The Sun.
London, England, 1801-02-17 00:00:00

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condition of this 'Country, that its Military
force was confined to defensive operations, and
therefore. there was no necessity of our giving
to the Enemy a demonstration that we must con-,
fine oUrselyes to defensive operations, nor was it,
in that view of the Matter, very important
whether the Troops were to be employed out of
, the Country or not; but as we were now, for the
first time, in a condition of things, the con-
tinuance of which no -man: would like to answer
for, he thought that without disparagement to
the Militia, the difference between them and the
Regular Troops, as an efficient force for any
purpose, was not to the diSadvantage of the Regu-
Mrs.—Thus far for the general question—The ad-
vantages of this force to the Country he would no:
state, nor the considerations upon which the hope
of its success were grounded ; the particulars of the
mode he was not going to detail, but he under-
stood that in the raising of this additional force,
it was made the interest of the Officers to cause
the augmenthtion to talCe place faster than it
could other Wise be made.; this, however, was to be
under certain reStriaions and the general objea,
he hoped would be attained by it, which was, that
of increasing the Army ; an object} which, be
really thouglsr, every intelligent Man who had
good wishes for the welfare of the Country, look-
ing at the circumstances by which it was sur-
rounded, must have at' heart, and that especi-
ally ..at the -present moment : that increase, he
must say again, appeared to him to be such, as
could no where be so well made as in the regular
Military Force. He would decline, at present,
entering into particulars.
Mr. GREY said, he was to understand the
Hon. Gentlemarn, that it was' the opinion of Go-
vernment at present, that there was an augmen-
tation necessary ; that the use for which it. was
designed; was that of a Defensive 'Operation.—
In:other words, that the Ministers of Govern-
ment werc'of opinion, we should add to the De-
fensive Force of the Country. The Right Hon.
Gentlethan's mode of argument in favour of an in-
crease of our Regular Establishment, would go to
the whole Establishment of our Military Force,
and change all the Militia into Regulars at once ;
for theßt.'Hon. Gentleman preferred the Regular
Force for Defensive Operation, to that of the
Militia. This might be the sentiment of the
Right Hon. Gentleman; but he was yet to learn,
that, for the purpose of internal National De.
fence, the'Regular Force was superior to the Mi-
litia. He had yet to learn, that a Standing Army
was.preferable to that old Constitutional strength,
which, in former times, and those not very re-
mote, had the affeetion of the People of this
Country. There was but little doubt which he
should prefer, when the choice was between the
Militia and the Regular Force, for the purposes
of National Defence—he would follow the Con-
stitutional course, which was, to prefer the Mi-
litiaeto any other force, for the internal National
Defence. But the Hon. Gentleman said, he-was
surprized at what had been stated : Had the
House no experience, four years ago, on the sub-
jai of Defensive Force ? That Force was 'raised
by the alarm Oran Invasion, but that alarm was
no sooner over,, but the Hon. Gentleman and his
Ctillea.g4s converted the Militia into a Regular
'Force. ,It was then argued, as it was now argued,
that the Regular was the best force. What was
de ease now, that-We had nothing to provide for
bin internal Defence ; and for that Internal De-
fence, we were going io increase that which was
chiefly applicable to Offensive Operation—Learn_
ing what was the effea of the last Augmentation
of Military Force, professedly as it was now, for
Internal Defence or Defensive Operation, he
thought the House ought to pause and consider a
great- deal, before they agreed to this Proposi.
arms to the mode which had been stated by
the Hon. Getitleman,..he did not think' that was
Vt;.ry accurately stated-. The mode had been
adopted in formsir wars, and reverted io in -this,
that 'of giving 011ieers Ronk in consequence of the
number of 'lv they raised. This 'Was a prac-
tice' that' hadbeen-tried and exploded,, and the
baclefrat it had tipoo the discipline ortheArmy,
Was not the least of its evils ; there were other
'objeaions to 'thin, but he 'Would. mat expatiate
Upon them now;:- He would observe, however,
that the House would do well to consider befbre
kreverted to this tried and explOded praelice.—
isipon these grounds, he found himself called upon
• tO•with-bold his assent to the Resolution now be.
fore the Committee.
Mr. Secretary DUNDAS said, that on the
subje& of Force raised in former times, he would
not say a word, because he should have an early
opportunity of.discussing it. He would main-
tain this, until he heard somebody deny it posi-
tively in that House, that there was no one Man
in this Country attached to its interests, who did
not wish' to. see, beCilthe he perceived the neces-
sity of an increase in our Military Force at the
present moment. The Hon. Gentleman who
spoke last, was nut against that Proposition ; but
he maintained, that the addition should be made
in the Militia and not the Regular Force. Upon
this subjea he Was forced, from the best view he
was able ta,take of it, totally to differ from that
Hon. Gentleman. Ile maintained, that adding to
,the ,Regular Army, was giving to the Country,
_a more efficient Force, than it could have by add-
ing to the. Militia ; and the reason was a plain
one, ,because the Regular Forces were liable to
the Service, both as a Defensive and an Offensive
Force—They were better to be in that double
capacity, even if they should happen to be never
employed, because they were always ready for
either service, as circumstances shoald require
their use : And if the Hon. Gentleman who spoke
lase, would take the trouble to consult with
those who were most able, and as willing to ad-
vise him, he would find this opinion sanetioned
by -the best authority which this Country could
teroduce, on the stibjen of the efficacy of Military
Force. As to the increase of the Militia, it was a
took which had some popularity in it at first view;
hat even that had its bounds, and he was not quite
,nre, that if rfic Militia were greatly increased,