§ Mr. H. Addingtonsaid, that understanding it to be the intention to introduce a new Local Militia Bill, and to dismiss those who had completed their four years service under the present regulation, he thought it right that the House should be furnished with 376 certain documents on that subject before any step was taken in it, and for those documents he should now move. He knew from his own experience, that in the corps, at the head of which he had the honour to be placed, consisting of 700 men, there were no less than 300 out of that number willing to remain, so that if a similar spirit existed in other corps, in the same proportion, the intended Bill would be rendered altogether unnecessary. He called upon the noble lord, who was the father of this measure (lord Castlereagh), and whom he was happy to see now in his place, to watch over it with a truly parental attention; and he was confident that if proper care was taken, the country would at the end of the 4 years possess 40 or 50,000 effective Local Militia-men. He then moved,
"That there be laid before this House, a Return of the whole Local Militia force of Great Britain, if complete, according to its present establishment, distinguishing the number in each county; also a return of the number of Local Militia-men, including non-commissioned officers and drummers, enrolled and serving at the period of their last respective training, specifying the numbers in each county; also a return of the number of men who will be entitled to their discharge from the Local Militia on or before the 25th of December 1812, on account of their having completed their four years service, specifying the numbers in each county."—Ordered.