Star.
London, England, 1804-02-09 00:00:00

VOLVIITIIIIRS.

Mr. Secretaty YORKE. Sir. although the
meafures which I think it expedient to at
this time, may appear fad as might tra°v7kbeen
comprifed within a narrow compafs, yet, as the fub-
jet% is of the utmoß general importance, has occa-
tioned confiderable expeaation in the public mind,
and been the obje& of much mifreprefentation, I
hope I (hall be enured by the Houk 'for entering
fomewhat particularly upon this great fyßeus of our
national defence. I (hall begin, Sir, with expreffing
an earthen hope that, in wandering the fabjedt, Gen-
tlemen will endeavour to do it with tempa., moder-
ation, and coolnefs. I am perfealy perfuaded, Sir,
that we are all at prefent equally and fincerely in-
terelled for the welfare, the happinefs, and the de-
fence of the country. I would alto erprefs an hope
that Gentlemen, upon this particular occafton, would
not be inclined to increafe that clamour and difsp-
probation which has been railed of late, by fume in-
dividuals, againß the fyßeui of volunteer-
ing ; for what reafons Igekrorwai not, except that I can
bring myfelf to believe that there ell& any let of
individuals who, waiting to overturn both Church
and State, imagine it to be an advantage to let the
Volunteers againa the Country, and the Country
againa the Volunteers, for the pork of deßroying
that moll commendable and efficacious Ohm of de-
fence. Againit lath perfons I lboald deem it to be
my bounden duty to put the Volunteers upon their
guard. I would exprefs a with that, on this occation,
Gentlemen would find it ma prudent to take the
tubjeEt as a whole, and lay afide all their prejudices,
in order to hive it an impartial examination. Hav-
ing laid this, I world alto ezprefs another hope,
that Gentlemen would not be extremely difappointed
that 1 (hall not have *coition to Rate either any
thing very new, very extraordinary, or very hark
or valeta, bang thoroughly convinced, that tempo-

rat y
e and moderate
ilMilltin OM always theemocca bed ie •
We
tafi, and iadaely epee the lloe.
We &ould hot reek tee "mob. hot feet for that alone
which my be deemed eldebnely emery. Having
Rated there few prelbeieary fervadow, previous
to my going into a detail of the Endures which I
have to proper., I &odd wife. in the firil pisce,,ha
refer as much as porde to the original MIMS of the
helm*" both as to its bitter, and the ideal dr-
eendenees in which the Volunteer fylesn had., in
pint of law and in hot; fecondly. to the debits
and inconveniences teW are Paid to have arifen is
the Volaseuer fylkild And, Wily, I (ball endeavour.
to late remedies far gilt defogs and inconveniencies.
titer, with regard se the mare and purpofe of this
iallitatioa. I think Mty few words are seesery.
It is rarely eepecef ver
ery for me to hare that is the
'permit filmdom .1 the emery. is the prefeit. film
elm of Europe isAllutural. and of !ranee is parties.
itz, we cerunaly require a meth larger aiailaty_
Ma weaver dld epos Oareerfilia emirs ; er
was ever thought to be neeefery in any period of
ear hiltory. for the defiece of Great Britain and Ire•
laud. Mute* prudent nor_ poft•k,to hassle limier
Davy. great and powerful asst is at this prdwe sow
anent, can be capable of effeaoally,entirelyandastele.
lively defending our wail; a cosh which, I believe, ex.
tends to no kis than a soo smiles I adder do I con.
eel.* that Great Britaia and Ireland cm be pre.
perly defended by a regular army. There is nomd
who will not admit, in a ailikary point of view, that
a regular army is the bell and moll eligible mode of
defence, and furl as &add be had recosefe to es
every occafion of danger, were it ?alibis' to my is
to that length which the edema of our matt?
may. as fame occafions, require. That mode of
.defence may clitpialy be carried farther ; bet there
are various polkaed principles which malt prevent
this country from relying eatirelyspoisaregularaney.
It has in conference become emery to have re.
toarfe to the Voluntary Service of the greet mefii et
the people capable of bearing areas. This=
done by. Ads of lad Scuba, and they
spoil this priaciple, that it was weary to procure
as put a number amen armed, mimed, aid mew
and, with as little delay and as fee apnea as pot.
fible. The Volunteer Ohm is bt no means a new
intiettiocin this country. It was samdiseed derhvg
the adminiftration of Lord name, laths year

t 78s. though to so very great extent. Afterwirds
in 1794, it was romennW when the campsigs took
an unfortunate tors, and Holland was about to be
iol ; and futdoquendy it was found amegary per
enlarge the Pyles. Sacs that time the Volunteer
flyiens hen baeeme a port of our defence. LA
war, very swirly teem= men were enrolled as Vb. _
knuters, all of whom were tinkled to_ exidons
hem dm Mil* The Volunteers, fo formal and
melded to esemptisets, were shi
new rifts mad rogskitises, being only o to_
ad tnoo
obferre, iris( the war, thofe rubs which they had
ellabliised for themfdvirs. till they were to arm.
bit in oak of shod invoice. no Ems haviambeitz
to fsbmk to them without his
Under this fyllem. Volunteers wen cos•
flatted as a wry great addition to the Wades of
the country. Atter the Peace, Petlissnint again
thought it neceffary to trend= the country, and
it was judged mil advitthls to perpetuate this
fleet sad, n order to reader the bats firm, dm
Al of 4sd, cb. 66, of his perm Idnie&Y. was PAIL
Under that Al the greater part of the Y
Cavalry were kept on foot during the peace, and
a great portion of the Volunteer Infantry When
the prefect ern broke out, itfooo became evident, that
we could not expe@ any degree °leaking, from our
friends on the Continent ; and that fad power. being
concentrated in the bands of our ferocious and umpla.
cable enemy, it became 'weary for as al& to sem.
ten trate a Feat and powerful military force, con•
filing of the papolation of Great Britain and Ire.
land. Then was the time too, when the Defence
Al of the 43d Geo. 111. was paired, very much op.
proved of, and highly applauded by this Houk ; and
no part excited more appitufe than that which or.
cepted of the voluntary fervices of individuals, in.
lead of adopting compulfory matures. That Al,
Sir, and the other Volunteer Al, which
accompanied it, aided by a patriotic fpigritrfaa
was never exceeded in any country, were the means
of railing a malitaty body of Volunteers, Letting
up, as it way. out of the earth in am incredibly
dart (pace of time, amounting to upwards os
4ocricioo men. I fee, by an abaraft of the papers
and returns made by the Lord Lieutenants of the
fevetal counties, that the cumbers who offered their
voluntary fervices were calculasedilatterro amount
to about 406,780. The fir& clefs of e Levy en
Ida( A@ was calculated to amount, in Great &kakis.
to sochooo men. Government finding this. Weans
willing to carry the Volunteer fyieni to the utmott
extent, both in Great Britain and Ireland. Although
I (peak of Ireland, along with Great Britain, yet it
mull be underlood that the Volunteers of Ire.
land are entirely on a different footing. They have
already thewn us what they are capable of doing.
and are bright examples to their friends, if ever they
could be called oo to aft in a &sitar manner. I
would with ,to oliferve to thole who think that the
Volunteer fyflene has thus placed us out of all danger,
that their number comes up to nearly that which
Parliament waited, via. three foorths of the firlt
clefs of individuals, as fpecified in the Bill ; the
number for which it was thought pothole, at that
time, to provide arms. I kaJl now (hardy Rate
the real fituatioo of the Volunteers. In the fir&
place it appears by a late decifioo in the Court of
King's Bench. that the Volunteers, when not called
forth to &dual ferric,, have a right to withdraw
from their refpeaive Corps. This opinion, indeed.is
very different from that of my Honourable Friend
near me, (the Attorney General), but I am certa;s•
ly bound in )uftiee to fay, that be iormed his on s
legal deduttion, from the 4ifts taken together : the
Court, however, hue decided that no loch legal War.

Pee tan be made. Had the opinion, however, bees
different, it was my intention that all Voltiateers
&woad have a right. to withdraw temfelves from
their afoctatious, when not called out into aftual
*ice. The great difference betwizt the indent Va.
lamer Cy&em and that of lall war only amounts to
rtis that when an attack is atlually made. or any
c.dallian waited, that all the Volunteers thotild be
liable and bound to he called out according to theii
terms of ferviee. I think it is not politic to do other.
becaufe when men find themfelves in a date of',
amnion, they become upeafy and unwilling. On
the other hand, I am of opinion, that any coercion
would be tinnece(fery, becaufe I am perfally per.l
leaded that, among loch a number of Volunteers. be
the maths either extremely good or extremely bad.
which may induce Come to withdraw from that fpe-
ties of ferrite into which they fir!) entered, the zeal.
the energy, and the fixed .detersnination which in.
duces; them to come forth voluntarily in the defence
of their country, will• kill' ciantippe, with the fame
fora, is *cheat of danger., 4 would he perfeftly.
incredible, tadadmod immffibleaoluppote, that filch
a high degree of enthufiaßic pafriotifm and public
fpirit &mkt abandon fuck a great mats of men, fo as
to prlvent_thern imps. Rill oppofing, with the fame
energy. that titlark's:lolcm with which our enemy
is Rill threatening tts. I ',know pettedly convinad,
that the only, ciectasilince which could poffibly
create atteafisafs in their mindi was the Rate of co-
treat+ in a tints, of quiet, which they imagined them-
Alves Odle& to, and which it is necelliry &mild now
be mete particularly and clearly fpecified. Having
. thos lat.d one difference between the prefentvol awn.
*flout, toad that of lift war, I shall now Rate anotheerer,
which I coati?, material. The prefent Volunt
Maas is foonded on the Defence Aft ; that is, we
.accept of the Volunteers, becaufe we have judged
them to be the tuna eligible for the prefent defeace
Oda country. It srasbacanfe it behoved the coon-
' try to be defended immediately, that fueb a Plathe
ca
was adopted. His Majefty is empnwered (by
A& to which I allude) to call out all his fubjelts for
the general defence ; and failing in one fyitern, ano-
ther maylse retorted to. I (hall now take notice of
banthercircestanarefasefting theVolontecrs,tithich,
at this time. is not fufficiendy adverted to. It has
bast Rated, that the exemptions are extremely
estrous and bardenforne, ink ular diftri&s,
an us the Militia. With *g the Militia.
may otsferve, that no Member of a Volunteer
Carps is enumted from the ballot; and be is only
mmapted from watt fervice in the Militia Co long;
as be amtinoes .a Volunteer. The moment he'
Withdraws he is fabjefl to fete, in order to fill!
Ra vacancy, or even as a fopernatterary.
MO altonithed that this part of the law has not
bean fafficiesdy adverted to in many intlances iaj
Hoak. those it is oar ditty to wake the law
is airy cafe, as plan and inutligible as polfible.—l
With rerdtertbe army of Rl:terve, they are placed
la a di&ant Rooting. for they are certainly totally
=o
teillreflo tbat.fpeicies of ferrite. Haying thus,
'Reads* of Vo=wisti; &all now relativetoadirthate to' ;el
Iffithet Mid isettawatiesces of the fyllent. I mai
firth promife,that that of there relate to the Vplan.
Wars Wham ia their inattive Rate;—foe when once
Say ore caSell eat to aftual ferrite, very little of
the bottassimeeseomplaiaed of (fuck as their hold.
Gmamittailit will any longer exit. One delta
i‘that tbefylltar.beagis its nature entirely volt's.
Wary. it rts lapsable to erpe& that Military difci.l
afiereaa be tarried• to lab ua eaten as in other
^taifel.luad esaarodstreireentiancrs, it might be pm-
*gale le earrOt ; and 'I thinithat that matigrofily
laißaltes the fibjeff, if he conceives that the Voltm-
eter fylleas can It all viewed 'in the fame light
or attempted to be pat on thefame footing, with doe
s~w
tax army. I conceive that a great part of this'l,
'on has originated .froth a natural deftre
antstalf.the Vedunteer Officers to bring their mat
'Reward as quickly, and to as great a degree of per.
',tales is difeipliae as poffible ; they have been ex-
itance even by Government to do fo t but I (hall not
wafture to fay, that when Volunteers are advanced
• OA certain Rage of dilcipline, it would be confident
with prudence to endeavour to exert too great a de.
wree offtriatneb a to their continuing their perfonal
Itunidance on alt necation• It would, no doubt,
'beitighly improper to attempt to take met. from
is* ovgnavy and aecellary occupations, during a
leaser period than what may be really thought (of-
11rion to qualify them for military exertions. in the
manner it is intended they Otould be employed. By
antatiptrn* g to do In the whole fyftern might aaually
the eadangered. efpecially in particular commercial
,ffißriets. The neat inconvenience dated to belong
'lO liist Volunteer fyßem, is that of each particular
Corps having a Committee, by which important I
\matters are determined. From any inquiries I have
I
wade no this fubjeitt. I find that only Come particular
Corps have formed inch Committee, sad only with
.the inteatioa of attending to and managing their
pecuniary concerns. Now let us attend to the na-
ture of this (Otero, and recolleft in how many in.
Rance: the expences of individuals have been defrayed
by :hemfclves. I. it then to be wondered at, that
filch corps lb iuld have adopted fume meafures for the
prudent management of their refpeeive funds ?
Ruch a method WS, adapted uring !aft wa, as well
as the relent one. I do, hdowever, admirt, that in
foga few cafes there may have been fame attempts to
interfere with military masters and dikipline, which
belonged not to fuch Committees. Such prettier',
however, I *mild not indulge nor approve of. Ido
fay, without he:nation, that fuck a praftice &mold be
put a Rap to, and that no committee whatever
thould be allowed to interfere with the military coin.
stand on fithordination of any Corps of Volunteers
This evil, however. conll not whenever Vo.
lawyer Carps are called out into actualaBual fervice,
*hen they will be put nu ply in the tune mar.ner as
the regular army. The nest point to which I ihould
adsert, is the eleetion of officers. I (Could beg she
Houle to remember, that there is a great difference
40 be obferved betwixt the eteBion of officers on the
Aril ellablinimeni of fuch Corps, and afterwards to
the mode of filling up vacancies which may oc-
cafionzlly arife in the cnurfe of their coorinusaffle.
—Any obferver will think that it is extremely
natural, that men of Erich a defcription fhould
be cremnai.ded by Gentlemen whom they re.
fpca and revere, eipecially thole carps which
hasarc
railed is large populous Caitls ZSIt how

•
Parliamentkaaedt The A& Val allows an aeon
to be cleat* except tech as are comndflowaik by
his MiljeltY, being fir* "'cannonaded by the Lead-
Lieutenants Of comities. There is nothing in the
law or preatie on which any corps can found their
claim of eleaing their own officers, or which can
give Inch a claim any validity. The Hon. Gentle-
man opprifite to me feerns to differ in opinion, and
I am the more concerned. as I entertain the Mete&
refried for any fetuirnent of his upon the fuhjea.—
( Here Mr. Sheridan bowed.)—It has indeed hap-
pened in feveral Volunteer Corps, that the com-
manding officer Rates the vacancy to the Lord
Liestenam, hod recommends fame per ; and if
the Lord Lieutenant knows any thing to the difad-
vantage of that individual, be declines fending in his
DOOM On the other hand, if lit thinks the perfon
properhe does Co; Co that in faa the claim amounts
to nothing ; and it was never in the contemplation
of Parliament, that any fuck claim mould be at all
attended to. Having Rated what I think are the law
and praftice on the fobjea, it appears if fuck a claim
could pdffibly be fen up. it would be extremely dan-
gerous, and one that ought not to be allowed on
any account; fo much In, that I do not heltate to
fay, that if any corps fhonld think fit to infift on
filch rights, I mould imagine it prudent to adrift his
liojefty to decline and difeontinue the Cervices of filch
corps altogether ; for whatever might have been coa- I
nived at. at the commencement of their inflituticrn.
it would be found dangerous to encourage its conti-
nuance. There may, indeed. be Rime of the old corps
who, by exprefs persiffson, or long predict, have
ezercifed filch a privilege, which had called during
lag war. I fliould think it advifable, fo far, to
admit fuch a deviation front the general rule. I
ant lorry thus to detain the Houfe cola% (a cry of
hear! 'bear!) but as In many improper obiervations,
and fo many tnifreprefentations have adtually gone
abroad relative to this fubjea, I hope I (hall be
pardoned for taking up the time of the Houfe in
making the necerary esplanations on fuch an im
portant matter, on which fo great a (hare of the
defence of oar country depends. Another defea is
raid to be, that there are no efficacious means of
enforcing a regular attendance, or even a pro.
priety of evaded, on all occafions. It is perfealy
true, that as the law now Rands, that this cannot
be fixed but by one of two ways. It is alto per-
fectly clear. that in cafe of repeated nested, it is
left in the power of the Commanding Officer to dif-
charge and difmifs any individual Cols tra
Rinfgcreffing
from the corps; and, in confequence of h dif.
might, be becomes liable to one of the Bills for
the Army of Referee, or the Militia. No perfon is
entitled to exemption, unlefs he attend a entails bom-
ber of days. It is fad, that a ftrooget maitre is
required. in order to enforce attendance. lam much
inclined to doubt this; it did not make a part of the
fyftern daring lag war. If a member does not attend
he mud be dilmitfed; and when difmiffed, he is ft.
(laced to the fituation of an; other fubjeit not /err-
ing as a Volunteer Corps, and liable to the per-
formance of the fame dunes.. I have thus Rated
pretty fairly what I conceive to be the real defeas
and incooveniencies to which Volunteer Corps may
be Paid to be liable. Some of them will thus appear
AO be taherent inn the fyitass, and others are capable
of remedy; but the qoeftion is, whether it is not
molt aoirtfante so tads: stsia fyilisen, with all its de-
leas sad insoneeniences with all the objeaioas
which can porddy be Rated againft it, rather than
to retort to other method*. pahaps liable to greater.
In the prefent fituation of the country, thofe are the
wired men who adopt the leaft dangeronsi the MA
expeditious, and moll effoltaal Wiens of defence. In
my opinion, we ought to improve this fyllan as far as
puffible, and adhere as much as poffible to the fitaa-
nos in which it sow stands. Wherever an inconee.
niency is thought to ezift. let vs introduce fomething
in the place of it ; but let us not endeavour to do
too mach, or to deka, or injure the Often% in any
degree. In the first place. I think the power which
is already invented in his Majefty,to exercife his pre-
'rogative, u well as by the flame law, is fufficient
to remedy moft of thofe evils. His Majefty has
finely the power to make fuch rules and regulations
VA he mall think proper. He may difmifs any par.
titular •member or officer of a Corps, or he may
difband the whole corps. He has silo the power
to refort to the Defence Aa, and may order out the
fief, teasel, or third clafs of his fubas. to tie
trained ; and he may order any.of thole elaffes to
aaual fervice, in cafe of necaffity i—or, if the Vo.
lunteers are not thought futficient, the Levy-en.
Mare Aa may be brought into force, in order to fill
up all vacancizs. Under there circumftances, it ap-
.pears to me, that with n moderate exercife of his
Majetly's pc* ogative and the power of the Crown,
there inconveniencies may be tally got the better
of : becaufe, whenever it appears that thole claims
arc let up, which it was not intended by the Legifla-
cure that Inch corps mould poffef... his Majefty may
441 as he pleafes ; and if a corps pet fill in exercifing
unlawful powers, they may be called forth into the
general malt. In the fame manner, in regard to the
eleaion of Officers, it appears to me, that whoever
'oat claim has been let 'Torben not warranted by law
or exprefs permiffion of his hlajefty, and that Inch
corps have been informed of their being in an error,
no fuch recommendation fhould be attended to, I
• fhould even fay that fuch corps fhould be d•lbanded.
I do not think, therefore, that the ;ate, ference of Par-
liament becomes aeceffary upon theft points; becaufe
-I conceive inch interpofition to be Coperfluous in
every cafe where lids blajelly has fo evidently fuffi-
eient•powers to die :Nate the purpofe intended. The
interpolition of Parliament only becomes =calory
in the prelim cafe; Sift, in order to confolidate the
leveret Aas which have been already palled on
this fuhjea, both for the fake of making them more
clear and intelligible, and .confequently the more
eafy in their regular oisfervance ; and for the purpofe
of the exemptions in a different manner.
—"Pie exemption from the Militia is acquired by
Volunteers, in confequence of a regular attendance
during only five Jays in the ye ir, and the returns
for this purpof. are annual. As to the exemption
from the Army of Referee, a regular attendance of
24 days becomes neceffary, and the returns are made
three times in the year. I think it would be prefer•
able to place %bele exemptions upon one and the fame
footing, and to adopt the attendance which is reciir;•
fire for the Army of Receive; it being left perfe •
in the option of every one to withdraw prewiio.. i•
the paff.a4 of this Act, knowing that they fh t.. .

be
tiF ballots. Las (ball he meta to
made sot fuch members Is do fo refign, on giving
due 'wince to the Commanding Officer, whole we it
mill* to fill up the vacancies thereby occafrosed.—
No exemption from Ceram (hall then allowed to
any refigning member. I thotild propofbe e that return.
fhould be made at the fame times, during the year,
of the afloat tide and condition of every corps ; cake
being taken to mention if a corps has been properly
and completely furnifhed with arms, at the bottom
of each return, in order to regulate the exemptions
of
claimed by individuals, who may Rate the want
arms as an excufe for non attendance. It was my
intention to mention, before the decifion of the Court
of King's Bench, that all perfons fhould be entitled
to withdraw themfelves previous to aaual invafion,
and that they fhould give notice in writing to their
Commanding Officer ; and in cafe of their having
been provided with arms, accoutrements, or any
article of cloathing, by. Government, they ffiould
deliver op fuch articles in as good a Rate as poi-
lible. I lhould think it neceifary to coiled, and
explain more particularly, all thofe deuces which
relate to Volunteers when called out to afttffil 16,1
vice; although I think the matter, as it (lands, per.
fealy clear at prefent. When an aaual invafion
happens, or when a rebellion of any kind occurs, all I,
perfons enrolled as Volunteers (hall be liable to march.
Thefe are, I think, the moll material points which it
may be neceffary at prefent to illaßrate and here I
(hall obferve, that Gentlemen may have been
pointed, that the Bill I have now propofed, fhould
contain nothing very novel or rigorous in regard to.
this fyftem of defence ; but on due eonfideration of
the confequences. I am perfuaded that they will fee
the propriety of making no further-encroachments on
the plan. Some conffidetable inconvenience has been
found to arife, in many counties, in confequence d
the Lord Lieutenant'. not having the power to throw
the greaten burden of the Militia and Army of Re-
ferve on chore counties which have not produced
a proportionate number of Volunteers, when com-
pared with the population of other counties.—
That is a point which I have thought proper to ad-
vert to, by making Come regulations concerning it.—
Thde are the leading points which 1 have judged it
expedient to enter upon in framing this Bill, relative
to our Cynem of voluntary defence , and I (hall
only further obferve, that if fuch intended regula-
tions as I have propofed are to give rife to any de-
bate, or different opinions, the molt proper time for
Rating them will be when the Bill is brought in, and
at the fire or fecund reading I hope that loch a,
Cubic& will be difeulTed in this Houle with temper
and moderation,becoming fuch important and effica,
cious meafures. lam perfuaded that the Volunteeta
themfelves will fee the necdfity of adhering to thofe
principles, and to thole rules, which they of them-
felves voluntarily undertook to abide by at the
commencement of the war, when the &nation
.of
public affairs was critical indeed ; hot not more cri-
tical than at the prefent moment. Let them cons-
pore the Rate in which we now Rand, in regard to
o
our molt inveterate enemy. with that of the perio
when they grit called forth their utmoft energy and
exertion (I mean the months of iolugu(t and Rev
tember lA, when the Volunteer lyftsm became
general throughout the country) ; and I ha verso doubt
that every man who then valued his property, who
had a regard for his wife, his family, or even hi.
very existence itfelf ; or, who then entertained a
jolt fenfe of regard for his native eouutry, will Rill
fee the propriety and neceflity of encouraging yet
further fuch manly and patriotic fentiments.
He
who thought that the adoption of fuch means wee
neceffary at the outlet of this war, will, I doubt not,
(Lill advert, that every thing which is dear to him
may yet be in as great, if not in an increafed degree
of linger, in proportion to the fpace which has been
allowed our relentlefs enemy, to prepare for our
threatened deßrnfition. I am convinced, that the
Volunteers of this country will a& fully up to the
important trtttt which has been repofed in them by
their molt gracious Sovereign; and whatever may
be the trifling inconveniencies which fume indivi-
duals may imagine they Coffer, fetch. I war will all
be overlooked in the hour of danger;—and even
thofe who may have thought proper to withdraw
their Voluntary Cervices for their own particular
rearms, will Rill come forth with the fame alacrity,
and join their countrymen in the defence of the king-
dom. Having now finned the obfervations which
I thought it incumbent upon me to make, previous
to the introduffion of 'Li. Bill, I (hall now con:lude
b moving. that " leave be given to hting in a Bill to
eyxplain, amend, and confolidate, the prnoifions con-
tained in the feveral Afts relative to the Yeoinanry
and Volunteer Corps throughout the United King-

dom."
Mr. SHERIDAN role to make a few oblavrions
not for the purpofe of entering into the debate, at
length upon the queflion. But the Right Huts.
Gentleman had taken notice of an apparent diet-
fence of fentiment on his part, with refpce to Tome
of the opinions be had advanced, particuiarly on the.
fubjea of the right of choofing Officers. He per-
feAly agreed with the Right Hon. the Secretary of
State, that the Corps had no right to eleA their
Officers, though he certainly confidercd their re—
commendation to be of the higheft importance e but
he had underftood the Right Hon. Gentleman. at
the fame time to fay, that the recommendation of
the Corps would not be attended to. Now. where
notild the appointment of the Officers originate ? If
they do not originate with the Crown, finm what
quarter Nould they originate ? Not furcly from the
Lord Lieutenant, or from the Cornmanr!ing Officer.
but from the recommendation of the Corps. The
Right Hon. Gentleman had tsbferved, that if impro-
per perfcrns were recommended, he &mild advife leis
lstajeny to refute to grant them commidions t
donbtedly, the Right Win. Gentleman would aft
with perfea propriety in doing to. But in the oti.
gioal cosltitution of the Corpr,the Secretary t.' ate
conlidered that they wish, recommend their °lncas.-
if In, it was certainly nceeffsry ••1 keep Melly good
faith with thi '4. or the greaten mifchisfs might Le
produced. It the Cot ps had the power. in the
inflance, of recommending their Officers, why
(broad they ceafe to retain that power of rmom•
men.Lation, for the purpofe of filling up the sa
comics that might be occafioned by refignatinns or
dc Ass? a right of recommendation which, he con.
idered, remained with them, for any thing he could
.ec or hear to the contrary, jug the fame as in the
hilt influx& Surely no kind of policy, no futt of

pritsliple couhl be isewn for the refufal of the reeve.
nen of this right. But whence, if she corps ire If
has not ibis power in its hands, dues the Colonel de- i 4
rive it l He would not, in the prefent ilate of thi: hu-
flue's, enter farther into the fubjed; but of all thing,,
it was moll important and molt neceffary to tee,'faith with the-Volunteers in every refpea. Whether
the Corps, or the Colonel, or the Lord Lieutenants
or any body else. recommended the Officers, it molt.
be under the fame precise refit-jai:ln with refped to
the approbation of the Crown to procure the Cons-
miffion. He thould jai name, before he fat down;
an ;cadence of one Corps (the Bedford Volunteers).
who. on their formation, had expreGly ref.-. ved to
themfelves the pewee of recommending their owe
Officers ~,on all occaficins. He would note however.
as he had before laid, enter any farther into tilt
quellion at prefent.
Lord CASTLEREAGH thought the Hon. Gen;
tleman had, in fome degree, rnifunderßond his Right;
Hon. Friend on the particular rubjed alluded to, an&
that he had like wife fallen into foam error throe' b 5
.Momentary want of recolleftion of the difference
pointed out by the Secretary of State between the
origination of the Corps; and their fuhfequent Matte
that is to fax, between their formation and their
condition • after they affumed the fliapeof a military
body. Certainly,. while they were not a military
body, they did not, in any refpe&, trench upon the
military spirit by etercifing the power of eleaiog of
recommending their own Officers in the firft inflame.
which was theSnoll natural meens,tperhapsi by which
a Volunteer Body could, under fnch tircumftencesed
be officered. But having once become etroilitaer
Corps, and recognized as fuch, and having all their
Officers in ezifience, a new and delicate cimeinßancet
arises with refpeft to the mode of filling top.fuch ea.
cancies as might in future haptorm. They muR then.,
in fad, be emdidered as a militarrbody, and be re-
gulated by military principles in all their military.
concerns ; and every thing that devieted from that,
was a difparagement of their military efficacy. and.,
pro taw°, a departure from military principles elku be
was as Molly of opinion as any man,that good faith
onght to be kept with the Volunteers, who had 'kept
forward fo patriotically and nobly in the Genre of
their country. lie mull, however, deprecate the idea
that in an army of {ogreat magnitude. fuck a mods
of appointing officers as that by eleetion thould pre:
Vail, which, in fah, would go very far to (hake their
difcipline, though his confidence in their good difpo-
fitions was not to be impaired. Yet however confi-
dent, and judly confident he was in their loyalty and
patriotifm, such a pradtice might, in many infiances,
in many Corps, occafion much party feeling. and
muck dangerous (chiral. He was however happy to
fay, that from whatever cluster the recommendation
might come, the feelings and willies of thole who
compofed the corps ought certainly to be confulted.
He was certain r woutd be the care of (iovernmene
to Rudy the gratification of the willies and defirea.
and affeaioos of the Corps in this hritance, and cer-
tainly, in this tare, there could be no violation of
faith imputed to Government. concerning their con-
duit to the Volunteer, on this oesitfion. •
Iete:'WHITSRE A Di--"air,tl feet it to be indifpees
ably neeefary for me to fay 'if few words upon this
queßioa, having ban already alluded to by an Hims.
Friend of mine, In the tourfe of this debate, an hie
obfervation on The conftitution of the Bedford Vo-
lunteers, with whom I am fo dotal canseeted., t
with fill to make Come obfervatioaa unthe right
eleainn or recommendation, and to the advice the
Right Hon. Secretary of State Paid he was ready to
offer., to which. indeed, I am naoß difpoTed to advert.
-:-He laid, that if any corps affertar the right of
choofieg or recommending their own offioers, and
ffiould. perfift in that right, he lhould think it Lis
duty to adelfe his Majedy to difband that corps.—
Now, Sir, the corps I have the bonbur to comman•
offered to (tree ha Majelty in ame.pare of Great Bei
min, but exprefsiy refereed to themfelves, and con-
tinue to pofiefs die power and right:of•abooling that
own officers, naming fpecifically the two fuperinr
aficers.in the fieft instance ; and if they bad been toll
that thole two officers might be probably difplaie
and others fubtlittited in their place, or that the other
officers were to be nominated by any other power.
that corps certainly would never have been forme!.
Now, Sir, does the Right Hon. Gentleman think it
confident with the Volunteer (Wiens. which he ha
fo much, and fo often recommended to the Houk.
to be fo very peremptory in his regulations ? As to
what has been dated of the difference between tlte
rights of ele&ion and of recommendation, I con
•fels, I cannot Ice it. I hold it to be my duty t.
recommend thole, whom the corps, by the cured
of their right, recommend. Now, Sit, what is th:
but elefiion ? The Lord Lieutenant may have hi
negative, and to may the Secretary of State. Bu
who are fo fit to be the judges as the corps them
(elves, *of the character and conduit of thole and.
whom they would with to serve I 4 The Secretary i
State mentioned one corps (I believe he alluded t.
the I.:msion and Weilminfier Light Horfe Volu
teers) who have the right of recommendation. Noir
if• dry 'hare this right, is it by law, or by coniti
Vance ? It by connivance, has any mitchief atik
from *it ? Does not every corps with to enjoy eq
privileges ? A great dißindion has been attempt .
to be taken between the original privilege of nn
meting Offices. and the privilege of recesurnem:iet
to the filling up of vacancies. occurring by do it,
or refignations, of the propriety of which, I•enole.
lam not at all convince. Surely, the fame l'.
Cons who cleazil the Officers in the felt inflaN
arc equally qualitied to creel in the others; I'l
arc rather hater qualified ; they know the C.l
tlemen belt tiu dined, and of molt confides:. i
in the n&glil,ou.11ood. Upon this principle t
aged at tuft, and Government accepted digit.
conimendaCout. Would not the fame principle it
rluencc thou elide ? They have, indeed, acq"it"
mote means ofjudging of the qualification Of Ptri°l
whit sir C4!ldlki.. ie., Ii iim the opportunities they hag
bad of fee A thsir condoft. I molt tell that Rixii
lion. Gentleman (the Secretary of State), that,'
Ile ..as op to eh.! leo:in:ems he has expreff..l to rugh
b:s conduct %sill, in die end, be fatal to the Voluntn
fyilem. Were I, Sir, a private, I confefti that. ;0
liari,ig the clear and undoubted right a I ecommtY
log the Officers ut the c Tr of which I was a nu"
tni, I ramild be set v much indtfpofest to terve o•-•!
Officers appointed cver me by the Cr .wn. 'l'h: 1
outs, it ote, in his opening speech this escr.'
has t..ken a I retty toll view (/{ Use acc.tliti es%'