increased since that period), whether no alteration had taken place in the armies of the enemy, who then threatened our shores with invasion? Was there nothing in the circumstance of that enemy having since victoriously marched to Vienna, and humbled the greater part of the European continent to his, controul? Was it because the armies which at that time threatened us from Boulogne, had marched from that coast, that they might not again return and renew the danger? And was there nothing in the consideration, that they left nothing behind them, in the means of Austria, or any other power on the continent, to alarm their apprehensions, menace their security, or divert their attention from any design they might contemplate against this country? Did those gentlemen recollect that this formidable enemy had reduced the continent to a peace of subjugation ;and, knowing his designs against this country, did they think there was any danger of being too well guarded against them? When gentlemen talked of the expence of this measure, would they consider the enormous expence of near six millions which the volunteer system had cost the country, estimated from their establishment in 1802, up to the end of the present year, and which the present bill was calculated to do almost entirely away for the future. Upon the whole, the right honourable secretary contended, that the present bill, so far from going to abolish the volunteer system, went hand in hand with it, and was immediately calculated to keep it from going to pieces: and, in answer to the arguments of gentlemen deduced from his speeches uttered three years ago, he asserted that the phrases attributed to him, as in ridicule orcontempt to the volunteers, were unfounded or misrepresented. He never had said that the volunteer system, as such, was a depositary of panic; but he had said, that in times of danger, an irregular force in any country would be likely to become such, which no military man could deny. Neither could any military man deny, that the bravest armies had been at times seized with panic; and to say that a volunteer army might be liable, in some degree, to the same influence, was not speaking in any par- · ticular disparagement of that force. He had also said, that which the experience of every military man must evince, that there were distinctions in the dress of the military, which were the life and soul of an army, and which no other body of men ought to possess; and these, however trifling in themselves, whether ribbands, or feathers, or

tassels,

tassels, ought to belong to the army solely, as marks of that distinction of which they were extremely jealous: but even if the expression imputed to him had been uttered at any time, even by a minister, was any such apprehension there fore founded, as that the volunteer force of this country would, on that account, in a pet, or a huff, like sulky children, throw down their arms, disband themselves, and refuse to defend their country? Those who made such insinuations, could not, he was convinced, be friends of the volunteers. Upon the whole, satisfied the bill, instead of going against the volunteer system, was calculated more effectually to keep it up, and that it was a measure the best adapted for rendering the whole population of the country subservient and effectual for its defence and security, he must vote for the bill.

Mr. Canning, at so late an hour, did not mean to go at length into an examination of the bill, but reserved to himself the privilege of delivering his sentiments upon its principle, upon the report of the committee; for, in his view, it was so totally objectionable, that he did not conceive any alterations it was likely to receive in the committee, could reconcile it to his mind. His leading objections to the bill at present were, first, that it was a breach of a solemn compact made by Parliament with the people of the country, that if they complied with certain conditions in raising a certain proportion of volunteers in each district, they should be exempt from the compulsory operation of any such bill as the present. But now, after having fulfilled their compact, and paid the price demanded for their exemption, this bill was brought forward, nevertheless, to impose upon them the penalty. I next objection was, that this bill went to establish the compulsory instead of the volunteer system of service.

The question being now loudly pressed from all parts of the House, was put, and carried for the committal of the bill, without a division. The House accordingly went into a committee, and the chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again on Thursday.

Lord Henry Petty moved that the House should the next day resolve into a committee, to take into consideration the salaries to be paid to persons to be appointed under the bill, now pending, for the better auditing the public accounts. Ordered.

Mr. Hobhouse brought up the report of the committee appointed

appointed on Friday last, to prepare questions to be put to General Sir James Craig, respecting the charge against Marquis Wellesley, and upon the question being put, that this report be now taken into consideration,

Lord Ossulston objected, on account of the lateness of the hour, and the thinness of the House, to take the question into consideration until the next day. In this idea he was supported by Mr. Paull, and opposed by Sir Arthur Wellesley and Mr. Wellesley Pole. A conversation of some length ensued between those members Mr. Hobhouse, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Speaker, the result of which was that the report was ordered to be taken into consideration the next day.

At two o'clock in the morning the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25.

In the appeal, Martin v. Macnabb, Mr. Adam was heard for the appellant, and the attorney general for the respondent. Further hearing the next day.

The Earl of Rosslyn moved, that a message should be sent to the House of Commons, to request a present confe rence in the Painted Chamber, on the subject matter (the slave trade) of the last conference.-Ordered.

Managers of the conference were appointed, and the messengers sent to the House of Commons having returned with an answer that the Commons were waiting the conference, the managers, consisting of the Earl of Dartmouth, Eari Stanhope, the Earl of Hardwicke, Earl Spencer, the Bishops of St. Asaph and Ossory; Lords Grenville, Arden and Lauderdale, went forth to the Painted Chamber. On their return the Earl of Dartmouth stated, that they had communicated the resolution of that House to the Com

mons.

The Temple Bar and Snow-hill lottery bill, was ordered to be read time the next day, and the lords to be summoned

The Duke of Grafton's agreement bill, the Irish mine bill, the Gibraltar and Malia postage bill, the Prussian yarn bill, and the additional assessed taxes bill, were read a third time and passed.

The committee of privileges on the Zouch peerage, was ordered to sit the next day.

INSOLVENT

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.

Lord Holland moved the order of the day for receiving the report of the insolvent debtors bill. His lordship stated, that upon consideration he had thought it advisable to abandon two clauses which he had proposed in the committee, and which had been added to the bill. The object of these was to grant relief in certain cases, to uncertificated bankrupts, by empowering the Chancellor to grant relief, notwithstanding the refusal of a suficient number of the creditors of a bankrupt to sign his certificate. Understanding, however, that a measure was about to be brought before Parliament, for the purpose of amending the bankrupt laws, which might probably include this object, and wishing, at this advanced period of the session, to avoid introducing any novelty into a bill of this nature, which might create difficulty and delay in its progress, he should, therefore, move to leave out these clauses. If, however, the measure to which he had alluded did not contain the object sought to be attained by these clauses, it was his intention, if not this session, the next, to bring forward a sepa rate bill upon the subject. He also took this opportunity of giving notice, that it was his intention to bring in a bill to revive an act which expired two or three years ago, the object of which was to enable a creditor who had taken his debtor in execution, to release such debtor out of prison, and still have the same hold upon his property.

Lord Walsingham reported the bill, and the two clauses alluded to by Lord Holland, on the question being put to agree with the committee, were negatived.

The bill was ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

IRISH ROADS.

Some conversation took place on the Irish post roads bill. Earl Spencer moved its second reading, and stated that he did not see any reason for including in the bill a provision for making a new road from Limerick to Galway.

The Earl of Hardwicke approved of the bill, inasmuch as it went to do away the provisions of a most obnoxious act upon this subject passed last session but suggested several amendments, which he intended to propose in the committee, with the view that all parties who might be affected by the operation of the bill might previously have due notice.

The

The Earl of Limerick contended, that a new road from Limeric to Galway would be of essential benefit to that part of the country.

Earl Spencer only wished for information upon the sub. ject, and reserved any further observations for the com.

mittee.

The bill was read a second time and committed for the next day.

Strangers were excluded for some time whilst the House discussed some matter of privilege.

No public business was done afterwards, and the House adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25.

Mr. Vansittart moved for leave to bring in a bill for the amendment of the post-office acts, for the purpose of preventing their evasion by the conveyance of letters in brown paper covers, by stage coaches. Leave granted.

Mr. Calcraft moved for leave to bring in a bill, for granting compensation to the proprietors of land at Chatham and other places, occupied for the purposes of his Majesty's ordnance.

On the motion of Sir John Newport, the Irish school bill was read a third time, and passed: also the Irish distillery bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com mitted the next day; and the House went into a committee on the Irish customs regulation bill.-Report to be received the next day.

The stamp-office regulation bill, and the Irish spirit li cence bill, were both read a third time and passed.

On the motion of Mr. Vansittart, the House went into a committee on the post-office regulation bill. Report to be received the next day.

Mr. Haworth, from the exchequer, presented an account of the net produce of all the permanent and war taxes, for two years, ending the 5th of April last, specifying the pro duce of each quarter.

Sir J. Anderson presented petitions from the Royal Exchange insurance company, and from the London asurance company, against the Globe incorporation bill, praying to be heard by counsel against the said bill.

VOL. III. 1805-6.

X x

Mr.