Star.
London, England, 1805-06-21 00:00:00

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[PRICk. SIX-PENCE.

thoufand have been fur regiments at home. It ap
peers too that the cafualties within that period, to
the regiments at home, is within one hundred and
feventy of the whole ['applies they have received by •
ordinary recruiting. Arid if we reck.in, as doubtlefs
we may, the cafualties of regiments on foreign ha. '
lions, at leaf as great as of thole at home, it gill
follow that the army, on the liming it now hands,
can with difticulov be kept by the recruits it receives.
The reduCtit. a of the Militia, which makes no addi-
tion to the numbers for hone defence, is the only
augmentation which the army of the country has ob-
tained in the courfe of the lag year, The whole of
this fubjett will be fo much more ably hated by the
Honourable Colonel (Craufurd) who has turned his
attention to it, that I !hall abstain from any further
remarks contenting myfelf with laying, that Iliac
fags which are within the level of every man's ob-
fervation, are of themfelves fufficient to excite anxi-
ety in fo important a branch of our defence. I
proceed now to that which is the grand bulwark of
our fafety—the Navy ; and if, as we have Peen, there
is no mkt* coegyxonlate ourfelves on the improve-
ment of our finances, or of our army, I fear th to the •
!late of the navy will afford little more reafon for
exultation. Left year at this time we had in commit-
lion of the line 88 (hips, and at the prefent moment I
underhand the number of this daft in commiffion is
only 91, being an inereafe of three lance left year.—
There have been added (even frigates, sa floor, and
5o gun brigs. The number of Icemen voted lag
year was 78,000, and the number aSually muftered
welt above 87,000, being above snoco more than the
vote. What the numbers now muttered is I cannot
fay, but I apprehend from the difficulty of manning
the this put in commitlion, of which I have heard
something, I am fatisfied that the number now muf-
tete.' is not greater than that mattered this time
twelve-month. The addition of brie of battle-(hips,
and of fitgates, we fee, • very thrall, and tho' that
of gun-brigs is larger in toe amount, I do not think
it adds greatly to our fecnrity. I fear, indeed, that
the Right Honourable Gentleman has been deceived
as to the importance of thii dafs of smirch. Com-
pared with the immenle number of the enemy they
are nothing; and if our defence were to'depend on
them, we Ihould be wretched indeed. The improve-
ment of the navy in that dais of (hips which molt
conftttutoour chief defence againft every naval at-
tempt of the enemy is by no means latisfaCtory. It
is admitted, indeed, by Many on the other fide, that
our navy is not in the (late in which it ought to be
but this they affert as a matter of charge agairaft a
former Board of Admiralty. That charge, and the
defence of the accufed party, firm kill ground of
inquiry into the fair. For my own part, I profefs
to be little verfed in the fubjeCt ; but as far as autho-
rity goes, and as far as my own invellipations can ,
form the ground of my judgment, lam decidedly of •
opinion, that the fytlem of Lord St. Vincent was the •
belt, and that if he had remained in eke., be would
have placed the navy of England in that Rate of fa- I
perioritf and of power which all friends of the cowl.
try mull defire to fee. This, however, I only Rate
incidentally, and after the oppofite opinions fo Itrong-
ly advanced, as deferving of examination ; and with
a view to our flotation, either for cat rying on the war
with vigour or negotiating with effea, the navy de-
mands the molt ferious care and attention of the
Houle. If from thefe topics we turn to our domellic
fituation, then indeed there is room for a fatisfaaion
unmingled. Never was there a period when the peo-
ple were more difpofed cheerfully to bear the burden
impofed upon them by the circumstances of the tunes.
Never was there loyalty more aftive or more cordial.
Never was the fpirit of the whole nation more deter-
mined to refill every attack on their independence,
and to defend themfelves at every hazard. But,
while we congratulate ourfelves on this pleating pic-
ture, we cannot help obferving, that the burdens of
taxes prefs hard on many alalfes ; and we ought the
more to feel that burdens borne whit fo much I)yalty,
ffieuld be lightened, if potlible ; at leaf}, flown not
be increafed without neceffity. If we look at Ireland,
I hope that there too we !hall find ground of 'lois-
faftion, for in Ireland, partly through the conciliating
adminiltration of Lorti.Hardwicke,coniiderable pro-
grefs has been made in compoling that country.
More indeed has been dame by the example of the
confequences of French aid to thole. who everlooked
with any degree of hope to the effeets of French co.
operation. If the date of Ireland be not yet fo fatisfac.
tory as it might be, there is ;cilia to hope that the
frith now ice the advantage of Farhat: connexion,
and that they know that what they have to expe&t
from the liberality and the policy ot Great Britain,
would utterly be loft by French cootteeft ; that by
conoihuting to the injury of their naturel friends, t
by a currefpondence with France, they would only be
adding themfelves to the lilt of Saves whom France
has !educed under her dominion, either in an abje&
dependence, or totally (tripped of their name and
exittence as a nation. Such reflations and belt ex.
emotes, mutt have wrought a great rhange even itt
the fentiments of the difeffeetei. But hill there is
room for farther improvement. There is room for
that entire cordiality between the two countries, or ;
rather between the different parts of the Empire,
that inftead of being our weaknels, Ireland should
be one of the chief instrument;. of our gt camel's ;—•
when,intlead of abforbing a large portion of our
mili-
tary force to preferve trantriiiity, Use might contri-
bute fo large a portion to the adtive military ftrength
of the hate. To me it teems, that while any ob.
(tack remains to the entire latisfaftion of the Catho-
lic Body, in regard to the objeft, for whirl, they pe-
titioned the Legiftature, the progrefs to pyre& tran-
quillity and to complete co optration melt he far
ihort of what it might be. Yet, both by Legillative
meafureo and by thole of.Adminiiti atitro touch may
be done. lam fatisfied that it is die wi:1) of Leta
Hardwicke to do every thing that depends iivn him,
but I fear that on the other tide of the Channel, as
here, they labour under the diitraaina of a divided ,
Government. Lord Hardwicke can never give full,