Star. — London, England, 1803-07-19 00:00:00

air - ) bLA eunas with the toree the entintii llitd in the Yin if 9, and 1701, when the threat Orktrafinn, and the sp. prehenfina of it, wete blith Pt as great and as lent as at the prefent Moment, And at a tithe too when this country was engaged in it war with France and Holland, and the greater part of this Northern Powers againft us; all this confideied, together with Its being the fir ft year of a war, he was proud to think that the country never before was in fo mite a Rate of defence nr offence. It would occur, however, to all who would take the pains to idle& upon i•. that if a peace was ever fo (hart, it would be impoffible to at things in thefame complete and effedive order and array that they might neceffarily be found after Come continuation of a warfare. But (hart as the time has been, he was proud to aver it, withhut meaning any thing difrefpeftful to former men or former meafures, the realm never prefented fo formidable an atti tude in all parts sif the globe to an .enemy as it sloes at this pi efent is:taint. He apologifed for has. log adverted to the comparifoa,but he was compelled •to advert to the relative Rate of the country, which .Ite had jell done, in confequence of the charges and -meet:Cations made by the Right. Hon. Gentleman . }rho badlpoken la 1, and who himfelf had bean an re. hfisifter . in tne preparations which the country prefentol at the period he ]alt before mentioned. ME valid inotoberefore, fit Ment and hear thole -steteintinnto withnut noticing them, without replying 1111 them, and without making the comparifons he did, as well in reply to what the Right Hmourable Omietnan then urged, as in anfwer to what he bad a like way aferted upon former occaftons.— •enneerning : the circular letters fent to the Lords aalmuctuditrof the leveret counties, and upon which fn mttc Reefs had been laid by the Right Hon. Gentleman, and the general orders attached to each, be weld take upon him to declare, that they wete nos fent till after the molt Mature and deliherate relleSion; and there was nothing in either that haid not been pr.:. nrioufiy fanSioned by the Legillature He was alAs convinced they would have the moil beneficial ten. dency, and they were fuch as naturally arofe out of the mealure of defence itfelf. The choice of the • Officers was certainly given to the refpeftive corps, •Ilut the final approbation of them relied with the ,Lord Lieutenant. and eventually with his Mikity ; fo that the anxiety and alarm which die Right Hon. Gentleman prnfelfed on that head, he trulled, were both molt effedually done away. But the Right lion. Gentleman objelled to the meafure as being of a compulf.ry tendency. Ha certainly lhould have -thought him the 1411 man in the world who would have ventured to have fUund fault with it for a reafon like that ; he who, but a few days ago. when the Cub. jet dike Army of Referee WAS in agitation in that Iloufe, Rated as his utmoll and NMI unfelt objeftion to it, that it was am comp:di:try. Now the inconfif . tency could be reconciled either to the feelings or to the underflanding of that Gentleman, he profeffed himfeif at a loft to difcover: as to compullory :ma tures, he was not reluctant in aferting. that where defence was the objeft, be believed them to be OR and conllitutional. and he mull tell the Honfe. and tell the world. that defence was an argument and a groondlor the very Ilrongeft meafures. It could not Ise faid that it prevented volunteering even for the line; on the contrary, it rather encourages • searing, for where.that prevails the other es prevent ed ; and perfuaded he was that nothing could be de ailed fo well calculated to 'llford advantage to the people as this, and he relied upon it as fuch ; foi If ever there were a meafure calculated to give en couragement to volunteering, this pofitively does; and he contended that it was Infinitely more prudent and p' litical to purfue meafures one by one. than to compicts a bundle of plans altogether, and ltt them take iheir chance feparately or aggregately as they might happen. With refpea to the view of fo• reign invafion, and of its beir.g ultimately fuccefsful. nltimately he could never bring himfelf to think it could be; but this he thought, that whatever might be the ref sit of firfi events, there was a fpirit in the country %vie': would triumph at j a fpirit that left it not a quettinn about London, or twenty London:, but a (pit it that,whilft there was an acre left Fur Engliihmen or contend fnr, they would fight for it to the tall.— To form fume idea of, and a jun eflimate concerning' the fincerity with which the FrenthConful would treat this maxim, it would be but rcafonable to rake on ks greatnefs and its freedden. In the proportion as both woe in elevation. jail in that degree would be its dept Orion, of fubmit ted to theh a ught y tyrant who dares to threaten our thorn, and in that proportion this country would Puffer more than thole who. acco (turned to bear their fetters with their poverty, are in the habit uf enduring; fur we lh.wld be the very wort} of Raves—the Raves of a foreign power, which. fingle handed. we have eiwnbwed and ermquereJ, and added to our well earned laurels the glory which the annals record throughout ages, as monuments of our seer. tailing fame. On this occafton, he was glad to ob• terve that general and unequivocal fpirit ofunanimity whichprevailed,not only in that Houfe.thn through• out the Country. He was the more rejoiced at it. becaufe it convinced the world of the determined refolution that prevailed, with every defcriptien of people in it, to defend it to the lan. His Lordiltip admitred the pnpriety of letting the people know that bons an invading enemy danger was to be appre- hended, and, as far as that went. he would not be one of thole who would randy blame the Right Hon. Gentleman for expreffing his appyehenlions; but then he thought theft alarms might be carried ton great a length, and exaggeration di danger do More barn) than good. It was prudent topeepare against Jubilee, but it would be folly if not madriefs to enhance it. Me would nefpali no longer on the gond fenfe or patience of the Houle; they mull fee, in common, with Mini tiers, the magnitude of our caufe, and the gluey of meeting it wish valour and faced's; the tell re mained with themfelves. Mr. WINDNASI, in explanation, laid. he did not ohjeet to the plan, bin as far as it operated to damp the fpirit of volunteering. It operated like the poor's rates, compelling clia• it y by the rigour of taxation. Sir FRANCIS Buttoner (aid, that if Misers were s-ally in earned, and wilhed on this acclaim mem:- ci:tate the hearts and willies of the people, they thrmeld begin by repealing all the oppreffiet Aar vif 7 their predecerfor s. In that cafe he wnul t l kolbret:for c it that they would twit fail of their *a, • , Mr. Pi Y Sir, I have paid emit auentinst mine principle and detail of the meafureptrigetteiller the R- T ht Hon. Secretary at War . and Co far as I under. Amid the rotealwre, t twiny appeobatione Waite* Se as I bit* rMzibhe tn dirt& my thong/iit tln the ftibjed. and itneonneiled as I Rend With I. Majelly's prifint Government, I conceive it to be the fort of mealtire brit of all calculated to place the Country upoh that (doting Upon which it ought, and we all with itfhoulci flanda ground of pert - ea fecttrity.— I am little difpofed at this moment to enter much into difeuftlon upon the fubjed of danger, becanfe whatever may have hitherto been confidered dange rous in our Situation, moll vanilh before a meafure of this fort, which, by calling forth all the vigour, the fpii it, and energies of the Country, affords every , ground of moral hope for peeled fecurity to my coun try ; for there is no calculation of danger which can be pointed to me. to which I do not think the pro pofed meafure fully adequate. In adopting this pro jefi. Sir, we are reforting to no new meafure, but to one which will be found in the very rudiments of the Itritith Conftitution ; for among the firft principles of th tt Conflitntion, it will be found to be the prero gative of the Crown to call upon all its fuhjedts to arm, and come forward for the defence of the realm, againft the invafion of any foreign enemy, and to re fort to compulfinn, if compullian be necelTary ; and, therefore, I cannot hefirate to fay, that the meafure now propofed is perfectly conftitutional, as confidered towards the emergency we have now in contempla tion. Looking, Sir, to the extent of that emergency, it is not my with to lay any thing which might be thought to have the flightelt tendency to entbar rats or delay the means of our defence : But, Sir, in looking to thole means, the country Should not be taught to look with a Falk keurity to any particular branch of the means for that defence. We are not, Sir, great and powerful as our navy is, to reft entirely for our fafety upon naval defence only. Neither are we to place our fecurity in the difciphne and proweis of our regular army • nor yet are we to depend merely upon the whole naafi of the people, but upon a conjundion of the whole of thof.: forces. Not only does it require the whole ex tent of our naval defence, and every exertion of our regular army and militia, but a proper arrangement of armed population of the country, county be. hind county, and the competent defence of all your naval arfenals and other important pone. If you have the (cute of the people once determined, and that: they really think themfelves in danger, it is no longer wife to exaggerate that danger. Bnt of all the modes by which the country tould be moll expelled to ruin, that of a fatal fecurity would be molt certain. Con-, vinced I am that my Right Hon. Friend on the other fide of the Houfe (Mr. Windham), in whatever he has Laid that wore the air of defpondeney and alarm, had no other view than to route and animate the country to a fettle of its danger, I am not one of thofe who would with to lull it into a fatal Security, but on the contrary, to turn the eves of the people to a view of the perils that furround them ; and when once they have contemplated thofe perils in their extent, I wiU not—l cannot think fo meanly of the people of Eng land, as to fuppofe them &Afire in fortitude and courage to meet, and to furmount them. Their fir corky mull in this cafe depend upon their own vi. gour and exertion, gnited by the wifdom of Parlia ment and the firmnefs of his Majefly's Government ; and I mutt not fuppok, that in whatever my Right Hon. Friend has lard of the dangers of the country, he had any other view than to route the people to a feure of the danger, knowing, as he milk that the ramie of England, once routed, the enemy may bring as sonny hundreds of thoulands as he can *gulf them, and fill his armies =of be but as a detachment againft this nation in arms. If I could fuppok any wa it of exertion on the part niche people of England frtherso, I am yet little difpofed to 'hook it pr(teeded from any want of the true ardour of Ent Ehnen, when once animated by a fenfe of thole country's danger ; but i believe that up to the pow' fent moment, that ardour never has been properly roofed. Ido therefore hail the project of this day, which will not fail to ronfe the ardour of the nation from one end of there countries to the other, whidip in my mind, ought to have been long &cc besigh forward. Ido not believe there is any Englibeemils the community who will not approve of the samihree' who will not feel himfelf thereby called on. Oh eh voice of bit country, to arm for her defence; mei who can find ne more but in difgraee. Ndw, Sle, teeing this meafure brought forward, before I can lie induced to find fault with the proceeding, it mull h proved to me, that it is not called for by the fora* dable preparations made by the enemy. I mutely cannot admit that calling on a regular form, greater than any we ever polkaed in ant former flare of peace, or even .of war in modern times, is adequate to the purpore : becaufe I do not think out regular ar my competent to warrant our fok reliance for fe- ' comity *pion the power of France at the petiole' crifis; not becaufe that her Strength is, more formi.l dable now than it has been for a confiderable time ; pall, but becaufe we mud now rely entirely upon our own Strength, and act place any reliance upon the Powers of the Continent. Nor is the fopinenefs of fo reign Powers diftrent nowfroat what it was previous to the declaration of war: nor has it been hewn that any caufe for this preparation exiftsnow that has not loAg *lifted. I cannot fee a neon why the meafure was not long finee adopted; or why the moll elated means of our defence Should be defined to the la moment. Now, howevir, that it is come forward. I waft there win be no fat her delay in carrying it into elk& ; fo that if inverted be delayed for a few weeks, we may be prepared to meet it in a forward (Lite of &tiptoe; and if it be more fvddenly attempt& that we may not be wholly unprepared for the onfet.— I trek Sir, the Bill will be brought forward with one delay; and, for the prefent 1 fay nothing more on its principles, as th ere will be opportuni ties fulßeient for farther obfervations in the fob& fluent Stages of the Bill. I troll the Bill will not be fuffered fually to pars without empowering thel 4 Lieutenants of counties to call the men m their trills overlie, and drill and difeipline them he's f umight ft xellively: but in the vicroity of homes, fo as to enable duos to attends dots every Jar. I have heard al prepehf. that *B_4 tame Should not exceed. in filch attendance. the ; bat I Seed not think fix tiles OM OWN fir II hardy Eng** ant vs tome and return Prow kb. IsiVaJs I befde nandie , piese in MC I Wads-ring that dislikable at frach a MIA to feek a cricket moo& lel b tki tinindatins of the mooley w fir to its extent, as to reader*, ber at ints'air dein • 'Mk pep . k; I Ihould think rlitglikeni Coldiete from slim regular or Militia regiments in the neigh bouring dittri3s, might be allowed furloughs to a cer tain dritance, for the purpofe of difciplining thole men ; and they would, upon meal, on any emergen cy, join their regiments swish the more cbearfulnefs, when they could bring back with them too recruits of their own training. There is. however, one point that (hikes me as material. Th nigh there can be 1 no doubt of the conilitutional privilege of the Crown to compel the fcrvice of every fubjett for the defence of the realm againtt invasion, yet I am for trying in the fir(; intlance voluntary fervice ;tor convinced I am, that fo fi r m as the fenfe of Parliament upon the necetllty of this meafure fhall go forth to the coon ;17, you will be able to obtain fuch a force by vo luntary offers of ferric:, under the condition of the Bill, as fhall preclude the necellity of compulfory meafures ; and I need not add, how mach preferable for every reafnn voluntary fervices would be, to thole obtained by compul(ion. However, Ibould this expe riment even fail, the bill may contain the means of retorting to the compulfory alternative, if found ne cetfary. The time of the reparation of the Members 'of this Houk is now, I troll, not very dillant • and their return to their provincial refidences will ena ble th e m to animate by their example, encourage ment, end influence, their tenantry, and the popula tion of their dißritts. That patriotic ardour for the Defence of the Country, which Ihould originate' with the higher orders, will not fail to dirufe itkl:' through the fubordinate ranks of the community. I I am, therefore, anxious the meafure &mild pats in to adoption with the leall poifsble delay ; and we fhall not do our duty unlefs we infert in the Ad a [ claufe, appointing a day up ro which volunteer fir vices (ball be accepted; and after which, thok who (brink from voluntary fervice !hall be liable to compultion. I beg to revert to what I have already fait!, that in calling for the fcrvice of the fubjett to defend the realm, the Crown refire*. to no new principle, but one a s as the Conflitation; and un left we are thus prepared to meet the attacks of the enemy, there is no fafetv for the country to rely on. There can be no injury from this arrangerrent to the mats of the people ; for the half day they arc abfent from work to attend their drills, they are compenfated 'by the pay they will receive; and they can only be called to aZt ual fervice in cafe of attual invafion, or the approach of an enemy toour coatis. Ifl were to fuppofe .theNobilit y and Gentry of England, who wino are the 'diration and command of this force, felt any difin olination on their parts to devote their time and at tention thus to the public ferric*. I fhould feel that I was libelling their charatters. But when I feel that no left is at Rake than the very exilleace of this coun try. I am fore there is not an heart that palpitates in a Britifh bofom that will not route for the common caufe. and cordially join for the defence of the gan try. Name as I before raid. the day up to which vo lunteers Mail be accepted, and you will have after wards the meals of compulfum (hould it be marry. Let the Lords Lieutenants in the fevers' counties be inflruited to fend their deputies from Pahl* to Pails. and Door to Door. in their refpottive Counted!, Di[trias, and Hundreds, and propok to the pen*. voluntary fervice, and I am. much mißakea if OK would not find your Legifiative provirsone makeedi feperfluous by the refult. Bet if any part or corner of your country be defeetive, your AA will c-atain powers to remedy the deke. When ibis Bill (halt have pared into a law: it will be the duty of the Executive to give it aka ; and in fo doing. it will prove to the people its seal to take ROOM PM IX them than they could take of thankless. There is onevoint more whish has been touched on istdeir difeuflion, and to which I wills to make ND, alleles; it is. what has been raid of the danger of arming the mats of the people. That there was a time, Sin when it would have been dangerous to entrea arms with a great portion of the people of this country, I have bong reasons to know, beenufe it mat be in the re. colleCtion °revery man that incendiaries were at work &monied them; and to fuecefsful in the promulgatioe of tevulutionary dotfrines, as to have difpofed thaw to exert any means, however defperate, which they thought could be Cut:tilde). in fubvertiair the Co. vernment and Cooftitution. But that time is now pall; and. I troll, theta who have been fo geofsly deluded have feat their error. At leaß lam Convinced, that if any fuels there Rill remain,the portion is fo fmall, that if armed and difperfed in the fame ranks with their loyal fellow-fubjeßs„ they would be converted by their example; and, like them, rejoice in the bkifings of oar happy conititotions like them glory to live under its aufpacvs, or die in its defense." Mr. Kt con. chided, by expreffing his confidence in the patriotiftn. loyalty, and courage of the of England, and his firm cooviaioa that. unit e d for COllllllOll defence, they molt be invincible. He cheerfully voted for the 311. Lord Casts. tit Anll•••••" I respell the atteetion of the Houk to a few obfervations, whisk it is my with and defire to fubmit to their confideration. and it ball be my endeavour to detain them as (beret s time as the nature of the fobjeit will allow. I troll the Mesh will feel the court the debate has taken s and. al though the mea fu re sow propofed by my. Right Hon. Friend does net meet the approbate= of Me Right Hon. Gentians° over the way (Ma Medians) Yet I think I may Afar leave it to the Hoofs and to the Country. oar the hafiuthrwity of the judgment mud fair opinion ofthe h t Hon. Gentlemen =dm the gallery (Mr. Pitt) has given it his esmsalified probatioo, though be has bees pleated to lay that hethinks the mealere has not been hem& forward with that celerity with which it slight here ended in. I beg the Haste eo resale& As h = hit Min Hers are arraigned by Hamsrells Gentlemen is their places, for uof blqinf goodly sited in fleck s manner as to yi'vefiMeheams te fumy individual Wierraber, who may have weal= we deF cant on the enewsrm they have adeptml. that it less comes extremely eililesit a gives *tile =twee en fistircheups lat fads smeefun seamy hel: folly • tiS 4)) as he to draw a Pale comdslies. hi i nSellre Maim have dose imife i 4 is 14 aldnisa 4. 11 " 1 " 111. hie Masher, they /ammo I ate their duty I or. if lye stesfeeses way Um. Mess. ha &gad think tbels lesdegimel• tiet of rag e forming La" , dsetiiss amsmm d en Ile slesiewte Ilea cell fair and jug mole dr oft. dile is e by e motion for es Iggity ism *gig gunalrel tiny will thipq bow wlest they jewas_lo MMus Wetww,_;4l9ei Ming govorikeq Mae. oft:barge ai bad lately been fh of en r•fo•ted to.l, was imp•itfible to snfw!r, and tbey crud „I be pr • duaive 4110 good, whit% in the moil trying mut in loortant c•iti, this coun:ry Irsk errr place.' in, Vier ttndeti ve.y much to arnliarrals Minister..; to tie ti l t their hand!, and to cripple every eflurt they a.temp. ted to make for the public welfare and interest of 114 State. I affure the Houk, !do not fay thi, from any perfonal feelings on the fubjci". I with the whole condo& of his Majelly't. lemma to be examined, in order that meafures which are neceif ry &mid be carried into effeti without dcl iy, for till that point is fettled, I fear that much inonnvenienee, if not mil: chief, may enfue, to the forwarding and pr non , . ing the molt Important interells of the country. IS lac I enter upon the meafure now under the eonfuterAtion of the konfe, I mull beg leave to fay, that I caroms help differing with my Right Hors. Ft tend under the gallery (Mr. Pitt) thlt it would hair! been politic to take up the matter otherwile than has been done and in regular fuceeffion, one after another ; and I AM Iltengthened in this opinion, -when I recollttl, that at the time the meafure of the Army of Referve was under the confi d erat i on of this Houle. my Right Hon. Friend then laid, that he highly approved the meafure, but Ihould not have done Co if he did not expeet that it would be immediately followed up by another meafure dill more ettenfive and efficacious ; and if Miniiiers fuffered Parliament to fepsitats with out adopting fome fuch meafure, it was his opinion they would be greatly wanting in their duty. lam of opinion, that this meafure could by no means have preceded thole which have been already adopted by Government, without being produaive of the greatell inconveniencies. If you had required Lieutenants of the feveral Ccunties to make out iliac ettrolments, when you gave them lilts fur the Army of Reterve, they would not hive had time to put what has fo often this evening been called si the machinery" of the bufinefs in motion and, Sir, it is my opinion, that teat if this meafure had been perfedly ready in the very fit ft moment after his Majelly's mefage, yet, in point of policy, it ought to have been kept back and refereed till the prefent moment. I be the Hnufe to recoiled, that though his Majeßy's gets have only now brooght forward the prefent meafere, that they have long been in poffeffion of all • the voluntary ferries' that have been offered, and that they have only held back front the immediate accep. tance of thofe patriotic offers, from a fear of crippling and obliroding the rjifing of the Atm?. of Referee. Far be it from me to fey any thing that i may is the Dighteß degree fent to undervalue the i voluntary fervices of thofe who wills to Rep forward 1 in defence of their country; yet, fitaated as there corps are. and ever have been from the moment of 1 thew ken railed, they are certainly inferior in point 1 of real and effential ferrite to the army of refine which therefore, I contend, ought on every account. to have preceded the force which is meant to be ed by the prefent meafure. With repel to the vas lowest force, no man can have a higher opinion theft •I have of its efficient Rreagth in both conntrin. I (Oath more particnlirly of that part.of the United • Empire to which I am particularly lunched. I mean Ireland; in which, from the bell information that I can collo& there are not kr' than fitigiccimen of this defeription ; and I will venture art fay, that there can• ant be produced a tweediest** force. Marts I mean, Of.the regatta, army. than the yeomanry farce in the pain* of Ulan. I fpeak on this head particularly, Gay fo far as relates to Ireland; but I enderßand. that in Scotland alto, the forces of that defcription are both numerous and greatly to be depended upon. The great objet of this madam is, to fecure the be nefit of there which have been antecedently adopted. Parliament has already givenvernment a power of ruiSng the greateß poMs di go fable force; and efpo. tinny of that of volunteers. But what is the ground of policy on which this meafare refl. ? Volunteer -forces have been found extremely elpenfive ; and in the prefent lunation of the country, it is very need: fary, and will be highly beneficial to its intereils, to have an aid that wit not co* Co much. Ono great advantage attendant on the prefent meafure is, that it introduces nothing new into the military fy llem of the country. The prerogative of the Crown on this head is usiverfally known and undeniable; but at the fame time, it is not, as it at prefent Rands, cffedual. Coercion, in certain cafes of /extreme danger s may be necelfary ; and if coercion cart be wife. it mol l be by making thofe moan's to which it -is applied. effedual. How is this •to be done in the pre fent cafe t It cannot be by indidmant tift.for that mode of proceeding would beinfinitoly too Raw and tedious to anfwer any of the tads pollard to be ob. tamed by it towards carrying into died the prelim meafure. • Unlefs, therefore, a fpecial power of pre. 'ions inernaion and arrangement Amid be given to the Crown, with a finannary mode of partial meet fiat. obi* to the enigma of the cafe, it will be impoffible thatthe power of the Oreeptrue mold be of any anti: in the point indium. I beg doe Moak to look for ward to the peadical Milky of the meafetre, and not ens away with the Idea that k ie m min tha mats of the people. foe the foie puma& of making it an army to at is gee concerted body. fimilar to that of the Rapier Array or the Amy of Referee. It was merely Wooded to usable Oweennsent to cower Tech poll of the country ItS lboadd head is prricalar seed el 41114ances by collies en dude_whole itentiont t oed der sear!il men pshsts tteeeffary to of aumet. to i which Mir ead ri :ffi sb ib a le ir There is another idea elk:: white I Scold b perry alt/ go abroad into the sonatryi which Fes that ovary individual who is en. ligEng is en, be orendi k to no filch this& AU the morons rehires is, inilreakm. - "Pk whole awe !elan cline/OW= ; to be anewd on caber. , in orMr to call 4111 'enfants ineememaiently to dedpid Ghee pose nod team& is sued of 3 and the gene stiller Is to be ex. reed nib that it fortedles the Crown with additiowlawanootwohing unto es • doe tents of their g a r b Then is etas point, Sir, on which I beg More to whin fisgiewbfwvonon s mill that ice, with raved to the 'Mins of Oh cers. I . believe this has been, is f e rns masters. tnifeadeviood by the Right HO% Glestionan over the way (Mr. Win Gam) diec rot ountaiendation by the eetaptsiee eight °Mewl - they woad with to chooki is wanly epos the Case Ras. its as that contained lathe oft for the Defence O l die agile& which wo peftfed delving the lass wet. deote officers de chafes, mutt have the al of the Ctows, and therefore are by so sear=ated to basis' vitg new (yam into due ferric% whit hat 31d. ini. I 80. II to 4ht won atm at itl iffrj fluid' ! the ici oiiir isier. had Point laid