The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-08-04 00:00:00

1A1111114..

It is a principle generally enforced by every me-
tropolis its its colonies, that all the inhabitants must
unite for their internal and external safety. Ex-
posed be the nature of their population, to diatur-
bance more or less serious; and, by their pollution
and their riches, to incursions of the enemy, it
would he ruinous for the colony, or for the metro-
polis. to keep on foot a sufficiency of troops to pro-
tect the natioual sovereignty, at all Units and in
all cases, without recourse to the calouists. But,
that neither cultivation nor commerce may he too
mach interrupted, the service is distinghishcd into
ordinary and extraordinary. The first is executed
by the troops of the line, or regular forces, in gar-
rison iii tlo cities; the second requires the whole
populates to take arms, to dispel ail danger that
may manifest itself oft .in, or toreaten from
without. Ilenee the necessity of forming a militia,
organised in each colony according to the military
system of its metropolis.
The whole attention of Spain having been long
itrgrossed by Peru and Mexico, it has but recently
gmen to the provinces it pendant on Cements, •
militia so organised as to command public consi-
deration, arid so disciplined UP to promise the most
advantageous multi. This doable object has been
accomplish, d, beyond all expectation, merely by
applying to this part of Terra Firma the regulations
of February the 10. 170, and January 19th,
1769 ; the former male for the militia of Porto
Rice, the latter fi=r that of the Isla td of Cuba.
This organization, an nearly approaching to that
of regular troops. has flattered the ambition of all
the distiognished creoles to such a degree, that
there is noise of them who does not feel honoured
by to iitg incorporated in it, with the title of officer.
An epaulette, on whichever shoulder it may be
placed, is cow• ted by all persons of rank. The
Spanish Sub-Lieutenant wears the epaulette ou his
left shoulder, the Lieutenant on his right, and the
Captain on both. The superior grades have no
epaulettes : they arc distinguished by gold lace on
their sleeves. Two pieces of lace designate the
Lieutenant-Colonel. The Colonel has three.—

Opinion makes little difference between the ho-
nour attached to the service in the army end mili-
tia. The Marquis del Fern, one of the most
wealthy Kranders of Cameras, prides `himself in
being Colonel of ■ militia battalion iu the valleys
of Aragon ; ■od Count San Xavier, who neither
yields to him in richness nor in birth, prizes no
less the honour done lii in by the King, in I mO3. iii
Riving Gifu coinnunnl of a battalion of militia •at
Carnets. It wits the commencement of each in
his military career.
At the slightest alarm of war, all the militia
must hold thrnnwlrta ready to march. They fur-
DWI de/Of:IMMO% to rrinforce the garrisons of the
sea-ports and of the capital.
Tln'y are convhintly exercised in the nisnaze-
mew of arm,. The Captain-General &view.. at
1.-.nt once tin.se in the environs of hi, rem-
; and e.tch particular Governor should diti-
eh am. the I.llllll[ July in hit &Writ:to
:illor people of ritititir form acpanite corp• of mi-
litia, and Lave °Cron' of their ono colour, as high

es the grade of captain : all attre that rut: oltzt
to wh.te.

At Caraecas, there'. one battalion of white militia,
consisting of nine eoansniw, and isLiquadron of
winits, both created in 1771 ; and a battalion of
people of colour.
At Valencia, one battalion of white militia, coin-
pool) iike that of Caraccas ; and another in the val-
leys of Amigos. Each of these places has iiloo a
battalion of people of colour.
I have already spoken of that of Maracaibo, and
of other particular goverhrutmt%
All free persona, from the age of fifteen to forty-
five yeats, are subject to militia duty. Exemptions
extend only to ecclesiastics, judges, advocates,
notaries, agents of cities; physicians, apothecaries,
surgeons, attorneys,adsninistrators of the royal trea-
sury, the syndic of the cordeliers, sacristans end
servitors of the church, pensioners, grammar and
school masters, overseers of plantations, factors of
tobacco, and authorised agents of the planters in
each district. But the sons, domestics; and clerks
of those exempt are still liable.
Wholesale merchants, or factors of the provinces
of Caraccas, are also exempt, as is likewise one.
clerk in each commercial house. The retail trier-
', chants have claimed the state favour ; but it was.
refused to them by schedule of I AOl.
Students, who are nut of the first orders, are cot
exempt from the militia, if they possess the age and
other requisites. None, however, are forced from
their studies to take the musket.

In time of war, the in.ilitia comprises all ages.
This rule is probably observed in case of invasion ;
I have never seen it enforced fur the ordinary ser-
%ice of war.

When the militia is in campaign, or in garrison,
the officers have the seine pay with those of equal
grade in the troops of the line. Each redeem of
infarory hiss four reels per day; corporals hare
three each, and soldiers two. Serjeauts, corporals,
and privates of cavalry have the same pay a ith those
of infantry; the subsistence of the horses being at
the charge of the Icitt4.
Cadets in the militia, as in the troops of the line,
must he noble. Here we perceive the true talis-
man of the consideration attached to the militia.
Officers of mulatto and black battalions have
the following pay while in service:
The commandant of a battalion of mulattoes
has forty dollars per month ; each captain thirty ;
lieutenant twenty-live; and each sub-lieutenant or
standard-bearer, twenty.
The commandant of a battalion of free blacks,
NM thirty-eight dollars per month; captains twenty-
eight; lieutenants twenty-two; sub-lieutenants or
standard-hearers eighteen.
No person can wear a uniform or cockade, unless
entitled to that privilege by his employ, or military
profession. under the penalty of • ducats.
Desertion to the enemy in time of war is pu-
nished with death. Absence without permission is
punished with two years at the galleys.
Officers of the militia, who receive no pay, may
marry without permiasion of the king, or of their
chiefs: they titu,t only apprize the latter of their
intention.

An officer of militia, who marries a female
whose birth is not suited to hie own, is
banded.

Setjeants, corporals, and soldiers or the militia,
who receive no pity, may marry without permission
of their chiefs.

No tnilitary individual can be, against his
will, neither in the tithildua, guardian, uor argues-
tratnr.