MILITARY EXPENDITURE.

Wrs publish another letter from our Military Correspondent, the purpose of which is partly to correct two small oversights, but chiefly to extend his views on Army Reform. On this important pow, further consideration has only led our experienced soldier

to suggest greater retrenchments, and a more thorough recon- struction of the Army. He argues, and truly, that a reduction of numbers ruiglit safely be made in the Cavalry; he points out the gross anomalies in officering different regiments; he suggests the total abolition of the rank of General and of the present system of promoting the idle and retired officer with interest ; and he illustrates the mischiefs of the present half-pay plan, and of the undue favour with which the Guards are treated.

Connected with the subject of Armv Expenditure, though not exactly with Army Reform, are the Estimates for the Military services, for 1838-1839, which are lying before us. In form, the accounts do not much differ from those of last year,—the civil offices of the Secretary at War and Judge Advocate still keepiw back all information as to their own salaries and expenses: Ifft the Cotnrnissariat is transferred from the Treasury to the Ord- nance department ; at the tail of which estimate, the working Member, who is vainly wondering whether men and horses are to go without rations for the ensuing year, will find it. As regards substance, the Estimates are worse than usual. Of course there is an increase in the number of soldiers,—which, however expected, is not pleasing ; but every thing connected with this increase is so mystified in the statement, that if a similar estimate were presented to any individual Member of Parliament for tens instead of millions, he would instantly send estimate and estimator about their business, and mark the latter in his own mind as a cheat. There is said to be a diminution of 5 in the non-commissioned officers; but the increase in the numbers of the Army over last year is stated at

Officers 26

Rank and file 7,975 The estimated increase in the annual pay for the whole of the " Land Forces" is 6,376/.1 but as there is a difference of 61,000/. under the head of " Deductions for men wanting to com- plete," the total calculated increase may be stated in round num- bers at 68,000/. Its real additional amount, without any casualties or allowances whatever, is nearly 146,0001., or more than double the charge set down. The estimated difference in the clothing, worked in the same way as the preceding item, is 10,1581.; whilst at the lowest calculation we can make, it would be consider- ably upwards of 20,0001. The increase of Privates we see is to be 8,000 within a fraction : in turning to the estimate for Recruiting, we find provision made for only 4,000 more than last year ! Nor do we perceive any possible means of these deficiencies being made up from any other source. The total sum to be voted above the last Estimate is represented at only 144,9961. But as there is a large deduction in the expenditure of the Volunteer corps, we will take the increased cost of the Army at 169,2481., as the War- office states it. Passing over such items as allowances to inn- keepers for soldiers quartered upon them, (an increase of 1,5001. by the by,*) the principal heads of expenditure in the following statement bring us within a few thousands of the whole sum.

War.ollice Estimated increase or Pay (ono half tau Chas it ought to be)

Ditto Ditto Clothing £68.000

lops

Increase in the Cunttngencies.

Provisions to troops iu the Colonies, and various contingent allow- ances to ewers and men 48.000

Increase iu what are railed *. Regimental Contingencies" 7.000

Increase to the Recruiting, and purchase of Cavalry-horses 31,005

f164,000

The reader will not of course suppose that these 8,000 additional soldiers will be paid, fed, and clothed by any Ministerial magic. The thing seems a Whig fraud, and a very transparent one. The paper increase of men is to please the Tories; the misstatement of sums is to gull the Radicals. If the addition really take place, John Bull will pay the full amount by the extravagant war plan of " Army Extraordinaries ; " which, rendered into English, means to expend the money first, and get it voted afterwards. A word or two upon another point. When we ventured last autumn to speak of the disproportionate number of officers to men in a peace establishment, loud was the military clamour, es- pecially as regarded the Infantry. Well, the Infantry, if the War-office says true, is to be increased by upwards of 7,000 men, with a diminution of non-commissioned officers, and with an increase of only 26 officers, and some of those not to be employed in regimental duty : and this, inn soldiers going, if not to war, to be prepared for war. Here is a plain fact, and a plain dilemma. Either the Army, by the admission of its heads, is monstrously over-officered ; or they are going to send troops on active and very delicate service without any thing like a fitting number of officers. Can Lord Howicx explain these discrepancies? Will any Member of the Reformed Parliament, who is pledged to economy, ask him the question ? Or will the Reformed Parliament vote away upwards of three millions and a half of the public money without some explanation of these seeming frauds or blunders?

inquire?-

otherwise, the Radicals remain silent, had not the Tories better

otherwise, as the bills will not be presented for these twelve or eighteen months, they may chance to be called upon to provide the money.

• Another of these small items is an increase of 5501. for "Divine Service at Home and Abroad."