was now proposed to the House as a sub- official eye, could not but perceive, that it ject for their congratulation !

was impossible to come all at once to a Mr. Jones said, he had been in hopes peace establishment. With our naval and that, in the continuance of the income military means spread over so vast a thetax as proposed, annuitants and others atre, it stood to reason, a long time must would have met with further indulgence elapse before this could be completely efThe removal of the horse tax, he con- fected. It must take a considerable time ceived, would do little to alleviate the to disembody the militia; a more extended distresses of the farmers. It appeared to period must be allowed the breaking up him, that the tenants' income tax was any part of our regular military establishoriginally proposed on an exaggerated ments; and one still longer for the reducscale of their profits, at least as far as re- tion of our navy. He admitted that the lated to Wales. In that part of the coun- army was the great feature on which the try he knew farmers were repted to the House would have to debate. But here amount of 2001. and 3001. a year, and who it should be considered that there was a yet were under the necessity of working large force of 40,000 or 50,000 men, many as hard as any of their servants, who of whom had only just arrived, or were arlived in the most miserable cottages and riving in the country, that would cost at on the hardest fare, and who, in addition least 1,200,0001. for the present year, even to the poor-rates, had to pay the income though they were discharged the moment tax, formed on an exaggerated estimate the hand of office could operate upon them. of their profits.

For the navy, in the present instance supMr. Alderman Atkins was of opinion plies would be required for 33,000 men: that the repeal of the usury laws would but this number would be diminished in' not produce the effect intended. He said, the course of the year, as it was not inhe was disposed to place confidence in tended to keep up a force of more than ministers, in regard to the amount of the 23,000. Here would be a saving of establishments of the country; but he 10,000 men, which would take off at least wondered how the chancellor of the ex

two million from the seven millions which chequer could propose the continuance of was now set down as the estimated exthe income tax, when parliament stood pense of the navy. His right hon. friend pledged to the contrary. If the right had called for 1,500,000l. for re-payments hon. gentleman persisted in this measure, to be made to the Bank; but this of course he trusted it would undergo considerable would not be an annual charge. His modifications.

statement also comprised 2,000,0001. to Lord Castlereagh was anxious to lead pay off the interest of exchequer bills, a the attention of the House to the question sum greater than what would hereafter be now before it; from the consideration of necessary for such a purpose, when that which it had been drawn by the course of mass of bills were taken up which it was the debate. He thought, from the parlia- the intention of government to discharge. mentary dexterity which had been dis- For the miscellaneous services, 2,500,0001. played by the gentlemen opposite, that the were called for, and 2,000,0001. for the speech of his right hon. friend, the Chan- ordnance; but these, like the former, were cellor of the Exchequer, did not ap- not to be viewed as permanent charges. pear to be perfectly understood. At the If he were to follow the estimates throughconclusion of what was admitted to be a out, he doubted not he could point out most glorious peace, his right hon. friend many other items with respect to which a had called for supplies to meet the charge similar observation might be made. He of the first year, amounting to 29 or 30 might mention the East India military millions. But, because such a suin was debt; but he had already pointed out at now required, this was to be considered as Jeast eight or nine million which might be the charge of the permanent peace estab- deducted from the supposed amount of the lishment. Many of the grants now neces- permanent expenditure of the country. It sarily called for had nothing at all to do had not occurred to the hon. gentleman with the peace; were, in truth, as much opposite to make these remarks, because voted for war as any of the sums moved they chose to argue on the supposition for at the close of the last session of par- that the present charge was to be that of liament. Any gentleman acquainted with the regular peace establishment. It was the nature of public business, and who curious to observe in what a different silooked at the state of the country with an tuation they had been pleased to put the (VOL. XXXII.)

(2E)

country this evening, from what they her feelings and situation as to make the usually described as that which belonged pretence of the force now proposed to be to it. It was common for them to re kept up in that country unnecessary. If present it to be in the most alarming this were admitted, and no objections were state, to show the conduct of its allies sus- made to the number of troops for Ireland, picious, and the peace altogether lament- it would be seen that the army to be ably insecure. But they had turned round maintained in England was less than that to night and stated our situation to be so which parliament had agreed to support in happy, and the peace so little likely to be the year 1802; and indeed lower than disturbed, that a military force was not he should think it ought to be, if he did wanted for our security. He, for his own not consider the force now in France part, could not go quite so far as they did on completely at the command of this gothis occasion. He was decidedly against vernment. That army would at least serve lulling ourseleves into a belief that while as our vanguard, if hostilities should be the other powers of Europe kept up for commenced abroad; it served to guard the midable armies, this was the only country peace from violation, and performing that which could do without the support of a service, almost at their own doors, could if military force. When other states took necessary be brought home in the course of an attitude so imposing, prudence de- a few hours. He would ask those who manded a corresponding exertion on our highly praised the peace establishment of part. At the same time he wished no in- 1792, if they would be disposed to break ordinate establishment to be kept up, and up our present military institutions ? If at the proper time he purposed to go they did not wish to preserve our military through that now recommended by minis- | schools; our dock-yards ; our fortificaters, and compare it in every part with tions; our ordnance establishments : If that of 1792, and show the reasons which they did not wish to keep the colonies we had influenced the conduct of government had acquired in war, why then, it should wherever that was departed from. Cer- seem, they desired that we should depart tainly he could not recommend such an from the high situation we now held in establishment as that of 1792; it had of Europe. He wished the House to look ten been spoken of by Mr. Pitt himself at this question with a calm and cool unwith much regret. He had stated himself derstanding. He held the subject to be to have been at that time much deceived, most important, and was anxious that it as another great statesman of that day had should receive due consideration. If they been, when he was led to consider France were to give up the colonies which the as in a manner blotted from the chart of country had acquired in war, and the Europe, and he knew Mr. Pitt had la- other objects which he had enumerated, mented nothing more than that he should then the army might be reduced to that have suffered the peace establishment of scale which the gentlemen opposite were 1792 to be fixed o so low a scale, The ) inclined to recommend: but if the value noble lord deprecated such a course on of these things were felt, it would be for the present occasion. If the expense was ministers to look at them as statesmen, considered, and the strong measures which and to act accordingly, with a determinahad been resorted to in order to raise that tion to uphold the greatness of the empire. army which had finally conquered peace, The internal service of the country would were borne in mind, he hoped the House alone require between 13 and 14,000 inwould be most carefulto guard against such fantry to serve in the garrisons, docka state of things as would again subject us yards, and other places where the presence to the necessity of making those stupend- of a military force was necessary, Great ous and unnatural efforts to create a mili- part of the revenue even depended upon tary force, to which we had once been their being employed, and if by mistaken obliged to submit.-He should now take a economy, their services were dispensed view of the peace establishment of 1802. with, the legislature would be obliged to At that period it was thought expedient impose more taxes, and heavier burthens to keep up a foree of 23,000 men for Ire-than would be necessary, if those in being land, and 43,000 for England. With res- were properly enforced by a powerful adpect to Ireland, however ripe she might ministration. Though the total force to be for that great measure which he wished be kept up for the present might be fixed adopted for her relief, he could not expect at 98 or 99,000, there would not be this that it would effect a change so rapidly in effective force maintained, nor any thing

а

near it. One tenth at least must always | Europe; that a large standing army be deducted from it for non-effectives ; should be maintained, to supersede the and therefore a smaller force would not ancient and acknowledged authorities. If be equal to all the duties to be performed. the noble lord succeeded in persuading When this branch of the question came to the House so far to imitate foreign nations, be more particularly gone into, he would he would soon, without much difficulty, submit to the House what he thought be able to perfect the resemblance by exwould prove satisfactory reasons for the tinguishing the few remaining sparks of proposed arrangements. In the estimate constitutional liberty in the country. he thought there was nothing too high; The several resolutions were then put but if any thing could be lowered in them, from the chair and agreed to. Sir G. nobody would be more relieved than mi. Warrender rose for the purpose of moving nisters, at finding this practicable. When the resolutions respecting the navy, but the increased expense of the army was the cries of adjournment were general, mentioned, it should be remembered, it and it was formally moved by lord Ossuldid not so much arise from the increased ston. After some conversation between number of men, as from the augmented Mr. Ponsonby, sir G. Warrender, and pay and pensions which the soldiers and lord Castlereagh, the latter consented to officers now received. An army was not the postponement of the resolutions until the same expense now as it was in 1792, Wednesday. or even in 1802, the pay having been doubled since the former period, and the

HOUSE OF LORDS. price of every thing connected with a military force greatly advanced since the lat

Tuesday, February 13. ter. Gentlemen opposite had deprecated Peace ESTABLISHMENT.] Lord Grenthe continuance of any of the war taxes. ville said he had come down to the House These amounted to twenty-four millions. to give a notice for to-morrow, of his inHow was it possible to take them off at tention to move for the Estimates of the the present moment? He was anxious Military Establishment for the present that the House should be convinced that year. It was not usual, on giving a notice, government had no other interest in view to enter into any details upon the subject than that of the country. They must feel of the motion, nor should he, at all events, that to drag op unnecessary and unwieldy do so now, in consequence of the absence establishments, year after year, could not of the noble earl at the head of his maultimately answer their purpose. If mi jesty's councils. He could not, however, nisters wished to keep their places, as it help adverting to the rumours which had was generally supposed they did, they gone forth upon the subject of the peace would rather be disposed to err on the establishment rumours which must make side of economy, than to fall into the op- a deep impression upon every member of posite ertor. They were, however, reso this distressed community-rumours which lutely fixed not to mislead the public, by even he could scarcely yet believe that delusive plans of retrenchment, but perse in this year of peace there was to be a vering in those principles which they had peace army of 150,000 men, and that the hitherto professed, it would be the object sum for the maintenance of the peace esof their ambition to establish the prospe tablishment was to be little short of thirty rity of the country, on its greatness, on million, whilst our former peace establishits strength.

ment was only 40,000 men, with an exMr. Ponsonby reprobated the arguments penditure of between five and six million. of the noble lord, that because the other He should say no more now upon this nations of Europe kept up large military subject, but merely move that their lordestablishments, it was necessary that Eng: ships be summoned for to-morrow._Qr land should do the same. The noble lord dered. who had of late resided so much on the The Marquis of Lansduwne said, he had continent, and had imbibed so many con- intended, if the noble earl at the head of tinental customs, seemed almost to have the treasury had been present, to ask forgotten that England was an island. some questions respectin,, certain rumours The noble lord in his predilection for con- which had gone forth, involving questions tinental systems of government, seemed to of high constitutional importance, and it wish that Great Britain should follow the would depend upon the answers he should example of the great military powers of receive in what way he should shape a

inotion. He alluded to the rumours of say, the Baron Bignon, holding the Portewhat had passed in another place, accord- feuille of Foreign Affairs ; the Count ing to which, the sums to be paid by Guillemont, Chief of the General Staff of France under the treaty concluded with the French Arniy ; the Count de Bondy that power, were not the property of the Prefect of the Department of the Seine, country but of the sovereign, and that by being furnished with the full powers of his the special grace and favour of the Crown Excellency, the Marshal Prince of Echthey had been re-granted for the public mühl, Commander in Chief of the French service. It became of the greatest impor- Army, on one side ;-and Major General tance, in a constitutional point of view to Baron Mufiling furnished with the full ascertain whether the treaty had been so powers of his Highness the Field Marshal concluded, that these sums given in lieu Prince Blücher, Commander in Chief of of territorial cessions, were actually the the Prussian Army ;-Colonel Hervey property of the Crown, and not of the furnished with the full powers of his Ex. country; and that the people were to be cellency the Duke of Wellington, Comindebted to the grace and favour of the mander in Chief of the English Army, on Crown for a re-grant of them for the pub- the other side, - have agreed to the lic service.

following Articles :

Art. I. There shall be a suspension of HOUSE OF COMMONS.

arms between the allied armies commanded

by his highness the Prince Blücher, and Tuesday, February 13.

his excellency the duke of Wellington, PAPERS RELATING TỎ The Conven- and the French army under the walls of TION FOR THE EVACUATION OF PARIS.] Paris. Mr. Lushington presented to the House, Art. II. The French army shall put pursuant to their Address to the Prince itself in march to-morrow, to take up its Regent, the following

position behind the Loire: Paris shall be PAPERS RELATING TO THE Convention the movement behind the Loire shall be

completely evacuated in three days; and FOR THE EVACUATION OF Paris.

effected within eight days. Extract of a 'Dispatch from Field

Art. III. The French army shall take Marshal the Duke of Wellington to with it all its material field artillery, milithe Earl Bathurst, dated Gonasse, tary chest, horses, and property of regiJuly 4, 1815.

ments without exception. enemy sent to desire that the firing belonging to the Dépôts shall also be remight cease on both sides of the Seine moved, as well as those belonging to the with a view to the negociation, at the different branches of administration which palace of St. Cloud, of a military conven belong to the army: tion between the armies under which Art. IV. The sick and wounded, and the French army should evacuate Paris. the medical officers it may be necessary Officers accordingly met on both sides at to leave with them, are placed under the St. Cloud; and I enclose the copy of a special protection of the commanders in military convention which was agreed to chief of the English and Prussian armies.' last night, and which has been ratified by Art. V. The military and those holding marshal prince Blücher and me, and by employments, to whom the foregoing the prince of Echmühl on the part of the Article relates, shall be at liberty, immeFrench army. This convention decides diately after their recovery to rejoin the all the military questions at this moment corps to which they belong. existing here, and touches nothing political. Art. VI. The wives and children of all

General Lord Hill has marched to take individuals belonging to the French army possession of the posts evacuated by shall be at liberty to remain at Paris. The agreement this day, and I propose to wives shall be allowed to quit Paris for morrow to take possession of Montmartre. the purpose of rejoining the army, and (In the Duke of Wellington's, of the 4th to carry with them their property and that

of their husbands. July 1815.)

Art. VII. The officers of the line emTRANSLATION.

ployed with the Federés, or with the This day the 3d of July 1815, the Com. Tirailleurs of the national guard, may missioners named by the Commanders in either join the army or return to their Chief of the respective Armies, that is to homes or the places of their birth,

All persons

The

Art. VIII. To-morrow the 4th of July Done and signed at St. Cloud, in tripliat mid-day, St. Denis, St. Ouen Clichy, cate, by the Commissioners above-named and Neuilly, shall be given up. The day the day and the year before mentioned. after to-morrow, the 5th, at the same hour

(Signed)

The Baron Bignon. Montmartre shall be given up. The third day, the 6th, all the Barriers shall be

Count Guulemont. given up.

Count de Bondy. Art .IX. The duty of the city of Paris

The Baron de Muffling. shall continue to be done by the national

F. B. Hervey, Colonel. guard, and by the corps of the Municipal Gendarmerie.

Approved and ratified the present susArt. X. The commanders in chief of pension of arms, at Paris, the 3d, of the English and Prussian armies engage July 1815.

(Signed). to respect, and to make those under

Marshal The Prince D'Echmühl. their command respect the actual autho

Dispatch from Earl Bathurst to the rities, as long as they shall exist.

Duke of Wellington; Downing-street, Art. XI. Public property, with the

7 July 1815. exception of that which relates to war, whether it belongs to the government, or War Department, London, 7th July 1815. depends upon the municipal authority, My Lord ;-Although your Grace has shall be respected, and the allied powers stated distinctly that the Convention enwill not interfere in any manner with its tered into by you and Marshal Prince administration and management.

Blücher on the one hand, and certain Art. XII. Private persons and property French authorities on the other, upon the shall be equally respected. The inhabi- 3d instant, while it decided all the militants and in general all individuals who tary questions had touched nothing polishall be in the capital, shall continue to tical; and, although it cannot be ima. enjoy their rights and liberties without gined that in a Convention negociated being disturbed or called to account, with these authorities, by Prince Blücher either as to the situations which they hold and your Grace, you would enter into any or may have held, or as to their conduct engagement whereby it should be preor political opinions.

sumed that his Most Christian Majesty Art. XIII. The foreign troops shall not was absolutely precluded from the just interpose any obstacles to the provision exercise of his authority in bringing to ing of the capital, and will protect on the condign punishment such of his subjects contrary, the arrival and the free circula- as had, by their treasonable machinations tion of the articles which are destined for it. and unprovoked rebellion, forfeited all

Art. XIV The present convention shall claims to his Majesty's clemency and forbe observed, and shall serve to regulate bearance; yet, in order that no doubt the mutual relations until the conclusion of should be entertained as to the sense with peace. In case of rupture, it must be de- which this Article is considered by the nounced in the usual forms, at least ten Prince Regent, in conveying his entire days before-hand.

approbation of the Convention, I am com. Art. XV. If difficulties arise in the exe- manded to state, that his Royal Highness cution of any one of the Articles of the deems the 12th Article of it to be binding present Convention, the interpretation of only on the conduct of the British and it shall be made in favour of the French Prussian commanders, and the army and of the city of Paris.

manders of such of the Allies as may beArt. XVI. The present Convention is come parties to the present Convention by declared common to all the allied armies, their ratification of it. I have, &c. provided it be ratified by the powers on

(Signed) BATHURST. which these armies are dependant.

Art. XVII. The Ratifications shall be Dispatch from the Duke of Wellington exchanged to-morrow the 4th, of July, at

to Earl Bathurst; dated Paris, 13th six o'clock in the morning at the Bridge

July 1815. of Neuilly.

My Lord; I have had the honour Art. XVIII. Commissioners shall be of receiving your lordship’s letter, marked named by the respective parties, in order separate, of the 7th instant, regarding to watch over the execution of the present the Convention of the 3d. The convenConvention.

tion binds nobody except the parties to

8

com