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London, England, 1804-04-24 00:00:00

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• lIUMIUnt 475°1 TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1804. f
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• BAST-INDIA ROUSE. April se, 1804.
-ryrs4
COURT OF DIRECTORS of tht
1 -171NITED COMPANT MERCHANTS ENG-
LAND, tredier to the EAST INDIES,de her give maze,
That the tune fired for receiving Tenders for the hire of fuch
Ships which have performed their eontraded number of voyages
In tic Company's fervice, for two additional voyages, is mauled
to Wodoefday the 9th of Ma next.
WILLIAM RAMSAT, &enemy.

the language of many Gentlemen who hear me,when
I fay that this was the prevalent feeling in the coun-
try. Thole who know my charailer will not think
it neceffary for me to alien that I am as zealous as
any man in defence of the country frcim all foreign
attack, and as ready, in the moment of danger, to
forget the caufe that led to it, but I mug deprecate
all milconliruition of my conduit in fo
Though I am ready to make any facrifice for the in-
dependence of the Empire, I muff not therefore be
confidered as an abettor of the raffinefs, ambition, or
difingenuous councils that led us into the dangers.—
Perhaps, Sir, there may be perfons who think that
the danger of invafion was not fo imminent as the
cry would have made us believe, and certainly the
apprelienfion of an immediate attack was not uni.
serially felt. This, however, does not change, in
any refpeet, the nature ofthe exertion which wasmade
by the country. It was not a panic of invafion that
feized the people—not the dread of being over-run
by the enemy, for in the .mon alarming moment,
they had jug confidence in theurfelves--Gut an uni-
verfal feeling that it was wife and pindent to be pre.
pared ; and a pretty general conviition, that, in the
incapacity of Minifters, they mull look to themfelves.
But independently of all real ground for alarm, it was
impoffible for the country to fee the parade that was
made by Minifters, and the noife that was excited of
Come dreadful and' gigantic mifcbief with which we
were threatened, without being in tome fort terrified
into a belief of the reality. I certainly would have
junified any Gentleman, like Sir Chriftopher Hat-
ton, to have addreffed the Minitter in the very words
that be ufes :
" Ah, my noble friend, when I behold
" Yon tented plains in martial fymmetry
" Array'd ---
" I cannot but furrnife—Forgive, my friend,
" If the ramjedture's ralb-1 cannot but
" Sunnite—The Rate fame danger apprehend. !"
I have no objecflion to this language, and I fob-
fcribe to all the reports which have been made on the
threats of invalion, but with two provifons : t. That
we (hall be prepared to meet it, if real ; and-s. that
fuck language (hall not be ufed to excite needlefs ter-
ror. If there are ferious apprebenlions that the ene-
my has meditated the plan of an invafion, and made
or is making formidable preparations for that pur-
pole, and that be has weighed in his mind all the pro.
liabilities of Pleb an enterprize, it becomes indifpen-
pfible for this country to devife the means of effeetual
defence. We mull not contest ourfelves with tem-
porary nratagems, nor repofe in any temporary
defence. We mull not reckon on his coming in the
year 3, or 4, or 5, becaufe if he has meditated the
feheme, he will not limit himfelf to the time.—
The plan once confidered and determined on, the
attempt may be made hereafter,and therefore we have
no alternati re. To temporary danger we fhould do right
to oppofe temporarymeans; but to permanent defigns
of annoyance we mull plaid: permanent remedies.
—lt ii my objeit, Sir, to draw the attention of the
Houle to this view of the fubjed. It certainly does
appear, that the French confider by their preparations
the enterprife of an invalion of this country a praili-
cable attempt. It cannot be concealed that they
have gone to a great extent of preparation, and a
confiderable part of this may be regarded, as meant
for the ptirpore of permanent annoyance. The na-
tion is called upon, therefore, to devife the means of
permanent fafety. My motion, however, will not
extend to the general fyflem of Defence, which it is
effential to provide, but to that of the army only.—
In the many difficulties which &fail us at this ma
ment, and which it would be tedioos and wearifonse
to particularife, I with to keep the view of the Houk
to a fyllem of permanent defence by land. I do not
with to incumber the quediin by enquiring this day
into the difficulties that prefs upon us refpeaing the
finances of the country—nnr the difficulty arifing
from the want of currency in Ireland—nor the
circumflance of the exillence to this day of Martial
Law in that country—l with to avoid all other topics
of enquiry this day, except that of the ellablilhment
of loch a rlan of military defence as Shall be equal
to the holuile defigns of the enemy, however formi-
dable and however protraAed they maybe. I with
to bring the difcuffion into as narrow a compafs as
poflible, and therefore to confine myfelf to the mere
quctlion of internal defence. I do not even mean to
' mix with it any obfervations on the naval defence of
the country; nor (hall I attempt to revive the difeuf-
lions that have taken place on the Volunteer queftion.
That fuhjeft has been fo frequently before the Houle,
that I can only fay what I have before fo often ex-
preffed, that the Volunteer Body merit the mon
grateful thanks of their country for the exertions they'
have made, and that on the motion with which I
(hall conclude for a Committee to confider of the bell
means of a permanent military defence, the alacrity,
fpirit, and perfeverance of the Volunteers will be a
good ground for truft'ng to the fyllem which I mean
to fuggell. In moving for a Committee generally
to confider, I leave it to other Gentlemen to throw
out %%hat particular objees it ought to embrace. It
t, in iirlie the Houf:, at the outlet, that loch a Com-
mittee will have two eliftina objeds--t. The folid
inctege of the regii!ar military force, and to remove
the impediment. th.ft have flood in the way of its
11:C recruitment. 2 . The formation of an irregular
Sot awoliary I a Permanent kind. As to the
firit, it is impcijihle lir the Houk at this time in

the ertablifhment is nearly afeertained, and it is
thetefore in the poser of any military man, accuf
tomed to there details, to calculate the force of rank
and file. It is idle, therefore, to attempt to make a
fecret to Parliament only of that which is no fecret,
and which can be no feeret to others. But Minifters
think it quite fufficient to fay, that the regular force
is fully-equal to what it was at the end of the laft
war. I can only fay for myfelf, that it is difficult to
believe this affertion, and alluding particularly to
Ireland, in which they affect the regular force to be
equal, I fairly fay, I do not believe it, if you take
into the account of regulars, the Militia and Britifh
Feneible regiments then in Ireland. At the end of
the laft war, the amount of the military force in Ire-
land of there deferiptions, was between 5o and 60,000
men. Is it poffible to believe that there is at this
OM an equal. number? With refpeet to aceeffary
force. filch as artillery, guns, bodes, and drivers, it
isreorinderably higher than at the end of the laft war,i
if we are to trait to Minifters' fpeeches; hot as I
am incredulous on the fubjed, I wills it to be made I
apparent by documents laid before the Committee.
—.Before I go on, however, 1 mutt advert to an ob
fervation that may be made, that 1 of all men ought
not to complain that the ranks Ihould be thin, becaufc
I was for keeping down the peace ellabliffiment. It is
molt true that I was for keeping down the peace
ellablifhment, and I was fo upon the grounds taken
by Minifters themfelves. They 'did not demand a
greater eßahlilliment than they obtained—they gave
the Houle the molt folemn affitrances of continuance
of peace, and theregue the ground was (pacifically
different from what it is now, and I am juaified in
laying what I have always maintained. that the atco-
nomy of a low effablifhment in a time of a profound
peace is the lure and belt means of enabling us to
provide an adequate fence in the time of war. 'But in
time of peace that old conditutional force the militia,
in favour of which fo many of my moll refpenable
friends are fuch warm admirers, was recommended
as excellent in its principle, and I know that there
perfons think we ought ever to have in view that
force as our chief dependence for internal defenee.—
No man, however, will fay, that a Militia can be
altogether equal to a regular army, Glace an army
that has not leen wallal fervice cannot be equal to an
army that has feen it. For the great purpofe, there-
fore, of a peimanent defence againa the meditated
plan of attack, the increafe of the regular force, or
the provifion of an elementary force, which would
always come in aid of it, is the defideratum to be
obtained. And what I complain of is, that our ef-
forts have not been wifely devoted to that purpofe.—
Every regulation has been calculated to counteract
the recruiting of the Army, and with the impedi•
ments in the way of the regulars, it is morally impof-
fible that they Ihould get men. It is natural to think,
that on the breaking out of a war there nrili always
be tome contraction of the manufactures of a nation,
fome diminution of the commerce, fome parts of its.
population thrown out of employment, and that con-
fequently men are to be had by the regular army
without much difficulty. So it would be perhaps
upon a good fyftem ; but when I am told that this
has happened, and tat men are to he got by the re-
gulars at ten guineas, when the Army of Referve
are giving 50, I mull fay I do not believe it. Human
nature is the fame at all times, and I cannot believe
that the people of this country are Co little capable of
'calculation, or fo loath, as to accept of the fmaller
fnm when ;he greater is to be had. It is in vain to
refill plain and Pimple truths. Men are not to be
bubbled by theories which contradift human reafon.
You matt put an end to every foolifh impediment that
(lands in the way of recruiting the regular force. if
you expea it to fueceed. You cannot hope to get
men by the ordinary bounty which the Regulars
offer. while a competition is maintained fo excel:
five ; and it is not that inequality only which you
have to remove,_ but a much more ferious obflacle,
and upon the folly of which I never heard one
tingle military man to differ, I mean the monftrous
error of enlifting men for life. Is it not a molt
fingular thing, that this fhould be the only country
in -Europe in which this pratlice prevails ? In all
the great military ellahlifhments on the Conticent
no fuch thing is attempted. In countries the molt
defporie, where Governments of tyranny demand
the fervice of unconditional fubmiffion, and where
it may be fuppored the Government would give
the greaten facility to perpetuating the fervice, no
fuch thing has been attempted. But in the (teen
country in Europe, in that country which boalts of
the vigilance arid care which it exercifes by law over
the perrins and properties of the people, is it not
monftrous that this Ihould be the only place where
men are fo enlifted ? In England the law impofcs
reftraints upon perfons with refine to the alienation
of their property. A man in many cafes cannot dill
pole of his property, and no man under the age cf
as can alienate any part of his elate. Nay, molt
unwirely in my mind, both fixes are rearaincd from
difpofsng of their perfons in marriage long atter they 1
hpve obtained an age when nature didates to th,:m the
propriety of doing to. But though they cannot give
away their properties, nor even yield to the lioiieft
and generous affections of the heart in dirpol:ng of
their perfons in marriage, without the coll. nt of
their parents, they may by law, in this lice Lunt, fell
thenitelves at ary age into military bondage for their
natural lives ! it is a monttrotis te.l,•citin. It is a
Clain upon our mil,Ltry code, An.% like every other
grits and abiind pre lice, it ferves to impede lull ead
of pr,•rnoting I,rvi,:c. For iskit is it hut 11.1,
contrast liar lilt that renders this kg s it e fo terrific to
every parent and to every re! ttive ? Every Gentle-
man molt have had fi event e.pp.o &unities i•t teeing
the etith it ha.; upon Ow tathers !
rr ;hers, even is the very lowed cl stns of i.'cierv.—
This), mint bare it stony they hay:
heard of the, c, I ^:!. • to 1 tc. And unit what

but that by the nature of this engageinents.Made by
a youth in a giddy moment, they confider him newt
off from their family for ever; cut off from the en-
joyment of all the quiet bleffings they intended for
him, or from the exertions by which their own toils
were to be eafed, and their old age proteded. Be-
caufe they confider his enlifling for life as tantamount
to civil annihilation; but would it be fo if the commit
were limited to a certain, and that a fbort period ?
On the contrary, would it not difpofe many a parent.
not merely in the lowa clalfcs of fociety, but even.
farmers and tradefmen, to confect to a fun's entering
into the fervice, or of viewing his entrance with com-
placency, if thinking him perhaps a little too unaeady
for their quiet occupations, they knew that his mili-
tary career would be over in a 'certain number of
years, and that he might then return to them with
a mind improved by the knowledge of the world, and
with habits ufeful to his fame life? If 4be abfard
praftice were done away, is it to be apprehended that
any confiderable number of goad men would be /oft
at the expiration of their terms I and is there any jolt
realim to dread that they dionid dilband in numbers
at one time ? Againfl both evils eafy prorifions might
be made. Good foldiers would not,be likely to'quit
the kr vice. Men are fond of that in which they es-
cel—a new bounty—hope hf promotion—or perhaps
in tome cafes an increafe of pay would be irrefitlible
temptation. And as to a general dilbanding that
might be eafily•avoided, and would of courfe be fo
if the nature of cradling was made uniform. New
modes mull undoubtedly be tried—for hitherto-
no plan had fueeeeded. The breach of the peace was
announced fo long ago as the beginning of March.
and hankies began in May ha U'e are now within
three weeks of a twelvemonth at actual war, and what
tutees have we made in creding a regular army ?
It is (aid—that one great evil is removed by putting
an end to the abufe of rank. Officers cannot get now
more than, one llcp. This is fornething, but with all
poffiblelefped for the vigilance with which office is
admit-anted at this time, I do not think it Wale
altogether to check the abufe of rank. There will be
evalion of the rules, if the leak loop-hole is permitted.
that which is fo pernicious to the fervice. Nothing
effectual can be done in the way of recruiting the
regular army, without radical reforms. There molt
be no competition for men—no buying them by ex-
travagant bounties, and no enliaing for life. The
army of Referve mull be totally fufpended, and the
militia be (offered quietly to melt down to its proper
level. With rein& to an acceffory force, I think
there fhould be a more general armament than that
of the volunteers.—l will not fay to what length the
fyflem might have gone indeed, if it had not been
checked by Government in every way, and by every
fpecies of perfecution. They rellatri their right of
relignation until they were compelled to yield it, and
in the fame manner they fought every privilege for
which the volunteers contended, and to which they
were entitled by the alts under which they enrolled
themfelves. • In this way the Government certainly-
laboured to their ntmoll to damp the zeal of the vo-
lunteers, if their zeal could be damped by any thing
which Minillers could do.—But, without intringing
on the volunteer fyftem, I with to go farther, and to
propofe a general arming of the peafantry of the
United Kingdom—a force which though not fo good
as the volunteers, as to fighting in battalion, will yet
be of infinite value for the kind of attack with which
we are threatened. Ido not will to propofe the
training of the peafantry to the ufe of arms in the
hope of ufing them as an army; but it is a great
thing to embody all the phyfical force of the country,
and to form it into a (tape which might be contri-
butory to the regular force. I (bond never have
done if I were to attempt to enumerate all thead.
vantages which would atife from arming the pea-
fantry, and from employing them locally an the de-
fence of their own immediate homes and neighbour.
hoods. Thole who have fees the confequences of an
armed peafantry in the cafe of an invading foe, can
alone form an idea of the ineftimabk value of filch a
force. It fete a nation aftually at ea!e again& the
mo&defperate attack of an enemy. An armed pea-
(Autry with their geographical knowledge of their own
territory, is irrefiftsble. It is the natural firength to
which of all others, a free people in a cultivated
country ought to look. Every thing elle maw fail us.
The Volunteer fyttem may relax. As ti.e immediate
danger difappears--as the threatened ins ation i.. pro.
traaed, the volunteers may roe: .o‘ay. Your re-
gular army would be too small to guard every part
of fo extenfive a coal—but in a country f• ad.ipted
to defence—fo populous an armed peafantry taking
advantage of every hill—of every valley—of every
lane--ot every hedgc—acquainted with every torn
and pals, would mute it impoffible for an enemy to
advance, or it advanced, to return. Ido not (peak
of them as of an army to figiit bears; I (peak of
that tuner and more fatal :p.c.-s i t .t•rck, v.hich
they would be indridted to make on .05 enemy, in
which they would give them no rcipit.:, and from
which the enemy could ha, c I:r. ',lre it. la every
view of the fillijeet it would be a m,•ti p. literal th:ng
to inflitute distort ot I..trec. In ca:el of emergency
how much e..fier w..uld it he to df.:ipline men who
had been pre viontiv uf,d to t..rne acre of weapon,
than to dilcipline men who had never bai,died a fire.
luck, and who knew no: even fr. which end to hold
or whether to di.tw the lock or the trigger ? la
the way ,•1 r ecruitiilg tt.e .LTM) asi,,it all t!..T
men ..t tl.e kingdom were by a general law r
t” the tale of aims, thou,,,ii in the molt ,!lerr..,.!ive
way, bf th a, to no. my and time. I,•nv n -..e

PARLI•IMENTART PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MONDAY, APRIL s 3.

Connie' were heard In the cafe of Hunter v. the Earl of Rieman!.
The Itlib Linen Manufatture Bill, and feveral private Bills
were received from the Commons, and read a flat time.

The kith Militia Augmentation Bill sus reported, and ordered
to be read a third time to-morrow.
The third reading of the bilk Militia Transfer Bill wu port-
Toned until to-motrow ...Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. DILLON gave notice, that he would. on Wednerday nest,
move for lave to bring In a BM A° maw UM Rowan Catholics
!teas eettain penalties to which they would be babk when brought
into this aobntr►.

Mr. laeretari YORICIt brought up a Bill for paying and cloth-
ing the Militia of Great Britain. Read a hilt time, and ordered
to be read a fecood time to-morrow.

iir:leJetary----VOBaimo;;;,that the amendments made by
the Houk of Lords in the Volunteer Bill, be fubmitted to the cots-
Mention Of sfeket Committee; and that a precedent for Nth a
ocedure. which occurred in the year 17 57, as to a Militia Bill,
d be read from the Recants. The precedent he alluded to
was aCcordingly read by the Clerk, and a feledt Committee was
appointed, and ordered to report to the Hoare what they might
think proper to be Jane; after mature ccelidcration.

- . .
On the motion of Mr. Secretary YORKE, theHoufe went into
a Committee oft the Militia °Been' BUL The report was or-
dered to be received to-morrow.

On the motion of Mr SH RIDAN, the order for the emu-
Bandon of the petition from the Borough of Lifkeard, which flood
for to-morrow, was difeharged, and poftpoaed till Thurfday neat.
Mr. ffINNAIRD moved, that an humble Addrefs be prefented
to Itis Majefty, praying, that there be hid before the Houfr, a lift
of all Officers on the half pay, lifting uifhing their leveret ranks, and
fpeeifying thole upon the Staff, and thole who aft unemployed and
fit for ferrice...-Ordered.

MOTION ON THE DEFENCE 11; THE NATION.
Mr. FOX rofe; and addreffed himfelf to the Chair
in fubflance as follows :--“ I am afraid, Sir, that I
!hall find it neeeffary to make tome preliminary ob-
fervations before I proceed to Rate my motion to the
Honk on the military defence of the country. There
preliminary obfervations are rendered tieceffary by
the conftrueion which has been pat by many perfons
on the zeal which has been manifefied by the people
in fupport of the war. That great zeal has undoubt-
edly been manifefted by all defcripticms of perfons, is
a truth which I have great plealbre to obferve ; but
the attempt to conftrue this seal into an approbation
of the principle of the war itfelf, or of the condo& of
his Majefly's Minifters in involving the country in
that war, is what I will not permit to pats ono/derv-
ed ; for it is not a fair connruetion, nor can it be fup-
ported by any lair reafoning or found deduction.
The zeal which has been difplayed by the people of
England, is moil honourable to weir feelings ; it
does not fpring from any approbation of the war,
much lefs from any approbation of the meafures of
Government, but that motive which will ever he in.
fkparable from the breaft of Englifkmen, that of a
determined 11-Solution to refill the menaces of a
foreign enemy. Their zeal has been difplayed in the
maintenance of all that was dear to them, in the de-
fence of their country againft the threats of invafion
and in the (unpin of its glory, and may in truth bc
termed a zeal fhewn in fell-defence. It is not a proof'
that they either confider the war as originally necef-
fary, or that they approve of the fpirit and temper of
thole negotiations by which it was brought on. I,
in common with every one of my fellow fubjeas,
partake of the zeal which I have defcribed, and I
know that that fpecies of zeal is not Singular to myfelf.
However unwifely, however unneceffarily we plunge
into the war, that war was immediately followed by
the threat of invalion, and the country was brought
into the moil imminent danger, according to the belief
of all ranks of people, by the formidable preparations
of the enemy. It that cafe is it poflible for any man to
interpret the zeal which burn forth into any other
motive that that of fell-defence? The country at
large Rood forward to proteel thernfelves and families
againft the danger, whatever might be the caufe
from which it (prong. If this fort of zeal is to be
argued upon as a proof of the popularity of the war,
or if Minifters are allowed to confider it as a proof of
the approbation of their meafnres, then we may fairly
fay that it is only neceffary for Government to plunge
the nation into the greaten poffible danger, in order
to obtain the nniverfal fupport of the people. The
charafier of the people of England is petfealy un-
derftood ; they will always be found ready in the
moment of danger, and the greater and mere
deplorable the Rate of calamity in which the kingdom
may be involved, the greater and more zealous will
bc their exertions for its deliverance. It is impoili
hi:, therefore, that Knitters can flatter themfelves
with the idea that the manly and virtuous nand which
the people have made in a cafe of life or death, was
any Shape conneCied with the caufes of the war,
the ncgociations with which it was accompanied, or '
tn. tinic at which it was brought on. Jo truth, no
I ptom of approbation has been (hewn in any part '

^t the country, nor was it even received in Pa'rlia
sr,nt with any decided marks of applaufe t—for
in the fir!! addrefs Minifl.•ts did obtain the
I.i..jtion of the linufc, yet it was in very general
turns, and theti, in a fuofequent elt.bve, were rola•
by many confickrable perfnns, with obje..-oo;:s
to the condun of the t.egr,...iationK,fo as to (hew that
it %cab the general opt..ion that the war have,
been and I Iht tcLUe contend. that. frorn the
commencement el t!.e war to the prefent moment,
whatever rfi.play of rpit it, ex and ve .1 haa hecii
made by the country, his nothing to do w ith the cane
of the war, and mach icf. with the c-ndun of Nt,i-
item :tol it might be (hewn that the exetti-
'lave been m....!c by !Le people arnf: nut Li
•ocapacity f therrielves.
n on the
C, me ft r- .
and di.:end 4 sr. iu:c 1 freak hit:talit,t.ii rui; u.wo tv every ct

know the tell Mate of it. They have no documents
borate them upi.:l which they can afcertain the hate
of the regn!ar :only. Gentlemen who have good
11 inf.,rmation diFer fu cdentially from Mini.
elirnaze aelr.cL they make of the amount
it IT my, t!. it it i, impoffible to judcc
to. the at4riii,ns which

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