The Earl of Winchilseasaid, in consequence of a return laid yesterday on their Lordships' table, relative to a reduction of the yeomanry cavalry, and also a circular letter which he had received from her Majesty's Home Secretary, stating that his services were no longer required, and considering the situation which he had the honour to hold in the yeomanry cavalry of the county of Kent, he should take the liberty of asking the noble Viscount opposite a question with respect to the disbanding of the yeomanry corps in different parts of the country. It appeared that the same system was not acted on in every county. In some counties the yeomanry corps were wholly disbanded, while in others they were only partially reduced. Thus, in the north of Lincolnshire, the yeomanry corps were entirely disbanded, while in the south of that county, the corps commanded by a noble Lord was retained. The yeomanry corps of Kent were to be disbanded, al-although they afforded protection to a country which extended forty-five miles in length, and thirty-five miles in breadth, and had done very considerable service. 798 Again, by the system now about to be pursued, he found that a large portion of Hampshire would be left totally without protection of this sort. He should like to know on what principle this reduction proceeded. For his own part he must say, that he strongly deprecated any such measure; for of all the forces which belonged to this country, the yeomanry corps were the most constitutional, and the best adapted to the habits and feelings of the people. He should be glad therefore to learn from the noble Viscount, whether this was only the first step towards the destruction of this national force—whether it was only what was called the first instalment on this point granted to the Radical section, for the assistance and support which they gave to her Majesty's government—to that party which had long been determined on the destruction of this most useful force? He could say most conscientiously, and upon his honour, that his own political opinions had never been mixed up with his military character; and though he had entertained the corps which he commanded, and had been entertained by them—for the officers entertained the men, and the men the officers—he had never once heard a sentence uttered, or a single speech delivered connected with politics since be knew it. Still he would say, (why should he attempt to conceal it from their Lordships?) that he believed the yeomanry corps throughout the country were decidedly of a Conservative character. They were apprehensive that the principles supported by her Majesty's Government, and by the party that assisted them, were opposed to the safety and prosperity of the country. He thought that the noble Viscount should now fairly and openly state, whether he intended to proceed further in the destruction of this useful force, or whether it was only the first instalment, to be hereafter followed up? The expense of these corps to the country was not above 10l, a-man annually, and by disbanding them, the whole saving would not exceed 10,000l. Would the Government, then, for so paltry a saving, abolish those corps? He feared, however, that her Majesty's Government had an ulterior object in view, when they contemplated the removal of this force. He feared that they intended to establish a paid constabulary force, to be appointed by the Government, and further, to dispense with the services of the unpaid magistracy, and 799 to appoint paid magistrates in their place. Now, he would caution and warn the people of this country, that if such a measure were adopted, there would be an end of British independence and liberty; and and whether it came from one side of the House, or from the other, he would strenuously oppose it. At the same time he would not conceal his opinion, that the constabulary force, as now constituted, was on the most useless footing, and he should rejoice to see that protection extended to several districts, which the existing police was totally inefficient to afford. He would not, therefore, oppose the establishment of a paid constabulary force, but he should be sorry to see it under the direction and control of any Government, whether Whig or Tory. He could not conclude without observing, that the individuals who had come forward to join the yeomanry corps, when the country was in much danger, and whose property had been placed in great jeopardy, had a right to complain of the manner in which they had been treated. With regard to the two regiments which he had the honour to command, he wished to have moved for the report connected with them; but learning from the noble Viscount that it was of a confidential nature, he would not press for it. He must, however, bear this testimony to the force which he had commanded, that, consisting, as it did, of 700 men, there never had been, since he was connected with it, either in a military point of view, or a civil or moral point of view, a single complaint lodged, so far as he knew, against any of the individuals composing it. He hoped, therefore, that the noble Viscount would state on what principle the proposed reduction was to be made, and declare whether the Government had any ulterior object in view.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, he entirely agreed in the praise which the noble Earl had bestowed on the yeomanry corps; and he more particularly agreed with him as to the spirited and opportune manner in which they had come forward in a time of difficulty and danger, and when considerable disturbances had occurred. But the establishment of these yeomanry corps took place at a period of emergency, and without any idea of a permanent continuance. They had been most useful in places where great disturbances had broken out; but it never was supposed, when these disturbances were suppressed, that 800 in each county a permanent yeomanry force was to be established; and when a reduction of the public expenditure was pressed on the Government from all quarters, it was not unnatural that they should look to a re-organization of those corps, with a view to economy. It was therefore deemed proper to reduce those corps in such parts of the country where their services were not likely to be wanted. Such was the principle acted upon on the present occasion. The smaller corps was in places where local circumstances had no longer required their continuance. The noble Earl had asked, whether this was not merely part of a plan entertained by her Majesty's Government, and whether it was not their intention to dismiss the whole of these corps. It was not for him to say what it might be proper to do hereafter; but this he would state—that it was not with any intention like that which the noble Earl had attributed to her Majesty's Ministers that the present step was taken. It was intended to retain certain corps after they had undergone the proposed revision; but it unquestionably was not the intention of Ministers to proceed with a further reduction, if it were not rendered advisable by circumstances. With respect to the corps which the noble Earl commanded, it ought to be recollected that it was formed in a county—the county of Kent—which less required such a protection than many others, in consequence of its proximity to the metropolis, from which an adequate force could always be despatched in cases of emergency. As to the report to which the noble Earl had alluded, he could have no other ground for calling for it than a desire to show the effective state of the corps commanded by the noble Earl. Now, with respect to that corps, and to all others, he on the part of the Government disclaimed the intention of casting any reflection on them. He disclaimed the idea of insinuating or saying that they had not performed their duty well, and that they would not, if called upon, perform it again in the same manner. This measure had been adopted solely on public grounds, with reference to the situation of particular parts of the country, and because the services of those corps were no longer required where they were formerly necessary. The noble Earl had intimated that this was a boon to the Radicals for the support given by them to her Majesty's Government. If so, it was a 801 boon without consideration—a boon for nothing—a boon more ill-timed and less justified in point of policy, sense, or wisdom, than at any period since the formation of the present Government. With respect to other measures which the noble Earl supposed to be in the contemplation of the Government, he would not say whether such measures might not be required hereafter; but he would state, that the present measure was not connected with any such plans or intentions as the noble Earl had alluded to, but was adopted because existing circumstances rendered it necessary.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonwas of opinion that much consideration was required before it was determined to reduce those corps. In the county of which he was Lord-lieutenant there were no less than eight single troops, each of which occasioned as much trouble as a regiment of 300 or 400 men. But he would say, that these eight single troops were just as useful in keeping the peace of the county as if they were eight regiments. As he was, he understood, to be saved that trouble in future, under the new plan, he would say, that he would undergo that or any other trouble rather than incur the risk attending the reduction of those corps, and the consequences that might perhaps arise from such a step. He should not have made a single observation on this occasion but for what had been said about a contemplated new organization of another force. Now, he would rather have the assistance of these yeomanry corps than that of a different force, although four times greater in number.
The Marquess of Salisburyeulogized the yeomanry for efficiency and zeal, and expressed his opinion that if the reduction had no other object than economy, the conduct of the Government was most paltry and impolitic. A troop had been established at Walthamstow when the noble Viscount, now at the head of her Majesty's Government, held the seals of the Home-office. Why, he wished to know, was that troop reduced? He very much feared, that if they once did away with the yeomanry corps, they would never again be able to re-establish them, if necessity demanded their services. Those individuals were deeply interested in preserving the peace and protecting the property of the country; and if they were disbanded to effect the paltry saving of 802 10,000l. a-year, it would in the end be found one of the most impolitic and dangerous measures that was ever resorted to.
The Earl of Haddingtonsaid, that there were some parts of the country where the services of the yeomanry ought not to be dispensed with. It would be wrong, for instance, to disband the yeomanry of the county of Edinburgh (consisting of eight troops), where there was a large population, that of the city of Edinburgh, and the town of Leith, and very few regular troops. In 1819, when riots occurred in Glasgow, that corps marched there, and were of great service in restoring peace and order. Now if that body of yeomanry were disbanded, and any sudden outbreak took place in a large district, with a great number of towns, and very few soldiers indeed, they would be deprived of a certain source of security. He knew not whether, in adopting this plan, Ministers were cultivating a good understanding with another party. The noble Viscount said, that such a proceeding would be most unwise and improvident, as the party alluded to had given nothing in return. Certainly, he believed, Ministers in general made a bargain with that party, and took care to have a return of some kind or other; and he did not think it was likely that they would adopt a different course now, and not secure something of the sort.
The Earl of Brecknockbore testimony to the statement of the noble Earl relative to the efficiency of the yeomanry corps of the county of Kent.
§ Conversation dropped