Star.
London, England, 1803-07-26 00:00:00

NATIONAL OFFLNCL BILL.

On the queßion for the Houle to go into a Com-
mittee, on the National Defence Bill,
His Royal Highnefs the Duke of CUMIFRLAND
role, to erprefs his decided approbation of the mea-
lure, as one which would moll cffetually anfwer the
objefts it had in view, and which had already roofed
the fpirits, and called forth the energies of the whole
people. There was hardly a man in the country who
was not infpired and animated with the molt ardent
defile to refill that enemy, who had threatened tc
deffroy our liberties and independence. The preen(
meafure would immediately put that fpirit into adi-
vity ; and it was one for which his Majefty's Minn
tiers deferred the thanks of the public. The reafon of
his having on Saturday lag objected to the Bill going
into a Committee this day was, that he apprehended
there would not have been fnfficient time for their
Lordfitips to confider the Bill. However, conceiv-
ing it to be am:afore that required the utmolidifpatch,
sod one which ought to be carried into effeeas fpeedi-
ly as poßible, he would not delay its progrefs a mo-
ment longer.
Lord MUCCI! AVE laid, he alfo confidered this Bill
to be one of the gre.itell importance and utility of any
that could pofiibly be brought forward. It wen: to
give vigour and dicacy to that antient prerogative,
by which the, Crown had the power to call out the
fubjeels of the Country in cafe of iavafion ; and with-
out this Bill the power would be almoft nugatory,
becaufe the people when called nut, would be unac-
quainted with the ufe of arms, which they muff now
learn. He was alfo clearly of opinion, that the whole
people of the cesuntry would ad according to the pro.
vilions of the Bill, and fulfil the intentions of the Le-
Fiflature. He denied that there exilled any apathy or
indifference among the people, as bad been aliened
in another place. The people never were more alive
to their duty than they were at this moment ; never
were they animated with more loyalty and zeal in
defence of their King and Country. There was not a
particle of that contagion which had been formerly
fpread among them now remaining ; thole principles
which had threatened the defirudion of all civilized
fociety, were now entirely done away ; and if there
(bould be any Rill lurking in the breaks of a few, they
would be completely eradicated by the prefent mea-
fare. He could not agree with thofe who bad defcribed
the prefent meafure as compulfory ; it was no fuch
thing, becaufe the people were all prepared to meet
the danger which threatened them ; and fuch num-
bers of perfons would turn out as Volunteers, that he
believed it would not be neceffary to enforce the pro
!axons of the Bill at all. Having Paid thus much of
the merits of the Bill itfelf, he could not help expref-
fing his regret that it had been delayed fo long. If
there was any ground for imputing apathy to the
people, that charge retied with his Majeßy's Govern-
ment, and not with the people. Great as was the
perfonal friencllkip which he entertained for his Ma-
jelly's bis fenfe of public duty obliged him
to declare, that in his opinion, their want of activity
and energy was the only caufe why the people had
not been already roofed to a proper fenfe of their
danger, and had not (hewn readinefs to come forth
in defence of their country. The people of °England
were undoubtedly fond of preferving their property,
they loved their tale and their comforts; but in great
difficulties and dangers, no people in the world were
fo capable of exerting themfelves, in proportion to the
exigencies of their lituation. But in order to excite
that fpirit and that energy among them, it would be
necelfary for the Government to let the example.—
The late Adminifiration bad done fo; and in circum-
fiances of great difficulty, they had called forth the
fpirit and refources of the country, in a manner which
(hewed how worthy they were of the troll repofed in
them. But he was lorry to fay, that the prefent Ad-
mini Rration had thews themfelves extremely deficient
in that refped. It was owing to their remand's, that
the people had not come forward before this time. If
a meafure like the prefent had been brought forward
fooner, their (pink would have been routed, and the
happiell effefis might have been produced. Inflead
of that, his Majelty's Minitiers had let the time pats
away ever fince the Bth of March, without propofing
that the people fhould arm themfelves again' the in-
vafion, which was then threatened as much as it was
now ; and it was not until laft Saturday, that their
Lorellhips fiat had the meafure brought before them.
For this, he confidered them highly culpable, and
their condufi might be prodative of the won't can
fequencet. It would now take a confiderable time
before the
.people could be made acquainted with mi-
litary difcapline, fo as to be able to co-operate effec-
tually with the armies in cafe of invafion. As a mi-
Etat y man, he could allure the Houle, that they
cou'd not be fufficiently trained before November,
according to the time and mode in which they were'
to be exercifed. He could not therefore help ex preffing
his utmoll regret, that in the moment of threatened
danger, the lured means by which it could be re-
pelled, had been thus procrallinated.
The Earl of WISTMORILAND defended the conduit
of his Majelly's Minifiers, who, he Paid, had (hewn
no want of adivity or exertion, and who could r.ot
bring forward the prefent meafure loaner than they
had done. It was neceffary for them firft to have
prepared the minds of the people for the reception of
it ; and this they did by feveral previous matures of
great importance and neceffity.
Lord H HURT laid, it was with the utmoll furprize
and alionifhment he had heard his Noble Friend
throw out fo much cenfure againd his Majetly's Mi-
nitlers, after having expreffed his approbation of the
meafore they now brought forward. He regretted
NM more, to find that a-Nolle Lord, for whom he
had the moll unbounded friendlltip. mould make to
(even aad weighty a charge as he had Dow dune. So

•
far vete k;s blajefly's Mininers fl•nm being inadive
or isaitentive, th..t aver lince the liaising down his
Majcit)'s Mcfage, cn the 8;11 of March, they hal
isfe.l every Means f.. 5 increafing the force of the coup.
try. Betides the Militia, which his Majelly had calla
oat at that time, they had paired a law for railing a
fupplententary militia ; the moment that was done,.
they brought forward the meafure for railing a great .
army, called The Army of Referee," and Mime.
diately they ofered the prefect plan to Parliament-
Now he could allure his Noble Friend, that it would
have been utterly impradicableto do all theft things
tower than they were done. The men could mt•
have been railed all at once, without producing a
degree of confulion which would be productive offi
much more delay than that which was now com.
plaMed of, and, perhaps, render all the negatives in.
etfedual. His Noble Fritnal had praifed the energy
' and activity of the late Adminiftrationt bathe fhotdd
recoiled, that that Administration had never adopt.
ed, or propoted fuch a plan as the prelim, although
at one time the count, y was in a hate of the molt
im-
minent danger, with a formidable rebellion raging
in Ireland, and with an invasion from France, not
only threatened, but actually attempted, and in part
carried into effect.

The Earl of WiscalLSlA faid, that as a Lieute-
nant in the county where ,he relided. he thought it
his duty to declare, that it would have been utterly
impoffible for the Deputy-Lieutenants to have railed
men for any fervice but one at a time. They could
not have raifed men for the Supplerneritary
and the Army of Rcferve, at one and the fame time,
without creat.ng the greaten confufios; much leis,
therefore, could they have railed the levy as MO at
the fame time. He mull alfu fay, that no interval of
delay occurred between the railing of one force and
another, therefore, he was confident, that the prefeno
meafure could not have been brought forward fanner
without the greaten inconvenience and delay,
The Houle then refolved itlell into a Committee
on the Bill, when forme claufcs were propofed and
adopted. The Bill was ordered to be reported to.
morrow—Adjourned.

tat be Mould
lever adopt.
it, although
the molt im.
lion raging
France. not
and in part
is a Lieute-
: thought it
been utterly
have railed.
They could
Lary
e fame time.
; much lets,
year.. Oat t
° interval of
c force and •
the prefene
ward Imam
day,
Committee
.opofed and
reported to.
lung that &sir
li; the Meet&
; the •
'malty Sofro-
move omit
r Tax Bill, far
mot of *eosin
s' 818, sad the
,at the Hoe*
o confider the
lel mitring,
iquence of the
&lance of the
her madders. '
till this dair
to Of amide%
Oft tail sat
,‘
media.
s oared to.
lid!, and the •
ott ordered ro
ittnty of Re.
mu read a fir*
NM.
dunseer Corps'
ad a third time
of the Day
time oa the
'miner errs.
;ions to the
hat they had
peace. He
heir barges
e efail.lier
were OMR*
lie, and vs.
the freights
ake the con-
Itually beet
Directors at
right wha-
m. additional
Taking out.
they never
:o their con.
td no right
el to lay the
e eakialal
i.e the coit-
ion. he was
mere by Cleir
uch fup.trioe
tcl to ae:ept.
Pay, di.fered
tier years.—
etter -icier-
mach better
promptitude
d how nub
ch formerly
/MIMI if the
et Bill, and
trd early in
twenty-one
prefent cafe.
lore by the
ißon) would
compenfa-
afore. upon
reedini w
ngt
.abindtehlauthi:
eclared, the
2d that both
e fentiments
trms of the
as jealoully
ndia Hook,
tree, agreed
waa ordered