The National Register.
London, England, 1808-06-27 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ig Bill, Irish Spirits thity Bill, and Yost-flarse Duty Bill.
mere read a third time mid paused.—Adjourned..

THURSDA Y, JUNE 28.
The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the Post Horse
Duty Bill, Barrack-Master General Accounts Bills, and about
$0 other public and private Bills.—Adjourned.

• FRIDAY, JUKE 94.
The Court of Sessionß Stock Bill the Scotch Local Militia
Bill, and the Dublin Police Bill, passed through a, Committee,
and the LIMO adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY JUNE 20.
A new writ was ordered for MONDAY,
Borough of Great Yarmouth,
id the room of S. Lushington, Esq. who had accepted the Chil-
tern Hundreds. .
Mr. Rose brought up the Wonllea Manufacture Penalties Sus-
pension Bill, which was read a first time.
The Report of tl* Madeira Postage Committee was read, and
agreed to, and the resolutions ordered to be made part of the
Brazil Postage Eill.
IVez.zilirs WrATNE rose to move an Address to
the King, fur the purpose of providing a Prison for the
Confinement of Lunatics, charged with offences. He observ-
ed, that prisons on the common construction, were very unfit
for their reception; and he should therefore propose that a par-
ticular-prison shtiuld be erected for the purpose in the neigh-
bourhood of London; where the best medical aid could be pro-
cured.
LOCAL MILITIA.
THE Loan .4 pro( 4TE FOR Scort—tivo moved the third read-
ie, of the Scotch Local Militia Bill.
MR. YORKE denied that the British discipline was at all so
severe us the French, unless it could be said, that.the punishment
of death was less severe than that of the lash. The regular army
was brought to a pitch of perfection that was never thought of
before, both in discipline and 'timbers. But he was of
opinion that a regular army could never suffice for the defence of
the rt-tlin in suc circumstances as the present. Something,
therefore, of the nature of a conscription he held to be absolute-
ly necessary. There -was no way to !sect the wolf when he
came but by an armed population. But as Bonaparte's moral
character was mischievous both to his own as well as to other
countries; as many of his qualities were, it was impossible to'
deny that he villa 'great warrior, of the same rank with Caesar
and Alexander. He would have the whole of Europe, it was
probable; under his command, There was a French party in
Ireland ; and however much we might depend opon our navy,
it was impossible that it could he a complete security against the
landing of an enemy, especially with the facilities of building
ships, which Bonaparte would have by the pomalSiosi of all the
continental ports. The French, he said, had adopted the Ro-
man principle of making the best use of the forces of -the con-
quered country.. Not only the French but the whole Of Europe,
therefore, would- be upon out backs. Besides, if they were
successfully resisted, it would be nothing to them, except merely
a missing of their object. We 'played our last stake, and if we
last, every thing wns gone. He adverted to. Bee necessity of pro-
viding means of supplies to our navy in ease of invasion, and for
this purpose it was requisite, that Portsmotith and the principal
ports should be in a proper state. of defend.. The Coast of Kent
was now in a snitch bette,. state of defeiste than before ; but all
the North-East coast Ought to be secured As well as the South-
West. • He observed that we ought pfteticularly to secure the
vonnitinicat idol with Ireland, a point thal in case of invasion must
be of the 'greatest' importance. Another itniforiant olsject was
to secure the capital. The short distance of London from the
coast on the East and Smith, rendered it peculiarly exposed to
the enemy in case they landed. It would he of the worst con-
sequences to the rountry if they should he taken, and, therefore,
it was a great object to take care of it : but even if London
should be taken, measures ought to be adopted to secure the
heart of the country; the places ;shoot Worcester, Gloucester.
Shrewsbury, and in the line of the Severn. This would then be
the only salvation of the country. He descanted upou the im-
-4' for'
the moors, from the
owing to the neglect of
.oussia, &c. after the 14)s
;o the complete, ex posut t•
ity of securioa ourselves
ught .WS to neglect this,

and to leave every thing to the chance of the first one or
*ales ? The ex pence was not to be considered cotupared ►
the magnitude of the object. Fortresses.might be said to be
favourable to liberty ; but we lived in peculiar times Is hit
quired extraordinary measures, and he thought that such
tresses would not be unfavourable to liberty ; they would .
ly serve as rallying points to our own forces. He hoped
ituation of affairs would excuse his bringing these points
the consideration of the Ilouse.
Loon C4srcrapAum admitted, that nothing could he
;naterial, than she discussion of the defence of the country
p•esein situation of affairs; but, at the same time, it w.
less proper to attend to a hat had been done. than to
remained to be done. A system of fortification, he stated
he adverse to the constitutional views of many Gentlemen,
though this were not the case, the ordnance establishment,
till the commencement of the present war been kept estrei
low, and it was not one which could be increased with very r.
rapidity. But if it was thought eligible to adopt this imall
defence, it would be highly desirable that there should
understanding between Parliament and the Executive 60%,
ment upon this subject, and if this system was adopted, that it
should be persevered in, and that it should not be begun by one
Adniinistratioa and dropped by another. The twat' great arse.
nuts of Portsmouth and Plymouth were already is a respectable
state of defense, ami alt along the coast from Portsmouth to the
river Thames, a line of r'sferce was eonipissted. which rendered
our shores upon the Wlide greatly more secure than the opposite
coast of the enemy. From the river i'hamesnortilwa'rd through-
out the Eastern district, .theug!: plans were prepares': with the
same view before the former Administration came into power,
nothing was done to carry them into execution by that Adati-
nistratiOn ; but it was now proposed that they should he corn.
pleated as speedily as possible. With respect to 'retard, regu-
lar surveys had been made for the purpose of estab!ishing a re-
gular system of fortification in that country, under the direction
of Lord Chatham, and he had no doubt that steps would he
taken under the superintendance of that distinguished person, to
place the most vulnerable part of the Empire in a state of the
utmost possible security. lie had had a meas!re in view for the
defence of Scotland, but he bad been induce:: by the suggestions
of some persons possessed of more local information than he had
of that part of the Empire, to postpone it till the nest session
of Parliament.

Same amendments were proposed, agreed to, and added
to the Bill, and it Was then read a third time, and ordered to
the Lords.
THE STIPENDIARY CVfIATF.S BILL.
_ _

On the question being put for the third reading of this Bill,
Mr. Barham opposed it, as givitig too grc;at er to Bishops,
not only with respect to the immediate matters n hich appertain
to the clerical function, hut as it would enable. theta %%WI murh
wnore•etfect to interfere iii legislative elections.
MR. 1141F-KINI BROWN denied tholliueb interference was ever
•tnown in modern days to prevail. He admitted that a Bishop
of Winchester, in the early part of the -reign of Queen Anne,
had interfered iaiproperly, but it mils very iniprobt,ble that the .
like would occur again.
The House divided, Ayes 73—Niles 20—Majority 53.
On the motion that this Bill do pass, another division on a
rider, proposed by Lord Porchester, took place—Ayes 7—• .
Noes 61.--,Adjouraed;

• • , TUESDAY, JUNE 21.
The Warehousing Goods Bill, the Paymasters fill, and the.
Lottery Hill, were read a third time and passed.
Sir W. Scott obtained leave to bring in.a Bill for extending
the provisions of an Art of the .lath of the King, holding out an
encoarawement to Seamen. to enter into the Navy, which was
read a first time.
The Lottery Bill was read a third time.
On the clause for preventing Appeals from interlocutors'
judgments, in the Scotch Judicature Bill, Sir S. Rotwi pro-
posed an amendment, that Apperdeshould not be allowed, ex-
cept in cases where three of the Judges differed in opinion from
the majority. This amendment teas agreed
A ines.age from the Lords acquainted the House that their
Lordships had agreed to the Barsack Master,
the Paddiogton Canal; and to several other public 40(1 p
r vate
Bills, the Paymasters,

ASSMED TAXES.
The House proceeded to a Committee on the Bill for the
!leave regulating the payment and collection of the Assessed
facet.

•

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