The Sun.
London, England, 1803-03-17 00:00:00

itt,delitleittsti *ha hati ritual his Cotthift.
in. many impOrtant situations, and for whose talentsJ
and sentiments he had thehighestvenerationi could
have allowed hihrself.at •suchh time :to make; such
observatirans.... The . Right
:Flan; -.Gentleman had •
occupied a -Considerable- time in provipg a. pro-
position. which nobody ever :Attempted .to dis.
rite, viz.• that the Militia were not in . every
Jesped equal to the Regular-Force. It was never
intended that they should. be ; they were mere-
ly. Meant as subsidiary to the ,Regular TroopS, .
-and he was convinced :ha: a better •sy tern could
,notehe- adopted, -with a view to the conititu.
Clonal .principle, :.which he was ,convinced would
never be given up.. He begged the House and
the: Right Fitln 'Gentleman to • consider ,what the
Militia kid.done ; in the year t 780 they saved the
capital of this Cimmtry ; and upon every•occasion
where their services were required, they came fot.
-ward With promptitude and alacrity and he was
c:invincect that no Country possessed a force, main-
tained at so small,an expence in time of Peace, that
Could be made:so eireduil in time of War, and
called forth at. so short a notice.--With regard to
the Militia of Ireland, it was not necessary to re.
mind the. -Hopse, that at the time of the Rebellion,
they displayed. a degree of courage, that •shewed
them to be inferior to no Troops in the world, and
in conienaioh, with the Yeomanry) put down . and
trampled that Rebellion under foot,-and saved that
Country to. the British Crown. .Asera the Militia
of England, at one of the most.ctitical periods of
its history, they voluntarily, offered their services,
in Ireland; and though tile Rebellion was put down
before many of them arrived there., yet it must be
•allowed that they, rendered .most important service.
one of the most important 'Expeditions whish
was undertaken last War, the Expedition to
Holland, the .greater part of the Army was corn.
,piled of ,vnlunteers from the Militia ; and .though
that Expedition failed in part, from causes very
different from those which had been stated, yet
:out Troops concluded themselves in such a man—
ner, that those who had
.upon that occasion
to look them in the face, felt no great dis.
'position to. repeat the experiment.—MOch of she
Right Honourable Gentleman's argument went upon
the iupi:iititie ithat the Militia was preferred to
the Regular Ferce4—that was by no means the case.
But when the iiiltlieriso possessions of this Country
were, considered, the:necessity of the •for.
'home defence would be obvious. He had.. the satis.
faction of stating that
:the Militia •would soon
pear to, be in a state that would exceed the most
sanguine expectations that. could have been formed
(If it—that the Regular Force was more numerous
and in a better dundition than it was in any part of
the. Right 'Hon. Gentleman's Administration, and
that there were more Troops new in Great Britain
and Ireland than there were at any period of the lett
:War. He trusted, therefore, that • the Country
would, not be disheartened at any observations
which. th Right l ion. Gentleman had made, for it
was inot, in a better state than when it had bid de-
fiance to' all Europe. He wished that • the Right
Hon. Gentleman had heard the sentiments of 'the
Gentlemen froth Ireland, who all concurred in the
impossibittty of ratsing.,the Militia in Country
by ballot. , But at all events, he wished. the Right
GehrleMae to reCollett, that if the Militia of
Ireland was not raised in the manner now proposed,
it must he attempted to. be raised by Ballor. or by
Volunteers,: and in. that case .a Bounty Of six pound
per man would be.•given, which would interfere
much more with the Recruiting Service than the
present plan. It was true that the present 'mode
would iwsome degree interfere with the Recruiting
of the Army, but-Certainly not materially, because
the persons who entered into the Militia, were such
.as WOLlid not enter into the Regular' Seivice.e—He
was sure that the Right Hon. Gentleman did not
wish to dishearten the. Country, though his obser.
vaticins had that tendency. The Right Hon. Gen.
iceman had stated, that all the abilities of the Country
ought now to be brought into action; undoubtedly
every exertion was necessary, but at the same time
much would depend upon the firmness and good
sense of that House, and upon -the prudence which
Gentlemen used in the obieriations which , they
'made in lhat-Hhese.

Sir U'M'. -PULTENEY said, he gave the Hon.
• Gentleman every credit for the ability he possessed,
in painting a bad side. of the question in such co,-
,Thori, that would render it apparently., wise and
proper for adoption. • But he could not help saying
to the I-lon. Gentleman (Mr.. WI Not-lAm), that. be ,
had misstated faas.with regard to the Militia in the
two Countries, as well as the dispOsable Trtiops of.
the Nation ;• and thong!: the Militia of the t wo Chun-
tries had sliewn their courage In numberless in..
stances, and had met with the disapprobation of the
Hon.Gentlemin, yet theConntry at large, excepthiM,
had' beirowed every praise on- there Constitutional
• BrAies, who are of National. Importance. lie:said,
the Honourable Gentleman seemed to be 'very,much,
attached to as Standing Artny, as he thought they:
were more essential to the safety of the Nation' than.
anyiMilitia that could be-established.' He said, he
.'
thought the tlon. Member appeared too fond of a rip.
lar force,-and had not givenin his opinion a single
argument,:offieiently strong,. to induce any .Member
in that House to support his side of the question.. Sir
WlLLia.i4 then noticed several arguments which
had been used by Mr. WtN6HArarnane of Which he"
said, would convince the House. that a regular Army
was preferable to a Militia-in Ireland, agreeable to
the Plan .proposed-by the Bill now tinder discussion-.
He had to observe, that if the Plan now:, mentioned
by the Hon. Gentleman was to be adopted,. he, was
sure yott wotild not get the countenance anditippoii.'
'of the CoUntry Gentlemen, and a numerous bOrly*
persona who have and will-enter cheettully into the.
Militia. Many hundred persons felt it their duty,.
tor their own private safety, and the safety of the
nation, 'to *lst in 'the Constitution- of a• Militia in
their respeetive.Counties; but few men.who had many
private tie, as dear as life, and on which life itself
depends, (such ai'men in business, and who could-nor
leave their Country and farnilies fOr any length of
=time), would enter into the regular service, however
glorious and honourable the name of a-Btitith Soldier
must sound to the eat of every 1141);, this he thought
one important rea'son for the maintenance df a Mini.
tia in both Countries : he thought- this was no time
tor,a discusaiou like the present, a .discussion thia

6iiik Site* titetidn. C;etillettinis e: err ii
talents, and ,his tatertsilit metaphysical lt.ncittiled,6l"
whiCht in the present case, he thoughti:onlk
to-perpielt the §,iestion..4---tle 830. the Gentliiilt:Ji
. • •

of Eng!anti were caked upon to clefL•nd the Coutitry,;
.cr it ical --petia, it 10:13 the duty Oi- evtry
ruan,to use !tis intexcst. for thi mut)lit safcryi ntid lie

did not doubt,..blit • there wou):i. be but
in the Natianuohti that was lot the niairitetiancti,

those ,blessings
.we now-enjoy and that could• not 1).1

done without the House ve -Government th:q sop,:
port they were na* in want of. He said every
Gentleman in that House must remcniber the entiragi

and conduet of ahe. Ariierican Who 6;1

tinguislied themielves when they fonglit tali
their own ground, and who beat the regular

disciplined, 'i'roops 4ent, against tHe
County .-
He had military knowledge enough to know that

a greater. number of men would enter into the Mil
litia than into the Recruiting Service: The lions
Member had by his-SOeech,,endeavoured to destroy

every thing co nuedeti with the Militii, since iit
establishment in the yeir 1757.
Mr. NDHAM Said a few words in explanation.
GraeraITARLETON observed, that he concur reLt
with the. Hon. Gentleman (Mr; WmitAta)
many occasions, yet he must differ fr,an hint on thei
present. Experience had 'proved tht okihry Of a
Milititt in Ireland, as well as in this Country, &Mr

man trust know that we have to deal wiui a Testiest:
neighbour, it was therefore prudent :to guard out
Coast•with Militia, as well as to have a sufficient:-
bodyof regular disposable Troops, at
,the immediate
service of GoVernmant. He thotwht no Inuasute
'could be suggested to,inswer the purpose of Ireland.
as Well as the one now,'nnder discoOrm,.which be
hoped would
,not meet an .opposition suffwiently
strong tO,destroy it, He considered itio measure ;hat
immediately called for the support of every Mem.;
ber in the HoUse ::it‘theteleire should have his vote,
st.r.z.;;P:4 RSO NS; Oid, he 'bad an opportunity
of knowing
,something of Militia of Ireland; as
well as .the regular troops, .and he was convinced het
shduld Oot do justice to himself and.the brave
tia-titer of Eliai Country, if he had continued silent
(11 a ques:tion in which
~they wereccinceraed. The
Militia of Ireland had served several years, and hod
proved themselves a noble and courageous of
men ; and rhOugh there were at, pre4nr but a skeleton
of a military' force in Ireland, it would be extremely
impolitic not to increase the nurnber,s'i/f melt at metal
and praise-worthy establishment, He would
to the recolle'etion of the House, 0.-Lep-licit' when
the French landed. at Bantry Bay: their condu4 at
that time, as well as on many other •occasions, did
them the highest credit : no.troops in. the Universe
evinced more energy in the field„ than the. Militia.
of Ireland :-those brave men Only felt disheartened
When the wind would not perMit the remaining hart
of the French to land ; this indeed was a pitiful
disappointment to those courageous heroes, st•ho
would have carried :victory, had die French Army
.been dooble the nuiplxr. He' was sure.the Irish
Militia was of the first consequence to the Country,
and ought to receive every honour and attemion,
which their.courage mid exertions .had long 'merited ,•
and be could not sit down till he repeated wtiaL 11,4
been before observed,to the. House, that we were at
present in a critical situation, and therefore every
means ought to be.,used to keep .art.ambitious and
over-grown F.,'nerny from. our_ Coast,

1.2 1 A" lA' GTO s",: si.dd, it was the. first time
he had ever troubled the House on any question,
and it
,was, not .leis intention to trespass on tlicir.
time for many minutes..
,-The. only. inducement he.
had in addressing thertl, was.a misstatement made
by, the Hon. Baronet behind. him (Sir NV, Put,.
T;£IIF.Y), who had said, his Friencl• (MC.
NVIDHAZ.t) had made an attack on the. Militia sof
the two. Ctitintries. he' was sore, was not
the case ; . Hon. Friend had, by no means, sala
any thing offensive of that .body cif Men ; he. had.
taken objections io. the Militia on genetal prin.,
ciples, and oiled arguments to prove, that a disc.
posable• and Regular Force 'was of more import—
ance to
.the country, than the augmentation of the
Militia could possibly be; whether., his I-lon.
Friend's arguments. would convince the House of
the propriety of his, .position, would be seen by
the vote of the House. ,Yet he must be permitted.
to.say, from,some Cnowlcdgc La Military affairs,
that he 'concurred with. his Hon. Friend in some
points, and, thought. that a regular disposable Force
would' be .more; -.serviceable' to. Ireland than the
Militia. At the Same time hehad no objeclion to a
Militia in either Country, yet he thought a
.regular
.disposable:Force was.better for either an, offensive
or defensive purpose than a Militia was, as the re.
gular Force was generally better constituted and -
disciplined fur adualiorvice, than a 'Militia cnuldt.
possibly be. In.proof of. his as,sertion, he begged
the House CO' call CD their, recolletlian the Militia.
that were sent to !Tolland, whose exertions proved
their deleftive power, and evinced want of disci.
Aline. This was well known to Government, and.
had they.been all
.regular Troops, there is
.no doubt
but they would have made a better figure.
Thz! GRANCELLOR of the IaaIiBQTJER said,
that tke-VOGle Lord had not stated what Mr.WIN D.
to the House hitt as his Lord-
ship's imistake. must be obvibus to any Member, lie.
would, gatto his own remarks on the Militia ; iti
doing so, he must •call to the„re,coliqtion of the
House; that the Army who..hittl distinguished. them-
s-elves in-F ypt wore V,olunteers 'taken from the.
Militia, and that he was tqlre.,.. that' most of. the. '
'King's Officers would be. •prond. to hat'e the Re.
gitiar Triops.mixed with Militia M..m. An Hon!:
Member of this House had said,. very properly, that
the Militia of Ireland. had Llistinguished thetuse:ves
.in the fieirl, 'at the time the French made. an attack
on. Opir riative oil, whi. h ,did them. great honour, ,
`and' evinced a courage hignl sz:liraise_‘vorthy. Dur_
ing the last war, the Mrliti; f f Ireland hjelPr°v"ti
the utility of such a Constlitlce.d
was riot .ma. Officer in the. Houle wli to GCtr)l3.o4
the, Militia *of Ireland, IThr prouil.'of the
ivns of those brave men Iv ho had bet,„
command, - •
,S.-it. If PU LT E rose to. say afew ..fvords
w sy of explanation ; from a remark tlyt bad b.!iej.ti,;.:'
.made on his obserea[ions
-it.apPear`ed 'necesg.try for hid to .r.c.pcat,witat, he;
meant; he aliterved, tit;,t he't4id before stasecti-i144-.
the Militia of AgiL.rica had beat.the ricgult•