The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-03-13 00:00:00

NIUTINY BILL.

On the Order of the day being read for the third
reading of this Bill ;
Sir ROBERT BUXTON adverted to the recent
plimetice of conveying troops and baggage by the
Navigable Canals to the great injury of the indivi-
duals concerned in these undertakings, and wished
to knew whether it was the intention of the Go-
'mutant to compensate them for their losses ?
The SLCRETARY at WAR replied that he
did not before apprehend any material inconve-
nience to arise from the conveyance of troops to the
individuals alluded to, ►ut if it did occur, there
could be no ohjettion to compensate them for it.
He then brought up a Clause by way of Rider,
trhich contained the Oath to be in future adminis-
tered to all Members serving on Regimen►al Courts
Martial, and also another for swearing all the wit-
nesses who should give evidence before them.
General FITZPATRICK then rose, and, after ad-

vetting to his proposal on, a former day, that no
person should be permitted to sit as President on a
Regimental Court Martial who had not attained
the age of tl years, said, that if he thought it could
have the slightest tendency to weaken the discipline
of the army, he would be the hut man who should
think of proposing it. He did not say, that the
usual punishments 'aided were more severe than
necessary, for which reason, the Clause he should
recommend, would, in its effests, rather serve to
strengthen the powers of Regimental Courts Nlartial.
As it must, however, be confessed that the punish-
ments were at times extremely rigid, the greater
attention should be paid to have them carefully ad-
ministered. If the same gravity and dignity were
infused into these Regimental, that aln•as•s ac-
c-impanied General Courts Martial, the men, finding
the same impartial trial in the one, as in the other,
would be naturally led to a more chearful compli-
ance with their decisions. In some foreign services,
arid the Austrian in particular, the members of such
Coatis Martial were taken from all ranks of the
regiment down to the Non-Commissioned Officer
is .d the Private. and a Court so cnastituted impress

ned the mind of the soldier with the fairness and
equity atilt proceediug. lie maintained that ip onr
service the powers given to Regimcni al Courts Mar-
tial west beyond the objet for which they were ori-
ginally established, which the Mt itself stated to be
for the trial of small °fences, which words cer-
tainly must imply that they would be limited to
the infi&i•m of small punishments. They were ne-
ver designed to try mutiny, desertion, thefts, Ansi those
other seriouscharaes which were now brought befote
them; and dory h in U..A tb c intention of the A &bad
been prevented. yet it it had been foreseen that such
CAMS would have been brought before them, there
could be no doubt that they would have been

Mr. FULLER was against the clanseq, as tend-
ing unnecessarily to nzultsply 0414 and as spring.

tainly snug Haply Win Lacy wawa r iimirzu to ran oath. This, therefore, appeared to him, not an Fittest Captains, he laid little stress un it ; snort time is win :alumni& a.. atm ••---
the inflidimi of small punishments. They were ne- innovation, but an impravement ; and, as to the it seldom happened that the Commanding po Officer tax surely bore more exclusively on wade. than
t
• ter designed to try mutiny, desertion, thefts, and those other proposal, that the Presidents should not be instituted Regimental Courts Martial for the trial of does on land. The fad is, we must be content
other seriouscharites which were now lsrotiglit befote ender '2l years of age, it was Attendant with such trifling offences, as he had himself the power of send- take them as we can, striving always as !isnot!
them; and tbmigh in U..A tbe intention of the Adlud difficulties, that he boped his lion. Friend did not in rsons so offending to the black hole, or or- posiible to make them counterbilance each !
been prevented. yet it it had been foreseen that ,tich
CAMS would have been brought before them, there mean to press it. denng them to some other suitable punishment. As lie had no idea this tax w,ould have any Flits
could be no doul,t that they would have been •
Mr. FULLER was against the dames, as tend- to the existence of ally prical evils attending t.he effed on agriculture, and therefore hoped Get
ins unnecessarily to multiply °Adis, and as spring- paw. e, be said, that if he knew of any, as he con- hien would suffer the Bill to proceed. in order