§ Mr. C. Woodsaid, that when he moved these estimates last year, he abstained from going into any detailed statements on the subject, and he should pursue a similar course, considering that he should best consult the convenience of the House, by making his remarks as brief as possible. He should confine himself simply to the difference which would be found in the various votes of this and last year. With regard to the first item, "wages to seamen and marines," there was a difference of about 12,000l. between the amounts of the estimates for the two years, the sure required to be voted for the service of the present year being 1,051,916l., and the vote for the previous year having amounted to 1,063,160l. This difference arose in consequence of there having been a greater number of marines afloat in one year than in the other. A considerable difference in the outlay of the two financial years existed under the head of "Office for the Registry of Merchant Seamen." This arose from the Navy Pay-office having been abolished as a separate establishment; and the exceeding labour of carrying on this registry under the provisions of the Act of Parliament, made it necessary for him to propose an immediate increase in the number of clerks, which would involve a proportionate increase of about 800l. in the estimate of the current year. The business of this department was now very much in arrear; and the actual number of merchant seamen reported as fit for service could not be made out for some months to come. Those, however, who took an interest in 220 the naval affairs of this kingdom, would be glad to hear that a great increase had taken place in the number of competent merchant seamen registered. In consequence of a regulation latterly made, their number had been increased from 5,000 to 15,000. With reference to the scientific branch of the naval service, that the estimate for the current year presented a great increase, owing partly to expenses incurred for fencing the ground, and erecting a building for magnetic observations, in connexion with the Observatory at Greenwich, and under the superintendence of the Royal Astronomer, and principally attributable to the addition of nearly 2,000l., which it was found necessary to introduce into the hydrographical department, and of 5,925l. for outlay in the purchase of paper, and for printing, in order to enable the superintendent to publish, in the course of the year, the Nautical Almanacs for 1839, 1840, and 1841. This almanac was intended for the use of the marine service gene-rally. The publication for three years in advance would be exceedingly beneficial to persons going out on a two or three years' voyage. Before incurring the expense connected with the publication of the Nautical Almanac for a few years in advance, it was judged right to submit the matter to the consideration of Parliament, and state the exact amount which would be required, in addition to the estimate of former years. In the amount which was required for His Majesty's establishments at home, the increase was very inconsiderable. In the establishments of his Majesty abroad, there was a decrease of about 2,000l., in consequence of the reduction of the commissariat department at Sierra Leone. By this reduction the interests of humanity would be served, in consequence of the necessity being superseded of maintaining a numerous establishment of British subjects in that dangerous climate. In the next item, that of wages to artificers employed in his Majesty's service at home, there was an increase of about 50,000l. beyond the amount contained under this head in the estimates of the past year. This arose from the circumstance of its being found necessary, for a variety of reasons, to employ a much greater number of shipwrights, rope-makers, sail-makers and other artificers and labourers, in the various naval yards of 221 England, than had been employed for some years previous. It would be recollected that some years back, in bringing forward these estimates, it was stated, that owing to the stores in the various dock-yards having been greatly over-rated, their contents were rotting and spoiling, and that, consequently, the Admiralty ordered that the materials they contained should be immediately used up. This was a system, however, which, whilst it diminished the outlay for the time being, must come to an end in time; and it now became necessary to provide for an additional outlay in order to bring the supply up to the probable consumption. Another cause of expenditure existed in the erection of a new rope-walk at Chatham, and to a slower process of rope-making, which had been introduced, by which, however, better rope was produced, which in the end, by its increased wear, would prove an economical arrangement. It was thought, that the Admiralty might perhaps be justified in putting up similar rope-establishments in other yards; but upon consideration it was deemed most advisable to postpone so doing until they had had a year's experience (of what had already been done. In regard to timber, having already a very large stock on hand, it was deemed advisable not to incur the expense of a very great additional supply, merely keeping up the stock to such an amount as not to compel them to go to market, when they required to do so, under disadvantages. He was aware that many persons objected to the mode of contracting for timber for the public service. He begged to state, that the existing contract would end in the ensuing autumn, and that the practice was invariably to put it up to competition, and that any one was entitled to send in a tender for it. The last cause of increased expense under this vote was owing to the practice which had been adopted of employing the men in the dock-yards for five-and-a-half days in the week instead of five days. The experience of the last three or four years had proved that they had not hands enough to do all the business which came upon them in fitting out ships. There had been a great increase in the building of smaller vessels and steamers in the dockyards, in consequence of the transfer of the Post-office packet department to the Admiralty. This had thrown additional work upon the dock-yards, and it was 222 thought that the most economical mode of procuring it to be done was by the system he had mentioned. He must say, that ever since he had belonged to the Admiralty he had seen reasons to disapprove of the practice of employing the men for five days in the week only, the stoppage of the works on the sixth day being a very great di advantage, and the men requiring a higher rate of wages to make up their loss for the time they were not employed. There was another circumstance in the case, also, which rendered the new system decidedly an improvement in economy; namely, that whilst the men were paid by the day the superintendents were paid by the year; and thus the increase, in expense was only in the former, the latter being more fully employed for the same money. In vote No. 11, for new works, there was a slight increase of expense, which was chiefly owing to one heavy item, namely, the erection of a building at Woolwich, for the manufacture and repair of steam-engines, which he thought it would be found extremely advantageous to have on the premises of the dock-yard. In the miscellaneous service the votes had been considerably reduced. The estimates for the half-pay, notwithstanding the late brevet promotion, had also been reduced 3,000l.; and the naval and civil pensions had been reduced 9,000l. Hon. Members would recollect, that in consequence of the increasing extent of our commerce, and the large naval force kept up by other nations, together with the necessity of keeping up the knowledge of our seamen, a vote had been taken last year for an additional number of seamen. The same reasons still existed, and he trusted the House would pass a vote for the same number of seamen this year, for the purpose of protecting our commerce and maintaining the efficiency of the fleet. During the summer months the Government had considered it their duty to make a reduction of the number of men, for which a vote had been taken last year, but it was afterwards increased. On the whole, he trusted that the House would consider the Government had not abused the confidence reposed in them, but would agree to vote the same number of seamen that had been voted last year. The hon. Gentleman in conclusion moved, that a number not exceeding 17,957 seamen be voted for the service of his Majesty for the year 1837.