regiments of Dutch guards and French refugees. (Hallam, iii. p. 190.) During the lengthened administration of Sir Robert Walpole, the standing army generally amounted to about 17,000 men, exclusive of the troops in Ireland, but inclusive of those in Gibraltar and Minorca. After the peace of Paris in 1763, the peace establishment was fixed, including the troops in garrisons abroad and in Ireland, at about 40,000 men. In the course of the American war, both the army and navy were very much augmented; but, at the conclusion of that unfortunate contest they were again reduced to what might be considered, under the altered circumstances of the world, as something like their old level. All previous contests and armaments were, however, thrown into the shade, and made to appear insignificant, by the vast efforts that signalised the war with France, that broke out in 1793, and was only terminated in 1815. During the latter years of that momentous contest, which was truly a struggle pro aris et focis, we had, including volunteers, yeomanry, militia, &c., a land force embodied of not less than 450,000 men! Happily, our exertions and sacrifices were crowned with success; and not only provided for our own security, but were mainly instrumental in enabling continental Europe to emancipate itself from the military despotism by which it had for a while been crushed. We subjoin an account, taken from official documents, of the regular troops, exclusive of the ordnance, at home, in the colonies, and in foreign countries, in 1792, 1815, and 1834; and of the expense incurred on their account. In 1792 the numbers above stated were in a course of reduction. For Great Britain For the Colonies Difference between British and Irish pay of regiments lent by Ireland Recruiting, bread, money, and returned poundage The charge of the army in Ireland has not been correctly ascertained, but it is believed to have been about 319,488 3 7,153 17 98,037 15 0 £984,885 7 3 601,000 0 0 £1,585,885 7 3 The sums voted upon the army estimates for 1815, which included the Irish The amount granted for the charge of the land forces for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1835, was £ S. d. 6,721,880 7 5 384,260 1 11 833,715 1 0 £7,939,855 13 4 £3,357,192 10 5 These estimates are all exclusive of the charge for non-effective services, or for half-pay pensions, &c., and of the expense defrayed by the East India Company. The total sum voted on account of the military forces, exclusive of the ordnance, for the year 1834-35, was 5,944,9287. 10s. 5d. Ordnance.. The above estimates are, also, as already stated, exclusive of the artillery and other descriptions of force under the orders of the ordnance department. There were voted, on the ordnance estimates for 1836-37, 73 master-gunners, 242 royal engineers, 3 officers, and 733 men as sappers and miners; 449 officers and 6,062 men in the royal regiment of artillery; 4 officers and 80 cadets in the company of gentlemen cadets; and 49 officers and 590 men in the royal horse artillery; making in all 827 officers and gentlemen, and 7,458 men. The total sum voted on account of the ordnance estimates for the year 1835-36 was 1,296,059l.; making the total expense of the army for that year 7,203,5417. On p. 440. is an account of the army estimates for 1836-37, exhibiting in detail the number of each description of force, and the separate items of expenditure. The Pay of Troops. and other emoluments of the officers pay, and men in the army, depend partly on the department of the service to which they belong, and partly on the length of time during which they have been in service. The pay of what are called the household troops, consisting of the two regiments of Life Guards, and the royal regiment of Horse Guards, or Oxford Blues, is higher than that of any other description of force. In this corps the pay of a private varies from 1s. 94d. to 2s. 04d. a day; the pay of a private in the cavalry of the line being 1s. 4d.; in the foot guards, 1s. 2d.; and in the infantry of the line, 1s. id. a day: the statutory allowance of 1d. a day as beer money, payable to all non-commissioned officers and men in Great Britain and Ireland, being uniformly included. Soldiers, however, are not entitled to receive the whole of this pay in money. When at home in barracks, or in stationary quarters, they are supplied with bread and meat, at the rate of three quarters of a pound of meat and one pound of bread a day for each man; for which 6d. a day, and not more, is to be deducted from their pay. The principal part of a soldier's clothes and accoutrements are furnished at the public expense. The pay of all privates serving in the cavalry is, however, liable to a deduction of 2s. 74d. a week on account of such articles; and a deduction of 1s. 1d. a week is made from the pay of privates in the foot guards, and of 1s. 6d. a week from the pay of all other privates serving in the infantry, on the same account. Estimates of the Charge of the Effective and Non-effective Army Services for 365 Days, from 1st of April, 1836, to 31st of March, 1837. Total estimates for effective army services, 1836-37 II. ESTIMATES OF NON-EFFECTIVE SERVICES. 1. Of the charge of allowances as rewards for distinguished services, and allowances to officers of 3. Of the charge of full pay for reduced and retired officers of his Majesty's forces 4. Of the charge for half pay and military allowances to reduced and retired officers 3. Of the charge of half pay and reduced allowances to officers of disbanded foreign corps, of pensions to wounded foreign officers, and of allowances to the widows and children of deceased foreign officers 6. Of the charge of pensions to be paid to widows of officers of the land forces 7. Of the charge of allowances on the compassionate list, of allowances as of his Majesty's royal 8. Of the charge of Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals, of the in-pensioners of these establishments, Total estimates for non-effective services To which add total estimates for effective services, as before Grand total of estimates for effective and non-effective army services, 1836-37 4,151,587 19 7 691,133 2 5 3,460,454 17 2 16,311 13 4 106,000 0 0 71,500 0 0 566,000 0 0 75,760 0 0 148,990 0 0 154,000 0 0 1,337,050 16 1 47,965 13 7 2,523,578 30 4,151,587 19 7 6,675,166 2 7 691,133 2 5 5,984,033 0 2 III. ORDNANCE. Estimate for ordnance, 1836-37 Total expense of army in 1836-37 1,263,449 00 7,247,482 02 Certain descriptions of officers, as paymasters, surgeons, assistantsurgeons, lieutenants, quarter-masters, and veterinary surgeons, are entitled, after certain periods of service, to additional pay. Privates enlisted prior to the 24th of January, 1823, are entitled to 1d. per diem, additional pay, after seven years' service; and all persons are entitled to 2d. per diem, additional pay, after fourteen years' service. The following table exhibits the daily pay of all descriptions of commissioned and non-commissioned officers and men in the principal departments of the service, as fixed by royal warrant of the 1st of April, 1834. |