The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-05-03 00:00:00

be attrilintea to the then exiling Ceseerninent. It 4 c- tausly traded to tattier tat: tottiatiou of the sol- tr, sad lie trosted oat too). toy would ever be v o •atelat to that Amster, who had aised his best OWL:at:MI* iu itum behalf. aid had actually put tat - tit llp.0:1 a better tuoiiiiz, witisont at ail Mertes. fns own power. Hi: thought the army had the.* been placed uptia welt a system as to pre clu.le all the schem .s twit projects of any set of euipirics. lie did flatter himself that wltat erer changes might be stigge.ted by mile; u,ent the snare getieral system of de fence, tilt:y would have carefully observed not to strike at the foundation and rout of that system, before it had lied a fair trial. At all events, he should have thought that Ministers would not have attempted to make any change, unless they wall have suggested something urea, which they could skew 0/:14 for the good of laic country. They had now proposed a plan which, in their opinion;, was to increase our strength in au a:mishit... , degree, and to preclude us from all at tacks from an invading enemy. Vie are told that we are to have a nuinefaiu, regimented force, with out putting the country to much ex pensemor to much trouble. If he wereeonvificed oh this, such a . measure should have his support, from whatever side of the 'louse it came; but lie not only erniceived this mea sure to be attended with great c...pense to the coati try, but with vast trouble and iiicoaveui.mee to in dividuals; that it was,perfettly futile and iitelciw, t:oinbioing all the diratlrantages of other measures, without contributing any of their beneficial egrets. Does the Noble Lord believe, that in the pace of tts days, a vast number of iutm, brought together by compulsion, can be discipliaed and regimented as a regilar force? it was hardly sidfici.frit time to dis cipline a small uuMber of recruits in the ordinary maticeuvres, and how then could it happen that such i t . great body of men could be trained and disciplined in all the necessary evolutions of an army ? The i,4ea was extravugstio. etell ridiculous iu the highest de gree. We were told they were not to be expen sive, and yet these militia were to receive a ccrtaiu bounty, betides being paid, armed, and clothed at the expense of Covernmetit, besides having a per tunueot gaff kept up for them in every county town. lie elmahl aver and maintain, diet this would be a .great expense to the country, without as equivalent advantage resulting iron stick a ininkleare. The volunteers, he now uoderatontl, were else to be allowed' to enter into this militia, and to receive bounty; so that Government had first put arms into their hands, ind when they were accustomed to the use of tb`.•e, in the service which they had first chosen, they were to be per goaded by a bounty to enter into another service, is ...hid] they would notbe so useful.- He thnoght too that it was absurd to say that individuals would not be put to much incooreeicooe. 'they would not only incur great' trouble and inconvenience themselves, but transfer a vast trouble and expense upon their parishes, by leering their families desti'. • tote tff support. Not to dwell, upon the various inconveniences of such a measure, be should only odd, that it was one of the moat oppressive and tri osestitationel ever introduced into the House, and ateold tend to create universal discontent, as itin moused Miuisterini inflective. We were told that --si•e - m‘ - twimiwire‘ she "11. 1 .4 arose, would not be im peded iv this species oT coulicripuon. for it may be called by that name; but, for his part, he thought that instead of creating a lave of military discipline oi service, it would rather create aversion and disgust. Suds were his ofanions upon the generit principles of the Hill. One clause in par tieular he shonid allude to. These local militia were to lie officered is the same way as theptaa Wished militia. This he thought watt utterly im possible to be 'o.min/disked, as he bellevea't/lat there was Dot now a single militia regiment iur nished with it. full complement of olinsinioklnd how much mere difficult will it be to fiudtheus for these ? Some dinulvantsires 'must alwhys at tend substitution, but he thonglit the dense which prevented it in this premise Hill did not remedy the evil. If a man we, unwillin ,, or unable to serve, it was absurd to prevent him from providing a sub stitute, either at his own expense, or by subscrip tion amongst his neighbours. It would be 'tout desirable that measures of compulsion should not be resorted to ; but such a measure very much re sembled the policy observed by Ministers during the last Session. They atfeet to be endeavouring to promote a system of conciliation, while they tit the rune time throw impediments in the nay of it. Such surely had been their conduct in o•garil to Ireland, by the appointment of persons to offices of authority, who were ohnosions to the people.— It was in vein to allege that that was the mode to conciliate the affection. of the inhabitants of the sister kingdom. It was in vain to say, that mode of conseriptiouwould conciliate the people of this country. In future pages of history there would be an extraordinary contrast perceptible be tween this and the late administration. The one bad tended to increase the liberties; and commerce of the nation, alleviate the burdens, and conciliate the alTecti6ns of the people, besi.tes rendering the military life mire agreeable to the soldier; the other narrowing the liberties awl diminishing the commerce of lie nation; instead of conciliation, governing the country by an armed conscription, and discouraging the soldier, by adopting the unli mited instead of the limited service. lie was well aware of the inconveniciice that insist attend any vigorous measures for the defence of the country ; but he was convinced that, of all others, this NHS the worst ; as it actually coinbit.ei all the disad vantages of the most vigorous measures, without .incluiliog the least beneficial retrults. Such were the rounds on which he should oppose it._ Mr. Jou* Set TN raid, tint not one of his eon - itittleati had stated to him the smallest etiection to it. He had ever profcised hi iniselr a friend to the volunteer system, but Le tlion ! , lit that, more than one onportiinity had been lost, by which they 'night bare been made. perfect. The,- however, were gent , Ly. and it only remained• to reader theta a. elleet:ye as possible. and this Bill osemed to hit's to hate ju.t exactly that effect. It. `rd that sort of bold of them, that it subieete4 thou to a snbsequeht ballot. so ae to secure their service is one way. Tiiis could not be called a eoraireriptioo, as there was a clause. by which a per son hallotted for this senior ;night he entitled to go into a volunteer corps, and they uave 4:0111(1 be called forth, except in cases of iiiiperivus uerisity. He thou::,ht that by the ballot idchtding Ur! serviceabie ut the coutitr), it was tue wore tit fur the lidoptiou of tite,kuuir... . . . Mr. iIhaBLII.T wee by ha menus iitelined to resist the aesesiiig of the liiil, though it might be 'etc:til ed %hit suspense awl other ineollVeWeisee. Ile a as too well un are of the 'WIIIOI7B slate of the pre mut times, not to think tlielitll proeosed a measure absolutely necessary for the safety of the couutr. The Bill, be regretted, Ilud 0110 defect, and Bu,'t was a .in of waissten. The empire had been niucti belelited to toe N'Oble Lord for caret itig the liked ',Aire of the Legislative Linen. when :secretary of State fur irelaiul; he notch wished the Noble Lord hall carried the principle of Union through at least this Bill, 510 endeavoured to concentrute the fordo of the too countrite one fr the liill sli.uald have comprehended Irela,al. It was au atuenaly there should he u union in oue sense, and vet iio union of force. He was eon- s -juiced the persons eurulitel in the militia of the comity he repreeented a oulrl have no objection wimiever to e-,1 to may part of them Burituni, for the welfare of the empire, were they Assured the power with %fedi Ills Majesty ii4eit he invested by any legislative a,•t to that effect would not be abustek l le strongly recommended to the Noble Lord the propriety, or rather the imperious neces sity, of iucluding Ireland within the provieions of the Act. Sir V i tra-etas Betterrr —" I agree with the Hon. Member who lately addressed the House, the pre sent hill only come from the Noble Lord.— I know Mlle 50 capable of devising a measure of its nature. He, 1 cannot suppose, is, but certaiuly the Honer must be, ignorant of the evils and 'pis and* to which they are a bout to subject the cannery, by pernaittingthis setae peed Mesa law. Let it not he forgseteui that Croat Britain is a land of free dom, Hurl dna Briton* have nu Wit-teat detestatiou fur borehi e e. The miiitary of this country have, eneformably to the spirit of the times in which they were first led out for the public defence, beet, sub jected to a rigorous node, termed inertia law, injurious to the feelings of every brave mos, and disgraceful to humanity. Such an iiistitution shonld rather now he abOliidted, as far as it ultras , 1 the military, than be revived lig lima the whole population of the petiole I I'vel this u degrading circumstance attending the Bill, which I cannot peas without severely reptehating. At the term conscription I em not 'teemed, nor does such a measure excite my dislike. 1 can never conceive it a hardship that a manikhall in this crisis be called forth todefeiel, in anus, his Country and its liberties. (liter liter! sad Brarelfrout the gallery.) But, Sir, I ant eager Ministers sherd& before they sub ject freemen to a military code, render that code such as freemen, could obey or be governed by, and not one which inflicts thorns punishineuts uulmown amongst freeineu of antiqulte,,or only exercised'on their slaves. To patronise or iiktrwince Ilan pub- Ile the severe and sanguinary code of martial law and military puitishinent, I grant the Noble Lord is most eminently fitted. lie has a natural predi lection in their &roar, and at an early age he dis played, is the commencement of .his political' ca reer, hie native bias amongst his own countrymen. The Irish have, unfortunately, been safferers by his application of this principle iu civil life, and long may it he ere this &sentry shall permit a /Mailer ex periment to he made by the ingenuity of the Noble Lord. Heel I filly lives, with pleasure *mild I ea erinee them all, rather than permit the country to labour under so distressing a grievanee.-1 Hear ! Hear!)—When it is considered that France pm sesses at this moment nearly one hundred millions of sulieets, that she is nut unly .11 s arbiie, martial maims, hut is regulated, goverped end led on by-a ruler of the meat comprehensive mind, and suc cessful policy, with armies confident of victory, and inured to enterprise, it might have easily been expected that. such a state of things would hale in spired fit ilitlerent ideas from those which have been the result of the Nolile Lord's redece Lion. In such a mete, I say, 'tie just to coups dude, that all the physiud force of the estuary alienist he united in the common cause. But it should he thin united by 'fair and liberal mean., not as sieves who have no tie to 'te thorn to the interests of we hey; bus the scourge and the tor ture. The present mode is one perfectly fitted for despotism, but totally imperfect es a menus of collecting our strctigth ; unit is altogether sac•h as must unavoillebly diseciver to the country, that any man daring to meddle in the military attain of the tuition, and proposing such a measure, is not only an improper. but a dale gerolis person to till the sitriatium held by th e Noble Lord To profess to rahe, by this mode, sixty dummied men, displays so mach ignornace suet so .ll weakness, that it empire but ap pear haziodoul ill the extrenes to permit such a person to continue at the head of the military department. With the vast population and extent of Maritime territory posseesei by Francs., 'tie altogether impos-ible lint she must speedily hnve a fleet, which will he able to coirtend with us at sea, or at least to protectao invasioa our shorter. awl envoi, therefore, should our sys tem of internal defence, that we should not fed the least alarm had we not a ship on the ocean. The spirit, the entitn,iasin of the country, is that which will he faantl the nation's best hooe in difficul ties, and security in trial. I regret tee subject is one of those which I cannot speak of with cosine.. and temper. It is one which harrows up all the indig.,.tut feelings of man. Whet ! are the people of this country to be, coerced and flopped to the execution of their duty to themselves, their lemilies, and their country ? `.4hall Fri-einem slime he compelled to a 31r.:2%D of their duty by the terror of the lash ? Putting oust of the question all the burden of personal eery ice and other inemiveniencias etteuciine the measure, but which it may he absolutely newts:try for the suitety of the country thet each should under g o. There 'recur Was a measure, perhaps. tests fitted for the completiori of its object. Similar r•••lttiaitiotts had been math! ill rnto.t of the nations of Europe, , river which the I reach finally Twee!, without meet me with any Cling like realism{.; 111 the ir way. fling here declare 1 eetertein no doula li leatever of the power which may be vested in I,e :it onerele bt our Constitution rub l e& tilig t he whole 1 ,o,asiat i on to Iris diaptral. Nor have I the lett,t a l tprel.t tt. ioa that that right will tvvr ht . i.)% of . 1141 t tilt subjects of His pots.. Jut y, ince we eiay justly infer, • that he will never transgress the cernititiited manor - ay with winch he is ve,ted. But let me re mind the !louse., and the Noesiu Lord, that similar viizorous uireersores have, iu other times and other countries, proved clestreietiee to tat iateiests, and fatal to the existence, of Princes kiis i nuileut, and less the object of the natiem's regard. The wee cure professes to raive our torte to the stanfard ne cessary, h et. it piovidcs no hicrease ot twee. say, rather, by disrnuraging the volunteer ay stern and the :training Act, it Deere-uses the actual fires. of the estuary ,for tau o habi I ity co a repo alativ advantage Iv meal.. of aocer,atetu, whilst it tieg, eader the character of the nation, anal the spirit of individu als. 1 leave but one rein n k farther to make, and that but ',limit') on the present measure, but connected with it in the sa.ne way as it is with most of the measures of government, winch the lamentable circumstance attending all oar. councils and deliberations, namely, that every thing bears the distioguishing marks of a falling nation. But a short time ago this House re solved to adopt a new principle in the military sys tem of the country. Scareely had this been put into execution, and before there is any poasiliiiity of its being tried fairly, than that principle is about to be snppliuded by another, and the field for speculation is again opened. Thus there ap pears nothing Imt vaccillation in council, and irreto- Intim' and ignorance in those at the head of tellirs, who, wink they are employed in talking about prac tical politics, discover themselves to be mere journeymen lioliticiawywithout discernment enough to discover what is right, or resolution enough to persevere even in their own conception of right and wrong, sud professing principles totally con trail' to the authority of all those venerable charac ters who have written for the instruction and im prove:neat of huunenit)." Colonel Woos professodd his abhorrence of using severity, in too great a degree, even among. the soldiery. The lash was not the . only means yt which soldiers were governed. He regretted the Lnglish and Irish militia ware not liable to be sub stitutes; for each either by the present bill, and ap proved highly of the local militia. Mr. 1i bITOREAD said, he did not to clearly see why an Honourable Member should have so highly applauded the Noble Lord bar the admirable COll. ducelse displayed in the contest for the Union ; it was may to account for his success. A certain ancieut King of Macedon observed, that be found no great difficiilty in telling that fortress ohmic gates would but admit au as, laden with, gold. The Fish Chancellor of the Exchequer could best witisfy the House how far the Noble Lord had eat ployed such means. The Noble Lord had strangely forgotten the principle upon which he bad argued mciipist his Right Ilonourahle Friend, (Mr. N ilsdhaial, when he had objected to his trvatitteut of the voluutters, and had himself high!' applauded that institution. He wax now of he first to b Mg them completely iuto disrepute ; lord' the bill proposed to do way thing, it was cer tainly to convert the volunteer* into militia. There was no addition proposed to the force oldie coun try, hut there was a vast increase of expense pro 'the operation of a ballot bad, within the last four months, bores found very prejudicial to the country, vet by this spurns there was proposed et continual balled. and a plan also of makiag eme rgent detitiencies, by voliiiie-ering into either este blishmesits. All that was good in the measure was taken how the plan propmeed by his Right lion. Friend, all that was had was novel. The provision for lessening the period of year l i of service was fu tile, since it was net possible to provide the force required, within the years of is and 35. The population could net bear it. The 1111107 P of time allotted for training was altogether insufficient for making them soldiers, and vet too long to keep the youth, who were thus forPed from their peaceful innocent life, from contagion and vice. il'itls respect to the proposed change of militia between Ireland and England, lie lamented to say be tlionibt it scarcely practicable. Would to God, said lee, there was no necessity to bring over the Irish to behold our wealth, splendour, mad luxury, to °take theta attached to us; and world to heaven the Niiiiistry would puesne that heir of policy which would ethinert the interests of the two countries together. Hut such is not their wish; and it is vain to expect nu litarly co-operation ou the part of that notion Mr. WI LB f. k FORCE expresses' his opprobation of the Noble Lord lair frieusts plan ; regretted that the sountry slid not seem perfectly aware of its danger; and saw in. po.sible luea.aa of saving the eouiitry. from iiiviisi ))))) except by sitnil ir menus. The only chuucr the within loot of preser:iiig itself mid it.. credit, was to keep up such a force as might rends.' all hope of suere-s in He :vs.:rested (lover •nt bed not &It itself warranted in culling out rill the force of the nation, awl exhorting them to retiree the W... quisitions of their forrfatheis, and their tuitional greatness. Ile should assist the Tulle Lord's mess sure, SO far se it Went, yet he would feel inneli more satistavtrun had the bill gone as far us other Gis. rerninents had conceived themselves wa,snuted going. 'Elie force should Den only be nearly equi valent to the etiective population, but should be also ptrinanent. The presont wa4 a golden inter val, when it might he done with effect, and he hoped the Govennuent would not permit it to pass. -11 Ir. WIN OH A Al denied that the country nod the House were not aware of the danger inn...tiding over them. lie had no less apprehension for the tuition iu the year lid, when the Right Honour able Gentleman (Mr. iVilherforce) had so different un opinion of things, that he compelled the great MAO, the9t ot the head of affairs, to turn the whole system of his measures, and not it into o th er h an d,. 'this wits all Owing to tilit flit-il error wider which he laboured, and to the dissentinatimi of which he contributed greatly , by his advice. But was the danger so terrific in the eyes of Ministers, that they eared not what were tlla in,ans ? %%us the oat' tto they had, danger ? sVas there no co.isider ation of safety reipos:te ? The remedy might lie se, prejoilicial as the iLsoinw. lit slid not object the colliitf was ca!lcd to do too much ; Ise t:mieelit far oriierwi..e. But then; was, Lifter ad!, we Lead, walling to be done as to prim:will:4 1u uddi tire% of Cibree. _There wet no MCC...5..10U to the deter of the country. The a bole bud been miscaleithited. l le would ear ou tite siihject, us Dnetor JuLnsou once s..id on a ttvrli a ilich had I•Ci. nut tA :tit ;Teat parade or litentry reiwart:ll a•q.l St,ip the bird of iis . what it has in it substantial ?" it hit by • ib :.e doing for his pforevicil ? 't hric au., L e granted, enough or other matters and 1,u,1,n,ua is it, but good ; wLieh perhaps ti.ute u the Louie Lori: would %brie Lf . t tional on his part, but were useiei: t e of accident, like the doctrine of the Lsai.rn::.- ture of atoms. There was enough of eves:!. tiou and iutertuvtimi of lat:our, hard yri?.,!).,g laws on the poor of tie ((midi-3... and a • play of rich patronage and iiitimener. would all this be worth ? It aas all fiord. gold would it Lring if buriwd clown ? VVilat real value lie bad said it woaltl - e 300,00 u men in arms, arts this true ?liati a ~ .; the 31.00,u0v inert before? And fetal we nut more effectually in torus by the treiniri.. s . te „ . than by this, winch wail ant to Qi,tivtt• sums considerable time, and there might Ine s been provided by that Act *alone 200,000 men, it had been :teemed necessary ? He ohjected to the period uliotteil for exercise by the p;e s e,,, bill, as altogether nailed for the ;mi l ones el rendering them soldiers, or pernrie.h u r thew to continue manufacturers arid hoshatiiin.en. time was too short fur the first, and tau keg fo r the last. But these troops were to be tegieuutrii, and formed into anatvauies, battalions, & e . 1:,,, was the growl origin :. ground on which the Lord rested the excellence of his memure. "1 he idea might be very imposing to the ie . :Mary net ins of the Noble Lord; but it would lie found in this end to he • complication of weakness and 101,5. The only euissideratioria were, what had hero griMed as to ex t ense, and what had been added to the im morality of the country ? In these tv o cousider anoint, at least, it had far outstripped any thing proposed by his predecessors. The go at ad vantages which roma to striLe the Notate Lord, eoimist chiefly its clothing these nee levies of his in red each rod breeches. He is pleased with the agreeable contrast they make with the green prospects around deem; and, after having rendered the whole country a complete se . magundy, he assures himself lie has obtained a most excellent trained force, ht tor 4.1 the purpose s of war. Regular training alone could etlect this desirable end. Aud here he world suggest to the House the mama why assailing aintsies to gearedl had the advantage; because ;4.1 were ' , repair d for the assault, and regularly diseip,itriel, wbilst tin e whom they Nita* kt LI wire uniprtpared, and lino expert in the use of arms. lie would risk, wilt-air the Noble Loot would males these troorw brunt than those already at the service of the <sundry, raised by the late Training Act? Yes, said tre Noble Lord, by giving thew numerous oftern. But who were these Acct., or of what strait* were . they to those they never sew hat once a year r 1 his was only to 'increase the number of officers iufiuite-ly, without gaining one tittle by the exchange. Awl yet these troops, it was vin!, would be fitted to serve with the liue, by t6.1,,,.- .cles of disciplining and training. Jr stir they should happen to get there, thil would, be was sure, only prove a court rot' diaister. They were not made more capable of acting, chattier might he of *offering more. VS benever they shoind be employed, he haritio doubt they woe d 'titivate e defeat and dismay into the ranks of dm .010re.5..-s It was the intention, he Lad heard, of the Noble lord, to dereottunmance , tittering inns the tolon terra elteiether. Even eirsohar letters, he lea heard, hid been sent out to prohibit say perm..., from entering, whilst the bill was pending in Pv:- liaineut. This appeared very probahle, Vicru i ;lr he could not answer furies accuracy. Sortie of friends of the Noble Lord's measure had, as fi iriais also of the volunteer system, like the Noble Lcril, expressed their approbation of the volcideers, in very ambiguous phraseology. One professed him self !Ire friend of the verluutecirs, if they simuld tee (-Mule: Lied to continue volunteers. A compulsory volunteer was a sort of being he had never till than heard of. This put him its mind of at gene-email vitas *as food of having his ice warmed. Another fricud of the volunteers complained of the trouble some interference of law courts to the satin of the volotateers. And it soon, after Repeated this trouldesolue interference was no other than a dc i siou gireu be the Court of King's-beach, tla.t a volunteer could not be canape:led to aerie in the eorp4. Those were °llene... rather of the law makers than of the courts, a Lich only enforced the laws, and the coteelatot should rather hove here mode to the llouse, agaiiist itself, for having thallno. such been the conthict oftliellieeri , of the volunteer.. that it lied ut.iitied him altoetther ur ' the advice, he, who had In en denominated the eve ' nay of that system, had, on a humor occusion, given them, its tire foreign proverb, •• guard me agaiust my friends, and I shall take care of itis *elf against say enemies."—lt could, he feared, be proved, that the profess. d friends a the volunteer establishment were at heart the gin •it• possihrie eireinics they could have. t 1,•;• proil.1”111 of this Bill lead been much commendeil for its le. P riority, taretrelv, that of compelling voluidoent to hind theirown clothes, amid serve at their own experme. Yr t this had been anticipated in his former bill. h. , would repeat it—there was nothing oriental in tli:s !roamed measure, but what was prnWraats to the interests, finances and man. is' flue country. Of there two plats now before the I t euse,the esietiug sad the proposed, he should leave th.f 1 ; ou- e to judge which they Would support, by t; le:- jogs as well as their understusiiiires. \.:.h re spect to the expense, he observed, tiny a uhdy. But in the grand object of itifirrence mail pa tronage there was the gre..test poss, ble the present system, tilts had been relit:. I , •A pri••111111`. whilst in the pr all at its masianio. NA hell its o's ill% list a mini ben Of ecilllllllo*loll., grik elltiollit 1411 d 11014011iN, were by it to he tlistributt.!. it must appeals a most ad.r.ira',ly-contiii - ed plan for the grand purpose of I qttroris„:,e. but it was necessary to blind the country by one er smithy : if it t, as a prejniiiec •at wa• it ca. l iens tsoy to gate it it gloss tollit.eti,e blemish sit 11...; ti:•s If Uri. It had broke up the erode sy so to of the ;•re ; . and lii the general credo-ono it Nuthie Lord had some hope that some IttiOtt, Ilic . .l:s!,...ird...rent. to the 11•0 0 .114 .0- tC14 . 1 , 41 141 , 111 t 11.• ruin Or I'lll ). In ti,o *11.1 ) w the elate a the r MVO : a . • •.• '`. 111111 .~~