The Chancellor of the Exchequer,in pursuance of his notice, rose to propose a vote to complete the Army Extraordinaries he should state to the committee what sum he had thought fit to propose to cover that branch of expense for the present year, although from former experience he could not, with any confidence, assert the accuracy of the estimate which had been formed Towards the army extraordinaries of the present year, three millions had already beep, voted; and it was now in his contemplation to propose a further vote of nine millions, making in all 12 millions for the army extraordinaries of the current year. This amount was calculated on three grounds; one ground of calculation was the amount of the expenditure for the first three months of the year, which had been 1,800,000l. From the renewal of the war, the ratio of expense would no doubt be much increased, though a diminution, on the other hand, would take place, by the return of the troops from America. Though the increase would be very great on the Continent, he calculated it could not be mare than double the present expenditure. A second ground was, the probable expenditure under the 595 different heads in the different parts of the world. The probable expense of the British on the Continent, including compensation for that part of our contingent, would be 500,000l. per month, or six millions in the year. In America and the West Indies, the amount would be, perhaps, 3,000,000l., and 3,000,000l. would be further required to pay the debts contracted, and the extraordinaries of the army in the Mediterranean; this would amount to 12 millions. The other ground on which it was calculated, was the expense of the last years of the former war; and looking to the expenditure of the years 1812 and 1813, excepting the arrears of the former years, it would be found to be between 12 and 13 millions a year. From those three calculations an approximation might be formed, and he would put it to the judgment of the committee, whether the sum he proposed was too small. That it was too large, he believed no one would be inclined to imagine. That the sum was great, he allowed; but on considerations both of policy and economy, a great effort, which might bring the contest to a speedy conclusion, was advisable. To vote a smaller sum, would lead to disappointments in future, and to present embarrassments. He concluded by moving, "That a sum not exceeding nine millions, be granted to his Majesty, for further defraying the Extraordinary Expenses of the Army of Great Britain and Ireland for the year 1815."
In answer to a question from Mr. Tierney,
The Chancellor of the Exchequerexplained, that on a former occasion he had proposed six millions on account for the extraordinaries of the present year, and four millions to pay off arrears. The right hon. gentleman had objected to the vote on account, and a sum of three millions only, which was the expense then supposed to have been incurred in this year, was voted, together with the four millions for arrears. It was found, however, that the actual expense had only been 1,800,000l. up to March, the time when the vote took place. The remaining 1,200,000l. was applied to other purposes.
§ Mr. Tierneyobserved, that the rest of the three millions voted for army extra-ordinaries must have been applied to purposes not connected with the army extraordinaries. The introduction into the army extraordinaries of sums not connected even with the army, was the great cause of confusion in those accounts, and 596 the obstacle to a clear understanding of their amount. It was in vain, however, to talk of finances at the present moment—for an effort was to be made at any rate; expensive, no doubt, it was; whether it would be effectual, would be seen by-and-bye. But this he ventured to say, that if we proceeded at our present rate of expenditure, the House should have some reason before it sanctioned it, to believe that the war would be concluded even before the end of the present year.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that the foreign expenditure being all entrusted to the commissaries general, the sums paid could not be divided into the heads of ordinaries, extraordinaries, &c. until the accounts were brought to this country. The greatest part of the 1,200,000l. which remained out of the three millions voted for army extraordinaries, had been applied to the liquidation of bills of trade, created in 1813, by Act of Parliament; but as those bills were provided for by other grants, the sum would be still applicable to the army extraordinaries for the remainder of the year.
§ Mr. Tierneywished, that at the time when the measure of war had been sanctioned by the House, the expense had been laid before them. At first the question was merely proposed to them abstractedly, then came a little grant of money, and then larger votes, till at last the House would be called on to vote for the first year of the present war 30 millions sterling at the least for the subsidies and warlike establishments, such as army, navy, ordnance, transports, &c.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, it was true that the expense of the year would be very great; but it would have been great even if it had not been a year of war, because the arrears of the last war which were to be provided for, were between 18 and 20 millions.
§ Mr. Tierneysaid, it was to be observed, that an arrear of 20 millions had been incurred, during the former war, while the expenditure of the war was supposed to have been fully provided for; they should, therefore, take care that they did not incur another 20 millions of arrears; and notwithstanding the expenditure of 80 millions in the present year, we were not secure against it.
§ The Resolution was agreed to.