The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-06-20 00:00:00

, ...5..: MC -1.41

, men in place, but al individuals he certainly never
did, or at least, if he did, he was sorry for it,
as it wad contrary to his intention, aml to the
qunstnet tenor of his life. If it was meant,
however, by attacking men, Cost he attacked
,corruption, he was proud to plead gritty to
the accusation, and to declare openly and
plainly, that while he held a seat in all
/loose of Cunimons, he would with all his powers
attack corruption both in and out of that Houk.
in 1742 Mr. Pitt also declared, that the defective
state of the representation was thedieease under
I which the nation laboured, and that without a re.
form no good Mini-ter could be of use, end no
1
honest Minister would remain in office. If thi
I t
was the opinion of that great Statesman, why
1 should the same sentitnents be reprehended In
others now ? Without dwelling hither on them
opinions, he could now come to the principal bit.
: ject of his speech, the sating which might be
madu to the public. In the year ISO*, the pub.
Ilie expenditure amounted to 71 millions of mo.
nu. In 1809, from a survey of the estimates
presented to the House, it increased to 79 millions.
A great ravish instead of this great inereese,
ir be thought might have been made. The first ittl-
do to which he should refer was, that of the
1 houtehohl troops. There were two regiments of
i horse guards, consisting of upwards of eight loin.
dred men each, and one regiment of Blues, cone
I sluing of six hundred. Now it was well known,
I that these troopi were seldom or never sent oft
!service ; and in iris estimation, if five hundred of
I them were kept for parade, it woold he folly slat.
ficient. The amount of cavalry also which was
kept up on our establishment exceeded all bounds.
At present we bad of dragoons twenty.three thou-
sand-three hundred and uinety.nine men. Ire had
taken particular pains to be informed on this sub—
ject ; and he was convinced by the representations
of those who had the best right to give information,
that 15,000 would be folly sufficient fur any see.
rice we alight require, exclusive of those employed
in the Fast Indies. By this diminution he would
propose to save 1,270,0001 anuually. The next
article he could-refer to was, that of our foreign
corps. These amounted to 22,973, the eipencs
fur the-support of which amounting to the extent
of 1,800,0001. annually devolved upon the coup.
try. This he thought by far too great a force,
and particularly of this description of troops. Ile
was not singular in this opinion: he was borne
out by no less an authority than that of Lord
Chatham, who in Ric year 1757, when the bug.
bear of invasion was stalling through the land,
thought it most politic lr) din's, these foreign
troops altogether. Incontestibly *an House of
Commons reformed, as he thought this; ught to be,
would never consent to expend the public money
in support of such a force. Ire did nut mean to
Icut cm them, ns men, any particular reflection ;
but he thought a suspicion ought always to light
On mercenary troopc. To justify this opinion, he
heed only refer to the expeditions to goiberott
Ray, to Malta, le !hoover, where many of
our native troops were wholly employed in
keeping the foreign troops from desertion. To
the authority of Lord Chatham, if any wire
wanting, might be joined that of Sir It. Wilson,
'and he front his soul wished that England had not a
single foreign mercenary Is her pig. At all cents,
they were a most doubtful species of force, and
it was astonishing to think that some of their offi.
jeers even had been placed in rank above Bristish
I officers by having their commission* antedated I
The next corps to which he shook, allede was the
Royal Staff Corps, which cost the country an.
fluidly 20,0001 and which, beXides being a very
espetisiveetitablishment, was one of a perfectly
novel description, for it belonged to the engineers ;
and If any such fume had been wanted, it would
have been easy to increase the engineers, instead
of institutiug this new denomination of troops.
The Militia of the Milted Kingdom also cost the
country annually three 'millions, of which, by at.
lowing half the men to spend a month employed at
the harvest, 300,0001. might be saved. The expellee
attending on the Local Militia, amoented to
1,218,0001. out of which 800,0001. was allowed
(or the Staff!' This he must call an expenditure
huth unnecessary and profligate, and one whicta
would be +Turned at by a reformed lions. of Corn.
Mons. The clothing of this corps was must extra.
isgani, It amounted to no less than 31, per man;
whereas half -a-guinea per man would have been
fully sufficient to procure them jacket and trow.
sers, which was all that was necessary for the pur.
poses e( uniform. By this, 700,0001. annually
might be saved. The expence of the Volunteer
force was also estimated at 1,00040001. per annum.
This was also useless; for the spirit of the coun—
try, and the attendant advantages on the service,
such as exemption from ballot, Ice. ought to be
sufficient to lathes men to enter into it. Thii
was the CiISC in Ireland
ie
dinl7rl92ising Volunteers and Sir Robert
i 4
obert
Wilson, now emou
Portugal, bore evidence to Its no !fey. " every
householder," says. he, " shoeld keep a stand of
arms in order, and should know the snot them."
Fur such a species of force military clothing
was not necessary. What had attire to do with
men who could be employed but six works ha
the year? tic next atherted to the Royal
%Vaggon Train: in support of thin force 48,9931.
was menially expended—it was Tillie useless, fur
it could only he misplayed at Lome, where its ser.
vice was not requisite. This was evident at Co.
penhagen. Ile also objected to the histiention of
the Manx Feecibles, which cost the country
21,0001 per esteem; volunteers also were in use
in the hie of Man: not, above all, the expense
attending oto the Mat of the army. It amounted
to no Ito% than 4104491. per annum. Now if 100
het an opportunity of going at length into the
:.olJject, he w pelt! u natertel e to imam that 200,000 J.
-..41tt be satr:ll. Of the expenditure of reel-int.
.n.;, staff, td filth ettionnted. to 319,0001. annu.
1112 , tti,oool might be saved, The cost to the
col ,ir) in army aanary was 61,0731. Now if a
r,0:1 Int ag 'lcy office was established, he thottehf
1., 1:30.. in the Wit !Deice might be saved, and
!deride?, a eintilar sum so the Pav Office. The
florists Artillery cost 113,0001. In this service
' coetract horses were now used, where artillery
14144:',011 had berm used Otto re. ie tortificatiaus at