BARRACKS are permanent structures for the accommodation of soldiers, as distin guished from huts and tents. Origivally, the word, derived from the Spanish barracas, applied to small cabins or huts; but in Exgland, the term is now always considered to relate to structures of brick or stone. Great opposition was made in this country to the introduction of permanent 13. during the early part of the last century, on the ground that the liberty of subject might possibly be endangered by thus separating the sol diery so completely from the citizens, and placing them in the hands of the ruling power. On the other hand, it was contended that the older system of billeting the soldiers on the people is vexatious and burdensome; and that the morals of towns-people and vil lagers are liable to be vitiated by the constant presence of soldiers. The permanent were few in number down to the year 1792, when George III. obtained the consent of parliament for the construction of several new ones, and for the founding of the office of barrack-master•general. Various changes in the arrangements were made 'from time to time. The expenditure for 13., in building, rebuilding, enlarging and repairing, between 1793 and 1804, was .1;4.100,000; between 1804 and 1819, 3,220,000; and between 1819 and 1859 (including Aldersliott 13.), upwards of £7,000,000. It was found that in 17 13., constructed between 18:32 and 1837, the cost varied from £27 to 209 per soldier accommo dated, according to the inclusion or exclusion of officers' quarters, etc. The funds pro vided for the construction and maintenance of 11, iu 1879-80 Was E430,830.
The condition of British soldiers has, ever since the disasters in the Crimea in the winter of 1854, been an object. of much public solicitude. This solicitude was so strongly expressed as to break through the cold formalities of the official departments. Returns were ordered, and commissions and committees appointed, partly to inquire into existing facts, partly to suggest improvements. The barrack-master-general was replaced at the beginning of this century by commissioners for barracks, whose functions were absorbed by the now extinct board of ordnance in 1822. T3arracks.arc now under the
supervision of the surveyor general of the ordnance, who provides for their construction and maintenance through the royal engineers; and for their victualling and daily service through commissaries of the control department. Under these commissaries are bar rack-clerks and barrack-sergeants, to assist them in the duties. The furniture of the B. is bought by the war office. The French have a singular plan of hiring such furniture at 15 fr. per man per annum; the English cost is about 25s. per man, and some of our officers are of opinion that it might with advantage be superseded by the French plan. The barrack-rooms have arm and accouterment racks, shelves, and pegs; with a regular order for depositing everything thereon. During the day, all the bedding is placed in exact array; as well as dishes, tins, and canteens. A subaltern officer visits every room every day. The iron bedsteads are turned down every evening, and up every morning. One non-commissioned officer (sergeant or corporal) has control over each room, and is responsible for quiet, cleanliness, etc. Married women, in the ratio of 6 to a company of 100 soldiers, may live in the B. with their husbands, in separate rooms known as "married soldiers' quarters," but not unless the marriage has been with consent of the commanding officer. The married soldier may, however, sleep out of B., and is allowed an extra 2d. per day if lie does so. Each soldier in a barrack has an iron bedstead, a rug, a paillasse, a bolster, two blankets, and two sheets; he pays nothing for these. Each soldier has his name and number written near his bed and knapsack.
Notwithstanding the order and regularity established in B., committees of inquiry appointed in 1855 and 1857 ascertained the existence of grievous defects. It was found that, out of 252 B., only 20 had separate sleeping-rooms for married soldiers; the wives of such soldiers, in the other 232, being obliged to put up with arrangements repugnant to all decency and propriety, or else sleep away from the B. altogether.