or canals, or to trustees of roads, or to any persons engaged in public works now in progress, or about to undertake them. The associations for the encouragement of the fisheries would likewise be a very proper institution to receive aid. In Ireland it would not be practicable to nominate a similar commission without such a delay as would defeat the purpose of the grant. It would be necessary to enter into a correspondence with that country to know what gentleman would undertake a duty which would entail some trouble without any prospect of reward. To avoid that delay, the sum appropriated to that country would be placed at the disposal of the lord-lieutenant.

With respect to advances on the security of the poor-rates, he had never thought that any thing could be done towards the relief of the agricultural population by the loan of any such sum as he then proposed to advance. He was also afraid that loans to the agricultural districts in aid of the poorrates, would encourage the practice of curtailing the fair wages of labour, and supplying the deficiency from such a source. When the bill came before the House there would be found clauses which would guard against, such an idea. The advance to be granted to parishes was never to exceed the half of the last year's rate, and no advance was to be made to any parish except where the rate was double the average of the two preceding years. Speaking of the particular distresses of Birmingham, he attributed a considerable part of it to the falling off of the supply of small arms

for the use of the allies, which amounted to no less than three millions during the war. That the general demand of goods for the foreign trade had not suffered in an equal proportion, he concluded from the official value of the exports of steel and iron from the year 1814. From the persons best acquainted with the trade of the country, he thought that a loan of 30 or 40,000l. to the manfacturers of Birmingham would be of material service in the present exigence. The right hon. gentleman concluded with proposing his first resolution.

Several members found it necessary to desire explanations from the Chancellor of the Exchequer respecting different subjects; whilst others were very doubtful whether any good would be the result of his project. The resolution was, however, put and carried; as was also the second concerning Ireland.

On the 14th of May, the Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to move the order of the day, that the House would resolve itself into a committee, to take into consideration the bill for the Employment of the Poor. He said he had introduced a considerable number of amendments into the bill, which he thought would remove some of the objections raised to it. He would not at present enter into the merits of these amendments, as a better opportunity would hereafter occur.

Some additional observations were made upon the bill; after which the report was brought up, and a day was appointed for a farther consideration.

On the 21st of May, on the

motion for recommitting this bill, various objections were made to its principle, which were replied to by its friends. The House then went into a committee, and a desultory conversation took place on its several clauses. The bill afterwards passed.

In the House of Lords it was introduced by the Earl of Liverpool, who briefly stated its objects, on June 10th. The Earl of Lauderdale spoke against it, but no division being proposed, the bill was read a third time, and passed.

It is observable, that when the first mention was made of an intention of introducing such a bill, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the sum of money which he spoke of proposing was between one and two millions. But the actual sum contained in his two resolutions amounts only 750,000l. and it does not appear that any thing farther was required.

to

THIRD SECRETARY OF STATE FOR

COLONIES.

On April 29th, Mr. Tierney rose to renew, in point of substance, though not of form, a motion relative to the abolition of the office of third secretary of state for the colonies, in which he had been defeated during the sessions of the last year. He now intended to move for a committee to inquire into that subject; not, he said, that there were any doubts in his own mind as to the propriety of abolishing the office; but because he saw that in questions of this kind, he had not the smallest chance of success in any other way. One great inducement for him to undertake this subject was,

that he had the previous sanction of his Majesty's ministers; for a committee of their own appointment had been named in the last year by the lords of the treasury for purposes under which this subject particularly fell. They were confined in their operations to all offices created since the commencement of the war in 1793. The office of third secretary of state had been created in 1794; and how it could escape the notice of the committee was to him quite unintelligible.

All (the right hon. gentleman said) that he had now to do, was to make out a case strong enough to refer the subject to the examination of a committee. The increase of colonies since 1792, was all that he had to meet. These were, in fact, nine in number, for he would not include Heligoland, nor yet St. Helena. Four of these were in the West Indies, three in the East Indies, and two in the Mediterranean. Those in the West Indies were nowise connected with those in the East Indies, and neither of them with those in the Mediterranean. His proposal was therefore to make over the four first to the home department; the three next to the board of control, and (said he) they might add St. Helena, though it would not give much additional trouble; as it might rather be considered as a gaol under the care of the police of Europe. Malta should belong to the foreign secretary. As to the Ionian islands, he scarcely knew how to speak, whether they were our own or not; but he apprehended that the nature of Sir Thomas Maitland's connexion with them was not colonial, but purely political.

After various other observations

on

as an incontrovertible maxim, that no country, especially one so much involved in debt, could consider its prosperity in time of peace established on a firm foundation, unless its expenditure was reduced not only to the level, but below the level, of its revenue.

It was not his intention to go minutely through the several heads of expenditure in the different branches of our establishments for the present year; but he was desirous to state, that in order to prevent the House from being fettered by the votes which it might be necessary to call for, they would not be required to furnish sums for more than some months, so that the public service might be carried on in the mean time. To this circumstance, after some general observations, his lordship now proceeded.

He first requested the attention of the House to the subject of the army expenditure. The number of the land forces during the last year, (excluding those in France and India, which were otherwise provided for) was 99,000 men, namely 53,000 for the home service, and 46,000 for the foreign establishment. This was to be reduced in the present year by 18,000; that at home by 5000, and that in the colonies, &c. by 13,000: and thus the comparison between the two years would stand from 99,000 to 81,016. The total number for which a vote had been taken in the former year was 150,000 men; and the total number for this year would be proposed at only 123,000. The reason for this was, that by the convention with France the number of

the number of the government troops in India to be reduced from 20,000 to 17,000. In the estimates there would appear a sum of 220,000l. to be provided for on account of regiments which had not yet returned from abroad, but were on their way home, and in a course of reduction. The whole of the army estimates, with certain contingent expenses, and that of the militia, would amount to 7,050,000l.; to which the commissariat in Great Britain will add 500,000l. The barrack establishment has been reduced from 178,000 to 70 or 80,000. The army extraordinaries for this year will be 1,300,000l. Total charge for the army 9,230,000l. For the navy, the House had last year voted 33,000 men, of which, as 10,000 were in the progress of reduction, it was understood that only 23,000 would be the permanent establishment for the present year. But upon further consideration, it has been determined that a larger reduction was practicable, and 19,000 men have been proposed as the vote of the present year. The reduction of the wear and tear, ship-building, and other expenses, would, of course, be very considerable. On the whole, the aggregate of charges, comprehending all the various branches of the public service, will stand thus: Army....

Commissariat and

Barracks ..... Extraordinaries Ordinance..... Navy.

Miscellaneous...

£7,050,000

$80,000 1,300,000

1,246,000

6,397,000

1,500,000

from 30,000 men to 25,000; and

This was the sum which his Majesty's ministers would proto the House for the service of the present year; but it would e unfair to themselves not to dere them to distinguish between those items which might be more durable, from those which, although voted for the present year, would in all probability not again reur. For the army, for exapple, the sum of 220,000l. was for the purpose of defraying the expse of regiments all which were actually in a progress of reduction. The extraordinaries, as well as could be anticipated, would be reduced by 300,0001.

4 the ordinance by 50,000l. In .. navy, he had stated, that *0,000l. of the sum proposed to be voted was for the liquidation of tran port debt. These several it has ad i zd together would amount tɔ 1 070,000l. which would diC .. the future charge of the yer to the same value.

Iere was another view of the Jeet which he was desirous that the lisuse should take-that beteen charges which were for serves that had been performed, and charges for services still to be rformed. He had already stated at the army estimates contained an of 2,551,000l. for services at had actually been performed. If charges of the same kind were **par ated from the navy estimates, › woo'd amount to 1,271,0001. se in the ordnance service were 223,000l; and the three put together would a to 4045,000l. When the wist erefore occupied in ng the great existing

:- of tie army and navy, red with those of former

times, he begged that they would always separate the charges which were wholly unconnected with the service of the present year.

The right hon. member then passed an eulogium on the Prince Regent, who had resigned to the public about a fifth of his whole receipts, namely, fifty thousand pounds; and he stated that the public servants of the crown were also anxious to offer their assist

ance by contributing what the property-tax, had it been continued, would have taken from them. In conclusion, he proposed the formation of a select committee to inquire into and state the income and expenditure of the united kingdom for the year ended the 5th of January, 1817; and also to consider and state the probable income and expenditure (so far as the same can now be estimated) for the years ending the 5th of January, 1818, and the 5th of January, 1819, respectively; and to report the same, together with their observations thereupon, to the House; and also to consider what further measures may be adopted for the relief of the country from any part of the said expenditure, without detriment to the public interest."

Mr. Brand said, that with respect to the first part of the noble lord's motion he had nothing at present to observe; but as to the second part, he thought that when, at such a conjuncture as the present, the House was about to inquire what reductions ought to take place in the public expenditure, placemen and persons holding sinecure-offices ought not to be on the committce. He should therefore move as an amendment,

** That