Star.
London, England, 1804-04-12 00:00:00

refpea to which, thank GOO, there were no difficaties
at talk He therefore thought the propofition deferred
the appvidsation of the Houle, and the Country.
th. FOX rote to reply. He began by adverting
to the obfervations which had been made refpeaing
a meeting of thole principally concerned in the flip-
port of the Militia Syftem, and the refolutions which
they had entered into on the Cubjea. He expreffed
his aliunilhment at the language employed this
evening by an Hon. Member on the fame bench
with himfelf (Mr Keene) , and another Honour-
able Member behind him (Sir John Newport), as
to the motives by which thefi refolutions were fug-
gelled. It teemed to be taken fur granted, that
mere confederation of inconvenience gue rife to the
determination of the very refpeChibia body cf indivi-
duals to which he had referred. But he begged
leave foletnnly to ptoteß againft any fuch inference.
Was it not poffible that the Noble and Honourable
Perfons who had come to thefe refolutions did fo in•
dependent of every idea of individual inconvenience ?
Was it not parole that their oppofitinn to a mea-
fure for the reciprocity of the Cervices of the English
and built Militias was founded on ftria conflitutional
principles, and in perfea conformity to the funda-
mental laws of the Militia System ? Were the No-
blemen and Gentlemen of England to bear the infi-
nuation call out againft them, that they refuted to
volunteer the Cervices of the Militia regiments which
they commanded, becaufe they were unwilling to
forego the pleafures of their horfes and their hounds ?
Was it nectlfary for him to mention the names of
thofe who had figned the refolutions, to thew that
fuch an idea was not to be entertained for a tingle
moment ? Enough indeed had been laid by the Hon.
Gentlemen who had atti ibuted the refolutions to any
idea of inconvenience, to thew that filch a fuppolition
was wholly groundleft. It had been admitted that
the Noble and Hon. Perfniis who figned the refolu-
tions, polkaed a very great interea in the fafety of
Ireland. From that part (tithe empire they derived
the greatell parr their influence, as well as the
mull important i!mice of their property. Was it to
be conceived then, that in refuting the offers-of the
Militia of England to ferve in Ireland, they were
aftuated by any cnnfideratlons of perfonal inconve-
nience ? No man could ferioufly hold fuch an opinion.
He was confident that every man who relleaed on
the cubic& mutt be fenced to admit, that thole by
whom the refolutions were figned had every motive
to provide for the fecurity of Ireland, not merely
from confederations of interell, but from well digefled
views of the value of Ireland as a material and ellen•
tial part of the Britifh Empire. He commended the
refolutions entered into on this broad conflitittional
principle, and be Ihould certainly concur in refining
any meafure by which the principles of the Militia
Ellabliffiment might be violated without full and fair
difcuffion. Gentlemen who ftipported the propriety
of accepting the offers of the Irifh Militia, proceeded
on the principle that the fervices of the Militia of
bath Countries were to be reciprocally exchanged.—
This was, however, an opinion affunied without the
flightell evidence. This wasa queflion which had
never at all conic under any general Parliamentary
conlideration.—The quellion was unqueflionably one
of the highelt importance ; but it was not to be dif
poled of in the way for which theft: Gentlemen Wert
to anxious to contend. It was not by the Bill now
before the Houle that it was to be determined. If •
the general •Girefllnn of the policy and expediency of
the reciprocal fervices of the two Militias was to be
brought forward, let it be fully, fairly, and impar-
t •
conlideied. But let it not be taken for granted
that any Inch underßanding of the principles of the
Union as that contended for does at all exist. An
Honourable Nlerrilicr (Col. Hinchintini) had talked
a good deal of the beneficial confequences which
would refult from the inundation of the lrilb Mi-
litia into this country, and the new habits and opini
nos which filch a meafure would infpire. He could
not help thinking this rather a romantic view of the
Inkjet, and he had never heard it urged as one of
the benefits which would refill from the Union.—
Hith.:rto, indeed, lie had never heard of any benefit
tefulting from the Union, with the exception of this
folitary one, that Ireland had been deprived of her
Incai Legillature. He was ready to admit that he
did not think many of the ads of that Legiflaturc
very laudable ; but he mull in can Jour be per.
mitted to tay,that hitherto the meafure of the Union
had not received a fair trial. Thine who intro-
duced the meafure into this Houfe, had held out a
prolpea to Gentiern, here, and more circuitously
to the Members of the Parliament of li eland, that
the mealtire of Union would be incomplete, in.
dependent of ulterior arrangements. Relpeaing the
meafure itielf, lie wiffied not now to enlaro •, as he
had not attended the dilcuilion which it hacr created.
He would however repeat, that it had ii..t received
a fair trial. lie moll be permitted alto to add, that
in his opinion the Union of this Country with Ire•
land was a meafure prallically impoilible. Ireland
was a country too extentive to admit of fuch a Union,
aad -the tyflem of reprefentation neceffirry to carry it
into effea muff be attended with unturmountabit
difficulties. It was'contrary to the nature of things
to expel any important benefits from it. As far as
affimilation of manners and an increafe of mutual
confidence were concerned, he might put it to the
candour of any Gentlemap to declare, whether any
advantage had hitherto been, htained either to Ire-
land or the empire at large : Under the rodent cit.-
cumflances of the Government of Ireland, it was
indeed utterly impoflible that any confidence or union
of fentiment could exit,. When the I.erd Chancel-
lor of Ireland took on himfelf to infult the feelings of
three-fourths of the people, by telling them that they
could not be gi,d Itthjeas to their King without vio-
lating their duty to the Goo whom they adored ;
that they valid not be faithful to the Britith Coidli.
tution renouncing the religion they Notched.
The tranquility of Ireland, therefore, under Ina a
Government, could only depend on the fame !Ilea-
flues which now exilted in that country, and by the
protraainn rit tl,e faene me:attires of coercion which
Minidets therruilves had called for as applicable to
the circtimllaure- of that part of the empire.
ing toothed tl etc general obfervations, he prreerded

to the more thie,!i.confsderatinn of the Bill. At,cr

at thTtc

adverting to the 1411.acy of an argument,
war. no ditlitielion betwixt a body of Infh fencJ,lc
and halt hhlgia, he (toted bib viola of th:le general
offers of cattnlion of Cervices. It via; cleat that
offers of extended fetvice were nyained bp :
:attire which vvi!,.l r.,1 I,e ;•ift:ficd .1 t..• 7r •

al prim' iplea. It had been verl' properly ohji i9ed to
this meafure, that it encouraged the praCtice of oelt-
beration in military bodies, which was allowed on
all hands to be inexpedient and impolitic. But his
Hon. Friend (General Maitland) had endeavoured
to do away this ohjeaion by a fort of argument
which he conld not help confider ing a little extraor-
dinary. He had Rated that, in certain cafes, paid!
cularly on occallons when fume hazardous enterprise
, was to be attempted; the right of deliberation was
allowed among foldiers. This was, to be fore a very
' applicable argument ! In the cafe of the Militia, you
have nn right to call on the
-Militia for theextention
of their fervices. You cannot compel them to ge
beyond the limits of their original agreement. But
though poireffirig no power of I.olllretil w eompol-
lion, you cajole, you canvafs, and by means of she
molt extraordinary kind, you prevail on them to,
extend the limits of their fervices. In the other cal.
of regular rot-dim, every man, as hether a Voluniel
or not, is bound to go on whatever duty is prefer :t ;
ed to him, however difficult. When an enterpria4.
of difficulty and danger is to be undertaken, the 'Mo-
tives of honour and reward are held forth to anjmate
the voluntary offers of individuals of more enura.
georts and determined fpirit. But what analogy *as
'there, lie &fired to afk, betwixt fueh an offer, And
the offer of a militia regiment of Ireland, to extend
their feavices to this country ? No Gentleman would
Curtly pretend that, to volunteer their fervice to this
country under the prefent circumllances of the em-
pire, was the part either of honour or of danger ? If
any part of the empire was emoted to danger...futile
this country was not in tb perilous a Rate as Ireland.
His Honourable Friend had alluded to the efertions
made by the preterit fervants of the Crown during
the lag year, and had 'elected to the fuccefes which
had crowned our arms, as a proof of their not
being deficient in energy. This was a fpecies of
argument which was really gond for nothing. as
applicable td a general conclufion. He did not
profefs to be intimately acquainted with debates,
but he would refer to the year 5780, when unfair.
tunately we commenced hotiilities with the Dutch
Republic. In that year we made numerous con.
quells trom the Dutch, both in the Welt and Eat
Indies. We got polfeffion of St. Eußatius and
, Demerara, with other fettlements, which he needed
not at the moment enumerate. But of what avail
were thefe conqueßs? The nature of the peace after-
wards concluded, was the heft anfwer to this quef-
tion. He had only to delire, that the fame principle
fhould be applied to the conqueßs made fence the
commencement of the prefent war, on which fomuch
fuels had been laid by his Hon. Friend. As to our
facceffes in the Eall Indies, he begged leave triAnake
a few obfervations. That the vietories, of which re-
cent accounts had been received, were in thernfelves
highly brilliant, ire was far from willing to deny.
What their coalequence might be, or how far the
deftration of the power of the Mahrattas in India,
was a politic or expedient meafure, he begged the
Houfe to underffand, that at preterit lie offered no
opinion. He referred himielf on dick points till the
Houfe was in polfetlion of fuller information. He
however agreed with the arguments of a worthy Ba-
ronet Wrottetley) on this fubjetct, that the (late
of our pciffeffions in India was a material point to be
considered when eltimating the amount of our mili-
rtary eilablithment. It was (lithe clear, whether the
War it, India was protracted, or
_whether our empire
in Ilindoßan was extended, there would he an equal
'neceility for new reinforcements from this country.
He, therefore, was furprized at the language held by
his lion. Friend on this fulrjeat. The Hon. Member
went on to animadvert on the whimfical mode in
which the Bill was introduced. He (hewed, that till
a lubiliture was found tor the Militia, who were tis
volunteer their fervices to this cr,unti y, tore prefent
meafure could not be entertained. But Minitters had
thought proper to proceed on another principle ; and
before they had made the leafl provifion hot fupply-
ing the deficiency created by the voluntary offers of
esaenJed fervice, they hurried on the difcuffion of
'lie acceptance of thole offers. But here they.jullified
thetnfelves on the ground that it was neceffary to
provide for any hidden emergency of inrafion. This
really was a moll tinaular mode of proceeding.—
Were Minillers to be informed, that it England were
invaded, and the preparations againft Ireland defeat-
ed, that there were thirty thoutand regular troops
whole Cervices could be immediately ordered to tine
country? It would not be denied that the cervices of
theft troops were unequal to the fervices of the trial mi.
litia, without going to far as to fay that they were
much fuperior. If this was the cafe, he pot it to the
common ferric of the Houfe, whether, at leaß at the
prefent moment, the meafure was at all necelTary :
He again conjured, the Houfe not to Wien to the idea
of reciprocal fervice in the militia, till a folemn de-
cajun of the Legiflature was obtained. It was liegu.
tar that three, four, and even eight months had
elapfed fince fume of thefe offers had been made; but
now, for the firft time, were they publicly brought
forward. Ile depr.cated any attempt to entrap the
Maine to their deciffon on aie general principle. and
therefore would refill the partial meafure calculated
to interfere with a general principle. In curd
he contended, that Minitters could neither main-
tain peace, nor put the country in an attitude for
war. He emphatically declared, that to loch a (Ito-
:Ilion was the country reduced, that all the abilities
of the country w ere inadequate to frame me:11(1ms to
bring to a fortnirate due a war, which, by v.ifJorn
and vigour, might have been avoided. Before In. lat
down, he adverted to the inability of Minitters. I!-
had not been niuch in the habits of enlaryeng an 1.
want of ability. but this was a point on which tins/
fennel very t-achy on all accafions. Phis initabihty
put him in mind oa the cominal of Girldrig, at the
Court of the King of nrobdiguag. The little Ger.-
, tleman fel, hinitelf ether contrdered in a contempor•
nus light by the mighty courtiers, by uhom he was
• iurrounded. lie, however, determined t 6 get the
better ot them by firatagem. Ht azcordiogly in.
his Majelty, that theragli torah in Ilatore, he
r was able in his own country to do as much nritchkf
• as the lAlgtit of. Iris n cull? titt.—(l !cad lrrrgi
. . . .

Mr. FOX fat d,,wn:-by. dLclarirs, that he lhi;uld
vote 2gait.ll
Mr. W. KEENE. explrined, at. did Sir 5011:4
NEW poicr, hoth . I v.ir-rri pi,,lciLd the hig...tt••
felprn tot the inell‘idual‘ rf ',Lim the rt,etiog
luded 11-noiitahlr \;:n Frr coi!!-:•ted.

11-1 l'ltr) elf.) cl,l-Asned.
I : • ;:cELI•OR o: the 2.%cf1EQ,17