Star.
London, England, 1804-03-01 00:00:00

titularly to Point oat, which, g dellroted, Woad
be attended with very great lots. One or two of our
principal magazines might have been fortified with.
out any extraordinary expence. There were other
flotations where fortification might be extremely
ufeful ; not merely Martello towers, but batteries,
which could neither be (piked nor taken. All this
be pledged himfelf to prove, if Minifters would ap-
point a day. He could call to the Dar of the Houle a
eery refpetable Officer, who had not fisted his opi-
nion for the purpofe of criminating Government,
but had fpoken in terms of regret, that had orders
been given. the works he alluded to might many
months ago have been conlirutted. Colonel Crati•
ford concluded a (peed-. which occupied nearly two
hours, with repeating his pledge to prove the truth
of his affertions, whenever a time should be appoint-
ed for that particle.
, General MAITLAND —l4 There certainly has
been [hewn a confiderable (hare of ingenuity by the
lion. Officer who has jult addrelfed the Houfe.
;Whether his arguments have a tendency to the pub-
sic good is another matter ; and I mutt certainly
admit, that they have imprefTed my mind with very
roow concern. That concern does not originate,
wever, in the validity of the Hon Officer's reafon-
sag ; it arifes from my conviction that his opinions
will not be confined within the walls of this Houfe ; I
they will be diffufed otter the cotinu7, they will en-
ter the country of the eisemy, and, In this point of
iritu,, they are penticious, us proportion to their in.
accuracy. The Hon. Gentleman has fpoken of the
Volunteers. as if they were peculiar to this nation,
as if we alone were info:led by this military furor,
fo deftruftive, as he fuppofes, of the fecurity of the
public. Does be not know, that in Fraae a por-
tion of the army is compokd of limn= troops?
The Hon. Gentleman is not content with direamg
his attack spina their irregular forces, but he
teems ahnott equally diffatislied with the eonftitu-
timid Militia. There are, however, many individu-
als hi this Houle, who hold important commands in
that fervice, and who even know the refpea with
which it fhould at all times be regarded. Neither
of the one or of the other do I entertain there
fentiments ; I am convinced, if the foe thould dare
ma:scrawl on arias ground, he will find that the
hour of invafion will be fucceeded by another hour
—the how of defeat and diflionour, by the gallantry
of thole forces. of which the Hon. Officer forma to
little expettatiou. He objects to the exemptions on
the principle of impeding the recruits for the regu-
lar land force, and I prefume alfn for the Navy.—
I may fafely declare, that I have beard no difficul-
ty ariftog from this caufe in the latter ; but in Tepee
so the other fervice I confefs the Houfe is not fur-
lathed with materials from which any corm el con-
elution may be drawn ; it retina, however, extremely
improbable, that the danger of the ballots Ihould
have driven numerous individuals into the volun-
teer duty, to relieve thenifelves from a rifle which,
in the county with which I am bell acquainted,
they could enfure againft, at the trifling premium of
one guinea and a half. Onornus, indeed, are the
duties on the Hon. Officer's fuppofirion, which he
undertakes to avoid by this trilling facrifice. It is
proper now to advert to what has fallen from the
Hon. Gentleman on the difcipline of the Volunteers.
nod truly all the objection I could collect is of a
smolt fingular kind. Will it be credited that the
Ceutleman confiders the great evil to be, that the
Volunteers have learned too much. Notwithiland-
ing the attention I have paid to the fubjee, I never
Lave been Able to comprehend what is meant by this
armed peafintry, to which the Hon. Gentleman
feints fo much attached. The plan recommended,
I believe, by him, is, that immediately on the ene-
my's effecting a landing, the troops &Gold dart upon
them like the lion to his prey. That the Volunteers
may boldly march up to the attack, according
to this defeription, is plaufible and probable ;
but that the pep coritairts, the (meek frock pearantiy,
the it regular bulb fighters, lhould do this, is nei,licr
confißent with the nature of their fervice, or with
any reafonable eipatation, A couple of campaigns
might iiiftreft the armed peafantry in Come ufeful
fervice, but at fire they woold be of fo Wee utility.
that they would do as much execution againil the
enemy with a whip as with a tirelock on their (boul-
ders ; and then, at leatl, they would not be in dan-
ger of doing mil-chief to their fticnds. I pettedly
agree with the Hon. Member, that the principles of
iodic, laid down in the work of General Donde, are
rarely applicable to military duty in an enclated
country ; but I ani yet to learn that if the Volun-
teers have been infleueed in ibefe principles, this ex-
cels of knowledge, in the bufinefs of their new pro-
feflion, will render them lets fit to perform the minor
duties they are called upon to fulfil. Another objec-
tion the Honourable Gentleman has fla,ed to the
cloathing, and forfooth becaufe their Volunteers are
not incumbered with tur;nuts dragging at their heel.,
but arc doodad and prepared for every variety of
(tabor; they are lets capable of being Milol in the
field. The Hon. officer is much alarmed left the
enemy, having defeated a corps of Volunteers,lbotild
be led to conclude the troops of the line had given
ground. Does the Hon. Gentleman there is
no advantage in the (hew of number. ? Will it he no
dircouragement to the enemy, if, having vanquiffied
an army, day after day, another fhould Ran up,
well clad and well difciplined, to fupport the caufe
of their intuited country t The lion. Gentleman
has Ipken with much commendation of the Volun-
teer in the battle of Jemapp: ; but this furely is di.
teellY oppothe to the prominent feature of his own
argument, unlcfs we can fuppofe that the Volunteers
sdEngland are inferior to thole of France ; a con
iat,ue I would not have the indecency for a moment
to entertain. lam old enough to have teen a little
of the Msock-frock war in the American rebellion ;
end what was the contequence of their retorting to
this defence t The vet v pealantry were furroonded
aid taken priforers. How can it be rtati•nably ex
peeled that tcythes and pitchforks can encounter the
baronet. The Americans (non learnt the lefion their
enthutiafm had nut taught them. and they formed
t,giitar armies, under regular military diisipline, in
ti-c c, mmencement very much rambling doge Vo
lum.er•, of which the Hnn. Odiccr is li. Minters--
It a. ,i:ri hale been w ell hail the Hon. Meniker con.
fi.e .1 his attei.ii-m to the V ,imstecrs, but he has ad.
sem: to the fyileni forti6cation, and it mud not
p its • noticed. If tlik be defeftive. Minhlers ore r, t
to mo. h tr. ',lame as t! e lion. Gentleman fr,rr.

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