The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-07 00:00:00

*41"!••.7.

es

. • _

!

• FRIDAY, APR= 5.
THE REVERSION DILL.
After a short disedssiun between Lords Liverpool, Grey,
and Grusyenor, on the motion of Lord Liverpool the second
reading was deferred cill'thii day six months.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMMONS.
• .•
MONDAY, APRIL 1.
MILITIA ENLISTMENT BILL.
Mr. ELLIOTT was Compelled by a sense of duty to object to
this Bill, though be could trot now hope to say any thing new
upon it. He proceeded to state the grounds of his objection to
the measure ; to the increase of the numbers of the Militia, and
to the Local Military Establishments, which for some time put
had formed so great an obstacle to the regular recruiting for the
army. His Right Hon. Friend (the late Mr. Windham,) had
teen a-comprehensive view of the whole subject, and had form-
ed an excellent plan for the recruiting of the army. That had
unfortunately been overthroWn before its most efficacious en-
gines had even began to operate. If Mr. Windharres plan bad
been pet-selected in, they would now have no occasion to resort
to such a measure as this. It could not but disgust the Militia
Officers, who were converted into instruments fur recruiting the
regular army. To be sure this was a case of emergency, and if
_the roes sure bad been only temporary, he would perhaps have
allowed it to pass without any thing further than a protest
against the general principle; but it was held out as aperma-
neat neee;iire, and he must oppose-it. The Militia Officers
ought to pause Ix fore they allowed their regiments to be turned
into recruiting legions for the army—and every Member:ought
to pause before they placed in the hands of Ministers a power of
perpetual balloting.—The system could never be carried on
without hallotouid thus they would be continually tinging the
changes on bounty and ballot, With these few observations,
which his sense of duty compelled him to make, he would leave
the matter to. the House.
Colonel Ducx;-:.T-r would have been very averse to this mew.
sure, if he bad understood it tube a permanent one. But he
hoped it was not intended to make it perpetual.' He would
support the Bill as a temporary meal sre. If a .scheme of the
same kind were to he proposed again, he would certainly have
Serious objections to it, unless very diffetent front the present.
Mr. Cki.r.s referred the Hellion:able Gentleman who spoke
last to the Bill itself, to spew that it was intended for a perma-
nent measure.
: Colonel ELLISON hoped it was not intended to render this a
permatteet measure. He had the strongest objections to the
ballot and tines, which were a great local oppression, throwing
that burthen on a few which ought to be borne by all. The men,
'however. must be had, and he was willing to allow this Bill to
pass, hi-tlm expectation tie:t there would be no occasion to have
terourse to the ballot. He said that he should vote in favour of
the present Bill, merely as an expeArnent.
• Mr. WALUYltroliCit said, the present measure shelved, in
the strongest possible maener, the danger of having at any time
recourse to extraordinary methods, as in a short time they
came to make pa: tof a geiieral ilstem. Ministers had only to
'say so zni:ny men :tyre wanted for the regular army, .and the
measure iven;:l he recurred to of course. Nobody would ever
think 'flow of urging the necessities ef the country in favour of
o.ie measure., His great t,tijection Ito this measure was, that it
put an end to all the benefit naturally to be expected from
-the plan of Mr. Wituitham, who bad such art of infusing
'his own spirit in whatever be undertook. fhe present system
• was e.9stressing, and grinding in the highest degree on the
• loe.ers orders.
' Mr. 'Secretary Rev ER contended that it was necessary in the
'present •situationof t w count g, that the :limy should be kept
up to its greatest and most efficient force. I-Ie wished there.
fore; that i-Gentleman who. opposed the present Bill, would .
,propose some substitute- tor it which would be equally effectual.
Several "..AMendieents were then read and agreed to ; and
• some new clauses were brought up by Mr. Ryder, which were
• also agreed to ; and after some clnversation between Mr. Giles,
Mr. Babington, Mr. G. Vansittart, and Mr. Secretary Ryder*.
'the Bill was ordered to be read a third time tomorrow.
SUPPLYy ORDNANCE, &c. ESTIMATES, AND BAT.
"rLE OF BARROSA.
. .
The House having gone into a Counpitte of Supply,
, r. *HILLY CooPtAt proceeded to call the atteutien of the
Cormelitree to the Ordinary Estimates for the present year..
,Tb.c.Ordinaripb were considerably greater than they litre last
year, arising:principally from the transfer to this head of service
of several 'articles from the Extraordinaries, particularly the
Artillery Drivers, Waggon Train, &c. He concluded by mov-
ies, that tho sum cf l". 211/. I I 10.1. he granted to his Ma-