Star.
London, England, 1803-12-14 00:00:00

VOLUNTEER. EXEMPTION BILL.

The Houfe refolved itfelf into a Committee of the
whole Houle on the Volunteer Exemption Bill.
Mr. YoRKE Dated, that the ohjel of this Bill was
to r:move an inconvenience which had arilen from the
Commandants of Volunteer Corps being unacquainted
with the provilmns of the former Aas, which required
the returns to be made on the at of September. The
Bill goes to permit Officers commanding Volun-
teer Regiments to make the return at any time. The
next provilion was, that in cafe only a proportion of
a Corps should be armed and equipped, owing to the
unparalleled demand for arms, it (hould be impoffible
to turnith them all, the Commandant of fuch Corps
(hould be jullified in returning the whole fully armed
and equipped. The Right Hon. Gentleman here ob-
ferved, that notwithilanding the great exertion, it
had been found impraaicable immediately to fupply
with mulkets, Ike numerous bands of patriots who
1 nobly came forward on the prefent occafion, there-
fore fome had been armed with pikes. The IkEts alfo
required the muller rolls to be returned la January,
ill May, and the ill September ; and no Volunteer
(hall be entitled to exemption, unlefs he is out and
exercifcd eight days every four months, if in an In•
(entry regiment, and four days every four months,
if in a regiment of Cavalry. He was convinced no
Volunteer Corps would deem this hard, as there was
not one but whole zeal called them out much oftener.

Mr. Purr could not help obferving, that a Com-
mander of a Volunteer Corps could no; properly re-
turn his regiment armed and equipped, who had only
the pike and not the mu(ket, that weapon not being
ufed by infantry ? and again, if 25 only had mufkets,
he certainly would not be juilified in returning too
as armed. He thought, however, the general objeft
of the Bill extremely reafonable.
Mr. Roe F joined in the arguments of Mr. Pitt, and
inflanced the cafe of a Rifle Corps, who had pikes
fent them ; he nee not, he Paid, obferve how ridicu.
lousa figure they would cut armed with loch weapons.
Mr. Vox Kr, in reply, obferved, that it being im-
poffible to provide firelocks for fuch unprecedented
numbers, Government deemed it more prudent to
arm them with that weapon, than none.

Mr. PITT faid, it was immaterial to difeufs this
fubjea any further, fince it had been admitted, pikes
were not fit inllitirnents for infantry. For certainly
it never could have been meant that a Corps,
.armed
with pikes, flicks, nr pitchforks, could be returned
asarmed ;the mufket only being the properinfirumeni.
Dr. LAUILINCE 111fill:d that the arming men with
pikes, was not according to the interpretatioh of the
Law, and ridiculed the idea, that 25 men only,
armed with mufkets, would juftify the Officer in re•
turning too as armed.
Mr. TIERNEY, in anfwcr to Dr. Laurance, ob-
ferved, that 25 mufkets were not deemed by Govern-
ment fufficient to a:m too men, as he feemed to
argue, but fufficient to perfea them in their difcipline,
when called out twenty• four hours, namely, an hour in
each day ; and if he commanded a Corps fc circum-
(lanced, and found them attending regularly to make
the bell life of thole arms fur perfeaing them in their
difcipline, he fhould feel himfelf jullified in returning
them duly armed for the purpofe. He begged to put
the cafe profeS)nally to the Learned Gentleman :
fliprinfe a funor in the Civil Court, having feed five
Doeors on his fii!e, but being inclined to 'economize
in the article of br;,-.1., furnifbed them with only
one, he begged to all:, if the whole five Doaors
had read this brief, would nor ti.e purpofe be jug as
well anfwered as if they had one each i (loud lavbier)
After fome further craiverfation, the chant.: being
read, which was to fpecify the number of day s ne-
celtary fur V.ilunteei. to prove, by certificate, their
attendance opon drill, for eLercili.. in older to their
exemption horn lei vice in the Militia, and in the
Army of Referve,

Secretary i nerd moved to fill up the blank
in the former cafe with the words 't twenty-four."
Mr. ROSE thought there fliorild alto be introduced
tome Clalife for compelling, under a fine, not only
the attendance of Volunteers upon the appointed
dais upon the drills, and other field Periods, in
their rcfpenive cliflrins, but aim for the prefervation
of dire lubordination and refpc(f to their officer.;
tn.:fly inilances of violation to both, he was forty to
learn, had accrued, though certainly not under his
own oblervation ; and foch in(tances he conceived
highly derogatory to that difeipline which it was de
liious by alt means to maintain.
Mr. GILL: felt it neccltary to call the attention of
the Committee, as well to the number of days atten•
dance, which were now propofed to confhtute the
plea of exemptioo, as to what had fallen from the
Hon. Gentlem whit had jolt fat down. He c-n-
-ccivcd it hizl,!y dangerous to the Volunteer fervice
to alter, at tine time .•f day, the definition of what war
to he deemed an effective atteniixoce. Under the
former Mihtia La..v, the proof of .4 regular toren-
&ace for live , W 2, ail that was dexmxd nerttfary
to eat'rl: the Vrnia•lt:cr to c.-;crupa,i.n ; now tior. term
was about be exchanged, n, one ;nil:Alice to a term
da;s in the ) ear, and it thi, regulation lhould
be itlop:ed, a va!f t•trmlwr of r itt-dcers indeed, who
had entered I:11o.: tha; f:r vice, :tiait.r :lie co.r.p.at of
t'.c &Imo. 14.A.,`,,ti0nv, p;eiiF,ol t•• them up..0 the
-;th P... ;;:tau.r.:, dcpr:ccJ
ft,:,:t1:.1. I c ~irtptio; , t.i iin .hat
II • # were certainly er.wlerl ; and a. 01,l :.'l(lol7hre;flT
••• . • At . .•

fition.

of the Leginaturc. With refpea to the propolition
of the Hon. Gentleman who (poke ha, he thought
it wholly minced:try to emharrafs the fervice with
new refirietions efpecially as whenever the day cf
attual fervice ihnuld come, and the Volunteers flould
be ordered to march out of their diflria, they wou!LI
be liable to all the provifions of martial law.
Mr. Secretary VOR r thought that what had fallen
from the Honourable and Learned Gentleman cer-
tainly was entitled to an anfwer. He perfeely agreed
with him in the propriety of performing every pledge
of public faith to the Volunteer Corps, bnt, if he
meant that Parliament was at no fublequent time, or
under any change of circumllances, to have the
power of forming any new regulations necelEary fur
the better condutting of the Volunteer fervice, then
he could by no means agree with him. The firmer
regulation to which the Hou. and Learned Member
alluded, was adopted in a period of profound peace,
and with a propped to the permanent continuance of
that peace. The occurrence of a war, new and un-
precedented in its nature, certainly called for reviflou
and new regulation, if neceffary. If the Volunteer,
however, dad not like the regulation now propofed,
he was certainly at his option to withdraw from the
Corps, but then he would forfeit all claims to exemp-
tion, and be liable, according to his ails, to be
drawn for the Militia or Army of Referve.
. .

A very long and defultory converfation enfued, in
the courfe of which feveral Members repeatedly
fpoke, and to points not very interefting for minute
detail.

Sir WM. YOUNC took a material diffinClion be-
tween the old Volunteers, who had formed into
Corps before the Defence Mt was palled into a law,
and thole who fince entered, of whom, he contended,
that above three-fourths had come forward, not of a
pure voluntary intention to offer their fervices, but
by way of commutation for levying in the Militia or
Army of Referve.
The CHAMCI.L.LOI of the Excerciy la would ad-
mit of no dittinftion, and contended that the Volun-
teers whe came forward under the 43d of the King,
came forward, and he defired it to be hiflorically
Rated, with a pure, voluntary, and patriotic inten-
tention for the defence of their Country, and without
any view whatever to exemptions from other branches
of the fervice. The arguments fo frequently urged
by Members oppofed to the Volunteer Syftem, that
the Volunteer fervice locked up men from the Rehrru•
lar and Militia army, was molt fuccefsfully refuted-by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Role, the At-
torney Ceeneral, Mr. Secretary Yorke, and other
Members, who contended that no Volunteer was pre-
cluded from entitling, whenever he chore, in the Mi-
litia or the Line ;—and fome of thofe gentlemen ad-
duced leveret praftical and Itriking inflances to flew
that, fo far from locking up men in fuck a way, or
difinclining them to general fervice. their dilcipline
in the Volunteer ranks, infpired both officers and
men with a military fpirit, and had aCtually induced
the greater part of the numercus corps to enlii iu
the Line and Militia.

After a difeufGon tf much length, the blanks in the
Bill were filled up, agreeably to the origin4l propo.

Mr. Secretary YORKS afterwarcls brought up a
claufe for providing for the families of Volunteers on
actual fervice, out of their diflria, during their ab•
fence on fuch fervice, in the fame manner as the fa-
milies of Militia men. _ _

The bill was then reported and agreed to, ordered
to be engrolled, and read the third time to-morrow.
Adjourned.

LONDON.

FBDNESD,AY, DECEMBER /4.
PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONS O'CLOCICt
Confab fur opt 5514—Reduced 54—Onanium 6
4 Per Cent. 701-I—New 5 per Cent. 90i.
Loog Ann. 15 a3-t6i--,
PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY :
Bank Stock t 450 Long Ann. 151
3 per C. Red. Ann- 540 Short Ann. 3 z
3 per C. ConE rout Oninium 61 df.
. .

4 ~ Pa C. 700
3 per C. Ann au
S Pa C 1797 91 9ot

nglifla Tickets 71.
Cod. for arc. ss;+

This morning Captain BASSITT arrived in Town
from Lilbon, with difpatches for Lord HAWK ibIIURV,
and the Admiralty. Their contcnts Lave not trAnf-
pired.

Accounts have been received from Boulogne, which
, Rate, that there had lately been a mutiny among
fome of the troops there. The mutineers were not
quelled till frrne lives were loft. Three officers he•
longing to the 4aft demi•brigadc are Paid to have
been killed, but whether in quelling the mutiny, or
previeufly by the foldiers, we have not learnt. We
cannot vouch abfnlutely for the truth of this account,
but it comes to us through a refpeßable channel.
In addition to the account given yelterday from
the Captain of a Proffian veal, which left Rotterdam
fo late as Tuefilay lan, and which arrived on Satur-
day in the River, we have to mention the following
particulars:—
The general feizure of Dutch veffels in the Meufe
took place on the 2111 of November. They were de•
tached in little fquadrons up to Antwerp, from which
it was underßood they were, by inland canals, to be
fent to Dunkirk and Flufhing. Our informcr law
two divifions proceed to Antwerp, one of 40 fail on
the 22d, and one of to fail on the :3d of November.
They were generally between 3o and 4o tons burden.
At Rotterdam he left lag Monday so of the new
confirtifted gun boats. There were on the Rocks at
that town ten more. Thcfe are the vac': of which
he (poke when he Paid he thought them not rea-
-1 worthy. They are, according to his eliirlion, of a
moll wretched conßrutlion—(lightly put together,
and with green timber. They are calculate: to con-
tain a hundred men, but he conceives No tY the utrisat
they could Row. .

The public and accredited rumours in floHand
were very prevalent a few days before his failing,
that .tn attempt would certainly fuon W tosJe to
rad: :114 country.

He brought with him fir or feven parrenzers,
among them a Mr. REID, a half pay officer, his wife
end chili, who had lately made their efcape from Va.
lerciennes. The Englifh there are Rill very feverely
treated, and on a late application to BON APAR T E fot
common fuhfillence as prifoners, were very tritely
anfwered, that he confidered them as hollages, and
not as prifoners. Colonel ARSRCROPAHR (nephew of
General AETICROVTISF) and Lord Sop, ERVILLE, had
rendered their unfortunate countrymen great :drift.
ance. They had procured cloathing, and eflabliffied
foup•houfes for their relief, but without further affift-
ance even their h iends would loon be exhaufled. His
Lordfhip and the Colonel were both well.
At Rotterdam, the Captain lays, there were nn.
French troops, but in the ifland of Walcheren he had
heard from good authority, that there were between.
7 and to,ooo ready for immediate embarkation.—
The Rate of the inhabitants on the Banks of the
Meufe, he lays, is wretched beyond dcfcription, the
greateft mifery prevails. The peafants and Mer-
men are feen (trolling about as common beggars.—
all regular influilry is at a flop.

At the French coffee hnufes at Rotterdam, on
Sunday week, it was confidently Paid that feveral
General Officers of note had explicitly refufed to ac-
cept commands in the expedition to England, which
circumflance, together with fome political occur.
rences, laid to be in the North, had oecafioned the
late fudden and unexpetted return of Bowarears to
Paris. The public fentiment throughout Holland!'
and France is, that BONAPA ITS mull fall, unlefs he
make the attempt; and that if he do make it, and do
not fucceed, he is equally loft. The army openly mur-
mur at his delay, and fay, at the mention of his
name, It To England or the Guillotine ;—be has
told us he would conquer, and he mull." On board
this veffel there were conflantly two French foldiers
from the Brine, who were not only regularly re-
lieved, but frequently vifited by their comrades. It
was in this way they always (poke of 8011APAITS, and
by no means with expretlionsof attachment or efleem.
The Captain of la Proffian galliot, from the Texel,
which he left op Tuefday lafi, Rates, that fix fail of
the line, feveral frigates, and a large fleet of trail!:
ports, were apparently in a Rate to put to fea in as.
hours ; but how they were equipped, or internally
arranged, he had had no opportunity of judging.-
-He was boarded by Admiral THosssokoucies,
fquadron, all of which he fnppofed to be well.

Lord Sr. Vsactvir arrived in town yeqerday from
Brentwood, to attend a Cabinet Council.
The French Generals, MORGAN and NoGu s, hav-
ing been regularly eachanged, fet out on Saturday
last for Gofport, whet.; they are to embark for Mar•
laix. They are accompanied by an Englifh Gentle.
man, who is to proceed with them to Paris, and is en-
trulled with a number of letters to perfons in France.

A treafonable and inflammatory paper was polled
on a door in the city of Durham on the ad inflant.
addrelled to the Volunteers of that City, muting
them to lay down their arms, and not oppofe the
French army. A reward of too pintas, and the
King's pardon to any accomplice, is offered in Laft
night's Gazette, for the difcnvery of the author.

The Gazette all contains his Majefly's licence to
WM. Sruacss, Efq. of Adon Hall, in the County of
Worcefler, and sine of the Reprefantative& in Parlia-
ment for the Borough of Chrilt Church, to take and
ufe the addiiinnal name of Dot:siva, from grateful
and affeßionate refpeet to the v.ifhes and memory of
his mat rnal uncle, FaaNcis Pica, formerly BouasiL,
Efq. deceaf.A.
Monday evening, in a thick fog, in Dover Roads,
the Baring Esti Indiaman, ran on board the Admi
ral Colpoys, outward bound Welt Indiaman, by which
the latter lilt her mizen malt .incl bowfprit, but is
brought into the Downs.
jEItnME BoNAPARTI.—A letter date 4 Philadelphia,
Nov. 5, to a Merchant in Liverpool, Pays—" JERO/43
BoNAPARTE has married Mifs PATTFRSON, daughter
of Mr. WM. PATTIR sow, of ; he has veil-
ed 80,00 dollars in the Bank iif Baltimore, and re-
port lays, his brother allows him ►o.Do dollars per
week."

The following article, however, of a later date,
gives a different account of this affair :
" PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12.
NAPAITE. %%1101T1 the Foreign Journals have
of in various ways, has been a confirm rein'
ever fince his fiat arrival. Having long
gallant of our firft-rate beauty, Mifs PATTI
cor.fented, a few days fince, to bellow her N
her Gallic admirer, and a licence was illus
form for the folemniration of their nuptials
morning on which the ceremony was to tal
the French Minitler went in perfon to the
Civilian, and in the name of the FiesT Coi
Mager, forbade the union : in confequenco
cence was revoked, and the lovers are left,
great mortification, with little hope of
redrefs !"

Coal, MAILICET, MARK LW, DEC. 14.--
Grain in general in good Apply, with form
reign arrivals of Wheat.—Fine Dint zic fet
per quartet.—Malt inclines down, as
Beans.—Boilers arc at lefs.—Pearls at
are in good tupply, with a few foreign, at
may be expe.!led.Fine Polatids at 275.—C
ticks are at little vat iatints.—fine American
at :ss. per band of 11 cwt.
Yellerday the LnID Maros ordered tht
F3t.tad to be continued.

The Lottery begins drawing on Mondry
of nest month. The 'rickets and Stampt S)
fc.ll::ig in the greaten variety of Numbeic, at 1
sot.'. Stare Lottery Office, No. 88, Cornhi
c-rner of the Royal Exchange, %%hoc the
ing Shares of the Capital and other l'ri,
fad there, are pay ii.g M full, without any
S;LCTEIC' At lA'SC GrAtit

awe' 13,-
re difpoced
(Went here
; been the
'EaSON, the • •
hand upon
ued in due
s : but the
:aitc place.
e preficlint
01ISUL, hts
ice, 'the
li-
Ft, to their
f Hymeneal
—We have
ne few fa
:tches 595•
do Tick
ins.—Oats
and more
-Other ar-
can Flour
ie price of
r the 19th
Shires are
If Nicuot rf
-
the
outßand•
lees Weir