The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-06-09 00:00:00

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Dessalines's having expressed a wish. that in ease of
any treaty between him and our Government. li-
berty might be grained of impurting negroes
.into
that island."
Mr. FULLER said that vrasall he wanted to know.
GENERAL. DEFENCE RILL.

The tiouseibenPiocetisa to ti7eTirder of the
Day for the second reading of the General IN.-
fence Bili. On the question being put, that this
Bill be now read a second time ;
Mr. CALCRAFF rose, and said, that since His
Majesty's Administration had received an accession
of strenkib, from the talents of the Right Hon.
Gentleman opposite to him (as to the other parts of
the new Administration, he did not see that they
encreased the confidence of the country), h., expeaed
to have found in the new plan, brought forward for
the better Defence of the Country, more vigour,
and something more likely to meet the present exi-
gencies, than the plan which was now brought for-
ward, and proposed fur the adoption of the House
Thins: esoniel, fem.:. no part of the pate, any good
reason to expel much chance of increasing the dis-
provable-force of the country, till such time as e.
cancies should arise its the Militia, or Ariny of Re-
serve. Ihe Right Hon. Gentleman looks, it 4
true, to an immediate increase of sixteen thousand
men, at the same time that, by giving up the hi4llos,
he throws up the chance of procuring the men. The
measure now proposed had recourse to the same
means for zecruitin3 the army which had for-
merly been ado,•ted res;.ciing the navy; and which
failed in answering the purpose intended. Apin,
the manner. in which the Right Hon. Gentlemen ::as
proposed to apply these men when raised, is by
throwing them into two battalions ; or rather, add-
ing a battalion composed of these new levies, to a
battalion of infantry already formed among the
troops of the line. His professed object in this part
of the plan is, that these men may be theeebv in-
duced to enter into the first battalion. But 'how
strongly this inducement may be supposed to ope-
rate, may he easily inferred, when it is considered,
that the first • battalion may be in some distant
country, whilst the other is necessarily confined at
home ; the one, perhaps, in the East Indies, and the
other at Guernsey. The Right Hon. Gentleman,
in this part of his plan, appears to be too Sanguine,
and to calculate too ranch on that sort of kindred
feeling, which I.e supposes wiil subsist between the
men composing these two battalions. Theo with
regard to the Officers composing these two trattalions.
those who may bo employed in the most important
services in the East Indies, and who happen to survive
their brother officer s therein thesameregitnent.migl
happen to be superseded by officers residing ia Eng-
land, and tre.iding over corps which could not have
seen any service at all. The men ale expected to
be rased for a smaller bounty than has been given
for ra•sing men for the Army of Reserve or the Mi-
litia, and by holding out an inducement to Parish
-o:ficers, for raising men, Fiche. by lumens ef w ore.
mium (to exceed, in some small degree, the highest
bounty), nr by penalty in case of failure. But W the
sum be limited to ten guineas, it would then be-
come a question, whether it would not he better
to raise it venerally to that sum, rather than to suf-
fer the parishes to run the risk of paying the penalty,
in case of their not raising the quota of men. This
wits then turn out to be a partial mode of raising
men in such a proportion as the Hrmse is Fleets to
'spelt. The present measure appeared to him to he
scarcely any thing else than a new edition bf the
Quota Bill of 1793, and which did not, in falt, raise
one tenth part of the number of men expetted ; be-
sides that of these the worst set of men were pro-
duced that were ever called into the war; so much so,
that it was a question with him whether they were not
in a great measure the cause of the calamity that soon
after befel our Navy ; at least they were very likely
to produce such conduct, for they, were in fad the
very scum of the counsel. There were other
modes by which it appeared to him that men
might more easily be procured. He referred to the
means of raising men for a limited time, and he
thought that the West India service ought to he
made a distinct service. Were this hint followed
up, the great impediments to recruiting in the old
way would be found to be very much diminished.
Upon these and other grounds, on which he should
not then dwell, Mr. C...elctaft said be should ope Ise
the second reading of the Bill, judging it to be per-
feetly inadequate to accomplish the purpose which
it professed to embrace. _ _

Sir ROBERT BUX fON said, he heartily ape
purred of the Rill, and particularly because it so
materially relieved the landed interest fr.= the
heaviest burden which had been laid upon it. and
especially that of itiding men for the Army of He.
serve, whilst the 1;01 ent to lay the burden where
it natural', ought to be laid, nu the general finances
of the country. 1 h., present measura a nrared to bare
but littlresemhlance to the 2n inasmuch as
the foi.rier rak-s men at the e.rilee of the country,
and the latter imposed it on the paridies. Another
advantage of this plan was, that of putting a stop
to the ballot, which appeared to him to be a
mat unjust and unfair way. On thes^ accounts
he thought the ptrsent Bill would be better rec.•ived
throughout the country, than any former one which
had preceded it a for; surely, the difficulties of raising
men by ballot, and the hardships attending that mea-
sure, were such as every Country Geatieman must
wish to see annihilated. Not that he saw perfeition
io the owl nes of the Rid, as they had been ably
traced by the Right lion. Gentleman ; but in the
Committee there might be clauses pointed tut, which
wou!si be found to require arni.niment ; is t, viewing
it as a general measure, it appeared to him that it
deserved approhation.
Mr. YORKE bean by assuring the 1-louse, that
it was his sincere will to give every pes.ihle sup-
port to the gewerraucht of the country, in whatever
hands it might be Ent at the same time,
and consißeia the- declaration, he could r.ot he
eepeaed to s.cri.,ce ei, opi.n respeling the hest
made of pruvi...l,4 fart the elcte.tes of the Gowan'

hit

(PEKE SIXPENICE.

I

In the plan now submitted to the eciesideretion • f
the House, there woe ;arts, undoubtedly, to w: eb
he was very ready to give his assent, but there w e
other parts, which appeared to him faulty anal e -
ceptionable, and from which, therefore, he must dis-
sent. If the system of limited service in the -.
regular army could have been rendered praCtical..-j
many of the measures to which Parliament I-
lately been obliged to have recourse, might he e
been dispensed with. Yet, under the present sy•-
tem of military service hi this country, whiel ,
in some respells, was different trap that of the
powers of the continent ; he dlillbted whether
it woes praCl:cabie to adopt such a system : at
the same time he was of opii i• to that if a co-
lonial limited service could be established, It •••
_would be serviceable. But till that could be
be brought about, and the efTeCt of its opereth n
could he seen, it was not possible-fur this country, i
any more than for the great military powers on
the continent, to place its depeoance for the
maintenalice cr .increase of its armies Oserele
upon voluntary offers of service. Among the gi•cat
military powers of Prqpia, Austria, Ru .sia, amt: •
France, a conscription otrballot was resorted to, 'ne-
cause a large military lot ce was necessary fordefitnce.
Such measures could not be given up, nor sacrificed _
to, nor could such armies be kept u&by dependis. !
entirely upon the voluntary offers <X service. +re
approved, therefore, of the system of our Militia
Laws, because it raised a respeaalde tieee without
the risk of uncertainty ; and he consicitecil that it
would be fiund necessary to have resort to the
Lune principle in pnrsuine the leading feature of
the present measure, which was that of raising
a sort of force holding a medium betwixt e Oct
Regular Army and the Militia. The n'sjece
tions he felt in his mind to the present Bill
might be classed under three heads ;—First, to the
amount of this force ; —Secondly, to the mode by
which it is proposed to be raised .and, Thirdly, to
the time when this measure has been brnught for.
ward. Mr. Yorke said, he could nut help observieg,
that even by those who had objeCled to the Lite Ms.
sisters, it had been allowed, that the nat.% was-
now in a reasonable degree of security; aff that .
Parliament might now, with a reasonable degree of
tranquillity, consider the adoption of some pei r . a
neat system, that might enable this country to mea.
tiro such a military establishment ass it ought to
uphold in the preeent sweet Europe The present
Bill appeared to• proceed upon this ground. Its
objet seemed to be to lay the basis of a•ale perms-
tame measure, on which our military sestem is in
future to be establish: J. It was in that poiot ,I
view that he thought this Bill might to be exa-
mined. Now first as to the numbers propesea
to be raised. He thought they wete money,
than could be accomplished, without materially
injuring the recruitiog service. It was presosed
to reduce the Militia of Great initain are 41,0
wen, amid Alio rworriewentsrt Nillida dertie:'
number. To this part of the plan, or to the entire
abolition of the Supplementary Militia. he aid reit
objeft ; but it appeared to him that the demands
made upon the country by this Bill were greater
than it could supply, consistently with the other
services due to the Navy and the Marines (the last
of these Corps was considerably deficient in num-
ber, and too important to be dinegardesl). His
second objeCtion was to the war by pinch this
f tree was proposed to be raised. Tfiis, be coal
not help thinking, was extremely ineflicacious, lad,
in the same proportion as it was inefficacious, it
became nugatory The I ionouroble ;tar met ( Buz.
ton) praised the Bill, because it did not inspqap a
tax upon the parishes. For his part. the only
eGcectous part of the Bill was that ielfch i:n.
posed a fine upon the • parishes. This Bill seemed
to be a brothel to that commonly called cue Quota
B 31; ate proportion of men to be r sised in the
parishes. was to be raised much in' the same way,
and under the operation of a fine ; but, under the 1
operation of that Bill, not a tenth part of the pro.
posed number is as raised ; he believed more than
a tenth part for the Army Navy celinaive-
iy, but not more than th part for t e
Arare. Although more we d, yet, in f: ,
not more than 1400 men were aaualle retairseci a
the service. The 61st regiment, now at Mal . ,
was, he believed, composed mairely of the remains
of these men, and was only now between 5
600 strong. Lnder that aft, the men wet e bound
sere till the end of the war, or till their 1 to
Great Brit.:in. But the Right Hon. G amen
stated it as 07. r recommeadntien of his Bill, hat ilt
grn
would put ao mid :o beiloti g. It was on this vety
groued that he *olieoe,l to it; because he mach
JouSted. whether, in ,iris mantrifterin country. it
would be possible to have such a i a a the cir-
cmustances of the coL.nr-y required, nut some
sett of compulsion. flsis was the principle of
the Militia force. lie consider-I it, therefore,
AS a very rianger.o.s i eperiment, to lay aehle that
s; stem which cur anc,Eavrs had found to answer so
well, and to which this country was in a great
measure indebted fir its present se. trity. lie
must repeat, that it was a dangi roes experirner -,
and one which, he was afraim would issue in dis-
appointment. Ile weldd met weeny but that m me:
improvements might be made in he present system
of balloting, at the same time, I.e -could rime:fly
implore the House not to pia all end to the •yritem
of balloting in some sl.ap, or mom:, i 1 as mmh As
there was nu other rra‘ft cable meastoe to seiich the
c runic could hove secoerse. •I ',hilly. he oh.
jefted to the time when this me itureowa, brouweht
• tiro and. It has hours- admicret, that atcr
nivieg prcvid:d reason tray to: our d:.:ttettle .e-
-c antv, and haviair hrtw-en five and 600.000
men in arms, t' e okjeCt is now to improve :mil
i -tease the military of the Ike. and that a c• e
side:able augmentation should take place. A : a
Lis ,In•ady been adep:ed, of adding a bartalino
seecrol distinguished regimens,-and also by C •
ternen possessing veey considerable local L.f.t.
ea.:, reosorg mot ter ore ;:i.ibl:c sc. vice. Bat

V

would seem is if these plans were now to be els en
because, if this mode of recruiting by pat o.ile:.
is to be adopted, it cannot be reconciled with the
other. He agreed, however, in thinking it was
hatter to have the men to he raised formed into a
second battalion, and taken from then[ into the
Regular Army, rather than for the latter to be taken
tram the Militia. The plan of the Bill seemed to
to take advantage of the zeal and alacrity of se-
veral parishes. But whether those Gentlemen, who
were conversant with the affairs of the country, could
ve an opinion, that much was to be expeted from
parish officers, ha was at a loss to ascertain.
It bad hinted, that some reward should be given
to these Officers, according to the number of
Men to be raised in their parishes. But was not
Zi
elike taming them into crimps ? Mr. Yorke
that he, for one, did not think this plait
would he found to ar.swer, and on this account he
should be sorry if it were to be adopted ; and as there
as no immediate hurry, and the Bill was proposed
as tyre basis ca. a permanent system, instead
of hturying it Ough the Muse in the present
advanced period of the Session, he should think
it far better to suitor such delay to take place
as would give proper time for ample deliberation ;
tut if no arguments could prevail, to induce the
House thus to deliberate or arrest its progress, he,
one, was prepared to give his negative to the
1 second reading.
Mr. STURGF.SS BOURNE expressed consider.
able stri,rise at the nature of the arguments used by
he Right Hon. Gentleman, in regard to the present
e mu.. The Right Hon. Gentleman had begun his
1 speech, by stating, that some measure was necessary
. to,be proposed by His Majesty's Ministers, for the
; Defence of the Country. He hitcl indeed assumed,
Il that the force nor on foot, and which had been raised
" by due late Administration, of which he formed a part,
was, in his opinirn, nearly sufficient for the purpose
ed our internal defence, but at the same time allowed
that an increased force was desirable, and that he
bad hoped to see it such as might be converted into
a Permanent system. The Right Hon. Gentleman
formerly thought it extremely desirable, that the
. terries of the Militia ofehe two countries should be
made reciprocal. in order to give usarnore disposable
force; that, however, had been found totally impos-
sible, aad what was !lie remedy ? To raise men in
each a manner as they mirth_,_ %•ith the greatest fa-
ceity, be rendered& disposable force. For that pnr..
pow. his Right Hon. Friend had brought forward the
present measure as most likely to effect what so very
much was the wish of all parties who had delivered
the* iptimeats on the subjea. To this measure the
Rigliftfon.Gentleman had expressed.his disapproba.
aims on severa grounds, in all of which he could not
*void differing with him in opinion. The Right
Boa. Gentleman's first material objottion was,
Ihat this Rill went to do away the hallo/ ; and his
season for the objettion was, that the expense of
reisit•g men woald fall with mire weight on the
landed interest, than on any other description of
persons. This he could not but deny, and was as-
tosiiiiied that any person who took a comparative
view of the present Bill, and that for raising the
Army if Reserve, should call this the most °ppm-
l'.; dm. In the latter, it fell dim-_t'y on the individual.
ban by the present Bill, it fell on the parish, which is
y. paidsby the public ; and if it were a question which
thea
anwacsi snore
nadegiy oppressive,answerhethath,
theought he
cis
Arsty
Of c was the more so by many degrees.
Mr. YORKE said a few words in explanation.

Colonel BASTARD said, that from every tiling
le had understood from the Right Hon. Gentleman
In his first mention and opening of his plan, he did
think he should find, in t`at Bill, some means for
raising an immediate force ter the defence and se-
curity of country ; instead of which, it only gives
it Rower II the crown to rake 70.000 men by money
111‘ v 4 not applicable by Parliament. and over
Which Pas/Lament has no controul whatever. Every
ono, the least conversant with history, knows, that
Z
a t army, amounting to a very large force,
of the most dangerous enemies to the liher-
....af a free country, and has seldom failed to
Linsialusen
• ,Vresthrow and destroy them. If a stranger was the
sowansor of this country. he for one would never
comae to such an army, which might soon make,
at its pleasure. mho was on the tab of no more
worth -than that of the metal it is composed of. He
egadd by no means api rove the kind of force which
k it iatended to raise, at the expence and to the pre-
helms of the Aildjtia. which our ancestors had
..mmlceays gloried the boa-t of a free peo-
lst
Pk, and had deemed*
the best and greatest
• .socurity for their ies, and for the defence of the
country against all invaders. In this force, so truly
constitutional. be had ever put and ever would put
most unlimited confidence.
Mr. B A NKES said, that many faults had been
with the present measure, which by no means
not 4 p
in that point of view to him ; but he could
expressing his surprise that the Bill should,
of all other things, be charged with not being con•
stitutional. He appealed to the Home if it had nct
bee:: the universal sct.timent repeatedly expressed
diet., eta a very great additional force was abso-
lately Imilitis:te, and that it ought to be raised as
speedily .is nossible. He was surprised at the objec-
t:on of retit.cing the militia from 70,100 men to its
c-:ginal ouot.s, t.sr surely no person would attempt
to oraintain the duarine. that when the House by its
author *ay have created a military tree to any given
extent whatever, either as militia or ce.berwrse, that

. -
they have act the power to lessen, retrench, or even
arrogate it At ;.'stir pleasure. He belieted the source
from which we can recruit for the regul.ir army is
more confined than many gentlemen imagine it to
be; and even though .:.e system of ballot W. 4, car-
ried to the nunost extent, the regular army could
not be rai,ed to tl:a: height, in point of nnmbers,
which many hfembers would wish. But in all free
countries it is necessary to shew that the pres-
sure on the community Is not greater than the
actual necessity of the times positively and impe-
riously demands. The present plan is certainly so
fax good, therefore, as it first proposes to raise a
cons erable boly for limited service, which is much
snore easil;• and readily done than for regular or un-
limited service. Much had been said about the ad-
santabe that it was thought would result to the
truantry, if the colonial service could be made dig-
' tiLa from any other part e.f tke regular service, and
confined entirely to on- holy of men. He could by
• ko means ca y, that this might not be tire case, but

these could be no druht, but that the colonial ser-
vice, if attempted at present, according to the mode
proposed, must be attended with the greatest diffi-
culties, on account of the great distance from home,
the nature of the climate, and, above all, the
ravages of that dreadful disease which has of late
nude such tremendous havoc among the human
species resident in the islands, and particularly Eu-
ropeans. on their first going over. It could not,
however, be denied, that it would at the same time
be more easy, both with regard to limited time and
limited service also, to give the men an option of
entering into the general service if they choose so to
do. The number of 13,000 men, added to the regu-
lar army from the Army of Reserve, affords great
encouragement to hope that a much larger propor-
tion out of the present number to be raised will en-
gage for general service. He adverted to the argu-
ments used by a Right Hon. Gent. (Mr. Addington)
on the first mention of this plan, in favour of the Bill
laying over fora year, and denied that any advantage
could- possibly arise from such a proceeding. On
the contrary, he thought great inconvenience, as
well as injury, would be the result of such unneces-
sary delay. The force intended to be raised under
the provisions of this Bill, amounted in England,
Ireland, and the Islands of the Channel, to no less
than 70,000 men; and it was highly important this
force should be raised as soon as possible. He al-
lowed the Defence of the Country ought to be
paid by the country, and not fall partially on in-
dividuals.; and he thought it was in the power of the
different parishes, and p,trish officers, to promote this
objelt, and toefeet it in a fair, equal, and impar-
tial manner. He thought also, that if they did not
find the men it was their share to do, it was only
fair that they should pay towards it. No one would
deny, he said, but that the pressure of affairs is
greater now than it has ever been, and yet the call
4or men saki now made under far less oppressive
modes than they were liable to by former ads. Ac-
cording t the plan of the late administration, the
Army of Reserve AR "%isnot to be repealed, but only
suspended, and of course the bounties would have
remained as large as ever. The great merit of the
present mea.ure is, that it puts an end to ballots
and bounties at the same time, and by the same
operation. He then adverted to the system eecain-
mended by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wind.
barn), on a former night—of enlisting our Regular
Army only for a limited time, instead of for life.
If the present store a period in which we could rest
on our arms, and look on, indifferent of the pro-
ceedings of the other powers around us, that plan
might, perhaps, be found to be so far good as to
warrant our making the experiment ; but this is not
a season for such unknown trials. We mast adopt
measures, which, from past experience, we have
the greatest reason to suppose will be effettive. The
present Bill appeared, therefore, to him to be free
from objetlion, as it put an end to ballots and high
bounties ; and, in the first instance, does net call
for one man more than we are at present obliged to
furnish, but in an easier manner; and, what was
still a further and stronger recommendation to it,
was, that great part of the force will be applicable
to general service. For them reasons, the Bill should
have his warmest support.

Mr. A. WRIGHT said he could not give a
silent vote on the present occasion, but must declare
his disapprobation of the present Bill. His reason
was, he did not like to impose on the people burdens
which were Lid in a partial manner, as it seemed to
him these fines would be, as they would frequently
operate with &considerable degree of hardship on
those who, from their own aet or their own incli-
nation, had been guilty of no Lurk uhatever, but
had only had the. misfortune of not berg able
to raise men. He objected particalarly to that
part of the Bill by which overseers are permit-
ted to raise men even in adjoining parishes.
He should have disapproved of it, had theyeven been
confined within the limit, of their own parish. as a
bad mode of raising men; but, as it now stands,
they are made, to all intents and purposes, rectuit-
ing serjeants. He thought also that it was an un-
just, u well as a round-aboutway, to raise men for
unlimited service, by means of an intermediate ai
limited service. Why. he asked, rot do it at once
By the mode proposed by the Bill, it will become a
policy to enter first into the Army of Reserve, and
having received the bounty for so doing, to obtain
a second and a higher bounty to enter into the Revi-
ler Army, which would be an additional burden on
the public. He found himself, therefore, under the
necessity of withholding his assent to the Bill, though
he was very desirous of giving every support to Go-
vernment in his power.

Mr. ELLISON spoke against the Bill, ben he
was so much under the gallery, that we could not
distinaly hear him, except a sentence now and then.
By what we could gather in this way, we under-
stood him to say—that desirous as he was to contri-
bute every thing in his power towards supporting
Government in the Defence of the Country, he
could net agree to the Bill then Mier consideration,
as be considered it only as a branch of the Ar-
my of Reserve Bill, with a few alterations and mo-
difications. That Bill be had always considered as
extremely oppressive ; and in support of this opinion
he instanced one estate within his knowledge,
amounting only to 2,700 L a year, which had paid
4001. in the course of seven months to the Army of
Reserve. lie objefted to several parts of the Bill,
particularly the fines; and concluded, bs saying that
if the House consented to raise an army by such
partial modes of taxation, they would, iu his opinion,
be doing the greatest injustice.
Colonel MITFORD spoke shortly against the
Bill.

Sir JOHN WRIOTTESLEY said, that befme he
proceeded to deliver his sentiments on the Bill, he
wished to take notice of what had fallen from the
three last Honourable Gentlemen who had spoken,
and who all seemed to be on the same side of the
question against the Bill. They seemed also to think
that this Bill lays a burden on parish officers, which in
his mind was not the case, for they have an option
given either to raise the men, or to pay a tine. In
the form: Aas there was no commutation fur the
fine, bat they were absolutely and peremptorily ob-
liged to find the men ; an operation minutely more
oppressive than the present, as it compelled them to
pay very bigh sums for bounties. Much fault
had been fiinnd with the overseers being un-
able to raise the men, and Gentlemen had
called them recruiting serjeatus 1 this burdca ferns

however, en men who were used to it, and they
are only obliged to near it for a year. Some Gen-
tlemen had, he said, called this an unparliamen-
tary way of raising money ; he differed from
those Gentlemen on that point, as well as in think-
ing, that it was less a burden on the landed interest
than any other. If there was one principle in
which he agreed cordially with the Hon. Gentleman
opposite to him, it was in the absolute necessity of
augmenting very greatly, and as speedily as possi-
ble, our regular force. We had no occasion for
more —no need of more Volunteers. We
are already placed in suilicient security to let
our enemy see he is not to interfere in our in-
ternal concerns, without being punished. The
Hon. Baronet denied that the Bill, as had been
said by its opposers, was compulsory. He adverted
to the argument urged by Mr. Addington for de-
ferring the Bill to another Session ; and gave his de-
cided opinon. that it could not pass too speedily ;
and that he would wish even then to proceed to a
Committee on it immediately. He then adverted to
what had been said by Mr. Yorke as to the Bill's be-
ing inefficient; and observed, that many persons
have been led to suppose, that bccause there was
a deficiency in the Army of Reserve, the re-
cruiting fund wits exhausted.; but in this he
contended they were very much mistaken, f sr of the
recruiting service it might fairly be said, that the
supply was annual from the great nianufaßurin;;
towns, and depended very much on the flu:Noting
state of our various manufa&ure- at different pe-
riods of the year. Being an enenli, to compulsion,
he was therefore in favour at tit.: Bill, which should
have his earn en support.
Mr. FULLER expressed himself adverse to the
provisions and operation of the Bill, as pregnant with
the greatest partiality and injustice ; for the fitlel,
poor rates, &c. which would be the coniequence of
it, wanld, in his opinion, very soon totally annihi-
late the property of the manufaftnring and labouring
classes of the people. An Hon. Gentleman, he
said, had stated, that the late Ministers were turned
out to make way for the present. For his own pin,
he said, though he had voted against the late Ad-
ministration, it was not from any absolute wish to
turn them out, but from an anxious desire to pros ure
a more efficient Administration. At the same time,
however. that he entertained this desire for a stronger
Administration, healisl not wish to be proscrionce.
He had entertained an earnest hope that he would
have seen the Hon. Gentleman below him (Mr. Fox )
joined in Administration—a Gentleman, to whose
pre-eminent talents, and eloquent and manly argu-
ments in support and defence of the liberties, and
dearest interests of the country, all were indebted.
He was, be said, a decided enemy to proscription,
and certain that, next to the native courage of our
most gracious and beloved Sovereign, he might
mention his benevolent mind. (4 a. v of, Order, or-
der ! Clair rhair I)
The SPEAK ER said, that the Right Hon. Gent.
was not in order.
Mr. FULLER observed, that he would not wish
to say anything out of order, but he thought the
Sovereign's name might be mentioned, if it was
not introduced to cause any influence cm the debate.
He then repeated " next to our beloved Soven-rw's
ceensgt.” (eiensher eru of eiseirl e,,se,!)
• •n,.: SPEAKER repeated, that what the Hon.
Member said was not connected with the present
debate.

Mr. FULLER continued—o Weil, then, I am
sorry there was not a coalition. (A M.J !wadi.) %s
to that part of the Bill which related :o the M•iitia,
it appeared to him to be very proper, and he h. wed
that in the course of four or tire rein, we shoal be
able to bring the Militia to its oligmil form, uh;cli
WAS to instmet every man in the Cng,l,,rn in :he uiz:
of arms, and which cAnic up to wh.tt the lion
timman beloor him (Mr. Fox) se properly and em-
phatically called au Armed Pea...a:dry, whicts, he
coincided in opinion with that Hon. Geutienian,
would be the most tremendous force that any in-
vading army could possibly hate to encounter. As
he approved of some part of the Rill, he should not
oppose its going into a Committee, hi case the House -
BLAU, tree to the second reading, but ea the
upon, he should give it his decided negative.

Mr. DENT began by condemning the condua tf
the late Administration, and observing that it was
high time to have another Administration, by whom
something tolerable might be brought forward for the
defence of the country. Asa prodeif the defe,ftive state
insvhichtheliteMinistershad leftevery thing, he could
assure the use, that at the moment of their going
out of office, the Income-Tax Aft could not be un-
derstood, and it was not yet paid. He nex: took
notice of the observations which fell from an Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Ellison), and asked if the Nlember
for Lincoln was the only gentleman in that House
who did not want a place? (Hero there was a loud
cry of Order! Order! CAair! Choir !)
The SPEAKER rose and said, it was disorderly
in the Hon. Gentleman to make a diiea personal
allusion against any Member.
Mr. ELLISON then arose, and appealed to the
Home, whether he had brought a charge against
any Gentleman, or whether he had arrogated any
thing to himself ?
Mr. DEN I resumed. He assured the House.
that be hid meant nothing personal against the
Hon. Gentleman. But when he saw a dine attack
made upon the Administration, and heard them di.
redly charged with having sent for General Officeis
for improper purposes, he conceived that he
had some right to make allusion to such state-
ments. lie believed, that every Member came
these to vote according to the didatcs of his
conscience. He would again assure the House, he
meant no personal allusion against my Member; but
he thought he had a right to make some observations
on what bad been stated in the course of the debate ;
Inc otherwise Gentlemen might be abused, without
having an opportunity of defending themselves.
With respea to the Bill now before the House, all
he asked was, that it might be suffered to go into a
Committee, where the objelions made to it might
be easily removed. Gentlemen should not lose sight
of this, that the Ball bad for its obit& to encrease
the military force of the country, which, he was
sorry to say, the late Minister had left extremely
deficient, for they had attended very little to milita-
ry operations. It was one of the charges against
the promoters of this Bill, that there was not an ad-
ministration on a broad basis. Now he would ask
whether flat couisi be imputed as a fault to Isis

'f,

•
Right for.. Friend? • Au Bon. Thpll4er 'bad
timated, that in consequence of an-order from the
magistrates, a number of crimpsliadleen sent from
Lincoln into Lancashire. For his own part,'he.could
not believe that the Hon. Member would derlare if
as a fin, that Lincolnshire had so little
,population,
that recruits were not to be raised there. He•had
no doubt bin the present Bill, if suffered to be.car-
ried through the House, would brin about a more
perfell system of raising men than uny that:had:hi.
therto existed.; and he hoped the Housewould
fer it to go into a Committee.
Sir Is VIVRENCE PARSON'S said, that all went
agreed as to the necessity of haying a great divas:-
ble force; and the only difference of opinion wit.,
how that force was to be raised ? In his
the measure of the late Administration was prefera-
ble to anY other that had been proposed.
_ __ _

Mr. CIIAPMAN said, he objeiied• to the Bin oit
account of one provision in it. and thut VAS the
proposed reduction of our militia .fince.
Lord DE BI,AQIIIERE said, he had so often
experienced riii• indulgence of the House, that:he
would nod beg Teave to trespass on them for a virtg
short time. 'the observations he had to make on
the present Bill, would go to the general principledf
it, rather than to the detail of any of its parts._
'Plus, he conccived, was the manner in whisk
t! e question now before •the House ettght to be
d: `sated. The question was immediately con-
neEted with the defence of the country, and the
best means of giving it stubility. WAS it not fit.
therefor e, that it should be proceeded in ? and would
the Heise disgrace its charainer, by seputing :ant
driving away a measure which had so itnponantaa
objesil in view ? The measure certainly did not gofise
enaugh; it did not go to establish that force which he
conceived to he sufficient anst necessary for our put:-
pose. Bur it went to the attainmentofa certahrobjed;
and if he considered it to he the last effort of the
peat mind of him who brought it tirrward, it
would not now have his support. He considered it
merely as a measure winch w:is to give etre,
to a thing that the late Ministers had abandoned.
namely the Army of Reserve, the operation of which
they had been on the point of suspendi -g. This
went not only to give it died, but to testier it bens-
ficial. He could not conceive thi,, however, to,he
the last effort of the present Minister, for if it was,
it must be unworthy of his great mini. It nem
merely to bring into oper ttion a piece of imbecility
that had been engendered by other men Co lead fame;
a thing which was a nullity, and which sub)wha
him who had introduced it to the irnputatioaief
blockhead (a laugh). He was confident thelsesent
plan would procure men for the regular ern/ ; he
had himself tried the experiment of enlisting meet
from a limited service into a regiment of dragoons.
and he succeeded in it. Then to allow the super-
numerary men, who were to be reduced &sat the
Militia, to enter into the royal aimy, was a plan
agaiast which no reason could be advanced, ar.:
which was to be admitted. He would, thermo7c.,
support it with the utmost of his power. Tate
Right Hon. Gentleman who brought it forward.
should always have his good wishes and sup-
port. He could not, however, help deed:vit.%
the exclusive administration that bad been late*
tonnes!. He deplored the loss of so much taker as
that which he saw arranged against the Right Her-
Cleirlensan. and was grieved to think it was rut
mare united with his. He particularly laraertteli
that the admi:,istrati3u .acl not Ile benefit ,of the
talents at an Hon. Gnaleman who was ;hen post
awe- from the Hattie (Mr. Fox had a little Le at
this sett his seat).
( there was cow a cry of m Order r'' and tix
Sri. seta got up, and said. he must appeal r,) tie
Noble Lord, whether those topics be was .dweli-
upo;•., belonged Loth., question before the 'lease
•rsi DE aLAQUIERE resumed. He said,..L.r
did nut feel that he was out of order—(a cr• ze
-
cid& ! elan !) He conceived it was a part of I..is
argument in 'lppon of the question, to express •••••••
confidence he had in one of the Ministers, a... 1
regret he felt at that Minister's not bavieg :.he •-
au‘e of more talents, in the arduous sitnationl•,. -a
accepted. This was certainly a public calannty.
Bat, at the same time, he thought the Right Hos_
Gentleman could go on, even with the assistance is
had.

Mr. INDHAI'd began, by observing, that a
do trine now appeared to be held out, that the pri
ciple of the present measure was not to be disca,s4
at all ; that no interruption ought to be givento the
second reading of the Bill; but that it should
curetted to go into a Committee, in order se halite
all the parts of it there discussed. For his par_ he
would not subscribe to that doarine; but, as he ti;'-
approved of the principle of the Bill altogether.
would take the present opportunity of :mein g *gel; c
it. He thought this Bill not only i nadeqn ate tr. the Tn.
pose it it had in view, but absolutely dertrnEtive et
And pregnantvrith much mischief. He sbonldeon side
what was the question itself; how far the Inea.tlie
was likely to be elikaiwe of its purpose; wbe We:
the advantages likely to reruh from it ; sse
did it stand, when compared with those nwamres
preceded it ? This measure be considered
compulsory. inasmuch as it imposed on the mi. -s
the task of carrying is Lao Are& Formerly Me • -
der of tae 'ay was to raise men by ballot; nose t....
were hi be raised in another way; And C--, s•
men might to 1 him, that AS he once objete:
the raising men lay 5111.1 t, why did he .1 •
fault with another mode of doing so t
was a choice GI v.v.) things, and he was to •
that if he reused the one, he Must have the
and if he would have neither, it might Le --
what was the plan he would recommend ;
did he v..ste all at o7.ce for the rejeilion of this r-• -"
sure ? He would say, that none of the argumria,:
had heard in support of this measure would get
of the impediments attending it. He deF.,ll any G-r-
-tleman to shewthatrecruiting for the army could e •
go on upon it. Although this system had conrr.is
belonging to it, that compulsion could never pro:-.:
men. The state of the country was not
There were other means by which the artry
supplied. The raising of the Army of Reserve
not compulsory; for mon drawn to serve in it. Iss
commute their service for a sum of money. ---
was it not possible to get men. except by bilk.:
Was it nhu well known that very few of the
ss
serving in the Militia had been drawn ? Mar!:
Beers of the Army had dee:area, that theer tz:
the greatest difficulty in recruiting. But a • !
well known that men co he praecred ; for

e, at !hi
I entered
; , which
ierent STI
tvdtk.cd
antics for
the diffict
new mod,
was hope

_ .
ant) fror
',Jed for
out in t
iployed in
ould Teen
ens of 111
:in to ge!
'axed foi.
service,re i
would
should
6y feeling,noho iuinun
la
linidt a
rotsPh
inr country
1:4(
hic

l'rivileges,
orrn of $Ol

pot have m
bon the
which rw:l
thcold 1101
bee

the% • who
hich,
the other •
marks of
Incentives
their force
ere v•parah
men of
that belon.
pounced "
'l4:ace of
verse to t 1

Ithe warst el
to thi, Ow

weer it

2! 4...itetl to
1 s. Th
to men to t
effeai on tl
lions were
ample woi
cause a re
He was re:
by this pla
tut, if the
for unlimit

'ne

fnr the-1
Live an
el in a pi
let it not
own aad
to it a 1

a limited
ot hcnot
have rea
Mr. F
Gamer
Bill

The q
ber prase
of bziog

Mr. P
..-." I be

was goy
it the hi
4 .3nce ti
forward.
CPAs whi