The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-06-07 00:00:00

To THE EDITOR or TIIL STATESMAN.

Ste,--t have to beg you will afford me, by the in-
irrtion this Le!ter. "IP facility of your indepen-
dent columns, to O.Jw the attention of some pa-
triotic Member the House of Commons, and, in
particular, perli4vs of the Noble Lord* who ques-
tioned the Under Secretary of State for the Home
Department ;limn the subject, to the proposed
Amendments in the Militia Act : trusting that it Is
not yet too late to make this little effort to obviate
some of their injurious tent;ency.

Not to occupy your •aluable space with animad-
version upon these Amendments generally, there is
one of them which appears particularly objection-
able, viz. that proposing to authorize Officers having
formerly volunteered into the Line, and now return-
;" into the Militia, to preserve their half-pay. These
are Captains of course: the case of subalterns being
different, and already provided for.
What particular merit, I ask, have these Officers;
what particular service the Militia, that they should
retain their half, on re-instatement upon full pay ?
—Could they have returned into the Line, to which,
however, they are not immediately eligible, they
mast have gcne merely from half-pay to full: a dif-
ference which, identifying employment, those who
hate made a profession of the service, tread its most
arduous paths, and who have embarked their little
private fortunes in it, scorning the calculations of
hazard, aspire to, as the object of all their hopes.—
. But to allow a man to retain his half.pay because
he returns into the Militia, is tempting him to make
a job of the service ; giving the Militia the
pre-eminence over the Line—a glaring injus-
tice to the Officers of the latter, and a wanton
.waste of the public money; which, Gon knows,
cannot be too well husbanded. Let us, Mr.
EDITOR, pursue the idea only one step. One of these
Captains so returning with his half-pay to full-pay,
likewise in the Militia (pay-and-a-half-anen you may
call them) takes the first occasion that offers of
,volunteering ■gain into the line—in due time, he is
reduced on half-pay, and making the best of his op-
portunities, gets back to his old Militia corps again,
with two helf-pays and another full-pay l No doubt
a clause or act might then be enacted to correct the
monstrous abuse : but it ought to be crushed in
limine. To which it may added, that these ad-
runtage-then are of but little advantage to the ser-
.vice.

"The labourer is worthy of hire," but not or two
hires. Let us then be satisfied if we can find one
.Lire for each labourer ; little doubt that we shall find
a labourer for each hire. Let us not both corrupt
them and squander our meaus.-1 am, Sir, your con.
Mutt Reader,
H. A.

• U'rd Milton.

William Trill, the youth who met with en acci-
dent in the Park on Monday, during the firing of the
ups, died yesterday in the Westminster Infirmary.
Another boy, who received a severe injury in the
head, now lies at the same place, without hopes of
recovery.
Yesterday morning, about mot o'clock, an alarm.
ing fire broke out in Saddler's-hall, Cheapside. The
windows and doors of several houses adjoining were
broken by the watchmen and others before any of the
inhabitants awoke' to perceive their danger. The
door of that part from which the fire was perceived
Ives burst open by a Gentleman who happened to be
present; but in consequenee of the violence of the
flames, it could not then he entered. Several eoo,ines
were soon collected, and its progress was checked.
We learn that no lives were lost.

Ott Friday night last, about tee o'clorli, as Mr.
roliwOßE was returning to F.pping Forest, in a single
horse chaise, an attempt was made to stop h:m on the
Lea-bridge-road lty three foot-pads; hut pushieg his
horse, which was very spirited, he overthrew the mail
who had placed himself before the animal, and by
.that means escaped. bet not until another of the vil-
lains fired !, pistol at him, the ball of which perforated
the left side of his great coat, without doing him
further iejury.
The particulars of a recent elopement and Gretna-
gieen marriage :—The Lady and Gentleman were
Miss STANLEY, daughter of Sir Enwano STA et.e.ar,
now in a high official situation in the East Indies,
and Capt. BoNTEIN, of the Life Guards, son of Sir
EnsvAan BONTEIN. Lady STANLEY was well aware
of the intimacy which subsisted between her daugh-
ter and Capt. BONTEIY, but never suspected that it
had so nearly approached to a cri=is, on account of
her youth, she not being quite 14 years of age. On
Sunday morning, the 21st ult. the parties went to
the Chapel Royal, and thence to the house of Lady
Boyrete, where they partook of a cold &Bailor);
they then proceeded in a tilhery to Barnet, -.:ittler
pretence of taking an airing before dinner, where a
coach and four was in waiting, arid bent their way
for Gretna-green, with all the dispatch possible.—
Lady Sta etre waited dinner till sever. o'clock, and
her ,!eughter not coming home as usual, enquiries
were made, and circumstances came to liel.t which
rendered it evident that the lovers hid taken their
flight fur Gretna. Lady S. accompanied by a person,
immediately commenced pursuit, and they traced the
fling couple every stay—but they " flew on the
w togs of love," and could not be overtaken. Tii:y
passed through Carlisle about three o'clock en the
Tuesday morning, and went on to Gretna, where
they were married; and on their titan', coming get
of Longtown, they saw their pursuers 'woad,. but
avoided them by taking an uttrterivented path, and
remaining until Lady STANLE% coat,!; went pest—
when they came on to the Bush Inn, in C trlisle,
where, in consequence of advice, the Czptniti deter-
mined to await the event of an interview with Lady
STANLEY, which took place, and nil parties were ra-
conciled, and they proceeded to town together by
0;17 stages. The Lady will have a very large fortune.
There were no objections to the match, bdt those
which arise from her extreme youth.
Bas.tn.—No alteration in the price this week.