The Sun.
London, England, 1803-12-30 00:00:00

t'Ot I, NY S COU RT.AI RT lAL

YESTERDAY morning the Officers and Non-ram.
missioned Officers of the Bloomsbury Inns of Court
Associiation met for the purpose of attending the
execution of the sentence of the Court-Martial up.
on their Drummer Boy for desertion. He. was
contlufted from the Savoy by a file of Grenadiers.'
The drums and fifes being ranged in order, the
Drum*.tnajor produced the cat-o'-nine-tails, and Col.
Cox e. read the proceeding oldie Court Martial, with
the sentence of fifty► lashes. The Colonel expa.
tiated upon the enormity of the offence, and hoped
the example would prove a salutary warning to
the other boys. A solemn pause then 'ensued,.
and the boy seemed very much affeaed. The
Colonel then resuming his address, said, in con-
sideration of the good character Which Colonel
MITrORD had given hiM, and the probability
that he might not have been fully sensible at
the time of the enormity of his offence, the sen.
tence should not be inflicted. He hoped that
this proceeding would he sufficient to convince all
persons in his situation, that they came under the
Mutiny Al, and that the Corps had the power of
punishing such offences. Had he been tried by a
General Court Martial, his sentence, he said, would
have been very different.
At ten o'clock, the Corps marched off the parade
for Chalk. Farm. As the discipline of the day was
to consist of the manoeuvres of a sham fight, it was
formed into two divisions : the first was under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel WArsoN, and Major
TRU) sex,who, preceded by an avant guard, march.
ed across to Chalk-Farm, the heights round which
they occupied, under a judicious disposition made by
Colonel WdyrsoN, whose'pictinets of Light Infantry
extended to Primrose-hill: The division of attack
advanced in column about half an hours afterwards,
led by Colonel Coxt, who reconnoitring the strong
position of the Enemy, divided his force, arid made a
feint of attacking him on either flank. The action
commenced by skirmishing between, the advanced
parties, but soon became general, by Colonel Coxs
advancing upon the Enemy's main body, in front,
which being assailed 'by Major Triunes De.
tachment on their right flank also, Colonel `VAT.
sow's Division, after much smart firing on both
sides, was compelled to give way, bUt supported
its retreat in good order, nearly to Hampstead ;
where being impetuously charged with fixed bayo.
nets, they were obliged to surrender to a superior
force. It is much to be lamented that a heavy rain
came on just at the commencement, and continued al.
most through the whole manoeuvres sit the day.

THE THEATRE.--The affelling Drama of George
liarnwell was represented last night at Drury-lane
Theatre. We were glad to see a numerous Audi.
enee, not merely on account of the Theatre, but for
the higher interests of morality, as the distresses of
this piece "come home to men's busicr_is and bosoms"
and are better calcUlated to excite useful sympathy
than the lofty woes of the Imperial Tiagetly. Mr.
11,5 JOHNSTON, for the first time, performed the Hero
of the piece. 'His person and time of life are Well
adapted to it, and his, acting throughoucwas such as
to give it due force and efFed.. The only objeetion.-
able part was his demeanor, which was rather too
studied for a young Citizen who had been devoted
to business, and whose ignorance- of
.the world had
rendered him an easy prey to the arts of a wanton.
However, his performance in general was a very
affeCting piece of ading. Mrs. POWELL was not
equally successful in her conception of Milewood.—
She' blended too touch sensibility and grief with the.
pride, the rapacity, and the,Aivagf violence of this
charade!. Yet she made a strong impression, and
gained much applause. It is full time fOr Miss
POPE to resign the part of Lucy. Her voice and
figure are by no means fitted for Tragedy, even of
the domestic kind She is an excellent Comediao,
and should he content with the tame she has he.
servedly acquired, and may always retain In her
proper province. Pow a lA.'S- Thorcighgood,like 411
his performances, was marked by good sense and
manly feeling.
.•
CooKe is soon to play Falltor ain the record t rt
,
lleerj the Fourth. If he ,performs the charader
of the facet iousKnight in this Piece, as well as he did
in The frit tart, and in The Merry litiws of Wild.
.19r, neither the Public nor the Critics will have
reason to be dissatisfied.

Wednesday a walking match took place on the
Western Road, between two Gentlemen of the
City, for a considerable wager. The parties started
near Kensington turnpike, for the purpose of walk.
ing to the 34th mile stone, near Maidenhead, and
to return to the same spot,, being a distance of 47
miles. They are saki to have walked the first 20
mites in the short space, of three hours and three
quarters. We are informed the name of the vilor
is Cot.Littawooo, who arrived at the decided spot
in the short space of eleven hours, notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather, leaving his antago.
rii.st at the distance of four miles in his rear. The
vitlor has betted a considerable sum that he will
walk over the same ground in a considerable less
space of time, which task, we understand, will be
performed in the course of the ensuing week.

On Tuesday morning between eight and nine
o'clock, a man genteely dressed in black, jumped
of the fifth arch of Battersea Bridge , he was tin
mediately taken out by some, persons who were tith-
ing near the Bridge, without receiving any material
injury. Previous to his doing the rash let he placed
his hat with a paper in it, containing his name, pro.
Cession, and place of abode. He was condoned to
a public house in the neighbourhood, anti alter being
provided with dry cloaths, was taken to his house
in Chelsea.

'TheCoroner's Jury have sat on the:body of Mr,
Sy Enc.sot (whose sudden death we announced on
Monday), and returned a veidid...--Diedy the
tettiot of God. After the Aecision` of the• juy, the
body waa removed to hia own house in linw.stteet.

_on Tuesday the house of Sir W. Curtis,
at Sonthote, way broke open and robbed of plate
and other articles, notwithstanding a Wattlmmo way
stationed on the pretni,e; ; the robbery wits not dis-
covered until six o'clock in the morning. The thieves
remained long enough in the 111'33e to drii is out three
or (Oar boi the of AluitirJ.

XECAUITINO 171 E

(C'enriara' front Ye:teasel Paper.)

4f it may properly► now become a Matter of don,
side,ration, whether this Plan 'night nor be Mate_
rially improved by dividing the ,Male—Population
of the Kin dons into Classes, on the rinaiple
adopted in France, in the Military Conscriptions,
and by the last Parliament, in the General 1")-,.
fence Bill. By this proposal, the Ballots would
proceed in doe order through these Classes, 'accord.
ing as the exigency of the Service obliged the Pat.
liament to call for fresh supplies of men. •
" On the supposition that this principle,,were
adopted, the following division into Classes is sug.
gested:
" 'Fiat Clair.—All Unmarried Men, frdm Sever:teen to
twenty-eight years of age.
" &cond.—Married Men, from seventeen to twenty-eight,
and Unmarried, from twenty-eight to thirty-five.
" 7i/rd.—Married Men, from twenty-eight to thitty-five;
and Unmarried, from thirty-five to forty.
" Fourib.—Married and Unmarried Men, from the last Class
to fifty.
•
" Fifth. All Married,' anti Unmarried Men, who may be fit
for Service, not included in the former Classes.
" Anti no Substitute to be reeeived of a Class older than
that to which his Principal belongs.
" It is to be hoped that no exemption from the ef.
feCts of the Ballot, would be granted in favour of
any person serving in a Volunteer Corps ; and, in
general, that the exemptions should be as few as
possible. It should also he indispensable, that
everylman served in person, or by Substitute. No
regulation of this sort can ever be effectual,. if a
Commutation of Money 'for Service, is in any shape
permit ted.
gg Having
,now touched on the different topics
conneeted with the proposed Plan, and enlarged on
its various parts, it may be proper to recapitulate,
and bring the whole into one view.
", Ist, The present mode of Recruiting for Vo.
lunteers to be continued, with small Bounties, and
attention to Chara6ter of Recruits.

" 2d, Vilunteers being found insufficient to sup-
ply the wants of the Army, men to be raised by
Ballot throughout Great Britain ;—the whole Cowl-
try tgibe diVided into Districts, as nearly as pos-
sible equal in Population ;---Regimenrg to bz ap-
pointed to receive their Recruits from particular
Distrias ;—in every Dist:ia, to be a superintend.
ing or inspeaing Field Officer, to receive and ap-
prove the Men ballotted, or their Substitutes, and
divide them according to the. orders be receives,
among the different Regiments, with stria impar-
tiality ;—Officers, &c. from these Regiments,. :to
attend to receive the Men from him, and march
!them to Head-quarters, if the
,Regiment is at.home;
if abroad, to the Army DeOt ;,I—an InspeaOr-Qe-
neral to be appointed, from whom the Pispeaors of.
DiStrias will receive their Orders. , '

3ri, The Male Population of the Country to be
divided into Classes ; and the Ballots to proceed
through them, as Parliament may find necessary,
for the supply of Recruits, for the Army, Every
man ballotted, to serve in person, or by Substitute.
No Commutation of Money for Service to be al..
lowed.
4rh; No Substitutes to he received who have
been paid a larger 'Bounty than Government allows
for Volunteers, or such other sum as the Legislature
may fix ; or who have not resided for sit months,
at least, in the Distril where the)' 'enlist.; or who
are older than the Class to which the Principals
belong.
sth The 4pprobatinn of the Inspeaing Field-
Officer to be final, and to relieve the Distriet, ex-
cept in case of Desertion, when the Distrbfl must
either apprehend the Deserter, or furnish inother
Recruit. The Distrift always to continue respori.
bible for Deserters.

' " 6th, Militin-tnen, in a certain propoition.per
Regiment, to be allowed to volunteer into the Line;
and if within the first six years of their Service, to
have credit for it in their Service in the Line.'

'' 7th, The term of original engagement for 'the
whole Army, to' bd ten years, unlesi the ennutry,
is; at the conclusion thereof, engaged in War ;
which case they are to serve until a General Peace
is concluded.

" sclt, No limitation of Service whatever ; they
are to serve in any part of the world His Majesty
may please to aired. •
" 9th, Men discharged after their first engage-
ment has expired, to be entitled to the following
Immunities, by Aft of Parliament : Leave to settle
in any Borough, Town, or Place, and follow their
Trades, without hindrance, and without pay.
mcnt of any Fees, Fines, or Discs, ,vhateveri to be
excused serving in the Militia or Army, again; and
also from'all Parish Offices, &c.
" loth, A second engagement for eight years,
to entitle a man, at she expiration thereof, besides
the lininunities in the last Article, to a Pension of
at least ten pounds per ann. for life, provided he is
recommended by his Commanding Officer.
" t tth, Men prolonging their Service after
eighteen years, with the approbation of their Corn.
manding.Officer, to receive an addition to the Pen.
sion, of tl. per ann. for eery year they so serve
above eighteen..
" txth, One year in the East or West Indies, to
be eoniiidened, and counted, as a year and a half.
" 13th, Men disabled by wounds, hurts, or ill
health contrafted in the Service to receive the Pen.
biOns although they should not have served eighteen
years.
" I +di, Men who serve in the Militia only, to
have no Pension, unless disabled by wounds, or
hurts, received in the Service.

Tsai, All Augmentations to the Army, to be
made by,additionallttaualions. The Officers, Non.
`eornthisstoned Officers, and Privates, of the ESN-
Mistiest Regiment,`to 'be 'equally divided
.between
the Battalions, as Vas been pradised in the two
Battalions of Regiments completed from the Royal
Army of R'eserve.
" t6th, No Supplementary Militia in future re.
and a rethittion of the number of thelVtilitia
recommended.

" t7th, When a'Regiment h orciered horiiefrcun
the list or West Iniiiesi a Men Bounty. to be given
to' Stich men as Vcduriteer to remain in Regiments
stationed theiel. but `none to be dratted-against their
conient.

" iii,, B. Thil Article his been of late years in

prattice hot-Whether or not it is sannioned yang
positive Regulation, the Writer is not certain.
" The Writer cannot conclude this short Essay,
without making a few remarks upon the nature of
the proteelion this Country is likely to derivefrom
the Vo!unreel Corps. Although no man existirg
feels a higher degree of National Ptide at the pa-
triotii eXertintis which have been made in every
part of the Kingdom ; although he is ready to ad_
mit, that for the spur of the occasion, and the ex:,
hibitiOn of that spirit of determined resistance to a
cruel and unrelenting Invader, which our situation
called for, the Volunteer Corps have been peel',
liarly well adapted ; and although he is still farther
:willing to allow, that they have already done the
State material service, in as far as their numbers,
and the state of discipline at which many of 'them
have arrived, give us every rational hope that they
will afford efreelual assistance to our Regular Army,
in case of a sudden attack—Yet, there are so many
poWerful reasons fur considering the Volunteers as
a temporary resource, that it cannot be doubted,
our Minister has it in contemplation, to bring for..
ward some other important 'measures for our more
permanent security ; and it is most certain, every
reasonable man expeas and desire's that at all risks,
these measures may be efficient. The Enemy we
have to deal with is no less crafty than ferocious t •
if he makes an early attempt on this Country, we
deceive ourselves creel!). if we suppose a failure will
deter hiM from any future attempts, or enable us to'
lie down and size') in security. No ! Such appears
to be his determined hostility, that he will only
make use of the experienee Obtained in hitamisfortones,
to improve In his subsequent attacks. ' a enntest,
then, spun out .10 a length without term, even in
prospeCtive,' is it to he supposed, that the spirit
now existing in our Volunteers, can continue in its
vigour ? In a war of desultory attack, ow cond..
nual alarm, which our Enemy will assuredly have
recourse to, if we continue to rely on our Volun
leer Force,in such a Wio.fare, is it. to be ex-
peeled that our Volunteers can.enthire the hardships
of Campaign after Campaign, harassed by marches
in all'seasons, and in every vicissitu le of weather,
to the Coast, and from one part of the Coast to ano.,.
rher without intermission expett this, from
corps formed on such a principle as theirs, would
be idle indeed ; nor could it be advantageous tea for
State, that the individuals composing die principal
part of these Corps, should be so employed ; and,
unless they are so employed, and can so aet, :they
'are unequal to our permanent defence.
" Casting an eye to our Sister Kingdom, no one
can deny, that the Volunteer System
,is to,ither.
adapted to•its situation, nor,equal to its defence;
and that, on our Regular Force only, cm we rely.
for its security. Under the powerful impression...of
these sentiments, the Writer (and he hopes with out
any prejudice or partiality in favour of his own Pro.-
lession) can look alones.to the estAblishment of tt,
'powerful Regular ArmY, f)r the safety of his Court.
`cry : and he sincerely hopes, he may have contri4,:
'huced something to this great by the Plan he
'has now proposed." -