mixed with chicory. He quite agreed with the right hon. Gentleman that it was not desirable that he should enter upon a crusade against all these dealers in the article of coffee. COLONEL THOMPSON said: The town I represent, grinds coffee for half the West Riding of Yorkshire. I have no doubt we put chicory into it; I hope we do not put brickdust. But there was always one resource. Any man who had an idiosyncrasy for unmixed coffee, might buy it in the berry. On another point too, he should be happy to abate the anxiety of the hon. and learned Mover. He might depend on it, that if coffee at 6d. per lb. was mixed with equal quantities of chicory at 2d. per lb., the schoolboy's answer, founded on the rules of Alligation, medial and partial, would be right in saying coffee so mixed would in the long run be sold at 4d. per lb. MR. ANSTEY would not press his Motion to a division, being satisfied with the discussion which had taken place. Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to. SUPPLY-IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN. states, that to man our Navy in 1848, including ships in commission, in ordinary, and those progressing on the stocks, 112,000 officers, men, marines, and boys, would be required; of these, 70,000 petty officers and seamen. We have now 26,000 of the latter. Therefore, to maintain the whole power of our Navy afloat, we should require in addition 44,000 petty officers and seamen. Let us examine what facilities the existing law affords for obtaining these men. The Act 5 & 6 Will. IV., c. 24, recognising the undoubted right of the Crown to the service of all seafaring men for the defence of the country in the event of a war (they being exempt from the militia ballot), contemplates a proclamation of a compulsory term of service for five years. It promises a double bounty (understood to be 107.) to every man volunteering for the Navy within six days of the proclamation, on his arrival in port. It also gives the bounty to those serving in the fleet, or engaging for a fresh term of service. These are the inducements to volunteers to enter the Navy. That they would be insufficient to compete with the high wages that would be offered by the mercantile marine in that emergency, is so well understood by those conversant with the subject, that a further compulsory CAPTAIN HARRIS: I rise, Sir, for the power is acknowledged to be indispensapurpose of calling the attention of the Go- ble. What is that power, our only revernment to the importance of making pro- source at present? Impressment. Now, vision, by legal enactment, for speedily Sir, after maturely considering the suband effectually manning her Majesty's fleet ject-after testing the most valuable opinin the event of a war. Nothing, Sir, but ions, both in and out of the service, for a very strong sense of duty would induce several years, I have arrived at the conme to bring this subject before the House clusion that the boldest and most frank -a firm conviction, arrived at after ma- way of dealing with the question is also ture deliberation, that whatever inconve- the wisest, and that impressment by armed nience may arise from its being debated, is gangs should be abolished, as contrary to more than counterbalanced by the manifest the spirit of the constitution, derogatory peril to which the country would be ex- to the honour of the country, and inposed on a war breaking out, with the ex- jurious to the efficiency of the Navy. siting traditions and enactments, which That, fully recognising the right of the are not only inefficient, but prejudicial to Crown to the services of its subjects the objects which they profess to attain. for the defence of the country, that preI need not dwell on the paramount impor- rogative should be exercised in a contance of securing resources to send a pow-stitutional manner, by legal enactment, to erful fleet to sea on a declaration of war. obtain the successive service, for a limited Upon the rapidity with which that fleet could be equipped, upon the efficiency of its organisation, might depend the issue of the struggle; nay, not only a triumph on foreign shores, but the safety of our own from insult and invasion. What would be the exigencies of the Navy in the event of a war? Mr. Ward, in his evidence before the Committee on the Navy Estimates, period, of seafaring men on board Her Majesty's ships in time of war, without distressing the mercantile marine; but, on the contrary, a fair and legal machinery being established, that service would cheerfully contribute to a force, on the efficiency of which its own existence must depend. Now, what would take place on war being declared under the existing law? The dread of the pressgang would drive thou- | the increase and better quality of his prosands of our best seamen to foreign service visions, by the abolition of banyan or -not the dislike to the Navy so much, as meatless days; regular supplies in hardisgust and apprehension at the method of bour of fresh beef and vegetables; salt compulsion. Well, you would have the meat and bread of very superior quality; bounty-a most vicious and expensive me- preserved meats for the sick, with the best thod, which would lead to an outlay of a medical attendance and stores; cheapness million in the first year of the war. The and better quality of slop clothing; more merchant service would outbid you, and accommodation between decks, from the you would fall back on the pressgang. I increased size of ships in each class, and have great doubts whether you could im- height of lower deck; more frequent leave press men as you did last war. The opin- on shore; increase of wages 4s. 6d. per ion of the country would rise against you month since 1797; allowance abroad of as one man, and compel you to a more one-third of pay; good service badges and constitutional course; but in the interim reward money now extended to able seayour fleet would be lying idle, and the de- men. Add to this, diminution of corporal magogue and political agitator would be punishment, and their morals, health, and sowing the seeds of discontent, and para- comfort more cared for. I believe that lysing your energies. Seize time, then, the present as well as the late Board of by the forelock, and now, in profound Admiralty have been most anxious for the peace, enact a wise and practicable law, welfare of the seamen; but still it is a fact which would enable you to meet war with- that there have been occasions on which it out doubt or apprehension. I will now has been most difficult to man ships when explain the system which I would substi- put into commission, and it is also notoritute for impressment; but I must premise ous that a large proportion of our sailors that I think the Board of Admiralty are have shipped in foreign services, more esthose whose duty it is to take the initia- pecially in that of the United States. tive, and who, from their experience and Thee is a strongly prevalent but not wellthe means of information they possess, are founded opinion, that the men are better better qualified than myself to originate a off in that service. I have taken some plan. Upon the declaration of war, the pains to ascertain the comparative scales Crown would, according to the emergency of wages, pensions, and provisions, in the of the case, issue a proclamation specify- two services. They are from official ing the term of years for which all sea- sources, and, I believe, correct :faring men should be called on to serve. Every seaman should be liable to be balloted four times in each year; and after serving the time specified in the proclamation, he should be entitled to a protection, unless the continuance of a war should necessitate the proclamation of a further term. The register ticket, which would also exhibit his claim on the Merchant Seamen's Fund, should bear a stamp of ballot or protection, as the case might be. Ballot on shore would take place at the shipping offices, and afloat on board merchant ships, both at home and abroad, conducted by a commissioned officer from the man-of-war requiring men, under stringent regulations, not to distress shorthanded ships. In this manner I assume that 25,000 petty officers and seamen would be obtained from the merchant service. I would make the Navy so justly popular, that the remaining 20.000 would be furnished by volunteers. Not much remains to be done to effect this, so greatly has the condition of the seaman been improved during late years. For instance, COMPARATIVE SCALE OF WAGES IN BRITISH AND British. Warrant Officers. 1st Class.....91/. per an. American. Warrant Officers. 1st Class..140l. per an. 2nd Class..125 "" 3rd Class..105 1st Class Petty £ s. d. 1st Class Petty £ s. d. 2nd Class ditto 2 Officers Officers..41. & 3 15 0 2nd Class ditto 3 26 A. B.............2 10 0 8 2 Ordinary.........2 18 50 Landsmen ......1 17 6 .2 12 0 Per calendar month. After 21 years' service, a pension of 10d. a day. Should he continue in the service, he will receive it in addition to his pay, and entitled, on discharge, to an increase varying up to 1s. 2d. a day-Greenwich Hospital. No pension for service. An asylum at Philadelphia, but not to be compared to Greenwich. COMPARATIVE SCALE OF PROVISIONS ALLOWED American. Spirits. which substituted. Sugar........................................ 2 oz. .............. 1 oz. Cocoa... Salt Meat. lb. lb. lb. Peaspint, with 1 lb. raisins, 1 lb. flour. Strong inducements should be held out to men of the first stamp to seek this station, which we know is often refused by the best petty officers. There is no incentive pint to duty so strong in minds of a high order as the knowledge that they are toiling for those whom they love. This feeling is the true chivalry of civilised life. It will make a man face danger with a cool courage, wounds and disease without repining, and the passage to death as a debt due to the country which cherishes those dearer to him than the life he lays down. I would also suggest a better method for the distribution of prize money. I think Government should take it in their own hands, thus affording more facility and security to seamen advancing their claims; for it is notorious that at present, from the bankruptcy of agents, they frequently lose it, and from the delay in payment, their absence on foreign stations, loss of papers, and ignorance of business habits, they do not obtain what is due to them. This, Sir, is no party question. The officers and men of Her Majesty's fleet are of no political party. Salt Beef Peas Substitutes in both Services. Soft bread, sago, rice, Butter, cheese, beer, coffee, vinegar. butter, cheese. pint dried fruits, pickles, mus- There was a time, indeed, during the last century, when faction found its way on board our ships amongst officers of the highest rank, distracting their councils, and paralysing their energies, even in the hour of battle. But Nelson laid the evil genius. The pure example of his gene banished it, I trust, for ever from the fleet; for, with a legacy of undying glory, he left a password to the Navy, that to serve our country with undivided zeal and energy is to do our duty. It will be seen that in the scale of provisions there is no material difference; in that of wages those of the United States are much higher; but, on the other hand, they have no pension for long service, no good-service reward, and no institution which can be compared to Greenwich Hospital. There is also much abuse in the distribution of their slops; so much so, that petty officers and men are frequently in debt to the purser the whole amount of pay due to them on their dis-rous spirit and patriotism without alloy, charge. Their comforts are not equal to those of our seamen; for instance, they have no mess tables, but take their food off the deck; the discipline is more irregular and severe the practice of dry-starting still existing there. I have lately visit- ADMIRAL BERKELEY cheerfully aded American men-of-war, and found more mitted that his hon. and gallant Friend than half the crew were British, but they had brought forward the subject in a fair were a very inferior class of men. Yet I and candid spirit; but he could, at the think that a moderate increase of wages same time, assure him that not only the in our service would be a fair and prudent present but preceding Boards of Admiralty measure. I would make up the first-class had taken it up in the same spirit as he petty officer's pay to 31. per calendar had introduced it. He was further proud month, the second class to 27. 10s., the to say, that owing to the improved arrangeable seaman 21., the ordinary seaman to ments in the naval service, the number of 17. 10s., and landsman to 17. 58. I would desertions were daily decreasing, and were give a pension at the end of fifteen years, now so few that the smallness of the numto increase 1d. a day each succeeding year ber was really wonderful, compared with for an indefinite period of service. I the desertions of a former period. With would restore the pension of warrant respect to the mode of manning the Navy, officers' widows to the footing on which he assured his hon. Friend that the prethey stood previous to 1830. I believe sent Board of Admiralty, as well as prethis would be a measure both of justice ceding boards, had taken the greatest pains and sound policy. The warrant-officer is, to have a reserve in hand, and that that or ought to be, a man superior to his ship-reserve could be made use of whenever the mates in character, conduct, and ability. Government thought proper. With re SUPPLY -EXPENSES OF COMMISSIONS - OF INQUIRY. In spect to impressment, he had endeavoured | issued on tidal harbours. That commisto trace the objections of the men to it, sion might have been of great utility, and and he had been able to find only one pe- he found it stated that the expense of the tition from them against it. That petition commission was 1,7791.; but when he was presented in 1760, and he had no turned to the report of the Committee on doubt that the same spirit animated them Miscellaneous Expenses, he found that for now which animated them then. That this commission alone the printing was for petition wound up by stating that if it the three years 5,1177. He attributed no could be shown that impressment was the ill faith to this return; he attributed to it only mode of manning the Navy, so anxious carelessness and gross inaccuracy. were they for the honour of the country, 1845 a commission was issued with a very they would submit to it without a murmur. peculiar object in its inquiry; it was called, He himself neither desired impressment, "The Metropolitan Railway Termini Comnor thought it necessary; but, should the mission." The modest sum of 5021. was necessity ever arise, he was satisfied that stated as its expenses in this return. 5021. British seamen, sharing the sentiments he seemed not to be much; but he had looked had just cited, would willingly bow to it. at the report of the Committee on the MisSubject dropped. cellaneous Expenditure, and he found that instead of 5027., for the two years' printing of this commission, 2,8577. was paid. So gross a degree of carelessness, such MR. J. STUART said, that he had extraordinary inaccuracy, ought not to be given a notice to call the attention of the passed over without the notice of the House. House to the return (No. 669), of 1848, It would be found in the report of the Comof the number of Commissions of Inquiry mittee of Miscellaneous Expenses as to the appointed since 1830, and the expense of various expenses attending these Commiseach. No doubt the hon. and gallant sions of Inquiry, that the result was that, Member who moved for the return, intend- instead of 638,000l., the country had been ed that it should afford authentic informa-put to an expense of 2,000,000l. by these tion, not only of the commissions, but of the expenses of those commissions. The order of the House required, not only that the expenses generally should be stated, but all incidental matters, such as the members, the officers, and clerks. It appeared by this return that no fewer than ninety-one Commissions of Inquiry had been issued by the successive Governments of this country between 1830 and 1848. It appeared, moreover, that, according to this return, the expense to the country of these Commissions of Inquiry had been above 638,0002. That would appear to be an enormous sum; but he was sorry to say that by reference to documents more authentic, from their nature, than this return, contemporaneous with this return, containing information extracted by examination from individuals before Committees of the House, the statement of 638,000l. as the expense of these commissions, was not one-fourth of the expense to which the country had been put. He was anxious to call the attention of the Government to this subject, because when the hon. and gallant Member, who moved for the return, had obtained an order for the continuation of the return, there should be some greater degree of care and attention bestowed upon the returns. In 1838 a commission was Commissions of Inquiry. One of the witnesses who had been examined stated that these Commissions of Inquiry were one great cause of the expense of printing for which the House voted from year to year, without attending to the way in which the large sum was applied. The witness stated that the great expenses of printing were wholly occasioned by new Commissions of Inquiry, and he added that he should not be surprised if the sanitary printing was to come to 60,000l. He called the attention of the Government to these matters, presuming that that was all that was necessary to remedy these enormities. COLONEL SIBTHORP was very glad his hon. and learned Friend had drawn the attention of the House to the subject. He (Colonel Sibthorp) had moved for the production of the return referred to; but he confessed that, now it was on the table, it was very difficult to know what really was the expense of these commissions. He did not suppose that this and other returns were made out wilfully incorrect, but it was evident that there was great carelessness in not showing the House and the public what expenses really were incurred. He had no doubt as to other commissions being asked for, which would cause a great public expenditure, if his hon. Friends and him upstairs; and it was there agreed, that as all the Members were not likely to be in town immediately after the Whitsuntide holidays, the Committee would not resume their sittings till Monday next. He had observed that the Government systematically named the day on which Parliament assembled for voting large sums in the estimates; and if such a course were persisted in, the House ought to resist it by a vote. At the present it was not the self did not persist in exposing the system, | system, but ought to be put an end to. and insist upon having a full explanation | He belonged to two important Committees of the expenses. SIR F. T. BARING said, he ought perhaps to apologise for the absence of his right hon. Friends and Colleagues on that occasion, but they were certainly not aware that this question would have been brought forward. With reference to this return itself, he apprehended that the gravamen of the complaint made by the hon. and learned Member for Newark was, that the expense of the printing was not included in it. [Mr. STUART: And the station-intention of his hon. Friend to divide the ery.] The printing and stationery. [Mr. Committee. STUART: And the clerks.] Well, if the expense of the clerks was omitted, it certainly would imply some incorrectness in the return. With respect to the stationery, there was not a separate account kept of it as regarded each department of the public service, but an estimate was made every year of the probable quantity that would be required by each. With reference to the printing, he could not but admit that it was a heavy expense; but he was informed that regulations had been issued by the Treasury, in conjunction with the Home Office, for putting these matters, as regarded the printing at all events, on a better and more economical footing. Per-ently with the reduction of votes like this. haps, when the miscellaneous estimates should be brought forward, the hon. and learned Member would introduce this subject again, and then those of his Colleagues to whom the subject more particularly related would be there to give such explanations as might be required. Subject dropped. Main Question put, and agreed to. NAVY ESTIMATES-1. NAVAL STORES. House in Committee of Supply. SIR F. T. BARING said, that the Votes that would be proposed would include, in the total amount of each, the original as well as the supplemental estimates. He should now propose that there be granted to Her Majesty the sum of $83,9997., to defray the charge of naval stores, building and repairs, outfits of fleet, &c. MR. COBDEN said, that his hon. Friend the Member for Montrose (who was absent) had given notice of an Amendment on this vote, which he presumed he would move on some future stage of the estimates. He (Mr. Cobden) thought that the practice of appointing the first day after an adjournment of the House for going into these Votes was not only an inconvenient SIR G. PECHELL thought that at least this vote ought, under the circumstances, to be postponed; and fully agreed in the remarks of the hon. Member for the West Riding. With respect to the vote itself, various ways had been pointed out for the reduction of our expenditure, whether in the Naval or any other department. The hon. Gentlemen on the opposite side would not admit that the Army and Navy should be exposed to a reduction such as was comprised in the financial plans of the hon. Member for the West Riding; but if not, let them, then, see whether the efficiency of the Navy could not be kept up consist There was a large class of vessels now kept in ordinary at considerable expense; he meant the class of vessels from 28 to 44 guns, which would be of no use in any future war, and ought to be put up to auction, and got rid of. But if they still preferred to keep these ships in ordinary, at so great an expense, at all events they might reduce the expense and cheapen the system of caulking them. As to the cost of building ships, too, there was no comparison between the cost of building in our dockyards and in private yards. For example, the Waterwitch brig, built by Messrs. White of Cowes, after several years' cruising, was sold, a most efficient vessel, to the Government for 127. a ton; while the cost of vessels built in the dockyards reached 201. a ton. The next point was the consumption of coals. They never saw a steamer using her sails; but, in cases where there was not the least necessity for haste, up went their steam, though wind and tide might be favourable. A saving of 201. a day might be effected in some of the dockyard ports by a little attention in this matter; and if the port admiral were to make a weekly return of the consumption of coals, there would be |