The National Register.
London, England, 1811-10-13 00:00:00

SUNDAY", OCTOBER 13, 181.1.

N°. 198.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

No. 185.

- , .

VOLUNTEERS.

The alteration intended to be made with respect
to the Volunteer Force of the Metrppolis, is, it is
said, to be nearly_ as follows :
That there 'hall be only four Volunteer R egiments
in Londcm, viz.. one to each district ; and t!iat‘ they
shall be formed and conducted on such a prnciple as
to insure such strong musters as to make them an
efficient and formidable force. Each regiment will
have two battalions, of about 750 men- each ; so
that the four regiments will consist of 6000 effective
men.. -Those Gentlemen who compose the pre-
sent corps, will have the preference of joining the
four new ones, before any other petsons whatever.
The Local Militia, is to he placed on a most for-
midable footing. —( 7imes, Oct. lg.)

It has lately been repeatedly asserted, that
,the
Volunteer-force had so far dwindled away as to he
na longer efficient : the consequence, wp were told,
was plain. Since that class of the defenders of the
country, when entirely left to itself; degenerated and
grew useless, it was necessary that its constitution
should be altered, and that, by the interference of
superior authority the State should be put in posses-
sion of the military power NvhiCli it fully er.j6yed,
when the Volunteer system was must flourishing.
The method pointed out to remedy the evil was
one rather harsh and unjust in its natter'. The
putting down of the Volunteers altogether was
recommended, and the increase of the Local Militia,
a description of force certainly more manageable,
as at all times amenable to military law, whilst the
.Volunteers are only subject to it when on actual
duty. The very principle, however, on which the
necessity of this change may he urged, is an erro-
.nerns one.
,It tends to substitute, in support of a
cause, which is, in fact, that of every subject of
this realm, the mere bounden execution of duty, to
that freeborn impulse fraught with zeal, loyalty,
and patriotism, which, at the first appearance of
danger, impelled every Briton to arm uncalled for,
in defence •of his King, Constitution, and Laws.
It would produce a certain and always foreknown
quota of well disciplined men in every county and
district, and would secure their full and regular at-
tendance when required, but it might make
hearts, and weaker arms. What, therefore,
Vol. IV. CXC

•
j •

PR TCE 9d.

[seem to be gained on the one side, .would be lost
,on the other. It would also be impossible to al-
low all those, who still belong to the Volopteer
corps, and only withhold their attendance at the
hour .(/ security, . but would instantly flock to
their banners, were their services required otherwise
than in reviews, to become Local Militia-men.—
/fence, the latter force would be far inferior, in
numbers at least, to that which still continues to ex.
ist, and which is, in reality, but little impaired;
since, notwithstanding the apparent secei,ion of
many members from their corps, those whom sick-
ness anh death have spared, are still at hand, and
as eagerly desirous as ever to shed their blood in tie
cause of their country, should its territory be pot•
lured by the foot of foreign invaders. To suppress
the Volunteer system entirely would be to deprive
these individuals of the right of fighting for, what is
most dear to man, and at the same time to disarm
the State. of a large, and not duly Appreciated, share
of internal military power, without the prescn:e of
which it would have been imprudent to engage so
actively as we have done in continental warfare, and
to send forth large armies to conquer abroad whilst
our native soil would have remained exposed to the
attacks cf the enemy,

Were such a Measure, as that of which we have en-
deavoured to point out the impolicy, to be adopted,
some regard shoulne paid 'to times and circum-
stances. Is it at a momtlit,when the ports of France
on the opposite side of tai, Channel once more , •
re-
sound with the din of vir,gparation—when fresh
armies are collected on her etlices—when her flotillas
is repaired, and a powerful flee% ready for sea in the
Scheldt ; is it at the very intent when riur invete-
rate and indefatigable antagorjits surveys the naval
and military means he has astalbled, that the pa-
triotic spirit of our population athtild experience sc.
sudden a cheek—should receire'rso deep a wound ?
We do not believe that BUONAPA itTE seriously meant
to make even an attempt at invading skis countr: ,
when he lately ordered a camp to be formed at Bo' -
logne—drew his flotilli from its long and mine' s
-inaction—armed his fleet, and repaired in person to
the coast. We have already eKpressel our opinion,
that doubtful'whether he should not go to war with
some of the Northern POwers, in case they should
to seal their complete degradation by corn-
with his last commands, he only made

PAN

colder refuse t
w -.) a •
.s. :
'" rti
s ;•e•
--, •
x.
'2-11.1.yaLz.11- •