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fpirit of the people, now impreffed with the danger with which they were threatened, the fentiments were loudly cheered by Minifters. But do they forget that it is not long fince they heard, rather with difapprobation, fentiments calculated to roufe that very spirit? Why did not Minifters éndeavour to awaken the country fooner to thofe feelings in which they now exult? If there were any fortifications neceffary to be erected, why did it happen that every thing was yet to be done in this way? It was admitted, by the preparations carried on for defence, that it was poffible a landing might be effected, and where the magnitude of the evil, if the enemy fhould fucceed, was fo great, no chance which wisdom and prudence might cut off ought to be left open. He concluded with expreffing a hope, that in fuperintending the execution of this bill, Minifters would take cate that, in the mode of training, attention fhould be given chiefly to what is useful. If it was attempted to begin the training under this bill with all the minutiae of drilling, it would be productive of little good effect.

General Tarleton faid, the army which the country had, aided by the irregular force which might be called forth, would be in a condition to repel any invafion that could be made. We should foon poffefs a military force moft adapted to the war which it would be neceffay to carry on in cafe the enemy should land. Speaking of cavalry, he faid that it was proper to confider how it could act in cafe of invafion. In Suffolk, cavalry could act with the utmoft effect; and though not to the fame extent, yet in Effex, in Kent, and in Suffex it could act in particular fituations, but not with the fame effect. With refpect to increafing the army by drafting the militia, he thought, independent of other difficulties, that it would be inexpedient to change the fyftem of the army at fuch a critical moment by fuch an operation. Unless the French were to attempt to invade us now, he conceived it impoffible, when the equinox arrived, that, with the vellels and boats they must employ, they could embark and fail with any degree of concert. He then proceeded to confider the queftion of fortifications. He fhowed that fortifications in the proper fenfe required long time to plan and execute, fo that it could not be objected to Minilters that they were not carrying on fortifications; he thought they could be of little ufe, though fuch prodigious lines could be found as would extend from Yarmouth to the. Downs, and from the Downs to Portsmouth. He did not think that in fuch a war as we Should

fhould have to carry on here, lines would be the way to oppofe the enemy. We mult go out and attack them, not wait to defend lines. From his military reading he found that lines rarely were defended with fuccefs. We ought to have what military men called a manoeuvring army; fuch an army as the French would find ready to attack them on every point -an army that foon would make them repent of their rath attempt.

Colonel Craufurd faid, he never dreamt of any fuch thing as fortifying only one point from Yarmouth to Portfmouth, or throwing up fuch lines as the hon. Gneral had fpoken of.

Mr. Pitt equally complained of being mifunderstood. He had spoke of itations capable of retarding the enemy, net of lines in which our army was to allow itself to be befieged.

General Maitland faid, that had he caught the Speaker's eye fooner, he might have troubled the House at some length, but most of what he intended to obferve was anticipated. There were a few remarks, however, which he wished to make. With refpect to fortifications, he was of opinion that their field works might; in fome circumstances, be of great utility; and he withed that it should be known how the fact ftood as to this point. He thought this the more neceffary, as there were mifunderЯandings on fimilar points both in and out of doors. For instance, it was faid that fome important provifions in the army of referve bill had never been thought of till a fpeech of the right hon. Gentleman oppofite (Mr. Windham, we believe) was delivered; whercas the provifions in queftion had actually been prepared before that fpeech was uttered. He withed the country to know too, that wherever the officers commanding districts reported to Government that field works were neceflary, as Government had directed an inspection to be made, then fuch works were either made or making. He thought it very improper that it fhould go out to the world that Minifters were fo inert, fo incapable, fo negligent, that they never took any fleps for the defence of the country, till flimulated by speeches in Parliament, when they had in every inftance anticipated the recommendation of fuch fpeeches. Refpecting the army of referve, he faid, that the original battalions of regiments would be filled with the beft men, the fecond battalions with the second beft, and the reserve battalions with the worst.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that there was no novelty to him in the fpeech of the hon. Gentleman who opened this debate (Col. Craufurd), as moft of his views were con

tained in that body of information which was before Minifters on this fubject, and which it had been their duty to confult. As to field works, it was a fact that measures had actually been taken for the execution of every thing judged neceffary on that head, and money had been iffued from the Treasury, weeks ago, to defray that expence; fo that it was not neceffary that either the officers commanding districts, or Government, should be reminded of their duty by any speeches in that House.

Dr. Laurence contended that the provifions in the army of referve bill, alluded to by General Maitland, were not introduced into the bill till after the speech of his right honourable Friend. The learned Doctor inveighed against the flowness of Ministers in all their preparations. He expreffed a hope that fome refolution to animate the fpirit of the country, fince Minifters had abdicated that tafk, would be brought forward before Parliament rofe, either by his right hon. Friend near him (Mr. Windham), by the right hon. Gentleman oppofire, or by the hon. Gentleman who fpoke fo ably on this bill a few nights ago (Mr. Fox).

Sir W. Erskine could not agree in fome opinions that had been advanced. If we were to have a field-work from Yarmouth to Portsmouth, what effect could it produce, but to fritter away the main energies of our strength? In his opinion the only fyftem that could fafely be adopted, was to affemble the whole of our force upon one point. That point, a military knowledge of the country might eafily felect-it should be fuch as would maintain a compleat communication through the Thames; and without adopting fuch a scale of action, the whole provifions of the bill moft prove nugatory. The fortification of the coafts would be of no availit would only tend to fcatter our forces, while fuch fituations might be adequately filled by light detachments of our cavalry, that may be properly ftationed to announce the approach of

the enemy.

Col. Craufurd complained that in most of his obfervations he had been mifunderstood.

Mr. Archdale warmly fupported the bill. He was only afraid that the people of England relied too much on their wooden walls, and on the local opportunities of their fitua tion. They should be alarmed-but the alarm should be a judicious one; an alarm that created confidence, instead of difmay-it fhould be recollected, that the English character bad difplayed itfelf in conquering abroad, while it profeffed

but

but a fmall degree of military fpirit and reputation at home.

Sir J. Pulteney contended, that all history justified the sys tem of fortified pofts, which position he illuftrated by a variety of references to ancient and modern hiftory.

Captain Markham complained that Gentlemen had entered into a number of military details to which, in his opinion, it was not neceffary or prudent to allude. As to the danger of invafion, it gave him no great alarm; if the enemy had a fair wind, and came in the force in which they threatened to come, the difficulty of their landing would be materially in creased by the furf which their approach muft occafion.

Mr. Hutchinfon gave his moft cordial fupport to the bill, as far as it went; but, in his opinion, it did not go far enough. There was one part of the united empire to which the bill did not extend, and perhaps prudence might have dictated that refervation. This was a circumftance which he could not but lament; because when diftiuft was once betrayed, instead of affection, you must expect hatred. This, however, was a delicate topic to touch upon; he should therefore refrain from any obfervations upon it, and content himself with faying, that the prefent meafure, as far as it went, met with his moft cordial fupport.

Colonel Porter could not-fee what advantage could be drawn from adverting to the vulnerable part of the country. Such nilitary difcuflions might as well be omitted in that' House.

The question was then loudly called for, and agreed to

nem. con.

PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX BILL.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the order of the day for going into a Committee for the further confideration of the property and income tax bill.

The Houfe refolved into Committee accordingly; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved fome claules of further amendment, 'which were agreed to. The bill fo amended was ordered to be be printed, and to be taken into further confideration, fo far as concerns the faid claufes, on Tuesday

next.

Reported the refolutions of the Committee of fupply, on the vote of 300cl. annuity or compenfation to the family of Lord Amherst. Agreed to, and a bill brought in pursuant thereto, which was read the first time, and ordered for the econd reading on Monday.

The

The Chancellor of the Exchequer prefented his bonding and warehoufing bill, which was read the first and fecond time, committed, reported, ordered to be printed, and taken into confideration on Tucfday.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that he fhould, in the Committee of fuppy on Monday, move for a bill of credit for 2,500,000! for the fervice of the year, in addition to the vote already passed for 4,000,000l. making together 6,500,cool. being the increafed furplus of the confolidated fund.

Mr. l'anfittart prefented a bill for repealing the present ftamp duties on receipts, and enacting others. Read the first time and ordered for the fecond reading Monday. To which day the Houfe adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

SATURDAY, JULY 23.

The general defence bill, or army en moe bill. was brought up from the. Commons by the Secretary at War, and others, prefented, and read a first time.

Lord Hobart then moved, that the order for taking into confideration the ftanding orders, No, 26 and 155, be read. Thefe orders were read accordingly by the reading clerk, ardare refolutions that no queftion fhould be put from the woolfack a fecond time, on the fame day, on any bill.,

Lord Hobart moved, that the faid orders be fufpended during the progrefs of the general defence bill, through its feveral ftages. Ordered.

"His Lordhip then moved, that the bill be now read a fecond time.

It was then read a fecond time.

Lord H bart faid, it was of the utmost importance to the country, that the bill thould pafs with every poffible expedition. He meant, therefore, to move, that it be referred to a Committee of the whole Houfe on Monday, as he thought the prints would be upon the table carly on that day, but as fome noble Lords might have objections to the detail of the bill, they would have an opportunity of urging thofe cbjections on the queftion, "that the Houfe refolve itfelf into a Committee on the bill." He hoped, however, the objections, if any were offered, would not be perfifted in, as not a moment was to be loft in giving the bill the au

thority

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