Star.
London, England, 1802-05-27 00:00:00

MILITIA.

On the Order of the Day for the fecond reading
of the Militia augmentation Bill,
Lord Hosser faid,that as belonging to his Ma-
jell) 's Government, and being one of thole who
ecommended the meafure now before the Houfe,
he felt it incumbent on himto fay a few words up-
P:1 the nature and objea of that regulation which
it was found necefrary to adopt. The Bill em-
braced two particular objets :-1. To consolidate
and reduce into one Aa all the APRs which al-
ready exifted concerning the Militia, a meafure of
fuch convenience and utility, that he did slot think
any one could reafonably objea to it. The next
object was, to encrrafe the number of the Militia
Forces. He believed every body who would take
a view of the general Rate of Europe, and the
countries with which we had lately been at war,
would agree with him, that it was neceffary to
keep up a large military &tee in time of Peace—an
eltabliffiment much greater than what had been
nfual in former periods. Nnt that he apprehended
any heft& difpofition on the part of France ; for
he believed the fame pacific %tithes which led the
Government of that Country to feek for Peace
with us, would continue as firong as ever; and
that the Peace was likely to be of long continu-
ance. It was not fit, however, that this confide.
ration mould lead us into too great a fecurity.—
We Scold Ail] continue to look on France with
Come degree of jealoufy, particularly on account
of the greatextent of territory (he had acquired ;
and for that rearm it would be neceffary to be in
a flotation of defence. There were only two ways
by which a ftrong military force could be main-
tained—either by encreafing the (landing army,
or the Militia. If all the purpofe. of defence could
as well he ;lofts-erect by the latter mode, as by the
liirmcr,there was no qui:llion which of them ought
to be preferred. In a constitutional point of view,
as well a% from a principle of economy, it was
evident that we should prefer an increase in our
Militia Forces- The meafure was calculatod to
fall as lht on the Public as poffible; becaufe part
of this force was not to be in adlual fervice, unless
it should be found neceffary. But in this encreafe
of the Militia, there was no departure from that
principle on which the Militia had first been efia.
Milted. for at that time the population of the
Country was no more than (even millions ;
now it was ten millions, and the increafe of our
national force should be nearly in proportion to
the increafe of the inhabitants. For all there rea.
lons, he thought the prefent meafure highly expe.
client and neceffary, and therefore lie would move
o That the Bill be read a fecond time."

Lord Frrzwittlapt (aid, the prefent Bill was,
in Eat, nothing more than a Bill to encreafe the
number of the Militia forces, in order, probably,
afterwards to draft them into the army, for which
the officers of the Militia were to be little better
ihan Recruiting Serjeanu. The molt *NeBions-
-1116-k_'

We feature in this Bill was, that the parents who
Rood molt in need of, and who would receive the
greateft benefit from, a firong national defence,
would be the leak of all affefted by it. All thole
males who were in a fuperannuated or an infant
Rate, as well as females of all defcriptions, mutt
be defended and protetted ; yet they were not to
contribute towards that body which was to defend
them. The conftitution of the Militia was not now
what it had been intended to be. Very few of thole
drawn ever ferved in it, except when obliged to do
fo from abfolute necetlity. He wifhed the Houk
to take notice of the number of wealthy people in
this country who were free from every part of the
burthen of railing men. The wealthy Bilhops paid
nothing, becaufe they were exempt from being
drawn —the Noble Lord on the woolfack was ex-
empt—fo were the Clergy, the Members of the
Univerfities, and various other bodies—and none
flood morn in need of proteaion than they did.—
There were, however, many men of rank and for-
tune who were not exempt ; but their hardfhip was
little or nothing, for it was no burthen to them to
provide a fitbartute. On whom then did the bur-
then fall on the lower orders of people ; between
whom and the higher, there was no kind of dif-
tinEtion whatever. The greater part of the Militia
confifted of fubftitutes, for even the labouring me-
chanics would former pay for one thin ferve ; and
the praitice now purfued by labourers of all de-
fcriptions, was to join in clubs and fubfcribe a cer-
tain fum annually to infure themfelves in cafe of
being drawn. This was an annual tax on the lower
orders of people from which the rich were general-
ly exempt. The greateft Lord in this country paid
no more towards railing the Militia than the pooreft
farmer on his efiate, nor did the richeß merchant
contribute more than the porter who carried out
parcels from a fhop. This was a fyftem of great
inequality and injuflice. The prefent Bill went to
increafe it to a very great extent, and for that rea-
fun it fliould meet with his oppofition. He could
not agree to any meafure that went to increafe the
burthens of the poor beyond what they already
were. Perhaps forme Noble Lords did not know
the money generally given for a fabftitute ; he had
in his hand a calculation on the fubjeCt, from which
it would appear, that from the time of the fire
eftablithment of the Militia until 1798, the price
of fitbftitutes role from fix guineas to feventeen.
Then with refpcft to the proportion between the
rich and the poor, he had an account from York-
(hire, which Rated it at the rate of nine in ten.—
The number of the old Militia was not much more
than 30,000. This the people might have borne
' patiently, but he did not think their burthens lhould
be doubled. The Noble Earl then concluded with
moving, that the fecond reading be put off for
, three months.

I.ord CARNARVON feconded the motion, and de•
dared himfelf decidedly hoflile to the Bill, which,
as it made no diftinaion between the rich and the
poor, was unequal, unjuft, and oppreffive. Nor
was it that meafure of (economy which had been
natal by the Noble Secretary of State • on the
contrary, it would appear to be a meafure that
would operate as a grievous oppreffion upon indi-
duals, becaufe it would be paying the largeft pof-
fible bounties to men who were afterwards to be
taken to recruit the army. There was no reafon
to fuppofe that the fame thing which had been
done before would not be done again. At the
time when a fimilar augmentation took place in
the Militia, by railing a Supplementary Militia, the
cafe was esealy this: it was with great difficulty
that Officers could be procured to command thefe
new regiments—and after Gentlemen of fortune
were found, and after they had taken uncommon
pains to bring the new levies into the bell order
poffible, and to put them on the footing of a Mi-
litia, the Drill-Serjeants from the army were fent
in among them—the heft men were taken away to
recruit the army, and nothing was left as a Militia
but the very refute, the very dregs which the Drill-
Berjeants left behind them. This was at once break-
ing the faith of Government with thofe men, and
finking a fatal blow at the conftitutional force of
the country. The fpirit of the Militia was broken,
and they would never recover from the blow they
received. It was a part of the fame fyftem to hare
fent them to Ireland, with all their prejudices and
local attachments. He was as much againft Inch
a meafure as againft Irifh regiments of Militia be-
ing fent over to England. Noble Lords might not
be aware of the dangerous confequences of men
lofing thefe fentiments, and being taken away from
the command of thofe landed Gentlemen to whom
they had been inviolably attached. He remem-
bered a cirennifiance which illuftrated this obfer-
ration : during the American war, while he was
encamped with his regiment, an enemy's fleet was
teen off Maker Heights, and all the troops were
in readincfs to refill in cafe of a landing. In the
middle of the night he heard a great &outing,
when he got up and made enquiry as to the caufe
of it, he found that Anne companies of the Devon-
fhire regiment had thought the enemy was landing,
and they were proceeding to attack them. When
he called to them to come and join his regiment,
they afked what regiment it was ? and underfland-
ing it to be the Wiltfhire, they cried out, " no, we
will join none but our own flandard." This anee-*
dote proved how ufeful it was in a country to keep
up a kind of national and local fpirit among the
people : all which had been broken by the late
Adminiftration. He was more impreffed perhaps
than his Majefty's Minitters with the neceflity of
keeping up a ftrong force at this moment of un-
certain and dangerous tranquillity : It was the only
way to preferve that peace, which he believed
would be of very fhort continuance. But this was
not the mode of doing fo. It would have an effea
direaly the reverie. The great landed Gentlemen
had already been difgulted with the condua of Go-
vernment towards the Militia, and this new en-
create was only a preparation for a fimilar breach
of faith. _ _

The Marquis of BUCKINGHAM Paid, he would
fupport the prefent mealure, becaufe he con fidered
it to be neceffary towards the fecurity of the
country. On the fame principle he had fupported
the railing of a Supplementary Militia, becaufe a
moment of great urgency and danger called for
ie i and 11,1thaugh aloft of chafe mu were arm-

wards drafted into the army, thei railed the fame
and character of the country by the brilliant ex-
ploits thcir valour had achieved.
Lord ROMNEY Paid, when the Supplementary
Militia had been railed, the difficulty of getting
men in the counties was fo great, that it became
neceffary to fend Recruiting Parties into towns to
fill up the regiments. There was therefore no dif-
ference, in a conflitutional point of view, between
them and a (landing army, though perhaps a great
deal of difference in a military point of view.—
He reprobated in fevere terms the fending away
that Militia to recruit the army going to Holland,
and had no doubt but the very thing would be
done again, therefore he fhould give his decided
oppofition to the prefent Bill.
Lord RADNOR argued (honey in favour of the
Bill, obferving, that the menacing attitude of
France rendered it peculiarly proper on the part
of this country to augment her means of defence
in the event of a fudden renewal of the war. It
was particularly incumbent upon Government to
place the military peace eflablifhment upon an
infinitely larger kale than at the dole of the
American war. The fituation of the country,
with reference to neighbouring powers, and the
general Rate, differed widely from what it had
been at the commencement of any former peace.
The peace recently concluded was one which, how.
ever earner might be his hopes for its duration,
pi:Aired none of thofe charaderiffics affording a
fanguine affurance that it would be fecure or per-
manent. It was confidered in that point of view
not only by him but by fome of the ablefl men
and greateft Statefmen the country could boafl—
furely then it would be the height of impolicr to
leave the country at fuch a period with limited
means of defince, in cafe the neceflity of retorting
to defenfive meafures fhould occur ; and more
efpecially when it was confidered that if hereafter
the appearance of affairs fhould change, and the
neceffity for fo large a Militia thould ceafe, Par-
liament would at any time have the power of with-
holding the fupplies for fuch a number as were to
be fanaioned by the preterit Bill. His Lordfhip
concluded by exprcffing his entire concurrence in
the meafure.
Lord DARNLEY fupported the fame fide of the
queßion, and contended, that, the propofed aug•
mentation was one their Lordfhips were called
upon by their legiflative duty to carry into effe&
Lord PELHAM raid, he did not confider the Bill
fairly liable to the objeaions urged by the Noble
Lord ( Romney). He combated the arguments ad-
vanced by the Noble Lords hotlile to the meafure,
and after paying a juft tribute to the zeal, valour,
and loyalty of the Militia upon all occafions, dur-
ing the late war, when thole qualities had been
called into action ; he applauded the wifdom of
thofe who, in propofing an addition to the peace
eflablifhment of that body of the national force,
had enabled the country to regard with tranquilli-
ty the intentions of the powers by whom we were
furrounded.
Their Lordfhips divided upon the queffion for
now reading the Bill a fecond time—Contents 2z
Non• Contents 6.—The Bill was then read a fecond
time, and committed for Friday, till which day
their Lordfhips adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Medicine Duty Bill, the Irifh Loan, and the bilk Na-
tional Debt Bills were read a third time and pared.
The Audtiun Duty Exemption Bill was read a fecund time,
and committed for Monday.
The Britifh Fithery Bill, the !rids Yeomanry Bill, and the
Police Bill, were read a fecond time, and committed for to-
morrow. _

The Report of the Committee on the Franking Bill was
agreed to, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time to-
Marrow.

•.•T
The SECRETARY at WAR, after tome prefatory remarks on
the Act exempting the Miners of Devon and Cornwall from
the Militia, and Rating that the motion he meant to fuhmit to
the Houfe had the approbation of his Royal Highnefs the
Duke of Cornwall and the Members for the Counties alluded
to, moved for leave to bring in a Bill for repealing the Adt re-
fpcdtmg the exemption of the Miners, Etc. and for railing and
regulating a body of Miners ter the defence of Great Brin.in.
Leave was given, and the Bill brought in, read a firlt, and or-
dered to be read a fecund time to-morrow.
The Houfe went into a Committee on the Alien 13M,an I the
Attorney General moved a Refolution to make provifion, put-.
fuant to the soth Article of the Definitive Treaty, to enable
one of his Majefty's Secretaries of State to iffuc his warrant to
arreft fuch rufous within this kingdom as might be charged
with murder, forgery, or fraudulent bankruptcy,within the do-
minions of France, Spain, or the Batavian Republic. The re.
folution was agreed to, and the Report was ordered to be re-
ceived to-morrow.

The Houle refolved ttfelf into a Committee on the Legacy
Duty Ad; and it was ordered, on the motion of Mr. VAII•
SITTART, that the Legacy of Books by Wm. Morris Storey,
and of Sono!. by Samuel Whitbread, Efq. to the College of
Eton, Mould be exempted from the Dation Legacies.
The further confiacration of the Report on the Debtors'
Relief Bill was poitponcd till to•morruw.
The father difeuifion of the kills Linen hill was fixed for
Monday mat.