On the motion of the Secretary at War, the house resolved itself into a committee on the Army Estimates.
§ General Tarletonsaid, he understood, that the estimates now on the table were merely a continuation of those laid before the house by the former ministers. He thought it extraordinary that the new ministers had not yet brought forward their own plans for the defence of the country, particularly as the declarations of a right hon. gent. (Mr. Windham), on the Defence Act, and the volunteer system, must operate unfavourably on each of them, and thus tend to diminish our effective force, while nothing else was substituted in their place. After all the activity which that right hon. gent. had displayed in his speeches, and all the plans which he had given grounds to expect, nothing had yet been produced.
§ Mr. Windhamreplied, that the rapidity and decision advised by the hon. general might be proper in the field, but not in the cabinet. All delay must be viewed as relative to the object to be accomplished. Considerable alterations in various and complicated departments of the public service, required deliberation proportioned to their magnitude and importance. He objected to gentlemen calling for plans from him, as the frequenters of the theatre called for an entertainment. He did not feel disposed to indulge them, and their impatience should never provoke him to lay any thing before the house that seemed to himself immature.
§ Mr. Canningcontended that justice had not been done to the Defence act. Early in the session a notice had been given of a motion for its repeal; and a measure which could only be carried into effect by great exertions, was paralysed by this threatened repeal.
The Secretayat War repeated the observation which he made on presenting the army estimates, and concluded with moving the following resolutions, which were agreed to: 1. "That the number of 134,473 effective men be granted for the service of his majesty, from the 25th of March to the 24th of May inclusive: 2. That 795,460l. be granted to his majesty, for guards and garrisons for that period: 3. That 336,693l. be granted to his majesty for foreign garrisons for the same period."—The house having been resumed, the report was ordered to be received on Monday.