Star.
London, England, 1811-05-15 00:00:00

would be attended with considerable advantage to
both countries. The union betweeu them would be
rendered firmer, and the power of the empire would
be consolidated. And whilst we were compelled to
continue our present contest with the Continent, it was
our paramount duty to preserve as large a portion as
possible of our regular force at liberty for foreign set.
vice. This could not be done effectually, u Joist the
present regulations confined the Irish Militia to Ire-
land, and The British Militia to Great Britain. He was
aware it might be said, that in case of danger, when
threatened with invasion or rebellion, the Militia regi.
ments had rivalled each other in their offers to volunteer.
This he had no doubt would be the case again, under
similar circumstances; but other cases might occur,
in which the services of the Militia might be had le-
course to with great advantage to the country, yet
such circumstances might not warrant calling on the
Militia to volunteer. He need only revert to the eir,
cumstances of the last campaign to prove this; as, had
we been able to send a part of the British Militia to
Ireland, a great part of that fine regular force con-
fined in that part of the United Kingdom, might have
been sent to the Peninsula. But it was not in a mi.
litary point of view only that this measure would be
advantageous ; he was of opinion it would do much
to cement the union between the two countries, and
in a moral point of view, would do much towards
improving the morals of the population of Ireland.
He was not aware of any objection which could be
made to this measure, except by Gentlemen connected
with the Militia of both countries. He was most ready
to pay his tribute of applause to the Gentlemen hold.
ing commands in the Militia, and he was convinced
the blouse would be most ready to pay every atten-
tion to their convenience ; and he trusted, when th, se
Gentlemen considered the interests of the country were
concerned, they would not oppose it. One provision
of the Bill he proposed to bring in would be, that not
more than 1-4th of the Irish Militia should serve in
1 England at one time, or 1.3 d of the British in Ireland;
and that the British should not continue longer than
two yeari, at a time in Ireland, or the Irish longer
than three years in England, and not again to be called
upon till their turn arrived. Another regulation was,
that none should be called on, but by the express desire
of his Majesty This measure, he trusted, would have
the effect of shortening the duration of the contest is
which we were engaged, or at least of enabling us to
carry it on with better effect. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman concluded by moving for leave to bring in a
Bill to provide for the interchange of the services of
the different Militias of England and Ireland.
Mr. TIGHE approved of the principle of the pro.
posed measure; but there were some circumstances
on which he wished for information ; he had heard a
great deal of the accommodation of the Irish officers,
but he wished to hear something of the comforts of the
Irish soldiers. Were they to enjoy their religion?—
At present they must, by the Articles of War, be
marched to the parish church every Sunday. If this
Article was to be enforced,. he feared, instead of in-
creasing the affection of the Irish towards this country,
it would have a contrary effect. Before the proposed
measure could be effected there must be a- Deelara•
tion, or Proclamation, from the Crown, suspending

that regulation.
Mr. C. W. WYNNE should approve the proposed
measure, if the House were now going to raise a new
Militia ; but when the formation of our present Mi.
1 litia was considered, how could we be certain, that
the Militia would volunteer their services; if some
of the officers should be willing, and endeavour to
persuade their men to go ; might not other officers be
equally anxious to•persuade them not to go ? In 1804
a Bill had been proposed, to enable his Majesty to ac.
cept the services of the Militia of Ireland, and an ex.
change of service was then contemplated; but it was
found that a majority of the English Militia were re.
pugnant to the measure. He thought the proper time
to propose a weasure of this kind would be a time of
peace, !!!;:n those officers who wished it might have
resigned their Commissions without any impeachment
of their honour ; and there would have been time far
the Lord Lieutenants, to look for other fit persons z.c.