The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-04-18 00:00:00

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were serious. They did not conceive it to be a light
or trivial point, and w!po they said •• generally...
they meant, he was well satisfied. " solely."—He
hopA, therefore, the House of Commons would
covisi ler Whether the proviso is necessary ; and if
;hey should be of opinion that it is so, he, for one,
would much rather the Bill should no: pass at all.
Nit.. JERVIS said, that when he came to the
House that day, he was rather under an impression
on his mind, that the Bill required some modifica-
tion i but from the arguments he had heard, and
particularly those which had just been delivered
with se much I orre and eloquence, by the Right
Hon. Gentleman, he had entirely altered his opi-
nion; and upon more mlnut.ly lo >king into the
worts . I the proviso. he thought it contained no
more ,than the opinion of the majority. of the
Judges ; is such he should certainly vote against it.
The MISTER of the ROLLS said a few wori:s
in explanation.
Sir. V. GIBBS (the late Seilieitor-General) re-
quested the indulgence of the House, till he made
a few observations which occured to him, on the
. puta. It appeared to him, that the question put
,h• .iiv, Learned Friend (the Master of the Rolls), as
s, i witness at law, in the situation of a purchaser
..: .. 4 valuable consideration, without notice, stood
au, :—Suppose I am a purchaser of an estate, for
whieli I pay a valuable consideration to a man who
is an illegitimate son, but that is not known to me—
an ejeament is afterwards brought, and I am called
on to prove the illegitimacy ; in that case, my
Learned Friend says, I should nqt be compelled to
answer. In a Court of Equity, certainly not; nor, per-
haps, under all tire circumstance:, in a Court of Law.
But this proviso, he contended, was not wanted in
the present instance; he thought the arguments of
the Right Honourable Secretary of State were ex-
tremely forcible, and they had completely convinced
him that the Bill would he far better without it.
Nothing could be more clear to him, than that the
Judges of the Common Law should not be obliged
to refer for rules to a Court of Equity, for, as had
been most ably enforced, the Common Law existed
long before a Court of Equity was ever known or
heard of. The Court of Equity was originally in-
stituted for the purpose of softening the rigour and
severity of the Common Law, the Courts of which
had always been governed by their own rules.—
The Court of Equity had unquestionably taken
rules from tire Courts of Common Law, becausr
it was iniiispensibly necessary to them, but it had al-
ways been the reverse in the Courts of Common Law,
the Judges of which had uniformly been governed
by their own rules. Another reason which induced
him to disapprove of the proviso, was, that the Rill
declares what the opinions of the et ijority of the
Judges is, and they, in deliverieg tlet,e opinions,
have not, in any one instance, referred to the rules
of equity. Ile thought that, from the expression
" generally speaking," the -ledges did not lay down
the rule universally ; but, as the House were now
about to declare the law, they should be extremely
careful not to do so, contrary to the opinion of the
majority of the Judges. Five of those Judges had
, declared generally, and till they knew what that or i-
nion was, he should objet to the proviso. lie re-
served to himself a right of giving his opinion on the
Bill, on the third reading.
The question was then put, and the proviso
negatived.

ENLIstMENT EOR A TERM OT YEARS.
Mr. YORKE rose to make the Motion of which
lie gave notice yesterday, relative to the opinions of
General Officers on the measure of enlisting men
for a term of years. He began by saying, that
.he had understood, that no objeeion would be made
to his Motion, and he flattered himself it would he
so on this ground, that Hs Majesty's Ministers would
favour the House with every degree of information
in their power, on a point in which the public were
so deeply interested. and which, in its consequences,
might ultimarely, perhaps, affee the most import-
ant interests, and even the exigence of the country.
The Right Hem.' Gentleman opposite (Mr. Wind-
ham), had, on the opening of his plan for the fu-
ture Military Defence of the Country, informed
them, that this material change in our army was
intended to take place, and he hoped the House of
Commons would never he induced to agree to a
measnre which was to erre so material a charge,
without first being in possession of the opinions
which experienced General Officers of our own
army entertained on so important a sobjee. He
was-of opinion, that a great deal of information was
necessary oa this head ; whereas none had been
g;ven, Whit.had been stated by the Right
Hollowell!, Gentlemanly' general terms, as having
been the praeice. of several states in Europe,
which had large armies constantly a-foot. • He
believed, however, that it was sot generally the
c.rse in Europe, and that where it was so, such
Crwernments knew ertrensely 'wen • how many
men were liable to be discharged in any one"
year. He had seen in the possession of the
Quarter-Master-General of the Army a very de-
tailed account how the Austrian Government felt
themselves, and how they proceeded with regard
so their army, and he hoped the Right Iloourable
Gentleman would consult that before he proceeded
flasher towards carrying his rurpeced measure into
aanal praeice. He underrood there existed in
some of the offices, instances of Gentlemen who have
applied to General Officers for their opinions on this
inthjeEt, and that such opintOns bad been obtained.
He did not know what the balance of these opinions
might be; there were, he believed, nom for, and
sethets against the measure; but be that as it
m;ght, it was unquestionably wiry material for the
House to know, whether the majority of opinions
were for or 'against it ; because, it was highly ne-
cessary to know why we should adopt a novelty of
this nature, so very different from all former prac-
tice; so contrary to the name of our colonial ser-
•ice in particular, an.; which was, in his opiniou,
pregnant with the greatest danger to the service,
and to the keeping up the army in that state, which
the present critical situation most imperiously de-
mended. He had heard, that one of the olskeirms
to his Motif); was, that it would be givies up pri-
vate and c..nfi.d,oltial correspondence; but he thought
that wes nn .bi.jeaioti its faa, for, by the same rule,
hlinisterr might Wijett to produce the correspond-
ence of Ambassa.lor. and others employed in official
itnetions, and thus dept ire the (loose of every kind
of imprrtant intorrnation, under the plea of its
being private or confidential intimation. He hoped

the Muse would not countenance a nvatnre of this
immense importance, without being convinced,
that it is adopted on the opinions, not of young men,
though they may possess great genius And
hut of General Ol cers. of long praetical know-
ledge. and great experience, such as Lord Cathcart.
General Prescot, and others of the same charader
and standing in the army, whose opinions would be
entitled to the utmost confidence of the House, and
of the country. He was convinced the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite to him, who well knew the
grievous responsibility under which he aaed, would
not tura a deaf ear to reasons of such importance ;
and therefore he should not at present trouble the
House further, than to move—
That there be laid before the House, Copies of all such
Military ovinions, in otri:Oi4, as had boon received hr His
htiwirers, from linieral Officers, on the *object of
the onlistmeut of Men into the Army, for a term of Years.

On the question being put—
General WA I.l'o LE said, there was one answer,
which was quite conclusive, in his opinion, against
the present motion, which was, that this pretlice of
enlisting men for limited service had been long in
use in the British army, and had been exercised in
the Amari.tan was, and at various other periods,
without the smallest injury either to the discipline
or to the recruiting of the army ; and as it was not
the novelty described by the Hon. Gent. nor liable
to those dangers which he had described, he should
certainly ohjeel to the motion.
Mr. Secretary W tNpli AM expressed his snrprise
that the Hon. Gentleman who made this motion, ,
should not,have anticipated objeflions to it. There
are Official Papers, which, from their particuler na-
ture, Ministers must reuse, and in giving his opinion
on the present question, he had no hesitation to say,-
that the opinions were so 'nicely balanced, it might
perhaps he rather injurionethan otherwise to make
them public. They amounted in number to four-
teen ; six of whom were in favour of the Hon. Gen-
tleman's opinion, seven against it, and one doubt-
ful, inclining in some points to one side, and in some
to the other ; but admitting and allowing several
advantages to result from the measure. So much
for the enumeration of the numbers ; but if argued,
it would then he to ask lust, what would be the ef-
lea on the service and on the discipline ; most of
them were of opinion, it would not affelt the dis-
cipline: the greater part say it will give facility to
recruiting, and provide also a better description of
men, but don't think it prudent to do it in time of
war ; they differed as to points, though they agreed
on the whole ; like the two Judges, one of whom
said, I agree with brother A, but not for the reasons
brother A adduces in favour of his argument, but
for the reasons which brother B adduces against it.
It asked the reason of objening to the motion, his
answer was, Ministers did not think it proper. It
certainly was not pleasant to publish opinions con-
fidentially given to the Commander in Chief. He
though; it indelicate ; and it might be of prejudice,
by preventing such communications in future. The
House could not call for them, without putting
them into comparison with each other ; and it
could therefore do no good ; but by stewing how
nearly they were balanced, might do harm. The
Hon. Gentleman, said Mr. Windham, calls for the
opinion of General Officers, and then expresses a
lope, that those of young men will not be attended
to. I don't know whether he has any particular
person in view, to whom he means to allude ; bat
surely Le cann't suppose, that the (Tinton of any
one man would he talt.eti as authority; or of four,
or five. or six. One Hon. General, under the gal-
lery, has declared, that he has changed his opinion
oa the subjeel, another may have done the same,
and that is a good reason fur nut disclosing their
opinions. As to the matter of Foreign service, that
will be a stib.:eft of discussion at a future period, when
the business came regularly before the House, and
then it might be fully and fairly argued. At present
he should object to the Motion.
Mr. YORKE, in explanation, said, he did not
mean at preseta to advert to foreign service.
General TARLE FON said, that front all the
consideration he ha{ given the subje6l, It- thought
the plan impradficable ; and, theretare, the opinion
of General Officers ought to be taken on it, and
their names and authority given to the House. The
Right Honourable Gentleman had said, there were
six on the one side, and seven on the other. He
wished to know the opinion of the six, whether such
a measure were proper in time of War, and particu-
larly whether it were so at present ? The Right lion.
Gentleman allowed we are in a state of danger; he
wished to know the manner in which those opinions
have been called for, and whether they are expressive
of that sense at danger t The Right Hon. Gent. had
said, he could not produce the opinions, because they
were confidential; let those General Officers then be
called, and examined at the Bar of the House, as to
their opinions on this point. He denied that such a
dischoute would prevent the future communication
between General Officers and the Commander-in-
Chief, unless it were argued, that all emulation in
the Army was extind or vanished. It mid been in-
sinuated, that these opinions had been asked by
one person, but he knew the contrary to be the fa& ;
and as ao good reason had been given for with-
holding those opinions, he should vote for the
Motion.
Mr. FOX said, he had but a single observation
to make, which was, that Gentlemen argued as if
those opinions had been asked for by His Majesty's
present Ministers; whereas, the fan is, they were
given to the Commander-in-Chief, during the Ad-
ministration of the late Mr. Pitt, and none of His
Majesty's present Ministers had any hand in fram-
ing the questions, or any thing whatever to do with
thorn. •
Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that as he had an
opportunity of perusing these papers himself, he
should be the last person who would require them
to be laid before the House, if he had nn other mo-
tive than his own information on the subjea. Thete
were, however, very few beside himself, who had
had that opportunity, and he thought it would be by
no means proper to refuse it now. There was,
he allowed, some delicacy in producing papers
which were written, and given in confidentially ;
and he was aware that there were two or three
which might no: be drawn up in a proper
form. These considerations, however, were not,
in his' mind, a sufficient reason against the produc-
t' of the Parrs ; and, if Gentlemen could not get
over them, he thought it would not be detog story

to the C. coral Officers to send back their opiniess
to them, and ropere them to make out a deiiberate
and formal opinion, S:lrh as could be submitted to
Parliament What, aOove all, was, in lOs opinion,
the weightiest motive was, that he conceived the
ptodueriitin of these opinions was of the last import-
ance in the discussion of the great question which
was shortly to he before the House. They were the
authorities they had to look to, and without them
they must remain in total darkness. The Noble
Lord then entered into an explanation of the dif-
ferent brandies ef the Military force of the country,
which these opinions applied to, and then said. that
he was aware the: it was not hitherto the custo:n of
Parliament to interfere with the Crown in the ma-
nagement of the army ; but, as the Right Ho-
nourable Gent, meant to consult the Legislature
on this fundamental change in the mode of raising
the army, which indeed he thought required the most
enurageous mind in a Minister, in the present state of
affairs, to advise his Majesty to, he thought it was
unfair that the House should be called upon to de-
cide, without having the same source from whence
to derive their judgment, as the Ministers. It was a
new duty imposed on them, and it certainly was
considered of so much consequence, that the sanc-
tion of the House was thought necessary, that sanc-
tion should not be given without the most mature
consideration. For his part, he could not, without
the greatest difficulty, have made up his mind on
the suhjeel, but that he 'had already perused these
papers, and it was evident that those who had not
had that opportunity, most remain in the nark. The
Noble Lord then adverted to one of the oninions,
which was anonymous, aad though not giveu by a
regular military man, wealikely to command atten-
tion. Ho meant the opinion, of which Mr. Lewis,
the late Under Secretary s-f War, was known to. be
the anchor. It would be very easy to procure his
signature; and also to hare a reconsideration of
the qusstion.
Lord li. PETTY was a little surprised to hear
the Noble Lend who had just sat down, give his
opinion that these papers should be produced pre-
paratory to the discussion about to take place, as
that Noble Lord never thought, proper, when in
office, to produce them, ebough they were in his
possession for three years, during winds time
there were many discussions on military affairs.
Thu mode proposed of calling the General OM-
; eers to the Bar, and examining ',hem on the subjet,
was quite unconstitutional, and contrary to all• rule.
It tools every privilege away from the House, and
from the individuals who constituted it, as it in fad
would make these officers determine on the subje l.
and woule he nothing less than asking them whether
the Bill should or should not pass ? The question
should be agitated amongst themselves, without
giving it up to any set of men, or leaving it to any
General Officer. Every man should inform himself
on the sobjet in the best manner he could, and be
prepared to state his opinion in the Haase. Besides,.
to consult the General Officers would be attended •
with great delay.
Mr. CANNING could not forbear making a
few remarks on what bad been said in the coarse of
this debate. If the Noble Lod who had just sat
down were sue; rised at t' e arguments is tech ?sad
been made use of by his Noble Friend (Lord Cas-
tlereagh), he was sure he had a still greater mason
to be surprised at his arguments. It was true, as it
had been said, that his Light liou. Friend, the late
Chancellor of the Exchequer, had stated that lie
had it in contemplation to institute a proceed-
ing, such as was now before the Houle, with
respeft to the military regulations of the country.
On this account, he colleted these opinions, not far
the purpose of bringing I award the measure, at all
events, but to satisfy himself whether it would or
would not be advantageous. He did satisfy hie:-
Self that the measure could nut be adopted with
propriety, and it, therefore, WAS not necessary that
he should bring it forward ire the ;impose of show-
ing the House that the plan lie was about to dopt
was not good. But when the Right Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Windham) had brought this very plan
forward, he would ask, was it too much for the
House to require, that these opinions should be pro-
duced ? or, could the firmer Ministers be blamed
for not producing them, when they had not brought
forward the measure. With resped to the ground
for refusing the papers, lie could see none ; no
reason had been given. If the Ministers had not
perused them, that would be a sufficient ground
for delay, or if they were not sufficiently exten-
sive ; but he thought it absolutely necessary for the
information of the House, that they should be
produced. The Right lion. Gentlemen concluded,
by saving, that a story had been related by one of
His M.Orey's.Ministers (Lord H. Petted on seating
the Itlidget, of an old Iloman moralist, who had
wished to build his house in such a style of arehi-
teture, that every person might see into it. like
this man's house, the transitions of the present
Ministers were to be ; but be was inclined to be-
hove, that the architedure of the house was not
Rom tn, bur Gothic. and that it had heavy u indows.
which did not admit the light, and passages filled
with darkness and obsenti y.
Lord DE BI.AQUIERE was sorry to be obliged
to differ from the Hon. Gentlemen on the next
bench to him (Mr. Canning and others). They
thought that, with a limited service, the army could.
not be supported ; but he was of opinion, that.
without it, they could not obtain an efficient force.
The plan, as proposed, was treated as novel and
hazardous; but he did not think it was. The No-
ble Lord then said, that, in the year 1739, he had
raised the 17th Regiment of Foot ; and. as there
WAS no law against raising men for a limited time,
be raised them for three years. In 1'762, their time
was out, and he then enlisted the whole regiment,
which was quartered at Coventry, with the excep-
tion of two men. for a bounty of a guinea each.
He afterwards enlisted them a third time, when
they went to America, and fought like lions. The
Noble Lord concluded by saying, that there were
some pant of the Bill which he dad not admire, par-
ticularlythe crooked sixpence at the end of the week.
Sir JAMES PULTEN EY had never seen the
opinions,-and thought it absolutely necessary that
she House should see them, before they could be
called on to &liver their opinion. The Hon. Gent.
then observed on some arguments which had been
made use of with resped to the systems adopted by
Foreign Powers, and declared his intention of sup-
porting the motion fur the predudtien of the Papers.

Mr. W. DUNDAS was fully satisfied that the
ufficers, whose opinions it was wished to promul-
gate, would not like that the communications which
had been obtained from them under the impression
of their being confidential, should bif drnede public.
Had they been aware of the use now proposed to
be made of their oeireions, they would, no doubt.
have been more d'ffuse, and have more nicely re-
garded what they wrote. He did not mean to sat ~
their sent,mentswould not be of gnat servic•, it
published ; but, as they were framed and written
with a different view, he thought they ought not to
be made public, or, it they were, that at least the
distinguished Officers from whom they emanated,
should have the opportunity of revising them.
Mr. YOEVCE explain d.
paa
Mr. Secretary FOX said, he agreed with an H
Member under :he a,allerr., that it was adi A..
~..
thing to adopt opinions given under the ex A
of their being made pub/ie. and these afforded
as private. Web as had been Advanced on the
other side of the House, no One iestance had been
adduced of Parliament calling fur the separate
opinions of military offie,-vs. The new arrangements
proposed in the establishment of the army had been
spokm of.as a great revolution in that department,
but he would think it a much greater revolution,
that confidential coeununications to the Commander
in Chief, made in pursuance of his requisition,
should tie called for irtParliantent. Nothing would
more alter the charalter of the military of ea.
The House, by the adoption of such 1 measure,
would be receiving a bias in its legislative func-
tions. It the thiriee nor fourteen opinions Archie,'
had been allud,al to were to be produced. the dies
enssion that they would brig)", na could be likely
to be one Trading to most impolitic results. lb
did nut know that it was really cony cry to any A
rule of Pariiatnera to embrace the measure
proposed, hut he should like to have some gird
example afforded of a thing so important in 1.. s us..
cure, ere the proposition was istertained by tfie
House. Were it to be acceded to, little peohiriss
would be male towards obtainieg infiirmatiOn that
should prove astsfaCtory. Send to inch and such •
Offs:ers, it would be desired. HAS Ge ieral Preseot
been consulted ? 1-lax this C: aeral bees applied r
Is that General's opinion obi?' ' Ard ti.us,
the House of Lords r• quit
Twelve Judges, this Hot .i
any conclusion on a mea
fence of the cetrier
drect• and fifty Ge
Hon.-Gintlemsn
that any measure
tided opposition.
Mr. YORKE a
former Gentleman
opjaions of certain
Presidency of the Duk.
of Ordnance, having b.
I The Right Hon Seeretar,
opin 0 i of officers talc n tr..
a Board of General Cffizers.
Colon il CRAIJFUIiD olaserv.-
military plan whica had been latei.
Ho Ise was cilled an atarm;nz revolts.
hirsuppoted that we never had al ain.
fors. It was odd enougl, howee.r„ 'ans.
be in the recollec:io- or-ail who he irel him, .
fi a: object of the Rea. Gentleman oppose
L&: &vain it NVer) sad berth to rase a Mara.
Ninety Thousand Men ; and his next measure to
ife men Army of Fifty Thousand Mee ; hoth raised
lasr a limited period of serv'ee The Ash( la rank and
`lle of the lire enlisted for :he was 80,100 men, and
great bulk of the army was mils enga,;ed for a terns
of five years. And yet, such was the incomprehes.
sible conduit of Gentlemen who choir to deprecate
the system it seas proposed to put sue, that they
a erned to enpaire whether, b , what they well
plc ised to call this de-I:nous inrovation, Ministeva '
were not exposing Great Britain to be conquered ?
Mr..YORKE said, that what the lion. Gentle-
man who had just sat down had attributed to him,
was not a new n,easere which originated with him,
but was merely a consolidation of the Militia.
Colonel CRAUFURD observed, that it was
something more than that, as, in duly, 1804, the
Militia were augmented from Si to 90.000 men.
Mr. PERCIVAL rose to notice an observation
of a Noble Lord on the bench with him (Lord Do
Blequiere), who considered that the incipient mili-
tary measures called for his approbation, because
every other had failed. This was what he could not
quiety hear. We were at present possessed of an
army of 267,030 men ; and if the country
could, tiseretere, want an army for its salvation
(laid cheering fr.nre :'e oir):esition SePiehenl. then,
indeed, was the observation warrantable, and
then only. There were not wanting precedents of
the praCtice recommended, nor evidence of its uti-
lity. In the year 1796, the House addressed Hi/
Majesty for the phsfose of procuring copies of the
opinions of a Military Commission, and praying
that such part might be withheld as could, through
exposnre, be prejudicial to the state. The Hon,
Member said, he felt confident of the prudence of
the present Ministers in that respeit, and did not
apprehend any danger in calling for the opinion
of distinguished Military Officers now. It ap
peered, therefore, strange, that there shouts bi
. any objeCtion to dui: produsftien. A Right Hen
Gentleman under the gelltry has said, that it the,
..were tendered a little more formal, there would b
nes objedion. Their want of formality world b
readily obviated, and the Officers might be at
prised of the use for which they were wanted. ir /
it a mere question of theory, or a pradical qaestiot
we are discussing? (Hear! hear ! ) why ant the
avail ourselves of the opinions of men most eminel
in praitice ? The Right Honourable Gentle=
(Mr. Windham) says, if we had the opinions, the
nould be in his favour. Have we not, however
the strongest demonstration, that they would opt
rate in another way t We have another opiniot
equally, if not more to be depended upon, that e
a distinguished General Office: in this House (w
understand the allusion to be to General' Gascoirem
who entertained use same opinion with the ftigti
Hon. Gentleman, but. on reading those paper
changed it. I Near ! hrs. ! ) 11l were to take n ,
s Witte, I would rather see the opiniona separately
detail, than jointly ; because I want the reasons
gevein my own mind, and vot he mate of the
mi iik, snide lip ;Tom the eccommodated opiniot
et Due :104.4.11::1". WO see that they are divided .
L

'


1
1 opinion, and every body Adroit, it to be a intbjeCt of
the greatest Interest." The Levrneri Gemletnan was
proceeding, when Le checked houself with the ob-
servation, that he ttared he was a little lite:pa-Er.
This prodnced a sniiie ; upon which he observed,
that he believed on ',tie who had spoken had reason
, to triumph user the other, as the Right Hon. Se-
t era try, in speaking twice, and several other Mem-
-1 ' bers had been somewhat out of order. 11,- coo-
I • eluded with the observation, that if the military
, opinions were withheld, the inference would be, that
they were adverse to the plan of the Right Hon.
Gentleenun. (Mr. Windh:mi.)
Mr. FOX rose to speak to order. He was called
pp by what had fallen from the last Speaker on the
pow of irregularity. li,s having tisen twice dur-
ing this disetw,cv, was occasioned by an observation
addressed to him by an Huts. Member on the subject
of a ithdrawing the motion, and did not, he thought,
subjeet hips to censute.
i The SPEAICHt said, it had been stated that
order had been broken by the Right Hon. Se-
cretary, in speaking twice. It occurted to him
at the time of the Right Hon. Gentleman's rising ;
but it also occurred to him, that he was called up,
and he (the Speaker) hoped the House would not
Wall the citcumstance ton nicely.
Mr. PERCIVAL stated, that he did not make a
serious complaint of irregularity, or he would have
appealed to the Chair.
Lord DE FILAQUIERE, Mr. PERCIVAL,
and Mr. WINDHAM, explained. The latter ob-
set ved, that it was no part of his plan to disband any
of the forces of the country.
Lord 'VEMPLE thought, that the case which
had been instanced, afforded no precedent in sup-
p,,rt rf any Motion like the one at present before the
House. His Loroship read part of a copy of a letter
from Lord Sidney, to the-Duke of Richmond, by
which it appeared, that the commission then insti-
tuted, and whose opinions were afterwards called
for by Path intiir, was for the purpose of itsspeaing
---4 tortd ' ..
-

a division.
Mr. Secretary Windham brought up a Rill
for repealing the Aft of tl•e 44th of His Majesty,
commonly called the Defence AA.
Upoa the question being put that it be read a first
limo,
General TA RLETON rose to call the serious at-
teinion of the House to the papers on the table, re-
speElii g this Aft, which, on ferusal, would show it
to have been a measure highly useful to the at my
in general, and equal in the diffusion of its opera-
tion over the population of the country. He hoped
the House would pause butore they consented to the
repeal of a measure which had 13-en so eminently
beneficial, although the Honourable Gentlemen by
whom it had been decried, started from it as from
a couch, atter seeing a vision. By the pages of the
I. book on which he laid his hand (the Returns ender
the Lkance A 3, Mrs I.tieg en the tebk), the House
' would decide between the supporters and the op-
posers of this measure, and he earnestly exhorted
, every Member to examine it.
Mr. HAWTHORN said, the result of the inves-
tigation would be a conviftiou that the measure had
completely
Mt. PERCIVAL wished the House would look
into the book, which had been recommended to
therm in refutation of what. had just be. a ad-
vanced. It. would chew, that the efficient opera-
tion of the AR, had even more than justified the
promise of the lamented Statesman, under whose
auspices it had been introduced. On the 6th of
March, last year, his deceased Friend found, that
its average produce, for the previous three
months, had been 200 Recruits weekly. He
' estimated, therefore, that it would produce 9or
10,000 men ; and he asked, whether, with this in-
formation, the House could determine to repeal it.
If a.calculation be made from the 14th of March,
it will appear that •pwards of 9,200 has been raised
under it. If, therefore, there were Gentlemen who
thought last year that it would net fulil the expec-
tations entertained of it, why, now that it has per-
formed more even than was calculated upon, should
tlaey desire to repeal it ? The average of the last
three months, is a fair proof that it will still go on
succession!, obtaining men. In fifteen weeks it has
i aired 3,642, at an average of 238 men per week,
or 13,600 a year; during the next ten weeks,
`.27; men per week ; and dunng the last five weeks,
• when the txpeOation prevailed of its repeal, it has
raised 366 men per week, which is at above the rate
of 111,000 men a year.
Lord TEMPLE said, the lion. Gentleman had
la:d down a course of reading, for which the House
must feel obliged to him. His Lordship too wished
the reading should be deep, and since the Gentlemen
had returned from the Quarter Sessions in the coun-
try, they would have to blend with it the informa-
tion they had received of the way in which the
aa had been received by the country.
Colonel CRAUTU RD expressed a doubt whe-
eler any men bad been raisedi by it. It was only
the gt‘'at addi:i twhich had been offered
for 'hat <eerie • ad them.
The till .'(refit time. Upon the
questiortr • ". 7' ,setand time on Thurs-
day nes

4.8 •
00;•

Mr. CANNING said, that, whatever were the
merits nr demerits of the At proposed to be re-
pealed. it certainly raised n.rn. Whether it was the
very best measure that could be devised, was not
the question ; bot, looking to it is a resource, lie
should, on the day mei:tinned for the second read-
ing of the Bill now introduced, take the sense of the
House, whether it were expedient to repeal one pro-
dir.live measure, Wore Parliament was sure that
any thing solid and operative was proposed in its
stead. The Right Hm. Gentleman (Mr. Wind-
ham) had proceeded in a most inverted order, by
calling upon the House to give up what they have,
before he has any thing to supply the /,inita.
Mr. FOX said, that if his Right Hon. Friend
had had nothing to propose but the repeal of this
Ad, be would have voted for it ; for if it had never
passed. we should have had more men than we have
now (Hear! hear !): by the papers it would be Ap-
parent, that there was not one man raised by the
Ad, whom we would not have had without it.
General TARIATON said. that in all the con-
versation he had had with Officers, he was given
to understand, the Al had raised more men than
any other. -
The question was then carved, and the Bill or-
dered to be printed.
Mr. ROSE deferred the Motion, of which he
bad given notice (respeding the Suspension of the
Navigation Laws in the Westlndies), until Monday.
The Tortola Free Port Bill went through a Com-
mittee, the Report was re:eived, the Bill ordered to
be re-committed to-morrow te'nnight, and, in the
interim, to be printed.
On the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENE-
RAL, the Slave Trade Prohibition Bill was ordered
to be read a second time.

The Tax Bills went through Committees, as well
as the Exchequer Bills Bill, avid the House ad-
journed at eleven o'clock.

THE BRITISH PRESS,

LONDON,
FRIDAY, Aram IL

. An interesting debate took place, last night, in
the House of Commons, upon Mr. Yoac c's motion
for the produaion of the opinions of certain General
Officers, relative to enlisting soldiers for limited
service.

The Hamburgh Mail due on Wednes:/ay arrived
yesterday. It has brought letters and papers to the
12th instant, the contents of which are of consider.
able importance. The Prussian expedition against
Swedish Pomerania has Leen given up, and the
troops which were to have composed it, have re-
ceived counter or .ers. The Swedish troops have
evacuated the Duchy of Lauenberg, and Prussia
will only send into it a force sufficient to take peace-

able possession.
' The occupation of the Bocca di Calabro, by the
Russians, still continues a subjeft of diplomatic dis-
cussion, and is said to have encreased the differ-
ences between Austria and France. Ile Russian
Ambassador at Vienna, in his answer to the re-
monstrancE of the Austrian Minister, co:ttends that
Austria havirg agreed to surrender that place to
France within 40 Jays, it became, after that time,
a fair °Ned of attack by a Rus.ian force. Mean
time the departure of the French troops from the
Austrian territories is deferred. The fortress of
Braunau is to be retained. Marshal Sours is to
remain in Bavaria ; and General DLROY was to set
out from Munich, on tha 27th, for the Tyrol.
The English prisoners at Verdun, hoping that
they will be soon set at liberty, lately testified their
joy, by giving a ball and supper.
The intelligence in the Hamburgh Papers, under
the Paris head, state, that memorials have been
transmitted to the Government, from the cities of
Bourdeaux, Nantz, and Lyons, in which thcy
srongly insist upon the advantages which France
derives from the independence of the Haas Towns.

Yesterday morning the Duke of Yong transacted
business with His MAJZSI v at the Queues House.
After the Drawing-room at St. James's, their
Royal Highnesses the Princesses Sot HIA of Giou-
cu• rLs and Crs AILLOT T 1 of WALLS, aid the Dukes
of Cumber' LAND and CASIIIIITIGC. dined with Their
MAJESTIES, at the Quinn's House.
In the evening Their MAJtsr Its had a Cara-party
at the Queen's !louse.
About noon, this day, Their Majesties and the
Painctsses are expected to return to Windsor.
It is understood, that an Order of Council has
been prepared, for laying an embargo on all Ham-
burgh and Bremen vessels and property, the carry-
ing of which into effefl depends upon circumstances.
The Order, it is reported, will extend to all vessels
belonging to ports contiguous to the F.lbe, Weser,
and Ems, and such other ports as are under the do-
minion or influence of Prussia and France.
A meeting of the St. Saviour's Volunteer Corp.
sill be held this evening, for the purpose of investr-
eating the condua of their Committee for disband-
ing that Corps.
Letters have been received, which state, that the
squadron under the command of Sir J. B. Wnaagn,
was in lat. 29, 00, N. long. 26, 00, W. on the Bth
ultimo.

......
Ch,irles Ilexasmisgs and Gorge BetaA were yester-
day taptallq cortziata, at the Old Bailey, of rob-
long the Bev. Hewitt Outten Oaoa. The parti-
culars of this extraordinary case are already bifore
the pnblic. The two Prisoners, and another man,
met the Prosecutor at ten o'clock at night, on the
24th of Match last, in the Strand, and dragged him
down a lane, where they extorted from him his
pocket-book, containing a draft (or lEil. with which
they ran off.

and fortifying the dock•ysrds, and Jirceting other
Treasures of det:•nce. Hi; Lordship said, this was
•• 11,uard ; and the House prayed His Majesty
• 4••kr reports as could Le safely
rvre them. This could not
"vent case, in which the
yr Jpinions, wvre in no
Was a great analogy
abers of Board of
spoken, were not paid
to Officers high in rank
tlis Majesty to see how
, fortified, a duty even of
(the- present, and .in the
„E, difficult, and confidential.
,st thought the cases different,
„4m,, which it was the object of
,Istain, could oaly be acquired by a
.tasty. The papers were addressed is
-‘to the Commander in Chief, and it
now impossible to procure their revision,
a had been hinted at, by officers, who were dis-
persed in all direflions. There was not the least
y grcund to suppose, that this Motion
could he complied with.
The Motion was then put, and negatived without