Star.
London, England, 1804-06-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The CsWoolen Canal an was read a curd time and pared.
Mr. Wm. Dundee (the Secretor, at Wit). Mr. Canning (the
Ttesfurer of the Navy). I.ord Dunks (a Canindillater of the Ad-
mit shy), and another Metwhet, too& the ondis and their feats.
A Petition was refented flan Debtors confined In the real of
Covet,' el, praying for Witt
On the motion of Sit T. Mr.Temsr.. the fecond reading of
the Cotton Slamdadinters' Bin was put off till Thurfday.
Mr. FOSTER brought ep a Bill to esempt from the export
duty ell linens manefaetured in any part eat United Kingdom.
Reed a &ft, and ordered to he read a famed flare to morrow.
On die menhir' of Sir Whi. YOUNG. an order was made, that
the Speaker do rot in. a new wt.t for the Latino of a Member
far Asirthary, ant.' tLi. i!.,y three weds.

11tt ftextid etadit.g M the Solway Mary 8411 was put off di
the toth ;nttart. _

The Mirdetnettletlf hfl tea. enrtenined ; and the Report orJcr•
ed to b, taken into further eatG.l r.t..m on Wednefday„

he Atroreks Indemnoi 11.11 wc..t through a Cotaketee.—To
be rcpnrtul re morrow.
Mr. TITZ!;I.K.%I P 7 7 1!., r7reteetion of form ae-
e^unt*. n 7 ',lr.'s., m dc by the smart' the Adt of
1,..i0n with hd.r.h rt lative I,s I: of perfran. who held
aft:, in that en..ssory, pr. . ; : ,nn. 'hewing astir °U-
final fala•irt. and anion, of any ~r;.,. that bad been made
to then,

r W11.1.1.‘N1 TV:ZI rrnr:.! f r o.e prodsellon of an
Aefn,,n, of the nee, ~ ,-.14.t 41,4.4 tlts. CSpt ,d

Rood linpc, from ti:e time o rt.!, •Ito Ns Maid-
tll ri of tvscual-:1, in contention a the
Tee2t;. oirPtsr.!rn..--.4.`rdet<.l. -

Mr. KOS*, of h. vtovltl tSnt ^ &OTT 01.
the Crar.f of the ()Ore r.( the C^mm n lies% a
the thee!). cf Larraltrr. ix 1...! h. tore thr
Mr. I 1 til f, orl.• g torwArd •

.
roolon 1.1 had go, no•i: r-1 •.. lont o r,r-
marent ...tn.' on ;crop', on•ter:' • 1.. n • That (no,. invone-
t!.3t, molioros • tik! 1,•• hp Meetttet t, thr.or to :Loft
hub be et,to then abort to ye, plc

ibc ciithfett.t.Ott of die titcitfktrik
*Jade Holograbk Gentleman to egaisapsOehtit up= '
•
die &bit&
Tyo Woolies Minufatuesits BM rel palapbed fa Wedhiretty

truttantat.streton.
Me. ROSE moved the Order dike Pat for feed-
ing the charge_ againfl John, Damon, Under Sheriff
for CorneralG.....md rot calling-hint to the Bar of the
Holger and this being done accordingly
John Damon, Rending at the Bar, was afked 'SY
the Speaker what he had to lay to the charge he had
heard read againft him ? He affurel the Houfe, that
he had not :teed from any corrupt motives, and that
it was the fartheft from his intention,-to do an 48 to
violate the privileges of Parliament ; that he could
hot have afted from partiality, hecauk he was not
erfonally known to either of the Candidates at the
Pate election for Lacers!: He begged the indulgence
of the Houk, and allured them, that if be had seed
wrong he bad done fo unintentionally. He than with-
drew from the Bar.
Mr. ROSE Paid, it was not his with to fay any
thing in aggravation of the charge againfl Mr. Da-
mon—but he conceived it to be his duty to bring be-
fore the Hoare the opinion of the Committee that
had tried the merits of the Lifiteard Eleftion, fo far
as it related to the conduct of that perfon. He muff
acknowledge, that no evidence had come before the
Committee, of any direct corruption; but it ap-
peared he had received Come money from each of,
the candidates s he acknowledged himfelf, I, he had,
been handfomely paid for his trouble." It was, how-
ever, eontrary,to Law, for, an Under Sheriff to ac-
cept of any reward whatfOever, for his trouble at an.
elation ; and fo far Damon need improperly. It
was necelfary that Tome euniflitnent (Mould beinflio-'
ed on him for what he had done, otherwife the fame:
condo& might be pradifed by others. This was' not
an uninformed man; be had beeitbrtd to the law;
he could net have seed from iporance ; and it was
incumbent on him to do the office be filled, in a fair
and proper manner, He then moved, that the Houfe
thould adopt the refolution agreed to bY the Commit-
tee—" That John Damon,rbe Under Sheriff at the
late elation for Lifficard, seed contrary to his duty,
and in violation of the principles of Parliament. He
Ihould afterwards move, that he be taken into cur-
tody by the Serjeant at Arms."
Sir.WILLIAM LEMON hoped the Honk would
confider the great expence this young man had al-
ready been put to, and not inflict a heavy ponillstnent
on him. He (aid, be had a letter from,the High
Sheriff of Cornwall, giving a very good character
of Mr. Damon, who would not any account aft from
improper motives ; and if he had been guilty of any
mifeondult, it mull certainly have been unintended
on his part. Betides the Houfe fhould bear in mind
that be had no knowledge of, or connection with any
of the parties at the election.
Mr. GREGOR raid, that the Under Sheriff hav-
ing received a (mall rum of money, by way of fee
for his trouble at the elation, was a proof that he had
abed from corrupt motives. From the enquiries he
had himfelf made into this gentleman's obaraller, and
the information he had received, he believed he acted
piety from error. He begged the Houfe to confider
be injury he mull (offer even in his profeffion, if it
to lifted a heavy puniffintent on him. -
Mr. HOLLAND (poke in behalf of Damon. •
Mr. ROSE again contended, that as this man
could not have tided from ignorance (although even
that would be inezeufaWej, he mutt have had Come
motive in his mind for what be did.
Mr. SHERIDAN denied that the Under Sheriff
had the plain line of his dutylaid•down before him ;
he was not bound, as a matter of courfe, to receive
any return which the Returning Officer might make.
It was a part of his duty to fee that the return was
not au, improper one. In fae, it had been Rated to
Mr. Damon, that the Mayor of Lilkeard had made
a fake return; and that was the reafon he fent up
the two returns to the Clerk of the Crown. And
the Committee, which afterwards tried the elation,
decided differently from the Mayor ; they having
given it as their opinion, that the right of election
refided with the Mayor and Burgelfes generally—
and the Mayor having declared the right of eleftinn
to be in the Mayor and the capital and free Burgeas.
It was therefore a cafe, in which a man might be
milled, and mull certainly have been an error in

judgment. He was fare the emits% cif the I-10.ife
was as heavy a pur.iihment as ought to be bah Rcd on
this young man.
The SECRETARY at WAR thraight it a mcre
joke to fay that this man's underlanding could be
mifkd.

Mr. BANKS f4id, it appeared that Damon had
received a fcc from both parties ; and ilia wntilj
not have happened, if he had not made a double
return. _

The fira motion was then put and agreed to, and
on its Leing moved that Mr. Damon be taken into
the cuflody of the Serjeant,
Sir WILLIANI LEMON moreJ, as an amend:
went, that he be reprimanded anddifcharged. This
amendment was fupported by Mr. Sheridan.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
and the'SECRETARY at WAR, contended, that
after the refolution the Hottfe had jun agreed to, and
which was to remain on their journal., they could
not, confttlently with their duty, adopt any proceed-

fcvsre than that of ordering this pt.ekon into
cuflody. If the Houfe aged otherwife, it would be
a furrender of their dignity.
The motion for taking him i?tto cullody was then
agreed to, Sir Wm. Lemon having previoufly with-
drawn his amendment.
A Mefrage from the Lord, informed the Hattie,
that the Lord, had agreed to four Enclofure, and
(even other private Bills.
SLAV' TRADE

Mr. DEVF.RELL, purfuant to notice, role to
move that there he laid before the Houle an account

the duties on Negroes imported into the Well Li-
dies, and of the appropriation of thole dirties from to
of January tBot, to ill January 1/104. In flaring his
rufous for this motion the Honourable Giruieman
referred particularly to the Bill now pending belore
the Houle, and contended that the farther tunlide-
ration of it Ihould he deferred till nett Canon t when
Mr. Vs'ILDERFORCE mfe to (peak to order. He
found that the linnourable Gentleman, indeed of
bringing forward his promifed motion, for papers re-
lative to the number of flares imported into the Well
was going into a dikoffi In on the Slave Trade
which he tlunight was highly out of order.

lAA tEMPLt begged the Honourable Grtitte
plan to confider that he was not yet ftwp •fed to be
aware of the nature of the motion, and could nor
know what alterations the Honourable Gentleman
may have found neceffary, or bow far it might he
earsneeltd with the general quaftioa of the Slave
Trade.
Mr: iviLlitttrOite.t• inti-lik-DEVERELL
etplained.

tiise art.AiakeesterWit tb remind the Ho.
norribit Member how fat; he watt its rirder, and how
fat not. Any reafons ffiewirg the gropriety of his
motion were certainly in order t but to comment
upon or dike% the ituenion was not of order, and a
tranfgreffion of the rules of.the Houle. He reguen-
ed, therefore, the Honourable Gentleman to Rate
his motion, which he did. and the payers were ac-
cordingly ordered. • • !e!
Mr.-JAMES FITZGERALD Imbed that alert
be laid before the Houle, accounts of the expences
under she Compenfation A&, and other papers relit-
five to the Revenue of Ireland, which was ordered.
Mr, ROSE fubmitted to the Hoare t guation,
whether a Member (the Hon. C. Villiers) ought to
vacate bit feat I. Parliament in confeguence of
having received die office of Prothonotary of Com-
mon Pleas for the Duchy of Lancatler
Me. WYNNE wined to know if it would not be
more regular to move, in the fira inflame, fdr a try
of the appointment, which was accordingly ordsegd4
socurtuniii„llOaCl SILL

On the mition of Chancellor of the &tar
that the Houfe go into a Committee on the
tional Force Bill,

Mr. JEKYLL. felt it a duty impofed on him, asa
Member of that Houfe, to oppofe the motima not
made by the Hun. Gentleman. Pions of various kinds
had been propofed to the Houle, fiw putting the coun-
try into a fiste of defence, and there plans hate been
one after another marls/led. He had flatterM him-
felf, however, that from the talents of the Right
Hon. Gentleman, great things were to be meted,
and that a plan would have been propelled that would
have been fatisfaaory to the Houfe, but in this re-
-1 (pea he had been miferahly difappointetl. The plan
propofed by the Right Honourable...Gentleman, pof-
felled no feature of-novelty, but one, and that had
been almoff univerfally deprecated. He meant the
appointment of Para Orficere to rank recruits. He
would appeal to the Judges of the Circuit, to Cat-
tlemen in the Country, and fuch of this Houfe, as
were acquainted with the Country, if fuch a retinae
could ever be praelicable, and if it would not be at.
tended with the gresteft evils? It was laying new
burdens on the parifites, notwithflanding that their
burthens were already'fogreat, that they were fcaece-
ly competent to them. Blit it was doing injudice,
befida, to individuals, whp veould be compelled to
pay fines in cafe of any failure in the number of re-
cruits, though they may have already entered into
engagements to find tub:litotes for the Militia of
Army of Referee. Perfone would thus be conspelled
to contribute a fecond time. He hadlad an anony-
mous parer lately put intc his tuna, which gave a
very fair gateman of thefe inconveniences. It re-
lated to an individual who had been ballotted twelve
months ago, and who had paid 30L far a fulsflitute
on condition of being clear for five years. He com-
plained, therefore, that a new Bill was conning into
Parliament, to expore him Nosily with theft who
have found no fubffitutes. The Hon. Gentleman
then adverted to thole who had entered the VASA-
teer Corps. Many might refign wit/ratite billot was
no longer a check on them; while ;bores/her had en-
tered, and who might continue in fuch Corps from
the higheft principles of honour, would be forb)jetted
to the inconveniencies of contributing to fines levied
on their ditlriA equally with thole who had aban-
doned their Corps and retired from the fervice.
Mr. MOORE thought it was the mat alarming
Bill that had ever been introduced into that Houk.
He conficlered it in a political light, as threatening
the liberties of the fubjeft. As a temporary mea-
lure, it might perhaps be admitted from necellity ;
but as a permanent meafure, as it was propofed to
be, it ought to be cm/soled by every friend to his
country. The [ ionic of commons in former periods
of our hi;tory, had lbewn a laudable jealoufy in
this refpea. Immediately after the rebellion under
the Duke of Monmouth, although the Militia had
performed their duty, yet it oii, Rated from the
throne that the Militia was riot fufficient far the pro-
teetion of the country, but that A !riled flooding army
WA. Al)lithltrly neceff4ry. Let us look to our ancef-
tors, in this intlonce, for an example. They advifed
the Committee to tri; fbapd the regular forces, and tb
tender the Militia more competent for the purpok
required. They even required the Crown Officers to
bring in a Bill for the purple. The Bill now pro-
pofed was calculeed, he WA to (obvert the condi-
talon, as it was to be railed independent of Parlia-
ment, and intended to be pet manent. But where, he
alked, was the nectlity fur Inch a meanie, Copper&
it were to fucceed to the mat ranguine elpedations
of its framer ? France was in Inch a fituation,' that
it would be folly to think of making any insprellicn
on her by land forces. Thelntres we had already
of this defcription were completely Pie, for our
navy took care, and he hoped ever would take care,
that they flrould be fn. Our prefent force,•taken 4
its varions der-riptionr, lie listed to be not lefs than
812,000 military and marine. He thbugbt by this
force every objai might be gained: . . .
Mr. M•NA UGH.' ON 1.-rid. he was certain. fuch
fentiments as had been uttered by the Hon. Gentle-
man who kit fpoke, could do•no great good in the
country. Gentlemen ought to confider What effeet
, their freeches might have nut of doors. However
dangerous it might be at other times to increafe the
flooding lurce of the country, yet he was convinc-
ed that at tl.is time a Landing army, and a •ery-
powealul one too, was ahfoluicly net:al:try, in order
to maintain the Conttitutian of the country again&
- an unprincipled uptlart, who had already appalled
lever.' or the powers up-no the Continent of Europe.
The iibn. Gentle,n urn did not teem to advert, when
1 he called the Bill permanent, that Parliament, while
: it bad the poser nt creating fuch mediums, had alto
- the power to put a flop ti them at once. After the
1 debate of Friday lag, he really thought that any far-
t ther oppotition againn the Bill was a moll vexatious
11 oppofition. He could not polLbly look upon it in
1 any other point of view ; for it was nothing elk than
i a very sir km attempt on the part of Gentlemen on
: the other fide of the Houfe to anbarrafs his Majef-
ty's Minium. (4' I lead cry of eau., wed hear ! bear!)

■

Lord TEMPLE rnfe to (peak to order. He did
:not think ang Member jallified in making fueh a
•iolent attack or allnfion to, the motives which might
aauate any Member in regard to the fentiments he
might think proper to otter in that Hdufe.
The SPEAKER here interfered, and laid, that it

,
wascertainl7 out of ordcr to attribute any paternal
motives to any Member in the courfe of the %filen&

Gan.
Mr. MoNAUGHTON then proceeded, and had
faid but a few words fomew•hat in his former ltrain,

Sir WM. GEARY and Sir WM. YOUNG. fere-
rally (poke to order ; the farmer of whom aid, it
%A$ one of the ',ilea innitution4 of our ancefinrs not

to permit a bad report to be circulated to the preju-
dice of another, in confeguence of any tiling having
been Paid in that Houfe. The latter Paid, that if the
Hon. Gentleman was allowed to date his oppofition
to this Bills to be fittlious, it was throwing impedi.
ments in the way of debate, a liberty which was ef-
fential to the freedom of the Conftitution.
Mr. M'NAUGHTON then concluded his fpeech
by giving his warmeft fupport to the Bill,
Colonel CRAUFORD then rote and laid, that
be was one who bad always ez,ireffed a defire to in-
creafe the regular army by every proper Means ; but
be could not bring himfclf to approve of the prefent
=dares, Whether he looked to our fituation at
home, as liable to a dirett attack frnm the enemy, or
carried his view beyond the limited horizon of fecu-
rity, fo as to bring this war to an honourable and glo-
rious conclufion, by reducing the power of France,
fo as to make it impoffible that the could any longer
difturb the repofe of Europe, he felt it perfeBly and
abfolutely neceffary that we Mould take more effec-
tual means for increafing our Regular Army. His
motive for opppfition was, that lie being a warm
advocate for the army, taw that the plan pot:poled
would not be the means of adding one tingle man to
it. He walled to fare the army from being recruit-
ed by fuch means. Although he had all along oh-
jelled to the conftrutsion of the Army of Referee, he
had always agreed to the principle of ballotting.—
The plan now, however, was to be much more op-
preffive and venation: than the former ballot .If
his Majefty's Minifters were at all difpored to adopt
tome plan for increafing the Regular Army, it was
to "do away all competition which interfered' with
its to remove all idea of binding for life, and to bet-
ter the general condition of the army. Were Govern-
ment to turn their minds to fuck meafures, and hold
forth Inch inducements, it would be wholly unnecef-
fary to have reeourfe to any compulfory means few
recruiting. Were ever fuel means to become at all
neceffary, he was lure that they mush refembled
a military confeription, fuels as that adopted by
Rains fPruirsa,. France, and Auftria ; but which
Goo forbid we &told ever have occafton to think
of. He meant a ballot, accompanied with very
high penalties. and upon• fuch a footing as would
prevent all affociations from being able to avoid it
by any kind of infurance. Even in the extraordina-
ry fituatiou in which ire now were, no fah compul-
key means were reguifite. We were, however, to
look entirely and folcly to the voluntary zeal of
the Country. The conlideration of the immenfe
in-
creafe of the power of France, by its military con.
Imiption (which enabled it to carry its army to an
amazing extent), certainly made it neceirary for to
to put coercive' upon a very regular footing. What.
ever compulfion might be neceffary for that pur-
ple. he would not be an advocate for carrying it
further than to veil the Crown with power to compel
ether men, of a certain age, to train themfelves to
the ufe of arms, and in cafe of an attack, to array
them in any manner mutt effetlual to repel an ene-
my. This fhould be done by the prerogative con-
ferred by Parliament ; but it fhould not be in their
power to draw a perfon (however low his fituation
in life might be) beyond the diflance of five miles
from his home, at any period, except upon inrafion.
He had heard it raid, that there was nothing of cons-
Felon upon the face of the Bill. It was true, in-
deed, that if carried into execution, without abort,
it would not compel any man to go into the army
againd his will; but. there is a fpecies of cmpullion
me upon the individual but upon pantiles, by the fire
to be jowled for what they could not effett. It wpuld
tall molt generally upon thole pat Mu' deferving of
reward rather than of punifhment. All thole pa-
tithes where the great landed properties exerted all
their Influence for the public good, would afford the
fewell recruits. It was laid that you mutt, however.
fubmit to all thefe inconveniences, as they will ad-
ranee the increafe of the army. He could not fee
any advantage whatever likely to arife from it. It
was thouylit that it would thereby intereft a great
numbrr of people in recruiting the army, and that
even the landed intereft would find their advantage
in endeavouring to avoid a fine. There were very
few parts where the landed intereil had the power of
inducing men to enter into the army, except in the
Northern :arts of the kingdom, and there it was not
a paltry fine that would operate as an inducement,
but the influence they had over their vaffals, tenants,.
and people furrounding them. Such meafures would
rather tend to difguft the landed interell in dick parts,
sad prevent them from Wing their ordinary cam
lions. It was Paid that the more recruiting that took
place, the more recruits would be found; and that
the prefent regular army could not pollibly be extend-
ed fuffieieutly conailent with our fafety, fo as to have
a recruiting party in every parifh. If rewards were
attually to be given, was there no other perfon fit
for the pnrpofe but a penal officer ? Though a man
night be an excellent parish officer, it did not fol-
low that he would be alio an excellent recruiter.—
Notwithttan4ing sU that had been faid about crimps,
et men who made recruiting their trade, he was far
from wilding to fee that deletiption of people abo-
lifhed. On the contrary, he would with to fee
them greatly increafed, out fent upon fuclt regula-
tions (by licence or otherwife), fo as to have them
under the power eft Government, and prevent the
abufes that were aferibad to them. They would he
better recruiters than parish officers, and wool! not
tic looked upon with filch jealoufy by the Magi-
firate. He would next proceed to confider what
' was the real Life of thole men when railed for the
1 Regular Army. Nothing but dirt neceffity could
ever induce him to (analog the pi efent Bill, becaufe
be could not confider it but a fy nem of inveigling
men into the army. He begged Gentlemen would
remark the fituation of there men. He was an ad-
'tome for recruiting the Militia, but there men were

iu a diderent fituation. tie would rather ireernit

from the Militia than approve of the recluetion
of it. He difapprnved of the plan of having
firli and fccond battalions conjoined in the manner
fuggelted. It was putting the men under officers
who look to one of the batt4lions with jealoofy. being
much more defirous for the welfare of the firft than

the fecond, and with the men to quit the fecund in
order to join the firft. There would be thus tao,oob
men enjoying all the advantages of the Regular
Army without going out of England. What were
the motives which induced men to Join the Regular
Army ? It was either that a man liked the idle life of
a folffier, and the drefs, which attratit the notice of
every village Jr enters, better than the labour of fol-
lowing the plough or say other occupation. Ano-
ther martin was, tempor..ry diftrefs, occationed by'
men being thrown out of bread. A third reafon
was a pure ardent military fpirit, which was the
moll honourable and praifewdrthy of the three, but
which he imagined produced fewer men than the
other two taken together. When a man could for-
merly gratify his vanity or relieve his diarefs, by
going at once into the Regular Army, he would now
prefer going into this lime dfrirty inftead of entering
into a more extended fervice, had fuch an army not
exifted. Idleneti and temporary diltrefs were con-
fetidly the chief motives of inducement; the former
joined with vanity, would thus be as amply gratified,
and the latter as amply relieved by going into the
battalions for the limited fervice, and an improper
competition would thereby be railed againft what
was originally called the Regular Army. Though
the Army of Referee was quoted as the fuccefs to be
returned, he was not midaken when he ventured to
affertthat almoft the whole of the pacoo men railed
for that army, would have been ratted for the Regu-
lars, had that Army of Referee never citified. It was
Laid, that 13,000 men had been procured. That
very circumftance proved to him that every one of
',theft 13,000 were thole very men who had originally
intended to go into the Regular Army.
,They, how-
ever, did not prefer going at once into the regular
,and extended fervice at the low bounty of to gui-
neas, when, by proceeding gradually, they were
enabled to procure a bounty of so guineas. He
neither approved of the plan of interchangeable
promotion betweln the Officers of the &ft and fe-
oond battalions, becaufe it would not prove fati•fac•
tory to the Officers; nor did he think the enlittment
of the privates of the fecund Natation into the fire,
was likely to be fo general as expefted• With re.
(pea to foreign fervice, he thought it extremely de.
arable that all potable pains fhould be taken to petl
an end to that abominable branch of fervice, the
duty of the Welt India Hands, that had fo longj
proved the grave of oar gallant regiments. It was
by no means to be expelted, that men from the fe-i
cond battalions would be induced to enlift for re-
cruiting firft battalions on that (entice, from which
fifty or fixty men were dying per day of the pefti.
lenual dileafes of the climate. It was no unfrequent
thing, on that deteltable fervice, for an entire 'regi.
Went to die in a few months, without the opportu-
nity of fignalizing its charafter by any aft of va-
lour in the public fervice to endear its memory to
its country and friends; a confideration more gal-1
ling to the fpieits of sallant men, than any hard-,
(hip, danger, or fatabty, attendant on their public I
duty; and if the projea propofed by this Bill, of
railing local regiments in the feveral counties, and'
lending fuch corps on fuch fervice, inftead of regi-
ments recruited from the country at large, the confe-
quence would be, that where rude* regiment experi-
enced Inch general fatality, it would completely dole
up all refources of recruiting in the county where
fuch regiment was railed, for a (cries of years. How-
ever, as the Right Hon. Gentlemen who introduced
this Bill, had not yet finally de•ermined upon that
point, it might be dircutted hereafter. But in
events it was indifpenably neceffary to put a flop to
the odious buGnefs of Weil-India fervice as now car-
ried on, by tranfmitting whole regiments thither,
a fervice Co univerfally obnoxious to the army in
general ; for if• not, lie declared to Gon, he
Moult rather the whole of the Weft-India Illands
were loft to this country, than maintain them at
fuck a lots of our brave troops. The Right Hon.
Gentleman bad propofed, under this Bill, to fuffer
the Militia gradually to diniinith to its original
number of 40,000 men, which upon his calculation
of sOOO men per annum, the number now found ne-
ceffary to keep op the full force, would take a period
of fix or (even years. He could fee no reafon for a
pencils Co tedious, towards an objeft fo defirable ;
nor why it Mould net be declared at once, that Par-
liament had, in its wifdom, decreed the immediate
reduftion to aci,oop neceffary, and then fairly pro-
mote to accept the furplus as Volunteers to the line ;
by this means there would, he thought, be a prompt
and eligible mode of adding so,ooo difciplined men
immediately to the line, indeed of waiting the flow
progrefs of recruiting in the ordinary way for men
for limited fervice, and afterwards depending on the
mere chance of their entitling for general ferric* ;
but upon the whole, he thought the prefent Bill a
piece of complicated machinery, rather calculated to
retard and perplex. than to promote or facilitate an
objea fo clearable as that of completing our force of
the line. It reminded him of a piece of mecbanifm
he had Peen in his tour in Germany, in which a deal
of complex machinery was employed to work an
automaton figure, playing the game of chefs; but,
notwith Rending this machinery, the manner by which
the game was played was inviable. The moll fpeedy
and effeCtual mode of recruiting would, in his mind,
be the plain, ample, and cuftomary manner recom-
mended on Friday night by his Right Honourable
Friend Mr. Windham. The plan peopofed by this
Bill would do nothing. Diminith the complexity and
redoCe the obftacles, and recruits enough would then
be obtained for tl`: regular army. Colonel- Cranford
then reverted to the tubjeft of awls for the defence
of the weaker poir.ts of our coaft againft the enemy,
upon which, in former difcuffions on the fubjefl of
National Defence, he has laid Liu much firers ; and he
Laid he would be content to be for ever difmitfed
the public fervice, and banithed the country, if he
did not conliroft thole works in fuch a way as to
render thole parts of our craft, now molt eapofed
to attack, unattackable ; or fhould an enemy land,
fo effeCtually to obltruft his march from the cleft
to the capital, as to render the defeat certain in one
or two affairs. The magazines of the country too,
he would ftrengtben in fuch a way se not to be at-
tempted with any chalice of fueeth, without the re-

exiar term of a flese, which no'enemy who could '
in this country could ever maintain ; and cult
the capital itfelf he would fortify in fueh a way as to,
:ender it perfealy defenfible by its inhabitants, with-
out chaining down the general force of the country
from ;ither great operations.. Another
.great princi-
ple he would drone), recommend. and in which the
!tier Honourable Gentleman himfelf feesor—i to co.
incide, was to train and difcipline, to the utmad ex-
tent praEticable, the irregular force of the country.
He meant not only the prefcnt Volunteers' but the
peafantry ; for though they need not be all actually
armed, it was highly neceffary they tbnuld be trained
to the ufe of arms. For lhould an enemy land in any
force, hard-fonght aftions. mint neceffarily enfuc,
which, however brilliant and fuceefsful on the part
of our troops, could nf,t but be attended with coal'.
derable lots on their fide, as well as with the enemy.

It would, therefore, be of high importance to fill up
the ranks immediately with dirciplined men, and to be ,
ready to meet the enemy next day in as full force as
at firs, while he was cut off from the poffibility of
reinforcements. He apologized for taking up fo long
the time of the Honk, and concluded by ezpreffing
his thorough conviaion that the prefent Bill was ut-
terly inadequate to its propofed objeth, and that he
Humid therefore nppore it in every liege.
Mr. BURLAND alto was againft the Bill. He
admitted that it might in many intlances be expedi-
ent during a period of war', bat he could not approve
it as a permanent fyllem. But even in the former
cafe,he was convinced that unlefs the utrnoft vigilance
and exertion were employed to render it effeltual, it
would, like the Army of ReferveAft,prove ineffeattal.
Mr. ROBERT WARD obferved, that the moll
prominent argument againft this Bill was, that it
had nothing novel in its compofition. A Right
Hon. Gentleman, however,though not friendly to
the Bill (Mr. Yorke),
had dircovered in it a very
novel principle, namely, that of doing away ballots,
a principle which he (Mr. Ward) conceived to con.
Ruh a material difference between this and all pre-
ceding meafures on the fubjetft, and which would go
to obviate the opprellive principle fo generally the
fubjeft of complaint. Some Gentlemen argued
againft the Bill, as going to conflitute in the country
a great Rending army ; while others again oppofed
it principally becaufe it did not go to create a (land-
ing army; between fuCh contrariety of opinions upon
the tendency of the fame meafure, it was indeed dif.
ficult to draw a line of reconciliation. The Hon.
Officer who (poke left, (and for contelting with whom
upon military fubjefts, he perhaps ought to apolo-
gize) teemed to think the mode of raifing men thrn'
the interference of pariftt officers utterly objeetionable,
and likely to be produElive of no good died. He
i did not pretend to queftion the (kill of experienced
• officers, whore profeffional bufinefs it was to manage
troops after they were railed ; but be milk claim the
privilege of exercifing his judgment as a private Mem-
ber of Parliament, upon the molt likely mode of
railing thefe men in the parochial diftrias. The
Hon. Colonel teemed to think crimps a very ufeful
body of men, who ought not to he *Waited. He,
however, thought them, as many other Members
uniformly did, difgraceful to the fervice ; and be
was forty to undeltand, that many gentlemen who
bad occafion to raife men, were obliged fometimes
'to retort to their aid ; but be thought the mode of
railing men by the interference of patina officers in-
finitely more eligible, as exempt from the fraudulent
artifices fo ufual with crimps.
Mr. JEKYLL explained, as did Colonel CRAU-
FURD in a few words. He maintained that the Bill
would procure no men for the regular army who
would not have entered independent of it, and that
any men which it did procure would be obtained by
means the molt detellable. He denied that he bad
lupported crimping generally, bin aliened that the
praftsce might, under proper regulations, be tolerated.
Sir W. YOUNG, in a fhort but pointed fpeech,
oppofed the Bill, as in every point of view unconfti-
tutional, unneceffary, and dangerous. It went to
impofe a tax railed without the controul of Parlia-
ment, and to keep up no left than 68,000 men with-
out parliamentary controul. He was decidedly againft
its further progrefs.
Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE deferibed the Bill as an
unjull exclulion and permanent tax on the Landed
Interell. He deprecated the fyliem of pulls officers
being converted into recruiting ferjeants. He was
totally adverfe to the mixture of general and paro-
chial taxes, and viewing the meafure attended with
all thefe evils, he felt it his duty to give the meafure
his decided dilapprubation. He was particularly fe-
vere on the mode in which the penalties would at-
tach to parilhes in cafes where the required quotas
were not procured.
Sir W. PULTENEY obterved, that the country
always had been able to defend kW/ againft France ;
that it was now in a better condition to meet any
force that could be fent againft us than at any for-
mer period of our hillory. In fall, he confidered
danger as a mere bugbear.
Mr. RYDER declared that he thought every ex-
ertion that the country could make was wanting at
the prefent crifis, when we law an enemy with two
or three hundred thoufand men in arms immediately
oppofite oar couill. Objeaion had been made to the
union of a civil and military charaaer in the parith
officers who were to be appointed to mite men by
this Bill. But were not the Militia and the Army of
4Referve railed by men equally in a double capacity ?
Are not the great body of our Volunteers in the
fame fituation ; and would au). Gentleman ferioutly
recommend the Volunteers to relinquillt either part of
their charater ?
Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE explained.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT cunfidered the plan• as
operating on the people by an unequal and partial
preflure of taxation.—The Supporters of the Bill
complained that it bad been rppofed on different
grounds by different perfors. That appeared to him
as the itrongeft region that could be urged againft
the meafure, as it proved that it was liable to oStiec-
tion in more ways than one.
The queftion was then called for, and the Houf..
divided—For the Speaker leavir the Chair 2 19—
Azaina it strict—Majority gc.
in the Committee the Chancellor of the Exchequer
propored to fill op the blanks, and Rated that in one
part of the Bill he wifhed that I a,OOO men &mild be
author ited to go annually from limited to general
fervice, and that the At% &Quid CIIIIIMCDCS on the aft
Oftober Leo.
Mr. JOHNSTONE fuggefled the propriety of tbe

INa being
might fie more
filch an important
Mime.

The C HA,
ferved. that
men would zr.
knowledge of
not with to
way of fuch
Mr. P. MOO
be re-commit-
Mr. SHE
thought the
the Bill was
portion to it
fu Opole d to
deliberate au
his own part,

(crumbling
thought tint
should be re

The CH/
lentinded the
and added that
propofed for
his own indil
Mr. SHE.
of proceeding
paragraph by
rune& what
Bill was proceeded
The CH,
again urged _
as an argument
titan mcde
that althour
think that titers
Sir GILA.
general principle
pointed remarks
fent Minillers r

The Honourable
der. He,

connexion -
nifter's charafter,
adminiftration,
order in making
him at the
ing that the
that he fltould
again on Thurfi
Mr. FOX
there were "
could resoled;
Bill paragraph
63 op the Ws
mitred. If
the regular
The CT
raid, that
the quellion,
that point.
Mr. JO,.
was weal's*
portanc tk
with to hurry
Houk t and
could flatter
number off
The C,

(Aid, that I.
forward in fa
readily accede
Mr. FOY
filling op
bens an
not reafens
know what
confider as
Mr. W'

latter Member
his Right I
adopt was
that had'
Member
Mr. JO)
the Bill it
tempted ,
Mr. W:
bufinefs h:
that the Committee could regularly begin to read the
Bill then, and therefore declared hinifelf in favour of
the re-committal.
Mr. ADDINGTON thought that the Hoofe had
been brought into an aukward predicament by adopt-
ing the plan of the Right Hon. Gentleman. Should
the Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Fox) infiß on his
motion, and carry it, the Huefe could not better it-
felf. All it could do would be to order the Chair-
man to report progrefs, and all leave to lit again.
When they came again to proceed to bufinefs. they
would Rill find themfelves in the fame predicament ;
they had, through siiiteonception, gone fo far through
the Bill, and they could not go back.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
maintained, that on thoufands of occafions he had
known the Houle, when they had proceeded under a
radconceptiom go back on a bufinefs of this kind. sad
be could not fee the reafon why they &mild Dot du fo
now. He contended, that if they bad fallen into a
millake, it did not proceed from any fault of his.—
He had explained his own views, and no Gentleman
feemed to have any amendments to propofe. The
menace of the Hon. Gentleman on the usher fide he
did not regard; and though be did not expel! to make
much provers he to-night, lbould not be deterred by
any fuel menace from going as far as be could.
Mr. FOX could fee nothing improper or unufual
in his motion. Menace be bad held out none; all
he waked was to have the Hook placed in that fitu-
ation in which it had Rood before it had allowed it-
fell to mifunderfiand the meaning of the Right Hon.
Gentleman. The Bill was uoquellirmably of impor..
tance, and it wag fomewhat extraordinary if the
Houle was to be deprived of its ufual privilege of
going through it paragraph by paragraph, under the
idea that they were enii:led to g back ; and if the
preamble had been already puliponed, he lisould move
immediately afterwards that the Chairman do now
leave the Chair.
Mr. WINDHAM had always widerftood it to be
a privilege of 'a Committee of that Houle to go
through every Bill paragraph by pesagraph, nor
could be conceive that goy piston *mild Mot at

' .
re-core anted, in order thett Gettdonek- '
core at their Wore the OM, sera dr;
portant Bill as that then Imifoie the Crest 7 , '
ANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER di~ s
.t as the Bill was already printed. Geildt. •
V
moil probably already have a fug •
of its contents ; and they rarely *
3 place any unoecelfary (*flack in ~
l a measure.
MORE recommended that the Bill Eititidd•
lined for Thurfday. 's '1
ERIDAN (aid, that the quellion *laic:she z-• 4
: Committee bad to confider was, whether
.1 of any impotence or nor ? and, in pew ,
the extent of the importance which they '
) be attached to it, in fa much the mote
attention was required to the fubjeift. For
a, he was always adverfe to that fort of
through a Bill. In the prefent cafe, be
at it was abfoluteli neceffary that the Bill
e rontmitted.
lANCELLOR of the EXCHEQ_UIER
he Committee of the latenefs of thelour,
that he witted to adopt the plan be hid,
'ir the convenience of others, and. hie* •
dividual convenience. •
•
ERIDAN Paid, that the only regular .way
ing in the Committee was to. read the 11111
by paragraph. Any Geademas '
lat amendment he thought proper as IM'
roceeded in.
lANCELLOR of the EXC
:c1 a 'confideration of the fate /Cs oft •
meta for the adoption of the woe '
of going through the Bill i and ohlbreado .
sgh tome debate was ezpeeed, he did net • -
there thould have been a nisch earlier: dl. •
.BERT HEATUCOTE reprobated the
rinciple of the Bill, and made Come very .
marks upon the manner in which the Fob
los came into power,
inottrablc Member was then called to or.
:, however, refumed, declaring that the,
was Co Prong between the idea of the M. • "
tarafter, and that of any gdet aft of ble •• •
Rion, that he thought hi..f pedal', it' '
asking the obfervatinns that oceereed to'
moment. He then concluded with maw : •
he Chairman do now leave the Chair. and .
ould report progrefa, sad a& lean to at
Thurfday.
)X declared that it appeared to him that .
e but two ways by which the Committee
;olarly proceed; the PeP was to read the,. •
;mph by paragraph, and the other was to.
blanks, and order the Bill to bare come--
If the Bill was to be gone thmegh width!'
tit
ar way, it could not be done that ni t. •
:HANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER •
if any Gentleman wiffsed it be "nig t pot
ion, and take the fenfe of the Committee on
t.
)HNSTONE obferved. that a Sill which •
'de 74,0ra0 men was one of (nth folio im- '
, that be was furprifed to beat any peepasi : .
orryfoch a routine ;aimed, throllitithil .' •'
and anted if the Right Hoe. C _A-rt
; ~.
tier himfelf that he amid aavally rade thew' •-•
of men be prnpokd by fuck a nugatory plan f
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHECZyER
t if there was any (officio* argument brought
in favour of the re.committal. he fisouldvery
'tee& to it.
'OX then declared.; that if the diEcoky of
P the blanks, and the idea of 'wing Meat.
opponueity to fogged amasad eotso were
ens fur the recommittal, he really did not
!tat the Right Honourable Gentleman would •
as foch.
WILLIAM DUNDAS differed from the
[ember, and contended, that the mode which
it Honourable Friend willed the Hook to
'as much more regular than any obfervatioit
I been made by the Honourable and furious
r who (poke last but two.
lOHNSTONE again urged his objeltions to
itfelf, and to the mode in which it was at-
I to be carried through the Houfe.
WILLIAM SMITH remarked, that as the
had been fo far flurred over, be did not think
Committee could regularly begin to read the ,