§ Mr. Long roseand said, that seeing a right hon. gent. (Mr. Windham) now in his place, he wished to ask him, at what time he intended to propose to the house his Plan, respecting the arrangements of the military establishment. He did not, he said, put this question, with a view to embarrass the government of which the right hon. gent. was now a member, but because he felt it was of high importance, that any alteration intended to be made should be known as soon as possible, since the longer such information was withheld, the greater embarrassment would arise to the service; as those exertions which might be made by gentlemen at this sea 357 son, in different parts of the kingdom, could not be undertaken with the desirable effect, if they were to understand that new and material arrangements were to take place. He knew this to be particularly the case with respect to the militia in Ireland.—The right hon. gent. was proceeding, when
§ Dr. Laurence rose ,to order, and observed, that the hon. member, instead of propounding a short question irregularly across the house, was proceeding into a detail, which might lead to a disorderly debate, there being no regular question before the house.
§ Mr. Speakeragreed to the propriety of this observation.
§ Mr. Longprofessed that his object was to state the reasons which induced him to put a question, upon a subject, with regard to which he disclaimed any intention to produce inconvenience to the right hon. gent. to whom it was addressed, but to obtain some satisfactory information, as to arrangements, in the proposition of which, he trusted, that no delay would take place which could possibly be avoided.
Mr. Secretary Windhamsaid, he was very ready to give the right hon. gent. every satisfaction in his power, relative to the point alluded to. The right hon. gent. had, however, in asking the question, desired to know, when he meant to bring forward his Plan? He did not understand what he meant by the words, "his Plan." He had never mentioned any Plan to the house; nor had he ever heard, that any other member had done so for him. The business of the military establishment, for the present year, had been taken up by his majesty's ministers, immediately on their coming into office; and it had ever since engaged their most serious, minute, and continued, attention and consideration. They had, however, found it delicate, difficult, and highly important, and as such, had not been forward to say any thing of it to the house, till they were able to bring it, among themselves, to a state of sufficient maturity, and, whenever they should find it in such a state, both their duty and inclination would lead them to lay it before the house, as speedily as the nature and importance of it would possibly admit.
§ Mr. Canningobserved, that there stood a notice upon the votes of the house, given on the first day of the session by a right hon. gent. whom he did not now see 358 in his place (Mr. Sheridan), for a motion to repeal the bill called. "the Additional Defence Act." He wished to know from the friends of that right hon. gent., in his absence, whether the repeal of that bill formed a part of the plan of military arrangement, because, if it were, it would be important the house should have a complete return of the number of men raised by its operation, in order to judge fairly of its effects; and, if not, that the exertions of gentlemen throughout the country, for carrying that bill into full effect, might not be damped by the apprehension of its intended repeal.
§ Mr. Windhamsaid, he had already declared his object to time house, so. far as he was yet prepared to explain himself on the subject of military arrangements. He had, however, no objection to answer the question of the right hon. gent. in substance, that in the plan of defence now in contemplation, that bill certainly would not have a place.