The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-03-22 00:00:00

also very subversive of discipline in tholidilitia ; and as a proof, referred to the disgraceful scenes which had been resorted to and aifted in 1799. The Right Hon. Gentleman had _promised that the Mi litia should be gradually reduced, and good faith kept with the MII4. He was surprised that he, w ho had such a fines of words always at command, could have bit upon no other than those, to make a pledge which was so soon to be broken. Lord DOUGLAS conceived it his duty not only to obje.l to the principle of the measure in its first outset, but to oppose it in every stage. It would, he thought, be detrimental to the discipline and in terests of the Militia, by disseminating distrust a mongst the body of the people. He insisted also that the same cause as would produce this, viz. breach of faith, was also the cause of the dfficalty of procuring proper o ffi cers far the Militia, for those who had served, conceived they had been debased and degraded by the manner in which they had been treated. Mr. CALCRAIT asked whether the intention of Government was to enlist those men for life, and for unlimited service ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER answered, yes. Sir JAMES PULTENEY spoke shortly in fa vour of the plan. The Noble Lord, he said, had objeeted that no reason had been given for the mea sure. He thought no further reason was necessary than the fall of putting so large a body of men as this into a more active and essential line of service. He hoped the 4-&hs would be obliged to bq of a particular height, and proper size. Mr. BASTARD said, the Militia Officers con sidered this as a measure of debasement, and he agreed with the Noble Lord who spoke last, that the difficulty of procuring Militia Officers was owing to the degrading situation they had been placed in, of serving as mere drill-serjealits, to raise men as Militia; and the moment they became dis ciplined by their labour and attention, they were se duced away, and enlisted into the army. Where were all the magnificent promises made by the Right Hon. Gent. when he brought in his Defence Bill ? What was become of the abusive epithets he had u,ed of imbecile and incapable, which he applied for the wpm of driving out the late Administration, by far the most constitutional and least presuming be had ever seen. What was become of that fa mous Bill which hid put the Right Hon Gentleman in his present place, and which was immediately to gain an army to the country? It had effietled no thing, and he was compelled to resort to the Militia, and toabolisb his own aa. As to the Militia, if they were to be reduced as not wanting, they ought to be discharged He cautioned the House not to favour too much such measures as this. He looked on the Militia as the hest and most constitutional defence the country could have, and as the best check against any base attempt that might ever be made by an army of mercenaries against the liber ties of a country. Mr. FULLER supported the motion. He said, that we had established an amphibious kind of force, which was neither militia nor regular army. Was it to be suffercd, that a brave and fine fellow, wish ing to 'Meatier, and standing in the ranks beside one who had not the spirit to go, should be pre vented by his companion calling out, e Why, Tom, Tam ; snot yeti ieRl not e , Tom !" It was a mi serable and pitiful way of talking, when we have 500,000 men in arms who could do any thing ; and be ventured to say, that if this plan was adopted, in three months they would be able to destroy all those vessels opposite to our coast. The original intention was to instrua the militia for the regular army, and not to have their Officers strutting about their parades, to the manifest injury of the service. He theretere gave bis hearty concurrence to the meatus*, which he trusted, would enable us not only to defend our shores, but to carry inva.ion into the enemy's coasts, and clip the wings of the Bantam Emperor.—(7lO speech prances' mach laughter.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER in reply—" I must beg leave to make a few observations upon what has fallen from some of the Hon. Gentlemen opposite. And, first, in answer to the question which has been put to me, by an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Calcraft), I wish it to be understood, that I mean it should be left absolutely to the Commanding Officer, in the first instance, to selea any man whom be wishes to part with, and, that the whole management, condua, and regula tion of the business should be entirely at his discretion, without any interference or controul, provided that the men, so Wetted and willing to enlist for regular service, shall be of a certain size, and under a certain age; and if you shall find men of that description, equal to four-fifths of the proposed number, then no farther step shall be taken, and such tegiment shall be liable to no further call. This is the first plan Ahich I propose ; b u t if i t s h ou ld n et be adopted, ept I mean in the second case that the Command• ing Officer shall have it in his power to set aside one half of his regiment, and that the recruiting for general service shall only be made from the remain ing half. Now, this one half, so seleaed, and con sisting, as we may presume, of the prime men, will, after the recruiting shall have taken place, be equal to two-thirds of the regiment so reduced. huh regiment will, consequently, have a greater propor tion of prime men, than it possesses at present ; and, though it will be weaker in point of numbers, it will be stronger in prime men, in relation to its amount. Now, Sir, as to the charge made by a Noble Earl ( Temple) against this measure, as involving the for- feiture of a pledge. I might say, as a direa and gene. ral answer, that I do not know any one who can give a pledge to tie up Parliament horn any comae which it may think proper to pursue. But as a man may no doubt tie himself up by a pledge, and a charge to that effea has been made against me, I say distinaly that I know nothing of any such pledge. I never gave any pledge of the kind. I am not conscious of any time or place, when or where I ever gave a pledge to that effea. I re member, indeed, that upon the occasion alluded to by a Noble Lord this nieht ( Temple), that Noble Lord and his friends, they loudly condemned the converting of the militia establishment into a mode of recruiting for the line ; and l then declared that it was not my intention. Now, if the Noble Lord and his friends mean to• ezaggerate a con versation of that kind, and used upon that occasion. into a direr and positive pledge, I admit it. I certainly denied upon that occasion that I meant to make the Militia a mere machine for recruiting the 0 Army. I denied it then, and I deny it now, but I never gave any other pledge upon the subjea. The circumstances under which a recruiting then took place are well known ; they were fully explained at the time, and it was an extraordinary case, that could not effea or change the general system of the Militia. So far for any positive pledge with which I am charged ; but a Noble Lord (Douglas) has discovered a singular sort of construaive pledge which he thinks may answer the same purpose. Al luding to the Bill for reducing the Militia, he re minds me of having said, at the time it was under discussion, that good faith ought to be kept with the Militia. The question of recruiting was not then in view, nor under consideration, so that I do not see how my observation can be brought to bear upon the present question. I said then, that its reduc tion, to a certain number, would be the best security; that when so reduced it would never be broken in upon again. These are the only pledges I ever gave. What other pledges the Noble Lords allude to, I know not. I only know what passed within my own mind, and what I have said upon the sub jed. As to the charge of sending officers to recruit for the line in the neighbourhood of places where Militia are quartered, it will be indeed limiting the scene of recruiting for the line to a narrow compass, if every such place must be avoided. The officer, whose letter has been read, clearly did not conceive, from its contents, that he was ailing wrong by re cruiting in the neighbourhood of a Militia Regi ment. Is no officer to go into the vicinity of a corps of Militia for the purpose of recruiting ? Where then is he to be sent? If a serjeant he sent out for the purpose of recruiting, he will go where he thinks he has the best chance of success. If he be a good and adlive person for the purpose, he will make a point of doing so, nor is Government answerable for the irregularities which he may pos sibly commit. Government will guard. as well as they can, against irregularities, and it is their duty to provide for the carrying on of the recruiting ser vice, in the way that shall produce the least trouble. injury, or inconvenience to the individual, or to any othelbranch of the public service ; some irregularities will take place, which Governmen cannot prevent. Now, Sir, as to another point, I perceive an attempt ' made • n inculcate an idea, that by this measure I am heaping a ben-then upon the landed interest, and that it is a cruel and unjust tax upon the land. —The land, they say, has already paid for the men's limited service in the militia, and, there fore, it is cruel and unjust to the landed interest, that this man should be encouraged to extend his ser vice more effedually, and that without any addi tional expence to the landed interest. A more sin gular and extraordinary argument than this I ne ver heard. If I proposed to take away a man from the militia, and that another should be pro vided to supply his place, there would then be some consistency in the reasoning. I remember only one argument more that has been used, and requires an answer. The Noble Lord (Temple) has said, that at the time we are bringing forward this mea sure, we have also suspended Courts Martial, and that for the purpose of introducing insubordina tion into the Militia, and destroying its discipline, to facilitate the operation of the plan which I have proposed. Now, what is the Anal state of the case? Some amendments were found necessary in the Mutiny BM, and we therefore suspended the proceedings of Courts Martial during the progress of the Bill, in order that the parties to be tried should have the benefit of the amended ad. But the Bill has been passed. and the persons charged with insubordination or rnisconditd, to whom the Noble Lord alludes, may be brought to trial, and punished, if guilty. Of course, there is nothing in this argument that ap plies to the case. With regard to the course which I would recommewl, I propose, with the leave of the House, to bring in the Bill this night, that it should be read a first time, ordered to be printed, and that the second reading should take place on Tuesday, when such Gentlemen as are inclined to oppose it, may come prepared with their objeftions." F.arl TEMPLE, in reply, said, that recruiting parties were sent expressly into the neighbourhood where militia regiments were quartered, for the ex press purpose of enticing the men to enlist, and did not take that course by chance. With regard to another point, he did not state merely that Courts Martial were suspended, but be complained also, that the execution of sentences was countermanded in cases of trials already had. Lord STANLEY explained. The question for leave to bring in the Thu was then put, and carried, without a division. The CHANCKLLOR of the EXCHEQUER then brought up the Bill, which was read a first time, and, upon the question for the second reading on Tuesday next; • Earl TEMPLE observed that it would be im possible to give the matter sufficient consideration by that time, as the members could not have an op- Rortunity of considering the Hill . He hoped the ight Hon. Gentleman would consent to postpone the second reading fur a day of two longer. Lord DOUGLAS said. it was not dealing with candour or justice towards the House, or even towards the measure itself, to use such extraordinary haste. General TA ALSTON and Mr. CA LC RS IT spoke to the same purpose. The CEIANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER said, there would be full time enough to consider the question by Tuesday. In the meantime the Bill would be printed, and Gentlemen would have. an opportunity of considering it. Sir JOHN NEWPORT hoped, that more expe dition would be used than was generally. in print ing the ordinary papers of the House, most of which were never ready for some days after they were ordered ; and, as to the Votes of the House, they never were received even for weeks after. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that he was informed by an Officer of the House, that the Bill might be printed, and ready for the Post on Saturday evening. The cpv.stion for the second reading of the Bill on Tuesday next was then put and carried, and the Bid ordered to be printed. The Promissory note Bill was read a third time, and passed. Mr. H.. THORNTON gave notice that he would, to-morrow, give fresh notice of a future day for the exchange of Lists relative to the late Mid dles*: Elation. Mr. STURGES BOURNE moved for a sew Writ to elea a Member for Old Sarum, in room of N. Vansittart, Esq. who had accepted the office of Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Ordered. - ------ At Ten o'clock the House adjourned till to morrow. •.• For the LAM Repute and other interesting matter, see the last rage. THE B RITIS P KESS. LON DON, FRIDAY, MA Rot if. Mr. PITT last night brought in his Bill to allow a certain portion of the Militia to enlist into the Army for general service. The number proposed is 17,000 men, and two modes are prescribed of drawing them from the Militia. If the command. ing officer can furnish out of his regiment four-fifths of the quota which it ought to produce, they are to be accepted in lieu of the whole quota. if he does not take that course, then he is to set aside one half of his Regiment, leaving Government to recruit the complement required out of the re maining half, in the best way it '-an. These two modes are eve/led to produce a dispeseable force of ►7,000, while the commanding officer of each regiment will be able to retain in it a great propor tion of its prime men. It appears from the proceedings_ of the House of Commons last night. that Mr. N. V A NSITT ART is appointed Secretary to the Le) kD LIEUTEM•NT of Ireland. in the room .f Sir E. lists•N. A squadron of five sail of the line is ordered to be got ready with all possible expedition, and to take on board seven months provisions. It is supposed to be destined for the East Indies. All the outward-bound East Indiamen are to take out troops, about 200 each ship.—This resolu tion has occasioned an alteration in the different voyages. None of the ships will go to China direa, ►ut will first touch at Madras, and land their troops. The Yearn sloop, of 10 guns, with dispatches on board for Lord Netsoia, has been captured by the French squadron, which sailed from Toulon on the 15th, and returned on the 20th of January.— The Captain, however, of the sloop, threw the dis patches overboard. He writes from on board Le Neptune, the French flag ship, that he and his crew are well treated. The Prize Agency Bill, which Sir WILLIAM SCOTT has obtained leave to bring in, has for its ohjes% to increase the security of prize property, by placing it in the funds, to make the distribution as speedy as possible, and to convey intelligence thereof to distant stations with dispatch. For these purposes it proposes to establish a public office, still retaining tlfi assistance and management of priiate agents. During the whole of the fine weather we have lately had, none of the enemy's flotilla were outside of Boulogne Pier, from which, it is probable, that the seamen have been sent away to man the Brest fleet. Some of the Evening Papers of yesterday say, we know not upon what authority, that almost all the troops have been marched from the Camp at Bou logne into the interior of the country, probably to Italy, or the Frontiers of Germany. The following article has been published in the ilositestr, stated March 2 :- 4 , ny an Act of this day, all Civil Of of the empire are for bidden to receive in their registers the,copy or the act ..f a pre tended marriage,entered into by Monsieur Jerome &Ma parte, abroad, hen under age, without the consent of his Mo ther, and without previously publishing the banns at the place of her residence." A Court of Common Council was held yesterday at Guildhall, at which the Loan M•vos, eleven Aldermen, and a great number of Commoners, with the City Officers, attended. The Proceedings of the last Court were read, se veral City and Hospital Leases were sealed, and many Petitions for Leases and otherwise were read, and referred to the various Committees to examine and report. The Committee of City Lands reported, that they had caused to be drawn out, three plans and estimates of the intended improvement and enlarge ment of Smithfield Market; which being pioduced, Mr. Ss•DE spoke at some length, and urged the, great advantages that would.arise, if an opening was effeeted from Fleet-market to the great North-road, and thought the enlargement of the market might be connefled therewith. He concluded with a Mo tion to that effett, and that it might be referred to the Committee of City Lands for them to consider. Mr. Goo o nEkint seconded the Motion, which was supported by Sir Cm mkt.'s PRICE, Aldershuu La Mist:1111E1, and several other Members. Mr. WA rruitAx opposed the Motion at conoi• derable length. He declared his readiness to co operate with the mover in his objed of opening a communication with the North-road ; but it could not be connefled with the intended enlargement of Smithfield I an immense expence, and bring a .nuisance in the great line of communication from the West-end of the town to the City. He had conversed much with the mover on the subjeft, and found that the object proposed was to take down all those buildings adjoining Snow-hill, and bring the market there. He contended, that the plan he had before proposed was the cheapest, the most conve nient, and the soonest executed. He moved an Amendment, That the Committee be instruled ttgze a Rill, to be presented to Parliament, a to the original plan." Mr. DIXON, and several other Members, sup ported the Amendment. A division tock place. for the Amendment, Commoners, 18—Against it. 6 Aldermen 18 Commoners, 24—Majority, 6. The original Question was then proposed, but lost for want of a sufficient number of Members to form a Court. On account of the lateness of the hour, the Court did not proceed on the Motion to rescind the Reso lution oldie last Court in rupee to the Salt Duty. If ' THE COURT. '.7 IHE KINGS LEVEE. Yesterday morning His MAJESTY gave. audiences to the Dukes of YORE and Gcovcrsrut, at the Queen's House. About twelve o'clock. Captain Noss. of the Royal Navy, was introduced by his father, the Earl of UXBRIDGE. on his return to England, after having made the valuable capture of the Spanish frigates. About two o'clock His MAJESTY held a Private Levee, which was attended by the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, the Bishop of NoawicK, the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Duke of Moareost, Marquis of HERTVORD, Earls DARTMAUTM, AY LESIOED, ABERDEEN, CHATHAM, WESTMORS. A ND, Viscounts SIDMOUTN and Mstyttts, Lords MULOR•VE.. H•wfrssuer,Fatstousa, Ronesev, GARDNUI, and Right Honourable WILLIAM Prl T. Dr. BATfrilJtva was introduced by the Archbi shop of CAMTEItRURY ARd Earl BATNUEST, on his being *ldled to the Bishopric of Norwich, when the Reverend Prelate did homage before His Ms- Jassy upon the occasion, and had the honour to kiss His Msacssr's hand. The Mon. and Rev. Dr. M• RIK Au. son of Earl Roe NET ' pas presented by the Archbishop of C • is- TERM'S, upon his being appointed Canon of Windsor, on which occasion he had the honour to kiss His MAJESTY'S hand. The Rev. Dr. DRUMMOND was likewise intro duced by the Archbishop, upon his preferment. Lord GARDNER was introduced to ills MAJEiTY by Lord Met.vi tts, upon his being appointed to the command of the Channel Fleet, on whict oc, casion he had the honour to kiss His MAJESTY'S hand, and took leave at the same time. After the Levee, MAJESTY held a Privy Council. which was attended by all of the above, who are Members of the Hon. Board. When the Council had closed, His MAJESTY rave audiences to the Loan CM kriceLcolt, Lords HOLORAYL and H•WKECRI es. and Mr. PLIT. I IiER MAJESTY'S DRAWING ROOK. Yesterday, about two o'clock, Her MAJESTY held a Drawing room at St. James's Palace, which, on account of the report that the Court was to be in mourning for the Queen of Feu's' a, was not so nn tsereedy attended as expeeed. It was attended by Her MAtEst Y and the five PILINCESIBI ; the Dukes of KiNT and C•WIIIIIIDOZ ; the Soctetton GNAW. CAL ; their Excellencies the D•sisa, Inpaelat., Tenting, PORTUGUEse, and NEAPOLITAIII 11AISADORS; and there were present: Duchemes—Rutland, Sernersst„ and Leeds. Margun—Corovallis. Marethoners--Hertford nod Bath. math-i-Malmesbury, Mount Norris, Mamas% Winaciers. lend, Scarboro', Bathurst. Uxbridge. !lioness, AbsMeen, Winchelsea, Westmeath, Macestney, Bailie, Chichiseller, Clefs mell, Warwick, Leisrun and EnniakiPen. Countm.er—Mount Plorns, Mansfield, Dow. Pormnoilith, Morton, Uxbridge, Portsmouth, Harrington, Aresbery, Car digan, Chichester, Warwick, Ciesuiseil, and Leitrim. ifiscounts—.Suitley, Brome„ Beier. Downs, Ken/nary. Ggimmonit, and Melville. Viscoontessee—Andmer, Middleton. Leich-salothanr, Rouse, C. Sommer, Gardner, Bom, and Sydney. Molgrare, thee.- ..y, Stedisid, r, Rivers, Bettor Reptory, Dahill, Wearisome- Larlies-ollankt Weill: shuffle, a. !atone! Minos, Hulse. Hawkesbury, fk.rwnlow, Grenville M. Baliteley. Gibbs. C. and A. Greville, Mi 11171411, C. Grenville , C. Dune.. ,be, Route, Howard, Price, M. Brown, Ascii, Berne. Osborn, Melgnore, Cornwall, W. Wynne, Dow. De Cliforii, A. • Rivers, C. Glynne, Dowager Amherst, Lambast, C. Darner, F. Somerset, G. Cavendish, Thynne, Middleton, M. Browne, L Stmesgeway, ad Walehouse. Millman, G. ••ihee., H. Clarke, C. Aural, E. Cootie, T. ?role, ;. Craig, J. Gunton, F. Folkes, C. Oakley, 7. Lid dell, T. Estcourt, Al W. Ridley, H. Strawy, C. Poi*, and V. Gibbs. Rev. Meson ...Grey and Non Messu.—Scott, Posey, Cochineal:an, Darner, Mayen'Ee, Wallis, Smith, ganx, DuncomM, Cust, Methuen, Sockburne, Adams, West, Keene, Dallas, and Hill. Mistoriss s—Banks, Nassau, Fox, Stevens, Banton*, Canabe, Mills, Norton, Wyndham, W,lliarws, WlCentie, Dutton, Wheeler, Montague, Rider, Howard, Demer, Came, M. Burgoyne, Blackburn., St. John, Adams, Shia*, Shaving/an, H. Williams, Scott, Gag, and Suit in. Mires-Losoth, Douglas, 2 Abilys, Johostem, 2 Peeles ' '2 ElSots, Hume, 2 Custs, Cornwell, koscawen r , Chester,Byiig, Dehany, Nesbit, Winkley, Grimeteine, ley, Stracy, Glynn, Sutton, and Wallop. The following were among the Presentations to Her MAJESTY : Lieutenenant.Colonel Hilary, nn his Promotion. Ensign Horton, by General Burton. Mrs. Scott, on ber marriage. Lady Gibbs, on nee creation to the title. Commodoct Astern, on his arrival from Italy. Lord Delvin, by his fethrr, the Earl of Westmeath. Sir V. Gibbs, nn hd appointment to be Solicitor General. Mr. Dello, on his being appointed Chief Justice of Chester. Roland Countess of Chichester, on coming to their title. Jradiee C. and A. Greville, by their mother, the Counters of Warwick. lfesl Mad Countess of Clenmell, as their marriage, by the Uri owl Countess of Warwick. Cohost end Mrs. Ogg, umiake limos of Her Mayen!, pre vious to their departure to Indio on hie FrOolotlOu Fail and Countess of Leitrim. by Lady Sydney. Captain Paget, of the Royal Navy, by hir father, the Earl of Uxbridge, on his return is England, efter.thei capture of the Spanish prises. Mr. Hill, on his being appointed Envoy F.xtraordinery and Minister Pienipnuattiary to the Circle of Franconia, and Mie nister to the Diet of Ratisbon. Ralgo Bossilie, be General Winyard. • Marquis Cornwallis took learn, previous to hie going to India. Lieutenant Colonel Sergiton, of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, on his promotion. Lord Rodney, on coming to his title. Rey. Mr. Hanley, by the Bishop of Exeter. Bishop of Norwich,on his election M that See. Mile Glynn., by her mother, Lady Glyaae. Mies Sigma, by Mrs. Mennen Suttees. Mies Wollap, by the Commis of Portsmouth. Colonel Blackburn* by Geoeral Lumley Admiral Thronboroegh, by Lend Braybrook. Lady Larnuert, by the COMMIS of Warwick. Alllr Thomas and Lady Liddell, en their marriage. Mr. Irby, by his father, 2.ord Roston. Dr. Rogenion, by Danish _Ambassador. Earl of Aberdeen, by Lord Melville. Miss Hill, by Lady in Waiting. Mere Winkley, by Lady Esscourt. Lard Gariloer, by Viscount Melville, to take loospouitoo II kis going to take the command of the Ch.aaul Sir Ca •ItErs Pots, who attended the Dm.% Mom, was to have presented to Hie 114A3arrc 11th Report of the Commissicnsers for the F-aqairy of the Navy Bond, recorded in a book 'levelly bound and embellished ; bet. a His Mar i sert 'ma absent holding a Council at the 's am. the presentation of course did not plate.