Star.
London, England, 1804-04-07 00:00:00

TOLUKTIIIL DILL

Qn the reading of the sth claufe,
Earl SPENCER propofed, that after the word
" Parliament" the words " in this or any fubfequent
Seffion" fbould be infected. Thefe words had made
part of the two Ads of the 4ad and 43d of his pre-
fent Maeay, which Ads were repealed by the pre-
fent Bill, and he thought it extremely important
that they fhould be continued. Since the principle
of exemption had been adopted, he thought it would
be but fair in the Legiflature, to fignify that all the
Volunteers Ibould be admitted to the advantages of
it. Many Corps had enrolled themfclves, tinder the
perfuation, that if they once became intitled to the
privilege of exercption, it would be continued to
them, notwithilanding the Government might find it
necetiiary to make any augmentation to the national
defence. If fucks were the opinion of Government,
he thought it nccelTary that it fhould be avowed in
fame explicit thape, and that the words of the firmer
Aft, fhould be employed as nearly as eireundlances
may permit.
LordHAWKESBURY (spoofed the Noble Earl's
amendment, upon the principle that it tended to
bind the power of future Parliaments; an attempt
on the futility of which he would not detain their
Lordflsips by any endeavour to raife an argument on
it. Circnmflances may arife which would jußify
furore Parliaments in eflablifhing other modifica•
tions of the principle of exemption. and be thought
it would be wrong in their Lordfhips to attempt to
do that which they cer:ainly were not competent to
do, namely, to letter the difcretion of thole who
were to tueceed them. He admitted that any pro-
mile held forth by one Parliament was binding on
!hc honour, but not OR the power, of a fubfequent
PAili•mtnt. . . .

Lord GRENVILEJ condemned the principle
rtranced hv the Noble St rrtt.m....ai State. that the

flipulations oecallonally entered into by Parliament
were not binding on fobfequent Parliaments, His
Lordfhip emphatically required to know, upon what
other, fecurity did the public creditor rely for the
paynient of the intereft of the loans be had ad-
vanced to the State. He had no ftronger fecurity
than a refolution of the Legiflature, that his interefl
fhould be regularly paid : and if that refolution, or
the general principle upon which it, as well as the
amendment propofed by his Noble iend, was found-
ed, fhould be lightly or capricioufly violated, the very
foundation of the Conflitution would be fliaken:-.-
Although no friend to the principle of exemptions,
he was for maintaining faith towards the VolUnteers.
and would therefore vote for the amendment.
A very long difcufEnn took place, in which the
amendment was fupported by the Duke of Mon-
trofe, Earl Carnarvon, and Liird King; and oppofed
by the Lord Chancellor, Lill& Ellenborough. Ho-
bart, and Auckland, when the queftion was at
length put.
Contents 4—Non-contents 34—Majority so.
Earl SPENCER gave notice, that as the pro.
prict of the amendment he had introduced had bees '
partially acceded to, he would take another opportu-
nity of bringing the fabllance of it before their Lord-
fhips, moll_ probably when the report came to be
made on the Bill.
Lord GRENVILLE, on the ending of the fixth
dance, propofed that the exemptions fhould be ex-
tended to all corps of Volunteers now in exigence,
as well to thofe who, by the tams of their ferviee,
difelaimed them. as thofe who did not. By the
turns on their Lori:Mips' table, the accuracy of
which was extremely queftionalltle, it appears that
out of 380,000 Volunteers, them were not above
four or dee thoufasol who were not entitled to ex-
emptions. He thought, that if any compliment
were due to any portion of that force, it was tatbat
part of it which voluntarily came forward, notwith-
Rending they untlerftood that they were not to be
entitled to the fame advantages with the left of the
Volunteers. He deprecated the idea of malting any
dißinftion between them in point of exemption ; and
therefore recommended, that all that part of the
clanfe which eftablilhed fuels diftindion, fhould be

omitted.
The amendment was oppofed by Lords Hobart,
Hawkdbury, and the Chancellor, and fupported by
the Duke of Moatrofe, Lords Romney, Carnarvon,
Bolton, and King, when the Houfe divided—
Contents t4—Non-contents 34—Majority so.
When (rangers were re.admitted, Lord GREN-
VILLE was addreffing their Lord(hips on the ex-
creme impolicy of granting exemptions to Volunteers
whofe Cervices might be accepted, in addition to the
number adually cu fling. Having expatiated at Conic
length upon the fabled, his Lordfhip moved, that
the words of the ciente, " as (ball hereafter be ac-
cepted" be left out.
Lord HOBART oppofed the amendment.
Lord KING remarked, that the claufe, as it thin
Rood, would, if agreed to, give to Government a
difcretionary power, the exerede of which, bethought,
ought not to be lodged in his Majelly's Millais's, in
whom the country had no confidence, and whofe
difmilTal would communicate more fati:faßion than
the molt brilliant vilory our arms could obtain.
Lord HAWKESBURY argued again% the
Amendment, which was fupported by Lords Hat-
lower and CAILMARVOII•

_____ • __.
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought it would
be more parliamentary in noble Lords, who afforted
that his Majefty's tenants did not pole(' the confi-
dence of the country, to bring forward an enquiry
into their condua, and to move an humble Addrefs
to his/Majefly, than to confine themfelves to Rate.
meats of fo lode a nature.
Lord GRENVILLE maintained, that it was in.
' cumbent on every Member of Parliament, who had
jolt grounds, to Rate his opinion of the incapacity of
Miniders ; and he had, for his own part, no difficulty
in laying, that in the abilkies, charaders, and capa•
cities of his Majelly's prefent fervent', colledively
taken, there was nothing to jnilify the confidence of
the country.
The queßion being at length put, that the words
or (hall be" Rand part of the sdaufe, it WAS carried
in the affirmative. The queltion was then put " that
this clank do (land part of the Bill."
Lord DARNLEY propeed an Amendment, pot-
porting to extend the exemption to fuch Volunteers
only as had offered theinfelves for general fervice.
This, after a difeuffion of above an hour, in which
it was fupported by Lord GRIII•ILLE, and oppofed
by Lords AUCKLAND, HAWICESIBUItY, HOBART, and
CHISTSITIILD, the Noble Lord withdrew, for the
purpofe of amending it, by changing the general
ferrite to fervice within the military diftrid in which'
fuch carps Ihthald be; which, after a difcuirson of
another hour, was negatived upon the quell*, and
the original claufe agreed to, wizen the further pro.
grefe was deferred till Monday, to which day the
Houfe adjourned at twelve o'clock.