§ Mr. Windhamrose for the purpose of making a motion, to which, he trusted, there could be no objection. It referred to a point upon which, when he brought forward his motions a few days since, it was his wish to have obtained full and distinct information. He was still of opinion, that it would be necessary to procure information separately on this head, in order to enable the house, when the situation of the military circumstances of the country should come to be discussed, to form a clear and impartial opinion upon it. He had been led to give up this motion by a spirit of accommodation to the right hon. gent. on the other side of the house, and to generalise the motions he on that occasion submitted; but as it often happened, that whilst acting under such an impulse, a man might concede more than upon reflection he would deem consistent with prudence or discretion, he proposed in the present instance, to correct his former omission by a specific motion. His object in making it was, to ascertain the number of men that had been raised in col. French's levy. He was aware, that as his former motions took in the new levies in England, Ireland, and Scotland, it might be said that his present motion was included in one of them. But* as the only inconve- 142 nience that could be apprehended from it would be, that col. French's levy would be returned in the double, that inconvenience would be obviated by his moving for a separate return of that levy. He therefore moved, "that there be laid before the house a separate return of the number of effective men raised for the levy now recruiting by col. French, for general service, in the united kingdom; distinguishing the number of recruits finally approved, up to the last return; also the number that bad received bounties as boys, and the number of officers appointed iii that levy." Ordered.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerthen rose, and observed, that it would be highly expedient, before the question should come to be discussed, to have a complete view of the aggregate military force of the country, in one connected account. He wished gentlemen to be put in possession of the most satisfactory and comprehensive information on the subject, and with a view to that object, should move, "that there be laid before the house, an account of the total amount of his maj.'s regular, militia, and provincial forces, on the 1st of Jan. 1804, and the 1st of Jan. 1805, respectively, distinguishing the limited from the unlimited force, and cavalry from infantry; and also those serving in G. Brit. Ireland, and the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and those serving in guards and garrisons abroad. Ordered.