The National Register. — London, England, 1811-10-13 00:00:00

NI _ _ ' • " • ^" '`; .110'7 4472 (.I=lW:4. 17, "tlin, • d THE 'NATIONAL REGISTER Our lam, acnstitutton, any 1104. • ft", PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT NO. .5, PICKETT-STREET, STRAND, NEAR TEMPLE BAR. SUNDAY", OCTOBER 13, 181.1. N°. 198. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. No. 185. - , . VOLUNTEERS. The alteration intended to be made with respect to the Volunteer Force of the Metrppolis, is, it is said, to be nearly_ as follows : That there 'hall be only four Volunteer R egiments in Londcm, viz.. one to each district ; and t!iat‘ they shall be formed and conducted on such a prnciple as to insure such strong musters as to make them an efficient and formidable force. Each regiment will have two battalions, of about 750 men - each ; so that the four regiments will consist of 6000 effective men.. -Those Gentlemen who compose the pre sent corps, will have the preference of joining the four new ones, before any other petsons whatever. The Local Militia, is to he placed on a most for midable footing. —( 7imes, Oct. lg.) It has lately been repeatedly asserted, that ,the Volunteer - force had so far dwindled away as to he na longer efficient : the consequence, wp were told, was plain. Since that class of the defenders of the country, when entirely left to itself; degenerated and grew useless, it was necessary that its constitution should be altered, and that, by the interference of superior authority the State should be put in posses sion of the military power NvhiCli it fully er.j6yed, when the Volunteer system was must flourishing. The method pointed out to remedy the evil was one rather harsh and unjust in its natter'. The putting down of the Volunteers altogether was recommended, and the increase of the Local Militia, a description of force certainly more manageable, as at all times amenable to military law, whilst the .Volunteers are only subject to it when on actual duty. The very principle, however, on which the necessity of this change may he urged, is an erro .nerns one. ,It tends to substitute, in support of a cause, which is, in fact, that of every subject of this realm, the mere bounden execution of duty, to that freeborn impulse fraught with zeal, loyalty, and patriotism, which, at the first appearance of danger, impelled every Briton to arm uncalled for, in defence •of his King, Constitution, and Laws. It would produce a certain and always foreknown quota of well disciplined men in every county and district, and would secure their full and regular at tendance when required, but it might make hearts, and weaker arms. What, therefore, Vol. IV. CXC • j • PR TCE 9d. [seem to be gained on the one side, .would be lost ,on the other. It would also be impossible to al low all those, who still belong to the Volopteer corps, and only withhold their attendance at the hour .(/ security, . but would instantly flock to their banners, were their services required otherwise than in reviews, to become Local Militia-men.— /fence, the latter force would be far inferior, in numbers at least, to that which still continues to ex. ist, and which is, in reality, but little impaired; since, notwithstanding the apparent secei , ion of many members from their corps, those whom sick ness anh death have spared, are still at hand, and as eagerly desirous as ever to shed their blood in tie cause of their country, should its territory be pot• lured by the foot of foreign invaders. To suppress the Volunteer system entirely would be to deprive these individuals of the right of fighting for, what is most dear to man, and at the same time to disarm the State. of a large, and not duly Appreciated, share of internal military power, without the prescn:e of which it would have been imprudent to engage so actively as we have done in continental warfare, and to send forth large armies to conquer abroad whilst our native soil would have remained exposed to the attacks cf the enemy, Were such a Measure, as that of which we have en deavoured to point out the impolicy, to be adopted, some regard shoulne paid 'to times and circum stances. Is it at a momtlit,when the ports of France on the opposite side of tai, Channel once more , • re sound with the din of vir,gparation—when fresh armies are collected on her etlices—when her flotillas is repaired, and a powerful flee% ready for sea in the Scheldt ; is it at the very intent when riur invete rate and indefatigable antagorjits surveys the naval and military means he has astalbled, that the pa triotic spirit of our population athtild experience sc. sudden a cheek—should receire'rso deep a wound ? We do not believe that BUONAPA itTE seriously meant to make even an attempt at invading skis countr: , when he lately ordered a camp to be formed at Bo' - logne—drew his flotilli from its long and mine' s - inaction—armed his fleet, and repaired in person to the coast. We have already eKpressel our opinion, that doubtful'whether he should not go to war with some of the Northern POwers, in case they should to seal their complete degradation by corn with his last commands, he only made PAN colder refuse t w -.) a • .s. : '" r ti s ;•e• --, • x. ' 2-1 1 . 1.y a Lz. 1 1 - • Mil