Star.
London, England, 1803-06-17 00:00:00

mrirtgA.

Sir JAM es SINCLAIR ERSKINE prefented the Scotch
Militia Family Bill, which was read the firlt time.
Mr. B.towsi.t. expreired his warmell approbation
of the Bill, and his fincere vrifh that a fimilar Bill

fhould be brought in fat Ireland, which at this crilis
I would be not only defirable in a high degree, on the
ground of humanity and benevolence, bat extremely
important to the public fervice. There had been a
finular Bill enafted by the Parliament of Ireland
during the late war, which had expired, and which
law, or fame other for the like purpofe, it was ex-
tremely defirable to tevive. In Ireland more efpc.
dolly, where poverty fo generally prevails, and Poor
Laws do not exist as in England (nor did he ever
derive they (hould) the ficuation of the wives and chil-
dren of thofe men who devoted themfelves to the
publit fervice, was truly deplorable. They had no
other reroutes for livelihoW when the hu.thand and
father entered the army, ant went on foreign fervice,
but an appeal to public benevolence ; and to this was
it in a great meafure owing, that the areets of every
town were crowded with wretched women and chil-
dren, begging for food. Even chore Militia foldiers
who in the ha war had volunteered for foreign fer-
vice, the very moment they bad done fo, had the
mortification to behold their poor wives and infants
(truck off the allowance to Militia men's families ;
and thole who accompanied their hufbands with a with
to go abroad with them, had the mortification, at the
moment of embarking, to be torn from them, and
left to beg their way home, when the wives of Englifh
foldiers were fent with the means of carrying them to
their refpeftive parifhes ; and even to this moment.
Ireland was crowded with the begging widows and
orphans of men who had facrificed their lives in the
fervice of their Country. He fincerely winted that
Tome provifion could be made to alleviate chore la-
mentable circumaances, and hoped the Gentlemen
who compered the Government for Ireland in this
Country, would bring forward Tome meafure on the
fubjeft.
Mr. WICKMAN laid, that certainly the extreme dif-
trefres of the Poor in Ireland was a rabic& which
neither ercaped the notice, nor failed to-intereft the
feelings of the Government in Ireland ; and no man
would be found more ready to concur than himfelf in
any well digetted meafure that could be deviled for
their relief. If the Hon. Member would himfelf fay
that, he was now prepared with any eligible plan for
afreffing upon his own County the means of relieving
his poor, he would find him ready to fupport it. At
-pi dent, however, be fa* no immediate plan eligibly
prafticable for the purpofe, though there was one in
contemplation, m hich fo Coon as it could be properly
matured and digefted, would be brought forward for
coalideration ; but he could not confent to entertain
any plan but one which upon the fulleft deliberation
(bould appear eligible.
Mr. Maumee FITIGIIIALD entertained an opinion
.direaly,contrary to that profeffed by an Hon. Mein-
ber near lum (Mr. Bagwell) upon this fulled, and
fincerely deprecated the revival of loch *law as that
to which he had alluded, the affelfinents under which
were felt with femuch feverity. He trulted the Right
Hon Secretary for the Irith Government would not
bring forward any meafure upon this fubjed, until
he (bould have bra confulted the general sentiments
of the Gentlemen of Ireland.

Mr. WiLisaroaca rofe, and was proceeding to
fpeak on the fame fubjea, but was reminded by the
Secretary at War, that the converfation was irrele-
vant, as not upon the bill before the Honfe.—The bill
was ordered to be read the fecond dose to morrow.,