The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1803-06-24 00:00:00

~- . .~ ~~ ~~- :* - 7 7 -.~.~. ~- IN! Earl of ltsciaer tad Lord Crawllle movei several Amendrneots in other subsequent clauses, which were fieg4thed. The LORD CHANCELLOR moved several omissions and insertions, which were agreed to. One clause his Lordship undertook to revise in the morning, and brim it lot ward properly amend ed to-IDOrreiw. Lord GRENVILLE proposed one amendment in the Clause enacting that " Lists of the Licences should be laid annually before the King in Council. with the causes of granting them," which amend ment was agreed to. At length the House got through the Rill, and the further consideration of the Report was adjourn ed till to-morrow- • The Clerk having sworn some witnesses, the House adjourned at twelve o'clock till to-morrow. • HOUSE .OF COMMONS. T H VILMA. Y t J1.:24£ 23. The SECRETARY at WAR brought in a Bill to augment the number of Field Officers in the ser vice of Great Britain. DEFENCE OF VIE COUNTRY. The SECRETARY at WAR moved the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Army of Reserve Bill. Mr. CALCRAFT regretted that he should in the least degree delay a proceeding, the objed of which was, the detence of the country; bet feeling, as he did, that it was a measure not calculated to meet the exigency of our present situation, he should be compromising his duty to the }tense, and degrading himself in his own estimation, if he did not take the earliest opportunity of stating his sertiments.— He thought. that when the Right Honourable Gentleman brought forward a measure of this kind which sins inefficient, it would have been right for him to have explained the whole plan he had in view for offensive operations, as far as regarded recruiting for the line. The Secretary at War admitted, and every gentleman must feel the necessity of filling up those corps that were deficient in number of men ; therefore, before he took out of the stock of men fittest for the service. such a number as 50,000 fols,. defensive operations, he should have stated by what means he pro prised to add to those which were deficient for offensive operations. He would have consented to any measure that would have filled the ranks. He thought the mode by ballot, adopted with respell to Fencible Regiments, should be had recourse to, to fill up the regiments of the line. The country required strong measures, and if there was any odium attached to the recommendation of what he proposed, he tnust be content to come in for his share of it. We were now going to take 50,000 men front the ranks, for the same purposes that Fencible Regiments were raised. It must be admitted, that in consequence of this measure, it would be more diffit to fill up those regiments that were now without their sufficient number of men. It had been said that the regiments of the line could not be recruited by giving bounties ; why then not fill them up by ballot r This measure would hare the effect of drawing front the fund used for the supply of ere Ewe 50,000 of the most effettive men of the country. We had all in view, vigorous measeres for dte pmeecntiot of die war ; them were vulnerable paws at which the chesty might be attacked, but he would ark what was the most proper time for taking notice of those vulnerable points ? Un doubtedly it was as early as possible s our enemies would be aware that their country was open to thous disadvantages, and would take care to provide against them, if they were allowed time to do so ; this was consequently a reason far sot losing a mo ment in recruiting such an efficient force for offensive operations, as might have the drat of bringing the war to a weedy oon clusion. k was of the utmost consequence that these operations should cos nunce immediately. As the present was was one in which no man had templed to come for ward with his purse, he saw no reason why the persons of his Majesty's sub;olis should Le spared. He conceived it right to tate notice of what had fallen from a Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr.. Wind ham) respeiting the Mitia, on a late occasion. As he was himself an officer in the Militia, he was the OM entitled to notice what had fallen from that Gentleman. He had heard sentiments from him respeCting that corps, which he much regretted should ever have been uttered ; and, he —as per suaded, the Hon. Gentleman himself would, upon maturer reflection. regret them too; they contained a sort of sneer at a set of men whose exertions had been most serviceable to dris country; men who had served it faithfully and honourably upon the most trying occasions, and would be ready to serve st again. Luckily, the Right Hon. Gentleman did not stand high as a military authority, or it might be necessary to go further in reply to his observa tions ; hut having filled the situation he had ioniser. ly done for a number of years, it was remarkable that he should have attacked the military system of this country. However high he hail stood, the s, hitiments he had expressed would shake him in the esteem of those se'oo before entertained a high opinion of him. The system he ridiculed had been established by a brave and meritorious officer ; and however the Hon. Gentleman might laugh at the words—re the Rik—Dent—he was p . cr uaded, that if the Militia were brought into the held, they would go enough their military evolu tions with the same promptness and regularity as corps which were exercised together. He was con vinced that we were much indebted to the Militia for those great exploits performed in Egypt. He land thought it necessary to state his opinion with regard to the proposed measure; he was persuaded that it would be found not suffi ciently strong; that it would prevent recro,ting for the line ; and. there fore, that it would be necessary, in order to recruit the line, to has-e recourse to ballot. Mr. SHERIDAN said, be did um rise for the purpose of giving his opinion upon the present measure ; he deprecated premature discussion ; he understood tile Right Hon. Gentleman, who intro. duced the Bill. wished it to go to a Committer, in order that the blanks might be filled up. and that it might be put into an iatelligible shape.. In this wish Ise pet a ly coincided. His Hon. Friend who had just spoke, as well as the House in general.. would then have an opportunity of ascertaining, whether the object they desired might mot be attained t 0 let full extent. He trusted that Gentlemen would mot indulge in ant acrimonious discussion about the respe4ive merits of the troops of the line me the Militia; at the ague time be could not avoid Amyl% that the observations of his Hon. Friend were pro. laskitel, wit! „called Air.. He expressed .a wish that ~~_ _~ - .... --- ~ •:. ~-• • . the CoMmktee on the King's Niessage night be re vived. and observed he was as much for strong, bold, and vigorous measures as his Hon. Friend was ; but when he talked of balletingfor the line. and having re. course to compulsory service, he could not possibly agree in sentiment m ith him. No man, who wished to proceed upon constitutionatprlnciples, could ever reconcile his mind to such a measure. The whole power and property of the country were in the hands of Government, for the defence of the country ; but it would be a most unconstitutional stretch of autho rity to send people abroad, against their consent. We were all bound to exert ourselves for the defence of the country, and were liable to be called upon, even by the Sheriff so to do, if the necessity re quired ; but the Government had no right to force a man, by ballot, into a regiment of the line ; such a plan would be reversing every principle upon which the British Constitution and Government was found ed ; however, when the subject was discussed, he should have more to say on this part of it—for the present, he had only to recommend that the Bill might be permitted to go to a Committee. Islr. CALCRAFI' said, he was ready to go as far . as his Hon. Friend in support of constitutional prin ciples ; but when he heard it stated that the boun ties offered would not produce soldiers, and know ing, as he did, that it was necessary to set on foot offensive measores, he was of opinion that extraor dinary means must be resorted to for the defence of that Constitution, which he knew how to value as much as any man Sir GIL3ERT HEATHCOTE was of opinion that vigoreas measures were necessary. - He trusted, that if the French were preparing to land at Dover, the people would not see their country insulted, without a bold effort to resist and punish the inva ders. As for rising in a mass when th - hour of dan ger arrived, he looked upon that as'sidiculous. If the people of this country were so degenerate as to look with a gloomy aspect, on the prospect of the danger that presented itself, and were adverseto thOse extraordinary exertions which could alone insure their safety, he feared the country was irretrievably lost. He thought something vigorous should be done; for himself, as a Member of Parliament, and as a subject, he was ready to come forward and support Government to the utmost of his power. Mr. WILLIAM ELLIOTT said, he rose to or. pose the Bill ; the objection he felt was shortly this, that it was necessary to procure as large a regular army as possible ; it was necessary to have a large disposable force for offensive purposes, as well as for those of a defensive nature. proposition stood upon such obvious reasons that he would not pur sue it further • the difference of opinion only was as to the prallicaility of raising such a force. He was persuaded there was no man who considered the subject, who was not displeased that the amount of the army bore no proportion to the population of the country reasons certainly might be stated why such was the case : first, our marine required a con siderable number of men ; next, the situation and commerce of the country demanded a vast supply of its population for civil employments, for manufac tures, and agriculture ; but these causes did not sa tisfattorily account for the deficiency of the army ; the experiment of recruiting had never been fairly tried, nor could it, while twenty or thirty guineas bounty were given for home service ; it was impel. Bible, while that was the case, that recruiting tor the line could go on. He said he had always been a friend to the principle upon which the Militia was founded, because it was a principle of compulsory service which rnight be most essentially applicable to the defence of the country. He wished, that if personal service was to be dispensed with, that a fine should be paid to Government to be appropri axed to bounties to men for recruiting the line. He had no hesitation in saying, that he knew how ad verse it would be to the h abits and manners of the people to adapt a compulsory system of recruiting ; but it was his solemn opinion that .we rims: have recourse to compulsion, or the regiments of the line could not possibly be filled up. It was im possible but the Militia must always consist of raw inesperienced men, consequently the country could not avail itself, in times of danger, of the assistance of the Militia, unless it was is conjiindl'usts with a . large mass of regular troops. He believed it was the opinion of military men, that new soldiers were soonest trained with old experienced troops. No doubt, in the coarse of three or four campaigns, the domestic force of this country might become a very fine army ; but if we had not a disposable force of regular troops with which to commence our operations, we were inviting the enemy to our own shores. Without melt a force, even if we sue. , needed in evening the French, we should have done nothing. He referred to the ample means the north em pates of Scotland afforded of providing troops for the line.and censured a system adopted some years ago, of raising 5000 Militia in that country, locking them up, and sot suffering them to advance beyond the borders. He next observed, that hole good was to., be expisited from the mode of raising soldiers by , such officers as recruited for rank. In the first place, the regulations with resiseift to recruiting were dis regarded ; and, in the next, the promotion of the officers did not depend, as it ought to do, upon merit, but upon wealth and interest. He thought we were treading back, step by step, all our former errors. While such a disregard was shewn to the recruiting service, though he would not despair, yet he could not look forward with any sanguine hepso or ex pectations to the issue of the contest in which we were etigars.ed. He remarked that his Majesty's Message was on the table, stating that the country had been receiving a series of aggressiosis for a ecmsiderahle time past, and among others, that the enemy had employed military spies. 'What he condemned his Majesty's Ministers for was, that at the very time when these aggressions wcre taking place, they were coming down to the House, and making dielarations of the splendid state of our ! finauctal system, promising a duration of peace. and recommending us to husband our resources; when, instead of so doing, they aught to have been i occupied in preparing plans for the defence of the country; they had conducted themsolvee in,a.manna by no means conformable to his idea of what ought to have been their duty. He concluded by stating, that he should vote against the measure, because be thought it was inefficient. The SECRETARY at WAR observed, that if ' the Hen. Gentlemen, who had spoke in the :mire of tile debate, had waited till the Bill h a d been priness4 in all theliHeod, many id their observations might have been spored ; he night probably have received such smisfitelien uponahesubjeot, as atuald. have precluded the'nsuessity Of his ritskinic theft. lJndoubtedl T he ruse justified is some - el tier itOsple'' .-- •. • vations he had made. He that elated 'them chastised ; the spirit that prempt the debate, to give his opinion, because diem were I ed them repressed, and the means of continuing one or two observations that appeared to him to have them, Curtailed ; but at such a moment as the pre arisen from whatini perhaps,. when lie had sent, we ought to take counsel of prudence as well stared speriesket; and t plan was, the Hon. Gent. as of spirit ; and, therefore, to shield our s el v e s front would find he had been premature in his remarks. attack, was, in point of order and reason, prior to sta the He could not help first noticing an expression the the infliCtion of vengeance on the enemy. If we Hon. Gentleman had used, with respeifl to Our were to say, that a defensive force, which should treading step by step all our former errors. He have the effea of disappointing the proud expeCla wai ready to admit, there might have been many ti e rs of the enemy, was something below our no errors committed ; but how this measure, which tice--that to be safe against an enemy, which had was a novel one, could be so called, he was at a subdued half Europe, was to humble ourselves, and loss to conceive. it was, as far as it went, an en- that we had better add to the list of its victims. deavour to avoid former errors. lie maintained, than not conquer, such a sentiment was certainly he. that from the time the Definitive. Treaty was signed, roism—but pushed to an extent which prudencs every possible measure had been adopted, for putting could not justify. He therefore begged leave to say, the army and navy on the most effectual footing. that without to renounce the idea Of - giving an offers. When the plans recommended for that purpose by sive quality to our operations, he was. contest to his Majesty's Ministers were tinder discussion, it was make now that vigorous effort which should ensure open to the Honourable Gentleman, or any other the safety of this country. If it could not be done Member of the House, to have come down, and otherwise than by reuuuneing the hope of offensive have opposed them, or proposed others of a operations, he would willingly prefer to renounce different nature. Government had brought for- them. if the alternative was, that by adopting the ward a Militia system, and the largest naval present measure, we could not, within two months, establishment ever kept up in times of peace ;it was expel to have an effechive army for offensive opera. the duty of the Hon. Gentleman to have then stated tions, though we might be sure of one for defensive his objeftions, and have urged that the preparations purposes, and should be prepared for every attack, did not go far enough. With regard to the supe- he would rather say, proted the independence of our riority of the regular arrnv over the Militia, it was own chores--.he should say, make this island. blt the what every one admitted, but there were many rea- display of its courage, a shame to the whole Coa ti. sons why the regular army could not be compare- !tent. Whatever might be the number of our forces,. tivelv so large as might he wished. First, the insu. whether 80,000 or 90,000, they were more than dotes lar situation of the Country must be considered, and ble what they ever were; and he was persuaded, secondly the commercial and civil habits of the if to that we wanted a force of 100 or Ino,ooo people of the Country, and the happy state in which more, and we could obtain them for a limited . they had continued for a century past, undisturbed service, but not for a general servi'ce, were by scenes of war, bad tended to prevent the forma- we, because we were cut short in our dream of tion cf a large regular army. He was, however, per- offensive operations, to refuse to avail ourselves of suaded that a great deal had been done for giving the certain means of defence afforded us. He was strength to our regular force. Some Hon. Gentle- one of those who would be content with the humble men hat recommended the granting bounties in means of defensive warfare if the other was not at order to recruit the line. Upon this subjetk he had hand. He was therefore a friend to the general only to observe, that money would not always pro- principle of the Bill. This was a subject on which cure soldiers for the regular army. Young men he had deeply reflected, and without retrospesnively entered into the army from many reasons exclusive considering what had been the condud of Govern. of that of gaining money. Many were curious to ment. He was led to the opinion that this measure go abroad, others were desirous of leaving their was the best that could be framed. not only for the native place, and others enlisted from various causes. present defence, but for the raising hereafter a force It would be found, that in the'course of the last year, for general service. The first object, in order of and particularly within the last sor G months, there time, was that of being safe I the second wes to be had been an infinitely larger number of recruits for strong. The present measure was therefore to bee the regular army than usual, although the recruit- preferred, because a force for limited service was ing fbr the Militia had been going on during the sooner raised than a force for general service.-.' whole of that time. He could state, that during the He should desire to know what more was wanted last year there had been obtained as many recruits to recommend the general outline of the plan, as from 1,000 to 1;200 a month. Adverting to the and induce the House to go into a Committee s last war, he maintained that the army was in a much in which every thing might be done that was aeces. worse situation than it was at present. In the year sare to the safety of the country. It was supposed 1796, there were 1`25 regiments of foot ; and pre- that our having a large Militia was inconsistent vions to Sir Ralph Abercrombie's going to the with our having a large military force, and that we West-Indies, it was found necessary to make a re- thereby chained down our politics to this island,. form in the army, ard have the number cut down Now, the period when the present system of the to ninety-six; and notwithstanding this, there was Militia was introduced, was that in which, with the not a sufficient number of men to complete those exception of the period of the wars of the Duke of regiments. It was with the greatest difficulty that Marlborough, this country was embarked farthest army was completed, and when it was, it only in continental warfare, and when their operations formed one garrison bananas. The qaestion to be were crowned with . glory and success. He was at here considered was, what was necessary to be done a loss then to conceive upon what principle it was at the present time, when the country was hard said, that there was an allianee between the increase pressed on many points fHe denied that we could oftheMilitia,and the destruction of tbe Array. What. either, by enlisting or by bounden obtain at this ever were the objects at which offensive war,poineed e moment any number of men we might want for the the necessity for defensive measures was augmented. regular army. Every Gentleman would certainly It was not to be supposed that the offensive opera. think it was necsseary strong measures should tions of this country were to be on a scale with the be resorted to. He was of the same opinion, army which Bonaparte might bring into the field, but he could not approve of the measure which He admitted that a force which had had experience had been suggested, of continuing the system in foreign wars, had been inured to laborious cane. by ballot, and obliging persons who were drawn paigns, and was commanded by officers who had either to serve personally, or find a substitute acquired skill and discipline by long service, was for the regular army. Upon this point he agreed more likely to repel a foe than a force differently. perfectly in the sentiments uttered by an Hon. Gen- constituted I but such a force was not so ready to deman (Mr. Sheridan) in the course of the debate. he found. Perhaps it might he as well, if his Hem. l'he principle upon which the whole of the Militia friend would prevail upon Bonaparte, by a cartel, system was formed, was that of the internal defence not to =ads us till we had had au opportunity of of the country. They were only justified in calling sending our troops abroad, and giving them a little upon the people to form it by ballot, because it was experience. It; after providing for our own defence, the duty of every man to assist in the defence of the they wet e not content, and there were means of country. He could not, therefore, prevail on him- augmenting the army, such a measure would be self to go one step further than that principle which advisable ; but he submitted, that by the plan of formed the basis of the present Militia system, nor increasing the Militia, in the first instance, we indeed was it necessary. He should not refer to had a better chance of afterwards obtaining a force the power of enlisting these men into the regular fur general service. Unless it was thought ad. army, becauscethe Bill would contain no restriction visable to destroy the Militia altogether, there to a measure of the kind. They were obliged, in must necessarily be a competition between that the year 1799, to have a law to enable the Militia force and the regular army, .He stated, that if out to go to Holland, because the existing Militia laws of fifty thousand Militia, we should at any time stated expressly, that they should not go out of the want two or three thousand men for general kingdom. The Hon. Gentleman seemed to consi- services, could any person for a moment doubt but der Scotland as the gicina milituni. On that sub- they would he obtained without the least difficulty, jest he wished to set him rig ht Ireland might .It could not be urged that this sy s tem wou ld be o b. justly be so considered ; but, with regard to je&ionable to the ocers; for, at a time when the Semi:sad, from the increased state of i:s mane- ' Militia wee adding to the massof the army, and the' factures, and from its opulence. it was pretty much Officers of Militia were themselves promoted to rank upon a par with this country. It was a well known in. the regular regiments, they must feel that they fag, that in those highlandnegiments, whose brave were/July adding to those regimeets which they had exploits had been so justly the theme of admiration one day a chance of commanding He had not the and applause, there were fall as many Englishmen Ices: doubt, but that by the system proposed, the aed Irishmen as there were Scotchmen. Upon the country would, Isefore the end of the year, have a whole, without wishing to trespass further upon the larger force than by carrying the bounties (es the time of the House. he trusted it would be considered , army to the highest possible extent. With regard that this Bill was the best measure that could, under to the question o recruiting corps of the line out Of the present state and circtunstances of the country, the Militia being injurious to discipline, it might be be adopted. . It was the most effeetual measure, true, if that system was carried on by rec r ui t in g because was calculated to raise the greatest num. parties,orby that most infamous pradicecalled crimp. bee of men within the Shortest time, and because he i ing; but it would not have that effect, if it was done could not, for the constitutional -reasons he had by mustering the men at different and uncertain pe. already stated, thiok of resorting to any compulsory Hods, allowing thorn at such musters, to declare measure for the purpose•of recruiting the tegular their intention of entering the regiments of the hue and, as doubtless there would be thrice as many of- Mr. PITT said, he certainly viewed this measure fee their services as would be wanted, all,ows the in so different a light from his Honourable Friend, Commanding Officer to aided such as he should (Mr. Wm. Elliott) that it was on the very topics on think proper. The time of muster 'sot being known ' :which he opposed it, that he rested the grounds of Iseforehenu, no soldier would know at whit period ;his amation of the principle. subject to that detail he could withdraw himself, and consequently the it would have in the Committee on tke Bill, and that discipline could not be affedect. if he was right in opinion was strengthened and confirmed by what he this idea, then the measure appeared to be one which had heard firm the Secretary at War. He had was more ready end ededual for present defensive considered this Bill as not only being that service, more prompt in its execution, for recruiting which appeared to furnish the most prompt for general service, than any his Hon. Friend could and efficacious mode* of giving us that •which build on the deetnidion of the Militia. He oinerved n we first wanted, a defensive army against that it was necessary to frame a Bill, to keep down proletlet invasion, and for laying the foun- the price of substitutes. If in the Committee it datum efgieing us e in a reasonable time, that which should appear doubtful whether substitutes could be eras essential in the progress of war, with a view to found for any sum, in such case, every man who its ultimate success, he meant a disposable force, could serve, ought to serve. He should wish, if by which we slight avail lourselves of any opening possible, to Recline strong measures ' • and would ra the& might present itself of strikieg a blow against ther prefer following the principle of the present Mi . the assailing enemy. if he was asked svhich he litia Laws. There was nothing novel in the system might to prefer, uadoulatedly it would be the latter. itself) for if there was any thing novel in it. it was He aitould swish to see the spirit a the count. 7 tie degree of advantage which would be derived • towed to etch a pitch, at not only the attempts of from it. If the pecuniary penalty could be so =ea ' the mien • Ahould be repelled, but the presumption fied, as .t.o ikasuze the =suit, he should be happy to ln • - . 4!. 4 ~~, 1- 1 7'