The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-06-21 00:00:00

Horst or COMMONS.

A new writ was (mitered for the Election of a Menthe' for
die Burgh of Gnat 1 nri•outit, it the rows of Mr SletAics
Letshougtou, who ha* arceettwl the oflare of Steward of the
liniltintln.
"It Rost bsouzitt to a Dill Amenntiottinrthe Suspeueion
Pwatiltteu, owlet certain uln/Pete Acts, ninths!, to the
Wooden Maaufactare.—.Read a first, sad orticsc4 w be
mad area twit tu-toutruw.
M
r.. itt...l .Cou PEW prternlea en amount relating to she
Genoa* I.:ejosar and the Artillery ikteera.--Laid on the

SOW.
.Mr. FOSTIR brought ins CIII tor grantiug certain counter-
vailing Untie, upon Spir4oot louputioni trona Scofield into I re-
lathr.--.Reisi • boot, awl uvoteecd to be mail a sewed time to-

totrrrou ,
Mr. Rose gave batiee, that the Attemmy-Groaral would,
to-morrow, mon Arr leavelto (wine: is • Bill samudiug the
Acts relative to the distribution of Prize hooey.
The Awricon Trade Bill. the Silk Excise Duties Bill.
the %Trish Coals Bill, the EA.:twitter BW. Bill, the Sugar
"twittery Bill, and the trbh Gaol Bill, were severally com-
mit led, and ordered to he reported to-morrow.
The Tower Hamlets Bid was eonissitted, reported, tad
Othletettbto be read a third tints uo Bledoestiaw west.
Ibt..atatian of Mr. BS Kea, a Committee was lip-
poirted • examine the areotuisottatious at the British
Mowed, fur the testeteot of the laityptiim Autkitoties.
On the magma of r. Wayd.i A sia %ITsse ie was ekelened,
' " bat an humble Address he presented to dial llsjeaty, Ye-
son% him, that the House will enable him to carry tat.,
eine the Acta of the 311th and both of his 'vitro'', relative
talkie Sat custody of criminal lunatics, sod that the House
will otalae good the expeases of erecting a sepAr ate prising far

that warp's*.
'Yheiftepores of the Coffee Cuetatue and the Coffee Eseise
Detiesitillit were severally °Mired le be received to-morrow.
Tie thud reading of the Stamp Duty Regulation Bill was
poetrimid, till to-usurvew ; as also the third rtadiog of the
Jirsstl Vtitetopliill.
The Dribs. Herring lithilitry BiR was read a third time,
pd passjed, after au mosoduseet, limiting the duration of
Aa iti?l_ to tour Feder. tea proposed by Mr. Rose, sod

ovesp
- - DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.
141.0,_,..1116(P1LD ADVOCATE Ot SCOTLAND moved the
limit ecuslizttoi the Seutch Local Militia Bill.
Upon tbessetlea being put front the chair,
~,.. Mr. l'anas rose and *poke at great length upon
Ptliesgkastimil-spelno of the century's defence. He
regretted much dwelt hest, sot been in his power
to be present at the discussions of the Englisu Lo-
cal Militia Bill; but he thought it a duty Memo-
tient upon lulu not to let the Session Clete without
taking au opportunity of stating his sentiments, not
ouly upon this particular measure. but upon the
general system of defence, with a view of makiiig
the Honer and the country at large consider their
real situation and theii dangers seriously. He
was amt.:seer! that that danger was much aggra-
vated by the protracted delay of the Eiiiiieror of the
French, in making ready fur his threatened
littliCk 110011 the cOuntry. It was the greatest
co.npliment that that kinrror could pay us,
to shew that lie clserr.,ist neeessary to ar-
riinge his plans in sue ti_rnanner its to coim
plcte the subjugation of isif other nations of the
world, before he proceeded to attack us.' There had
been, Bedouin, a great deal done, we had not lost
all our time, but still he could not say we had
Made the best use of it. Our numerical force had
now been named to a greater exteat than upon any
former occasion, by the various Bids that had been
of late years suggested; but lie felt a considerable
degree of regret, that the 'Fronting Bill had not
been extended to Scotland, as well as to England.
He saw no raven upon earth why that Bill should
not be extended to Scotland, as it certainly was
one of the most effective measures, and less com-
plicated in its detail. titan that now before the
House. He never could see ally difficulty in
comprehending England and Scotland in one
bill. He approved much of the present measure,
in so far as it went to follow up the Voliniteer s-
tem, and rendering them more permanent. It had
been alleged as an objeetiou to our Militia .stem,
that it rendered the men amenable to military
punishments, iii the seine mouner as Feelich Con-
scripts; but, in his opinion. a great difference exist-
ed betwixt them, as it only refiiiired a comparison
of the two, to shew that the,. punislanieuts of-the
French Conscripts were much more severe, al-
though perhaps not of suds freieneut occurrence, as'
those of our military systetn, which lie believed to
be greatly ening to a greater desire far intoxica-
tion pretailing, in this country than in France.
He thought it would base been prudent to bare
gone into a complete recision of our whole mili-
tia system, before adopting such a measure as the
present one, so difficult iii detail, as it was well
known to lie impossible for us to have a regular
army adequate ler the defence of the country.
The Right Honourable Gentleman then took an
extended view of the progress Bonaparte had made
is the Conquest of Europe, and assimilated him
us a Coligneror to Caesar and Alexander. How-
ever much lie hoped, yet lie did that expert,
that the Spaniards would be able to with-
stand the power of Bonaparte. or to check
his ambitious projects ; neither did he think
our hopes ought to be sanguine as to Sweden. In
a short time it was not improbable that our enemy
would be in possession of all the °oast of Europe,
end it would be impossible to prevent him attack-
ing us in Great Britain or Ireland, from some
' one or-other of the ports. he would- then hare in
his possession. The danger that threatened us
was lily no means small, from the peculiar circum-
stances iii which Ireland stood. Ikmaparte calcu-
lated upon getting assistance in Ireland, and it ass
ketosis and acknowledged, that there was a French
party in that country since the time of gneen Eli-
zabeth. who wished nothing more than a foreign
power to assist them in effecting a separation from
Brent Britain lie was inclined to believe tbe Ca-
tholic claims were only taken up for the purpose of
carrying on the mein object which that French party
had in view ; and he bad to regret that the right arm
of the empire, (treat Britain, was ED onst:11 weaken-
ed in watching over the left hand, Ireland, to repress
those dawgerous separatists. II • then alluded to
the flourishing state of our navy—but at the same
time impressed upon the 'loose the possibility of
our nary, with all its .vigilao'ce. not being capable,
open all occasions, tit ward off an invesion—eml
stated several inststhats ill which the French fleets
hail succeeded in 'getting out of their ports, and
' even rettirtilog.r without our kDOWILVIV. Oftrr se-.
complishing their purpose. Oe the 20tls Juur, 1794,'
' the French fleet nailed frotp..Malta to Alexandrisii
with 300 transports, and 40000 troops, uotollllit
inki.tling the vigilance or Eased Nelsow,- who must
have passed Amens of the ?AAA fleet, Alining the
'inglit of the.e.d of that Bliodth: In 1799, the
Blest fleet eluded the vigdauce of Lord Bridport,

and preeeeded to the Meditereasean ; and lately
the Rochfurt atimidetin procceiletLup the Ms-thief-
raumin, and retuntelti safely to. Volows uotwith-
stambilg the vigilance of Sir Richard Straclian.--.
l'here instaaces, be thought, were sufficient to sa-
tisfy every one of the uncertainty of naval enter-
prises. Bonaparte's means sere great, and his
mode of applying then% was similar to that of the
ancient Romans. Ile now made use of the atones
of those nations he had votiquercd, in adding other
conquests. We were not therefore to eakarlate up-
on the number of French' troops we might have
against us—but we might have all the armies of 11w
Continent engaged in attaching us. flue could
not help wondering at the great and singular events
that were going forward, conducted by one man,
who was devoting his whole time and attention to
one object, that of universal subjugation. If it
had not been for our navy we would have had war
in this country long ere now, and should we beams!
conquered, we emi never again' rise, as Booaparte
will realize the Roman principle of col ((((
by distributing vast estates amongst. his Generals.
We ought, therefore, under such circumstances,
and with such prospects before us, to leave nothing
to chalice—We ought to leave sin stone unturned
to prs.vide fur our defence, witch beyond whet our
navy can afford us : •• Toto ct Handling est curpure
regal." We ought to strengthen the interoal, as
bell as external parts of the empire, by numerous
foetilications for the protection of our troops.—
[fere the Right Ilan. Gentleman entarKed upon
the necessity of our erecting ionnerosis fortifica-
tions silting the coasts of the kingdom, and
particularly alluded to the propriety of strength-
ening Portsmouth, Plymouth, the Isle of Wight,
and the counties of Kent, Sussex, Ea.aes, aid Sul-

folk, in order more effectually to secure the me-
tropolis. Ile touched upuu these point. iu onler
to induce Ministers to cuter into these considers-

tions. and to give some satisfactory informatiou to
the House as to what has been done it respect to
fortifying the kingdom. The ..public knew
but little of the manner in which the money
has been laid out by the Board of Ordnance for
these purposes. He thought this such an import-
ant subject, that, without going into detail, he
should probably feel it his duty, early oext Session
of Parliament, to move for the appointment of a
Secret Committee, to inquire what has been done
with the money appropriated towards fortifying the
kingdom. It was absolutely necessary, in case of
danger, to secure it free tain ttttttt ication between
this country mid Ireland, so that succours might
he sent from the one to the other, as ores arm
might require. Te enforce the necessity of fortift-
r cations, it was only requisite far us to look at the
situation of the Powers of the Continent. who had
fallen for wantof having properly secured their fron-
tiers, and at the high estimation in which Bona-
parte himself held them, it being always his first
object to secure them. This was now the time for
us to profit by the experience we had had of the
imbecilities of other nations. We have seen no in-
stance in history where a eimestry had beets able to
make a formidable res,stance against invaders,
without fortifications. The strength of France
was now in a great measure owin.,o to the numerous
fortifications erected by Louis XIV. He thought
he should not have been performing liis duty had
he not submitted these things to the cousideration
and discussion of Parliament. before the close of
the session. No expense ought to be spared in
putting the'country in the greatest possible state of
&hence, so as got to leave its fate to depend upon
the cast of a siugle dye. He trusted that before
the nest Session of Pantameut is • might be enabled
to say—
" Oman percipimus, et wants prsisepinnuo
Lord Ccerceeceun was happy to find the opi-
nieissof his Right lien. Friend so happily coincided
iii several puints with the cooduct of His Majesty's
present Ministry. Ile agreed that every possible
means of providing for the defence of the country
should be restorted to, but he did not think the
state of the tinies, or of the country, did require
Ministers to proceed to put the country to uity
considerable expense in udditional efforts to give
it a complete system of fortified defence. Ite-
viewinw the history of this country, it would appear
that there was a species of Constitutional lepug-
nonce to the eduction of such measures of defence.
Phis had left this country so totally destitute of
fortification, that to apply to that measure now, it
would be necessary to begin, de stone, and almost
from tiothitig. W hen it was also cousidered that
the ordnance system of the country was, at the
conclusion of the last scar, at so extremely low an
ebb, considered with the system as it now stood, it
would he found that those to whom the trust bad
been committed, had by no means deserved public
censure for may thing like negligence in them. A
system, such as that tecommended by the Hight
Hon. Member, would require a complete change in
many beam:limier the public service. Engineering.
which hail of late years au much improved in time
military sc stein of this country, would require the
utmost eulargemeut and encouragement, in order
to events* this new system of defence. -Hie Right
Hon. Friend had overlooked, however, in some de-
gree, what had been done in this way. The lines of
Chatham, and the fortifications on the Medway,
and front Dover to the Thames, would be found to
have the most derided advantage over the defenAve
state of the French coast, notwithstanding the pre-
fereuce whist) bad been given them by his Right
Hon. Friend. These had originated under the sit-
iseridendance of Lord Chatham, when in the 4 trd-
naive Department, and several plans of additional
fortiticatione bed been given by him. with, their
estimates, in to (ioverauneut, about two year*
ego, which had not since been put into execntion ;
by this he meant to cast tio reflection °a the lust
Government. But it would Le an injustice in his
statement, to that No* Lord, to consider his exer-
tions as confined tis Great Brituiu alone ; Engi-
neers had been employ ed to make a complete sur-
vey of Ireland, particularly the souther,' coasts,
near Cock aad Binary Bay. and excellent fortitien-
titbits erre erected not. ouly them but on most other
pouts of the coasts. And here he should seamark,
' the the only fortifications the enemy had erected
ott their shores, hind been solely to defend their
coasting trade from our cruisers—whilst ours were
calculated to deter an enemy from feeding within
the reed) of these lines of Crtiecatiou. With re-
spect to the internal force of the country, he
thought every thing the could be dome, had been

dime, oltliough he could not art* with E: night
lion. I. irieu tlisit the prem•ut en-:

•
c could he 'audited equally VIIVI tiw as the rtittikir
Thc Change ILw high' lion. Eriekti had
priropoietl, he admitted, Lut %yolld
inteitaLly injure the ignite ; u ULt, thuugh this
two forces ;night hr rinialguniated, yet the frgui;:c
militia would only be, reodcrol leer enrolee. Tbe

regular militia Ile thought out of thc best seettritil,i
to the internal deleme of the country, mid should,
above all oilier species of force, except the regu-
lars their' elves, he most atteaided to. The
he however felt, were the best possible nitinis of
advancing the interests of the n:ore regular force,
as it had ell the advantages of the volunteer sts.
tern. with the audit I adtaiitage of platidci.;
in their stead it perm:nu-id futee, ever ready to lei,.
der all the service in their power tc the country
the hour of danger. lb. concluded trite assuring
the Howie the present observations had fallen bon
him solely as en answer to the stateno sit of his Hi.
liou. Friend, who had, in the course of his suet ii ,
mode so many allusions to his conduct and
meets on this very important subject.
Mr. WIN Dli Al 4 observed, that among the many
topicsl which had fallen from the two speakeh,
who had prts:eded him, many of w bich might
have as well beet' omitted, as not at unconnected whin
the subject, there could be no topic 'sore wor-
thy of the serious attention of Parliament, and
all tit scrip6nis of men, than that of iiiterual de-
fence by fortification. On this subject the opinions
and the authority of all military and statistical
men should be taken, in order that the systein
should not he rashly or improvidently adopted.—
The lute increase tt. ciperise, he contended, was by
no means, necording. to the Noble Lord's cooly:t-
-alon, iu Ste foist dt't4ft'c promising to the countre,
since he appeared to esmsider the present only the
prelude to futone expense, as he had also eolifes-
eel that the local seilitin would not be an actual
force, but by het outing the interment of the vo-
lunteer system, noold flintily effect a resuriettioa
of a more effective anal pennant-tit force in defence
of the country. lie very' touch feared that such
aisurunces would have tie effect on the public, bin
• to excite distrust in our present hope of aesistsuce
usej defence. The alluaions which lied bet a made
to the conduct of the late Goveroment, with resi:ect
to the ordnance department, were altogether idle,
as that Ministry ha 3, as far as possible, endeuroured
to render effective the iiitentioos of those
preceded thew.
Mr. hirant.ver recommended to the considers-
time of stie Nol:le Lord the propriety of an inter-
change of the militias of the two countries. Such
a measure would come with peculiar proprivly
from that Noble Lord, to whom Ireland had
ready contracted such a debt of gratitude, by his
effecting the grand object of an Union. NV havier
might be the ultimate determination of Uotem-
ment on the grand subject of internal defence, by
fortificutiom it would be well worth the attention
of the Noble Lord to consider on the most effectail
means of securing. he country in the time of dan-
ger. Mitch had been done, and yet much re.
mained, purticulitily in Ireland. lie bad how-
ever little doubt, that under the superintendents
of the Noble Lord nothing would be left mist-
: tempted which could 1• rove serviceable to the pub-
: lie security, or honourable to the exeittons of hint-
' self and his colleagues.
The was then rend a &it'd time, some
F amendments added, by way of riders, and the *hole
permitted to pima.
MR. PALMER'S CLAIM.

The CHANCEILOa of the EIcinALIER rove to
apprise the House, that he sheuild, on Thursduv,
move a resolution in the House, that the annuity
of Mr. Palmer should be feepanited from the vein-
red Appropriation Bill, arid become the exclusive
subject of a new Bill. Notice was ordered ac-
cordingly.
Mr. Wax DHABI gave notice, he would, early is
the next session of Parliament, endeavour to reme-
dy a late innovation whilst] had been made in the
military system of the coo t..t,T, as established by en
act he had the honour to introduce into the Home.
'Clint act Wall framed for the express purpose or de-
fending tile private, soldier from his own impru-
dence, or the treachery of others, by volunteering
for lif. , though leaving only entered .rig Dal/ into
the service for a limited period. Thus the soldier
was tempted, if not threatened. into a new enttage-
ment,! contrary to the spirit of that under which
he had bcfeire entered the service. lie was inclined
to give this early notice, in order to avoid any Or
jeesion when heshould n-xt seesion bring it on, per-
haps, as a clause in the Mutiny Act. lie then
concluded with entering Ins notice of motion for
next session, providing that private soldiers shoal
not be permitted to enter into any future engage-
ments, dieriii% the period of their service, ahich
were not conformable to the ori6iiial engagements
under which they lusts] entered.
Mr. Wilitaks".aD wished to know from the
Chancellor of the Excliequ. r when he should
movie the Appropi iation Act To which he re-
ou Thunwhey neat.
Mr. Ti aux r moved for certain accounts of the
Imports and Exports of the Port of London of
oho those of the Out-porta, for the respective years
1807 and. 1888, ending May I, distinguishiog fo-
reign goods exported hence from oar own Fodoce.
--Ordered.

-—_.__.
CI:II.ATET BILL.
On the motion of the CussceLtos of the Ex-
CHEQUER fur the third reading,
Mr. BARINIAIi repeated at length the ergumertt
so often urged by do; opposers of this inrastias.
He considered it extremely dstigerons to the tot. -
rests•eftbe Church, by gratitMg can,,idetalle
power to the Bishops, which 'wild not fail to leo-
duce Contention asunaust the 'hole locly of a
clergy.. Bili, moreover, was altoge:her
(lent to its pnr oat•. V, it erns at be,t bid a pert'
remedy to ti.e gr.at cril of tion-ro,icience,
lanulty he'rttiected 1., the eNlliket.:l4; of the fact
nutticd• to extet, in wbit h st.etd, nem,:
the respective values of Church ettaisti,lttnet,t,..
114 r. IlAWsitigrattluv sopoor::!,1 the
washappy to liapi the reoit 'tor mltti gusto:1131111i
the Church had falku • stir h eowi h •ntli•
lamentetl the spirit of ").:;)u-it inn «it:rh 41'
fortnly displayed itself iii the oder
House, toe niter.o re• c ilcol.itt:4l to -
intereets of the (:ito -4•1,, and the e"
desctiptious of

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Lord 11ftt.Tott supported the objections of the
Member who had just spoken. Ile dreaded
the terrific influence the present Bill must necessa-
rily give the superiors of the Church-over their in-
feriors--and the operation or this influence, thre
the int-Ilium of the minor Clergy. upon the public
mind at large. He was not surprised at the oppo-
sition it had received, since, hi it appeared to other:
in the nine point of view as to him, their acquies-
cence in its enactments must be attended with th;l
melt severe controunotion, as few measures hail
ever been brought forward in that House, of more
inauspicious appearance to the cause of independ-
ence, either in the Church or the population of the
kingdom.
Mr. Tivaarr &Owed no the sanie side. Mr. WI n-
st• w also opposed the Bill. Mr. S PPPPPP suppotted the
Bull, as did aim Mr. Maus sus Burros. Mr. DI( KFT4SON
and Dr. LAWRENCE argued against the cal. Mr. WHIT-
sr.eL o ohm spoke against the Bill. The House at last di-
vultd—
For the third reading 73
Against it.. so
Another division then took plane on a clams. proposed, we
acilastand, by lend PORCHIVITSIL,srIien the niunbeni aere,
For the Clause. 7

Against it . 61
'f he other ordm of the day were dice disposed ato and at
Ilatf-part Twelve the tinge ihijourued.