They are a different description of men from those who
form or hang about a court.
A part of the army will remain, at least for some years, and also of
the navy, for which a provision is already made in the former part
of this plan of one million, which is almost half a million more
than the peace establishment of the army and navy in the prodigal
times of Charles the Second.
Suppose, then, fifteen thousand soldiers to be disbanded, and that
an allowance be made to each of three shillings a week during life,
clear of all deductions, to be paid in the same manner as the
Chelsea College pensioners are paid, and for them to return to their
trades and their friends; and also that an addition of fifteen
thousand sixpences per week be made to the pay of the soldiers who
shall remain; the annual expenses will be:
To the pay of fifteen thousand disbanded soldiers
at three shillings per week L117,000
Additional pay to the remaining soldiers 19,500
Suppose that the pay to the officers of the
disbanded corps be the same amount as sum allowed
to the men 117,000
--------
L253,500
To prevent bulky estimations, admit the same sum
to the disbanded navy as to the army,
and the same increase of pay 253,500
--------
Total L507,000
Every year some part of this sum of half a million (I omit the odd
seven thousand pounds for the purpose of keeping the account
unembarrassed) will fall in, and the whole of it in time, as it is
on the ground of life annuities, except the increased pay of
twenty-nine thousand pounds.
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