HC Deb 09 March 1807 vol 9 c63

The house, on the motion of the Secretary at War, having gone into a committee on the Mutiny bill,

The Secretary at War

made a few observations on the momentous object of the bill, which went to preserve the civil power from all possibility of military encroachment; he then read some of the clauses which he wished to have made part of the bill. Officers or soldiers charged with capital offences, to be turned over to the civil magistrate; but no officer to be ipso facto cashiered for not aiding the civil power, until convicted of such charge before a court of justice. Another clause was introduced and agreed to, enacting that a mark shall be fixed on the bodies of deserters who have been twice guilty of desertion. Another clause compelled deserters to serve for life, and made such forfeit additional pay and pension. A further clause required that no person should be sentenced to the loss of life or limb, or to transportation, by a general court martial, consisting of less than thirteen officers. The clause relative to the enlisting money, as also that providing compensation for masters whose servants or labourers may have enlisted before the time contracted for had expired, gave rise to a short conversation between Mr. R. Dundas, sir T. Turton, colonel Barry, Mr. Rose and Mr. Secretary Windham, when, after a slight amendment of the latter, both were agreed to. The remaining clauses, including one declaring all negroes in his majesty's service free to all intents and purposes, were then severally read and agreed to, and, on the house resuming, the report was ordered to be received the next day.