The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-02-16 00:00:00

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was likely to ;prove shy, and take the
oppos ,:utsity to desert. He was slip personally .
tererted in taki particular care in these tewpe4o,
the parish oAcer was very differently situated,
. might be liable, through partiality or prejudice,
return those who were likely to desert, and thus
4he parishes would become doubly burdened. The
Noble Earl who spoke last, had acknowledged that
the Bill had not been so successful as could be
wished, and yet contended that it ought to be
persisted in, because, though it had been is force
nearly twelve months, it was now only just be-
ginning to operate. In the week ending the Ist of
February, no more than eighty-four men had been
raised under it in Englana and Wales, and during
the last fortnight there had been obtained only
twenty-nine men in Lancashire and ten in Middle-
sex. In short. the whole number raised in England
was very small, and yet the advocates in favour of
the Bill had uniformly maintained, that it was a
prompt and immediate measure, and °add not be
delayed or deferred without the greatest danger to
the welfare and security of the country. As et he had
heard no arguments which could, in the smallest de-
gree, tend to convince him that the Bill ought to be
perSisted in. " Perhaps," said his Lordship, " before
we rise, we may hear from some Noble Lords, who
saw this measure in a different light last year, why
they have changed those opinions which they then
maintained so strenuously." He confessed he could
not help being curious to hear what would be their
arguments in favour of the continuance of a mea-
sure which at once overthrew all those which they
had so industriously endeavoured to promote and
establish for the general service of the country, and
of the military force in particular. He wished to
see how the new coalition, on the other side, would
conform themselves on the present occasion. He
had, he said, made use of that expression, which
had been so often used and misused of late
years, in consequence of the Noble Eatl
spoke last having applied the word Coalition to
him and his Noble Friends, who aded with him.
He insisted, that any man might have differed in
opinion with one or more on the first and most im-
portant of political questions, and yet might after-
wards perfedly and cordially, and with the utmost
degree of consistency, coincide and ad with them
on a question, or questions, in which they all formed
the same unanimous and decided opinion, as on any
point of dispute, which might arise in a subsequent
period of time. It was absurd to suppose that
men thus circumstanced as he had described,
should, because they had aged on contrary opi-
nions for any length of time, never agree or ad
together when they might think ezatly alike
—Every Parliamentary charader was bound in
questions of a public nature to ad, and co-operate
with these who, in his mind, were most forward in •
support of the interests of his country ; and he should
ever think himself justified in ading on this princi-
ple; but when he should be found to abandon mea-
sures which he had once supported, and to join with
those who differed from him on those eery measures,
then he should be contented to be charged with in-
consistency, and to be said to have formed a coali-
tion, or any other term which might Le chosen to'
designate a real derelinion of principle. His Lord-
ship hoped the House would pardon him for having ,
so tar indulged in this digression from the •übjet,
immediately before their Lordships, to which Le
immediately reverted, and said, that he was, front
every argument he had heard that night. more
:irmly fixed in his, opinion, that the Motion made
by his Noble Friend ought to pass, and the Aa
to which it alluded be immediately repealed. One
at gum:nt urged against it WAS. ' If you repeal this
measure, you will re-enaß the Army 0 Reserve
the ballot, and all those measures which had
been formerly considered as detrimental to the
public service.' Allowing that to be the case, he
would still support the Motion of his Noble Friend ;
but it was nut to be supposed, ice said, that the mat-
ter was to rest there. Other measures would be
brought forward, without doubt, and his Noble
Friend had delayed, for a considerable time, to give
notice of his present motion, or to take any steps
s.vhatever in the business, from a confidence he had
in his own mind, that, as the Bill was found to be so
totally inefficient as that it had not answered one
single purpose for which it was enacted, hut had al-
together failed; that therefore His Majesty's Minis-
ters would be eager to seize the earliest opportunity
of bringing forward either a Bill to repeal it, or a
Bill to alter and amend it, in such a manner
that the military defence of the country might
receive every immediate support and improve-
ment that time and circumstances would allow.
Seeing that no such measures had been brought
forward, nor intimation whatever given of an inten-
tion so to di, his noble friend felt it to be his duty
to aa as he had done, and he thought him entitled
to the warmest thanks of the House and of the
country. Ile knew, however, that his noble friend
was willing, and be heartily concurred with hint in
the sentiment, to let His Majesty's Ministers off on
as easy terms as they please. It they will promise
to bring forward any measure to explain and amend
the Fill: or in any way to alter it so that it may be-
come efficacious and serviceable to the country, th:y.
would be satisfied ; but he thought the argument in
favour of its beiog persisted in, because it was now
only beg's:to:lig to operate, was futile in the extreme,
and he should, therefore, it no other more forcible
one should be offered, be Ansions for its beings
dropped, as it cannot be denied that it is a measure
attended with a grievous expense, and with the most
oppressive consequences to many parts of the coun-
try. Re should, therefore, after thanking their
Lordships for their obliging attention to a trespass
on their patience much longer than he at first in-
tended, conclude, by giving his vote for the motion
made by his noble friend.
Viscount SIDMOU CH said, he did not rise to
gratify the curiosity of the Noble Earl who had just
Lit dawn, but to cleat his charader from wrong ten-
potation or misrepresentation, which might attach
to it, it he remained silent. He should therefore bt-.-
gin, by using the words of the Noble Earl, " that
d at any time he should be found to abandon mea-
sures which he had once supported, he should be
content to be charged with inconsistency." He al-
ways aled from principle, and he knew well, that
was the most certain way to merit and to obtain the
praise and good opinion of his country. He.begged
their Lordships to recoiled, that when this Bill was
first proposed, there was one on the table of the
other House for altering, amending, and improving