The National Register.
London, England, 1808-06-13 00:00:00

_ 1

JUNE, 13.

scheme, even if they were Mad enough to :limb it. tor
thus : The Catholics would hold 'coonnissidrs on the toss;
and be able. to turn the arms of the country a;ainst the
country itself. But already thekatliolies have been per-
;flitted to hold situations in the army, by their oast act of
1793, which enables a Catholic regiment to act in Iceland,
where the seat of all the discontents is supposed to he : it
is in England that such regiments Must not be seen. This
is politic indeed I But even if the foes of th, Catholics
would allow them to hold subordinate rommissiozs is
England, they never would consent to admit thcm to the
staff'. A man of courage and skill is pointed out to the
King as a person fit to be trusted with a high command.
!le has proved alike his patriotism and his ability, and he
is about to be promoted, when suddenly he is discovered
to he a Catholic. Promote a Catholic I impossihle. He
has fought in defence of his country, at the head of a
regiment, but give him an arirry, and he directly fi,.(rho
against her. Ad of course the whole army, touched as
it- were by a stroke of magic, go over to the same way of
thinking, and join their WM+ leader to burn all the
testants alive ! And all for the love of the Pope, to w loon
they must needs be so much attached. Arid the
will help Bonaparte and them to overthrow Et:glnd t ;;e.
cause the Pope has so much reason to love nnd
has so great a power in raising recruits. To he
never thought of employing his power among his Catholic
friends in Ireland when Bonaparte overthrew his do-
minions: but though he did not call out the Catholics for
his own use, he will be certain to 4all them out for the
use of Bonaparte
And these ere the dangers which deter us from restoring
Britons to their rights ! In our next number we will
conclude our observations on this question.

REVIEW OF POLITICAL PAMPHLETEERS.

No. XXIV.

TILL EARL OF SELKIRK'S FA MPII LET ON TTIE wrctssirT or
A MORE EFFECTUAL SYSTEM or NATIONAL DEFENCL,
AND. THE MEANS OF ESTA RLISMING THE PERMANENT
SECURITY OF THE KINGDOM.

We have so often had occasion, in oar Review of Political
Declaimers, to creep among brambles, and work a laborio'G
way, that we are particularly happy when an occasion presents
itself of marching along a good regular high road. Though in
former Numbers we have been riblieed to blame, we are alms!
entirely relieved from that necessity in the present instance;
and we are eager to recommend Lord Selkirk's pamphlet, as our
of those broad, useful, and even admirable systems which have
but un been offered to the government of any country, and.
which being offered in these times of difficulty and danger, appear
to deserve a more than ordinary consideration.
The first section of this pamphlet treats of the inadequacy of
our present slate of defence.
The second propo:es an organization of local militia upon a
new and ex tenkise principle.
The third thanonstrates the advantages which such an inititu-
lion is likely to produce for the security of the kingdom.
The fourth enters into a comparison of this local militia
with the volunteer system, and with the plan proposed for a gc-
neral array.
The fifth suggests a measnre for the defence of Ireland and
contains a geberal disquisition on tine militia establishment of
these kingdoms.
In the last, and concluding fiction, the es pence of the plans
here proposed is 416(11,41, and svi h souse general obsersations
the body of the work is then tetno::atecl. There is an Appendix,
containing tables, calculations, and other details.
In the prefatory advert; .s:Acietit the Noble Earl apologizes for
discussing some military topic-, without haring haddirect es-
&deuce of :melt affairs : but he declares his reasonings to
have received the sanction of men highly distinguished for their
military talents. He also deprecates a euttfetiion between the
Incal militia proposed in t pamphlet, and the local militia in-
stituted by Lord Castlereagh.
As this pablication has ensiled a most unusual, but not anteel