§ Mr. Pole Carewurged the propriety of forming a local militia not to be called out except in cases of imminent danger. With this militia he should like to see amalgamated as great a portion as possible of our volunteer force. He should wish the services of the regular militia to be extended to all parts of the empire. With these provisions we should be safe against any possible invasion. Notwithstanding the very general erection of fortifications there might be many exposed points. There should be depots of arms in central situations, in which a trained population would find a rallying point. The enemy, if he could assail us, would bring a force that would require all our means of defence.
Lord Castlereaghsaid, it was the fixed determination of his majesty's government to turn their attention to the formation of a large local militia, which was the measure 1067 most essential to the permanent security of the country. He also promised attention to the formation of central depots. With a view to this object, under the able administration of lord Chatham at the head of the ordnance, a central depot had been formed (at Weedon Beck, in Northamptonshire), from which great facilities to the military service of the country had been found. In that noble lord's administration also, a wise system of defensive fortification had been adopted in Ireland as well as in England.
§ Mr. Sheridanhad great satisfaction in hearing that it was intended to apply the attention of government to the amelioration of the militia. He hoped his majesty's government would at the same time turn its attention to the means of rendering the ballot less oppressive upon the lower orders of the community.— The bill was then passed.