SUPPLY—ARMY ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 11 April 1836)

§ Mr. Hume
expressed his disapprobation of the system which was pursued in reference to these institutions, and he was sorry to see the Government not disposed to follow the course which had been commenced by their predecessors in office—viz., that of gradually reducing, and eventually giving them up altogether. It was his opinion, that the expense which was incurred in the support of these schools, was no way proportionate to the good which they effected; he believed that, by sending the children to some part of the country where they might be boarded and placed under proper superintendence, twice the good would be accomplished at half the expense at present incurred. He observed, there was no less a sum than 1,860l. in the estimate for salaries to officers; and then there was the immense sum of 4,500l. for other expenses. He was persuaded, that half this might be saved; and the costly building which they at present occupied, might be converted to some purpose of public utility. But, even supposing it were advisable that the system should be carried on, he disapproved of the mode of management which Government intended to pursue. He perceived that the scholars were to be limited to a certain number; and thus, whatever the noble Secretary at War might fix upon as the proper number for enjoying the benefit of the schools, some must be excluded, and thus injustice would be done. Either the system ought altogether to be abandoned, or it ought not to be thus limited in its operations.

§ Mr. Hume
said, he would put a question to the noble Secretary at War, and to his Majesty's Government, which was this—was it really their intention to keep up the yeomanry and volunteer corps? He had, during the last Session, presented several petitions from the county of Fife, against keeping up this description of force in a time of peace; his belief was, that they were only so kept up to imtimidate and insult the labouring classes of the community. On several occasions he had expressed his objections to this corps; and, 870 for the last three years, he had taken the sense of the House upon it; he should do so in the present instance, and see whether or not the voice of the country would be listened to.

§ Viscount Howick
was firmly convinced, that the yeomanry and volunteer corps of the country had never been used for party purposes. He believed that they were of great use to the country, inasmuch as they were available corps, and supported at a very small expense. He could state, of his own knowledge, that, in several instances, when called upon to act, they had done so with the greatest advantage to the public. His hon. Friend, the Member for Middlesex, would recollect that a great reduction had taken place in the Militia staff in the last year, and he thought it a politic measure to keep up these corps under such circumstances. They were volunteers, and, in point of fact, were no real burthen on the community at large, while they were a most useful and available force.

§ Viscount Howick
in moving that 25,000l. be granted for the maintenance and clothing of two companies of Mounted Riflemen at the Cape of Good Hope, stated, that they were only raised for temporary purposes.

§ Mr. Hume
objected to the vote. He considered that they should have some information as to the calamitous occurrences which had recently taken place at the Cape. Although some information could be procured, by means of the Committee moved for by the hon. Member for Weymouth, still he did not think that they should be able to obtain the whole truth, until Commissioners were sent out to examine upon the spot into all the facts. It was of importance not only to the colonists themselves, but also to the interests of England, that the causes which led to such calamities should be inquired into.

§ General Sharpe
wished to ask the noble Lord a question, with respect to an appointment that he was sure would create great uneasiness in that part of his Majesty's army, who were employed in India. He alluded to the individual who had been engaged in the Company's service; he still retained the rank of Captain in the Company's service, and he was gazetted as Major-General, he (General Sharpe) thought in February last. Such an appointment, he considered, was calculated to outrage the feelings of officers, and he knew nothing more calculated than it to produce a collision. The appointment that he referred to, was that of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Bethune, in the employment of Persia, and gazetted as a Major-General in Asia. He hoped that was a mistake for Asia Minor or Persia. He merely now called the attention of the noble Lord to the subject, and wished to receive an answer respecting it.

§ Viscount Howick
requested the hon. and gallant Officer to put the question when his right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Control, was in the House.

A List of the NOES. (Not official.)
Chapman, M. L.	Tulk, C. A.
Lushington, C.	Whalley, Sir S.
Molesworth, Sir W.	Williams, William
Sheldon, E. R. C.
Thompson, Colonel	TELLER.
Thornely, Thos.	Hume, Joseph