constituents, by the opposition of a person who had but few votes. He did not think this a hardship to be complained of by a gentleman who thereby became the representative of a populous county for seven years. The longer the hon. member stood before his constitnents, the better for himself, and for them. He thought this bill tended, by diminishing expense, to introduce into the House persons of less weight and respectability than would otherwise be elected. He should therefore vote for the amendment. Mr. Wilberforce thought, that the part of the bill which proposed to put an end to the practice of giving cockades would not answer the purpose. The bill affixed a penalty to the giving away cockades; but the member would be thought a very shabby fellow who did not submit to this additional expense [A member suggested that the penalty was affixed to each offence]. If it was meant to apply to the giving each cockade, it was not so expressed in the bill, nor would it be so interpreted. He remembered prosecutions against a man for exercising the trade of a tailor; and he was proceededagainst separately for several acts done in the same day; lord Kenyon said, that if the man could be prosecuted for different acts in one day, he might as well be sued for penalties on every stitch. He thought it would be better to affix a small penalty, 5s. or 10s. for instance, on any person giving a cockade, for each cockade given, and to avoid the delicate question of agency, which was one of the most difficult to be determined either by a court or a committee of the House. He did not think the bill could be considered as merely intended for the benefit of the candidates. It was a benefit to the country at large, that persons who would be preferred by the electors on political principles, or from local connexions, should not be thrust out by weight of purse by men less deserving of support, morally or politically. It was the duty of the House to watch over the interests of the country gentlemen, who were the glory and the strength of the country. The bill might be convenient in its operations to a few leading families, in places were there was little chance of opposition, by limiting the duration of the poll: but the interest of any particular family was but a feather in the balance compared with the prejudice it would be of to the country at large. Mr. F. Douglas approved of the bill, but thought it better that some of the clauses should not be put in operation for two years, as from their enactment on the eve of an election, they might be twisted for partial purposes which could hardly be foreseen. Sir J. Graham objected to the clause, which rendered it no longer necessary for freeholders to adduce a proof that their tenement was assessed to the land tax. He also objected to the payment of the expense of the hustings out of the county rates, and to the power given to the returning officers to appoint any number of constables. The returning officers were not always of the highest description, and might make a job at the county expense. The magistrates were the proper judges of the number of peace officers who were necessary. Mr. Lockhart approved of the general principle of the bill, especially of the part forbidding the distribution of cockades. He had known 30,000 cockades given away at an election, and this signal of party was thus made an engine of bribery, not to the multitude at large, but towards persons of particular trades. He was. doubtful, however, whether a simple limitation of the length of polls would not be better than the complicated machinery now introduced, the effect of which it was not easy to foresee. General Thornton expressed a hope that the bill would not proceed any farther. Mr. P. Moore observed, that the effect of some of the restrictions proposed by this bill would be to disfranchise one-third part of his constituents of Coventry. The restriction on the use of cockades was, in his opinion, highly inexpedient, as it tended to discourage an extensive branch of manufacture. This view of the subject had excited a smile in the House but it was a matter of serious importance to many thousands of industrious individuals who derived their support from the manufacture in question. If the bill was amended, so as to do away with these objections, he should feel it his duty to support it. ; Mr. Wynn replied. He said, that as the law at present stood, if any one candidate chose, he could keep the poll open to the last moment allowed by the law, which was fifteen days. This he considered as a very great evil. It had been said, that this was a selfish measure on the part of the House. He, on the contrary, viewed it as calculated to relieve electors themselves. The very first principle of the constitution was, that freeholders should be represented in that House free of expense. To give effect to this principle was the leading object of this bill. The first clause objected to was that respecting the building of booths and other apparatus. It had been said, that to throw the expense of these erections upon the county, was to encourage ambitious candidates to come forward. But it should be recollected, that, at present, any candidate could avoid this expense. He had only to avoid offering himself, but to get some person to demand a poll for him, and he could be charged with no part of the expense. The only alternative left him, therefore, in framing this bill was, to throw the expense upon the county, or upon the individual demanding the poll; and as the latter would be a greater alteration of the whole system, he had adopted the former. When the expense was laid upon the county, no individual would feel it severely. Besides, as the materials of booths and hustings would be sold after the election, the amount would be inconsiderable. The second clause objected to respected the closing of the poll, if 400 had not voted before the end of the second day. The bringing in of electors from a distant part of a county he thought as great an evil as bringing them from the remotest part of the kingdom. If, therefore, a candidate could not poll 400 on the second day from the place where the poll was held, he thought it would be a great advantage that the poll should be closed. It had been suggested, that the bill should be put off till after the general election. He could not consent to this, as it was brought forward with the view of preventing such evils as it embraced at the ensuing general election. As to cockades, he believed that the 100%. proposed as a penalty would effectually prevent the use of them; but he should not have the least objection to a fine for each cockade given away. The clause respecting constables was especially required. At one election he knew that 8,000l. had been given to special constables. At another election 1,500 special constables had been engaged at half-a-guinea a day each. The amend ment proposed in the bill respecting the land-tax was much wanted in every part of the country, but particularly in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. If the bill should be read a third time, he would willingly discuss any particular clause proposed to be added afterwards to it. The question being put, That the bill be now read a third time, the House divided: Ayes, 44; Noes, 51. The bill was consequently lost. IRISH COURTS OF JUSTICE.] Sir J. Newport asked, whether any measures had been taken by the Irish government in consequence of the reports of the commissioners for investigating the fees and emoluments of the several officers connected with the courts of justice in that country? When the opi Mr. Peel observed, that the three reports from the commission alluded to were so voluminous, as to require some time for their consideration. They had been submitted to the examination of the lord chancellor of Ireland, with a view to collect his opinion for the satisfaction of the Irish government, as to the arrangements proposed, and from his own knowledge he could state, that that learned lord had, in conjunction with the master of the rolls, devoted a great deal of attention to the subject. The master of the rolls had, indeed, occupied a great part of the last vacation in considering those reports, and the capacity of that learned person to form a correct judgment upon any subject, could not be questioned by any one who had an opportunity of appreciating his talents. nions of those two learned persons should be communicated to the Irish government, he could assure the right hon. baronet that it was the intention of that government to adopt such measures as the equity of the case should suggest. With regard to the office of the clerk of the pleas, about which so much discussion had taken place, the Irish government had arranged, that the fees of that office should be invested in the public treasury, until a final decision should be pronounced upon that subject, with regard to which an appeal was now pending in the House of Lords. As to the deputy clerk of the pleas, upon whose conduct one of the reports alluded to so particularly animadverted, the Irish government had felt it a duty to dismiss that person not only from that office, but from another office also, which he had held for many years. Sir J. Newport declared, that he was much pleased with the reply of the right hon. gentleman. He was, indeed, encouraged to hope that such measures would be taken in consequence of the reports | expense of the army, comparing the prealluded to, as were essential to the ends of public justice. ARMY ESTIMATES.] The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply to which the Army Estimates were re. ferred, sent with the last year, would, he was happy to say amount to 188,0277. 19s. 3d. while the total reduction of charge in all the departments connected with our military establishment was no less than 418,000l. Upon the score of numbers the diminution of the army in the present year, Lord Palmerston rose, he said, to pro- compared with the last, would at home pose to the committee, the Army Estimates amount to 1,995 effective men; while for the year. The detail of those esti- throughout the empire, including that in mates was so dry, that the House must, France, it would exceed 20,000, so that he presumed, feel desirous to have it he would take the total reduction in brought within the shortest possible com-round numbers at 22,000 men. In point pass. With that desire he was quite willing to comply, and he was glad to think that it was not necessary for him to enter at any length into the subject, in conse. quence of the Appendix to the Seventh Report of the Finance Committee, which fully explained all that related to the details of the military expenditure. He should therefore confine himself to that which he hoped would be satisfactory to the House, namely, a statement of the reduction of expense under this head of the public service. The reduction in the of fact, however, it was right to state that the reduction of our force in Ireland was not so great as it appeared, for as it was impossible to equalize the effective force of regiments with nominal strength, the force in that country within the last year did not amount to the number actually voted. The amount of the land forces for the present year the noble lord stated at 25,000 for England, Guernsey and Jersey; 20,000 for Ireland; 33,000 for our old and new colonies; 17,360 for the territories of the East India company, ex * Extract from the Seventh Report of the Finance Committee, Appendix p. 42. STATEMENT showing the DIFFERENCE between the AMOUNT of the ESTIMATES of the ORDINARY SERVICES of the ARMY, as voted for 1817, and the AMOUNT of the same ESTIMATES for 1818. the items of widow's pensions, there was the whole a saving in the total charge of clusive of recruiting troops and companies; and 20,126 for our contingent in France. Without going through any very minute details, the land forces might be stated at a reduction of 74,000l. The staff was considerably increased; the sum he believed, was about 3,754l. Considerable alterations would be found to have taken place in the estimates connected with the West Indies. There was a diminution of 16,5577. in the item of public departments. In the office of the commander in chief, a diminution had taken place of 1,300l.; and in the war-office a diminution of 6,436l.; but this year a smaller sum was required, on account of the cessation of some of their expenses. In the other offices there would be found small articles of variation, all of which he should not enumerate. A most important change was the mustermaster-general's office having been abolished, and the duties transferred to other offices. The reduction by that was 2,9181. The whole of the reductions in the offices, &c. made upwards of 16,550l. There was an increase in the item of medicines of 11,2651. On that he might observe, that there was not an increase in the supply of medicines; but this year there had been bought and paid for a considerable quantity more than was necessary for the service of the year. In the item of volunteer corps there would be found an increase of 16,8761. There was also an addition made to the East India | 1818." troops for recruiting &c., of 3,451. The Royal Military College establishment was diminished by 2,640l. There would be a difference in the estimates of this and next year on this point in the sum of 750l. In the pay of general officers there was a diminution of 2,109/. Upon the half pay and military allowances, there was an increase of 3,213., and in the foreign half pay of 2,9231. In the hospitals of Chelsea and Kilmainham, including in and out pensioners, there was required a sum of 101,6247. more than last year; but there might be alterations made in the course of the year by casualties and accidents which could not be exactly calculated upon. And it ought to be recollected, that there was to be deducted the sum of 35,314. The casualties, pensions, &c. for the last four years had been on an average upwards of 180,000l. annually. There was reason, however, to expect that in the present year the sum required would not be so great. In the Military Asylum there had been made a diminution of 1,5647. ; and in Mr. Calcraft expressed his conviction, that a still greater diminution should take place in our military establishment, than what the noble lord had stated. He could not, for instance, see the necessity of 25,936 men for the peace establishment of Great Britain, and 20,058 for that of Ireland. With regard to the numbers voted for the old and new stations, he did not feel himself competent to pronounce any decided opinion, although the amount of force for the former was so much more than in any former peace. But with respect to Great Britain and Ireland, he could not imagine the grounds upon which ministers could think such an establishment necessary; while there were 20,000 of our troops in France, he could not see why a smaller number than 25,936 would not be enough to vote for the present peace establishment of Great Britain. Was there any thing in the internal condition of England, which called for a larger peace establishment than we had in 1792, and that, which amounted only to 15,000 men, was the largest peace establishment this | Hilsea. There was no greater number country had ever previously known? than was required for the public service. Surely it was not requisite to keep up an As to the recruiting staff, it consisted establishment of 25,936 men, in order to of inspecting field officers, who superpreserve the peace of England. He should intended the performance of the various not oppose such an establishment if he duties of the district staffs; a paymaster, could conceive it necessary for the safety who attended to the accounts; surgeon of the state. From the state of the House to inspect the recruits; and serjeants to with so few members in attendance, he escort them to their respective depôts. would not then press any proposition; but With respect to the grant of a pension he should certainly feel it his duty to do to the Military College, it arose from the so upon a future occasion. Having asked warrant to a retired officer, after 15 years for some information as to the grounds service pursuant to the warrant, by upon which such an extraordinary peace which the appointments in these colleges establishment was deemed necessary for were made. An hon. gentleman had England, he would also take leave to in- stated, that on a future occasion he quire of the secretary of the Irish govern- would feel it his duty to move a farther ment, what were the circumstances which reduction in the present estimates. As, called for 20,000 men in Ireland, which was however, the hon. gentleman did not then in fact, little less than double the usual peace go into a statement of his reasons for establishment in that country; for, from the intended motion, he would abstain his own knowledge, Ireland, although by from any premature discussion. But he no means in a state of prosperity, was must be allowed to say, that the 26,000 thoroughly tranquil. That tranquillity men, taken in the estimates, could not be was, indeed, preserved throughout the considered as wholly applicable to the last winter, while the people were suffer- home service; a portion must be applied ing the most severe privations under the to the relief of the foreign garrisons. pressure of unexampled distress, and the These garrisons consisted of a force of most afflicting disease. What, then, could 33,000 men. Nobody would pretend to justify the expense of such extraordinary say, that the regiments thus stationed establishments, especially in the present should be exposed to perpetual banishstate of our finances? He would not then ment. It would be neither humane nor enter into the discussion of all the topics constitutional. Some period must, therewhich were naturally connected with this fore, be assigned for the return home of subject, but upon the bringingup the report these regiments. Ten years were consihe would move for a farther reduction of dered the limit of garrison service abroad. the proposed establishment to the extent Now, allowing that the reliefs would of 8 or 9,000 men. amount to one-tenth of the force in foreign Sir M. W. Ridley expressed his sur-garrisons, that amount would take away prise, that it should be proposed to continue the Royal Waggon Train, for what occasion could there be for such an establishment during peace. There was also a considerable expense in the recruiting department, amounting in the whole to 17,000l. which made the expense equal to the bounties. In the estimates he perceived a grant of pensions to the Military Colleges of 740l. per annum. In số new an institution, such a grant should be an object of great suspicion. There was also a grant of 2,0751. to a retired barrack-master, which required some explanation. Lord Palmerston stated, that with respect to the Royal Waggon Train, a part was stationed at Croydon, from whence detachments were sent to the army in France, a part was employed on the Military Canal, and another portion at (VOL. XXXVII.) from the 26,000 men 3,000, for reliefs to be sent out. So that with these reliefs, and the defalcations arising from the noneffectives, the army for home service would not amount to more than between 18 and 19,000 men. The House would, therefore see that there was no very great excess between the force now kept up and the establishment of 1792, and that it was only such a difference as the alteration of circumstances between the two periods fully warranted. Mr. Warre observed, that the noble lord, in his various statements as to the necessity of our home force, seemed wholly to throw out of his contemplation our large army in France. Mr. Peel said, the hon. gentleman should recollect that the present estimates were only demanded for a year. The country was bound by treaty to keep (2Z) |