Star.
London, England, 1803-06-21 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A perfon from the 0011'ot:boners of the Cullom' brought up
certain Account., which were ordered to tic on the table fur the
isle of the Members.

Upon rcuding the Report of the Ex ter Road BM, a clank, by
which certain expenees were to bare been thrown upon the City
•nftead of the County at large, was calcified to, and a mart debate
too 4 place, upon which the Houk divided, la ((ippon of it, ji
Fur et-reline the elmer, 9t.
'I cc Twelve /VI.11;on Loan Rill was mad a 31 time and pafTed.
_ .

Mr. HAM FINS LIOW N prefeLtert Y Report-of the Committee
MI tile Bill for improving the Higlrlands of Scotland, which was
ordered to be printed fur the ufe ache Members.

DEFENCE OF THE NATION.

The SECRETARY at WAR rofe and moved, that the
Houfe fhould relblve itfelf into a Committee of the
whole Houfe, in order to confider his Majelly's moll
Aracious Meffage relative to the Defence of the COl3ll.
try, which had been preemied to the Houfe on Sa-
turday fall.
The Houfe having accordingly refolved itfelf into
a Committee, his Majetly's Meffage was read, and
the Sac R kTAR y at WAR addieleed the Houfe, nearly
to the following effea
" Sir—Now that his Majeßy's Mefrage for this
great and important purpofe has heen read, I think it
proper to iiihmit to the llouft.i, the outlines of a plan
which that 'it froze has fuggetted, as being the moll
prudent which can be aclopt..-: on an occult( n filch
as the orefent. This Meira;tc prefents their main ob•
jcEts for our moil feriou. contidcration that
of providing, in the moll efi-atial manner, for time
better lean ity aryl defence ht the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland ; and fecondly, the pro.
•itling a large proportion of out force difpofcable for
the parpoles ct cifenfive operations. It will not, Sir,
require much arguimment to prove, that in the prefent
critical conjua:lui-e, it is :he himiden duty of this
Hoote to co-opetate with iii. Maiemty, amid to contti•
kite every means in its power towards dude moil.
im-iirtamt objefh. In cialtid:ting time firfi of theft
viz. the Di... ice and Si.cumity of the United
we omit t.,ee confideration the ,
of detca:z which we at this moment ell-
;"..! Y..: m id have tctiirsm.cm: to the prefsnt firms.'
catrny, ;sin) to ti:: J.:Lunt Stations

ate.ot tine moil impirlnce to defend. I can-
.
noi but exprefs my conviZtion, eh kdeittierat6
of the ::hole inbjeCl, that (bine additional Cote, nr
rather a very conlideiAle tehdurcement, is .Isighiy
advifa.ble at the picliat trills., I fpeak with re 7
fercnre to the extraordinary times and the extraor-
dinary am aCter of that perfon who hat tow be-
come the fole difpofer of the power of France. At
other times, and under ocher eircuniftann?s, were
we menaced with war, or actually engaged in it, i
certainly would not hefir.ate to expel's my (pinion,
that, with a force F.milar to what we at prefect poi-
refs, we lhould be entitled to look with contempt upon
the means ufcd by the enemy to harrals us, by every
effort in their power, and even their threatening us
with invation. I mean to fay that., when fpeaking, of
the ordinary dangers of war, as in former years,
ta,coo men in Great Britain and Ireland, when ufed
as a fupplementary force, A:ould he amply
to thwart all the preparations and machinations of
our moll implacable enemy. Sir, I repeat it, as I
with to imprefs it upon the linzife, that :o oth.:i. times,
and under other circiinnLances, tlfieT•deu ,s see at pre-
fent are, we lhould have beenjuitidcd in looking upon
the preparations of the foe with fcorn and contempt.
We lhould have been juilitied in contemplating our
enemies as men who could not dare to quit their
is or Prong holds in their own country, in order to
invade us in ours. without the abfolute and imminent
danger of their veffels being dafhcd to pieces on our
(bores, and themfeives crulhed under the arms (lour
brave and loyal countrymen, amply prepa:ed to re-
ceive them. But Sir, thefe are times, in my opinion,
very different indeed from all others to which I allude.
We have at prefent a molt daring and audacious foe,
whofe aims have long been bent towards the lithvertion
If our enviable contlitution, and towards the ruin of
nur independence as a Sta:e. Ido not deny the poflibi-
lity of a certain number of men being atnally thrown
upon our Mild. I do not doubt that Inch an at-
tempt will really be made upon this country, and I
have no reafnn to doubt that the ultimate event will be
fuel) as I have dcfctibed. So far, Sir, from polfeffing
too much confidence in our own arength, and fop.
poling that the enemy will not be rafh enough to at-
temnt an invafion of thefe realms, I am juilified in
confideting them ferions in their threatcn:ngs, and I
have every rearm to think that ultimately the event
is likely to be limilar to what I have deferibed.—
When I confider the threatening. of the enemy againft
this powerful Nati,,n, I cannot but Emile at their ex-
treme audacity. I myfelf, Sir, have no doubt that
the raihnefs of the enemy, with the means which they
puffers, and which they may have in contemplation
to employ, in order to enable them to carry into exe-
cution their Wage towards this Country, as planned
by the Fiat Conftd, will be deemed by the French
Generals themfelves, who have folicited the honour
of accompanying him in his expedition, to be a NIT.% e
no Ids tremendous than that of the Styx Ufa—

Brabant wants prima tradmittt re curium,
Tendtbautqut mantis ripe ultcriuris amore.

Feta obftant, triftique ralus Intrabilis unda
ligat, at maks Styx isterfafa coercet—
[A cry of bear! Lear!)
This veffel which carried the G:eat Chief Contirl of
France, was to convey to Op_ (bore of this threatened
land the deatny and the verjvance of France, as we
were pompoufly informed brtheni. What the dediny
of France may be, he could not pretend to calculate,
nor was that the province of man; that defliny was
id the hand of the Almighty Difpofer of events, who
brings forth good out of evil, and who in due fealon
will order all things for the bed. The tielliny. of
France, like all other events in the womb of time,
would ultimately produce good, and he prayed God
for its arrival, and that it might among other good
effeas give freedom and happinefs to that at prefent
moll :inferable part of the human race ; to them be
willed freedom, and to the red of mankind whom
they are now didurbing, tranquillity and peace.
So much for the delliny of France. The oth-ar parts
of the cargo of this Ihip which was to be thus highly
honoured were compored of the retwanee of France,
or to fpeak more correaly the *fire of the Chief Cos.
fid of Peon-4 which was for vengeance moll certain-
ly. The defigns of that, fiugular charaEter were no
lets than hodile, not only to the independence but to
the very exiftence of this country ; that had already
been too clearly developed to need any further ex•
planation. It was clearly his wills to deflroy this
country altogether as a nation, and it was beyond a
doubt, that nothing fhort of the degradation of the
Britifh name, and annihilation of the Britilh Power
could yield him fatisfaftion. This was his objea,
to this his plans were direacel ; butt with what views
of rationality as to the prebabiiity of fuccef-, he
would not undertake to date—that was beyead his
power, for to him it Was inconceivable how any ra-
tional hopes could be entertained of fucces by the
Chief Confal, in filch an undertaking ; to him, com-
paring the means with the end, the whole plan ap•
peared to be the effet of wounded pride, and the
workings of a mind entirely ahforbed in ate contem-
plation of perfonal vanity and falle glrry, aid not
that fpecies of ardour which leads great Contntandir.s
to great atchievements,with a aka. to the is ad % an-
tages or real benefits of the pelle w horn they govcr it:
But though the ruling pathon and thc woe Lungs rf
the mind of the Chief Conful of France be fo !ego•
lar and irrational. and much too eatraio dinar y to be
ultimate 4 fuccthful, and more likely to he &dine-
tive to our enemies than to us, yet it was nrt thc Li
neeettuy for us to be perfealy prepared against thee
irregular, but violent and temp. warily &Alive work-
ings of that mind, agaiutl tht.te rms. s militar y
fury, basing the la esent t!ieation of a great nli.iraty
force. When wt. heard Out whOlearmt:::, ;end ticets
to hack thole arru.:s, arc to he prepared to invade its,
we molt be prepare' to meet them. Wii:n we 'sere
told that this might be done, we ought to he prepar-
ed for the word that could happen, for it was certain
that a few thosafand men might he thrown up.n, our
(bore for the purpole of bringing to us thofe horror,
from which this country had been a long time mod
happily free, and wholly exempted. It became the
duty of the State to leave nothiiig to chance, althougl,
ail the chances were in our favour, hut nn the con-
trary, to be prepaicd for the word of all prillbie
event., and to take every polfible precaution ; and
upon that principle ha was ready tn.t.imit,it appeared
expedient that a cor,:iderahle reiaforeement datuld
take place: neon that principle, and upon that onl.,
he Ihuseld pupae, in additioa to the amount of ts.:r
army at piekitt ra;ted, and raiiit.g, an Arnie of Re-
tcrve et 4a er nic,t, L. iiiaial.chAtel.) railed

and fertliw!.Ch eirtnne,l, 4rd 15rmi,2,1.0. into Or:
Now, up-ir the bit confider ati...r h.: h.r:l SC.In
give to Cie lubjeo, and' ,hat was iin.o.de.l 0p..,
beg nlilibl-y opi.tions he had been able racolleo, a:•
they were perf.eoy ref-per:lloc, lae t!),lught he iri;,• -
Rate to tLeel.rninittee, with hopes of its approba:ii•:
that of the force now to be raiied to crate an Arr.,
of Relent, besaifed ly'Grat Mita :
and re,occ for Ireland. This force lhould
brqqght together, and it was to be rm.! :
tfie command of Military ()Slicers, appointed by
Mileft.y, as hi thould Rate hereafter—to be a boo,.
of Referve, and ready to :v0 as iteration (hall
quire in any part of the United Kingdom, to form
its mot& iroprrtant Aectit itv, and to enable his M.,
jelly to make use of hi, Regular Forces for fucla
oadfive Military operations as may be deemed ex.
pcdient that brought him to the fecund part
of his Majetty's molt Gracious MelErge
body would admit the gre.,%tt diepnlabie Force we
could have at the commencement of auy War Irina,
under our prelent Syllem, be fubjea to
much inconvenience. It was indeed much to 'be
lamented, that at the Comm. neement of every Wa.t
in which this Country bad been engaged, the di:,
pdable Military F.ece had not been espial to ric-
Bethasicea, or our other Exertions. We had not bee,
Able to make our Maary Force keep relative
with our Navy, which war. an.,sv much .fiver;or t
every other Power on the Globe : and !acre he me
be permitted to fay, that our Military ly teen) ?nal
altogether undergo revifinn, for molt certainly
was nut at prennt, nor had in modern times evci
been eval to the real Power of the Country to Lai
and fuppnrt it ;—at gr:faxt we had not that Fore: t,
the extent he could t.lilt : he thought that the who:,
of the ly Item lhould be lorded, and every part of
probed to the bottom. Speralti.,g from his %values, h.)
would lay, that Parliament ought not to fepara-1
without adopting Come new regulatinn upon this fla!
jed ; but then, upon rclesfeit.n, it mull be allows,
that this was a very great and important, and in mant
points perhaps difficult fabjen, that it required greu
examination and much thought, a great deal of time
and could not he difirofeel of haftily, in a word, •
was a work which could only be accompfifhed in tim
of profound Peace and ?erica quiet. The permaner;
anterefle of this Country requited that this .fobjee
whenever it was dilcurfest !Mould he difeutfed full
and mria ferioully con iislerectand he mentioned it
with a view to theft obje,F.bs we may have tn
when there was leifture for that pnrpocie; hut to retro
to the Army of Referee which he pro-rof-d to be rail.:
now. There were, as he had (hated early its his A.
drefs to the Committee, three points to he confider:
upon the fabiea now lir:fio-e them, as eons eyed b
his gracious communication, and he flint.l
nntv take them in an ord:.r ditY:rent from what .1
had hated them already. 17,r tu, that that Force Ilion:
be railed as Ipeedily as pu-;7.1b1e ; fecondly, that
fhould be extended over Great Britain and Irelam
and to lupport both parts of the United Kingdon
and to train it under the difeipline of the Revd,
force—The third principle for raitintr, thi: force W.:
that his Majefly's dilporahle force might be at I.
Majefty's order, where offenfive opei-ations ralght•
deemed expedient ; and as to raifinr; this Army
Relent, it was, in his opinion, prudent to have r
coutfe as much as poflible to tire ordinary mode: a
he now begged leave to t,o fhortly C.rongli the lee
ing beads of the plan 1).: was about to funmit to t.
Committee.—The firlt thing, he.had to Bate was t. •
age of the patrons who were to • compote this f tic
He propofed that they flionli be between the are
eighteen and forty-five, which is tire age to
the Militia are at prefent limited. The ex:aria:in
he fhould (late by an.' bye.—That this army v•h•
railed, which Ihould Ee forthwith, thould imme.
ately be affemblesl and putt under the command
Officers to he choler) by his Majefty oar cf the Ha
Pay Lift, and they flintrld be Officers of experien
and knowledge in the lerrice, of whom there we
many excellent ones. That the extent of the beady if
railed fhould be to Great Britain, Iretar.d, Guernl
or Jetfey—That the duration of the fervice thou
be limited to four years, or until cne month aft
a Definitive Treaty of Peace—That they fhould
railed on the principle of all Militia in Englan
by ballot, and that all the other provifions of t!
Militia Laws, be applied to them as nearly as pr
fible. Having (aid this, he flauuld elate to the Con
mime the grounds on which he fhould afk its appr
bat;on of this plan. He propot:d the principle
railing this force by ballot, be:lull: he was of ()pit
en, that it would be more Ipeedy and efficacious th-
any other mode that could b: deviled: nu,: that I
doubted that the Voluanteer•Service of tire Conner
may and unqac!tionably will be ?clotted to, to a vc
cosifiderable entcru, for he cnald not entertain
doubt, that the cattle in sclricha sit were now embar
ed, would excite in the mind of every man a with
facrifiee as much as be can for the genc:al welfart
for there certainly never was a moment in the hill()
of the world, where men were more called upon
arm aril fight, than Englßlansen were now call
upon, and the call )rte was confident would not
',lade is vain.—He had no doubt that when the

halt; t ant s of the Goh.d King‘fe)mes;me to look
upon the cafe, it indeed thpie was. ooe individa
among ns who had not &Inc alrez.dy. ;he welt
mitt stiiiingly make any faerifice that was needrit
in forpott the prefent ea•ife, fn that there mot/
he nu Joubt of much cfrential afiiiiant r in that e

..... _ _
(pea. He knew that a great Force might limn
raifzel in tliat niannct —lie knew there v As as mill
frir4 in the reork (f this kingd,ini now, ns,th.
ever ‘':.is in this or any rilier count, v. In the 6;
nti:ty”.!lions v•Lre in!
ned.i; but although he k,..ew th-it Le da
in 'lot way, under in eri:l7encv, yet lie did
•c'• k to i.lv oral it, an,l to the del
girl: e'i that eru.d necoglariiy vccarion, and he
t!:i....:.:.tvation. Under
/O. 0. !'.llli.ttn t 797, for the rain
er•l a ti. hunter it was espeacd that 7
men Ili. hz ntitcd, hot it did fn happen,
not 111,.Y.: than 12 nr•l4C. were aftnallr rail
So much rot pr:ient tnr die mode of railing t
be next point w3S the manner of providi
O.::C7TA lot thi, fotce uhen mired: no Erianwn

doubt thAt when a farce ef this kind win. rAifekt

was an•irripmrat.t part of the plan that fuels a f
ilgoold he under the command of experienced Ori.i.
o• the Army; a::d is print ..1 f Id, and a fa•`t s
known stria admitted now, we could not seen

i;i:Lijpic U. die L.4wr wiah rcy•uu

i

1

. . . .
..
praviding the Mi;itia with Officare.. He vatted a
fy: .k as he fel-, with entire rcfpcit to the OfPrers '
v.hicir wcre railed under the Militia Law', but it was
irnpuffible to reran to !hit principle in the prefent
inftance.—We had found it ompoffibk to find them
even for our prefent 70,000 men, railed by way of
Militia, it would theref :re be fruidefs to hope for
railing them in the manner provided by the Militia
Law. This had been found abiblutely impoffible
lalt year, and for that reafon another court for
providing Officers for the Militia mull have been
adopted, as it had indeed been already adopted. It
was mod certain that many excellent Officers were
now wholly unemployed, and we had an opportunity
:of referring to our Officers on half-pay. In addition to
'this, recourfe might be had with great advantage to
many excellent Officers, who had quitted the fervice
for want of an encouraging profpeft of promotion.
Many of there he knew would come forward, and be
ready on the prefent cccafion, and give their bell at-
tention to this army. He knew that fifty Battalions,
of one thoufand men each, would require a great
number of Officers. But betides the Officers be had
already Rated, recourfe might be had alto to the
Officers of the Marines, a body of Gentlemen who
mom many critical eccafions had (hewn the true
energy of Bridal Officers; be thought that many of
them might be retorted to with great advantage to
this country at this conjunaure. The EaR India
Service wool., alfo afford and render great aid, and'
it it Mould be ncceffary, further affittance might be
derived from the Fencibie regiments, which for die
Lit ten years had rendered fuck material benefits to
the country. The Recruiting Staff would alto give
effential affidance. The General Officer (Hewitt),
who was at the head of that Staff, was in himfelf a
holt. If the Committee flaould agree to raife the
army of referee, it would not want for able and me-
J 4000116 Officers to bring it to perfeaion. The next
point to be c.inadered was the extent to which its
cervices might be direfled. Since the Union with
Ireland. it was equally jull and necelfary that atten-
tion Mould be paid to that Kingdom, fo importantly
connedc.d with our own. It might be laid, why
fhould not the military offers of voluntary affi-
ance far that kingdom be accepted ? The reafon was
this: there had been a sneafure in eoiatempiation
for fimplifying and confolidating the general (Oleo
oldie Militia Laws. With refine to the mode of
railing them, it was, as he had already Rated, in-
tended to provide, that the men Mould be balloted
fur four years, and rubditutes until one month after
the Ratification of Peace; and be &mid propofe tome
(mail advantages to t.- derived, over and above what
the regular forces are entitled to.—The levy itfilf
would be thus divided, acatsoo for the defence of
Great Britain, and ro,coo for Ireland. The num-
ber to be railed by the fevers/ counties would be
31,0c0, nearly zhe amount of what the militia force
was at the commencement of the late Peace-3000
by London, the Tower Hamlets, and the Cinque
Ports, which latter places have not contrihoted to-
wards the Militia ; the remaining 6000 would be
fornlilted by Scotland, making ao,oco, and, together
with the force to be raifed iu It-elated, to,coo, would
make the whole force yo,ooo.—Duringthe war, when
K was found neceffary to augment the defence of the
Kingdom. the Militia confided of 30,y00 men, to
which might be added the (upplementary of 64.900 ;
total Englifh Militia 94,70o—Scotch Wilkie 6000,
which added, made a total of 1000300; and of 54,000
volunteer corps, made a whole force of fomewhat
more than a i 4,000 men. At prefent the Englith Mili-
tia amounted to 40,963, Scotch 8000. hippie:runt ary
24.c00, total 72,03 ; which, with the army of re-
fare. ao,ooo, would make a total force of 112,963
effective men. The eflabliflament of Ireland in De-
cember a Bot was aB,goo, at prefent 18,395, which,
with the i %coo army cf referee, would give nearly
r he iime hr. „her as furnithed in the late war. This
oft.t'l!flritnt will certainly require great additional
barth..-.s on the people t but when we (peak of bur-
the, ~ we 11111. i at the fame time bear in mind what
is the objta for which thole btu-them are jimmied $
they ate to enab;c as to defend this country lions a
fcene of pillaite, rain, and degradation, ruch as it has
been die ill tate sit other countries to endure, but',
which this cow': s for many centuries has been an
utter granger to.—." I come now to fprak ofebote et-
emptions which it wili be necelary to make. ill, I
prop& to exempt all Officers holding commiffions'
sn any regiment of the Line, or in an reginaene, of
s
the :•lilitia, whether .egular or fa watery. as
alfo half-pay Officers. adly, All refs members of
the Univerlities, clergy, and 'keeled preachers. As to
this part of the exception, although I fbould with to
except the teachers of every fat, kill we midi Lake
care that no fraudulent evafion i. made ander unjull
Pretences. idly, Clerks who have been articled previ-
ous to the date of his Majelly's Meffage. othly, Pro•
feaional fearron and feafw ins perfons,ardice.s, and
workmen in any , f hi, Maj tiy's dock yards. phly,
Poor men who &mild hare more than one child under
the age of to years, born in lawful wedlock; thigh*
exception Mould lave a man from liability to be bal-
loted for, but (horrid he no objeasiot to a habilitate. In
thefeexemptions I have thrown out gen-rally the claffes
• to be exempted, without at all ufing that accuracy of
expredion which would be necettary in the rirlls
which it may hereafter be proper to bring in on this
frihjeß. As to the Yeomanry and Vorunteets. al-
though I fhoriN a Mt to fhew as much indulgence as
partible to there meritorious bodies of men, yet I
think,, in the comae of lad war, we Sewed rather
too much indolgehee in oar exemptions. I !air k a
proper limit upon thin occadon would be to grant
rtztro:h ..s to inch as have been enrol:ed in the Vo.
luotcer C o pc previous to the 16tat of June, Igo:, and
vista,: fel-vows Ibail be as extet.five as the military
ttittriet to which they belong. If this mrafare, Sir,
v hi. it i 1, eve prop•fed, dull be adopted. it will con-
tritnc mod eocetitally to carry en the War with vi-
glom ,11.1 I occ as, and ;non relpea more fo. than by al-
lowing • it raider:tide difpotable force to take advan-
tage el es try favourable chance which may occur. As
to the particular fy it em of our military eltablielment,
perhar it will be necellar 7, iiktinte, that it Raoul 1 un •
deign a complete a evilion, and that the force of the
country lhail he railed to the 'tea of its popula
tion and refourees ; but at the prelate, I think the
r-ezfores I have propnfcd not only fn3cietat for
the (lettuce of the realm. bon alto to teach the Go-
vernment, or rather the Governor, of France, that
thia Country is not in that weak and helplecs fiats
that he has been taught to believe; that tt bar the
'neat,of driking him in very vulnerable pointsrtfor

• .
Ise has 'Own. punts), in 4 that.ho Volt.;
a war with Country he mug riot only till.: of
methods to annoy us, but 'null alio look at !ionic,
?mid confult his Own fafety."—The Secimary con-
eluded, by moving en humble Addrefs to His Ma-
jelly. thanking him fro} his_ gracious Melrage.— (ThuAdtbef; real an echo of 'the MrAge, and war car,ied
uua-
alto moved for an inflrunion to the
Chairman, to move for a Bill, or B lls, to be brought
in for the purpofe of railing in the molt fpeedy and
efficacious manner an additional force fok the fecurity
and proteftion of the realm.
Mr. Wiezman role and obferved, that the Right
Hon. Gentleman had introduced the cubit& with a fa
leamity !bitable to the occafion. He agreed with him
in the neeeffity of augmenting the force, and in the
danger and novelty of the fituation of the Country.
We were in a new Rite of things, new and unheard of
dangers looked us in the face, and it was neceffary to
recur to new methods; if we went on in the old courfe
deflruaion would be the inevitable confequence. On
this ground his chief objeaion retied. His Majelly's
Government was purfuing the old courfe, which went
to aggravate the evils produced by the caufe; and ef-
feetually (cried tocutup the army. This was undoubt-
edly the effelt, the regular army is not equal to the
Population of the country, or the purpofes for which it
is wanted. We had an immenfe Militia railed by
bountiehand now it was propofed to raife an additional
number by the fame means ; this he moil particularly
objet to; be difapproved of allowingeommutation for
fubftitution. This was a fort of railing the markets on
the purchafer beyond the price of the commodity.—
The mode which he would recommend to be adopted
was, that perfons fo commuting Ihould pay a fixed fine
to the Govcinent, and for that fum get a fubliitute
for the regular army. This would have the effed of
quickening the completion of a large regular force.
He wiled all fubflitutes for the militia regiments to
be abolilhed, as they tended to decreafe the regulars,
the only life mode of defence. He would change the
footing of fervice in the army for a term of years.
It was the fir; merit of a book, as an Author once
Paid, to make itfelf be read ; fo it was of an army,
to make itfelf effeltual. Much of the evil to he dre W-
ed on the completion of an army was great bounties;
and though men might enter for lefs, yet the recol•
lesion that greater bounties were offered from other
would operate in a great degree in regulat-
ing their eondua with refpea to the difference be-
tws.:n the Militia and the Regular Force; the latter
was calculated for any fervice, and the fir fl for nothing
but home fervice. Gentlemen were entitled to much
credit fir the very meritorious manner in which they
bad come forward to raife Volunteer Corps, and it
was no reproach to them that they were not able to
accoaplilh impoffibilities. It was evident from the
conflitutinn of a force of that defcription that they
never can have the difcipline of a regular army ; '
their officers were conneeted with them, and could not
have the fame afcendancy over them as thole of the
line. He mu ft utterlydeny,that, even for home fervice,
it was impoffible to trufi ar.y but veteran foldiers with
any reliance; he muff fill contend that the Govern
mint ought to lay itfelf out to forma regular army. He
might be anfwered, we cannot get that which is good.
It might be fo ; but then if they could not get the
belt, they mull put up with the next belt, and fo on.
If they could not get the marculine gender which was
more worthy, they mull be content with the feminine,
and fo on to the neuter (a iargh.) • He would agree
that the Militia force was better than none, and cer-
tainly within certain limits might be good; but then,
by making choice of the Militia, Government had
rendered it impoffible to have any better : when a
bounty of is guineas was given to encourage men to
enter into the Militia, and the Regulars only received
ten-guinea', they would naturally prefer the higheft
bounty. To be lure, he would allow a great lupe-
riority to be found in the Britifh Army, being offi
cried by Gentlemen : though it could clot be laid the
R cruising parties were exaftly in the fame predica
ment. The grealell problem to fol ve was, how to make
t%e whole of the force applicable, and render them an
overmatch bathe fuperior advantages which the enemy
would experience in point of numbers though he mull
could's. that Inch was his opinion of Britilli prowefs,
that with equal numbers no fear could attach ; but we
were sot called upon to calculate upon probabilities;
it was parable the enemy might land a greater force
than we could find immediately. In the cafe of in-
' vafion, if the y could let ashore too,ooo men, the very
population of London alone might thew them what
they had to expea, and what reliance they might
place on their hopes of faccefs : but in colitis/ring
this, it was neceirary to couple the feet with an
other, namely, the mere phyfical Rrength at prefent
on foot. We might look to the condua of Hanover
in that refpea ; the inhabitants of the Eleeforate had
furrendered every thing moll dear to them to the
army of General Mother. So true was it, that when
a forrefs is taken, a county fubmits. Inllead of
indulging thole hopes, it would bell becoMe the coun-
try to dilcover, if poffible, how to apply the phyfical
force to repel a regular army who may come to in-
vade. The fifty thoufand men to be railed was no.
thing more than a Militia, which he mull again re-
peat were not the real and fubliantial (aligner& ef
the century. Government would go on in this man-
ner diminilking the regulars until at length it would
be entirely annlbilated. They had gone on difroant-
rmg the Navy, and dilbanding the troops, and in Ids
then fix weeks afterwards they waked them back, and
indeed of reuniting their flrength at the proper
realm,. they bad delayed till long after the war
was certain. This was a heavy charge again; Mi-
nitUrs, and though he did not with to prels it at pre.
feat, lie mull not fuller it to pars out of his mind.
He would alit, even after this addition was railed,
was there enough done for the fecurity of the cam.
try ? The Right Hon. Gentleman talked of his r 20
sad too.ooo's upon paper, which appeared very
pretty, and like goods which were let for thew in the
'hop windows of the town, brit when examined, would
not bear infpeCtion. Mr. Windham argued, that this
fort of force was not competent to meet the enemy,
and recommended an army m main Thailand', he
obferved, would be willing to join in fuck a levy, and
march to the attack, though not in regular files, with
eyes to the right or left, and toes out (a Light. He
ridiculed the modern prat:bee of Britiih military tac-
tics, and oblerved, that in the War 14 the great Duke
of Marlborough, not much attention was paid whe
ther the troops marched with the right or left leg
foranoft. The prefent fyitem of French taffies, be
believed, was in the goat old-fathioned ft)le, they

. ,
fadveryjudicioofly thrown away tIQ hat of the
oat, and grafped the kernel. Something of this fort,
he was convineed, would have a Setter area in
fecuring the Countty than any other teaching the
provincials to fire With ball ; giving ffts:m a fort
of Clinical Lature, would have a good ace.—
(A laugh.)—He mull renounce that damnable doe-
tritte and heretical opinion, that the Country was not
to be told of its danger. It was a bad compliment
to the people to fay that early fear was not more fa-
lutary than that pernicious and deftrative fear found-
ed in the moment of danger. Time fhotild he given
them to Common up their refolutions. He had heat d
of many calms; the calm of fanguine hope, the ca:m
of joy, the calm of defpair and grief, and the calm of
thole who give themfelves up, and hide their heads
under the bed.clothes, thinking they arc fate if not
teen, (is reed kerb). Of a piece with all this was the
proeMon of Knitters, held forth in lofty and pom-
pous expretnons. They Teem to be doing a great
deal, with the affatation of bringing little before the
Public. This was the plats which, Bonaparte was
;milling, and it might be a gond plan in that who
meant to forprize, but certainly not in thrift to be
furprised. So an officer who expefted to be attacked
in his poll, and had received information to that ef-
fat, might fay to his Lieutenant in a whirper, w We
!hall be attacked, but don't tell the guard." Tbis
would be very injudicious conduft—lf the country
was to be faved, it could only be done by co opera-
tion, by a voluntary exertion an nrs He would
con:end, that Minters had feandaloully defer:ed
their duty in not bringing forth the real lituation of
the country at an earlier period, when every officer of
dillingaifhed merit might have given in his opinion
publicly, and perhaps have flract out fome plan for
the general farety. He concluded with expreffing
his determined hoffility to the meafure, which was
big with future evils to the country.
The CHANCELLOR of the EICHEVER ford it was
not his intention to follow the Right Hon. Gentle-
man through the great variety of obfervations he had
thought proper to make ; but lie would fubmit it to
the candid judgment of the Houfe, whether his Ma-
jelly's Minifters were liable to the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman's charge of bringing forward tardy and ill
con fidered meafures of preparation. It was now only
five weeks fence his Majefty's MelTage had been de-
livered to the Houfe, and within :hat period so,ooo
men had been voted, and the Supplementary Militia
had been called out. Therefore he thought Minißers'
had not preferved that kind of dignified calM which
the Right Hon. Gentleman would afcribe to them.
He difclaimed the imputation which the Right Hon.'
Gentleman would attach to him and his colleagues,
of wifhing to conceal the aftual Rate of the Country;
and the fats he had Rated relative to the increafe of
the Navy and the calling out of the Supplementary
Militia were fufficient to Thew that the afrertinn of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, that Minillers were fecret ini
their preparations, was quite unfounded. In addi
tion to thofe fate it was now propofed to raife so,ooo
men by ballot, fimilar to the Militia, and free from-
two great objeltions which that Right Honoura-
ble.Gentleman himfelf had frequently urged again('
the Militia fyflem, namely, that it was to be more
extended in its fervice, and that it was to be officered
by men of military experience; a cireurnftance which
mull fccure that difcipline which conllituted the life
and foul of an army. The propofed force, therefore,
was not liable to the objetions which the Right Hon.
Gentleman would apply to the Militia. Many of
the arguments of the Right Hon. Gentlethan be was
ready to admit were entitled to great weight ; and
if it was now a matter of option whether it was bet-
ter to have a regular than a Militia force, he was free
to fay that he would have no difficulty in preferring
the former, if in the prtfent circumflances it were
prat icable to raife loch a force by the ordinary means
within reafonable time. The greater part, however,
of the' objeffions which the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman advanced this evening to the Militia fylient.l
would have come with more propriety_in the courfe
of the difeuffions which took place IA rations upon
that fubjett ; bet, though the Right Honourable Geo-1
tleman now thought proper fo firongly to urge his
oppofition to the meafure before the Committee,
caufe it was founded on the plan of the militia, yet
he admitted that the railing of a regular army in
lieu or it was quite impraCticable. Therefore, dab
Right Hon. Gentleman's only reafon for declining
to vote ageing' this me-afore was, that it was better
to have the propofed forte than 'meet all—but. the
Righ: Hon. Gentleman's chief charge againft Mi-
oilier' was, their delay in bringing forward this men:
lure. That delay, however, was deligned with this
view, that both the regular and fupplimentary
tia thould be fully (applied before the balloting necef-
fary for the force now under confideration would
commence. Such was the motive which influenced
that conchia in Minillers of which the Right Hon.
Gentleman complain- 1, and the ralitude of this mo-
tive he fubmitted to the confideration of the COM..
mittee. Miniflers had proceeded by a gradual roc.
ceffion of meafures to provide for the complete re-
fillance of the enemy, and in a way which he trolled
would, on the fallen and fajta review, meet the ap-
probation of the Houfe. As to the Right Hon.
Gentleman's resin= of the Militia fyftem, he would
fay that this was not the proper time for that clif-
cuffion ; and he would ant the Right Hon. Gen-
tleroan how lie could fuppofe it pciffibk to recruit a re-
gular army to the number of yomoo men without re-
torting to means of compulfsun which he hoped the
Righ, Hon. Gentleman would not himfelf approve t
With refpat to the danger of the country he had no
hefitation of raying that he never underrated it—
neither in public or private did he ever attempt to
difguife it. He felt it to be of that nature which
could be contemplated without difiatty, bat which no
worthy or rational man could contemplate with indif-
ference. To the Right Hon. Gentleman's ideas upon
the propriety of railing men for the regular army foes
limited time, there were many objeltions, the forte of
which he felt, particularly in confequence of our Ces.
lonia] polreffi ~,,, ; for, fuppofing men were vilified for
only five or fix years, (and he doubted whether recruits
in general cared much whether the period was for
life or for a limited period) what numerous inconve-
niences would arife to the fcrvice, etpecialls where rt-
ginsents were Rationed in Americo, the Wen Inches,
or any remote quarter a the Empire. Perhaps id the
event of a whole regiment being ordered home, or
on any expedition, only the Ikeleton of (itch regiment
would be forthcoming. In ton, he remarked. the
(yam of the Right Hon. Cattleman fcarcely ever

prevau .1 eelin any nation which had colonial porn:Moor
and in thi country it would b: guile ;shard. Renr
ing to the me.,fure h.fore the Committo-, an I Co! o!
(creation of Ihe k ight Hon. Gen.,. man. hat it wool
create a eiffictilly and imi•co::nent, if n it an ;all;
mountable nbilacle in the way of recruiting the aim;
he would 'ilk of the Houle t r co; it• charac9cr an
objeet full), and if any better 'ninth! be funnelled t
prefer it. If any Member couid devife a plan
railing a force within the proper time by means on•r
effectual and contlitutirmal, he certainly ()mold err
brace it ; but even the Right Hon. Gentleman him,
fell admitted that it was my. tlible. Why then di.
he oppofe it ? But his opp firiln was not quite cr:
redly founded, for his arguments ntrally applied t
eat, ernes. He always dwelt IT.
tweet; rettilar ...soy toff the militia. and entirei
that middle cool fe between them which was p ecriel
the defcriptinn of the farce now under confideration
therefore the Right Hon. Gentleman's objeSion
did not firl&ly apply to this meafure. lie highly va
feted the fervices of the regotlar :.rmy, of which th
Right Hon. Gentleman had laid Is notch ; but boos
ever be relied on the afli',ance, or upon the zeal tin
exertion of our other forces, he begged the Right Hon
Gentleman, the Houfes and tits Conntry, to multi
Rand, that Goveinnient did not tr..an en 'rely to
rely on there means, and tl.at the p: 11 i nov
before the Committee was not the limit of the ar
rangements in which they meant to confide for th•
attainment of dint.... objefto 'which induced the cons
mencement of the wart for, independently of do
means already referred to, he had no doubt what
ever, that, mould ci coma-antes render it rime(
fail, the great body of the popolati of the coon
try wooll, upon an appeal from their Sovereign
Rand forward in defence of their rights and indepen
dente. Upon the promp• off:dance of loch a volun
taffy force he confidently reckoned—fuch a farce a•
mull render the count- v imprcg"able, and as' mut
convince the per fon who now tined, the Co.'ernmen
of France that it would be Orford to (peculate up();
a fuceefsful invation of this country. Perhaps it
happy for the future interests of this empire that thi
occation now offers of which we lbould decitivcl;
avail ourfelves, to thew that any projea, attic
I upon our finances and independence, filch as thl
French Government feems to entertaln, mull be rail
and futile. The Right Honourable Gentleman agaii
exhorted the Committee to look at the plan helot.
them,'to Alga any imptovements that might c
cur to them, or 2 complete fubflittite. if they mull
devife it. Wihout enquiring into the general fyi
terns alluded to by the Right Honourable Gentle
man, which it was not now necelTary to difeufs. h
begged the Committee to confider uhether the pia
fubmitted to their judgment was or was not fit to b
adopted in the prefent potture of affairs, and calcu
laced duly to fecond the other arrangements made t
meet the fituation of the country ? 'lf it nas f
thought, he begged of Gentlemen to turn in thei
minds, and to recommend the bell means which migh
occur to them of rendering it more effeelual, and cat
rying it into complete mcution.
I*. Pt rr exprefled his lineere concurrence in th
liR feniiment of his Right Honourable Friend (th
Chancellor of the Exchequer), and his entire apprd
bation of the principle of the plan before the Con,
mittee, but that he difapproved of time of its prol
Gone. He withed, however, to referee all difmaiG
of the detail for a future opportunity.
Mr. BASTARD animadverted upon the fendments
the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Windham) as t
the fyltem of the Militia. They were quite in cot
fonance with thole conveyed in a circular letter ad
dreffed to the Militia Officers (torn the War Otho
when the Right Honourable Gentleman was in of
The HOnofirable Member went on to vindi! ate th
principles upon which the Militia was conftrudeel
and cooelnded with exprefling his opinion that if di
French thould invade this ifland, every man in th
country fisould bear arms, arid that the militia fyile4
(bold form the bath of this general armament.
~ Colonel WOOD tirongly recommended the appoint
went of a permanent Military Council, in order
cfire;rt the 'conduit of the war. It was to a fimila
/Tacna of management. he believed, the lupe7:o
Vans of the French army, and their fignal fuccefs oiu;
mg the lag war, were to be attributed. He !ho igb
it would be wifer to have I large body of miring
railed than any other difpofeable force that hid bec
yet fuggeßed.
Mr. WINDHAM maintained that this was quite
proper time to urge his objeftions to the mature un
der dircullion, and to offer the obfertations he hat
made on the comparative merits of the regular arm=
and the Militia. I
. Mr. Pyrr difclaimed any intention of conveying ai
idea that this was not a proper time for the dilcuflon
Of the meafure before the Committee, with thole whj
might difapprnve of tic principle; and as his Rig',;
Hon. Friend (Mr. Windham) Rood in that tituation
his ideas were of coorfe quite cone& in point of time
With almoft the whole of thole ideas, however, h.
completely differed. though he concurred in the end,
upon which his Right Hon. Friend profeffed to fount
them, but to which, in his judgment, they did no
apply. He had Rated &rove. that as he agreed it
the principle of the plan before the Committee, he din
not think it would be junifiable in him to obtrod.
himfelf on the time of the Committee ; for as hi
only define was to render this plan effeetnal I r re
objea, it would anfwer of court.* to date his opinion
in a future Rage; but as he 'was on his legs he tool
occafion to fay that his objerftions applied to fume ci
the exemptions, and particularly to the propofal
allowing a pecuniary commutation far Cervices. f..
he had very ferious doubts whether it would be ogle
in any cafe that a pecuniary fine Iboeld be aeo-pled
His opinion was, that onleis the individual ballrottet
fhould have his fubllitute forthcoming, perland :sr
vice .bold be required. He declared that be fel
great fatiefaftion at the outline of the plan under con
tideration, and he was therefore cid-poled to give a
filent vote (if his Right Hon. Friend had not apricots
ceived him), unwilling to throw out any espredi .t
of difference that might tend to interrupt that unari
'laity which, for general reatons, was In motets r • to
withed for at this conjoneture, and which, he hoped
would prevail.
Sir W. Youno warmly approved of the Reiolntielt
mantes' by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. to
adopt Rill farther menformot defence, and hoped that
if the French army th,nold be rags tootle' to vii t
country. • hey wor=ld find a every 1%1141
to fly to then IsAYODaSo.IIIII7ITISBA not leti
with courage wan with Ikill. Linen est

4' 1