Star.
London, England, 1803-06-28 00:00:00

WOOLLEN MANUFACTURRRS.

Mr. WI macs role to prefent a Petition in be-
half bf a large body of perfons interefted in theWool-
len Manufaeures, and who compnrcd a large portion
of the induitrions Manufaaftmers of Yorklbire- The
Petition was of a nature which, in his opinion, de-
ferved the ferious attention of the Houle. The dance
in the Bill, .-eipeeting the ufe of Machinery and Ap-
prentices, againfl which they wifhed to petition, the
Petitioners were not at first aware was likely to affeß
them. —They imagined that its operation extended
only to the Counties of Wilts, Somerfet, and Ginn-
.cetiei. He begged it to be recoflelled that the per-
t. nc who brought fors: and the prefent Petition form.
tel a very confiderable and very relpeetable body,
n coll. Fled in one Town or one Manufaitory, but
over a large portion of the Country, and
r: titoting the larper part of its induarious daft. It
..te, itoteed, that they might appear late in their
•,r; .tt ':.:n Parliament, but the Houfe, he trufled,
indulgently interpret their condnet in that re
-1, as they had no means of an early acquaint-
ance with the particular Claufes and provifions of the
Bill. Here the Hon. Gentleman entered into a mi-
nute detail of the mamser in which the Petitioners
carried on their baGnefs, and of the principles by
which they were influenced—principles which had
for objett national opulence, individual comfort, and
focial happinefs. The prayer of the Petition was.
that the Petitioners.might he heard by their Counsel
againfl the Claufes on the third reading of the Bill, a
prayer to which he made nn doubt the Houle would
accede, when they duly confidered the nurnbcr, the
refpe6tability, and the particular defcription of the
pet lons who bad fined the Petition. The Hon. Gen-
tleman then brought ue :he Petition, and after it seas
read moved, that it do be on the table, and that the
Petitioners be heard by their Colloid ar,ainft the ob.
jeeinnable Claufes on the third rending of the Bill.
Admiral BIRK VAT was as anxious as his Hon.
Friend could be that (hi& *Juilice might be done to
the Petitioners, but he could not ftihfcribe to every
thing which hi: Hon. Friend had advanced on the
fubjeft. The petiti.m now ptefented was, in almoft
all its features, the fame as that which had been re•
jeeted not long finer by the I lot:fe. the pe.
who ,eTined t., he I.:tard at the B.tr f
t.r.e I ilufe, ha 1, in ;il:,,,Jy AL-2n Least: by their
CI MIL' :::fort! C..ll.lll;ltet. .7 ti, .y I,ad Cf• 111-
Thi!iloned a to act for then n ht. had appear.
ed an] a.ted shun caufe bs fors !Lc Cmtrittce.—
'lite Bill it.id I t tri helot: a Co!lttai:':,.. froni
ti.l 1.0.1 an..l -ca
i •!..rieg cvety n
Vet. al:c1 q.? Bill .‘.l 1;:a under the
ennfirkr.t.',,n a Conitt.:!•,e r G,rh .t 1,,,:•th .1
time, at..,:•.:rnia. v•.:5 !ride to Coln
lirptsl t. i it !!.it 4 the
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ass: !: LI, A- 1:: t••11:1,
pr..yer i • : ' o• . t
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eminent Clothiers; he reprerented 111,:m only as in
uttful body of manufashun.rs, which was in part
tor/Toffs! of a.. well as mallets.
Admiral Bs aan.tv was certai t, that though they
thould I e allowed to he heard by their Countel, they
would he unable to produce a new lea. He
thould their:fore move as an all::ntirrrnr, that the
latter part of the Motion be oznizt-d,.viz. that they
be heard by their Counfel co the third reading of
the Bal.
Mr. SPKNCER. STANHOPE Arli Mr. BROOKE raid a
few words, after which the quetlion was put and a
divifron called for on the propoled amendment ; but,
though firangers were ordered to withdraw, no divi-
lion took place. Mr. Wilberfrrce agreed to the
amcndmcnt,but left it to be underriond that he thould
renew his motion on Wednefaay rest.

ARMY OF RhSERYt.

The SRCRETARY at WAR moved the Order of the
Day, for taking into further contideration the Report
on the Bill for the Army of Referve. Before the
Speaker left the Chair, he Paid he would move that
it he an inaruCtion to the Committee to divide the
Bill into two. Ordered. The Houle then went into
a CornmiLter of the whole Houle, Colonel Stanley in
Chair.
The SF Cllt TAR r at WAR Men rofe and raid that in
order to fave the time of the Howe as much as pofli-
ble,
he would jult beg leave to point out the material
amendments hz meant to propcfe He firft adverted
to th:!claufe which contains the quota of the different
count Ls. The numbers now to be furniffied by each
county vary from thole diretted to be railed by for-
mer militia aCts, and the calculation was founded on
dderent balls. The number of men liable to ferve
ammimcd in the whole to 900,000, of thefe 75p,000
were liable to ferve in England and \Vales. The pre-
fent calculations were made on grounds more certain,
being taken from the late} returns of the population of
the country, and on a cornparifon of that population,
it was found the fureil method to take the number
of 84 in every to,ooo as a medium, and by fo doing,
no county would be charged more than 84, at the
moll, and 16 as a minus. The quotas for Scotland
were meant to be on the fame plan : but he under-
Rood the Gentlemen of that Country felt (rime diffi-
culties on the way, and he had therefore determined
to divide the Bill, and when that part which relat-
ed to Scotland came before the Houle, ice would be
very ready to do every thing in his power to, re-
move the objeaions to it. Scotland would furnifh'
6oco men, and the appointment of the quotas was in-
different at prefcnt, and might be fettled by them in
the manner heft fuited to the convenience of the
people of that part of the kingdom. The next
point in order, was that of the Exemptions; and in
regard to thefe he had a material alteration to pro-
pole. The 13511 had been originally formed accord-
ing to the Militia Ballot, from 18 to 45. He thought
it, however, expedient to look to the names of per-
form from t 6 to 45, who are able to ferve, and five
feet two inches high, who he propofed ffiould ferve
perfonally, or fin ef a fubilitute. He thought the cri-
terion fhonld be this, in judging of the property of
perfons, viz, every man above 45, who is affeffed to
the affelfed taxes to the amout of pl. a year, or up-
wards, Mall be liable to be ballotted, or find a fubfti-
tine. This will render it necelfary that the lifts be al-
tered, and the Deputy Lieutenants will be called on
to amend the lifts, by inferting the names of thole who
are perfons of fuch property as above mentioned, and
who are above the age of 45, and will sow be made
liable in confequence of this alteration. He then
came to take notice of the exemptions; and in doing
this, be laid the outline was nearly the fame as that
which had been purfued when the Supplementary
Militia was originally railed. He would, in the firft
place, propofe to take the day on which the bill was
brought in, viz. the 2:d June, as that on which the
Exemptions thould not take place, as to articled
clerks, volunteer and yeomanry corps, and teachers
in holy orders, who were regularly licenfed to preach,
and had a place to preach in. He had found out that
innumerable frauds had been committed by the eva-
fions of this defcription of perfons : but he was in
hopes that the means dow adopted were fuch as would
be effeEtual in putting a complete end to them. The
next in order, he raid, was the Volunteer Corps ;
and he propofed, with regard to them, that the Ex-
emptions (hould extend to all Volunteer and Yeo-
manry Corps, whofe fervices had been offered and
accepted before the Bill was brought in. Thofe alto
whole fervices extend to garrifon, cities, and great
towns, the names of fome of which he would enu-
merate, though he did not think it neceffary to so
through with them all:—thefe were London Edin-
burgh,Brillol,Liverpool,Glafgow, York,Leeds,Man-
cheffer, and Bit mingham. It was moll evident that
garrifons mu ft be kept in thole towns, as there would
be a conflant occafion to be palling through them for
the purpole of removing prifoners, and a variety of
other eireumftances which would require foldaerstobe
on constant duty, and where Volunteer and Yeo-
manry Corps did fuch duty, they would render it
minneceffary to keep our regular army, or any part of
it, from being tied up by fuch fervice, and were of
coolie entitled to exemption, from being lent to parts
at di ance from their homes. He propofcd that no
individual whatever fhould be exempt, unlefs he was
aanally enrolled before the day he had mentioned,
the and of June; but thole who are accepted to fill
t:p vacancies which happen in Corp., !hall be enti-
tled to exemption, if they moiler and excrcife two
days in a month, or a certain number in a fublequent
month or month:, as (hail make it equal to two days
in a month. "?'here was alio, he (hid, an amendment
%sill' regard to ilmt which lie !merged to men-
tion. The footiies of mile Non commitlioned officers
and folditts than be feppportel by the parifhcs, in
the f.Mc •;:aist,.:r is 11101: in the militia are : but in
add;tion to thi., there would be an aid in the fin:: that
was ttl bst p Iss s erfon.: rot finding fubllitutes in
due time. ~c was at la d intended to be heed
t 51. as he the :::z.pplcnientar y Militia ; but he mew
'lint eve; y person a. s' ell between 15 and
;, ii.. ie ;mhos e, who are uo::.1!.:d of that quail-
t Ira of opt rty before fia!emi, em renders them
li.i .e to suite rherrif,lve,, m•, .t lubli if me, if they
;a.; tit (!iP it in due time, ILA!! pay a tine of act. from
m• :am the p. :ec m.l 4 Ittliii:.ol.. 111.111 li.li be paid,
-n. t'rs,ier was to ;-(1 to the pai ill, in aid of
:I t, I'lo who p.:y rzsl. a dear to the
.:; :•..v .t esi m.,:mm pm op.a lion to the pa-
s.. the Bin alfo,
t : to rife men fir the army, by so-
-um my of ;any:. It had been laid ,

that great. crir.culties lay in the way' cif this, ansl lie
did not doubt the aliertion; much would depend on
the example let by Gentlemen in different parts of
the Country, and he was languine enough to believe
that there d i
:fliculties would loon be done away, t
Gentlemen would fbenudfly exert themfelves. He
then came to that part of the Bill which enaets, that
half the price of a volunteer (ball be paid to thole
perfons who themfelves ferve by ballot, to be arcer
tained and paid by the Deputy-Lieutenants ; and it
was aim intended, as a fill greater inducement to
people ballotted to terve, to give them a further boun-
ty of one guinea, to be paid by the Recerver•Gene-
rid. With regard to the claufe which enables his Ma.
jet), to model this army, and to officer it, he Paid,'
that no officer was likely to command in it, but
effeßive Colonels—not Generals, but aaual Colo-
nels, who are to take the command of feparate
Corps; the Field Officers and Captains to be taken
from Officers on half pay ; and there were alt.°
many very excellent Officers who had altogether re-
tired from the army, who would be invited to take
Commillions according to the rank they had formerly
held in it. The mode of proceeding, when thole men
who formed the army of referve witted to volunteer
into the line, was intended to be the fame, or nearly
on the fame principle as was adopted during the laff
war under fimilar circumflances. The regiments
were intended to be formed as much as podible from
the fame Counties ; and where the Counties are fo
(mall as not to furnifh a fufficient number, then to be
taken from the neighbouring and adjoining counties;
and as the regiments of the line were many of them
-called after the name of the county they were raifed
in, fo thole who volunteered from the army of referve
would take the fame name, and wear the fame facings
and uniforms as the others. As to non.commillioned
Officers, there were a great many Serjeants on the re-
cruiting fervice, who could be (pared from the recruit•
ing flaff abroad, and many Scrjeants and Corporals
from the regular army. It was meant alfo,hefaid,thai
no man fhould on any account be made ufe of in any
other way than that for which he is exprefily railed,
unlefs he chutes voluntarily to change. There were
two points he had to mention, which were, the quo-
tas to be railed by the Cinque Ports, the 'l'ower Ham.
lets, and the City of London; from the three be es.
peded 3,200 men; the number of the Cinque Ports
was 400, and he thought a,ffoo men would be the
portion of the others. As the City of London bad
a right to raife their quota in their own wayvhe hoped
the /dagiftrates of London would devife among them.
(elves the means of giving the utmoft and moll
prompt facilities to the plan. He begged pardon of
the Committee for having detained them fo long, but
he thought it would be bell to give them the leading
features of the principal alterations in the Bill, in
order to prevent any ads fire that might take place
on the fubjeft, by objeflions being flailed again( par.
titular parts which had been altered, but were not
known to the Committee in general.
Mr. PITT laid, that as he flood in a particular re-
lation to the Cinque Ports, from the fituation which
it had pleated his Majefty's gracious kindnefa toylace
him in, he could not avoid requefting the attention of
the Committee, and of his Right Hon. Friend who
brought forward the prefent meafure, to a few obfer-
vations which he had to fuggeft on the fobjeft. The
Cinque Ports, from the nature of their conftitution,
had always been left to raife their quota in their own
way. He did not mean, however, to Hate this_by
way of exempting them from the operation of this
Bill, but he looked on this as a new kind of levy,
and therefore did not know, that under this or any
other regulation, they can form a true judgment of
the true numbers which ought to be the quota for the
Cinque Ports; and he was by no means certain, that
.soo was that which would be fair and equal. He had
no reafon ro believe it would make any great diffe. '
rence how their quota was railed. but he wifbed to
atrend as much as pofGble to the juftnefa and fairnefs
of the proceeding. As be did not with, he laid, to
trouble the Committee more than once on a local
fithjeet, he would then beg their attention to the
claufe relative to the Cinque Ports at the end of the
Bill. By the Aft of the 42d of the Ring, they were
direeted to raife them as they chofe. but this was a
new levy, and made an climate of their quota on a
new principle. The Deputy Lieutenants were every
way competent in the different counties to the talk of
railing the Militia, and of judging of the quotas to
be provided for each, but there were no loch perfons
in the Cinque Ports. The Mayors and different Of-
ficers in the feveral towns, had always performed this
office, and railed their quota in their own way. He
witted, therefore, to apprize his Right Hon. Friend
and the Committee of thefe circumtlaisces, in order
that they might turn their minds to the fuhiat, and
prevent any delay which a milconceptiou on thss point
might occalion.
The SkC RRRRR r at WAR laid, lie hord lie had nor
formed the climate too high in fixing the quota of
the Cinque Ports at sno. It had been made accord-
ing to the fame calculation as the other parts of the
county, and there was a power given to the proper
Officers to alleviate any circurntlances that might be
thought to prels too hard on them.
Sir W. Yov Nei found fault with the number of men
fixed cn as the quota of the county r,f 13uaingham,
viz. 443. This county, faid he, had already raiii.,l a
corps of volunteers, who had agreed to ;;n to any tart
of the country, which amounted to Soo men, who
have already been out for the laft three wecks ; the
proportion was not equal to that fated by the Sect c
Lary at War, of one to lateen. As a Magi:i!m•-
the county, therefore, he could not avoid e kpreiling
his fentiments, as well as thole of hi. bro.brr Mato-
trates, and as this would probably ro,r be the Laf}
levy, he Thought the number of 443 was n.uch Liar
great for their proportion.
The S: ,extant. at WAR faid, the cot:: iv uf Buck-
ingham had been rated according to the calculation
of one to fixteen, as in every other county.
Mr. PITT laid, lie could not hot feel firon2ly how
rnifaie.ous this compcLition for exemption muff
prove ; if it was purified in, and be eiailJ rot c, •n-
-cebic how thole volunteers fall make the chErrrence
flirted by the Hon. Baronet, that it fluid throw anv
difficulty in the way of railing the fj men, accoi• I
dim• to a p normal calculation.

Air. Alderman CON:Ok fail, that as the city c:
London had a right, from their chatter, to raile
quota their own whether that r•A; t he Son ta-
Goo, cr 5.:3; he. could with that the ptoc,eding thould
take place in that manner which would hr m.,;1 vicar.
ii to th,-: Citihens of Lonavu. He

the 111,41 it Hon. rier.fleman would ag‘rce m cl.r!:t :1.%;
rirt of the Bill to a future period, till tit.:
(Amid have it meeting on tlit
'lle StottLrariv at Wax Lid, he had no olajenion
to potipone it, but hoped the Magiatatcs would Life
every poflible expedition.
The Lotto Mayn't laid, thought it• would be
much the belt way to leave ale means of tailing their
quo:a to the Magiftratel, and lie was certain that the
city of rondon would come forward with their qucta
is fuch a way as would be highly fatisfadory.
Sir It Buxxori recommended that new lifts fhould
be made out in preference to amending the old ones.
The SECRETARY at WAR laid, that new lilts were
to be made out, if necelfary t but where they can bo
amended, he thought. it world be more expeditious.
/dr. Etusos raid, it would be impoffible to amend
the old lifts.

Mr. Wu. SMITH objeCted to the propofed amend.
ment, to include perfons fo young as ;6 years ofage:
and as to taking away the exemption from perfons
above the age of 45, provided they paid Affe(Tea
Taxes beyond a certain amount, he thought it was
putting the qucflion entirely on the principk of pro.
petty : and on that account he could fee no reafon
why women who paid afraid taxes to the amount of
301. a year, fhould not be obliged to find a fubflitute.
As the principle now was, that the Bill was for the
proteCtion of property, and that perfon 1 fervice was
not required, undoubtedly all perfons poScffing pro.
petty Mould contribute a there of it towards railing
this new force : and if that was not the principle n
which old men were liable td be balloted, he thought
a man of 95 years was as much entitled to exemp-
tion as any woman. He was not fo ungallant as to
thy that every WORMS of property (honld be balloted
fur; but if the p6iciple the Bill went on war the pro.
teaion of property, all perfons ought to lupport the
meafure.

The SECRETARY at WAR fa%.l, he would not pro-
pole to extend the ballot any higher than to perfons
of fo. As to women being balloted for, he knew of
no inflance in which they had been called cn to fur:tills
folittitutes for the military fel rice. He now meant
to propofc, that all perfons between 45 and 60, pay-
ing the taxes already mentiontd, fhould, if drawn, be
obliged to &mill a fubflitute.
Mr. Wu. Saito, in reply, obferved. tha: Ladies
were obliged, during the lag war, tp contribute to-
wards ralfing the provilional cavalry.
General MA I rca se Paid, he could allbre the Hoofp
that men of the age of 50, if in found health, made
very good foldiers; and he thought the Secretary at
War might go higher than 45 ter men who were to
give their perfonal ferrite.
Mr. SHIRIDAR obferved, that he thought it would
be much better to extend the age from 45 to so than
to take in fuch as were between the ages of 16 and tat,
as in that cafe there would be a great nun 'yr of
boys, who were incompifent to else ferric.: rich
might be more effeaually filled up from t' .tbar
ages. But admitting that the claufe the 'else
place in refpet to (Lich as were between the -of
16 and 18, he thought that people of props: ire
the highell age, whether 45 or so,lhould by r Ins
be exempted; but all who had property abov: re-
tain Randard to rifk, fhould contribote their quont
towards the prefervation of it. He (aid there were
more men at this prefent time employed in ereaing
buildings about the metropolis, than the whole re-
gular army of Great Britain amounted to. He did
not know why perfons, exempted du account of their
age, &mild not have the privilege to provide a fuladi.
tote. Surely a man above fitly or fevetuy years af
age had vigour enough to put his hand in hi. pocket.
(Alangb.) Minifiers were not exempted, the Judges
of the land were not exempted. and furely no trifling
confideration ougbt-et this momentous crifts to exo-
nerate any man from contributing his finite torails
the defence of his country. With regard to the cai-
terion of property, it was ecr; evident; that theist
were raft number. of perfons about the town, 5h
either refided in lodgings, or cfcaped the alkaline
to that amount in come other way, who were per-
ftaly competent to contribute their quota. How
many were there in this Striation who drive the*
curride, keep their hOrfes, and take their rangeil
pleafure one way or another; and why ILOo
they be exempt t It was much better for loch pot-
font to make a declaration upon oath that they woo
above loch an age. and were not worth fo
fuppore soot per ann. Undoubtedly perfons who
poffeffed an income above that furs ought to pro-
vide a fubßitute. There wac one obfervation he had
to offer with refpel to the limitation of flu. which
was fico feet two inches. •He could not conceive
why there flsould be any fuperflitious adherence
to that Randal-J. We know (laid he) many great
and daring fouls that dwell in little men (tr leit,A)a
and certainly there were many people under five fest
two inches, who were-ambitious of (erring their
country ; and if they could not do it perfonally, why
might they not have the opportunity of contributing
towards it with their fubllance ? An Hen. Cattleman
had propnfed, that women lhnuld not be exempt.
This was a propotition he could never approve of.—
The days of chivalry were certainly over ; hut if they
were, it did not follow that we Iliould be fo inatteA-
tire and urgallant to. women as to make them raw
about the country to find fubititutos t and make them
fay, wherever they went—'‘ I warn* man for a fob'
Ritute !"

The StCRCTAIt at Wait raid, he had no °Nati=
to In the ages at is, below which perfons Ihnold not
be ; and from the Inggeltion of as Hon. Gale-
ral, br was ready to change the age from 45 to 50
up to which age all perfonsilsculd be liable to be bal.
lotted for.

Mr. KIN/lA.ID willed, that be('re the Bill went
any further, he might he inhumed, whether it wasto
Jc on the ct property, or of pet fonai fcreice ?By
;.ropoti to take aw.ty the exemptions from perfons
.4 above a ccrtaia age, who poll:Aced much property,
it would appear, that the former WAS the principle
and therchue he law no re.i!on why Bitty' and be-
ncheed Clergymen fhoold he recropted. If the Bill,
tiu.t.. went upon Cut principle, he gave notice, that he
ihouid move to exclude thole pc:Cons [tom eacniption.
Mr. liar oblerved, that the lifts already made
cot included all perfons from etS to 4; years of age
aol C perfor.s bet‘teen 45 and 50, and from that to
60, "etc now to be included, new his mull be made
on:, the elc2 of which would be the loft. of an en-
ai: e wc:k before the Bill could be carried into effe:s!•
In the yweCent critical fituation of thee sentry, this
d.lay wculd be an injury which could Ccvir !scum-

i~.

Lcs

rotated by any advantage tO arife from taking'
in a certain dais of men, whole numbers were fmall
in proportion to perf ns wl.ofe ages were between 18
and 45 years. He was fill more confirmed in this]
argument, when he confidered, that the defence of
the country was not to be confined to this meafure,
and that the other plans which would be adopted to.l
wards our defence, mig' t include perfons above the!
age of 4c, who mi,;ht now be refereed for another
lervice. He 'would afk, therefore, if it was not bet.,
ter to adhere to the original lifis, and particularly fo
when expedition' was fo neceftary.
Sir ROBERT BUXTON laid, that having aeled in the
charaEler of a Deputy Lieutenant, he could affitre the
Houfe, that the making out of new lilts was attended
with great difficulty and delay ; and fooner than the
relent meafure thould meet with any delay, he would
rather fee the original lifi (land as it was.
The SECRETARY at \V thought a lift of perfons
from 45 to go might he obtain'ed in a fhort time.
Mr. G. VANSITTART faid, that before the lifts could
be returned, the names mutt be (luck up at the church
doors for a week.

Mr. PITT again laid, lie thou,y,ht it
,much better in
the prefent meafure to at upon the old Ibis.
The CrIANCFLLOR of the Cxcni CL_UFR thought the
neceflity and importance of difpatch was lb urgent,
that the Houle ought to forego all the advantage
which might be derived from an extention of perfons'
liable to terve, on account of the delay which any
filch alteration would occafion. He %/tithed the oi
ginal lifts might be adhered to, on account of the
simplicity of the-plan, and the facility of its execu-
tion. Unlefs the Houfe took the hits as they now
flood, the meafure would be entangled in endlcfs dif-
ficulty and perplexity. But the Committee mutt per-
ceive Oleic was no accatioa for this extention in the
prefent meafure ; for no greater number of men was
prorated to be railed, than had been railed during
the laft war, from lids •saflly fimilar to thofe now
made out.

Mr. SHERIDAN thought the Colleflors. of Taxes
might give in the names of all thole who paid Taxes
above a certain amount, in order that they might be
included in the ballot for perfons who weft to procure
tubllitutes. . .
Mr. ERSKINE thought that the prefent meafure
ought to he carried into effefl as fpeedily as Offline,
and th zt nothing fhould be done to retard it. He
seabed, therefore, the original principle might be
abided by. There mei be another force as well at
this, becaufe the Country mug be defended: and he
had no doubt but it would be able to defend itfelf.
The original elaufe in die Bill was then fuffered to
remain as it flood. vi,.. the perfons liable to be drawn
are thole from t 8 to 45 years, without including thole
of a mare advanced age who Would pads property
to a certain amonnt.
-. Mr. LARTV/RIGHT repaid a Claufe to .exempt
' . :stain deli I iptions of licenfe el Preachers.
The CH a we EL LOR of the EICH at:Luta obferved, that
seas extremely neceffary to guard again(' thefrauds
many !Actions who availed themtelves of the elm-
r 'ter of Preachers, in order that they fhould not be
• ',able to be drawn in the:Militia. He recollefted the
..: eircun•liance of a certain Noble Perfen, who now
prefided in one of the Courts of Law, having been,
while Attorney General, drawn for the Militia. He
mentioned this incurrence to a friend, who Paid to
. him.-4. Go :aid pay a fhilling for a licence to preach,
and then you will be exempted."
The SkCISTARY At WAR (aid, the provifion pro-
• ' poled by ~a Hon. Member, was already contained in
the Bill. But he would move, that the whole of the
Claufe relative to exempting Preachers; fhould nand
over until the.report of the Bill fhould be brought up.
Mr. WILLIAM SMITH took OCCAIIOII to obferve, that
the Houle ought not to narrow the principle of to-
leration too much, and- that it was a fubjeft which
ought not to be touched in a hafly manner.
Mr. FULLIR th‘ ught the Yeomanry Cavalry, who
had afforded a great deal of fervice to Government
eluting lad war, both by their own fervices, and the
furnilhing of buries, fhould have a further time al-
lowed them to offer their fervices, and be exempted
from the prefent ballot.
The SLCRIET•ItY at WAR fald,.that in regard to
them, n.• better rule could be adopted than that pur-
fued in the year 1796. by which it was left in the
power of hi. Majeily to accept of fuck Corps as he
might think proper. • •
The C Ha\ ,FLLOR of the EXCHSCIER raid, he en.
Tertaintd•no &oh' with regard to the propriety of
accepting o: the he vices nt many refpeflable Corps
of Voluntee• s ; chat there were no lefs than 26,000
men in Setaland. vli le fervices were already accept•
ed of, and that it was only thntight expedient to de-
lay accepting of more ;n the prefent conjunflure, as
Government were tins% iilinp to take out of the popu-
lation of the Country their: men en whom the chance
might fall in the prefent ballot.
Sir Jam Ks Puy!.. sr s y °islet ved,that in cafe of allticl
invation, he fhould thitik it rag expedient to provide
that the fervices of the V. lunteers is general ought
to be extended to the Kitrclom at large.
Sir JAMES ST. CLAI; ERSKINE thought that fume
particular line ought to be drawn as to Volunteer
Corps, fo as to pr•event people from entering into
them for the mere.potrole of avoiding the ballot.
Mr. STVRGIS WAS (4' tlptnikir, , that the Cervices of
the Volunteer Cot es as they now Itivoki, were very
inefficient to the exigencies of the Indent times ; and
that they ought to be gt raly extended, Co as to make
them garrifon any place in the kingdom which ne•
c effity might terieire. Many pet Inns, he knew, bad
entered into theie Coigs for tl'e it.urpole If exempting
themfelvcs. He fugy-illed the propriety of altering
the date lions th- cad 'inllant to the 6111.
Sir WILL I 1 04 Or ARV lard, that is lath war the Ver.
lunteere were even be:ore.band with Government, in
regard to e %rending. thzir fervices of their own accord.
General T. Ilth 1 nls laid that lie was thoroughly
convel•eed, that ;here was no corps of Volunteers in
the kingdom who would not Frill he inclined to offer
their fers ice'- t.; any part of the kingdom.
Cnlortel R. CIL At% I Olt. prop .fed, that, beides a I
elattie ir. the P•il, ex:en wig tile Cervices of this re-
ferred corps to A.;: sat Britain and Leland, and the
iii.,,d. of Guerwcy and Jerky, there Mould be a
power to r'° them into re.,,tilar regiments. He ex -
i pi srietlgiCa; no p ice at the manner in which the teal
firoat.cm r.f the count, y ban hitherto been reprefen-
• - I. Tae dangercus lunation of the co.rntry had not,
I 0 ' • • ..;,colon, been evreiled in itillieiently lirong
:. • .. l'az-e woo i. t.... 1 a vets great danger of in-
s • , . ...any man had .ecti, as trilaad had occalion to

do, the natalser of boa's and veffils prepared on the
coatis of France and Holland, he could have nn tea:
fan to doubt of the probability of an itivalion being
attempted. The Rate of theft: boats and veffels too
was inch, that he really believed none better could
be huiit for the purpofe. The Mermen upon the
coati of Holland, men who were now at the difpnfal
of the First Condi], knew the way to the coatis of
this country as well as our own pilots. He was con.
vinced that the French had the means of fending one
hundred thoufand men to attempt the invafion of
this Country. Seventy thoufand men, in his opinion,
were a ftifficient number to engage even an hundred
thoufand invaders, were the campaign of fuch a na-
ture as that the ultitnate fate of the country depend-
ed upon the iifire of it. The reafon of this was the
utter impoflibility of bringing a greater number of
men under proper command in this country. He
wilhed people would more deliberately reflecd upon
the peculiar dangers to which we were expofed.—
" W 4: have a capital," laid he, " flawed within 7o
miles of the coal}, the polfeffian of which is not only
decilive of the fate of the war, but alfa he might
even venture to fay, decifive of the fate of the na-
tion ; (A ery of no! as!) I mull at lead be allowed
to maintain, the fituation of the country would be
really delperate in filch a cafe." All this, he thutight,
fhewed the abfalute neceflity of having a large force
confiding of regulars ; for men mull be acentlomed
to war, before they can be furpofed to be efficient in
oppofing an invading foe. Theprincipal difficulty had
already been got over, warn we had procured a let of
meir.placed under the Officers of the Crown, as thole
about to be raiild were to be ; and he would ark any
man, what difference there really was, whether these
men were put into the regular army, or continued in
the Army of Refetve, provided they were not obliged
to go farther than Great Britain and Ireland, or the
iflands of Guernfey and Jerfey ?
The SECRETARY AT WAR was not furprifed that
the Hon. Gentleman, who was a very dittingnithed
Officer, was not acquainted with the forms of the
Houfe, or with all the bearings of the different
parts of the bill on each other. The plan proposed
was, that his Majefty fhould hive power to dire:
fuels a number of the men as he thould think fit to
be enrolled in any regiments of the line that may
be deficient in their complements, but that the fer•
vice of fuch men was to be limited to Great Bri-
tain, Ireland, and the ill Inds of Guernfey and Jet fey,
except fuch as fhould voluntarily engage for general
fervice. As all the force to he railed could not be
abfOrbed in the regular regiments, other corps fhould
ex aecifitate rei be tormed, but all fhould, from time
to time, have the power of volunteeriag for more ex-
tended fervice. He hoped the explanation he had
now given, would fatisfy Gentlemen fully as to the
nature of the plan.
Mr. NINA uGH Tom rote to make a few obfervat ions
upon what had been thrown out by an Hon. Member
oppofite (Colonel Crawford) with refpell to the cap.
ture of London. He would alit that Hon. Member,
whether, if the enemy did take London, they would
alfo take the flee' and the fpirit of the country ? (A
cry of bear, boar.) There were men in Ireland, there
were men in Scotland, and in Englarid, that would
difpute every inch of ground with an invading
foe, and he was confident that before the country
could be fubdttedythete men fhould be driven into the
lea (bear, hear). He had heard much of the media-
tion of RufGa, of Aufiria, and PrufGa, but he hoped
no peace thould be made until our prefuraptuous ene-
my fhGuld try the experiment of invading this country,
and be convinced, by the refult, of the impoflibility
of making any ferious imprefflon upon the United
Kingdom, by an attempt to invade it (bear, bear!)
—lf peace Mould be made before, the enemy would
keep the threat of invafion over opr heads in terrorm,
and continue, perhaps, to hold the language of
dihfa-
tion, fhould we not be difpofed to funender our inde
pendence (bear, bear!) But the nation wo not to be
intimidated ; the people were difpofed, and ready to
give the enemy fuch a reception as fhottld convince
them for ever of the inutility of every effort to fob-
die or cnflave them ; and, if the Chief Confislfhould
fend his troops here, he was convinced that Britons
would be prepared to falute them, as the gladiators
faluted the Roman people.—Meritseri tr falutaxi.—
(Hear, bear!)
Mr. Wraquare laid, he could not approve of the
anfwer v Inch had jull been made to the obfervations
of the Hon. Member (Col. Crawford) He fhould
be glad to know the grounds upon which fech a cla-
mour had been always railed again', thofe who ex-
preffed their fentiments in Rrong terms concerning
the real fituation of the country? Did the pidure he
had drawn reprefent an impossibility? If there really
was a prffioility, it ought to be guarded againft.—
Ile, for one, was entitled now, as upon a former oc.
cation, to give his opinion upon it. He had already
faid, there was a poffibility of an invafion being at-
tempted; bat he was not inclined to think that even
the taking of the metropolis would decide the fate of
the country. He felt fatisfaElion at bearing the fen-
timents of the Hon. Colonel, and was glad to have
fuels an authority. He did not know where we could
recur to a higher—a perfon who had ken fit much
fervice, and that toe upon a large fcale, *as well
qualified to imprefs upon our minds a jolt fenfe of
our danger ; there feemed to have been a total want
of that fenfe of danger. He did not find loch a num-
ber of addrefres as might have been expelled at this
erifis. The people renew their dangers, perhaps, too
well already, and fome might attribute their filence
to that apathy or fort of defpair, which arofe from a
want of infficient confidence in them edges. He was
himfelf inclined to attribute it to naive and vigorous
preparation to oppofe our f-e,.
The CHANCELLOR of the EICHEOSER complained
of fome expreffions which had been made tdc of by
the Right lion. Gentleman who had jug fat down.
He had dune more than juflice to himfelf, and he had
done an injullice to an Honourable Gentleman
whole fpeech breathed-nothing but loyalty and infor-
mation, becoming the circumstances in which we
were placed. The fpeech of the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman on a former night, to which he had alluded,
whatever might be his feelings (and of his loyalty
and patrintirm there could he nn doubt in the mind,
of any per inn who knew the Right Hon. Gentleman),
yet the ketch cf. the Right Hon. Gentleman on that
occafion undoubtedly contained the language Gf de-
I think
fisondency. At the preent moment., hha e could not
it becoming in anyf Memhe.. Gf tt I loole to
make rife of language which might feri.e to encou-
lrage tle ambitious mini! of Bonaparte, alitady too

4.-Ir‘rm.

~~

much elevated. The cetufe ofthe Right Ilonoterab!:
Gentleman's opinions .was obvi. es. Thole
he was certain did not arife from any feeling f
may or defp:!ntlency ::: to the is.,svc7s of the c, not. y.
and he was flrry to find loch exp, lions corning from
1.1101 authorities. Such fentiments,he was forty
to fay, afore from a •ant of riatildence in the per-
ions at prefent compofing his Majcfty's Government.
The Right Hon. Gentleman, however, fhould recol
left the fituation the country was in when he:was in
office, he fhould compare it with the prefent, and le.
if the country was at any time of the late war in
filch a powerful inflation tOr nffenfive or for derenfive
Operations as we are at prefent. We had been no y
five weeks at war, and we had 9::,,re00 militia already
balloted for, and we were concerting the means for
railing 50,0c0 more with the utmori potiit,ic cTedi-
tion ; we had alto a number of battalions of the line
exceeding our eflablilliment at any period of the late
war. He knew it ought to be 4h, and our military
eftablifhment was likely to be greater. lie concurred
in the opinion which had already been given, that
the prefent plan was only the nucleus of a flronger ani
more extentive plan, which undoubtedly would be
agreed upon if the war continued for any confider-
able duration. He would ail() with to acquaint the
Right I-lon:Gentleman and the Il...11;!, that the fortis
we had already raiied were in fuch a (late of dilci-
plinc, and that filch meafures had been concerted as
would enable Government to have them at the plac,
of their declination in a week's time, and that they
would then be c am pletel y capable of meeting the enemy
in any part of the United Kingdom. Gentlemen had
fpoken of the means which the enemy pofTeifed of em•
barking a prodigious force from the ports of Hol-
land, and other neighbouring parts of their territory.
The danger of the metropolis had been alfo mention-
ed. Gentlemen fhould alto take inti their confider
ation, the very dillant chance that, notwithllanding
the great number of fmall craft they hod in their poi:-
, feffion, they would ever venture a great body of men
to be conveyed in that defencelefs Rate, from the
filcher of their own harbours, in the face of the
powerful navy which we had at our command. They
fhould alfo take into their confideration the very
great probabiiity there was, that, if they had the
hardihood to put to lea under fuch circumltances,
they fhould never be able to reach our coatis, or re-
turn to their own. They fhould alto take into their
confideration, that, even fuppoling they had made
good their landing, the enemy would then have to
contend with a molt powerful military force, and alto
with the Ready firmnefs—the cool and determined
bravery, and the well known patriotifm of Englilh
men—which would be colleCting obiacics in the way
of their deigns, and impeding their progrefa every
inch of the way from the lea there ; lo that even in
that cafe there was very little probability that they
would ever be able to reach London. The Right
Honourable Gentleman oppofite him might miftake
it for apathy, when we relied with confidence on the
firength and fpirit of the country ; with fuch a corn-
manding naval force as we poffeffed, we might with
confidence defy the world ; and when we contem-
plated the military force which Government would
now have at their difpofal, and the fpirit of Engliffi-
men, when rouzed to a defence of their birth right,
he thought it was not too much to fay, that we might
reckon with the utmoft confidence on their efficiency
to repel an army, however numerous, who might by
any unaccountable chance have efcaped the vigilance
of our navy. He did rely moll confidently on what
the fpirit of Engifhmen would achieve ; but yet he
thould think himfelf highly criminal if he had ne-
gleded an atom of what was neceffary to be brought
into ;talon at the prefent moment :—he (tumid hold
himfelf highly criminal if he had left a Tingle iota
our means of defence untouched. But he had thought
it neceffary to make a few Obfervations that might
correct the error of the Right Hen. Gentleman in
(gaveling that his fpeech on a former oecainn te-
fembkd that of the Honourable Member, which had
been received with fuch an enthufiallie feeling by the
Houfe ;--and alto that he might rescue the Honk
from the imputation of having changed their fenti-
ments or of having received twofpeeches of a fimilar
import with fetch oppofite demonftratinns of the im-
preffior. which thefe speeches had made on the feel-
ings of the Houfe. He had thought it neeeffiry alto
to prevent the tendency which fuch a fpeech from
fuch authority might have to cripple the operations of
Government.
Geueral TAR h stoat declared that he was confident
that both this country and the neighbouring Wand
would fight until they were driven into the lea, as
had been very properly, as well as emphatically ex.
prefled by an Honourable Gentleman oppofite to him,
rather than fubmit to any invader. He had on the
zeth of February lad, faggelled the propriety of ex-
amining into the flue of the army, thinking it belt
to be prepared for a Rate of war in every time of
-peace. But he cnnfeffed that he was ignorant of the
machinations of the enemy, he had not heard of
their expeditions to Lonifiana, doe. or if he had pot-
feffed the means of information which &Unifiers had,
by virtue of their official fituation, he fhould perhaps
have been more cautious, as he was always of opi-
nion that it was more neceffary to be guarded again(
a fecret than againft an avowed enemy. It did not
require any military talent to underfiand what was
notorious throughout the Country, that is, that the
recruiting for the army did not go on well fall win-
ter; it was alfo certain, from the returns made by
the War-office, that we had now a more effective re-
gular ft-nee than we had at any period of the late
war. We were about five weeks at war, and we were
now railing our third army. Ile did not think that
fuch exertions of Islinillers could be fuppoied, in the
lead degree, to favour of apathy. As to the confi-
deration of effenfive operatinhi, that required a great
number of men; and in his opinion it mull ftrike
every reafonable man, that it was more urgent to
think of defenfive plans fir(, particularly when we
hear open and avowed threats of invalion held out in
the melt unqualified terms by the enemy.
Colonel CIA U FORD plaferved, that fpeaking of it in
the mildeß manner, the peffeffion of London being
obtained by an enemy, mull be confidered as a dit
aitrous event, or even the enemy being in pail:Gen of
the road of Eller and Kent ; he therefore thought
that no Member fhould be cent-tired for calling the
attention of the Houle to an objeet which In immedi-
ately concerned their welfare. He would fay again,
as he had laid before, that he thought it neceffary
that we should have an army of veterans to oppofe
them and that it Inuit be disczcad ca: dwwad