Star.
London, England, 1803-12-13 00:00:00

♦RMY FSTIMATtS.

Mr. Hoaitouss was about to bring up the Report
of the Supply on the Army Ellimates, when
Colonel Caawroan role, and obferved, that the
Committee was In long occupied on this fubjea as
Friday night, and fuch unparalleled talents difplayed,
that he did not think it neceffary for him to trouble
the Houfe at that time, but begged leave now to
offer' a few fuggeflions, which he deemed highly
reqnifite, for the pedaling our meafures of defence.
The fire which he alluded to, was the eflablilhasent
of a Grand Military Council, compofed of Officers
dillinguifhed alike for their experience and Minium,
whole co-operative efforts would give a vigour and
promptitude to the war department, hitherto un-
known. He was aware this might be refilled, on the
principle that it re&aed on the illuerious Perfonage
who prefided over that department, but he expreffed
the honell genuine diEtates of his heart, carelefs of
' what might individually refult; thofe fentiments were,
that hisßoyal Highnefs was unequal to the important
office ; not from any perfonal deficiency, nor any
negligence ; on the contrary, he applied, with an
affiduity truly laudable ; but, becaufe every MD was
unequal to it—it Will an Herculean labour fir any
'individual. It might again be alledged, thatthough
there was not nominally a Military Council, yet there
ezifted one virtually, 'ince the officers on the fiat
formed one, and were competent to give their ad-
vice to his Royal Highnefs, bat he contended, this
too was liable to exception, the current bufinefs en-
rolling all their attention, and precluded their in-
velligating radically the plans which might be pre-
rented ; he perfonally knew many of them, and en-
tertained the highelt veneration for their military
talents. He therefore carnally recommended the
forming a Council, not of controul, bat one for the
ex pref.' and only purple of confider ing various plans
which might be prefented, and how they were appli.
cable to public emolument. This Council would us.
turally have his Royal Highnefs for its head, and in-
clude the Ordnance Department. Thus a recom-
mendation from fuch a combination of talents could
not fail of carrying the greatell weight, and operat-
ing in a manner highly conducive to the benefit of
the State. Some had grid, that our military affairs
were well condated—eonduded with difcretion and
v giur ; but this he firongly denied. Here the Hon.
Member took a retrofpeaive view of the conduit of
Miuiflers from the fignature of the Treaty of Amiens
to the prefent period, cenfuring the dangerous con-
fidence bliniller. had fuffered themfelves to be lulled
into, and °braving, that if even the intention of
France had been pacific, it was incumbent on them
to maintain a large peace ellablifhment ; but how
much more to was it, when France early indicated
the had not forgotten her implacable hatred to this
country ; that aggretfinn after aggreflion was com-
mitted, and that the had plainly evinced her intend=
wa. only to vilify, degrade, and infult England.—
He had no perronal enmity againft the Miniiiry ; but
he was compelled to fay he was afhamed of their con-
duet. They knew the refolution of the Fire Conful
' meafures to repel the threatened attack. Heix,
to invade this country, but had not taken adequate
ke
in terms of eulogy of the Martell° towers, whi .he
(aid, were far preferable to low batteries, and inca-
pable of being donned ; and expatiated on the advan-
tages likely to emanate from throwing up numerous
, wiirks—a fyilem highly eßeemed in warfare, r pe•
raring wren ti rely as well as defenfivelband eminently
calculated to retard the progrefs of an enemy. He
reprobated die Bill's entitling the Volunteers to ex-
emption. and contended it was a great impediment
to the recruiting of the Militia and Army of Referee,
and a rneafure neither expeeed by the Volunteers, or
originally intended by the Legiflature. It alto gave
a dubious charatter to thole who came forward vo-
luntarily; for it was bard to fay. whether they were
impelled tor patriotifm, or by a more prudent deem
1 to efcapc the operation of the Militia and Army of
Relieve ; he thought this the only objetlion to the
I Volunteering (yams. The neat material point to
which be called the attention of the Houle was, the
railing large bodies of Pioneers,—own who greatly
facilitated the movements of osr army, and were
juely deemed. by &Ural Officers, the moll powerful
auxiliaries. Nor could be omit mentioning the ne.
caftity and general nfe of men armed with pikes, little
difcipline being neceffary for rendering thesis formida-
hi:. and when only in divifions their charge would
be il p-fillible.

NI. Rosa Aida it was cvidcat that the turn voted

for the Volunteers was infufficient far, taleulatingl
on the allowances made in the old eftahlifhment, the
Fefentium for the appropriation of the Volunteers
would amount to r. 000.0001. the deficit would there.
fore be confiderable. I-re next alluded to the fami-
lies of Volunteers : there was, in the 95th fedion of
the old Aft, a claufe, enading that their families
fhould be provided for in the fame manner as that of
the Militia ; nor could there be any difference of opi-
nion with regard to the propriety of allowing thii,
when the corps are called out for the purpofe of per-
feeling them in their difcipline, fince the inconve.
nience fullained by them and their families thereby.
is equivalent to that which would be incurred by
their being called out into adual fervice. He found
this very circuraflance to profs peculiarly heavy on
a certain corps, who. when called upon, acquiefeed
with the utmofl chearfulnefs and alacrity, and were
eager to demon(lrate their zeal and loyalty ; but,
when the nature of the fervice was communicated.
they unanimoufly declared it was impoffible to leave
their homes, without entailing ruin on themfelves
and families. He thought that tome allowance for
the families of thole who might be called on, would
have a very beneficial effed, and render them en-
thutiallic in their country's carefe. Too much could
not be laid of the noble fpirit which animated the
Volunteers : he knew one infiance, where 294 nut of
360 marched into an adjacent county. generoufly fa•
crificing their individual concerns ra contribute to
the good of the State. He walled he knew, there-
fore, if it was the intention of Government to provide
for them when called out; and could not help feeling
a lhlicitude, that if it was not in the power of Go-
vernment to remunerate, they (horrid at leaf' be in-
demnified. The Hon. Member declared it as his opi•
nion, that they might, when perk& in their difci,
pline. be permitted to return home for two or three
I days in the week, which would confiderably diminifh
the expence. He Paid. there was aot a part of our
coafi but what the French Government was well ac.
1 quainted with ; this was attributable to the negli-
gence, fome time fince prevalent in our ports, which
lluffered the emiffaries of that Government to efcape.
1 He, hionfelf, had witneffed an ad of this kind. but
acknowledged the vigilance which at prefent esifted.
The Hon. Member declared, that he had heard it as
the opinion of Come of the belt officers, that the Vo-
lunteers were as likely to render effedual fervice as
the Regulars. He had leen, in the thort fpaceof five
11 days, 14,000 collected from a confiderable difiance
Ito form in battalions, and he did not doubt but the
fame alacrity would be evinced at the approach of
an enemy. He was convinced that the Right Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Yorke) was one who would rather
flimulate than &pref. the Volunteers; and he was
convinced that, aided by fo powerful a force as goo
armed vetch, they would render this iftand impreg-
nable.

Mr. Secretary Velma obferved, that every poffible
regulation had taken place, and that orders bad been
given to the Receivers General, to pay fuch charges
as the Volunteers, when called into aanal fume,
were entitled to, for the fupport of their families.
Should it, however, appear to the Houfe, that Int-
ther meafures were neceffary for the relief of there
families, no difficulty could prefent itfelf to the bring.
ing in, and adoption of a clank, which might quiet
every objection, on a fubjea of fo much importance,
to aen who had voluntarily Rood forward in defence
of their country.
Mr. Pore Paid, the only queßion in the lag cafe
was, whether the allowance was properly fecured, and
at all times ready to be iffued? but what he role prin-
cipally to (peak to was, the miltonception that keen-
ed to prevail relative to Come former obfervations df
his upon the prefent rubjeCt. He was reprefented to
have raid, or to have propored the companies to be
colleted into battalions, to each of which a regular
Field Officer was to be attached. From this it was
inferred, that his difpofition was, that officers from
the line mould come to take the command of other'
officers appointed by their own choice. He certainly
never meant any fuch thing, he prvoted regular offi
cers to be tent to the affiltance of the Commanders of
battalions ; and that theta Field Officers or Adjutants
fhould be taken front Come branch of the regular ler.
vice. This, he believed, would be the wills of the
generality, if not of all the Commanders themfelves,
at leaß he could fay fo much for birafelf, and thole
others with whoa he had the opportunity of conver-
ling in the Dias ift where he was Rationed. He and
they may rarely fpeak for themfelves, without any
difparagement to thole whore fuperior talents or expe-
rience may infpire them with greaterconfidence. All he
required was, that this alliaance °mold be afforded to
thole who applied for it, without by any means impofing
it upon fuch as may think they did not want it. It was
not proper that a Field Officer or Adjutant fhould be
attached to every corps, but to every battalion of
moo or even goo men, and for ago men a Serjeant.
Major. The etre& of this mature he thought would
be to enable the Volunteer Commanders to difcharge
their duty more to their own fatisfaaion, though he
mated that at any rate they would difcharge it as
well as they could, and with greater advantage to
the Public. He would leave it to others to tonfult
the willies of the Commanders of Corps upon this
relic& and to ad upon it as they thought proper ;
it was (efficient for him to have thrown it out, and in
doing fo he had difcharged his duty without being
deterred from it by any tat& notions of (economy, or
any fear of its unpripnlarity. Refpeaing what may
be eapetted from the Volunteer force, he melt Rate it
as his confident opinion, that were they commanded
by well (elected and disciplined Officers. and Amain-
tended by Generals, who would rather afford them
encouragement and applairfe, than deprefs their
energies and fink them in their own opinion by inju.
rious companions with veteran troops, they would,
when occafinn came, dim ihemftives equal to the re-
gular regiment,. He could not, hoseever, help ob.
serving, that as it was inspoffilile to conceive that any
Englishman would Lot boldly face the enemy is hen.
ever he appeared, if the Volunteers were meant to do
no more, if they were only intended to at as flanking
companies, if they were to du no more Gran what
with their native 1014 and courage they could have
done before, the ryliern bad been carried too far, and
much pains and trouble had been thrown away. It
was in his mint hot enough that they knew how to
march, and fiic with a tolerable aim; it was much
more material tl,at they mould have instruaion
which fliluld enable Clem to al in the day of battle,
not merely as a pike of machinery, but with a cele-
rity, cies:tiers, s,tctiflon, which would E:ve a full

el e& to all their bpetottontt, and a tegtdarii y z., ,
'their movements. He lamented that they lhoola ,
reprefented, what he lhould be rill einely lorry to :In,
them in reality, no better than a let of pear-arts. u.,
the contra. y, let them improve.a.ind:ruakectchmertlideeirtaubhli
they can of the interval that rna y yet be left them; ai:.!
even though a peace Ifautild t;soii take place, which,
however, he had little hope
time, let them go on progrtiiii-ely improving fr•rm
year to year, lo that when the implacable enemy
may think himfelf again prepared to attempt our de.
firuaion, he ghould have to meet a brave and du. t.
plined forceable in every refpetrt to rival the regular!
tit punilhing his audacity. All thee exertion►, to be
fure, would be idle and ufelefs, if at lad they could
not be brought to be any better Oran peafants l but the
truth was in refped to the volunteer force, that they
had attained a great deal more than many perffint
feemed to be difpofed to give them cre,lit for, and
not altogether as much as our linguine people were
willing to imagine.
Mr. Secretary YOR Kt did not deny the advantage;
which would arife from attaching Field Officers
the Volunteer Corps, but the meafure a-'peared to
him difficult in its attainment. Of the Volunteer
force, there was fo large a number of battalions, that
a futficient number of Field Officers could not ;n
found ; and it would, he conceived, be very impolitic
to weaken the regular force by taking them from Cie
line. He had alio Come doubts with refpe& to the
propriety of the fuggeflion, on the ground of expence,
for it would be necelfary, in the ultimate view of Ore
cafe, to place them on half pay at the time of peace.
—He thought, however, there was no necetlity fur
coming to a decition on the meafure at prefent, as the
Hotife was called upon to give a vote only on ay.
count for the eilimate of the Volunteer fervice.
confefred, that he had thrown out but mere doubts,
and that fuch as they were, they might at all times
be taken into confideration.

Mr. PITT replied, that the opportunity of difinf.
fing them would prefent ;dell when the Rcfolutit.n
refpeding that part of the ellimates came to be read.
Mr. CUILWEN was of opinion, that the eapence in-
curred by the Volunteers was not an object which
caned for confederation. With refped to the diffieultr
of procuring Field Officers, he had to fuggeil, that if
an Adjutant, with the brevet rank of Captain, were
to command all the Captains in each Corps, material
benefits would be communicated to the fyilem. The
queilion was certainly of confiderable importance ;
he fhould not prefs the confederation of it at prefent.
but he hoped that Minillers would bring forward
Come general plan of arrangement, calculated to en-
force and arengthen the volunteer forceof the country.
The Report was then brought up, and the Refolu.
tions read a firll time. Upon the fecond reading of
the full Refolution, relative to the eflimate for the
regular military eftabliffiment of t 29,000 men,
Mr. Pirr laid, he viewed with great fatibradien
the amount of the force for whichrovifion was to
be made; but he wilhed to be infoprmed how the
at!ual deficiency in the army for general ferrite, and
the Army of Referve, was to be made up?
Lord CASTLIRLAGN Rated, that out of a force
of tBo,ooo men, there were 84,000 Militia, and
96,000 Regulars, and that the deficiency in the Army
of Referve, which might be taken at s 4 or ss,ooo
men, there was every lull hope of filling up, were
the country, feeling the importance of the addition,
to feu its fhoulders earnefily to the work. Out of
96,000 men, there were 69,000 liable to general
fervice ; and as to the deficiencies, he had the befk
grounds to think they would be fhortly fupplied.
Mr. Pirr wiffied to afcertain the amount of the
*dual force, and the amount of the force to be vot.
ed. His Noble Friend had mentioned 96,000 men,
which he took for the regular army, not including
commiffioned and non-commiffioned officers, who
according to the ufual proportion, might be elii.
mated at io,ooo men. Thus there would Rill be a
deficiency of 23,000 men. His great anxiety was to
know the mad grounds on which hopes were enter.
tained of having the whole of the ellimate of t amoo '
men completed.-
Lord Casrtraaaom eaplained ; and after a few
obfervations from Mr. PITT, Mr. YORK, Mr. BILACCIL
and Mr. Ft; ttsa, the fir a Refolution was read a fa
coed time and agreed to.

When the Relolution refpaing the elllmate for
the Volunteer Corps was about to be read a tavola
time.

Mr. Pier rofe for the purpofe of prang on the
attention of the Honfe the tneafures he had fug.
relative to Field Offtce►s and Adjutants, and
expreffed his hope to be clearly uncles-Rood, that he
meant they lbould be carried into effeet only in thole
battalion, whirl► applied for them. With regard :o
any unpopularity among the Volunteer Corps. it was
fufficient for him to obferve, that any regulation
could never be unpopular among thole who &add
apply for it thernfelces. He Was not defirous that
the officer, to be fo attached lhould be alto-
gether compofed of Field Officers in actual fervid
but of thofe who, tl gh not of that rank. were of
a Rending which entitled them to it. He wilhed
to know, whether a battalion of two or 7so men,
with two Lienterunt•Colonels and too Majors, could
not very well fpare the &left Captain for the ler.
vice to which he bad called the attention of the
Howe ? The only coofequence was, that by the
gradation of rank and fuccelEve promotion, these
would be ooe Lieutenant lefs: bot if Field OS-
cers in a proportionate number could not be found
in the regular army, they might be taken from
thole who had retired, and frr.m thoti -
been ii. the Ealt India ferrite An
indeed, been thrown out, that the al

would excite difconteat among the V.
the introduaien of there Meet,: but t!

was eaily removed

I

#

The answer arm

An arrange meat. denred by th,n,i c Ives,

upon that ground alone he Proposed it, cot
be loppofed to excite difentocr.t among. tl
general utility of the plan WAS undensal
Ihnedd not he given op upon light grog
Right Hon. Gcni;eman (Mr. Youta) ach
he felt the want of Field Officers in the Mi

(lively, as the fincc►ity of that &dentition et
doubted. lie ouglAt Rill more to fah the wai
in the Vt,liinteer C.orps. Wh,t was the
the Right li.m. Gentleman ? What ufe di

of cipe"tielice ? He did nt.:do better Fir

becalife he had dnne ill for the Mili

certainly wac w.t a proper tire to make of
figure olio* is had arijuircd. Mr. Pins

fe who had
3 idea had.
If rangemetst
lolunteers
the übjettifia
•at plain.—
. for k aS
:mild barely
them. The
able. and it
iota& The
isnitted the
; and
could not be
rant of them
e coadva
did be make
• the Valeta-
litia. That
of the cape-
r here nw