§ EARL COWPER,in asking, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to increase the Period during which the Militia shall be assembled this Year for the annual Training, said, the subject was one which, in the face of the efforts making by all Continental nations, deserved and would receive a large share of the attention of the country, were this not concentrated on one all-absorbing topic. The question was coming on, and would have to be answered, how long England would be able to hold her own with her present military system. Everybody seemed to be agreed that the safeguard must be looked for in the militia. The Volunteers, although an admirable force, and useful in its way, never could be permanently embodied, because the men composing the force were men of daily avocations. He was glad to perceive that among the high authorities who had declared the necessity of maintaining and strengthening the militia force General Peel was included. The country, he was persuaded, 1546 would not grudge any expenditure which might be necessary for the purpose. One of the greatest difficulties which he experienced, and he believed it was the case with many lords-lieutenant of counties, was in officering the force. Sons of country gentlemen could not be procured in sufficient numbers, and a man who accepted a commission in a county with which he had nothing to do must be hard up for occupation. With a militia command there was too much to do to make it a pleasant occupation, like the Yeomanry, and too little to do to make it a permanent employment, like the army. The extension of time from the present limit of a month to six weeks would very greatly add to the efficiency of the force. No doubt men could badly spare the extra time; but if they could afford six weeks in the year that they were recruits, he did not see why they could not manage to be equally long under arms in other years.
THE EARL OF LONGFORDagreed that it was the duty of all concerned to promote by every means in their power the efficiency of the militia, and hoped the noble Earl would soon receive from competent gentlemen applications for the vacant commissions. He could only reply that the Estimates this year had been framed upon the usual plan, and there, was no intention of extending the time of the annual training of the militia.