announced a very large decrease in the annual death rate of our forces at home and abroad. He concluded by moving Vote No. 1, for 145,450 land forces of all ranks.

A desultory discussion took place upon various topics. Major Knox moved to strike out from the vote for pay and allowances the sum of 10381. 14s. 7d., the pay of the Major-General of the Guards, which was negatived by 115 to 65. Mr. White moved to reduce the number of men by 10,000, but found only 11 supporters in a House of 150 members.

The Estimates, as proposed by the Government, were eventually passed.

The question of the purchase of Military Commissions, which had been frequently under discussion of late years, and had recently been referred to a body of Government Commissioners, who had reported, though not unanimously, in favour of alter ing the system, was in the present Session again brought before the House of Commons by Sir De Lacy Evans. The gallant general urged that after the inquiries which had taken place, and the promises which the Government had made to introduce an alteration in the mode of appointing to the command of regiments, no further delay ought to take place in giving effect to so desirable a measure of military reform. He concluded by moving a Resolution to give effect to his object.

Sir George Lewis, in answer to General Evans, explained the reasons why he had not thought it advisable at present to act upon the recommendation of the Royal Commission, and why he had a

difficulty in acceding to the motion, which was part of a larger question, the expediency of abolishing purchase in the army. He reminded the House of the cost that would attend even the limited change proposed, and of certain advantages accompanying the purchase system, and pointed out the practical inconveniences which would result from appointing lieutenant-colonels by selection. He did not believe, he said, that the army itself was hostile to a purchase system, and he instanced the late Indian native army, which was a nonpurchase force; yet, nevertheless, a purchase system had been spontaneously introduced. He did not say that the question was concluded; but the Government were not prepared to take any immediate step in the direction proposed by the Resolution.

General Peel objected, in limine, to that House being called upon to interfere with the command and discipline of the army. But he opposed the motion, he said, upon its own merits, and cited the opinion of high military authorities in favour of a system of purchase rather than one of selection.

Lord Stanley, as a member of the Royal Commission, felt bound to support and defend the opinions expressed in the report of the Commissioners. He vindicated the right of that House against the doctrine propounded by General Peel. He had always been under the impression, he said, that the House of Commons, which voted the number of men for the army and the Estimates, was bound to see that those Estimates were properly and economically expended, and he did

not see how it could be contended that it had no right to deal with the command and discipline of the army. He examined and replied to the objections of Sir G. Lewis, and suggested reasons that should detract from the weight of military opinions upon this question. He showed the practical working of the purchase system, referring to cases illustrating its operation, and discussed the grounds alleged in defence of the system, expressing his belief that the expense attending its abandonment had been very greatly exaggerated. He reminded the Government, in conclusion, that they were, as a Cabinet, pledged to the measure which was the subject of the Resolution.

Lord Palmerston admitted that the English army and the East India Company's army were the only cases in which the system of purchase had prevailed. In the latter it was in the objectionable form of a compulsory contribution to buy-out officers. He admitted, also, that if it did not exist in the English army nobody would have thought of introducing such a system. But if the system worked well, it was no reason for abolishing it that it was theoretically objectionable. A system of selection might be very good for a despotic Government, but in a constitutional country like this, he was afraid that to adopt the general principle of selection would lead to ill consequences.

After some remarks from Col. North and Col. Sykes, the motion of Sir De Lacy Evans was rejected by 247 to 62.

The Naval Estimates, which were moved by Lord Clarence VOL. CIV.

Paget, created much more extended discussion, involving as they did many questions as to the structure and material of ships, and the relative strength and efficiency of our navy to those of foreign Powers, especially that of France. The new mode of casing ships with iron, to enable them to resist the powerful artillery recently introduced, was now operating great changes in the construction of ships of war, and necessitated a large increase of expenditure to keep pace with the rapid progress that was taking place in the science of naval warfare. On several occasions during the present Session these topics were much discussed in both branches of the Legislature. Previously to the House of Commons entering upon the consideration of the Naval Estimates, on the 25th of February, Mr. Lindsay, who had in the previous year taken a prominent part in the debates upon nautical questions, referring to the statements made by the Government last Session of the strength of the French iron fleet, upon the faith of which a large sum had been voted, complained that those statements had been exaggerated, supporting his argument by an account of the actual condition of the French iron fleet which he had just received, and which showed that we were greatly in advance of France. Seeing this, and that we had more wooden ships than all the world put together, he did not think there was a necessity for so great an outlay as was proposed in the Estimates, especially in regard to wooden ships, and he protested against this large expenditure.

Mr. Baxter took the same view

[H]

as Mr. Lindsay, considering that very strong and cogent reasons should be given for the large Estimates proposed. The disturbing causes having ceased, why, he asked, should we not return to the ordinary average rate of expenditure in 1857 and 1858? He stated facts to show that there had been a delusion as to the strength of the French navy.

After some further discussion on these topics, Lord Clarence Paget made his statement to the House, referring in the first place to the observations just made by Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Baxter. He asserted that the account he had given of the French iron fleet was true; that the vessels he had enumerated were all in existence and in progress. He then proceeded to explain various matters connected with the details of the Estimates. The total amount asked for the year 1862-63 was 11,794,305., being a diminution of expenditure, compared with 1861-62, of 846,2837. The actual decrease in the number of men was 2200, the number of men and boys to be voted this year being 76,000, against 78,200 last

year.

The number of boys was the same. He next stated the number of vessels on the home and foreign stations, the total force afloat being 160 vessels. The total number of men to be maintained afloat was 54,200. The Royal Naval Reserve, whose noble conduct he eulogized, amounted to 10,100 men, and the cost, including all items, was 137. per man annually. He calculated that the future cost on account of pensions would be 37. per man. Adding to this force that of the Naval Coast Volunteers, he thought we were com

ing to a satisfactory state as to the force at home and our reserves. After noticing the force. of boys under training, and their cost, he entered into details showing the satisfactory state of the fleet, describing the progress made in improving the condition of the seamen, one step of which was by reducing the complement of ships, to obviate the objection that vessels were overcrowded. Corporal punishment had diminished in the navy. The Admiralty had taken measures to effect what the navy wanted-organization in barracks. He then gave the numbers of steamships afloat and building, the grand total being 580; and details of the reduction of the armament of ships, pointing out the advantages attending the reduction. He next approached the subject of iron-cased ships, and the progress made in their preparation. There were 15 in progress, 11 of which would be completed this year, one next year, and the whole number in 1864. With regard to their cost, that of the Warrior was 354,8857., without the armament, which cost 13,000/ The reports which the Admiralty had received of the qualities of that vessel justified him in saying that she was fit to go round the world; the sinister reports respecting her, he believed to be totally without foundation. After referring to certain experiments in relation to a new class of iron vessels, and to details in relation to the future of our iron fleet, Lord Clarence entered upon an explanation of the several items of the Estimates, replying, as he proceeded, to observations made in the preliminary discussions, in doing which he indicated the

[99

England.]

regarding the enlargement of docks, the construction of naval barracks, and the erection of hydraulic machinery by which iron plates might be bent and put upon the ships on the spot.

After considerable discussion on the various topics embraced in Lord C. Paget's speech, the votes proposed by him were sanctioned by the House.

The account of the remarkable engagement which took place in the month of March, this year, between two American iron-cased vessels, the Confederate Merrimac and the Federal Monitor, in Hampton-roads, produced a lively sensation in this country, and led to a serious consideration of the consequences of this new mode of naval armament, as affecting the defence of our own coasts, and the alterations required in our navy. Some persons were inclined at once to adopt the conclusion that this experiment had proved the uselessness for purposes of war of all wooden vessels, and that a total revolution must take place in shipbuilding; by others, the result was not considered so decisive. The question of the coast fortifications, on which our Government had in the former Session resolved, with the sanction of Parliament, to make a large expenditure, was closely connected with that of naval armaments, as it was argued by many that the new iron-cased floating-batteries would be found a much more efficient engine of defence against invasion than fixed fortifications on the shore could be, and that if vessels could be so sheathed with iron as to be made impregnable to artillery, there would

to resist them. The two subjects, therefore, of iron-clad vessels and of forts, became necessarily mixed together in the discussions which arose respecting naval armaments.

Early in April, a statement of much interest was made in the House of Lords by the Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty, in explanation of the measures adopted and contemplated by the Government, in reference to the new system of nautical operations lately introduced. The statement was made in answer to the Earl of Hardwicke, who requested the noble duke to inform him what number of iron-plated ships were then afloat, or in building, and what would be done with the ships of the fleet built with timber. Lord Hardwicke, in asking these questions, entered at considerable length into the question of ironcased ships, and suggested that many of our wooden ships might, at a moderate cost, be cut down and plated after the manner of the Merrimac, and so rendered exceedingly effective vessels. He foresaw in the new system, not only a change in our ships, but a great change in the duties and character of our naval officers and seamen.

The Duke of Somerset, having thanked Lord Hardwicke for having brought this subject before the House, stated what steps had been taken by the present Government to build iron vessels since 1859. The late Government had proposed to build two iron-plated vessels, but from information subsequently received, he had advised these two to be increased to four-viz. the War rior, the Black Prince, the De

fence, and the Resistance. Not being contented with these vessels, the Government had ordered the Valiant to be built on improved principles, for, as the whole system was in a state of uncertainty, there were necessarily defects in the first experiments. At the present moment we had four iron ships afloat, another to be launched in August, and five wooden ships in course of plating, two of which would be launched in the autumn, and three in the ensuing spring. Not satisfied with this, he had caused experiments to be made with Captain Coles's cupola, the results of which, both in regard to the revolving of the cupola and its power of resistance to very heavy firing, were entirely successful. A vessel of this class of 2000 tons, and drawing only 20 feet water, would be shortly laid, had been taken for the purpose in the Estimates. At the same time it was intended to apply the principle of the cupola to wooden vessels, and these, he believed, would be the best vessels we could have for the defence of Our coasts. There were now building six different kinds of iron-plated ships, but he was not satisfied with any of these, as the means had not yet been discovered of making the iron plating contribute to the strength of the vessels. In reply to Lord Hardwicke's question, he stated that we had the frames of five line-of-battle ships, seven frigates, and eight large corvettes in progress, and these frames could be easily adapted to bear iron plates. Of our present wooden vessels we could easily cut down 20 lineof-battle ships, and by fitting them with iron plates adapt them

as money

for the defence of our coasts and the Channel, still retaining a fleet of 40 ships to oppose to any wooden fleet which might be sent to attack us; and if it were necessary to fight iron ships against iron ships, we were able to meet any navy in that arm. In regard to the question of expense, he did not think it would be so great as anticipated, neither did he think the inferences drawn from the recent engagement as to the invulnerability of iron ships, especially in the face of the very great improvements being made in the speed of ships and the force of artillery, correct. then entered at some length into the merits and defects of the Merrimac and Monitor, pointed out the alterations which the new system of iron-plating would introduce in our navy, deprecated undue precipitation in building vessels of iron, but confessed that we ought to refrain from building more wooden ships, and concluded by asserting the propriety of not discontinuing to build forts, as the arguments drawn from the recent contest on that point were by no means conclusive.

He

The Earl of Malmesbury expressed his acknowledgments to the noble duke for his valuable statement, which would be received by the public with great interest, and the discussion terminated.

The subject was revived shortly afterwards in the same House, upon a question asked by Lord Vivian, of the Government, whether or not they had abandoned the intention of proceeding with the proposed forts at Spithead, or whether they would proceed with the construction of iron-cased ships.