VOTE OF THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS.

HC Deb 11 June 1806 vol 7 cc1105-20

Sir Henry Mildmay rose,

in pursuance to a notice, to call the attention of the house to the merits, the services, the zeal, and perseverance, of the volunteers of the united kingdom. He had no hesitation in saying,that it was the full conviction of his mind, that it was to them that the country was indebted for its security when threatened by invasion. Besides the general ardour which gentlemen from every county might bear testimony to, there were some particular instances of their promptitude and alacrity in the course of the last year. On an alarm of invasion on the coasts of Yorkshire, all the volunteers of the neighbouring districts pressed forward, with that ardour and zeal which the country had a right to expect from them. When there was an alarm of invasion in Scotland, the volunteers flocked from the farthest extremity of that country, to what they supposed was the seat of danger; and it was not merely for their spirit, that they deserved to be admired; but such was their discipline and efficiency, that lord Moira declared, that he would lead them with confidence against any enemy that could invade the country. Not only the earl of Moira had testified the efficiency of the volunteers of Scotland; but the inspecting field-officers, (who were men of high character, and could not be supposed to falsify the truth,) generally reported the volunteers as well advanced in discipline, and fit to serve with the troops of the line. They did not consider the volunteers as mere scarecrows, and persons that would spread confusion. He thought there was nothing more praiseworthy in the volunteers, than their determined perseverance. The corps that he commanded, and most of those with which he was acquainted, still mustered strong. He objected, principally, to the abolition of permanent duty, and the reduction of the drill serjeants. He concluded by moving, " That this house doth thankfully acknowledge, and highly approve of the services of the different corps of Yeomanry and Volunteers of the united kingdom; and doth think it necessary to record its decided opinion, that the due encouragement of the zeal and patriotism which the Yeomanry and Volunteers have so eminently displayed, in the maintenance of their establishment and the preservation of their discipline, would contribute, in an essential degree, to the defence and internal security of the country."

Mr. Dent

seconded the motion. After a general panegyric of the Volunteers, he took, notice of several expressions which were made in contempt and derision of them. He particularly dwelt on what had been advanced by an hon. member (col. Craufurd), respecting the trade of col. Birch; as if, because he made pies and jellies, he was, on that account, to be excluded from the service of his country. After repeating many of the expressions, which had, at different times, been imputed to a right hon, secretary (Mr. Windham), he concluded by stating his opinion, that ministers dared not to move the previous question upon this motion of thanks to the Volunteers; for that, although minorities, in that house, must yield to majorities, yet it was not always to be expected that the public should remain quiet.

Sir R. Milbanke

said, he had the honour of commanding a corps of Volunteers, who were as zealous as any set of men in the world. He entertained the same opinion of the whole body; they were honest, he knew, and, he believed, bold; and, therefore, deserved the thanks of their country. In this vote he concurred with all his heart; but he wished, very much, that the hon. bart. had confined himself to a vote of thanks, as he conceived that his majesty's ministers should have a power of regulating the force of the country in, whatever-way was considered best for its support.

General Phipps

said, he was one of those, who were appointed to inspect the Volunteers; and he had certainly stated, in his report, that many of them were fit to serve. in the line, and better than some of the militia; but there were none of them superior to the regular army. He did not wish, he said, to make any severe remark on the conduct of his majesty's ministers; but he really thought the Volunteers had been dispirited. It was much to be regretted, he thought, that they no longer had the advantage of the inspecting field-officers, and, also, that the drill serjeants had been discontinued, as, without the advantages to be derived from them, he did not think they could be of much service to their country. The hon. general concluded, by declaring that, from his high opinion of the Volunteers, it was impossible he could act otherwise than support the motion.

Mr. Secretary Windham

said, the hon. general seemed to labour under a mistake, with respect to the drill serjeants; they were not abolished, nor had such an idea ever entered into his mind. His intention was, merely to reduce their pay; still, however, leaving as much as would make it an object for them to continue in the service. By the new regulation, the pay of the drill serjeant would be 7s. a day, for every day they were called out; which was, in his opinion, fully sufficient. The other point, to which his hon. friend had alluded, was, with respect to the opinion given of the state of discipline of the Volunteers. For his part, he always understood it as the opinion of the inspectors, that the greater part of the Volunteers could go through the general manœuvres with as much precision as the regular army; but, even though they could do this, and act with troops of the line, it was not pretended they were so good as troops of the line. There was something, therefore, beyond the mere military manœuvres, in which they were deficient. Was this courage? Certainly not; the volunteers were as brave men as the men who composed the line; and men who were not volunteers, as brave as men who were; but, as a body, they had not all the qualifications of the regular army. The regiments of the line, even though filled with recruits, had the advantage of experienced serjeants and corporals; each regiment had a name, which it was necessary to support, and which never died with the individuals who, perhaps, acquired it; they were also inured to pay severe obedience to their officers; which the volunteers were not; and, for all these reasons, it was impossible that they could be as desirable a force as the regular army. With respect to the resolution proposed, it was, first, necessary to see whether the reasons given, to induce the house to vote it, were sufficient; and, for his part, he did not think they were; as, in the first place, the hon. gent. had not set out on facts; for, after stating that his majesty's ministers were about to get rid of them, he advised the house, at least, to give them a bene decessit before they went. This was the mis-statement he complained of; for, it was not now, nor was it ever, his intention, to get rid of the volunteers. It could not be expected, that the system should be kept up in the manner it was begun, as the private subscriptions, which were double the 5 millions advanced by government, never would be repeated ; and he, therefore, thought it should be considered, that any reduction made in the expense, did not tend to destroy, but to support, the system. The right hon. gent. then adverted to what had been said, with respect to the permanent duty; but, he conceived, the expense was so great, as to warrant his taking it away; and with regard to the system of training, he thought, that would evidently tend to increase the volunteers. He again contended, that the reasonings of the hon. gent. were incorrect: certain it was, that he thankfully acknowledged, and highly approved of, the conduct of the navy and army, for the last year; but he had not any idea of moving a vote of thanks to them, as there was no instance which pointed out the necessity; therefore, he did not think thanks should be voted to the volunteers, as there was no particular reason for it; that stated, of their being dispirited, not being well founded. It would not, however, be proper, he thought, to put a negative on the resolution, as some parts of it were true; but, as other parts of it were untrue, and unsupported, he thought, the best mode of disposing of it was, by the previous question; which he should support, if any hon. gent. should think proper to move it.

Mr. Fuller

thought the right hon. gent. had been, in error, with respect to the volunteers; and it would be more consistent with his manliness, to avow it. If the right hon, gent. could be brought to recant his errors, and make the volunteers the backbone of his system, he might raise such a military force as no enemy could overcome, and lease the army completely disposable. As to the resolution, he thought the house ought to agree to it, as it would make up the breach between the right hon. gent. and the volunteers, and record the opinion of the house, that the volunteers had deserved well of their country.

Lord Ossulston

stated some arguments against the resolution, in the shape and manner in which it had been brought forward, and concluded by moving the previous question upon it.

Mr. Bankes

said, it was argued that this vote of thanks should not be given, because there was no change made with respect to the volunteers. A great change had been made in the army and navy; as, in consequence of the high opinion the country entertained of them, their pay had been augmented. Now, With regard to the volunteers, the direct contrary course had been taken; and he, therefore, thought it was necessary that the country should declare, that they entertained a high opinion of them. The hon. gent. then expressed a degree of sorrow, that certain words had been dropped by the right hon. gent.; and he really thought that, by his words, and not his acts, he had injured the spirit of the volunteers; with respect to the latter, he had generally supported him in them; but the former, he said, had been spread all over the country; and it, therefore, became parliament to declare, that the. services of the volunteers were acceptable, and a continuance of them was hoped for. He then entered into a detail of the advantages which would be derived from the new system of training; which he thought preferable to the volunteers, but which would be subsidiary to them. He would ask his hon. friends below him,. with what view they brought forward this resolution? Was it with a view of embarrassing those who had the conduct of the nation entrusted to them? He also called on the right hon. gent. opposite him, to join him in excluding, from the resolution, whatever would cast a reflection on the majority of the house, by calumniating the measures which had been adopted by them and then pass the vote of thanks to the volunteers. The hon. gent. concluded by hoping, that the motion for the previous question would be withdrawn; and that his hon. friends would allow some words to be struck out of the resolution which, to him, appeared .exceptionable.

Sir R. Williams

said, he could not conceive a milder, or more proper motion than this, which had, for its object, to thank those who had merited well of their country, and he gave it his hearty concurrence.

Mr. Wilberforce

thought, that the only way in which any return could be made to -the volunteers was, by such a mark of parliamentary approbation. If any particular expressions were exceptionable he should wish, that the hon. mover would accede to some alteration, but none which would diminish the force of any language indicative of the favourable sentiments that house entertained of the conduct of the volunteers.

General Tarleton

contemplated the volunteers with respect: 25,000 were ready to defend the metropolis of the empire; and, he thought, with no troops, whether of the militia or the regulars, would the capital be in a better state of security, than when defended by her own citizens. Three thousand volunteers were attached to the district he commanded; on a sudden, without previous notice, he ordered them from Bristol to Bath, and from Bath to Bristol; every obstruction was given them purposely; near Bath, they were four hours on the ground; and when they had performed this journey, of 32 miles, in one day, not a man was missing on their return. A more narrow inspection would shew, the volunteers deserved the character they had acquired. The hon. general entered into a florid description of the state of the army, militia, and volunteers; expressing, at the same time, his intention to support the motion; and his concern, that such a period was chosen for change and innovation. He concluded with reciting the dying exclamation of the late minister, "O, my country!" which he attributed to his concern, that the government should fall into the hands into which it had devolved.

Mr. Sheridan rose

and said: Sir; although I could not have remained wholly silent during this debate; yet I wished to have heard the sentiments of others, before I delivered my opinion; but what has fallen from two hon. gentlemen, who have recently spoken, has induced me to abandon my original design, and to avail myself of this opportunity to solicit the attention of the house. I am desirous to abstain from all party allusions; and never wish to censure those who, from early attachment, and long habit, feel a peculiar ardour of affection for the late right hon. gent. (Mr. Pitt); but, whether the hon. general belongs to that number, I will not pretend to determine. I think that gallant officer was not perfectly correct, when he ascribed the impassioned exclamation of the late minister to his regret that the affairs of the empire should be consigned to the present servants of the crown: that eminent person, no doubt, fully expected that his own companions in office would remain in power, and, under this painful reflection, his anxiety for his country is fully explained; for what would have become of it in such hands, is sufficiently obvious. As to the measures that have been brought forward for the defence of the country, I have absented myself from the house whilst they have been under discussion, because of my opinion upon them. They were not the measures of my right hon. friend, but of the whole of his majesty's cabinet; and when founded on authorities which I so highly respect, I did not think it becoming of me to oppose them. I have not yet expressed my views of this military subject; but it may easily be expected of me declare, that the defence of the kingdom ought not to be entrusted, exclusively, to a regular army; and history has instructed us, that there never was a but country which preserved its liberties, that, exposed itself to this danger; nor, sir,I fairly say, would I, on any occasion, give my vote to deduct one man from the great constitutional force—the militia. Acting under the influence of similar principles, I have always resisted the compulsory bills, stating it to be the undoubted prerogative of his majesty, to select any individuals from the great body of the community, to place them in the ranks of the regular army, and to send them to any part of the kingdom. It is true, the judges, and some public offic[...], were excepted; but the whole of such a bill should become a dead letter. It is not necessary that I should now state my opinion on that subject ; but I wish distinctly to be understood, that, with regard to the volunteers, I never shall vary my sentiments. I did, before, move the thanks of the house to that meritorious body ;and, in so doing, I gave them a pledge of the spirit in which I would support their interests, character, and dignity. If, sir, they deserved this mark of public feeling, merely for the promptitude with which they stepped forward for the defence of the state, how much higher are their claims to merit, when they have done that service which they, then, only intimated a disposi- tion to perform! With respect to the drill serjeants, and some other minor matters of regulation, it may be eligible to leave these in the hands to which such subjects are officially committed. But I think, that the reports of the military inspectors have been treated with a degree of levity which is neither candid nor decent. Are we to say, that the general officers are chargeable with misrepresentation, in order to deceive government, to lull ministers into a consciousness of security which is fallacious; or are we to presume, that as honourable men, as gentlemen and officers, they do render the accounts now upon your not aware, how those who concurred in. table ? If these be accurate, ought the volunteers to be undervalued? Sir, it is a fact most notorious, that nothing made so strong an impression on the French government, during their hostile designs upon this country, as the energy manifested by the volunteers: the effect was equally felt by Buonaparte and his minister Talleyrand; they saw, with mortification, that the nation would be indebted, for its independence, to its own valour. The people of England did not prostrate themselves, and petition the sovereign, O king! hire us an army, and we shall be protected ;" but they took the weapon into their own hands, to wield it in their own cause. I fairly say, that as the motion is now worded, I cannot vote for it. I shall, therefore, before I sit down, submit to the house a middle proposition, not liable to the same objections with the original proposition. What were the motives of the hon. gentlemen, in the form in which they have shaped this motion, I will not prejudge; but they may very correctly he ascertained, by the spirit in which they receive the variation I shall suggest. The passage to which I object is retrospective; the language is, "it is necessary to declare." Why is it " necessary," unless something has been done indicative of a different temper to that which the motion is intended to exhibit? It is admitted, on all sides, that if my right hon. friend (Mr. Windham) have intimated any thing at all injurious to the volunteers, it is confined to mere expressions. In his acts, it is admitted on all sides, that he has done nothing which can, justly, be deemed prejudicial to them. But, has no dexterity been employed to pervert his meaning ? Sir, I will frankly confess that, formerly, I have had differences with my right hon. friend on this subject. He, perhaps, in the heat of debate, and in the ebullition of wit, used stronger terms than his deliberate judgment would have employed; and, possibly, having altered his situation, he is not disposed to shew, that this change has governed his opinions. The motion I should wish now to substitute, would be similar to another to which I have already referred: " That the thanks of this house be given to the several corps of yeomanry .and volunteers, for the promptitude and zeal with which they have stood forward for the defence of the country in the moment of public danger." This motion was acceded to, without a dissentient voice; and I am not aware, how those who concurred in. that proposition can, consistently, resist that which I shall presently recommend. It has been said that rumours are abroad, that the government designs to discourage the volunteers. These vague reports are, however, met by a distinct avowal, by my right hon. friend, that the measure to which he has resorted will increase, and Cannot diminish,their numbers. Whether the training bill is calculated to have this beneficial effect, it is not my present business to enquire. But, be they just, or incorrect, rumours have prevailed, and an idea has gone forth, that administration is unfriendly to the volunteer system; and no more successful means can be employed, to prevent any misconstruction with regard to the intentions of ministers and parliament, than a vote of thanks, couched in terms expressive of the sense entertained of the important services of the volunteers. Again, they say, why do you not thank the navy and army, as well as the volunteers? Sir, the army and navy cannot be insensible of the estimation in which they are held by this house, and by the country in general and they are sufficiently and properly convinced of their own importance: they know we cannot dispense with the protection they afford. The volunteers are not so firmly persuaded, that they receive the applause they deserve, and, perhaps, they feel too diffident an opinion of their own utility. Besides, the army and navy cannot disband themselves at pleasure; the volunteers may from some real or supposed provocation and this is the serious evil I am most so licitous to avoid by the vote I have proposed, all misunderstanding will be prevented. From these considerations, I am very desirous that the hon. member should withdraw his motion. I think he must see that the effect of it, in its present shape, mus be, to attach a stigma on ministers; and what is yet more objectionable, on the house itself, for the legislative regulations it ha already adopted, applicable to the military system. If the intention be purely, simply and honestly, to impart to the volunteers a conviction of the favourable sentiment of this house towards them, let them present the motion in a point of view, wind will induce this side of the house to concur with them; if, under this ostensible design they have other concealed motives, it will be in vain to expect this uniformity. I shall conclude, sir, with moving, ''That this house doth thankfully acknowledge, are highly approve, the services of the different corps of yeomanry and volunteers." Whatever may be the result of the proceeding of this night, I. will confidently at Bert that, in any former period in the history of this country, there never was a body of men who deserved more the gratitude of the nation, who merited more highly its love, respect, and veneration ; and, nothing can be more becoming the house of. commons than, by a solemn act, to record this effusion of public sentiment.

Mr. Perceval

objected to the form recommended by the right hon. gent., because the motion, as he worded it, was not prospective. He said, he wished to preserve the volunteers undiminished, and yet. there wars no reference to the rumours by which it was apprehended their numbers would be reduced. The right hon gent. ventured to declare, that he disapproved of the measures of ministers on tins subject, and yet it was well known that he had not opposed them in the whole progress of the business. If he could thus compromise his public duty, he should not be surprised, if, on that side the house, his motion was listened to with some jealousy, as calculated to screen his friends, without conducing to any beneficial purpose. In supporting the motion of his hon. friend, he had no particular attachment to the phraseology of that motion, nor any objection to an amendment in any other form of words which the right hon. gent. might think fit to propose, provided they expressed the spirit of the original motion, and had a view to declare the wish of the house, not only to thank the volunteers for their past services, but that those important services might be continued in future. The right hon. gent. however, should rather have called for the concurrence of his friends around him in the amendment he wished to propose, than to the opposite side of the house, who proposed the very motion which the hon. gent. had approved, upon every other ground, except that it was now necessary to express thanks to the volunteers. The right hon. gent. had been pleased to say, that his right hon. friend had never used any expression intentionally injurious or degrading to the volunteers, but that his words had been misrepresented or exaggerated, with a view to prejudice him in the public opinion. He himself, however, recollected that right hon. gent.'s expression, when a former vote of thanks was proposed to the volunteers; and when he warned the house against premature approbation to that body, whom they had not yet seen acting in a tune of general election or general scarcity : and he should be glad to know if such language was not calculated to create a degrading diffidence in their loyalty, and to excite their disgust. With respect to their discipline, which b was an object of so much Importance still farther to improve, what had the right hon. gent. done upon that head, to evince his wish of continuing and encouraging the volunteers? Why, he had brought in a bill. in which he had abolished their permanent duty, the best source of their discipline taken away their inspecting officers, and effect deprived them of their drill-serjeants, by reducing their pay from is. 6d. to 6d, per day, for which sum it was not to be supposed the services of these serjeant could be continued: but in fact, in this instance, a great injury and injustice war offered to these serjeants, who had entered under a compact of permanent pay, and subject to all the severities of martial law: that compact was suddenly broken, while they were still liable to martial law. The hon. and learned gent. concluded by supporting the original motion, although he was desirous of agreeing with any amend. meat proposed from the other side of the house, that should be adapted so as to effect unanimity.

Mr. Sheridan

rose to explain; and complained that he had been misrepresented and very unfairly treated by the hon. and learned gent., who had thought proper to charge him with having neglected his duty, in not attending that house during the discussions which had taken place upon the various parts of his right hon. friend's military plan, to join with those who opposed them; and with compromising that duty, now, by moving an amendment of a suspicious nature. He begged to remind the house, that he had fairly avowed his reasons for absenting himself from the discussions which took place upon the several plans of his right hon. friend; and would tell the hon. and learned gent. that he was not to be schooled by him, as to what times he should think proper to attend, or to be absent from that house. he had fairly acknowledged that he was at variance with the opinions of his right hon. friend upon the whole of his military arrangements, but he begged at the same time to observe, that he did not consider those plans merely as belonging to his right hon. friend, but as adopted by the whole of his majesty's cabinet; and whatever might be the expectation of the hon. and learned gent., that he should come down to the house, and join him and his coadjutors, in opposition to his own friends and colleagues, he had only to say, that though he should ever maintain the right and independence of his own opinions, he would not have the arrogance to come down to the house and oppose those opinions against the whole cabinet of those ministers with whom, upon most other topics, he coincided; and he was sure that that cabinet would never look to him for the subserviency of sacrificing that independence of opinion to any consideration of office; at least if ever they should so expect, they would be disappointed.

Lord Howick

said, that though his original intention was to support the previous question, yet, in consequence of the speech of his right hon. friend, he was in some suspense whether he should not change his first opinion, and vote for the amendment he suggested, with a view, if possible, to conciliate the unanimity of the house, so desirable on the present occasion but, from the temper and disposition displayed in the speech of the hon. and learned gent. and the determination evinced by him, notwithstanding his specious professions, to resist all amendments of a conciliatory nature, and to persist in the original motion, he was now decided in his first opinion for the previous question; not from any opinion whatever that the volunteers were not entitled to the highest approbation and gratitude of parliament, and of their country, but that no occasion whatever had occurred since the thanks of parliament were last voted to them, to render any renewal of that vote at present necessary; and if any member was to propose a similar vote of thanks to the army or the navy, (the merits and importance of whose services could not be denied) without the concurrence of some particular occasion, he should conceive it a violation of his duty not to oppose such a motion by the previous question. He hoped, however, that his right hon. friend, who proposed to mediate in the present case by a conciliatory motion, for the purpose of obtaining unanimity, would take a lesson for the future from the speech of the learned gent. that would teach him how little was to be expected from conciliation or compromise in that quarter. He vindicated the conduct of his right hon. friend (Mr. Windham) relative to the volunteers, as well as his plans for the new modification of the services of this body; but did not mean to follow the example of gentlemen on the opposite side of the house, by going into a general debate upon all the other military topics which had been so repeatedly, and he had almost said vexatiously, discussed in the course of the session. He would just advert, however, to the speech of an hon, general (Tarleton), who had made such a brilliant display of military knowledge, and his surprising detail of the memorable march of eight handed men from Bath to Bristol, and the astonishing spirit they had displayed under his command, considering the difficulties they had to encounter in the dangers of Bristol market, and the conduct of their baggage through defiles of booths, waggons, and carts, their labours in the manœuvres of the day, and the course of their long march, unbroken by fatigue, and undiminished in their numbers. He was willing to acknowledge the prowess and skill displayed by the hon. general in the feats of that signal day, and he believed it had no parallel in the military annals of this country, save in that of the celebrated march from Breutford to Hounslow, and from Hounslow to Finchley, under the famous Major Sturgeon, when, " with drums beating in the front, and dogs barking in the rear, the gallant commander marched with his troops in the closest order, until an unlucky drove of oxen from Smithfield threw his whole corps into confusion"—[a laugh]. His lordship concluded by again professing the highest respect for the volunteers, the most grateful sense of their services to their country, a sense which must be retained by that country and parliament to the remotest posterity ; but as no new occasion called fora repetition of the thanks formerly voted to them, as the whole value of that honour chiefly consisted in its unfrequency, as it would be a departure from the dignity of the house to vote their thanks or every trivial occasion, he should vote for the previous question. But if the happy hour of peace was come, when the services of those corps would cease to be necessary, no man would be more prompt than himself to propose, second, or support a vote of thanks to them.

Mr. Canning

supported the original motion, and agreed with his hon. friend (Mr, Perceval) in objecting to the motion proposed by Mr. Sheridan, because it we merely retrospective, and had no view to future services; it was not a preface but postscript, not an exhortation but an epitaph. He went over much of the ground upon which the previous question had beer previously opposed, and contended, the coming from the quarter it did, and supported by the same right hon. gent, whose sentiments, frequently expressed in that house, were known to be inimical to the volunteers, he must consider it as coming indirectly from him; for though it was the voice of Jacob, still the stroke came front the hand of Esau, and it would be utterly impossible for the most hostile government, determined to express the most hostile opinion to the continuance of the volunteer system, to do so in more direct and unequivocal terms than by a previous question, on an occasion like this. It was impossible to construe it in any other way; and he thanked his majesty's ministers for thus candidly expressing their sentiments, and setting all doubt at rest, as to their intentions respecting the continuance of the volunteers.

Mr. Secretary Windham

replied, and positively denied any such wish or intention as the discontinuance of the volunteers; his wishes and intentions were the direct contrary way; notwithstanding the artful attempts of his opponents to affix such designs on him. In answer to what had been said relative to drill-serjeants, he observed, that the very clause which reduced their pay, gave them the option of retiring if they chose.

Mr. Whitbread

adverted to a tight hon. gent.'s (Mr. Canning) observation, that we ought to thank the volunteers now, because we had further need of their services, but that the reason of other military bodies not having received the thanks of parliament last war was because we had done with them. This was a sort of gratitude which he hoped he (Mr. W.) should never be induced to hold out to those who, in the most spirited and most patriotic manner, stood forward in defence of their country. The right hon. gent. had made some allusion to an epitaph, but the house would perceive that it was when a man was dead that we generally thought the fittest time to write epitaphs and praise him. He would be most willing to return thanks to the volunteers if there was an end of their services.

Lord Castlereagh .

said a few words in support of the original motion; and upon a division, the numbers were :—For the previous question, 75; for the original, motion, 41; majority against the original motion, 34.—The original motion was then withdrawn.

Mr. Sheridan

then observed, that suspicion and jealousy had, from whatever causes whether from misconception or misrepresentation, of late appeared among the vo- lunteers, with regard to the measures and intentions of government. In order to remove this suspicion, he would beg leave to propose the following resolution, which was nearly similar to what he had before moved, namely,—"That this house continues to retain its cordial sense of the zealous exertions of the several corps of yeomanry and volunteers of the United Kingdom, associated for the defence of their country, and doth highly approve the perseverance and patriotism they so eminently display in continuing to be associated for that object."—The motion was seconded by Mr. Vansittart.

Lord Howick

then said, that, however painful it might be to his feelings, thinking so highly as he did of the zeal and patriotism of the volunteers, yet when he considered the nature of the debate that had taken place that night, and the diversity of opinions that had been manifested, he felt himself called upon to move the previous question.

Mr. Canning

observed, that though the present motion fell short of what he had wished; yet having failed in his first object, this motion should have his cordial support.

Mr. Hiley Addington

said, that no man was a warmer friend to the volunteers than he was; but he could not see any present call for such a measure. It was a possible event that peace was at no great distance, when it would be much better to pass a vote of thanks to the volunteers when their services were finished, then it would be to anticipate such a vote at present.

Lord H. Petty

supported the amendment, and concluded with observing, that he trusted that a time would come, when a motion for thanks would be proposed that was not dictated by party motives, or the fancy of individuals.

Mr. Perceval

expressed his astonishment that the noble lord should ascribe a motion to party motives, that was proposed by a distinguished member of the administration to which he belonged, and that had been seconded by an honourable secretary. He would therefore leave it to these gentlemen to determine which were influenced by party motives. Those gentlemen who had formerly supported a vote of thanks, were equally bound to do so now.

Mr. Vansittart

said, that, having formerly concurred in a vote of this nature, he felt it impossible to refuse concurring with it now. A division then took place, and there appeared—For the previous question, 69; against it, 39; majority, 30.—The house then adjourned at four o'clock on Saturday morning.