§ The House went into a Committee of Supply, to which the Estimates of the Army Extra-ordinaries were referred.
§ Mr. Longrose pursuant to notice, to propose a vote of 627,098l. 19s. 5d. to make up the deficiency of the Army Extraordinaries between December 1809, and December 1810. When the circumstances were considered, he trusted it would not be thought wonderful that such a deficiency had taken place. In conformity to the plan of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he had endeavoured to make the accounts as clear and distinct as possible. The Army Estimates had lately been altogether made up with more than usual accuracy, and for that improvement great credit was due to the noble Secretary at War. It was not to be expected, however, that the Estimates of the Army Extraordinaries should be perfectly accurate in every point. They were, in their nature, incapable of fixed estimate or absolute certainty. He should be happy to give any explanation that might be required, but did not feel himself called upon to enter any further into the subject at present than to state, that considerable deductions were to be made from the sum which appeared to have been applied to Army Extraordinaries last year. In all there was about 1,407,000l. which ought to be placed to the account of the Ordinaries. He concluded by moving," That a sum, not exceeding 627,098l. 19s. 5d. be granted to his Majesty, towards defraying the extraordinary expences of the army incurred and paid from the 25th day of December 1809 to the 24th of December 1810, both inclusive, and not provided for by parliament."
§ After a few words from general Tarleton and lord Palmerstone,
§ Mr. Fremantlerose to warn the House of the great expences attending the sytem pursued by ministers in the military department. The army, he admitted, was so essentially serviceable, and had lately added so much to the glory and security of the country, that a large expenditure might naturally and necessarily be called for. But yet it was of great importance that all, and especially those who supported the projects of ministers, should be fully aware of the immense expence to which the great and increasing establishment of the army led. It appeared that since the Contest in Spain began, the army had cost 777 this country 24,000,000l. per annum, exclusive of the ordnance. It was prudent, therefore, to consider how far the country could go on with this expenditure upon a system which afforded no prospect of material diminution. It had been stated in evidence on the Walcheren Expedition Inquiry, that the expence of 40,000 men on the other side of the channel was 300,000l. per month. In Portugal we had 60,000 British troops and 40,000 Portuguese in British pay; and at the rate above stated, the expence could not be less than a million per month. Of the policy of keeping an army there he said nothing. The country was now so deeply committed, that he did not see how the contest could be abandoned. But such was the expence; and he called upon ministers by every practicable means of economy, to diminish it if possible. He also noticed how much the expence was enhanced by the state of the exchange, which, as a member of the government had said, occasioned a loss of 30 percent, in Portugal. The first lord of the Admiralty had admitted, too, that a loss to the same amount was sustained in the Mediterranean. He had voted for the thanks to lord Wellington/ He did not wish the system under the present circumstances to be relinquished; but he was anxious it should be understood, that the expence was alarming.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that, undoubtedly, in the late debate, if the hon. gent. acceded to his wish, he would have abstained, had he risen, from all comment on the original policy of the campaign. A good opportunity had now, however,' arisen for the discussion of that subject, but still the hon. gent. continued silent. Professing, then, as he had done, his de-sire to discuss it, and not doing so when an opportunity offered, he could only infer, that the plan had met with his complete acquiescence, and that he had at length been convinced of its wisdom and its policy. He hoped that he might now conclude that the hon. gent. allowed the policy of the plan, and the propriety and importance of acting upon it. What was the practicable object of the hon. gentleman's warning to the country about the expence of the army? The hon. gent. declared the expence to be great; so did every person. Every one, also, allowest it to be necessary, and so did the hon. gent.; and here ended his" warning." The excess of this year's extraordinaries over those of last year was only 600,000l. 778 which must have been very reasonably expected. But even this would not have been the case, perhaps, had it not been for the very unfavourable state of exchange. He denied that any member of the government had said that the loss every hundred pounds which we sent abroad amounted to 30l. The assertion was, indeed, in his recollection, but it came from a right hon. gent. on the other side of the House; who, unfortunately not being a member of the government, could not have very authentic sources of information. The hon. gent. did not, however, it seems, wish to withdraw our troops from Portugal; He did not wish to do that which could alone diminish the expence. No; he thought the expence necessary to the country. Where, then, in the name of wonder, was the use of the" warning." No man regretted more than he did the expences entailed upon the country. Concurring, however, as he did with the hon. member, that though the expences Were great, they were necessary, he must think it the duty of every man to exhort the country to bear them patiently, and not anticipate inconveniences which he trusted in God would never occur, but Which, if they should occur, would carry with them the consolation that they were incurred in a just cause, and through unavoidable necessity.
§ Mr. Fremantle, in explanation, adverted to the statement of the first lord of the Admiralty, that there was a loss of 30 percent, on the exchange in the Mediterranean. The right hon. gent, himself had admitted a loss of 20 per cent in Portugal. He had distinctly stated, that his great object was to call the attention of the House to the immense expense resulting from the present system of military policy.
The Resolution was agreed to.