that they would be the opinions ()revery
man in the cocottes, as soon as it was known that France
bad commenced hostilities. ;Me begged pardon for hay-
iog occupied the time of the Committee so long. The