The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-06-22 00:00:00

pedistai nude ose of for the purpose of coming
that measure into execution ; for it appeared to
that the principle of the old militia was solely this,
to train to anus the great body of the people. Ho.
Lordship then mated, that the words " and bat.
tutted," in the present Bill, be rejected.

Uptin the motion being put,
Earl STAN uorg rose. and spoke to the following
purport :—" My Lords, 1 rise to wake a few oh-
servotions upon the motion proposed by my Noble
Friend, because l should have thought. upon this
ocettsion, that the Noble Lords opposite would have
and have Deleon some sense upon the sub-
ject ; instead of which they have chose." to remain
silent. So far as the clause now submitted to the
consideration of the 1-IZeise is ditfereut from the
provisions of the present Bill, end bears a greater
resemblance to the principle of the old militia ; so
far it meets with we approbation; because, my
Loris. Lehould wish that we could agaiu revert to
the old eoestitutionial mode of arming the people.
By this I &tam *nude to the Militia Acts them-
selves. but I allude to that old coustitutional
statteld, first introduced and adopted by that glo-
visas character, Alfred the Great. In these tunes.
when we we likely to be attacked by a greet and
formidable enemy, *boa 1 will contend, may sue-
. teed in invading this country—not only do I con-
teed that it is possible, but 1 could even chew, were
it net a delicate subject, that it is perfectly easy
for the French to invade our shores ; in these
times, my Lords, when the Noble Lord opposite
(Mu4rave) at the head of the Admiralty, will not
be bad enough to assure the House or the coun-
try that it is altogether in the power of the navy to
prevent invasion, I. think suet' measures ought to
be adopted, as may tend to bring into the field,
when required, the great mass of the people. Such
was the case in ancient times, when our ancestors
had recourse to the posse eostitahts. Therefore, so
far as the proposed alteration agrem with the prin-
ciple of the old militia, it has my concurrence.
If we tern our eyes to the continent, what have
been the events there ? All those Goveneuents,
old, rotted, and corrupted, have been knocked
down by Bonaparte ; they have tumbled before
him like nine-pis. When liarrere came into the
Convention, at the time of the revolution, lie ad-
erased theta iir these remarkable words—, I have
great and good news to tell you, twenty-two na-
tions have healy leagued themselves together for
your destruction, and it remains for yi u to over-
come them.' What has been the result ? These
twenty-two nations, excepting Great Britain and
Sweden, hare been overcome by the armies of
France. In sech times, my Lords, it would be-
come us to adopt those, measures which may tend
to bring into the held, if occasion required, the
greatest pobsible armed force, and in order to do
this effectually, we should so conduct ourselves
that we may. to that hour of danger, rely upon the
feelings awl disposition of the people."
Lord HAWSEtiSinIY observed, that he should
not trouble the House with many observations on
this subject, because it had been previously dis-
cussed upou going into a Committee. Although
he did not coincide with the Noble Earl (Selkirk),
at the same time he entertained great respect for
ha observations on a measure of this nature.—
Looking at the Local Militia Bill, he certainly must
consider it as likely to raise a permanent and useful
force; it was not a measure of the moment, which
might spring out of circumstances, but, regarding
futurity. it would be expedient, both innate of war
tad in time of peace.
Lord Stostourrs said. that he particularly ap-
roved of the mode suggested by his Noble Friend
p Selkirk 4 he did not perceive that it would inter-
fere with the principle of the Bill, mud on that se-
eountdid sot think there would be any objection to
the insertion of snch a clause. With respect to the
Bill, it met with his approbation, because it was the
most complete and diet-tied measure which had
been resorted to by any former Administration.
The Earl of SEI.ILIRICS motion was negatived
without a division, after which the 13111 passed.
MR. PALMER'S PER CENTAOE RILL.
• Lard Ettore rose, awl stated, at some length,
those reasons which induced him particularly to
move that this Bill be rejected. %Vhen he took
into his consideration the nature of the contract be-
tween Mr. Palmer atoll His Majesty's Government.
he really did not see that the coustruction ehich
Mr. Palmer hod been disposed to put upon that
agreement was at all justified by the terms of the
agreement twit. In his opinion, the engagement
with Mr. Palmer was in consideration of his services',
and continued no longer than those services were
performed : besides, there were cher...es ageing Mr.
i'aliner's conduct, while be coutinul in the em-
ployment of the Post-office :—One of three charges
wait of a serious nature ; for it accused him,
and the evidence seemed to support the acen-
eating, that he (.%lr. Palmer) had persuaded one of
the persons employed under the Post Master Ge-
neral, to make out false accounts. for the purpose
of defrauding the revenue. It was pitiful on his
part to urge any thing ui this nature against en in-
d a vidual, hut be could we're the Ilonse he was
softly guided by the impulse of riehtly
mug his duty to the public. Thu ..4;.enre laid
before their Lordships, by the Constniefee, iteln-
chug the estletive of Mr. Low,. who hail been es-
*mined, went to show, that alsisough in the first
instance Mr. Pitt had proposed tie per ceutage
was to be paid, yet, afterward,', this proportion
was altered ; and it cully appeared,' that in re- •
spate to the agreeinent with Mr. Palmer, the
evidence on their Lordship's' bible clearly catistied
his mind, that the pereinnance of his duty was
the stipulation by which the remuncrueon was to
take place. If Mr. Painter so conducted himself
that it was necessary to remove him from that si-
tuation. preventing at the same trete that advan-
tage which was expected to arise to the public,
from his continuing his services, which wits con-
templated by Mr. Pitt, at the time he wait-. the
agreement, Mr. Palmer hail no reason t.i ro:npluin,
and might consider himself amply remunerated by
the au unity ity which had here granted hint for ,o
long a period of time. After making several other
observations in respect to the different engage-
ments which Mr. Palmer had entered into. and
commenting upon the evidence sn far 'is it affected
Mr. Palmer's conduct and those it yay cue acs, his
Lordshiu moved, " That the Bill lie rieeited."
The Earl of MOIRA, in a speech of very great
kb._ eloquence. defended Mr. Paliner's claim. There