1

The major fhall fee what the expence of a chord amounts to, and as he has lands in the neighbourhood of fome of the pofts, I hope he will find an intereft in fupplying wood at the rate the barrack-mafter gets it, though that be confiderably lower than his propofals to the treasury. The rate in the eftimate including not only the expence of the wood on the quays but of carrying to and piling it in the barrack-yard. In Florida I find the troops were at firft fupplied with wood at four dollars a chord, and afterwards at three dollars. I vifited that country, and from the fituation of the woods and rivers, I think wood might be got by the labour of the troops, with advantage to their healths, at proper feasons of the year, at a dollar a chord; but the fickness that has prevailed fince the arrival of the prefent garrifons, or fome other reasons, have hitherto prevented the orders I fent by the general's commands to this purpofe from being executed; and lately colonel Taylor, who acts there as a brigadier, acquainted me, that he will get the price of wood reduced to a dollar, by employing or purchafing negroes; the good effect of this will not be felt for a year, and therefore have in the estimate stated the price of wood as charged in the laft bills drawn on me by colonel Taylor.

Candles have hitherto been purchased by the barrackmafter and commanding officers from traders at the pofts at very exorbitant rates; care is now taken to have them bought at the best markets, and to be fent to the different pofts at the cheapest rates, which including the rifque is as ftated in the estimate.

From Newfoundland I have had no returns fince my appointment, and the refult of my enquiries is not very exact, I find that the governor gives an allowance for each fire`place, and draws upon the treasury for the money; that the allowance is not extravagant, and as the intercourse between this place and Newfoundland is rare, the general thinks it beft to leave that place in the fituation it has been for many years, and by his commands I have not included it in the eftimate.

The lords commiffioners of his Majefty's treasury, having laft year difapproved of an estimate laid before their lordfhips for firing for the general and ftaff officers, the prefent eftimate gives no allowance to any of those.

It gives an allowance to engineers who are ftationed at pofts only. And it fuppofes that all the reft as well as the troops ordered to be quartered in the inhabited countries,

thirty-three. Companies are to be fupplied with quarters, fire, &c. agreeable to act of Parliament, at the expence of the different provinces, and without any coft to the crown.

Remarks on the estimate for an allowance to officers in lieu of lodgings.

By the laft reports from Halifax it appears, that the habitable officers rooms could not contain all the officers ftationed there, without confiderable repairs, which are ordered to be made; fince that time notice is come, that another regiment from England is to be quartered in that place; there are no rooms for the officers of the corps, or if the barracks be divided, as many officers of this regiment has, will want lodgings.

At St. Auguftine there are no barrack-rooms for officers, nor at Montreal, Three Rivers and Quebec.

General Gage has been pleased to allow the officers at the two firft pofts as ftated in the estimate, being agreeable to the allowances given to officers fo circumfanced in Ireland, and to continue the allowance that has hitherto been made to the officers in Canada. It is hoped that this will be an expence only for one year. That fome of the public buildings at St. Auguftine, Montreal and Quebec, will be turned into officers' barracks; and if it be thought neceffary to continue fo great a number of troops at Halifax, that barracks will be repaired for officers; but as this cannot be done till next fummer, this eftimate will neceffarily form part of the expence of this year.

Remarks on the Eftimate for furnishing the Barracks, &c.

During the war, and for fome time after the peace, there were no barrack-mafters in America; bedding and other furniture were provided at the requifition of commanding officers; they took care that the men under their command, were well provided during their stay at the pofts. But the fucceeding officers found every thing out of repair and made new demands; and even after the appointment of fome barrack-maiters, this abufe was not much mended. The commanding officer's receipt that he had received certain things wore, and his certificate that others were unfit for fervice, indemnified the barrack-mafter, there being no officer whofe particular business it was to make him accounta

***

ble;

ble; the confequence of this has been that a great and frequent expence has been incurred, and by all the returns fent to me fince the time of my appointment, it appears, that there is very little furniture in the barracks in America fit for fervice.

I flatter myself, that my infpection will for the future remedy this evil: but to do this effectually, I apprehend, it is neceffary to compleat the barrack furniture, and to make a contract to have this kept up for twenty years this is the practice in Ireland and in Scotland; in the end will be cheaper and is the only method to render the expence certain. The prices in the estimate are ftated at the loweft rate; the iron and wood-work can be had in America and the bedding from England.

Detail, fhewing how the Expence mentioned in the foregoing Eftimate arifes at the feveral Pofts.

A regiment requires 59 rooms.

For 10 captains

For 17 fubalterns

10 rooms.

For 4 ftaff-officers

9

24

24

36

59

QUEBEC.

The rooms of abfentees, it is fuppofed, will afford an extraordinary room for each field officer present, one for a barrack guard and one for a chaplain.

Total 3492

4017

N. B. Wood on the reprefentation of the officers commanding in Canada is allowed to the guards to the 14th of May, the weather continuing fevere till that time.

A Canadian chord of wood piled in the barrack yard cofts eight livres; an English chord is 128 feet, a Canadian chord is only 96; a chord of the firft is one third larger, and will coft 103 livres.

3492 chords of wood, at 10 livres each chord, amounts to 372533 livres, which, at 6 livres to the dollar, is 62088 dollars at 4s. 8d. fterling each

4017 pounds of candles, at Is. fterling per pound

Affiftant to the barrack master, at Is. 6d. fterling per day

A labourer to deliver out the wood, at Is. ditto

Bowls, platters, and spoons, not being furnifhed to the men, they are allowed in lieu thereof 9d. fterling per man a year; this to the non-commiffioned officers and foldiers of the garrifon amounts to

To ftraw for 480 beds, four times a year, each bed having three bundles at 1 d. per bundle is Is. 6d. fterling per bed a year

To brooms for 87 rooms fix times a year, at 6d. fterling per broom, is 3s. per room a year

£. S. d.

1448 14 9

200 17 0

27 7 6

18 5 0

39 2 2

36 0 0

31 I Q

Carried over 1801 7 5

Brought over £. 1817 7

Two fwceping 87 chimnies ten times a year at 4d. fterling each time, is 3s. 4d. per

ney a year

chim

7 5

14 10 O

Sterling £. 1831 17 5

N. B. All officers are allowed wood and candles, but there being no rooms in the barracks for officers, no charge is made in thefe laft articles for officers rooms.

Candles for 21 rooms at 26 pounds ditto ditto
One guard room

530

546

28 91 Total 558 637

558 chords of wood, at 103 livres per chord is 5954 livres, at fix livres to the dollar, is 9924 dollars at 4s. 8d. fterling each

637 pounds of candles, at Is. fterling per lb. Allowance to the foldiers for utenfils, at 9d. fterling each

To ftraw for 84 beds, at 1s. 6d. fterling per bed a year

To brooms for 15 rooms at 3s. fterling per room a year

To fweeping 15 chimnies, at 4s. 3d. fterling per chimney a year