Star.
London, England, 1803-07-19 00:00:00

iionerzoNAL DIFENCR Or THE COUNTRY.

The Secitaratte at Was. rofe, and addrefred the
'Hoofs upon this fubjea, to the following ellen :
I" Sir, porfttant to the notice I formerly gave, I now
rife to lay before the Houfe the outlines of a Bill which
I plopole to bring in for the purpofe of amending the
Aft which has been recently paired for the Defence
of the United Kingdom, and in order to enable his
Majefly more fpeedily to exec Illi Roval I
in requiting the affifianee of his liege litsjerts, tneels
of actual itivafion of the realm. his is a meaturesi.f
the unison importance, in the relent ftnwtir n of the
Kingdom. The Bill I am about to prepore contains
prnnitions calculated to enable ids Majesty dillinnly
to afeettain the te;sl refources of his el, minions; and
alio provides a mode of aceptiting the polfedion of
fuck .art of the public property as may he found ne-
teffary for the ferviee of Government. and the gene-
:al fecurity of the Country, in cafe of emergency ; as
alto a summary mode of indemnifying thole perlosis
-Nho may toffer in regard to their property, either it
tales of internal dint:emote, or of aEtual
The Lite Ae, and Alf. that which was paired during
the Lot 'sat, were vet y defellive in thole particulars.
They do not, with InfEcient expedition, enable his
.!slajelly to command the amnance of all his liege
fulled'. to carry .irms for the defence of the king-
dom. The haft Bill went no further than to enable
hi. M.ijefty to procure the affiliance of tt certain de-
fcriptinn of people within particular triad/is,- and to
ado;,t certain meafures which were deemed neeetfary
in regard to property but it did not go the length of
thole propnfed by the Bill which I am now to bring
forward. I need not read to the recolleajon of the
Houle, that it is 'he Ancient and undoubted prerrmit-
tire of the Crown. to demand the fervices of all 'tle
fuhjefis of the kingdom, who are able to carry arms,
in case of !ovation from a foreign enemy. This is a
tot h which. 1 am convinced, will not he denied by
any Hnn. Member within there walls; hot uotwith-
nanding that conviaion. I think it may be attended
with beneficial eonfequenees to Rate, very flintily to
the Hoak a few precedents from' Icarir:d authors,
and in the Rulls of Parliament, which appear to put
!Le epiellion beyond all doubt. The learned Judge
Iliackilone, in his Commentaries, lays, •• 'The King
i. confidered as the Generalitßmo, or the lira in est-
litAry command within the kingdom. The great end
of foriety it to pre:scathe weaknefs of individuals by
the united firength of the community, and the prin-
cipal ufe of teerninent is to Jima that muted
strength in the belt and• molt effednal manner to
anfwer the end propelled : the military power molt
be entrufled in the bands of the Prince;' fie. In
another place be fey% " Betides &We wins by their
military tenure were bound to perform forty days
fervice in the field, firfi the atke of arms, ensiled
ay Hen. 11. and afterwards the (*acute of Winehefier.
under Edw. I. obliged every men. according to his
eflatt and degree. to provide a determinate quantity
of fuch arms as were then in nfe, in order to keep the
peace : and eonllablcs were appointed in all hundreds
by the latter flame, to fee that filch arms were pm-
/Lied:l Accosdiag to the provifloo of certain Aas,

' it was ufual, from time to time, to mutter and array
the inhabitants of every defet iption, tor the purpofe
of defending the realm. By the I 3th of Edward 111.
it was provided, that nn man, in cafe of public danger
or emergency, Ihould be permitted to go out of the
kingdom without the authority of Parliament. In
(peaking of the power of a Sheriff, Judge Black flone
fay* that he is bound to employ every exertion in
his power for the defence of the country againa the
King's enemies: and further, that every perfon above
15 years of age is bound to ferve in Inch-carer, under
the pain of imprifonment. In the reign Of Henry~
'in co'nfequence of a petition to the .Cnitimonv,•_thg
form ()fan array was then fettled, is win appear"froni
the Rolls No. 24 and al,' to which it Why be proper
at prefent to refer the Houfe: 'lt willefiete Appear,
that amplepower was given to the CiOwn to'ilemand
the affillance of all perfons who viert *able to afford
it for thttlikrence.of his Majelly's tgoesittions, This
prefeetord'eafure, I conceive, can therefete only be
ftyled a Parliamentary r:cngnition of the Parliamen-
tary Records of-the Crown. Such, indeed, I may
lay ddwn as being th'e ancient tail elite
being the cafe, it may he afked, why it becomes re-
cefftry to call the attention of Parliament to ant
meaftires of a fimilar kind at the prefent mornerty?
The only anfiver which I think can be given to
filch an interrogatory is, that the method by which
his hlajelty could, by the prefent• exilling Ilatutes,
exael the military exertions of the whole body of
his people, is fnmewbat too tedious for the prefent
emergencies of the Ilate. I believe the meafure
weald he found on trial at prefent to be wholly
impraeicable for the pnrp..fe of affording that effi-
Cent aid which his Maielly requires. Perfons can
now only be fined and imprifoned.bY the due cootie
of law, in Cale of refill:Luce when reqoired to afford
their military exertions tbr the defence of their coon-
try. It does, therefore, upon that mina*. (rem
nrceiEtry at this time to bring forward a mew an of
this nature, with a view to rendering the undoubted
prerogative of the Crowh more efficient in point of
e:pcdition, towards the public fafety. On a due con-
lideralion of all the exiiting circtimilances of the
country. I fay. it will appear to be abfolntely necef-
Cary to adopt fume Envie but decifive and effeenal
relenting. That the preterit Bill is to be expedient for
fuch purpofes I need not argue at prefent, for it is a
meatfure which the Siltation of the country renders
neceffary. Sure I am that the real petition in whisks
we Rand it.. the prefent 'moment is a circentßance
which is well known by every individual in the coun-
try: We have now an enemy to contend with. who
may be Riled the molt infolent and the molt daring
that ever this country had to combat. That enema,
Sir, it is well known, is employed at this very mo-
ment in making labial preparations for the avowed
porno* of invafion, and even threatens us with total'
fubjugation. The force. which we now have on felt.
both by fea and by land, is undoubtedly very great ;
but when we confider that the enemy is at this very
time poffeffed of a large portion of the Continent of
Europe; and that every day new poffeffions, even
whole kingdoms, ate 'in a manner I:Hemming the
truth of France ; it does not become us to place great
reliance on the force which we have already
ettsblifh-
ed. We might to confider the cafes of great Princes
on the Continent, to convince ourfelvev a the need.d•
thy of exertion I we ought tit take into notice, that
he French are in a manner' abiolotte matters of the
whole coatis which are nested to our (bores, even
from the frontiers of Holland to die fea eolith on the
Idediterratnean t and that it is hot impoffible that they
may Rill acquire greater importance by the pollef-
lion (dad the gout riven and ports opt*. the Conti-
nent of Europe. Under theft elreuntßances, Sir,
although every body mull have a petted reliance up-
wit the well known !kill an& unwearied vigilance of
our Navy, a Navy which is the mod powerful in the
world, and which I may even venture to fay, is per-
haps capable of coping with all the Navies in the
world, yet, at the lame time, no man can potlitity
contend or luppofe, that it can he pratticable herme
tically, as it were, to feal op all thofe ports or rivers,
to as to block op or exterminate ell the veffels which
the enemy may be preparing for the purple of ere.
..cuting their threatened invasion. Great as our army
at prefent is, it is not poffible to line completely the
whtvie furrnunding coatis of Great Britain and Ire-
land, fo as to prevent the molt diflant parts of the
United Kingdom from being not only invaded and
attacked, bat even perhaps of being united temporary.
potieffion of. It would be inspoffible to he (efficient-
ly aoprifed of the particular point to which our at 7
tention ought molt peculiarly to be direetd. No.
body, I fay, can fuppofe that with this army, great
as it i,, we can do every thing. The fall is, Sir, we
CAR do nothing mote, even in the cafe of an aßual
invation, than aflimble this great army for the pur-
pole of deciding the great queßion, whether or not
we (hall be fubjegated by our invading foe ? We may
fuppofe that the enemy is determined to invade us by
embarking no lefs than too,ooo men in 6,5,0 r even to
dis itions, all feting off in different diretlions, and that
after dedueing 50,000, who may be difperfed and de-
droyed on the patfage over, that the Chief Conful will
be able to effect the landing of schooo men upon our
Atom Somehow or another. and that this so,oco men
Should come more or left difunited. more ur lets fea-
lick. and more or left divided into parties. it is highly
probable indeed, that we might Ire able to pelt their
place of landing. yet we Ronald not rely on that pro-
bability. They might happen to change their darts-
Ration very fuddetily, or fame of them might be com-
pelled with itsfs again to put to the, and might chance
to be driven by fume part alone feet, or eves by the
very elements on (nine part of aerated', where their
pretence might not be looked for. Under all there
combined eircumßances, Sir, it does appear to me,
that there exists at prefent an abfolute neeeffity
for the utmod power and curtain of the whole
kingdom being called forth, in order to prepare for
fuch important "vents. Even after having collected
our matt powerhd army under the eireumflartees
times I have elluded to, it might perhaps be

found req&fit.e to call nor fecond, or our third line;
of reinforcement to AIM them with legion after lc
gion, to cone& army after at me, in order the more
completely to fill ttp eltaftr.s or deaciencies occafioned
ay any temporary fuectffes of the enemy. Thee
would thus he a conßant fupply nt regiments in cafe
nccellity, to which we Mould be able to look with
hopes and exeßations of completely repelling our in
vas.ing foe. In cafe of an adual narration of this coun-
try, the operations in the field mull of necedity be
extremity aelive andfevere. We mull not look to the
ordinary and flow :n ocle of r ecrlll Li 11g,Ot CVen bl
• werefnß refort t.: the ancient law of the realm, and
eiert the prerogative of the Crown. In our prefent
-saitical &Iranian, his Majchy ought not only-to be
erifp'ciwered to call forth Qie exertmns of' all his liege
&lift 'but even to do' it expeditioully and cffeau-
ally. Now, Sir; • tn approach fmnewhat nearer to
the Oh I am: about to propore. I may lag, that I
think we cannot do better, in the prefent
.than recur, to the age of the' Plantagenet', a race
clf•tirkwifelt and grealte !Sovereigns that ever fat
alliftralieThrone. • Lit Us tecal to our reColleation
the nidthod ' by' 'the eat Qteen Elizabeth
defettied tier. ,dorninioris:agataft the Spanifli, Arena.
da., It erai•tot • alokielfl, the genuine eters:creme
of 'zeal and tratriotitill of her people, (a zeal which
I am happy to fce manifefted every; day pore and
more on the prefent occAnn) hue it. Wasify the ex
ertion of her
,jull 'ptireginee of funnhenting her
whole liege (table& to aerie for the &inlet 4 their
country: Having Ratid.ifins,much rehitiie to the
general idea of my plea, I Run now prOoed to lay
before the Hoof/ a Rig more panicular otttlitfe- I
than now divide it into two ptincipal
The enrolinent, and the affeeibling of the Pen when
fo enrolled:—id, The plan for their etercife and
tr I fhould propote to make as much ufe
as. pbl6ble of the power of the Lord Lieutenants
and Deputy Lieutenants, in the particular Clauntiei
of the kingdom, and that they fhould meet as loon
as poilible, for the purpole of diredting the carol-
mem jn every pries of all Men between the ages of
7 and SI. That the lifts of enrolment fhould di-
vide all thefe then into four different elates; fomewbat
fimilar to' the earl adopted in regard tote Militia
of the prefent day ; that the Rrft clafs 'ball ctmfitt
of all .young Men between the ages of 17 and so,
unmarried; thefeeenid; all men between the ages of
So and So, under the fame predicament ; the third to
confill of all young Married men between the ages of
17 and to, whir'haveassere than two chastren udder
so years of age iund the fonrth eta& to.cnufift of all •
there Men seithio the fpetified age, 'the talky not
included in any of 'the other (leaks. • at they
(hould dißinguifh all`thofe *Milne Cleigirden, and
all thnfe who are stay:illy' reeving in int.-corps of
Militia, Army of Referee, Of Volunteen, a pprniid
bylris llajelly, in ferving by febllitute Vie Mi-
litia, as we cannot call An thofe ferying bylubitinates
to afford additional military fervice as long as the
fubßitute ferves ; but in cafe of invallon:l 'have tiO
doubt that they will offer their feriricm.' I &al:
preppie that all thole men who are enrolled in either'
of there claffes, Arnold be called out in cafe of inva-
fion, in 21 order of priority, according to the dates
to which they belong. No perfon Ibould be 'erempted:
from being enrollea, and the whole lifts of namei,
thould be put on the church doors. As we intend to
make the adoption of there meafures as fpeedily as
Poffible, (though not In esreditious-as to occafion
injullice to any individuals,) I lhould, therefore,
propofe that the Deputy Lieutenants fhould meet for
the porpofe of receiving the lilts, and that the da
of their fo meeting fhould be the day of' appeal againli
their names being continned in the Paid rill on account
of any claim of-exemption. Theft !ins fhould be
correeed assixeNi, and abßraßs of all he county
rolls fhould be conftsintly tranfmitted t o Are of his
MOefly's principal Secretaries of State, with a_ par-
ticular account of the exemptions el timed. Now,
Sir, having thus proceeded through the fir' Rage of
the plan as to enrolment, I fhnuld prop ofe, that his
Majefly fhould have it in his power, ih tare et ac-
tual invafion, or even the approach of an eremy,
Id order all the Lieutenants of every county, to
call -nut, affemble, or embody, any of the perfora
on the rolls (who 'were not exempted) according
to their order of priority, in order to repel in-
va lion ; and that, during the time of their being
fo called nut, they fhould be fobjeat to Military (lir
elpfine, and liable to lave in any part of the king.
dons, along with any of the willing corps or new
corps which his hlajefly may think fit to appoint.
I I fhould wills to limit their fervices to the time of
invafion ; for as loon as the enemy were com-
pletely exterminated, or driven into the lea, they
Ibould be entitled to return to their own homes, im-
mediately when that fervice was over. At the time
of affembling, I fbould allow every man the rum of
two guineas to defray neeeffary expenccs, and that
they Ibould alto receive, from the officer under whom
they keyed, the turn of one guinea, towards the ex-
pence attending their going home. Every man
fhould be obliged to take an oath of fidelity and ter
vice ; and that oath ought not only to extend to the::
oppofing an enemy, bat to reprefs any internal re
hellion or infurreetion, fhould any Inch misfortune
unhappily take place during the time of their being
embodied. Thus, Sir, I have Rated, in general,the
outline of the enrolment and Iffembling. I (hall now
treat of the other part of the plan, I mean the cur-
cifing and training thefe men when thus enrolled.—
' The ancient Contlitution of this Realm alfo provides,
that every man (/fluid be c -.arched in the ufe of arms.
We may talk of the Rtength of the country in any
manner we pleafe ; but it is my opinion, when men
are not aßually trained to arms, to as to know how
to ufe a firelnek when pat into their hands; that Inch
drength h weakened in proportion to the degree of
ignorance of military taßics. One of the hatntes I
alluded to, called on all men to provide themfelres
with arms, arrow-, etc. The ratinns townt in the
kingdom rere called on to provide butts;'fin tae ex.
• are/a of &owing wttb the bow, Jy the 33d. Henry

VIII. chap. 0, every man under 6o years (Sage was.
alrefted to exercise thensfelves in that att. I Oweld:
indeed be very glad to fee Come law purred, which
obliged all great fchools or ((minu ies of educatirat
to be trained up to alms ; for. till Inch time as a.
man can ufe.them with facility,..egither his coantrt
nor any thing which is dear to hips can be re. kilned"
fate. Referring, therefore, to the ancient saw of their:
realm, I thnuld inquire that the Lords I.ietitenants
and their Deputies lhould be authorised 16 make.
preparations and arrangements for ezercifing all there!
chilies of men once a weeek i that' the King &mid:
provide arms, and that there arms fhnuld be lodged.-
in the char fires. or fome rs4ierconveuier.t-and tale
places, as, ,the ,k.ieutenancy maycfietsa, as the expensesr
of the prerilLitthiid propsr,prestifien th• uld be mad.-
for their Life •collody ; and clothes. ;bat she ihirilist
Conftablei-. fbonid,•be retboptibk 4'. erAheni. -Ober
proiifions are propofed :Of be Ari 0.441 is the Bill ditreellir
ingithe Lieutenancy of connate tio•app-ii t Offices*
and to divide durmen into propprtionateetoupene°4ll
of about taxi to be put saler•thesammand -;,;..,4;;*,
C,aptaine two Lieutenants. aed an.E1.11::.:44114,114,
then prop*, that.ovel Y Pe4441.1411.1f.pr a elt•ft.Ptik‘t
affemble-?4 a place to be
,fl;fiiip, ,41.4.rnorti 4 dnellek
miles frorn.thekrefiduce..foz the vurPoiS. 4! kcifigr.
trained.ooce a We'...e, on Sanitay; and thai,ild.ess‘')
cite fhould cooitnue annttplly betwixt Lady-daps*
bliihaelOta% it :would ke, a'tt'ended' with die.* .
beneficial eencerpeences. 4:thohld:prppoth, th:it,pl.sn
font, liable rp the affeffed
,taseik fl quid be 'fined its,.
the, funs of p. and that pia..pnaieit Awe' of isi.
flundd be amerced in the inn Of es. 4idi iiiii n
•• . •
of ..repeated otnitfions •ip.. point of_ re4arite,
flu!tlof ell br fined accorthugAn it!certaut.ffiV
proporcA.in, the Bill. There ire.proitilions.ipAh .
ed to be made to fixable , the toed Lieuteriants k
agree with any Seri.eant or'itetifietter, it) to gpfd t
terms of remuneration for fus..trOutile in tr,o7 '
men. lam perfefily perfdadechhat, if the
...:
should adopt fuch a plans,tW it will be en ea,"
ter to find peeress fufficiently able to inittiod,..pit •
7,
1
is the ufe of arms: I Mean That font orinibuittii.
which is the plainer and Moil neeelfaty. t ' Or' ' •
and 1,43; keep their ranks, end tern eyes ii Leo
left with regularity; inftruitionlivhich are sr fiVpig,
thrit.'iten once. acquired, theY•erkiterts forsettely
th
cilficets of iota& knowing what tite mb,fralnesllll;
this manner will be fit to be eittplosect_aguirAms
enemy when blended *4,01142r, YnOpt LanCtlii
will loon be fufficiently nualikell tf do ittlO.
vice. I Ihould propofe alth, Aston cats
, llie
are called-04 -filch of. thexotioliei. art firm
10
thotdd bkallowed the bunetki off fervcoz in ti,
vakyrprOVicfed tliky.aPpeat'lP &Arnett-in the '1,,,,.. • •
esercifio alit(y parillt agreillitO <Olin tiutp . rof
volunteirs.,4.,:p4ofelretwolted?sert, pertogricady r .
.irig, the d . ' listiold fin ayit, r ocoh4('-'
ram„,enr.-.. ot tp,ol4.pipio ,t o'illik -
iv
•
lunteers, shirt,:'o eare.orillW ..
ger alo7 . •
ge,ey.dlylleould nareektrA.ojo-rfreirlie t 4
'part of Off* Britaiir, Nr,Elte par of obit
pilic•
.valicia. I hire hitherto Whist priimityliy .cif. •
land; io io.Secalsitd; I heroic the ancient Ptlrlis-
tine of that country Minks/le fame AS list of Pile.
.larld. But be; that eircutißeAck'ltillttoiti, knot Ow
roughly, petfuaitstl ihat, majet%n in that t • 6
.. .
whereehe inhabitantilitiTTOrs egat'llAllellfti • '
fehres by patrintifm, 'public root, aid braterY,;e:
mql
in &c lean !erre 040 lb Ibbesit to fuel .
ment kith; present emeigencf, htorder to 6,41
ed to finite with entry Britottiirilhts larkei
United Kingdeaus, to repel with' liner th 't)reatlt
attack. With refpeEt to srelatid. I may fa ; .1'
is minty intention to apellthefp aie?fuiei at
64
to that country. The*Msett lir ns dise
not admit of fuch an arlilichtiod, ttiabfe ' 1, •
(ion of it into fmall dittriet ii goi.eartli
.044 t
perfeflion as it is in this coOhtry. ' t .00 -pelfiiiii*
that fome efforts thould be tifa fur the 044,4'4
accomplithing Inch clivlfiSiti in 'that OW of 'ibis '
United Kingdom; but at iiikietit It is *elk h .colt.
dition to admit of fuck sld drriditheent. 14,%twitIts
(Landing that cireumihittee, 1. m totiableist•
there ate amongß the inhabitants' its . •i' .
ardent zeal and attachment 'Co tbi'entlll . . •
der which they live, that WIII prompt 4
5 5
1
to oppofe the foe by every pofilhle effort. Ili i
whole, I would beg Gentlemen to confider the 4.-A
Rate of Europe; and fay, whether or not this 47111 p
not fo framed, as by its operations to avert file
dangers that threaten us ? Some Hoer. Ater:Ave A
thislioofe may perhaps Rart objeaiuns to the pfeliat
meaftwes, from the internal dangen which it *RI Its
fuppofed may accrue from thus ntting atm, IttS the
hands of all perfons ptoutifcuoully. I etceillrlael
thofe, however, in this Hoeft, who hate been peogloop.
ed to the honourable rank of Lieutenants of idtetitles
to confider, that in fuch troublefoe'se tittles as. there,
their °Sees become every day mot: important to the
Rate, they being a/Nally the Reptefentatives of his
Majefly in various counties; and I would aids to
recall to their recolleaion a due fenfe of the weighty.
charge with which thee are ramified/ - I may bete
take the liberty of mentioning that they ought
not now to y:ew their fituatiorts as they hare-hlttiera.
to been too much zecußomed to do, as merely olp
vil offices. I fay, that in thpfe times, it is better SO.
run the hazard eyen of the People making a bad ore
of their arms, ihin that they (kookd be sett:ally left in
a Hare of entire ignorance of the ufe of them. Fat
my own part, I can said, aver, that 1 marmot the any
real danger which is likely to accrue to the imetnaf
peace of the country, when 1 confider the plettat
difpofititins and feelings of the people.. re hr how
titer eircomflance to be embraced by s itip".4
.
which I did net advert to in its fevila ord'''jhis
refpens the private arms il the pottrput of in :rinds-
als. However well fur p:icti the pudic arfenals and
magazines may be in regaro to arms, yet,in cafe dome
thanld be a nccalty for a general inftantanenue sr-
mamknt, to repel invarion. there will he as. abfoluta
call for el the arms that can be fornithed binds byr ,
Goeitritirent and private individuals. V Aloes tie.
tiope afford as, by their eoadat in tiro te44a, Otilltet•
''. "