Star.
London, England, 1806-07-11 00:00:00

VoLUNTIII OFFIC[If.

On the motion of Mr. WINDHAM. the Hnufe
refnlved itklf into a Committee on the Volunteer
Offieerr Bill.

The SPEAKER having left the Chair,
Alderman COMBE followed up the principle for
which he had formerly contended. that rank Ihould
not be taken from thole who already enjnyedit, moved
that the words (hall have been" Ihould be left out,
for the purple of inferring the words " (hall here-
after be." The effeft of this would be, that the pro-
vifions of the Bill Mould extend only to thofe who
might hereafter became Colonels of Volunteer Corps.
Mr. ADDINGTON Paid that he felt no unplea-
fent feeling whatever at the idea of being command.
ed, in cafe of his Corps being called out for fervice,
by any Regular Field Officer. On the contrary, he
was glad that he was relieved from the refponfibility
that might attach to him, in cafe it fhould have been
his fortune to have commanded a Field Officer of
the Regulars. This was the feeling of every Volunteer
Colonel with whom he hid converted on the fobjeCt.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE faid,that it wag a very
different thing to confide, whether this rank ought''
to have been given originally, and to take it away
when given. This was not a new thing. It elated
when the Right Hnnnurable Gentleman was Secre-
tary at War. The kighelt rank at prefent was Lieu.
tenant Colonel, but then there were full Colonels of
Volunteers, with the rank of regular Colonels in the
Army. nt fuppofe there Ihould be a regular Major
in a Volunteer corps, it might turn out that, in cafe
of alba' ferrite, the Major Ihould command his
own Colonel. Old officers in the Volunteers might
alto be commanded by inferior officers in the army.
Lord TEMPLE explained, that there was no
danger of a Major commanding his own Colonel, as
his rank was like brevet rank in the Army, and not
in the particular regiment.
General TARLETON contended that no evil
whatever could refult from allowing the Volunteer
Officers to retain their rank. The Guards enjoyed
a different rank from the other parts of the army, yet
though they had fitted in America, in Flanders, and
in miter places, no inconvenience had been felt—they
had been brigaded by themfelries. The Militia, the
Volunteers, and the Army, might go on in the fame
manner without jealoufy. Be would mix them all
without any apprehenlion. He would have no op-
prehenfion that the Volunteers would turn their backt,
but they might be too rani. How was this to be con-
reeled difcipline. The country would have to
regret the retarding of the difcipline of the Volun-
' teers by the meafurcs of the. Right Hon. Gentleman.
If they had been permitted to have gone on, they
would have been fitforany duty.

Sir CHARLES PRICE fail, that in every Rep
taken with regard to the Volunteers, fomething was
done to degrade them. He adverted to the manner
in which the Volunteers had at fitit come forward, and
thought that they Wei ved to be complimented in-
Read of being degraded.
Lord DE BLAVIERE approved of the Bill,
and thought that leitous mitchief would arife in the
moment offer vice, unit-:, its provilions were adopted.
It would not then be proper, that the Volunteers
['mould be commanded by thole who had never fern
fervice. An Honourable General had talkcd of the
Guards. but they had cummantled up to their rank
in the dully. and no ioconvenience arofe from this
circumfiance.

Mr. WINDHAM obferved, that be had done what
it was perfeily proper fhould be dope, namely, put',
the Volunteers under the command of military men.
And this was regarded ass degradation and in infult.
He hoped all Lis ;dolts 4.the Volunteers mould be I
confidered of the fame nature. Suppore the enemy
landed. ought not the Volunteers, would they not
with in Poch a cafe, to he commanded br men of ex.
per knee ? The Commanding Officers of the Volun-
teers were very reipettable men in every point of
view, but they had not expelicnce, and it was not
proper they thould command regular Officers in their I,
own plofeili.m. He adverted to the cafe of every
other profellion. Would a lawyer, for intlance, be
direaed by a perfon who knew nothing about law, or
who had no experience ? The lion. Alderman (aid,
that no Volunteer Officers ought in future to rank
above regular Field Officers. -Brit they ought never
totave done In; and he only correaed what had, been
improperly done, and what might be eddy correaed.
The rank was not taken away for any bad condo&
but bemire it ought never u. have been given ; and
where. then, was die ligma ? As to the feelings at
the Volunteer Officers, he &wild fuppofe that the
worth hurt to their feelings would be to allow them
to hold what they ought not In have. lie explained
that he hitsfelf had been teetined as Cokeel of die 1
Brigade. and not as one of a particular corps, In that
that was no inconfiltenci in his own east nor nay

ground for an inlipid joke of a Learned Gentleman
over the way. But, however, he had let h pals, as
the matter at the time was not worth explanation, and
he only mentioned it now becaufe it came in his way.
Mr. PERCIVAL Paid that he had only argued
from the feel as it appeared by the papers on the
table, and if there was a mittake, it was owing to his
friends in office. The corps, however, was us good
a corps as one without officers could be expected to
he. He believed it had not even a conllable (a laugh')
hut it appeared that at the time the Right Honour.
able Gentleman knew fo little about his own corps,
that it was not till now that he wit enabled to cot-
reel the millake. But the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman did not 'adopt his own principle to its full ex-
tent, ntherwife it would apply to the Militia. He
cote lt rather to have recalled the Cornraillions of the
Volunteer Colonels. He was now reducing them to
the very thing which he defcribed them to be- They
were now really •• the painted cherries." Nothing
could lower the officers more in the eyes of the coun-
try than allowing them the title of Colonels without
the effative rank.

.. -
Mr. LONG Paid that if the Right Honnurable
Gentleman favoured the Volunteers, they welt very
ungrateful, for they did not give him credit for it.
He eked whether there were any regulations for do-
ing away the allowances of pay and cloathing, a, it
was undertiond to be the intention to fuffer the Vo•
lunteers to moulder away ?.'
General TARLETON faid that if the Volunteer
Officers had eagerly put themfelves forward, there
might be fame grounds for the meafure ; but a Lieu-
tenant Bayley. who had ferved at the Havannah with
great applaufe, and who now commanded a corps of
tour thottfand Volunteers, had muddily flood afide
when they were infpeaed. Of this corps, Captain
Gore, whore Cervices in America would be well re-
membered, was the Major, and yet thefe men Wet
to be degraded.
Mr. CHARLES WYNNE admitted that there
were Officers of experience, hut they were particular
exceptions. It would be unpleafant in time of fervice,
for inexperienced Volunteer Officers to command re-
' gular Field Officers, and this feeling had beets ea-
veiled by the Colonel of the Light Horfe Volunteers,
is whole favour an txception night-be made if in
any cafe. '
Mr. RYDER wifhed that the Right Honourable
Gentleman had condefeended to Rawer his Hon.
Friend's quellion as to the pay and clothing, as it
might be neceffary to have a dear tintlerflyiding on
this fubjea with a view to the fubjea which was to
come on tn-morrow.

Mr. WINDHAM faid, that there was no occafion
for his anfwering what he had Rated over and over
spin, efpecially as the question was Aired with a
view to the motion of to-morrow, the nature of
which had not been communicated to him nor to the
Houle. This might be a aratagem of war 2gaillft
his Majeny's Ml:tillers, but it was not very candid
to the Houk. _

Mr. LONG fsid, that it was hard that he (hould
fuffer for the fault of another.
Mr. WINDHAM raids that he certainly had an
inclination to anfwer merely an account of the motion
for tomorrow ; but he had before diftsnaly (Wed,
that tbe pay and clothinz was to be taken away from
fuch Volunteers as flinuld enter in future.
The Amendment was then negatived.—Report to-
morrow.