On the motion of lord H. Petty, the house resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, to which the Estimates respecting the Augmentation of Pay to the Army were referred.
The Secretary at Warthen rose to move pertain resolutions on this head, which, he trusted, would meet with the unanimous concurrence of the house. The low rate of pay of officers of infantry was a subject on which all must be agreed, that it was a wonder how they had been hitherto able to subsist; the patience with which they had waited for some addition to their pay was so exemplary, as to call for the approbation of the house and of the country. Even the increase, which was now proposed, was not, however, to be considered as an adequate reward for their services. This would require a much larger addition; but the present situation of the country, which called for the utmost economy, admitted that such increase only should take place as was required by absolute necessity; and he was convinced that it would be rather a subject of regret, than of satisfaction, that the proposed addition was so small. The increase, besides, was to be partial only, and not general, and was only to extend to those whose pay was inadequate to their situation. Notwithstanding the nobler claims which officers had to respect, arising from the nature of their professions, and their honourable services, 1134 yet all must know, that unless enabled to support a certain rank in society, they would not meet with general respect from the world; and thus the strongest discouragement would be held out to a profession which deserved so well of the country. His first resolution related to an increase of the pay of Officers of Infantry. The second proposed an addition to the pensions of Officers' Widows; and the third related to the increased pay of Serjeants, Corporals, and Privates, and the addition to the Chelsea pension. The grounds on which these last were adopted, had already been stated in the course of the discussions on the Mutiny bill. It was also proposed, that every field officer, commanding a regiment for the time, should have, during that period, an addition- to his pay of 3s. a day. This was founded on the obvious principle of his being enabled to support, at such a time, a certain higher degree of rank. It was, besides, thought proper, that some addition should be made to the pay of captains of a certain standing in the army. After ten years service, it was desirable that some increase of pay should take place. At present, such officers were entitled to the rank of brevet-major, and it was now proposed that they should receive an addition of 2s. per day. It was also proposed to grant an additional allowance to lieutenants of 7 years standing. During war, promotion advanced with so much rapidity, that there were seldom any instances of this sort; but in peace the case was different, and promotion became more slow; hence there was an evident propriety in making some addition. He then concluded with moving, That the sum of 161,700l. 9s. 11d. be granted for defraying the expense of these additional allowances for 183 days, from June 25 to Dec.24.
§ Sir A. Wellesleymade several observations on the pay of subalterns in the guards, which, he contended, was too small. He thought, also, that the lowest sum on which an ensign could subsist was 5s. 8d. per day.
Mr. Secretary Windhamthought the common opinion incorrect, which went to regulate the pay of officers exactly by subsistence, and to increase the pay of the lower orders, for the purpose of bringing them nearer the higher. All this seemed founded on a false assumption. The consequence of the present system was, that none could enter the army as officers who had not something else besides their mere pay. This was important, in a constitu- 1135 tional view, since it prevented them from becoming mercenaries, and gave them an interest in the country which they defended. Besides, there had been no difficulty, of late, in procuring officers, even when the pay was, confessedly, more inadequate than it was now proposed to be made. But it was also an object of importance, that subalterns should look forward to something higher, when their emoluments might be better proportioned to their expenditure. The ground of the whole system was, that the pay of officers, though not generally adequate, might yet be so, in particular instances, by means of extraordinary economy. Thus, in addition to those who entered the army with some property of their own, there might be others, impelled, perhaps, by a strong military inclination, though destitute of all other resources, who might go on, for a time, by dint of rigid economy, and struggle through the situation of subalterns, till they arrived at a higher rank. It was not thought necessary, that an easier species of admission should be granted to the lower ranks of society. Young men, also, who entered the army, generally received that assistance from their relations, which, at a more advanced period, was not to be expected, and were then better able to submit to privations of every kind, while the increase of their pay would advance, in proportion to their rise in their profession. He had no doubt, that a sufficient number of individuals would always be found possessed of magnanimity enough to bear all these inconveniencies, with the prospect of improving their situation in the army. These were the grounds on which the present scale of additions was calculated.
§ Lord De Blaquiereobserved, that having spent the best part of his life in the army, he had a fellow-feeling for all those who belonged to it, and could not but admire the wonderful addition of 1s. 1d. per day to field officers. This pittance would not enable them to pay the tax on property, which had been imposed during the present session, since every officer, who received 200l. a year, would have to pay 20l. out of it. He could have wished, that a still larger addition had been made to the pay of captains.
The Secretary at Warreplied, that, besides his increase of pay, every field-officer was to receive forage for one horse. In answer to what had fallen from an hon. general, with regard to officers of the 1136 guards, he observed, that as they had necessarily private fortunes of their own, they did not need the present addition, and he could speak, from his own knowledge, of that body, acquired from long service in it, that they would disdain the idea of serving for money alone. But the allowance of forage for one horse was, also, to be extended to them.
The Secretary at Warreplied, that the increase was only to extend to subalterns, on the principle that the field-officers must necessarily be men of fortune.
§ Mr. Windhamobserved, that if people could be found to fill the rank of officers, without pay, and actuated by the love of honour and distinction alone, it would be so much the better. But since this was not to be generally expected, they must be influenced by the mixed consideration of pay and honorary distinctions. Now the higher rank of officers in the guards was really one of these considerations, by which men were apt to be influenced.
§ Mr. Franciswished to know, whether it was meant to reimburse officers for the expence of the property tax? If this were not done, what the house gave with the one hand, it took away with the other.
§ Mr. Windhamreplied, that this was a subject winch could only have come before the house, with propriety, when that tax was discussed.
Lord Templeexpressed his regret, that his right hon. friend had not found it possible to extend the addition to captains in the militia. Of late, the difficulty of procuring them had been so great, that colonels of the militia had been empowered, by act of parliament, to take captains from half-pay of the line; and many subalterns had also been promoted to that rank, who had not the usual qualification in land; but as no alteration could be made in the present resolutions, there was only one remedy which could be applied, and that was by addressing the crown, that a similar addition might also be extended to them. Unless such an augmentation should take place, he pledged himself to submit a motion to the house on the subject, in the next session of parliament.
§ Mr. Windhamacknowledged, that there was a certain number of the militia officers, of the description that had been mentioned. But, besides, that they had not passed 1137 through any subordinate situations, it was improper that the interests of a few should prevent any general regulation with regard to that body.
Colonel Craufurdobserved, that this difficulty in procuring officers, with the legal qualification, arose from the late great extension of the militia; and when they were diminished, the difficulty would cease.—The resolution was then agreed to.—A 2d resolution, granting a sum of 3829l. 19s. 3d. for defraying the charge of increased pensions to officers' widows; and a 3d, granting a sum of 50,000l. to cover the increased charge of the out-pensioners of Chelsea hospital, were also agreed to.