The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-24 00:00:00

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vations he had made. He that elated 'them chastised ; the spirit that prempt-
the debate, to give his opinion, because diem were I ed them repressed, and the means of continuing
one or two observations that appeared to him to have them, Curtailed ; but at such a moment as the pre-
arisen from
whatini
perhaps,. when lie had sent, we ought to take counsel of prudence as well
stared speriesket;
andt
plan was, the Hon. Gent. as of spirit ; and, therefore, to shield ourselves front
would find he had been premature in his remarks. attack, was, in point of order and reason, prior to
sta the
He could not help first noticing an expression the the infliCtion of vengeance on the enemy. If we
Hon. Gentleman had used, with respeifl to Our were to say, that a defensive force, which should
treading step by step all our former errors. He have the effea of disappointing the proud expeCla-
wai ready to admit, there might have been many tiers of the enemy, was something below our no-
errors committed ; but how this measure, which tice--that to be safe against an enemy, which had
was a novel one, could be so called, he was at a subdued half Europe, was to humble ourselves, and
loss to conceive. it was, as far as it went, an en- that we had better add to the list of its victims.
deavour to avoid former errors. lie maintained, than not conquer, such a sentiment was certainly he.
that from the time the Definitive. Treaty was signed, roism—but pushed to an extent which prudencs
every possible measure had been adopted, for putting could not justify. He therefore begged leave to say,
the army and navy on the most effectual footing. that without to renounce the idea Of-giving an offers.
When the plans recommended for that purpose by sive quality to our operations, he was. contest to
his Majesty's Ministers were tinder discussion, it was make now that vigorous effort which should ensure
open to the Honourable Gentleman, or any other the safety of this country. If it could not be done
Member of the House, to have come down, and otherwise than by reuuuneing the hope of offensive
have opposed them, or proposed others of a operations, he would willingly prefer to renounce
different nature. Government had brought for- them. if the alternative was, that by adopting the
ward a Militia system, and the largest naval present measure, we could not, within two months,
establishment ever kept up in times of peace ;it was expel to have an effechive army for offensive opera.
the duty of the Hon. Gentleman to have then stated tions, though we might be sure of one for defensive
his objeftions, and have urged that the preparations purposes, and should be prepared for every attack,
did not go far enough. With regard to the supe- he would rather say, proted the independence of our
riority of the regular arrnv over the Militia, it was own chores--.he should say, make this island. blt the
what every one admitted, but there were many rea- display of its courage, a shame to the whole Coa ti.
sons why the regular army could not be compare- !tent. Whatever might be the number of our forces,.
tivelv so large as might he wished. First, the insu. whether 80,000 or 90,000, they were more than dotes
lar situation of the Country must be considered, and ble what they ever were; and he was persuaded,
secondly the commercial and civil habits of the if to that we wanted a force of 100 or Ino,ooo
people of the Country, and the happy state in which more, and we could obtain them for a limited .
they had continued for a century past, undisturbed service, but not for a general servi'ce, were
by scenes of war, bad tended to prevent the forma- we, because we were cut short in our dream of
tion cf a large regular army. He was, however, per- offensive operations, to refuse to avail ourselves of
suaded that a great deal had been done for giving the certain means of defence afforded us. He was
strength to our regular force. Some Hon. Gentle- one of those who would be content with the humble
men hat recommended the granting bounties in means of defensive warfare if the other was not at
order to recruit the line. Upon this subjetk he had hand. He was therefore a friend to the general
only to observe, that money would not always pro- principle of the Bill. This was a subject on which
cure soldiers for the regular army. Young men he had deeply reflected, and without retrospesnively
entered into the army from many reasons exclusive considering what had been the condud of Govern.
of that of gaining money. Many were curious to ment. He was led to the opinion that this measure
go abroad, others were desirous of leaving their was the best that could be framed. not only for the
native place, and others enlisted from various causes. present defence, but for the raising hereafter a force
It would be found, that in the'course of the last year, for general service. The first object, in order of
and particularly within the last sor G months, there time, was that of being safe I the second wes to be
had been an infinitely larger number of recruits for strong. The present measure was therefore to bee
the regular army than usual, although the recruit- preferred, because a force for limited service was
ing fbr the Militia had been going on during the sooner raised than a force for general service.-.'
whole of that time. He could state, that during the He should desire to know what more was wanted
last year there had been obtained as many recruits to recommend the general outline of the plan,
as from 1,000 to 1;200 a month. Adverting to the and induce the House to go into a Committees
last war, he maintained that the army was in a much in which every thing might be done that was aeces.
worse situation than it was at present. In the year sare to the safety of the country. It was supposed
1796, there were 1`25 regiments of foot ; and pre- that our having a large Militia was inconsistent
vions to Sir Ralph Abercrombie's going to the with our having a large military force, and that we
West-Indies, it was found necessary to make a re- thereby chained down our politics to this island,.
form in the army, ard have the number cut down Now, the period when the present system of the
to ninety-six; and notwithstanding this, there was Militia was introduced, was that in which, with the
not a sufficient number of men to complete those exception of the period of the wars of the Duke of
regiments. It was with the greatest difficulty that Marlborough, this country was embarked farthest
army was completed, and when it was, it only in continental warfare, and when their operations
formed one garrison bananas. The qaestion to be were crowned with
.glory and success. He was at
here considered was, what was necessary to be done a loss then to conceive upon what principle it was
at the present time, when the country was hard said, that there was an allianee between the increase
pressed on many points fHe denied that we could oftheMilitia,and the destruction of tbe Array. What.
either, by enlisting or by bounden obtain at this ever were the objects at which offensive war,poineede
moment any number of men we might want for the the necessity for defensive measures was augmented.
regular army. Every Gentleman would certainly It was not to be supposed that the offensive opera.
think it was necsseary strong measures should tions of this country were to be on a scale with the
be resorted to. He was of the same opinion, army which Bonaparte might bring into the field,
but he could not approve of the measure which He admitted that a force which had had experience
had been suggested, of continuing the system in foreign wars, had been inured to laborious cane.
by ballot, and obliging persons who were drawn paigns, and was commanded by officers who had
either to serve personally, or find a substitute acquired skill and discipline by long service, was
for the regular army. Upon this point he agreed more likely to repel a foe than a force differently.
perfectly in the sentiments uttered by an Hon. Gen- constituted I but such a force was not so ready to
deman (Mr. Sheridan) in the course of the debate. he found. Perhaps it might he as well, if his Hem.
l'he principle upon which the whole of the Militia friend would prevail upon Bonaparte, by a cartel,
system was formed, was that of the internal defence not to =ads us till we had had au opportunity of
of the country. They were only justified in calling sending our troops abroad, and giving them a little
upon the people to form it by ballot, because it was experience. It; after providing for our own defence,
the duty of every man to assist in the defence of the they wet e not content, and there were means of
country. He could not, therefore, prevail on him- augmenting the army, such a measure would be
self to go one step further than that principle which advisable ; but he submitted, that by the plan of
formed the basis of the present Militia system, nor increasing the Militia, in the first instance, we
indeed was it necessary. He should not refer to had a better chance of afterwards obtaining a force
the power of enlisting these men into the regular fur general service. Unless it was thought ad.
army, becauscethe Bill would contain no restriction visable to destroy the Militia altogether, there
to a measure of the kind. They were obliged, in must necessarily be a competition between that
the year 1799, to have a law to enable the Militia force and the regular army,
.He stated, that if out
to go to Holland, because the existing Militia laws of fifty thousand Militia, we should at any time
stated expressly, that they should not go out of the want two or three thousand men for general
kingdom. The Hon. Gentleman seemed to consi- services, could any person for a moment doubt but
der Scotland as the gicina milituni. On that sub- they would he obtained without the least difficulty,
jest he wished to set him right Ireland might .It could not be urged that this system would be ob.
justly be so considered ; but, with regard to je&ionable to the ocers; for, at a time when the
Semi:sad, from the increased state of i:s mane- ' Militia wee adding to the massof the army, and the'
factures, and from its opulence. it was pretty much Officers of Militia were themselves promoted to rank
upon a par with this country. It was a well known in. the regular regiments, they must feel that they
fag, that in those highlandnegiments, whose brave were/July adding to those regimeets which they had
exploits had been so justly the theme of admiration one day a chance of commanding He had not the
and applause, there were fall as many Englishmen Ices: doubt, but that by the system proposed, the
aed Irishmen as there were Scotchmen. Upon the country would, Isefore the end of the year, have a
whole, without wishing to trespass further upon the larger force than by carrying the bounties (es the
time of the House. he trusted it would be considered , army to the highest possible extent. With regard
that this Bill was the best measure that could, under to the question o recruiting corps of the line out Of
the present state and circtunstances of the country, the Militia being injurious to discipline, it might be
be adopted. . It was the most effeetual measure, true, if that system was carried on by recruiting
because was calculated to raise the greatest num. parties,orby that most infamous pradicecalled crimp.
bee of men within the Shortest time, and because he i ing; but it would not have that effect, if it was done
could not, for the constitutional -reasons he had by mustering the men at different and uncertain pe.
already stated, thiok of resorting to any compulsory Hods, allowing thorn at such musters, to declare
measure for the purpose•of recruiting the tegular their intention of entering the regiments of the hue
and, as doubtless there would be thrice as many of-
Mr. PITT said, he certainly viewed this measure fee their services as would be wanted, all,ows the
in so different a light from his Honourable Friend, Commanding Officer to aided such as he should
(Mr. Wm. Elliott) that it was on the very topics on think proper. The time of muster 'sot being known
' :which he opposed it, that he rested the grounds of Iseforehenu, no soldier would know at whit period
;his amation of the principle. subject to that detail he could withdraw himself, and consequently the
it would have in the Committee on tke Bill, and that discipline could not be affedect. if he was right in
opinion was strengthened and confirmed by what he this idea, then the measure appeared to be one which
had heard firm the Secretary at War. He had was more ready end ededual for present defensive
considered this Bill as not only being that service, more prompt in its execution, for recruiting
which appeared to furnish the most prompt for general service, than any his Hon. Friend could
and efficacious mode* of giving us that •which build on the deetnidion of the Militia. He oinervedn
we first wanted, a defensive army against that it was necessary to frame a Bill, to keep down
proletlet invasion, and for laying the foun- the price of substitutes. If in the Committee it
datum efgieing use in a reasonable time, that which should appear doubtful whether substitutes could be-
eras essential in the progress of war, with a view to found for any sum, in such case, every man who
its ultimate success, he meant a disposable force, could serve, ought to serve. He should wish, if
by which we slight avail lourselves of any opening possible, to Recline strong measures ' • and would ra-
the& might present itself of strikieg a blow against ther prefer following the principle of the present Mi-
. the assailing enemy. if he was asked svhich he litia Laws. There was nothing novel in the system
might to prefer, uadoulatedly it would be the latter. itself) for if there was any thing novel in it. it was
He aitould swish to see the spirit a the count. 7 tie degree of advantage which would be derived
• towed to etch a pitch, at not only the attempts of from it. If the pecuniary penalty could be so =ea-
' the mien
•Ahould be repelled, but the presumption fied, as .t.o ikasuze the =suit, he should be happy to

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