Military Correspondence. general information of distinguished military characters,-their different modes of war,-their places of attack, defence and retreat, equally essential? Is not history also a topic they should be fully acquainted with, and topographical knowledge absolutely requisite ? Military Schools, conducted under plans which exclude branches of education and science the most requisite to expand the mind, and render the pupil acquainted with both men and manners, must be considered as highly imperfect. I admit that some benefit is derived from these; but where are the obstacles which prevent a thorough education from being afforded, and the gentlemen who emerge from these seminaries complete officers? Innumerable veterans, and numbers of young British officers, do not possess the advantages of education. The want of it is the principal cause of the idle and dissipated lives many lead in the army. The military profession affords much leisure time to its members; and if an officer has not enjoyed the benefit of education, or had the advantages of reading and literary pursuits impressed on him, he is obliged to dispel the ennui, which almost continually exists in a vacant and ill-informed mind, by those frivolous employments,-those ridiculous attentions to dress,—and the amusements of debauchery and dissipation. Most of our distinguished officers have either received or completed their education in foreign military academies. Amongst the most modern I may include Lord Wellington, Lord Hutchinson, and, I believe, General Graham. The consideration is somewhat painful to Englishmen, that, though the country produces most distinguished officers, it has obliged them to seek necessary instruction in foreign climes. Military public Schools, conducted on systems of essential education are most necessary: they will not only bring into the field able commanders, but, if the admission into them is not guided by interest, &c. will cherish in the breasts of officers who may have sons an additional powerful tie to the profession, and increase the military ar, dour of the country. Before I conclude this letter, I cannot avoid stating, that the disapproval which the establishment of regimental libraries receives from some commanding officers, on the plea of the difficulties which would be incurred therefrom in the changing of quarters, are, in my opinion, deserving of censure. Which is the most desirable,-a large and expensive set of plate, or a useful regimental library? Every regiment can find conveyance for the former; few for the latter. London, Mount-street, ST. PHILIP. Military Correspondence. ARREAR OF REGIMENTAL ACCOUNTS. SIR, THE anxieties which regimental agents and their families experience; also those of officers who have to render public accounts to the military department, urge me to address you on this subject. Whence, Sir, arises this arrear? It must have been produced either by a confused mode of examination, a torpor in the former superintendance of that department, or from an insufficiency in the strength or abilities of those under whose particular cognizance they have been placed. Either of the above causes, and none other can I discover, argues an extreme bad policy somewhere, in the defect not being remedied, and in allowing the accounts continually to accumulate. The establishment allotted for the examination of military accounts is now rendered competent to the final settlement of all current accounts. This conclusion I am warranted in making, from an observation in the tenth report of the committee on the public expenditure, and which is stated to be the opinion of Mr. Foveaux, a superintendant of military accouuts. The observation is, "That if the current accounts are taken up from the commencement of the present year, 1811, there is a reasonable probability, with the addition of another clerk, that the examination of them may, in future, keep pace with the delivery; but that there is no prospect of examining any prior accounts with the present establisments of the office."-No objection can have been made to this addition of one clerk, by which so great an object is to be obtained. The present accounts are thus in a sure progress of early settlement. Let us therefore look back on those which have been accumulating for the last twelve years. In the above quoted paragraph it is to be observed, that the present separate establishment of the War-Office cannot successfully undertake the settlement of any part of the arrear, without injuring the examination of current accounts. I am given to understand, that, in the War-Office, a very small department of clerks are occupied in examining some part of the arrear; but if it is considered that, previous to the arrear system of regimental, district, and agents' accounts, the accounts were much more numerous and complicated, and the charges founded upon regulations no longer in force, and which varied every year, little expectation can be entertained of more than a few being finally settled, even in a long period. At the time the Commissioners of Military Enquiry formed their Sixth Report, they entertained doubts whether the benefits to be derived from an examination of the then arrear of accounts would be proportionate to the labour and expence; and it became a question therefore with them, "whether the amount of the sums which will probably be disallowed in these accounts, the latest of which are of ten years standing (now thirteen years), and the prospect of the recovery of them, can justify the expence Military Correspondence. of the examination ?" &c.-In forming this idea, we must suppose the commissioners to have been directed by just grounds, and a full view of the subject. The superintendants have given an opinion, "That the arrear accounts would occupy ten persons forty-five years."-The points then to be considered are, 1st, That, as a long period has elapsed since numbers of the accounts have been delivered in, should disallowances be made to any amount, are the parties forthcoming from whom this money is to be recovered? and that many who may still be in existence cannot justly be answerable for charges made, year after year, owing to no objection from those who were expected to investigate them. Secondly, whether the disallowances, which can fairly be recovered, will be equal to the expence of an additional establishment for their examination. Thirdly, as none but such gentlemen, who have been some years employed on regimental accounts, and who have a thorough knowledge of the regulations existing at different periods, could beneficially investigate and settle the arrear, whether the department for the current accounts would not be most materially injured by having the principals of the office thus engaged, and their places supplied by unexperienced gentlemen. To these considerations are to be added, the cases of individuals interested in an early settlement. I have canvassed, in my own mind, these several points, and after bestowing all the consideration on the subject which it requires, I cannot but conceive that a minute examination will be attended with great detriment to the public service, and to the revenue of the country. In making this declaration, I am to observe, that my opinion is in no respect singulaf, for I never heard the sentiments of gentlemen on the subject favourable to an examination, and on account of the grounds herein alluded to. Should it appear in this light to those ministers, who have, or may have the direction of the War Department, their object, I suppose, will be to seek out some method of superficial examination previous to passing the whole into warrant. If by that method errors escape detection, the public will be still greater gainers than if the accounts undergo a minute investigation. An intelligent gentleman, who delivered in 1807, to the Commissioners of Military Enquiry, a most able report, on the imperfect system which was at that time practised in the examination of accounts, and who is now secretary to a military board, would not be at a loss, if called upon, in laying down a plan satisfactory to the public, and to interested individuals. I have lately heard of a plan for this purpose, suggested by a gentleman (a short time since secretary to a Noble Lord of distinguished literary talents), at present engaged in the war department. His plan Military Correspondence. is for a cursory investigation, by tables of calculations, formed for each period of unsettled accounts, by gentlemen experienced in them. These calculations are proposed to be made on every subject, and thus at one view, in opening an account, the expence each regiment ought to have incurred may easily be discovered, according to station, &c. If any wide difference exists betwixt the charges allowed in the approved table of calculations, and those made in the accounts, a minute examination is recommended; but if otherwise, immediately to pass them into war rant. I have no hesitation in declaring, that a system laid down on the above grounds would meet the fullest approbation from the officers of the army, and from those whom a settlement most particularly concerns. Decisions on the accounts should be left at the discretion of experienced gentlemen; they, by having some knowledge of the previous accounts of a pay-master, or agent, are enabled to give a correct idea where a cursory examination is sufficient. In a report on West India and barrack accounts, the commissioners have observed, that "Confidence must be placed by the public somewhere, and a judicious selection of intelligent and respectable men, acting under the sanction of an oath, affords the best, and indeed the only ground for such confidence." This remark most strongly applies to regimental accounts; and if discretionary powers, founded in the manner therein mentioned, were invested in able and well informed gentlemen, with full liberty to employ a cursory examination where cases in their individual judgments may admit, we may safely flatter ourselves, that both the public and persons concerned will be alike satisfied; the whole arrear in a short period investigated, and thus the disordered and disgraceful state in which the accounts of this great branch of public expenditure have been for so many years suffered to remain," put an end to. ST. HUBERT. London, March 28, 1812. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,-YOU would oblige some of your readers by pointing out some of the best narratives of the late Campaign in Portugal. ANSWER. X. SIR, THERE have been three narratives published-Captain Elliot's, Dr. Halliday's, and Captain Stothert's narrative of the Campaign of 1809, 10, and 11. We have frequently had occasion to express our approbation of Captain Elliot and Dr. Halliday; and we have only to add, that Captain Stotheṛt's narrative is in no way inferior to them. E. 66 -- Military Correspondence. RUSSIAN ARMY. SIR, THE following Extract, translated from a work entitled Zuge zu einim Gemahlde des Russischen Reichs," may probably interest your readers. If worthy insertion in the Military Chronicle, it is at your service. With sincere wishes of success, I am, Sir,. It is hardly possible to ascertain the effective streugth of the Russian army. The official returns prove little or nothing; they indicate, it is true, the number it should be, but they do not state the number it actually is. Many regiments have not the fourth, or even the half of their establishment. Hence it is clear, that not only the number of those who take the field varies considerably every mouth, but that it is very hard to say how many of the troops do not march; for the Colonels themselves often disguise the true state of their regiments, in order that they may draw the pay of absentees of non-effectives. The sudden diminution in the number of recruits is frequently exceeding great. Whenever 100,000 men are raised within three months, the one half generally perish of disease, or are lost to the service through other casualties. In the ordinary levies of 20,000 men, the loss is less in proportion by full one half, as, independent of other causes, more regard is paid to the age and to the constitution of the individual selected for the army. But the fatigue of the march, the immoderate use of brandy, the bad diet of hospitals, and the severity of discipline, are certain of destroying greater numbers than are in other European countries lost in a similar way. Previous, however, to proceeding farther, I will make a few remarks on this subject. In Russia it is often impossible to avoid marching the recruits 1000 miles before they reach their destination. Such long journies, on some persons, must produce unhappy effects, and the immoderate use of brandy, to which the Russian poor are unaccustomed, adds still more to these dangerous consequences. Your readers will no doubt be somewhat surprized to hear of an author speak of the abuse of strong liquors, inasmuch as the lower order of Russians are generally considered as addicted to drunkenness; but such an idea is erroneous, and is easily proved so. If the word drunkard means a man fond of drink, the term certainly suits the major part of the labouring class in Russia; but it is a mistaken notion that they habitually gratify their partiality to spirituous liquors. In the first instance, the sale of brandy is in Russia a monopoly of the crown, and is consequently retailed at such a very dear rate, that few persons can afford to make it a common drink; in the second place, the inns in many districts are so rarely met with, that the pea sants must journey many leagues before they can procure a glass of brandy. (To be continued.) 1 |