NUMERICAL AND STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE ARMY.

THE British army, at this moment, is estimated at 109,139 men.
It consists of 26 regiments of cavalry,

7 battalions of foot guards,

103 battalions of infantry.

7 colonial corps.

The distribution is as follows:

Rank and file, 21,634, Great Britain.

23,074, Ireland.

31,700, abroad, exclusive of the East Indies.
17,777, East Indies.

The following statement shows the years when the infantry regiments of the line returned from foreign service, and, consequently, the order in which they may be expected to go abroad.

1827. 21st foot, St. Vincents; 50th, Jamaica; 70th, Canada; 76th, Canada; 22d, Jamaica.

1828. 64th, Gibraltar.

1829. 30th, Madras; 47th, Bengal; 59th, Bengal; 60th, 2d battalion, Berbice; 68th, Canada; 83d, Ceylon.

1830. 28th, Corfu; 43d, Gibraltar; 74th, Bermuda.

1831. 1st foot, 2d battalion, Madras; 14th, Bengal; 27th, Barbadoes; 52d, Halifax, N. S.; 80th, Cephalonia; 81st, Bermuda; 85th, Malta; 89th, Madras; 90th, Corfu; 91st, Jamaica.

1832. 18th, Corfu; 33d, Jamaica; 35th, Barbadoes; 82d, Mauritius. 1833. 40th, Bombay; 46th, Madras.

The regiments of 1827 and 1828 are now under orders for foreign service, viz.: 21st to New South Wales; 50th to New South Wales; 70th to Cape of Good Hope; 76th to Barbadoes; 92d to Gibraltar; 64th to Jamaica.

The corps which have been the longest period on foreign service are

1817, 48th foot; 1818, 38th foot; 1819, 11th dragoons, 13th dragoons; 16th foot, 20th foot, 45th foot, 54th foot; 1821, 6th foot, 55th foot; 1822, 4th dragoons, 16th lancers, 13th foot, 41st foot, 44th foot, 49th foot, all in the East Indies.

1821, 51st foot, Corfu.

1823, 12th and 23d foot, Gibraltar; 42d, Malta; and 93d, Barbadoes. 1824, 71st, Bermuda; 77th, Jamaica; 94th, Malta; 95th, Corfu; 96th, Halifax, N. S.

Of these regiments the 77th and 93d are ordered to return home.

The average period for regiments remaining at home is five years; and for abroad ten years, with the exception of the East Indies, where the period is twenty.

OFFICIAL RETURN OF THE NAVAL FORCE OF GREAT BRITAIN ON THE 1ST OF OCTOBER, 1833.

COMMISSIONERS for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland:-The Right Hon. Sir James Robert George Graham, Bart., F.R.S.; Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Bart, G.C.B.; the Hon. George Heneage Lawrence Dundas; Sir Samuel John Brooke Pechell, Bart., K.C.H.; Henry Labouchere, Esq.; Maurice Frederick Fitzharding Berkeley, Esq.

FLAG OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NAVY.

Admiral of the Fleet.-Charles Edmund Nugent, Esq.
Admirals. Red, 10; white 16; blue 18.-Total, 44.

Vice-Admirals.—Red, 16; white, 17; blue, 19.—Total, 52.

Rear-Admirals.-Red, 17; white, 20; blue, 27.-Total, 64.

Rear-Admirals retired on half-pay, 33; Captains on retired half-pay, 10. -Total, 43.

Captains, 786; of whom are on the half-pay list of 148. 6d. per diem, 100; on the half-pay of 12s. 6d. per diem, 149; on the ordinary half-pay list, 537. -Total, 786.

Commanders.-877; of whom are on the half-pay of 10s. per diem, 150; on the ordinary half-pay list, 727.—Total, 877.

Retired Commanders under his Majesty's Order in Council (1816), 100; retired Commanders under his Majesty's Order in Council (1830), 179.— Total, 279.

Lieutenants. Poor Military Knights of Windsor, 7; on full pay, 2353; on the half-pay of 78. per diem, 119; on the half-pay of 6s. per diem, 700. -Total, 3172.

Masters. Superannuated, 15.-For Service.-On full pay, 187; on the half-pay of 78. per diem, 100; on the half-pay of 6s. per diem, 200.-Total,

487.

Pursers. On full pay, 325; on the half-pay of 5s. per diem, 100; on the half-pay of 48. per diem, 200.-625.

Medical Officers-Physicians, 12; Surgeons retired, 43; Surgeons for service, 706; Assistant Surgeons, 313; Dispensers of Hospitals, 11; Hospital Mates, 3.-Total, 1088.

Chaplains. Retired list, 95; Active list, 38.-Total, 63.

The number of vessels in the British Navy amounts to 557, viz., fourteen of 120 guns each: five of 110; three of 108; twelve of 84; ten of 80; nine of 78; six of 76; sixty-two of 74; sixty-two of 46; fifteen of 50; seven of 52; twenty of 42; twenty-two steam-vessels; the others carry from 4 to 30 guns each.

The fleet employs 20,000 sailors, and 9000 Royal Marines, composed of 102 companies.

First Division.-Chatham, 26 companies.

Second Division.-Portsmouth, 29 companies.

Third Division.-Plymouth, 27 companies.

Fourth Division.-Woolwich, 17 companies.

Royal Marine Artillery, 2 companies. Head-quarters, Portsmouth.

GENERAL ORDER.

Dublin, 26th September, 1833. SIR HUSSEY VIVIAN has the greatest satisfaction in publishing to the troops in Ireland, the accompanying expression of the Lord Lieutenant's approbation of their conduct and services, on the occasion of his Excellency's departure from this Country:

of

"The Lord Lieutenant cannot quit these shores without reiterating to the army Ireland the high sense he entertains of its admirable and truly soldier-like conduct. "To the Lieutenant-General commanding the Forces, he needs hardly express his approbation and esteem-a feeling for him won by forty years' knowledge of his excellent qualities as a soldier and a man.

"Of the zeal, the intelligence, and the assiduity of the General Officers and Staff of the army, he cannot speak in terms of too high praise; and he desires that the officers, and non-commissioned officers and soldiers, as well as the army now present, as of those corps which have served here during the government of the Lord Lieu tenant, will be assured that he feels he cannot too highly appreciate and applaud

their excellent conduct.

"Their patience, firmness, and forbearance, (under circumstances that, it may reasonably be hoped, will never again occur,) whilst they have salutarily supported the administration of the laws, have, with their mild deineanour, won the approbation and applause of all parties.

"He takes leave of the army with deep regret. He would, at all times, rejoin it with confidence and pleasure.

(Signed)

" ANGLESEY."

September 25, 1833.

ABSTRACT OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS CONNECTED WITH THE ARMY AND NAVY.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF NAVAL AND MILITARY INQUIRY.

Letter from LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR H. FANE to MAJOR-GENERAL LORD FITZROY SOMERSET.

MY LORD,

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Avon, 20th Feb. 1832. REFERRING to your Lordship's letter of the 6th instant, desiring my reserved sentiments upon the point to which the last paragraph of it particularly relates, previous to the month of May, I have to reply, that the topics submitted for my consideration appear to me to be so condensed in the said paragraph, that I have no occasion for deferring my reply beyond the present time.

I conceive that two questions are propounded :

1st. Is it "advisable" to make a change in the present mode of clothing the soldiers or the army, through the Colonels of regiments, with the view to saving" to the public?

2d. Can such change be made without "detriment to the Colonel," or soldier," or "the general interests of his Majesty's military service ?"

a great

"the

I shall answer the second question first, by saying that there is no doubt that a change may be made without any "detriment to the Colonel," (supposing his compensation be made fully equivalent to what on an average of peace and war he receives); and there can be no "detriment to the soldier," if he is equally well clothed and equipped, and with the same regularity, as at present; and, with those two postulates, I am not aware of any detriment which could arise to the " general interests of his Majesty's military service."

The first question is not so easily replied to, because the answer to it depends much on what is a matter of opinion; namely, whether a real saving, in the long run, would accrue to the public, from an apparent saying at first.

Of this I entertain great doubts, especially in the branch of the service to which I belong; where articles of leather, such as saddles, bridles, collars, straps of various kinds, &c. &c., form so material a part of the expense of the soldier's equipment.

I quite well know, that were I or any other Colonel of cavalry to contract, as the Government would do, for such articles, we could procure them at a much less price than we actually pay to the tradesmen whom we find it our interest to employ; and such a supply by contract would appear to be a great saving, and would look well in an estimate for a year. But I equally well know that such would be far from economy, eventually.

Experience has occasioned me decidedly to think, that a just price paid for the best article which can be procured, is far better economy, where the article is to last for many years, than to purchase an inferior one at a lower price; since, in such an article as a saddle, for instance, perhaps the more costly one will last longer than two or perhaps three of the cheaper. So convinced are Colonels of cavalry of this, that I believe it would be found that very few contract for any of these articles, but that, on the contrary, almost all go to Gibson or Laurie, or the best London saddlers, for their supply, to whom they pay high prices.

There are, in my opinion, many modern instances of what is called economy, and which serve very well to deceive the public in estimates for the passing year, which will eventually turn out the converse of economy to the country; and I am inclined to think that this under discussion would prove an additional instance.

There is another material point of view in which this matter must be looked at; namely, the comparative wear and tear of appointments.

Under present circumstances, the Officers of a regiment feel an interest for their Colonel, which leads to much care of his property; and, he being thoroughly conversant with the subject, his annual scrutiny of the Annual Inspection Returns sharpens their attention. I think that the same amount of care would not be extended if the articles belonged to the public, and consequently that they would not last near so long as they now do.

The present system has worked well, as far as the service is concerned, for many years; and I believe that no army is better clothed and equipped in every respect, excepting in arms, which is the only article delivered to the cavalry by the GovernU. S. JOURN. No. 60, Nov. 1833.

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ment in kind (water-decks excepted), and which are a theme of perpetual complaint and dissatisfaction.

I do not know that I can add anything which would be useful on this subject. I trust that I may be excused if I express a hope, that should the arrangement under discussion be hereafter carried into execution, his Lordship Commanding in Chief will bring to the recollection of the Secretary at War (when he is considering the compensation which may be due to Colonels) how large a proportion of the emoluments of most of us has been purchased, not only with our labour and our blood, but with our money also; and that the Secretary at War will keep in mind that if now, in our old age, the sums were repaid to us which most of us have expended in the purchase of our commissions in our youth, many of us might purchase, with our own means, nearly as good an annuity as our regiments give to us. I have the honour to be

Your Lordship's obedient Servant,

H. FANE, Lieut.-General.

Memorandum from SIR WILLOUGHBY GORDON, dated 7th April, 1832. The clothing of the army having come under the consideration of his Majesty's Government, it will be useful, in entering upon the discussion of the subject, to explain how the army is at present supplied with clothing; and to show also in what manner the money voted by Parliament for this purpose has been appropriated.

The Infantry has been selected, as forming the most numerous part of the army, and the principle being the same in every other part of the regular army (namely, of the Cavalry and Infantry.)

His Majesty's warrant for regulating the provision of clothing, great coats, accoutrements and appointments for corps of infantry, is dated July 22, 1830, and it contains, amongst others, the following principal regulations :

The allowances to be paid annually to each Colonel of a corps of Infantry of the Line, have been fixed as follows:

£7 9 2

4 19 6
2 6 0

The Colonel is required to make an assignment of these allowances to his agent or clothier, so that the clothier and other regimental tradesman may be duly paid; and when the Colonel shall have made such assignment, he shall be exonerated from all further responsibility.

The 1st day of January in each year is the day fixed as that on which the clothing shall become due, and on which day it is, if possible, invariably to be delivered to the men on every station.

The articles of clothing to be furnished at the expense of the Colonel are as follows:

The Colonel is held responsible that his corps is regularly and properly clothed, and that it is submitted to the inspection of officers specially appointed for that purpose, at the following periods, preceding the 1st January of the year on which the clothing is to be put on the soldiers' backs; namely,

East Indies and East of the Cape,-Not later than January 31.
Cape and West Coast of Africa,—Not later than May 31.

North America,-Not later than March 31.

West Indies and Mediterranean,--Not later than July 31.
Great Britain, &c. &c.-Not later than September 30.

And the Inspectors are required to finish their inspection within the months prescribed.

The Inspectors are required to make a special report to the Commander-in-Chief of any instance in which the clothing is not ready for inspection by the first day of the month before specified.

The pattern garment having been prepared according to the King's orders, and duly examined and sealed in the presence of the General Officers composing the Clothing Board, the Inspectors of Army Clothing make their examination and inspection of the clothing provided by the clothiers at the periods above-named, and compare such clothing with the sealed pattern.

The clothing is produced by the clothiers in bales of twenty or twenty-five coats each, and the bales are opened more or less, and the garments selected and examined (at the discretion of the Inspectors) and compared with the patterns; so that, in effect, a very large proportion of the supply for each regiment is minutely examined, and it not unfrequently happens that, in consequence of some inaccuracy and irregularity, whether in quality, colour, or make, another inspection becomes necessary.

The Inspecting Officers having finally satisfied themselves that this clothing corresponds in every respect with the sealed patterns, certify to that effect, in duplicate; one copy of which is forwarded to the regiment, together with the sealed pattern, and the other copy is given to the clothier, to be produced as his voucher for the due supply of good and proper clothing, before he can receive payment thereon.

The clothing is made up by the clothiers in six sizes, complete, and ready for wear; and, besides this assortment of sizes, materials for five men per company are also sent out, that men of unusual size and shape may be personally fitted on the spot.

On the arrival of the clothing at the regiment, and previously to its being delivered out to the men, his Majesty's orders are, that it shall be immediately inspected by the Commanding Officer, and the two next in seniority, not being under the rank of Captain, and that these officers shall cause to be drawn out an accurate state of the quantity, quality, and condition thereof, and which state shall be duly entered in the regimental books, and a copy be transmitted through the Adjutant-General to the Board of General Officers who compose the Clothing Board.

The clothing, thus supplied and examined, is then regularly delivered out to the men.

The manner of supplying the Army with clothing having been thus explained, and traced from its first delivery by the clothier to the period of its final issue to the men, the next exposition will be to show in what manner the money voted by the Legislature for this purpose has been appropriated.

The amount of the allowances issued by the Government for the clothing, accoutrements, and appointments of the Infantry of the Line, and which allowances are usually designated as off-reckonings, is, for the year 1831, as follows :

It appears that the cost of a suit of clothing for each of the above ranks, for the year 1831, is as follows: