HC Deb 04 May 1854 vol 132 cc1276-81
MR. OLIVEIRA,

in bringing forward the Motion of which he had given notice, spoke as follows:—I have no doubt that a very general impression will prevail in this House that the Motion which stands in my name for this evening is one with which I have no very immediate concern. I am aware that there are in this House many distinguished individuals, members of the Army and Navy, who might do justice to this subject by their knowledge of fact and their lively sympathy. I therefore feel bound to offer to the House an apology for apparently touching upon a topic so alien to my ordinary pursuits and occupations. But whilst I admit that there are considerations of a military character connected with this subject, I am prepared to show that there are also points of a moral and social bearing, which may be as well stated by a civilian as by any other person, for surely the maintenance, education, and training of several thousands of Her Majesty's subjects, the children of her brave soldiers, cannot fail to enlist the sympathy, and command the support of the politician, the philanthropist, and the statesman. Hence, Sir, I venture to hope that the House will agree that it is a subject open to all, and may even be approached by so humble a Member as myself. I will endeavour to confine myself to facts and figures, and hope that other hon. Gentlemen may illustrate the subject by military references, and general data bearing upon it. A short time since I put a question to the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary at War with reference to the capability of the asylum, and the various Royal Warrants affecting it, and I beg to express my thanks for the care which he took upon that occasion, as well as for the courtesy with which he has permitted me to bring this subject forward. I think he then said that the chief difficulty was one of expense. I propose presently to make a few remarks upon that part of the question; but I will at present briefly refer to the warrants under which this establishment has been formed, and the number of children which have at various times been within it. I will then show the grants that have been made during a series of years, their decrease during a long period of peace, and I hope to show good and substantial reasons for its being reinstated in its fullest efficiency and numbers; and it will indeed be a source of disappointment to me if the Government does not readily acquiesce in that very reasonable suggestion. The Royal Military Asylum was established at the beginning of the present century. I find in a Royal Warrant, bearing date the 26th of April, 1805 (after referring to a former warrant of 1801), the following words— In the selection of children preference shall be given in general—first, to orphans; second, to those whose fathers have been killed, or have died on foreign service; third, to those who have lost their mothers, and whose fathers are absent on duty abroad; fourth, to those whose fathers are ordered on foreign service, or whose parents have other children. By this warrant the number of children is limited to 1,000. Another Royal Warrant, dated Feb. 24, 1809, has the following passage— Whereas, from the extent of our Army, and the great proportion thereof usually employed on foreign service, it is become highly expedient to make a further provision for the maintenance and education of distressed children of non-commissioned officers and soldiers belonging to our regular forces; our will and pleasure is, that the number to be admitted into our said asylum shall be extended to 792 boys and 348 girls, making in the whole 1,140 children. In 1811 a Royal Warrant was issued (Oct. 10), in which I find the following passage— By His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Our will and pleasure is in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, that the number to be admitted into the said asylum shall be extended to 800 boys and 400 girls, making in all 1,200 children, exclusive of the infant establishment in the Isle of Wight. Another warrant, dated 5th May, 1817, has the following passage— Whereas we have thought proper to augment the establishment of our Royal Military Asylum, so as to provide for the maintenance and education of 400 additional boys, and to direct that a building suitable for their reception should be fitted up at Southampton: And whereas the Commissioners of our said asylum have submitted to us the annexed establishment of officers, non-commissioned officers, and servants, for conducting that branch of the asylum, which establishment we are pleased to approve of: Our will and pleasure, therefore, is, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, that the same take effect from the 25th June, 1816, inclusive. It is our further pleasure that all the rules and instructions contained in His Majesty's warrant of 24th June, 1801, with regard to the establishment of our Royal Military Asylum, be observed in the management of the branch of that institution at Southampton, so far as the same may be applicable. So that at the period of this last warrant, during profound peace, there were no less than 1,750 children in the asylum and its branches at Southampton and the Isle of Wight. These numbers have gradually decreased, until at present there are but 350 children in the asylum. A large portion of the building is occupied by the normal schoolmasters; but there is ample space for an increase of the present numbers, and, if necessary, there is a considerable portion of land belonging to the institution which might be built upon. In order to show the estimation in which the children brought up in this institution are held by the Army, I will read to the House the following list, which I copied from the institution last Sunday—

"Regiments requiring boys from the Royal Military Asylum, but which cannot be furnished:—

1st Regt. of Foot 56th Regt. of Foot
2nd ditto 60th ditto
6th ditto 66th ditto
15th ditto 68th ditto
21st ditto 69th ditto
26th ditto 74th ditto
31st ditto 77th ditto
34th ditto 79th ditto
36th ditto 80th ditto
45th ditto 82nd ditto
49th ditto 85th ditto
53rd ditto 92nd ditto
12th Light Dragoons."

In all twenty-five regiments. With reference to the financial part of the subject, I have shown how, in the time of profound peace, no less a sum than 28,000l. has been voted for one year; that this establishment has ample space, with staff and all the requirements for an increased number; that there are, at present, 4,222 children eligible for this or some other form of support. That although the public have already contributed large funds, and the collections of the various congregations on the day of humiliation was very large, still these combined amounts would hardly meet the expenditure of a single year. I feel assured that there will be no party in this House opposed to a liberal grant for such a worthy purpose. We have abundant proof of the public feeling in its favour, and the Government have, during the present Session, been met with so much unanimity in all matters affecting revenue, that I am sure they may expect unanimous support to any proposal they may make. It will be remembered that all the military and naval estimates were passed almost without discussion—that increased sums were voted for armaments with equal readiness—that when the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer came down with a proposal for an increase to the income tax, that was also passed at once. I may further instance the forbearance shown by all parties who usually besiege the Treasury for a reduction of duty. Amongst them I felt it my duty not to press for a reduction of the wine duty, though the period and circumstances appeared to justify an opposite course. And if it should be true that large funds actually exist applicable to this purpose, the whole financial difficulty vanishes, for I am informed that a considerable amount of unclaimed prize money is accumulated, and available for this and similar objects. In adopting the mode of bringing this question before the House by way of Address to Her Majesty, I have thought it most consistent, for I have observed, with no ordinary satisfaction, the great sympathy and feeling which have been manifested by our gracious Sovereign upon every occasion when regiments have been about to depart for the seat of war; and it will be difficult for those who witnessed the scene ever to forget the touching farewell departure of the stupendous fleet which but lately left our shores for the Baltic in the presence of Her Majesty. I think, also, that Her Majesty's Government will hardly oppose an Address having for its object the protection and education of the poor and helpless children of the British Army. From a return moved for by the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Colonel Harcourt), I find the number of children of soldiers on foreign service is 4,222, of whom 3,475 belong to regiments ordered to the East. Sir, looking to the great and noble sacrifices that have been made by this country in the cause of philanthropy, and for the improvement of the human race, this is a case calling for peculiar support. A country that could vote 20,000,000l. for the emancipation of the slave—a country that can maintain a squadron to suppress that detestable traffic at a cost of 500,000l.—and other such efforts in the cause of humanity—will surely never let it be said, in after times, that in the year 1854 the children of its bravest soldiers, who were sent to fight for the glory and greatness of England, and for the maintenance of the liberties of Europe against despotism and tyranny, were left to the misery of the poor-house, or to be the casual recipients of eleemosynary aid.

COLONEL DUNNE

seconded the Motion.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She will be graciously pleased to grant an Inquiry into the capability of increasing the accommodation at the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea, for the reception of the children of Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers on Foreign service, as far as may be practicable, to the extent which that establishment afforded under various warrants of Her Majesty's Royal Predecessors.

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, that there was no doubt that this institution had been, and was now, of great benefit to the Army. About 350 children were now received within the walls of the asylum; while at a former period, when there was also a similar establishment at Southampton, it had accommodated 1,222. It had, however, been found, both here and at Greenwich, that the experiment of educating a large number of girls together had proved a complete failure, so far as regarded their future course of life. The experiment had consequently been abandoned, and he should feel great hesitation in renewing it. With regard to boys, the case was different. In considering, however, what additional number of them could be provided for, it must be recollected that the building at Southampton had been applied to another purpose, and that one portion of the asylum at Chelsea was now devoted to the normal school for teachers for the Army. This was so valuable an institution that he could not think of removing it from Chelsea, because, besides the expense which its removal would entail, it was impossible to keep up an efficient normal school for teachers unless you had also in connection with it a large school in which the future masters could practise teaching. The question, therefore, was, what additional number of children could be educated at Chelsea, consistently with still keeping the normal school there? Now, it must be recollected that the same number of children as were formerly received could not now be accommodated, because they were better cared for now than they were some time ago. The mode of teaching was also then very indifferent, and the school was in a very unsatisfactory state. The new system, however, which was established in 1844, when he held the same office that he did now, had, he was happy to say, worked very well, and the condition of the school was much improved. Looking to all these circumstances, he thought that, without encroaching on the play-rooms, which would be very undesirable, accommodation could be afforded for about 120 children more than were at present in the asylum, and to that extent he was quite ready to make arrangements for receiving additional inmates. At present, children who were either orphans or whose fathers were on foreign service were admitted. The accommodation afforded by the institution was nearly adequate to the demand, the annual vacancies being about fifty, and the applications for admission about seventy. No doubt, however, the latter would increase as the war progressed. Some additional staff would no doubt be required in consequence of the addition to the number of pupils which he contemplated, but still he did not think the increased expense would be more than 3,000l. the first year, and it would be somewhat less, probably, in future years. He had directed plans to be prepared for carrying out this object, and he hoped that, under these circumstances, the hon. Gentleman would not press his Motion.

COLONEL DUNNE

said, he begged to express his approbation, both of the Motion and of the manner in which the Government had responded to it.

MR. OLIVEIRA

said that, after the very satisfactory statement of the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Herbert), he would not press his Motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

The House adjourned at One o'clock.