The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-06-21 00:00:00

. O. .. • • . - , patriotism of these corps, hot, tit sir offiereireould not well be . considered as efFeetive as men eiels6se habits and education atforded them more knowledge and experience. We had already 72,91i5 militia, and officers of the description alluded to could'pot be found for them. The additional force of 60 battalions would be officered from the Intlflery list ; where those may fail, recourse would be had to officers in the marines; in the third case, officers would be seleded who had been in the service of the East India Company : in the fourth case, which suppose the failure of the former classes, those offi cers would be chosen from those fencible regiments who served with so much distinction end honer to themselves in Ireland. The fifth resort would be to officers in the • recruiting service, under the ma nagement of General Hewitt, whose military cha eeeer was well-known, and who would be himself a host. He would abstain. from entering into the consideration of Irish and English regiments serving indiscriminately in either country. They had al ready shewn that no legal compulsion was necessary, and that reciprocity he proposed of mutual defence, could not, he supposed, be liable to the smallest objection. The substitutes in both countries would have to serve, instead of five yeare, as hereto fore, only four years, or one month after the, ratiacation of peace. He then enumerated the proportions that should be raised by the coun ties and cities, comparing them with the force raised during the last and former %vars.—He' concluded with exulting in the strength and se curity which the united country had to rely on, upon considering that in Great Britain and Ireland there would be an army of Ila,ooo for internal defence, Laving a strong disposable force for offensive ope rations. Upon the whole, however, be said, it would not be more at the commencement of the present than at some periods of the list war. The burthens to be imposed would necessarily be very heavy, but would be chearfulle borne when it was considered that it was to avoid the most horrible state of sla very and submission to foreign tyrants that any country had ever. experienced. The arrangements then were, that all males from 18 to 45 years of age were liable to be drawn by ballot. In the plan for raising a Supplementary Militia, he found that Peers were not exempted, and it was now proposal en this occasion, to follow the same rule. The ex emptions were to extend only to o ffi cers in the army and navy, and those apprentices whose indenture" had been executed before the sth of June, when his Majasty's Message was delivered. He was firmly convinced, from the spirit already manifested, that. the country would feel those measures, with what.; ever inconvenience they might be attended, were no more than what was necessary to carry on the war with success and glory. It was requisite to have a large disposable force to co-operate with our pow erful navy. It was not so much with the Govern ment as with the Governor, whose ferocious efforts against us may be depended on. France, however, was very vulnerable at some points, to v.-hich only he wished to allude ; and while we had suet a disposa ble force, the First Consul would find himself oblig ed, with all his animosity and blustering, to look at home, and look to his own preservation. His first motion would be for an Address to his Majesty; thanking him for his gracious communication, and assuring him of the utmost support. He should next move for the levy of an Army of Reserve of 50,000 men, and as no similar measure had before been resorted to in Ireland, he should propose a bounty to be given for substitutes in that country. The motion for the Address was carried nzem. ton. On the motion being put on the second question, Mr. WINMI A fsi rose. He said, that the solem- pity with which the motion was introduced, met with his perfect approbation ; from the novelty of our situation, and the new state of things, pregnant with extraordinary dangers. The measure now pro posed, in his opinion, would only aggravate our dif ficulties, and tend completely to cut up the recruiting for the regular army. The quantity of men now pro posed, was not in proportion to the necessity of the case, nor to the population of the united country. We had already an Army of Militia, and this measure was intended to augment it and make a ruinous competition between the two services. Even in the Militia he could not but objeft to a general system of substitution, though in particular cases he felt it would be a grievance if every man v.-as compelled to serve beyond a certain extent. The nunihets of Militia for Great Britain and Ireland, was stated to he 120,000 men. He much approved of their being direCted and commanded. by officers cf experience, and yet the Ministers talked of the disposable force they would have for offensive operations, and yet keep 120,000 men locked up at home. It was asked on a:former day, what would do in such circumstances ? His answer w.ts, that lie would have no competition between the Militia and the regular force ; without that com petition, we might be sure of a more. effective army of regulars. The military system, as the Secretary at War stated, stood ht need of alteration. • We llught not, however, to wait till a time of quiet, but inimechately take all the necessary measures. Ile approved of the proposed change in the footing on *which the army stood at present, and make tha term of years, instead.of being for life, which was a, great discouragement to the recruiting. 11c knew. this to be the opinion of souse of the most judicious ar.d expc.ienced officers in our service. It was said to 6 the greatest of a book, to get itself read : and in the same -- fir.t to get be and irregular be appointed any impeaci• the Militia, as available they were di. the properties thus, in the discipline of ' till they were country. Egypt, and the most ever reliance Englishmen, and that of Irliritia the my, recollecting . Was ft noting sway to de tions t Was neat, which Posed to' though we .%!..tr'7 ll7 7* i 7 . ln' r • • 1/Oull not send ane pasta that ertelY to ad'ord them assisjaece on the Continent. He would rather see •an augmehtatlon of the yeemaruy, the natural defenders of their country; than that of the Militia, and yet the Yeomanry were scarcely mentioned by the Secretary et War. ' The three services of Regu lars, Militia; and Yeomanry , seemed to be considered as the nilscnline, tentinine,and neuter; but the worst of it was that the regulars were to he the feminine. They had entered with a bounty of almost 101. with • the Militia, where the bounty or inducement to sub stitutes would be at least 15 guineas. He was sorry to observe the system of recruiting for rank again resorted to ; that was only by bidding high prices to make ene party rob the other ; for whatever might be his Majesty's regulations with resped to the sum to be given as bounty, those who recruited for rank would find means of evading them. He paid high compliments to British officers who, he asserted, were much better, from their regard to charn4ler, than others who may be supposed to know more of their profession. He should feel quite easy if our troops were to meet the enemy with equal numbers; hut to make assurances doubly sure, we should be provided against superiority of numbers a-Li artificial means of attack. The mere physical force against an invader must always be in favour of an island ; but experience bad shewn, that physi cal strength did not always prevail; and it 100,030 Frenchmen were landed, which was by no means impassible, the population of thi ; metropolis would be ia.lflid;iir.t to destroy them. They might, howe ver, Tnake their descent in some quarter of England or Ireland, where an equal army, inured to discip line, may not be readily assembled to oppose them 7 and in such a case, the mischief they might perpe trate, was not to he calculated. If physical force alone was effectual, the population of Hanover would afford a number of fighting men, infinitely superior to the army that was sent against it ; and yet this Electorate surrendered to General Mortiet, , without even striking a blow ; for, reduce a for tress, and the surrounding country submits.— The progress of Jacobinism, where a few desperate men, by well-concerted means, triumph over mil lions, would itself afford a striking illustration. There was, therefore, great dager, though in the millions of those armies which Bonaparte boasted, there may be very few who wished him well. What he so muth disapproved of in the Ministers, was, that at the conclusion of their treaty they disbanded their troops, and in six months 'afterwards wished to have them back again. In a very few months we may be called upon to defend ourselves, and by the present system, although we might have 140,000 men,they were not regulars, and only like those shop goods which look very well to the passenger, but would not bear the inspection of a person who was a judge of them. He liked very much the spirit of the volunteers, and doubted not of their ruler, but they were composed of a description of persons, who from their situation and talents of life were not calculated to undergo the hardships that must be endured by soldiers. What he wished was, that the country should rise as it were in a macs, that we should on any emergency be found an armed nation, and that every man capable of bearing arms, should be taught and trained to shooting at a mark. It would not do to have finely tegimentaled volunteers, itti tired into all the forms of—" drerr"—" eyes to the ri- 11 ,ht,eyes to the left," and taught to begin their march with a pafticular leg foremost. Such was not the system of tactics pursued by the great Duke of Marlborough ; and it was by de viating from cashiering modern improvements, and recurring to the old fighting system, that were to be attributed the vidories of the French in the course of the late war. He spoke with contempt of any system which tended to con ceal from the country the real extent of its danger. He spoke with confidence, when he asserted that the secret preparations of Bonaparte for our inva sion were much greater than was generally known. The Ministers seemed to imitate the condud of Bonaparte, as if there was no difference between the two situations. Bonaparte's situation was that of an officer, who wished to surprize a post, and keep his design concealed from his enemy. That if the Minister's was the same as of anofficer command ing a post, who had inteliigence of the intention to surprise, and should say to his lieutenant, " I have received intbrmation that the enemy means to take sis by surprise ; but hush ! do clot for the world apprize the soldiers of it." Such, in his opinion, was the condition of the country, which was not at all met .by this hasty, ineffective, and ill considered measure. , The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, it was not his Wish to enter into a long discus- . • sion upon the measures which had been laid before the House, he only designed to make a few observ* tions on what had been said by the Bight Honoura..., file Gentleman who spoke last. The latter had said, the measure adopted in the present instance was tar dy and inconsiderable. It was but a short period since his Majesty's Message had indicated the ap proach of war. Since which an army had been raised by the vigilance of his Majesty's Ministeteci., amounting to 50,000 men, and measures had been taken to insure general security. The Right i inn ourable Gentleman had imputed to Ministers what he called a calm in their conduct ; every means in. the power of the Government had been taken to provide for the public safety, which would appear conspicuous by the complexion of af • the - -- the - 7 1 177 or;Af. his motives, there would.poasiblrhave beet! time to carry them into effect ; at that period it was isnpos. siolc He expresse4 his surprise that Ministers hould he acculeal of not having taken measures for We ge. neral welfare of the kingdom. In the situation in which the Government hadbeen recently placed, they had taken the necessary precautions for public safety. A military force had been raised, sufficient to answer the purposes of the public service ; there had been no remissness in meeting thedenger which threatened, a danger he never would treat, either in public or private, with contempt; a danger Nee ought to be prepared to meet with every endeavour in our power. He described the sugge_stion made by the Right Hon. Gentleman, respeding the raising of regular troops, as our unsurmountable barrier to the plan of expeditious defence ; and observed, he would not pursue the argument further than to ask the House to stazc, whether any better mode nc curred to them, Whereby we could meet the danger I ith which we were threatened. The Right Hon Gentleman appeared to revolt at every measure but such as called for the assistance of a regular force. He begged, the latter to understand ; he was not dis posed to undervalue - the state of public defence. The measures proposed were not immediately to be taken nor necessary, they were only urged as the means of permanent security, and until we had convinced the power that governed France that this island was impregnable, and her resources inexhaustible. There was not the least hope of pa cification to be cherished. (Hear, hear.) . He asked the Committee to consider the plan proposed as the best that could be adopted by his Majesty's Minis ters at the preset:: period. Tu enter into a discussion how far it was necessary to atm the corps raised by the means alluded to, with other circumstances re lative to discipline, was neither wise nor-necessary ; they were not siscussions which called for the atten tion of the House ; the country reposed reliance on • the public exertions for the general good ; and he trusted such would ultimately take place at the mo ment of exigency. Mr. PITT rose to express his entire concurrence with the sentiment expressed by the Right -Honour able Gentleman, namely, that it was necessary to defer all discussions upon the proposed plan of de fence until a future period. Colonel BASTARD observed, it was the duty of the Secretary of War to bring forward the present plan of defence, which had,his entire approbation: be had a few words to reply to the expressions used by a Right Honourable Gentleman' (Mr. Windham) respeding the condud of officers em ployed in the Militia. He thought he had heard that Gentleman, upon a former occasion, discuss upon the benefits derived from the services per formed by Militias. He had known the time when the invasion of an enemy had occasioned more alarm and danger on the coast than the Right Hon. Gentleman imagined. There was one part of the speech made by the latter that appeared exceeding mean, namely, where a doubt had been expressed as to the ability of the troops raised accord ing to the proposed plan to encounter the enemy. If the French forces landed, he was convinced every man in the kingdom ought to bear arms ; they would then assail the common enemy, and, by having been accustomed to the use of fire arms, they would aamck with bravery ; the Militia would join them, increase the effed of their defence, . and they would all live and die together united in. the common cause. Colonel STANLEY said, if ever there was a time when the good council of the House was re. quired it was then. A permanent Militia was re quired, and the first consideration was the de. fence of the country • it was from the policy of Ministers that suc h defence was to be ex pected ; and while they were to go on with the old system of proposing contrary plans, be was afraid the blood and treasures of the country would be expended to no purpose. He agreed in the neces sity which had been stated for raising an army of 40,000 men ; and expressed a belief, that a body of marines would accelerate the restoration of peace. Upon a case of emergency, he observed, that the courage and good condua of marines had becn often tried, and if it was necessary to send them on foreig n service, their behaviour would be as good as that of any troops in England. It was not usual for him to trouble the House, and he would not have taken up so much of their time if he had not thought that cn an occasion like the pre sent, every Member was bound to afford any senti ment which he might entertain, tending to the pub lic good. Mr. WINDHAM, in reply, said, he had heard it stated, that the present was not a proper time for the discussion of the plan in question. He expressed his opinion to the contrary ; and with respea to the explanation of ghat l•ad been noticed by an Ho nourable Member• (Colonel llas,ard) he did not mean to refied upon the condnft of the officers of the Militia. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had thought he had merely spoken against the measure without havin& reflefted upon it; that he kid done, and had also considered with the rest, the plan of balloting, which he by no means ap- proved of. Mr. PITT, in explanation, said, he had stated that day was not a proper time for the House to discuss the question, he only toot the liberty to ex. press why he was not justified in takingup•the time ot- ~ .~ .. . • • . . .where he had spoken of raising regular tromps, wished to kaow Lowe regular ariny could be,r within the time they would be wanted. Did Right Hon. Gentleman conceive, that tf money been necessary to raise men, the Treasury have hen sparing It was not money that rase regular troops, they must resort to means than money ; that was .no compcnett t;me like the present. Every man, through of the general good, he trusted, would ceinatforward, if aecmary, and do their best. in defeat , that was dear to them. He gleiced at an used by the flight Hon. Gentleman, relati condult of three officers in the rectal/dog serve . it could be ptoved any person had violated iorders issued. for the regulation of that be could say they Auld be severely 'punisl . he was persnaded that *the disobedience of orders alluded to, wonld subjeet the offender main no longer an trif.-:er in his Majesty' He shoeld not have taken up so much of ' of the House as he had jone, but he could still, and hear what had fallen from the Hi.. Gentleman, without taking notice of thsr The motion was then ag reed to, runs. con. IitISII BUI)GET. The House resolved itself into a Committee the Ways and Means for Ireland. Mr. CORRY said, he trusted the business of Ire , land would not take up any considerable portion of time, and he should conceive himself out in his duty if he did not state the readiness the I louse had ever shewn to discuss the interests of that country. It would, therefore, only be necessary to state distinctly their concerns to attract the attention of those he ad , dressed himself to, after all that had been said, andthe transactions orthe British Empire, it would be neces. sary to enter into a general discussion. The policy 'adopted by Great Britain, must be acknowledzed by all persons of discrimination in Ire land; and thenew ness of the war, with other circumstances, rendered it necessary to demand those charges on that country, ' which none could be inclined to refuse ; he should only state what had been adopted is the best mea sure that could be chosen. The charges con sisted of those which she bore separately, and which did not interfere with this country. Ile entered into *a statement of the situation of the finan cial concerns of Ireland since last December, and observed, that the trade had been considerably in favour of that country during the . last year. He had pledged himself upon former occasions, that the exports of Ireland would be increased ; which had been the case. He stated also, that the Linen Trade was liable to meet with great in convenience, owing to the importation of foreign ' linens ; it however appeared, that in the course of the present year, the whole stock which re mained in that country for so long a time had been cleared out, and he trusted, that he had reason to congratulate that country on the article of orovssions. The demand for that commodity, he understood, last year was 25,0001. . corn had also produced from 50,0001. to 50,0001. He trusted that during the present year, the fleets , and armies would be supplied with the articles last mentioned ; however war might be disliked, it was a happiness to retie& that we had resources in Ireland to support it. There never had been seen such a prospect of flax as during the last year, nor so much pains taken to cultivate it. The revenues last year had increased Since the year before con siderably. He was sorry to say, tobacco and sugar had fallen off in,,the exports. He had only to state further, the means by which the charges so neces sary on the present occasion were to be raised. On the importation, including 'the Custoris and Eicise, ten per cent, which would produce 140,0001. The increase upon the exports upon various articles would amount to 17,0001. • Y r • I . - DISTILLERY. A tax on the distillery of Ireland of nine-pence pee gallon, and an additional tax of nine-pence on all foreign spirit, which would produce : 1 .0,0001. To bacco would be subject to no additional tax, as that article had been observed to lose considerable, daring the last two years, in the importation. MALT. The tax upon this article, he observed, would fail on the brewer, inasmuch as the duty was increased to one shilling on the barrell which would not be more thanlnine.pence currency oft 32 gallons. He had ever considered it his duty to encourage the brewer ies, and he trusted the additional duty would not be severely felt. The last-mentioned tax produced 40,0001. The whole of the taxes he estimated at 380,0001. The loan 142,0001. A surplus of 170,0001. would arise from the Calculations, which would af ford an opportunity of lowering the different duties, if peace should be restored; but if iffir Was continued every judicious person must observe the necessity. , there would be for contributing towards the support Government, as the only means or defence and safety. It was wise for every country to avoid war, but it was also wise to meet the .extenees of the moment with resolution. He concluded with inti ' mating his intention to levy a tax upon property, if great exertions should be sequired fOr the general good. - LEE objeded the general principle on tending beyond.' IN . . hi I 1111 . ' • • Wimp% otna *.t • be raised . Did the money' had ;ury wool'!wool'!that would to stronger isatier4 at a / gh motives forward, 'ere of *II expression . ttive to the t . cervice. If I dated the. 4 at service] shed ; ar.ct If any suck t. !rider to re- servke. I the time tld not sit ionourable sans:, nmittee on reatest of a book, to get ascii reita : AMA ..........t.r...... -----r-- -- , __ _ . e way, the greatest merit of an army was fairs ; the country had then 50,000 in the army, press way ne was not Justineu 111 LUJCilig up t.i.c L.,.4c it. The grand difference bet Ween a re. and 40,000 more were then called for upon a print of the House. He was in possession of every argu- Mr. LEE objeted to the general principle on irregular army was, that the former may ciple which embraced still further utility. It had ment that could he used in opposition ; and al- which the taxes were founded, al tending to psuplex - , ed general cervice. He did not mean been said also; that it was a tardy measure to pro- though the plan was then proposed, he did not con- and harrass the people of Ireland beyondwhat they. rhment whatever of the men or officers of cure the additional military force alluded to, by bal. sider it as settled it that time, he considered wile- ' t h en he measure would prove as effedual as it could support. • He observed, that it was better, if , when he asserted that they could not be lot ; that mode had, however, been sandioned upon taxes were necessary, to levy the same for the poor le oreffeetive'es regular troops. Though similar occasions, and acknowledged to be good ought, and other circumstances which he could only, as Ireland could not support such saxes es 1 disciplined in the same way, they had not by persona who had seen service. England did in time of peace, without/cellos tha It would also d i s cu ss if necessar y . He be gg ed his ' lti g ht Honour. ties as those whohad seen service, and had be admitted, that if we had an army corriMatided able Friend to understand he did not adually apt greatest calamity- i rove or resist the plan in question. Having great After some farther eonsideratlon, the resoktione .. . tailor's phrase, got into deep water. Th e by of fi cers whose experience was not to be P I i the Militia was never in a high state called in question, the advantages arising were s p ans( Lion in the outlines of the.tneasure, he would were agreed to, and ordered to be reported- suggest whether it would not be better for general Th e Diu , i mpos i ng a d uty jig" ere removed from those quarters of . the obvious, although the men were not so strictly !acorns, &e. was read a first and ordered to be read a second • I , Much was eel:pi:4.lNi from the army of disciplined as regular troops. The setvices of security, to pat the country upon the foot of an . armed country, by c ountry all by which • ans, if t i t ime, , 1 • ' I id' partly as they had already performed the. corps to bc raised were -to extend fyrther than me to•morrow. the Right Hon. Gentleman had stated; it was to to. an enemy came, they would be enabled to resist in ' brilliant exploit% but no man, what- Mr. voicributt . brought up a Bill to prevent . valour of 'to all parts of the kingdom, by -Ohl& it would o all clirettinal. . , rice he might place on the • n, when fighting in their own defence 1 fain augmentation, and establish the belief Of seen- The SECRETARY at WAR said, he claimed i t i e r ful cmnbta;*" sateen P HlThe i men trade "' `. of their country, could expect from the rity. It had been w•gesi; that raising -itody of men, no credit for the consideration of the measure laid ,„ &e. in Irabmat • Read erst time, and ordered • . . t• e same things that he might from an art b . y the meant alluded- to, wouldha4etbe effect of in- before the House, but trusted the Couunittee ssauld le leads maim tirmcti v. elhlPdlir• juri . ng the regni:tr tmors—dikhieb tras an deg: — not fail to tender it as period so possible. Wh etk , eirIiXANDER 'ttp t Bill to revive .. . brought retina the renown it had already acquired. ' tin this great force could not be seat he could not comprehend . The Right flew • the histot7 cifxbe belligerents were traced, it th,_e Mt' ,ths Seth ald 44lll dtbe Kingt forAraut - . i d t h e tee entry by offensive opera . . man had given ao able discussion of the itinitary COW would appear. ; that so far ' Majesty's Mien / in ". . • U'Oati an 4 itant•Mejoes as i t not i ng t hat the rovers of the Conti- duct whic iv h o ottght . a . et. Ct i f r r ea n that occasion ; errs walls= bphyring 41 1 7 2 .;ett to t h e i s .. .of the 0.. , Read a tisigimai 4 6 , 1 0 0 4 0 j i , ch might., m the course of the war, be dis- t .u ia, . when the Bin was Rirmerly breight in fee ford de e n Ide ~, of the ccinnery e Atot nasssure was taken ilb afi mailiOli.. Iva - a*".". lll **N m 9 2lll4n. IP i' 4 that pa_tt, of the Dderred tilt ethet.oriari . 4l64* - - f l i co-operas: with us, should know that, . t Lad a u t hi s / w as fas•haine defence. .'T -40,000 iota for the Militia . !Ike had*. Right Hon, Code:nen% speech ilk: Vruttlition)s leiOntisests • ' ''' ' i .. . 4 - • • 1. 1 , • i Se , • . . ~ ......_ 7-r: - .....a7 - .1 - ,."7 -- '*--- 7- .' . - --.--- , . ' •