Star.
London, England, 1803-12-17 00:00:00

VOLVOTIIIII lIIMPTION SILL:

Lord HAWKESBURY moved the order of the
Day for the fecond reading of the Bill to explain
and amend the two Volunteer Adts of the 42d and
43d of his prefent Majefty.
Lord SUFFOLK rofe, and addreffed their Lord-
(hips nearly in the following words My
Lords, I do not rife for the purpofe of giving any
oppofition to the Bill now before you, but with the
intention of (Latin g my ideas as a military man, on
the heft means of giving efficiency to a fyftem, of
which no one in the kingdom more ardently approves
than I do. I regret that the idea which I once threw
out for your Lordfhipt.' confederation, and which I
fubfequently fubmitted, in a more regular form, to
his Majefty's Minifters, I mean the appointment of.
a Military Council, has not been adopted. Had a
Council of that nature been dtabliffied, much of
what I have to trouble your Lordthips with on this
evening would have been rendered unneceffary ; for
as an Officer of confiderable rant., it would have
been my duty to have laid before that Council thole
ideas on the bell mode of employing the Volunteer
Forces, and providing for the defence of the country,
which my experience or knowledge of the fsbielt
could fu ell to me. Of the fpirn by which that
fytlem is invigorated and direttled, I, my Lairds, foe
one, think fo highly, that, could I, confiftest with
the military rant I hold, have accepted the com-
mand of a Volunteer Corps, I would gladly have
placed myfelf at the head of that gallant body of
men, who have been fence, (through the kindnefs of
the Lord Lieutenant) placed under the orders of my
only fon (Lord Andover). That corps, with the
advantage of only eighteen days drilling, under my-
(elf, aided only by a Serjeant and Corporal of Ma-
rings, difplayed, on their infpeiftion by the General
of the diarist/, fuch fteadinefs and precifion, that I
fhould have no befitation in leading them againft any
troops the enemy could oppofe to them; nor fhould
I dread a comparifon between them and many of the
bell regiments I have Peen, not even with the brigade
of Guards that I commanded in America. I know,
my Lords, bow to appreciate the zeal and patriotic
(pint by which die great mars of the Volunteers is
situated ; I know, that in combating for their Conn-
try and for the Conftitution, there is no fatigue, no
dangers, or no privations which they will not freely
encouriter : but I trait, my Lords, that the Govern-
ment will be cautious not to Cubica fo excellent a
difpofition to be unneceffarily haratfed, or called into
exercife oftener than it may Nit the convenience of
that body. I troll that his Majefty's Minifters will
not, for the purpofe of acquiring a difpofeable force,
to be difpatched, perhaps, for the recovery of a
country reduced almoft to a (Late of defolation (we
believe the Noble Earl alluded to the Eleaorate of
Hanover), place the Volunteers upon that fyllem of
permanent duty, which cannot be done without con-
fiderably increafing the poor rates, the preture of
which is already nearly more than the landed intereft
can bear, and to which, in my opinion, my Lords, no
additions can be made without in Come meafure en-
dangering the fafety of the Conaitution. I would,
therefore, my Lords, recommed to Minifters to
be extremely circumfra in their management of
I the Volunteer Syftem, and, above all things not
to Aretch the card too rizbt. Having (aid fo meek
with regard to that admirable body of men, Ilan
now trouble your Lordthips with a few words on
the internal defence of the country. I much with.
my Lords, to fee a central depot, for botb men sad
armi, eftablitbed in tome pan of this Jihad, from
whence troops; by the AG -fiance d light carriages,
could. in the fiance of thirty hours • be conveyed
tat'elny part of the coat that might be attack.
ed. I would love fuch a depot Aced in Come of the

connties that had alfo a great facility Om water c:.f.
riage ; Warwickfhire, for example. I believe a fimi
far depot upon the fame principle, and for the faint
reafons, has been eilablilhed at Athlone, in Ireland.
To this depot I would recommend that so or 15,000
men fhould be marched and exercifed for four or five
weeks, and that, as loon as they had arrained to a
foldierly degree of difcipline, their places fhould be
fupplied by others. It was by the introdaDion of
this comparatively (mall degree of military 4; fcipline
among the national guards of France, animated to
exertion by an enthufiaffis excited by every poffible
mode, that they overwhelmed the wretched machi-
nery of the Auftrian fatties. I would alfo recommend.
to the ferious attention of Government, the eftabliffi-
ment of a mode of defence fuggefted in another plate
—I mean the ere.aion of Monello towers, fuch ay.,
abound in the Wand of Corfica. It is a fait, my
Lords, that sone of theft towers was attacked by a
Britifh leventy-four, (the Terrible, I believe) corn.
manded by Captain Young, who, after kiting a great
number of men, and being thrice let on fire by red-
hot !hot, was obliged to give up the conteft, and re-
tire from a fort defended only by a Serjeant and s a
men, with one gun ; and it was not until after this
tower was regularly befieged, according to the ac-
knowledged principles of the art of war, that it fhb-
mined. The expence of fuch towers would be very
inconfiderable. The principle, my Lords, on Which
they are cooftrneed isthis i they are of a circular
form, computed of a fuldlantial ftrueure of mafonry,
with it at roof, rather a little inclined, and formed
bombproof. They generally contain one piece of
heavy ordnance, which may be traverfed in every
direction. There is afro, my Lords, another part of
our Volunteer force' which I thpuld with to fee con-
fiderably ftmngthened, I mean the Bilk Corps.”..—
Here his Lordftsip was called to order by
Lord HOBART, who (übmitted, with very great
deference to their Lordffii whether there was any
in the thing anal*analogous rations of the Noble Earl
.F 0 245,
to the Bill t ea before em ?
gad SU LK acquiefced in the Noble Lord's
idea, and 'mentioned that he had lately received a
letter from an Officer of high rank in Ireland, which
he would ragmen to read as part of his fpeech, and
the infayasat ost communicated thereby, he was cer-
tain, would afford their Lordfbips such fatisfaftion.
That excelkut Officer (related his Lordfhip), Sir
Eyre Carte, is a Commander of one of the dillrias
in Ireland, aad be informs me, that in a tour of sop
miles that he made, he-e-(hete the Noble Earl was
called again to order by)
Lord HAWKESBURY, who, fuggefted to the
Noble Earl, whether it was prudent, se either a poli-
tical or military view, to render the opinion of a Ge-
neral Officer public,be the nature of that Opinion stet
it may, whether advantageous or unfatidatory.
Earl SUFFOLK proceeded, and in a high Amin
of panegyric, detailed the Cervices of that excellati
Officer in Egypt, and particularly at Alexatdras
where, with ea* men, he blockaded that towns
containing a garrifon of z 1,,000 French—(when ha
was a third time called te order by) ' •
The LORD CHANCELLOR, who lid, that
unpleafant as it wits to his feelings, he mull reiriflS
for the fake of avoiffile that confufion which would
inevitably fault from admiffion of fuel; irrelevant
matter, that the Noble peer would adhere to the
fubjee before their Lordetips ; which was, the cop-
fukration of a Bill for the amendment of two Ads
relating to the Volunteer fyftem, With which be did
not fee bow the Cervices of that estimable Offteecii
great as they were, could be poffibl connelted.
, After a few words, way of apology, Lord Suf-
folk concluded his f .
Lord GRENV'I obferved, that he meant not
on this night to give any oppofition to the Bill.—
However &fattive it was, it was now too near tho
reeds to give it all the confideration the important
maim of- it demanded. His Lordfbip reprobated
the crude and balky manner is which Bills of very
great moment were frequently drawn up on the four
at the occafion in the other Hook, and tratifmitted
to their Lordlips fee their concurrence. Them
were two Ails for the naiad% of the Volunteer SA
tan, both of them teeming with ioeongruities and
contradiliions, and here was tithnsitted to their Lord-
lips a new Bill for remedies chafe variations. Ho
condemned the introdaaion of this third Ali, as in-
adequate to its object, for he meld not wen fee hoer
the incontinencies in the Aare of the 4sd and 434
of his Mojeity would be prevented from clothing
with each other. By one of them five days drilling
was fufficient to exempt a man from (erring in 'the
Militia, and so or a 4 days (be defied Noble Lordi
to fay which), were nyelfary to obtain exemption
from facing in the Army of Referee. His Lord-
thip pointed out a number of incongruities in tbofe
AS', the cormaim of which be earaally ;rapeseed
Minifters with the amity of. The prefent Bill be
only regarded as a temporary menfere, and be will
coamimmullYffircelwded from
ingstring any oppofition
to it. His Lordlip fpoke very animated lan-
guage of the excellence of the Volunteer Syttems
even a its prelim Rate. Although he would not be
guilty of the abfurdity of alerting that the Volun-
teers could prove a fublitutte for a regular army,
yet he would fay, that in aid of a regular army, their
Cervices would be incalculable. He would not ciao
hefitate to fey, that when engaged on duty of atilt
kind, the Volunteers were capable of exertions, and
fecuring advantages that no regular forces could
poffibly atchieve. Bat there was one error in the
(yam, one vice which had crept into the make-
lion of that body, which could not be too Coon cor-
rated ; and that was a y to run into Com-
mittees, and to armor remetael economy of their
Corps by the prelim of debate and elation. This
difpofitioa lould be immediately melted. If you
allow men, with arms in their bands, to recur to
deaion in the chaise of dais who are to command
them, they am of se de as fokkers ; there is *either
efficiency, el/dimes or my of the qualities in them
that are required I. aam military force. If they
are permitted to debase sad deliberate, they sus
foesething waft, they am dangerous, and their ex-
itance is incompatible with the fafety of the State.
It we the introdulioa of Bich principles, the ano-
maly of a military debating force. that operated the
floatation of the ummearay of Frame, and which,
in his *Mons and as far as his weak foreight could
reach,would inevitably produce the finis main- maces
in this kingdom. His Lordfbip wiled to impede
Minders with the meeffity vi immediately
this dargercas lusces4itutional oldies. Ile

declined raying any thing more on the Bill at prefent,
as he underflood the whole fyßem was to be dirculfed
f illy in the eourfe of the Seffion.
Lord HOBART raid, that the prefent Bill was
only a temporary meafure, as the Noble Lord had
truly flared. He raid, that Minifters had no greater
wills than to give order and efficacy to the Volunteer
Cyltem, and be united, that when that fubjeft came
before the confederation. of their Lord(hips, the noble
Lori would afford them the advantage of his lumi-
nous and comprehenfive ideas.
Lord ROMNEY, in thanking Minifters for their
intention of rendering the Volunteers as efficient as
they well could be, recommend-d, as a great Rep
towards obtaining that deft-able end, that no diftinc;
tions fhould be made between them, but that men,
embarked in the fame common caufe, fhould have
common privileges. At prefent, there were, accor-
ding to the regulations, fome corps that were allowed
84 days pay, while others were entitled to only pay
for 20 days. Thefe invidious difinaions created
little jealoufies, which could not for the advantage
of that fyftem, to which no perfon wither' better
than he did, be too loon done away. He alto corn-
plained, without meaning to throw any imputation
on Minifters, that among corps who tendered their
fervices at the fame time, fome were accepted (he
prefumed„ from the hurry of bufinefs) at an early
period, and therefore entitled to exemptions, whilit
others, by being accepted at a later period, were de-
prived of fimilar advantages. His Lordihip recom-
mended, that there fhould be but one meafure of
privilege for the whole.
Lord HOBART would not take the advantage of
the excufe fuggelled by his Noble Friend, and im-
pute that to the hurry of office which was the refult
of mature confideration on the part of Minifters.—
The fad was, that the Government, guided by a
very falatary principle in accepting the Cervices of
Corps, could not afford to place them all on the
Aigl. allowances, and hence arofe thofe diftinctions
which 'the Noble Earl difapproved of.
Lord ROMNEY, in explanation, took an oppor-
tunity of expreffing his moll cordial concurrence in
the fentiment of his Noble Relative with regard to
the impropriety or admitting the eftabhfbrnent of
Committees, or the praice of debate among the,
Volunteer Corps; and his Lordfhip declansd, moll'
emphatically, " tbat ht would rather fee the whole
Volunteer force annibilessid, than ever hear that it
was guilty of the inonftrous and dangerous incontif-
rency of becoming a deliberative body.
Lord DARNLEY, though he raw with regret and
difapppintment that ,the prefent Bill was extremely
defeetive and inadequate to its objetl, yet as a ttep
towards the amelioration of the fyllem, he would
vot withhold his agent from it.

Lord HAWEESBURY faid, that every attention
tuld be paid to the fubje& daring the rears, that,
important nature required. To render the Vo.
tecr Oilers, in his opinion, efficient, the fpirit and
principle of it mould be tonfirlted, and aridly ad-
hered to. It fhould be rendered, it. the flat place, as
little inconvenient as atelEfele ; and at the fame thus
looking, as a prudent Government fhould do, to a
protraded duration of the war, it (bould be rendered
as economical as pont,. The fuggellion ofthe No-
ble.tarl (Romney), of placing all the Volunteer
Cprps on the fame pay, would create an annual ex-
peace of four millions to the State.
Hit Royal Highoefs the Doke of CLARENCE
eras of opirsioa, that the Bill (bould be (offered to pats
at prefent without any alterations. The feafon would
not now admit of the Volunteers being called out to
exereife ; and itgainft the Spring there would be fuf-
fcient time to introduce every improvement into the
(yftem that it was capable of; and that its great ad-
vantage to the empire called on the Legidatitre to
bellow on it. The Bill was then read a Second time
hnd committed for to-morrow, and their Lordfhips
. arqOurnerhat feyen o'clock; .
.. .

LONDON.

SATURDAY, ugcsmitra. 17.

PRICE OF *MOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK s
Ceefets for opg. spiiitedieced 54—
()maim per Cents. so—New s pa Cams. poi.

Difpatchea were yefterday received from Ad-
tniral Lord NaLsos, off Tonton, dated igth Sep-
tember, at which time his Lordfhip continued to
block tip the port of Toulon in a very clofe manner.
The crews of the !hips under his command were in
good health and h.gh (pinks.
A litter from Genoa, dated November IR, Rates,
that an Englifh guard-Blip belonging to Admiral
Netsor's fleet, is continually Rationed in the Bay of
Naples, and is relieved every:fortnight by anottier.
The fame letter lays, that the ifland of Elba is Mock
aded by the Engine, It is added, that accordinit to
late accounts from Bailie, the capital of Cottle', the
French troops which have arrived are marching to-
wards the mouth of the Ajaccio, where a body of
troops is forming—a circumflance which has given
rife to a variety of conjedures.
Cw .tg to force twig/oat, our letters by the Ham-
burgh mails of yellerday, did not reach us till three
c.s the afternoon. They bring affiiaing news from
the Noah fees, refpefting the ravages committed on
by the late norm. They contain alto ac.
oar ths.,:ts
counts of a .nifundefflanding between the Elettor of
Bavaiia and the ft.•aerial Conn, in confequence of
which fame movements wzre taking place among the
Außrian troops. Our readersu9l find Tome interefting
Jetails refpefling this in the preceding columns.—
Farther information molt, however, be had, before'
any opinion can be formed as to the confequences
which may be espeEled to rank from it.
One of the morning papers has revived the re-
port, that Admiral Goanwattrs's fleet has at laft
been driven from its Ration off Breft by the fewerity
of the weather. The psfi may prove true, but no
filch accounts have yet been received. On the con-
trary we find, by our Plymouth letter, that a 74
gun Dip has juft [Ailed to join his nett.