The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-03-23 00:00:00

THANKS TO SIR ROBERT WILSON.

Mr. HUTCHINSON observed, that after the
angry and hostile discussions which had occupied
a great portion of the present Session, it was with
much satisfaction that he rose to address the House
on a subject, upon the main point of which there
was not likely to occur any difference of opi-
nion ; fur he felt confident there would exist but
one, within or without these walls, as to the merit
of the gallant Officer, gm, the small corps %%hose
services it had fallen to his lot to submit to the
consideration of the Howe. There were two
questions, of which he begged Gentlemen, on the
present occasion, if ossible, to divest their minds;
the one, the perilous situation of Spain and Per.
bigot at this moment; _the other, the wisdom or
impolicy,.of hob* at all (or in the manner in
wbiclu 'Ave tad) interfered in the war in those
countries. We were not to undervalre
the importance of military services achieved in
the Peninsula, from their haring failed in rescu.
iug it (rein tae grasp of the enemy'; from their
not having succeeded in acconti•l;shing that
;which no rational, certainly no military mind,
could have 'expecttal (vim such means. Neither
were we t;; consider ourselves as pledged to ap.
prove th,e prinCiPle of the war, because the dis.
tingaished honour of the aPprobition of that
Anise Ltd been conferred upon the troops'eui.
ployerl in that service. There was nothing
• antr.:r from his intention than 'to .depreciste,
•by invidious Compariiions, the merits of , any
.01ficer, however humble or elevated his, rank.
He had long been greatlianxions to find. this
try disposed at last to make what might be con.
sidered as a. fair *military exertiod, such ai **l
was sorry he cou!tl not agree had been at;
tempted, ever since the commencement of the:
• war in 179:3. He wis ready to make du:9 a110w.6
vice for the embarrassnieuts tinder which Govern.
mtlits planned and directed expeditions ; with
that disposition of mind he came to tin: consllete.•l
lion of such questions, 'but with the inost fluxion'
wish to applaud anti recant: - As' to the. present

_ •••• . ••••••• • - - r--
on e, ho hoped it would bc'decided solely by its
own merits. Sir Robert Wilson having arrived at
Oporto in September, 1808, Was enabled, by the
December following, to raise, arm, and discipline a
corps, called the Rap! Lusitanian Legion, with
which he took the field as itiriu theshortspece of three
months, having previously obtained for his zeal, ala-
crity, and talent, In organizing this corps, and for his
'earnestness in the public cause, the confidence tent
approbation of the Goverment of Oporto. In
December, being apprized of the defeat which the
different Spanish armies had sustained, and of the
alarm which very generally pervaded Spain and
Portuge), he decided upon adeancing towards the
frontier, and having crossed the Dauro, took up
a position in the previoce of Salamanca, where the
enemy shortly arrived with .a corps which at lot
amounted to about twelve thousand men. With-
out entering into a detail of operations in this
zeiarter, ouecirold not avoid admiring the bold-
ness and judgment with* which this forward move.
mesa was conceived and executed. The ever-tu-
be-lamented Sir Jelin Aloorebad recently sealed
by his death his victory at Corunne. Ills brave
troops had already reached tic shores of Bd.
lain. The few scattered English regiments in Por.
tugs! were coneentreted at Lisbon, nearly two
hundred miles from Sir Robert Wilson, • e hose
fate they awaited with the utmost anxiety, and
whose daring cond'iet they cue ld not. view but
with admiration. It was at a 'moment thus criti.
cal and appalling, that hr came to the decision of
affording a signal example of undaunted liminess
to the Portuguese and Spanish nations, and, at
Iho most iniednent risque, interposed his small
corps to the further irragress of the enemy in
this, quarter ; where, by a' most jAieitots dis-
positiou of his troops, he was enabled effectually
to deceive the enemy as to his great juferiority
of numbers, and as well by frequent, well.timed
sallies, as ity the most gallant defence of posts, he
kept them touch on the alert—foihd them in all
their projects—withheld a part of a province
abundant in resources, and kept open the commu-
nication between the tirOeti ead Southern pro-
vinces.• At latter end of April, General
Laphsse, who commanded the French Corps ii
Salamanca, having moved up in the A euida, in
order to combine a movement w ith Marshal
at that time advancing in another direction upon
Oporto, was driven by Sir Robert Wihoo from
the bridge of St. Julius,- on that ricer, %sheet, be had
occupied as 'opening his march to Portugal. It hap-
pened, however, that thisQeneral skurtly after aim.,
doned his orii,inal plan Moving on Oporto, and
proceeded to the southward, tq join Marshal Vic-
tur. During his progress, be was pursued and
harimed by the legiou, with some loss ; but the
junction with Victor was effected. Sir Robert
Wilson new reteived orders to join Lord' Wel-
lington, which he did, having first placed his corps
in a strung position at Alcantara; and it WAS but
justice to the corps tar niention here, in pass.
lug, that, commanded by Colonel Maine in the
-absence of Sir it Wilson, it-gallantly and success_
fully defended itself when attiscked at Alrantara,

MIN

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by a very superioroe thanks
suand;rl4M:i:Batervesitr,:.
Fur this spirited conduct, 1:olonei Maine mat I.: •
c-rw7illll:7l,Yerici,ue.'S ehleitttii°l n tidB of tithce'!;aretti
of liereeford's army; and although th,t
coming spat the clumsy, he reCeived the thuie,
'Part of she, allied at my had nut aii.uppurtuility of l
cooonff ticiih:iceoftteel:ai
legion,
ddf
aitsithweneletfrioeplciutuolit.iieetto:l4tistu.;ft
Seidl, Sir It. Wilson again resumed the ••
, with the rank
lirigadier,G coma, Fuslptfasti the etkance of Lens
wolington's army, un his march to Telavere.
Hero Mr. Hutchinson said he should merely state,
that at one moment of th atati twee, Sir R. Wteui-
was within 3 feaineo of 1/aitritl, hay ing had frequeat
skirmishes 'with theeuetriy, who, by their oini
dispatches, appear to bare been euesiik—
re y
alarmed by the movements of his cusp;. Fruit
• this point he was nedle:l, its ',consequence of the
expected battle of Talaver.i, and by forieg
inarciies he wae,ctiabled early in the ae:ion of the
0811, to take tip a lessitien the teer of theme.
.•
my ; a positioa of cousi.forald.:: risk to Isimelf,
the whole of the French force Intervene,
between his small corps mid the allied Attlee
but one from which he could have coasitlr.
ably annoyed them, had they retreated ie
that direction. 'Afterwards, by a movement
along the enemy's right flank Burin, tee
night, lie succeeded in joining lend Wellieeton
early •in Ow morning of the Genie:eel
were aware, that by his Lesetsliip's dispatch, it ale
peered that the tilt:al did :tot retire from tike pu.
shims which he hail occupied after the batik of
Talavera, till towards the end of the second day
after the action ;' and his retroeride nievecteat
then !eight be attributed to a tuenceivrestiggest4
and undertaken by Sir 'Hobert Wilson at the
head of his corps,'.: by whieh, in a misted/
manner, he threatened the. enemy'e batik, 44
appeared from the Freasele accounts. The
portante to the allot' army, of th:s retrograb
I moveasent on the part of the ceaeny, need
Ino comment. Of tiiii movement, cuettme4
no the 2,1, the enemy was not apprized tell le,
6th, in ceneequenee ut his retreat, to nhich it an
I but j.lst to conclude, he had been reduced by the
I advance of Sir Robert Willem. Immediately afiet
Lord Wel lingtun having reefed from 'reilavera,ie
the hope of destroying South's corps, in which rt.
peetatitin.ho was disappoisteed ..the advance of
Ithe French army • under Joseph 'Boaaparte, Sir fhe'
bert Wilson' brim again • separated froM the allied'
army, and COM wiled. to make; a circuitous etrrat
'thruegh a difficult country, tell withlin the pawl
of Bailos, one of the Eeetich divisluits, !,here, the
'ultimately defeeted, lie very geleuttly disputed the
passege of the enemy fot: several hones. The hot
1.1 colninentlatioe of she 'cis whet of his corps, and of
his own tiers enal (exertions, in that' wine,
w mild- be found-in the .eieten-fs- report of that al. •
I fAir. `i'bi's aClititi, It was • .enaterial .eo Observe,
ISir 'Robert Wilson., Ogle/ have' quideil,•l.4
h.id'aireadY. ptiSgell -1110, 14144 'll .witich the. French
jhid to advance ; •bw/eelie. reeriteed- his slept, sal
iritarpuseil himself..;) the march of this corps. In
thin conduct the noose would discover the saw
mind which aclisated Sir Hobert Wilson aerate
the. -Whole` of his operettuits:jo- the •proviiire of
&dalliance. lle".l4new had not the eeptis at
giving eifeetttal. resistance', = but. lie felt that he
could embarrass end retard him. That seam idea
I might be formed of the importance .of the grata
st of this ()Meer, he begged keys: testae,
that the government of °pure° mode him. a very
liher.ll otter of a pension of 1009 f. a year, whioli •
w.th great propriety he declined ; and of this cit.
conistanee, the late Secretary .of State was billy
lemit ized: By his advance upon' Almeida and Re.
design, lie 'secured storeteatidproperty 'to a cosi.
(Wei le amount, Mid by his advanced position cm.
tra:e..ed to prevent the speedy evacuation of Per.
togal. The •Honourable • Member said,. he had
thus, with- as imich brevity' us the nature of the
subject would admit, put the (louse iu postessitat
of the services at' this gallant Officer and his carps.
They had already received the unqualified appro.
bation both of the Spanish and Portuguese Gems-
meets, as also of our Ministers both in the Penia.
sub and at home; and lie begged leave teet.ld. es
most flattering amid decisive proof of their merits,
that it had fallen to their lot to snake prisonerset
French ()dicers, upon' whom had been conferred.
brevets of '; a Legion of Ilutionr for their our.
• duet against Sir It. Wilsoe
.lie hoped he shed
soot he told that. Otero was no precedent Wth*
he asks.! : theliines required that we should Mike
one. Why had the Hance given Thanks -for the.
icloriei of Vinticra, Corunna, and 'bailers! •
Not because they beat don n the power of rolltlei
or had reseed our allies from tier grasp. Neitholl
of these small corps (most inadequate to the form
with•whicli they had to contend) had been fog*
forth with the hope Sr expectation that they
'Wettld restore the balance of power, or drive
Franco w Ilia her pruiier.limits. It was folks
example that the chosen row •hol Wen sent Earth.
Sir itebere Weems felt this, and adinirahlywdl
acted up to the prineipks. tie (Mr. H.) bad 'a
called the attewitni the House to the ser-
lifts of an oil r >ming in cans paignittg, or in-
:experienced in the t,ils and petvils of war;
'{hough yet young, Sir Robert Wilson ha4lll9°l_
seventeen years its almost -constant, certainly risf
active service, which he hail ever ardently ought/
eve" ill the most di-iant and oufrietidly cliinew
Tee Ifenetirable Member . elite/lamed nn err'
jeiliee ; lie j.,siied in some of the vulgar ohm-
tiles against the •great Ruler of the French natione•
who he considered as the greatest Situ'
man and the ablest Grneral of ancient or rill/denr
times; and he highly esteemed the nation at
whose head he had had the good fortune to lig
placed., lle made this declaration iu the 1'1;
C iat tho hich he was about to give sit
not be ascribed to that besotted illiberality. en:.
fiertiiiiarely tun 'weeks:Ht. had little doubt
then, that slweld it p. leave PrOridellee 14 continue
Bonaparte a tow years longer iu the poises'in° ,
t lint pouer which he heedhitherto tt icided hiit
Ku
destruction of his mimics's. aced which power
,d eree
every' hoer umietafSrlUitiu A.-
(L "sallutild have to-eoutend with him lot our yeti it,


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tote n a nation. He was therefore convinced, that
it was our first duty, and consistent with our best
ittetest, to cherish, and encourage--nay, studis.
oath to seek out talent, rid Military enthusiasm,
,whenever they should manifest themselves. With
is i►h;,rcaaiow log and deeply engraven on his
he felt it to be his duty, not more towards
re pliant Officer, mid the corps he commando!,
1,1 to the EOIIIICC, to make the statement with
shich he had troubled the House, and which,
,„cts Gentlemen recollected the times in .whiels
pey livexl, would, he trusted, not be considered
o,;portane. The Huuoarable Member then pro.,,
„Jett to wove,

of plain; an efficient officer in his situation. The)
presenti Governor of Ireland would never yield to
popular clamour for the 'papas* of injuring
individual. He coucluded by egareips the previous
question.
A Member followed.
Mr. B. BATHURST wished to thew-whether
the office was totally abolished, or whether it still
existed, and was filled by person who succeeded
the late Treasurer !
Mr. W. POLE said, the office had been con.
vetted from a sinecure into a situation of absolute

duty. • , .
Mr. WHITBREAD was sure it WAS not the in- ,
tention to press the previous question. It waa an
attempt to saddle the country with an annual ex-
pence of 11001. by giving compensation to a man
who had never performed any duty. He\wished
the Noble Lt-t 1 (Castlereagh) was seated between
the Right Honourable Gentleman and the Chan.
cellor of th:: Exchequer for Ireland : he could give
them some information about the year 1800, a year
in Ireland very fertile io compensations. • •
The CHANCELLOR-of the EXCHEQUER
defended the rendering of the office efficient, and
contended for the impropriety of, introducing the
subject when the person who could best give the
House information was absent on foreign service.
Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY thought the whole
business a gross job.
Mr. GRATVAN condemned the' system of su-
perannuation, and had a great notion once of mov.
ing, that all the superannuated officers should be
brought to the Bar, In order thit the House might
see what a hale, young, and vigorous corps they
would compose. [A laugh.]
Mr. PETER MOORS allowed that this was a
job, but it was nothing when compared with the
1 job of the distilleries carried ou by a Mr. Hip, he
believed Mr. Rowland Hill. (A laugh).
Mr. DUNDAS and the SOLICITOR GENE-
' RAI. spoke for the previous question ; and. Mr.
I M. FiTzG Eitii LI) and. Mr. BARHAM against
it, whets Sir JOHN NEWPORT replied, and the.
i House divided-
-1 For the previous question 52 I Against it 31.

• .

km tomtit tat the Censtitsstsm.,v..---__ _
its readiness at the call of the civil niagilltistnt
military commander, to keep the peace, to sup
press riot, to quell insurrection, to extinguish
rebellion, or to resist invasion. The membe'
this " power " are 'pisaishable by 1i
failure in any of these duties ; and, iu I
reign they bare been several times punishe,
at London in 1780, and since at Nottingham,
Birmingham, &c. where, fur not having
pressed riots end quelled insurrections, the houses
of the inhabitants were pulled down, and their pro-
perty destroyed. On those occasions, "the several
vicinities were sued, and cast in'damages, to make
good tfill Injury dune by the non-performance of.
their cosistitational military duty.
Here, Sir, we see the reason, why, ai laid down
by Blackstone, (Coin. I. 408) " The laws and
" constitution of these kingdoms know no such
4C state as that of a perpetual standing soldier, bred
up to no other profession than that of war."
To a free Constitution, which provides for its own
peace and defence in all possible emergencies, a
" power" of a million and a half of armed men, '
a standing army cannot be necessary at home.
What, then, has made a stancliag,ircoy in any
case necessary to us? And by what rule are we*
to draw.a line, as to its strength It The answers
are very easy. A etandiirg army can onlyfie for
offensive war, • which must be abroad; and tot
the defence of our external possessions; and hot
strength is to int in proportion to the gforesdi
necessities. But there is yet another qUestion :
Who is to judge-el thaeowicamity 2.11.ec0.
the answer is as easy as before—a rain PARLIA.;
MINT.
Do we not now here highs to discover 14 what
means, and to what ends, we have had a complete
' regular army of foreign mercenaries, horse, foot*
and artillery, engineers,, and staff, quirtared and
barracked in our country, in common with tt
native army ; a foreign General, commanding esti
English district for our DEFENCE; and many
thousands of other foreigners smuggled in upon
us, in the form of additiosal compauies of Sici.
liens, attached to English regiments ; French
prisoners captured under Dupont, and enlisted in
the jails of Spain, &c. die. to which we have seen
recently added thirty thousand Portuguese! ! !
With regard to those, as it is understood that'
not half of them had been engaged at the times,
when an English House of Commons voted 4,,
million for taking them into pay, it is plain that
Ministers give the French credit for good sense,
in allowing them time, by high bounties, to com-
plete this levy; because they conclude that France
*ill first secure the conquest of Spaiu, before she
takes possession of Portugal; so that we may
have opportunity allowed fur procuring, these 30
thousand Portuguese, just in good time for get-
ting then, ode out of Portugal in company wide'
the English army. • •-,
Where Ministers will look for a
menfatioe of that' standing army to. sociand our
Country, I am at a loss to conceive', eless they
send to Congo and Aeguta, for tweet or thirty
brigades of African nagvves.
There are persons, Sit, base enough to vindi.'
:sate this insult to English manhood, of hiring thy!,
refuse of sebduod nations, born under.desjlotie
*wets, and doubly enslated by a militfry code,
as guardians and protectors of our laws and liber.
ties *'and there are others, ignorant womb to
doubt, whether it violate our Constitur 11,

That the Thanks of the Hesse be elven to Sir Robert
Lu„ for has eminent services to the wanton cause, and
;die ;,.‘„lutioa, activity, and persevet.o.iee which had di*.
,p,i,50,1 his catgut dunk the canyaLli." •
The CHANCELLOR, of the EXCHEQUER
'cited that thu motion hed been brought before
House, because he must regret any thing which
•a hurt the feelings of a gallant Officer. But
motion appeared to him inadmissiltle, accord-
,. to the practice of Parliament; the Honourable
seemed to be conscious of this, from the
I;3;ssiens with which he prefaced his eloquent
vez:s; and painful as the duty was, which fur.
the Thank,, that ditty must be done. There
1, nothing which was snore apt to excite the cry
r GOOOllOl un the opposite sides than prodigal
o:utlittire of that great fund of public hunours,and
',e was UntlUtibtedly nothing of ihich the value so.
oh depended oil the cautiewapplicatioa_TheLu.1
3420 Legion had earned high praise; and there
vi di be no intention hi that House of refusing
Lir just admiration to the spirit, the activity,
teal, and the valour of the gallant Officers
,k, commanded the corps. Peculiar praise was
to.ilue to him, from Considering the peculiar '
dsaiity of the troops which be led into the field.
olio was to be looked upon as having given au
Natant proof of what the troops of our allies
axespable, under the COlllifiand of British Officers;
soraof which would out be forgotten by those
oho si rc nose in a situation like that of the gal.
wit 031:11. But enough had been done is; al.
1,,„i„.;50s opportunity fur giving the detail of his
sidtich the House hail just heard, lie hoped
the Hauourable Meitsha would not press-his mu.
on. •
Mr. CANNING regretted that the motion had
kca offered to the House. He could fed the
wire by whirls tke Hon. Member w se influenced
to bringing, it km ward. lie could issiderstand the
sensibility that might have been affected, by find.
jog his mote left out in the vote of thanks for the
lila). of Talavera. There could be no doubt,
en the mitt l Of any loan in that Mouse, of th im.
root and gallasit :services of Sir Robert Wilson;
they «id 'sot fall within the line to which the
of Parliament were wisely restricted. He
said advise' 116! Hon, .Mover to withdraw the
notion, in the full feeling that it was refused only
'game it erred against the rule of that House in
the distribution of its honours. The epithet of a
partizan, applied, to Sir Robert Wilson in the
dispatches, had use connection with any cuntemptu.
ins idea.
General TARLETON said a few, words in yin.
lesion of the eliarael.a. of a partiz on Office*,
stoscdsities and services he described to be of the
not imps/stint kind, arsethe best schwa& tar'
tossing ateareomplisliecl General.
Lord CASTLERE.kGH had no idea of throw-
ing a slight upon the gallant officer, but there
tare souse peculiar difficulties in the Me before
thorn. Sir Robert Wi'-son had nut been mentioned
is Lord Wellington's dispatches as composing a
part of his army ; and, in the nest place, he was
then in opacity. of a Portuguese Officer, whom
that House could not take upon itself to re-
ward. Gallant actions had been . dune by
may officers in the course of the war, to
which Parliament had not been called to pay smut.
tiin. General Prevost had saved Domiuica, and
checked the progress of the enemy at a time when
inch a check was af signal importance, and yet be
Intl nut been thanked. Sir Robert Wilson, when
in Finders, performed eminent services ; he was
mot that distinguished regiment of cavalry who
mend the Emperor of Germany from the French,
',What! been knighted for it, but he received no
!banks.
Sir J. HALL thought •the motion of Thanks
proper, as an excitement for the 'Portuguese, and
*lured the Honourable Mover, that if he perse-
terol its his motion, he should have his Or J.
Sall's) support.
51r. HUTCHINSON was gratified to find II"
the only objection made to Isis motiott was to it.
informality ; he tionll uot, however, press it far-
ther upon the Honse.—Nlotimi withdrawn.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
wished to know of seine Gentleman on the oppo-
site side of the House, the course intended to be
tskets in the debate on hlenday. .Ho was answer-
td, that it was intended to move two Resolutions,
one sin the policy of the Expedition, and the other
09 the retention of Walcheren.
IRIS!! POST OFFICE.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT ruse to make a Motion
on the Ninth Report of the Commissioners of !u-
-tility Ireland. The Treasurer of the Post
05re there had been superannuated after eight
years, during which time he had done no service
%totem. Sir John Newport then read some se.
tolutions of the Irish Parliament, limiting the sit-
. Vrannuation with full salary, in the first instance,
to those nho had served forty years in • public
save witisont eetisisre ; and by a regulation of
1793, reducing that term to twenty-five years. He
toncluded by a motion that the House do agree
`Olt the Hpport in reprobating a conduct so ad-
verse to the existing laws, and to that economy
shish it was so peculiarly important at the pre-
lint time his observe.
Mr. NV ELLEiLEY POLE expressed as strong
a reeling for economy as the Right Hon:Baronet
conic pussits!y entertain. Hedenied that the pre.
tent case was in any ds..gree a violation of that
11.1'110111e. In fact, the Treasurer now alluded
to had received the office under the idea of its
136''ca slat:cure, and had so held it till the year
KY?, si lien ,'reform in the aeparttuent being es.
4'11;14d, he 1t es superauttuated for the purpose

On our Msadmission, we found Mr. Secretary
RYDER, moving for leave to bring in the Local
Militia Bill, which was given, after a short con.
versation between Mr. Ryder, Mr. Whitbread,
anti Mr. Giles, as to the omission-of certain oaths,
and the regulation of Captain's pay.
The Bill was brought in and read a first time,
to be mid a second time to.morrow.
On the Motion of Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY,
the hill for preventing privately stealing was read
a' cued and ordered to he committed this day
• The SOLICCTOR GENERAL, in not op.
posing the question in that instance, begged not
to be understood either to adopt or oppose the
measure, but wished merely to reserve himself to
a future stage of tho measure, to state his send-
' mesas up-in it. •
Mr. WiNDHAM expressed himself to the same
effect.
The Bills for preventing robberies, or privately
stealing in dwelliug.houses, and also on navigable
rivers or canals, were read a socoud time, and or.
dered to 1/41. cammited (his day sennight.
• Mr.-MALLTIN gap notice, that he 6114)01316a
morrow move for a Return of the different Offices
in the Gift-or Patronage of the Crown ; a Return
similar to that made on the sth of February,.l7Bo,
Which was to be found in the 37th volumerof tke
Journals, page 143.
Adjusofed at eleven o'clock..
.0 0
To thi EDITOtt of dig STATESMAN.

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that Ifoose adds thirty thou:wed mere, is it suit „.- .
time to look about us ? If we cannot get rid of
.these mercenaries till we have reformed that . -*-
House, how ',oddly ought we to call for that Re. •.. -
form !—Here, Sir, rushes on the mind the coos!.
of the war in 1793, and the character it has over •
since preserved, and which has been so. strongly .
Manifested hi Spain and Portugal I—But 1 will
refrain from enlarging on that painful topic, re. •
marking only how easy it must be to Ministers,
aiming at the introduction of mailers gt vens.
meat, through the, medium of a Parliament.whicls
has Ceased to represent the nation, to find, or to
make pretences for going to war,
.as the proper
means for getting'. 'into their bands an immense •
standing army ; and- then how easy again it must
be for pretend a farther necessity, of ingrafting
upon such a native- army, another; still better
adapted to the purposes of despotism !
But, Sir, as nothing is more common than foe •.
the devices of the wicked to. recoil upon their owls
heeds, let us even admit, that a war originstings
on the part.of our own Ministers, in bitter hostia
fit to human liberty, and to that especially of
ear trait codlitry,' th-Ortht, in its progress, reduce
that to the necessity of continuing it for presort*
itst themselves, and the government in their hand., , •
from subjugation to the foreign foe t and let tea%
farther admit, .that the nation should so far be
brought to make common cause with own s.. .
wicked Ministers, as to be under the necessity of
continuing such a war, for the preservation 111
liberties against such foreign foci
Here, then, We see the Ministers sad the-nations
to a certain extent, and fur their common presor.
ration against the foreign enemy, io alliance. But
has this necessity of an alliance with the nations ~
taught Ministers fidelity towards that'll,'? Have - •
those 'Ministers, while receiving at the hands sit
that ally evCry thing which men and money sued
contribute to the *gasmen cause, for one instant
ceased to plot against its liberties? for one xnose
went abandoned their designs for subterting. she -
Constitution I say, No. They originally went
to war to crash the Reform of Parliament, at that
-time strongly working in.the mind of the station, •
What was, on- that subject, down to the •tneutor.
able 11th of May,lllo9, their invariable conduct?
Aid when Members of their own body, who, its -.
gross violation of the Constitetionoters also Mem.
' hers of the Howie of.Conentons,:wore openly
cusod in Parliattiont fit selling-seats in that lioqo
—iihich la ser.tixd Taff PIMPLE, 211111 Ilk LA Wilt
AIM LIBEITIgiI how did Ministers n.ct toward,
their ally, the nation?' With fidelity No. Wig
common firmest), i• No. With -ordinary deceoce
No.—So flinch with inference 10--the civil brutish
of 'our censtitutiin
Harry they sited with mein honour . tit ,cep. •
science, regpestlesile military 6renotitierllVe
to keep' in mind t'ihat thilawa and cAnstitatie*
'444 of these kingdomXlinesaaso Sticia-Stote N. that of .
irparpeiaal lettedincioldist ;" and thq eatiellsta
leelousy of a standing• army, especially of foreign* •
*err- -- taliohlesed _of

' 1,

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~. . .tioa.. -
foe, At: measure,. there were that, sort of over- ~ r, ever shown II the _ • la Irillis
pa4ering and self-evident necessity, which just. 'Otir cot*ifry, is known. to after y on at ali.ae.:
. des in unarmed man in surrendering his purse to' qulainte& with eve bistory Piece the Refornsatien,.:.
u ..
.
a rubber, who has knocked him doworae makes comae-6 ce 14y lled the Revolution of 1688. Eve*.
• . its demand with a loaded pistol, tae *Shed bay. ,King William, to his Weenie :regret, was sande. * • •
—...-- onet in his hand, ern might, without *jail igno., Alek;Obeettelfy of sending to their olio country his, •
':Sts—l have to request thecorrection, of a ma. spiny, submitto such a necessity ;bat, Sii;:keeoto:,J4ollo Dutch tiddlers. If then, while beildlint..
!twist error in the roped made• in your Paper of ing those mean of defence which are pritscriba.: !P
_.;II. standin all of *Mims le an asklehlintali'
Tuesday the 13th inst. of what I said at the Es- by the Constitution, and which I have noted as: 11.0U,0001non, scald ing thereto 60,1)00 flereigaiee; - •
see Meeting, held at the Freemason's Tavern, on furnishing a million and a half of freemen, for Moister' bad not a settled design against our li.
Monday the Pith instant, on the subject of the setting invasion at defiance, should we passively bertha, they would at least have raised up a cotes.
Standing Army ; being particularly solicitous. that 'endure the indieuity 'we ought to be sloe scorn of terpaise a truly national force for satisfying us
my opinions should not be miseoliceived, after hair. mankind. 1 ' , of. the honesty of their intentions ; that is, they
ing published my sentiments on " The Military That we may consider whether the meagre be would have revived the proper constitutional mi.
,
Energies of the Constitution." . . . constitutional or unconstitutional let us acuity ditia, the posse coasitatus, and, restored its reel
s
It is erroneously stated, that I said, " There understand what the Constitution is. Suttee iti. Iniitary character.
. .
as is no pretext for maintaining a standing army then, at present to say, it is that rule. of Goleta., Had this been done, even snehibrartny as I volt
40 this moment ;" whereas my observation was, mot which this free nation had adopted ; or, in of could have inspired no fear; but when we see
that the army ought now to he very materially other words, that system for the management of that raising this counterpoise was net dime, end
reduced; and net merely by freeing us from the public affairs, by which this feeanation has con- pry a little itito the secrets of their practices re.
theme of having sixty thousand foreign merce. auntedto be governed. Can it then be a question, (+posting volunteers, local militia.,
athen
warier quartered upon our country, contra:7j to whether a-measure, on the part tither of the Exc. but too plainly* discover-the indications of set,
the Coustitubion, but that a material diminution cutive Magistrate alone, or on the direct of the Le. tled design against public liberty. Here I shalt , •
might likewise be made of the native troops. gislature, which, independent of its tendency be short. . .
The reasons I gavd.for such reduction, I hold to. establish a military desputism on the ruins of What has it length acquire& from Minister'
to be unanswerable ; namely, thererance is now public li'uerty, brands the whole nation as cowards, 'themselves, in their Acts of Parliament, the apple.
so :grow, by land, we can no whattack her to too dastardly, even with a muster roll of a million lation of the "regular militia," is slew so nearly
any useful purpose; and at tho Lime time so weak and abalf of men capable of arms, to defend their identified With ' what they had alwayrused to dis.
by sea,. she cannot even alarm the feeblest of our country, would violate the Coostitution ? Can 'kirk& as the " regular forces," namely, the .
foreign possessions. this, I ask, he a question? Does this come within standing armyv that i(, scarcely retains a trace of
Is not our disposable force, both by sea and by the rule of Gum-moat whack this free nation a constitutional militia.
land, always to be proportioned to theaecossitks have adopted? Is it thus they consented to be As to the volunteer systeliiit.can only rank
of our situation ? When our enemy's navy is re- governed,' • • among the imposture.. of the day; fraudnivoitly
duce) to a skeleton, are we to oppose him, as if N. man doubts, that to enslave. the nation contrived to practise. upon the, patriotisin a, tho
he were a naval giant in full vigour. ln other would be unconstitutional. Then, who eau station, for answering the purposes of the moineet.
words, a all a naval expenditure of ten millions • doubt, that te degrade the nation, and consign it 'The systems• which Succeeded, for arming . and •
a year, is all we require for triumphantly holding ,to+infamy,
infamy, must be unconstitutional t Let it be traioing our population, including the last' or en.
the dominion of the sea, are we to expend twenty made an individual, pea-sonal case, 'and their we rolling the lomil militia, were, so-far as their cosi.
millions on that object ? and when one hundred shalt probably be of one mind. Suppose it could tnivcra were concerned, all of the same character. .• ,
thousand land forces are as many as we can use- be put to a man's option, either to be cast into Wo . have heard of a power behind tho Throne,
fully employ, are we still .to keep up two buns prison'hy an sot a( flagrant Hestia, and with a greater thati eit'e Throne itself. It this be melon
dyed thousand, at double the expence? spotless character fur integrity,; or, by a sen. .of crafty Others,. who • have 4heetedthe Crew'
As the military system of our country does not tense of law, or act of parliament, to be branded ' intelmeasotel lot f_urthering their own mischievens
seem to be understood, I will beg leave here to for all that is base and infamous, Without the, views, . there: seems
.nsittsing
~ Inceedihio .it is
repeat what abstractedly I stated at the above means of freeing himself from the imputation; stews,
• becauae Kinti ',are proaetbiel' fot •
meeting ; and if .I shall add a few observations, which of the too evils would he prefer t But what 'being Wiled *by ill ad. Under a like suppo. .
they may nut at this time be superfluous. The must be the feaiings of such a man, on finding sition, it may be thiiught, &that there is a pewee' s .
basis of that system, is our proper constitutional both these calamities inflicted on him by one and ,
behind Patilarahot, greater then revilement thole;
if that' is - tapaideofdeceiving dad misleading it into
militia, the posse coM itatus of our law books. the same act ! and what must the nation .feel,
This is the only militia that ever denoted the by eau and the same measure it should be at once pernicious Intaisurei. .
. With reference to all, the x:...,c,..irphr,,eic.L.,::
name. The feudal tnilitia,, the trained bands, the enslaved, and consigned to infamy ! , .
new militia of 1757, and the present local militia, But, it will be said, the foreign mercenaries touched On,
tilthce4rpeaenvoerfapliasuyssibternilitay,
have been and are all perversions and corruptions have been added to the army by Act of partia. Advice ; and while the ministerial advisers oe this
of. the posse comitatus. This, agreeable to the meet. Some of them have ; but still, if the
were
leiscrhetmriviwiiitgh
principles of free governme includes " every, thing were unconstitutioual, I must deny its being methinks.
man, from the Duke to the peasaht," able to bear legal; for Parliament .has not a despotic but a in one 'hand, and, the dagger of assassins in do
arms. Our law draws the including lines at delegated power ; not a self.derived autoctatic au- other, intent on inisleading Parliament, and stab.
fifteen and sixty years of age. Here then we have thcirity, but that of a mere trustee for the peettle,
..bing the Constitution. -. . .
a " power" which, according to the, population limited by the Constitution. When, therefore, , lam arguing point, not to he decided by ape.
of this Island, amounts to one million -five holt' Parliament so far errs, as to decree that which is Oil pleading subtleties. The truth of my inform. •
Brad thcoand ma; mama) joy a common contrary to, or stibeetsive of the' ConalliOdlis itil 003 hinges all 1 last t hataCtuistic and diaasiye par,.
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411,11joas Aoki say the boots, 66 :ball be holdall rot'
fate, or nouglitlw as beiniitifiliptlbile sad nottitiss:—• - . . .
,' to sup- . Hate, Sir, in a strong point of clew, Wise/A* . . .. :•• • - ',
:anguish nectisity of reformingia fleas of Common" for .
sobers of the preservation of oar. liberties, in a hkh iii is . ,
p, for s tpiestionable 'whether ons-srixti part of its. Mon. • • ... ~
this eery ben sit therein according to law and the Cooed.
fished ;“ei. teflon. When we see the facility with Which, at ' -
gham,"it' a moment that calls for the di:beading E.Airt,
leg Sup; thousand foreign mercenaries already in our pay,
L_ I- _-- a\—.• it --- —AA. •12.. A.. •L I .....toes ol 1..410•.. in it ma..t . . ,