third of the whole, is that for the interest and management of the National Debt. The expenditure on this account more than quintupled in the course of the last hundred years, since the war of independence of the United States. At the commencement of the American struggle, in 1775, the total charge for interest and managment was less than 4 millions sterling; but at the end of the war it had risen to 9 millions. The twenty years' warfare with France, from 1793 to 1814, added nearly 23 millions sterling to the annual charge of the debt, which had risen to 32 millions in 1817, the year of consolidation of the English and Irish exchequer. Since this date, the capital of the debt went on decreasing, bringing with it a decline of the annual charge for interest and management to the amount of about five millions.

The following table exhibits the growth of the debt from its origin to the year 1884 at various periods:

The capital of the National Debt varied as follows during the ten years, ending March 31, from 1875 to 1884 :

In the financial year 1883-84, 70,241,9087. 3 per cent. stock was converted into terminable annuities under the provisions of the National Debt Act, 1883. The unfunded debt was inclusive of Suez Canal bonds to the amount of 4,000,000l. in 1876, decreasing annually to 3,516,8007. in 1884.

The balances in the Exchequer for the ten years from 1875 to 1884 amounted to the following sums:

By the provisions of an Act of Parliament, passed in the session of 1875, the national debt is to be gradually reduced by means of a new permanent Sinking Fund, maintained by annual votes of the legislature. The charge of the Sinking Fund for the financial year ending March 31, 1876, was fixed at 27,400,000l.; for the year 1876-77 at 27,700,000l.; and for every subsequent year at 28,000,000l., though there have since been small temporary additions. It was also provided that the charges under this head should be entered under the Consolidated Fund.

A bill, passed in 1883, retaining the permanent charge at the same amount, provided for the creation of a series of terminable annuities, whereby it is expected that in twenty years as much as 173,000,000l. of the National Debt will be cancelled. The amount actually paid off at the expiry of that period will be 113,000,000%. The whole of the debt amounts to only 136,000,000l. more than the gross annual value of property and profits assessed to incometax, is somewhat more than half of the estimated national income, and only about 16,000,000l. more than the total value of British imports and exports for 1883. It is about 211. per head of population, and the annual permanent charge 16s. 2d. per head.

Army and Navy.
1. Army.

The maintenance of a standing army, in time of peace, without the consent of Parliament, is prohibited by the Bill of Rights of 1690. From that time to the present, the number of troops which the security of the kingdom and its possessions rendered it necessary to maintain, as well as the cost of the different branches of the service in detail, have been sanctioned by an annual vote of the House of Commons. The amount of the military force to be maintained for the year is always a matter for the decision of the Government. The question is annually brought under consideration, shortly before the commencement of the parliamentary session, at a meeting of the

Cabinet, when, on the basis of communications made by the Commander-in-Chief, a decision is arrived at as to the number of officers and men, of each arm of the service, to be maintained for the coming year. Upon this decision, the Secretary of State for War frames the Army Estimates,' or detailed accounts of the strength and cost of the army, which are submitted in 'votes '-25 in the estimates of 1884-85-to the approval of the House of Commons.

Parliament exercises another important means of control over the army. Formerly in time of war, or rebellion, the troops, kept only at such periods, were subject to martial law, and liable to be severely punished for mutiny or desertion. But when armies began to be maintained in time of peace, questions of discipline arose. The common law, which alone prevailed, knew of no distinction between a citizen and a soldier. Hence the authority of Parliament became necessary for the maintenance of military discipline. Parliament granted this in an Act, limited in its duration to one year, which Act was subsequently passed at the commencement of every session under the name of the 'Mutiny Act,' now the 'Army (annual) Bill,' investing the Crown with large powers to make regulations for the good government of the army, and to frame the Articles of War, which form the military code. Subject to such restrictions, the army has now become a recognised part of the constitution, under the will of Parliament.

According to the army estimates laid before the House of Commons in the session of 1884, the regular army of the United Kingdomexclusive of India-during the year ending March 31, 1885, is to consist of 7,243 commissioned officers, 1,040 warrant officers, 14,952 sergeants, 3,656 drummers, trumpeters, &c., and 113,423 rank and file, a total of 140,314 men of all ranks, being a total increase of 2,682 over the previous year. This force is to be composed of the following staff, regiments, and miscellaneous establishments:

The total number of horses for this establishment in 1884-5 was 13,464, and of field-guns, 290.

The following table (p. 239) exhibits, after official returns, the number of officers, rank and file, maintained for service in the United Kingdom at decennial periods since the year 1800 up to 1870, and during the last two years, on the 1st of January in every year :