The Sun.
London, England, 1806-05-31 00:00:00

• The Mirtiny Bill ? Did 5t not prOve it to be a vital
'principle of Ow Constitntion, that the King Should
have no Army over. which the House of: Commons
might not exercise this annual .controul'? As to the
distinetions between the Army of the Crown, and
the Constitutional and Parliamentary Army, nothing
could be more unfounded and absurd. knew
of no Parliamentary Army since 1641--7 the - Army
of the Crown was the Constitutional Army,'and the
ConStitutional Army was -the Army of the King.
' Was the Parish Bill to raise that Constitutional
Ykrrny' to whiCh the Hon. Gentleman seemed to
refer, as a balance against the King's ArMy ? But
was not that Army commanded-by Officers, no-
minated' by the , Crown ? Where then was -this
boasted balaiic.e ? A kind of argument had also be6n
drawn from the' conduet of the French Army in the
seven years' War-,they were beaten in that War.
Yes : but why not equally refer to the preceding
War in which they were vi&brious? Yet during
both the same system prevailed. Just as fair would
it be to argue that the English distinguished them-
selves, and were vitaorious at the battle of Agin:-.
'court. Yet was the English Army then enlisted
. for .unliMited service? As lame were the arguments
.deduced from an allusion to the Swiss : -they were
enlisted:for limited service, and that in the cause of
a Foreign coontry.
.Y,e-t when their term expired
they looked to horne and Its endearments. Did
that, however, unfit them for service—or what
people has more of the military charaaer than the
Swiss ? :But it is said that-the present proposition is
a downright iptio6tion. Those, who ;notice such
assertions cannot boast the happiest- ineMoriei. It .
must be recollthed bY many in that House, that
Col.. Barre, who was a nun well acquainted with
m'"tary and alVotheraffiirs, had.often stated, that
limited service Was..essential to 'the recruiting. and
well being -of the Army : nor was it the' opinion
Only of that distinguished man; and of the
eretiry of War who succeeded him, but' alSo the
gen.?.ral opinion of the experienced Officers of that
titru. If the country .were content with the present
Artily, it must be :content to quit Continental
Connections; and to leave France to domineer. at'
pleasure, He should,be,told thatour Fleets. would
ride triumphantly on the. Ocean. He knew it :
. they would destroy the COMmerce of Francethey
would 'armilalate the ''.l..avy of 'France—hut' they
could not 'repress the overbearing , power of France
. on the Continent. Oh ! but thPn there was that
,glorious resource money ; we might subsidize—Ye
alight pay--7alihough we Could not shetv our hosti:-
. lily in any other maniV...r. But the history of all
Nations clearly spewed, that such modes of defend-
ing greatness had neV-er. been successful. In former
• times this Country had made most glorious efforts
fOr the good' of Europe, in the reigns of William
and Anne ; but' it Ni,as 1101 by sitting in a counting-
house, doling but one guinea after another, that we
. jould hOpe to emulate those efforts. This led•him
to that dreadful altern:itive which, he had formerly

mentioned, and• he- considered no Man fit for a
- Statesman who was, not bold enough to contemplate
, .
it Steadily. The alternative was either to trust en-
tirely to our tnoney, to, diffuse our commerce, and
to neglect all Continental considerations—or to be-
come a much greater Military Power than .we had .
. ever before been in our history. If the Country .
Preferred the ignominious parf of the alternative, let-1
them_ take it ; • but for. one, he would never parti-
cipate In the shame of styli a choice.' At 'the- same
time he adMitted, that if there ever did exist a Na-
tion. capable of supporting itself in its insularity for
a great length of time, it was Great Britain : it
would be- safe, for many 'years : but; added to his
political objedions to such, a systein, he had in -the
present state of Europe great constitutional objee,
tions' to it. With the present Thunswick Family
we knew that we were secur,e';' but at some future
period a Prince might arise willing to call in the
aid of France to ferge the fetters of his people. He
had no apprehension on the subje& of our Navy :
its skill, its'valour, and above all, its reputation, se-.
cured it a duration of superioritrwhich all the ef-
. forts of France would never be - able to diminish.
Nor was he much more fearful on the subject of
iiivasion. The Navy was a -great security against
it: But even were that security passed. the spirit-
of the people would,, he trusted, enable theth to
triumph over every 'hostile attempt. .To the Ho-
nourable Gentlerthanf; therefore, who asked, " Have
you ,not :Troops enough to defend the Country
Ie Wi"
ould ansWer—YeS, and more. - So that if he
saw' a good opportunity, he would. even risk a
large portion of the in the attainment of a
foreign object ; for 'he was convinced' that' those
who were desirous of establishing a permanent
foro at every vulnerable point- in the Em-
pire •would not contend succesSfully with France.
Such 'had net been her system. if-by the inea-
sore in -contemplation we could obtain--..a large
disposable farce, an opportunity might occur that
would us to- attack France- (in 'concert
with other PoWers) in such a way as to enforce just
rind honourable
.terms of peace ; or at least in any -
-future pg-gress'iowi of that gigantic Power we might
defend,oUr Allies frorn her attacks. Very unwilling ,
did he feel to balieve"the arguments Of the Gentle-
men opposite, when they contended that let what
would be *dope, no better species of recruits could
- •be procured than that which now filled our ranks,
because :without 'that, he felt-the impossibility of
increasing the 'military strength of the Country in
the desired proportiOn, aild to such an increase alone
could the Country look for Peace.- He wished fcir
Peace, ;if Peace Could be obtained 'on honourable
term's; but-to obtain peace, he would not consent
to dissolve the Col.-Mkion of 'Great' Britain with the
Continent, and to reduce her to an insular Power.'
To obtain Peace (if he might' be allowed to repeat an
expression which he used eighteen years ago, and
:which was' then treated with ridicule) „he would not
give. up a single point of honour. But to the con-.
elusion of Peace,-it was necessary that' all the Belli-
-gerent Powers Should he induced to wish for it.
What were the means likely to•obtaln'thiS deSirable
end ? Those that: bad been taken by the late 'Ad-
ministration were ',merely -temporary. , In the si-
tuation in ',which they hid,' seen- the Country, it
iva, perhaps, natural for them to call in force of
all ki;:ds; and to avail themselves 'of every species
of defonce. Ms 'Majesty's present Ministers' were
-plaCed in this 'ungracious sitnation=that they could'
only I-!p'pe to remedy the evils unt;er which:the Conn-
'try* vroaned, by a remedy gradual acid peetraded.-:-._
They eeuld-n-ot-hopei by.-one splendid- achlevemd.ot,
aalon---by one brilliant campaign,—
rei:tale to Europe h6r rights :cud her independence.
, _

by .or,

This could only be effeaed in a length of eme,
and, above all, by A. great increase of our mili-
tary power ; and •he could not conceive any Plan
to likely to facilitate
.the attainment of this ob,.'
jea as that suggested by his Bight • Hon.•Friend,—
It would put till, Army of, Great. Britain on a re-
speaable footing; and prevent those prejudices which
now existed against the profession of a soldier. He
Was aware that the effect would be slow, for great
revolutions in opinioti could not be made in a mo-
ment, but it would be certain. He felt that it was
his duty to risk popularity and power for the purpose
of endeavouring to place this Country in the rank
which she formerly held among the Nations of Eu-
rope. He felt that every Minister who swerved
from what he esteemed his • duty was a politiCal
coward. He should not think himself a good ser-
vant to the King, if he did not give His Majesty
his best advice ; he should not think himself a good
servant to the People if he condescended to flatter
them; he should not think himself a good and ho-
nest Legislator if he did not come down' to the
House, and, without regard to other circumstances,
propose such-measures as seemed to him most con-
ducive to the general welfare.
Mr. YORKE explained. • , .
Mr-PERcivAL opposed the measure at consider-
able length. He made a calculation, by which it
appeared; that by the measure proposed, each man,
after t years service, would be found to have cost
501.84. instead of 16 guineas the present bounty for
'y=ears, besides the annuity for life, of a shilling
per day, Which was worth 1801. and which therefore
added to the other sum, made 2301.
The Questidn being loudly called for, the Com-
mittee divided, when there appeared, • .

For-the Clause , - - 254
' Against it.. - 125
Alajoriiy - -129
•
The 'Motion then being pa, that the Clause be
read .a first time—,-
ViScount CASTLEREAGH moved, that the Chair-
man do report progress, and- ask leave to sit
again, it being.too late an hour'for the. introdu6tion
of anew _question. • • •
Mr. Fox declared, this would answer no other
purpose but that of delay,
.and that the principle of
the, Clause now proposed had been taken into con-
sideration in- the p;eceding discussion.
ViSCOUIIt CASTLEREAGH replied, that the Clause
,now proposed was distirr& from the Clause to be left
,out, and required a distill& substantive discussion. ,
Mr. PERCIVAL and Mr. CANNING supported. the
argument of Viscount Castlereagh.
Mr. Fox repeated, that'it would only answer the
pUrpose of delay. ,
Mr.:. YORKE said, . questions of much less import-
ance had been the subje&s of an adjourned Debate ;
and all that was required was, an opportunity to dis-
cuss the Clause.

Lord Dz BLAQUIERE considered the present con-
versation a waste of time.

Vis Count Hoi,vicx said, that the proposal was
new and extraordinary, and put it to the House,
whether, if delay were not the obje&, it was not
proper to proceed to the next stage, and reserve any
farther debate upon the Clause for a future opportu-
nity? , •
Mr. CANNING again spoke in favour of the Mo-
tion for reporting progress.
Sir W. YOUNG said, that when the Mcition was
made for leaving out the words, the House was,
aware of the, words to be substituted, and that the
>principle of course was already discussed.
Mr. PERCIVAL said it ,Was a new question, and
required,a new disCussion..
'Mr. WINDHAM contended, that-the words to be
left out, and the words to; be substituted, had been
debated together.
Doctor LAWR ENCE spoke on the same side.
Mr. BRAGGE BATHURST, Mr. ROSE, and Viscount
CASTLEREAGH, argued for a discussion of the Clause.
A division then took place on the Motion that. the
Chairman do report progress, and ask leave to sit
again; which was negatived, upon a division.—
Ayes, '74. Noes, 188.
The question then being put, that the Clause be
read a first time : it was carried upon a division--
Ayes, 164. Noes, 40..
Mr. PERCIVAL then moved, that the Chairman
do now leave. the Chair, which was negatived, upon
a division : Ayes, 64 ; Noes, 153.
It was then moved that the Clause be read a se-
cond time. _ _ .

7 •
Mr. YORKE opposed it, and said- he should move
that the Chairman should report progress—(a loud
dry of move,- move r) •
Mr'. WHITBREAD said, that this was a most vex-
atious proceeding of the part of the Gentlemen op.-
posite.
Mr. YORKE moved, that the Chairman do now
leave the Chair. This'induced a long conversation
between nearly the same Members.
The SPEAKER gave it as his opinion, that. this
motion might be repeated frequently in the course
otknight, because, though it might not be. fit at
a preceding moment, , it Might be .ht at a subset-idea
one.

, Mr. WILL .AM SMITH said, he never Witnessed
such a proceeding._ ~ •
Mr. Fox observed, that unless the HoUse should
adopt some strong measure,„ a few Gentlemen, ,by
taking: the present course, might 'at any tirne.deleat
•and obstru6t all publiC
The House then divided on the Motion, that, the
Chairrnan do now. leave the Chair,, which was ne-
.
,gatived. Ayes 5 2---Noes 133. •
It was then moved, that the Clause be read a se-
cond time, and a debate ensued.,
• • The SPEAKER said, that the Muse was M a very
undesirable state, and recommended that the Clause
should be re?rd a • second time, -and that the debate
upon the principle should take place when the •Mo-
tioir should come to be made, that the Clause do
stand part of the Bill.
Viscount CASTLEREAGH and Mr. STURGESS
BOURNE contended 'for an opportunity of 'debating
the principle in the present stage.
Mr. WILLIAM SMITH
,and Lord HENRY PETTY
spoke agai,rist it.
Many metfeaual efforts .were made to compro-
' mise the business ; Mr. SHERIpAN at' length said,
that 'Rs be saw he Gentlemen were :determined
'not to give up any point, he would recommend ,it
to twenty or thirty of his friends to go honap,, 'sleep
foi' a few hours, and get-. their breakta44 ; after
which they might come back fresh, and relieve their
iiearied 'Companions.
This speech was hailed with loud acclamations ;
but shortly after, 'on the Motion of Mr, WILBRA-

HAI4 BOOTLE, who stated, that, though the mode in
which the House was proceeding might ne entertain-
ing to some of the Members, yet it should not be
laid before the public ; the strangers were ordered
to withdraw,

After about half an hour's further Debate, we
understand, on ,the suggestion of the Spe,aker, it
was agreed that an Amendment should be proposed,
pro forma, on Monday, -so as to permit .of a further
discussion- on the principle of the Clause.
. .
The Chairman was them permitted to leave the
Chair, when he reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again.—Adjourned at HALF PAST SIX
O'CLOCK, Anti! Monday.

MAILS.
ARR IV ED—I Dublin; t Waterford Dub—t Hambuth,
Gottenburgh, I Lisbon, i Dublin, t Waterford.

PRICE OF STOCKS
THIS DAY AT TWILVE O'CLOCK.
Reduced Ann.

LONDON,
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1806.

YESTERDAY Letters of Marque and Reprisal were
issued at the Admiralty to capture or destroy all
Prussian and Pappenburgh Vessels, except those to
which His Majesty's License had been granted._
The greatest exertions are -making by, the Board of
Admiralty, and the subordinate departments, to
augment our Naval Force ; no less than eleven Sail
of the Line, how in ordinary at different ports, are
to be immediately commissioned.

American Papers to the 22d ult. have been re-
ceived.' The Bill for Prohibiting the Itpportation
of certain Goods from Great Britain has been passed
in the Senate, by a rery considerable Majority, and
now qnly wants the Signature of the President to
--become a Law. 'There is, hdwever, every reason to
hope
,that the differences between. the two Coun-
tries will be amicably adjusted. - The American Go-
vernment haveappointed-Messrs. 3. MONEOE and J.
PINCKNEY to be Commissioneks Plenipotentiary for
settling the points in dispute with Great Britain,

• Tins morning the Hamburgh IVlail duct on Wed-
nesday arrived ; but from the great length of the
Debate, we are only enabled to give a brief abstra&
of its contents.

A Correspondence has taken place between
the KING of SWEDEN and the KING of PRUSSIA
(as we stated some time ago). Nothing is'positively
known as to the contents of thq.Letters which have
passed between these Sovereigns, but the orders which
were issued to the Garrisons of Berlin and Potzdam,
to hold themselves in readiness to march, have been
countermanded. There is no intelligence of import-
ance from the South of Europe,. but the Evacua-
tion of Cataro, by the Russians, ikspoken of as at
event likely to take place.

Mr. WINDHAM'S Plan for Recruiting the Army,
by Enlistment for limited Service, was taken into
consideration last night in the House of Commons,
and produced a long and highly inTeresting Debate.
Nothing very new in point of argument was brought
forward on the subje&, .but the ohjeaions to the
Measure were answered with great force, of argu-
ment by the Honourable, Member. Ile,.perseyeres
in limiting the. Enlistment to seven years ; and in
order to obviate the danger that might arise from dis-
charging those whose period might,expire while the
Country was engaged in War, he, proposed to invest
the Crown with authority to extend. tie period of
their service for three years. This Additional Clause
is certainly a great improvement of the
.intended
Plan, and will, of course, conciliate many per-
sons who ..have opposed it.'.; Mr. WINDIIMM'S Pro-
position was agreed to by a Majority of 129.

is mentioned that on order, under the him c's
Sign Manual, has been rkeived at the India House,
fbr the recall of Sir GEORGE -BARLOW, preparatory
to the appointment of Lard LAI/DEADALE to be Go-
vernor-General of India.

The following Order was.yesterday issued from
the Admiralty
By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord
High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Uri—
' tain and I rcland, &c.

The Right Hon. •WI i LIAM WrN`nHAst, one bf his Ma-
jesty's Principal Secretaries of State, having by his Letter of
the r ith inst. acquainted us,that his Majesty had been pleas-
ed to order Letters of Marque and Reprisals to be issued against
the Ships, Vessels, and Uoods of Prussia, as well as of the
town ot Pappenburgh ;-and at the same time signified to us
His Majesty's pleasure that we should give orders to all Ad.
mirals and Commanders of lis Majesty's Ships and Vessels,
wherever they may be-stationed,' to seize or destroy all Ships
or Vessels belonging to, PruSsfa, and to the town of Pappen-
burgh, except any Shipaor Vessels 4o which His Majesty's
Licence has been granttsi,orwhich have been direded to he re—
leased from the E nib:Argo We do,M pursuance of H isM ajest y's
pleasure, signified to us as aforesaid, hereby require and dired
you to seize and destroy all Ships or Vessels belonging to
Prussia, and to the town ot Pappenburgti, which
,you may
he able to fall in with; save and except any Ships or Vessels
to which Ills Majesty's Liezitce 'has been granted, or which
have.beendirected to be released from the Finbatgo, accord.
ingly ;: and to give the like clireCtions to ail the Officers em. • "••
ploiedxinder your command.
(-,iven under our hands; 29th rf ;May, .
To the respedive Flag oilierrs, Captain, Commanders,
and Commanding Officers ot His Majesty's Ships and
'w -sels. • •
By Ck•mixiand of their Lordships. . :• .-

.Yesterday morning, at an early hour,- an alarming
fire broke out at the house of Mr. Tommxs, Grocer,
in Toolkty-street* constimed the littme.