§ On the third reading of this Bill,
The Marquis of Lansdownestrongly objected to the principle of the ballot, which on being resorted to under this Bill in the year 1813, would fall on a population diminished by there being taken from it 240,000 volunteers and local militia then in service, and the same number whose term of service would then have expired; it would thus operate with increased pressure upon a population diminished by 480,000, and would become a grievous burden upon this remaining circumscribed portion of the people. He objected to this the more strongly, because the object of the measure was to supply the regular army, and he thought it unjust, that particular individuals should be heavily taxed for this purpose, instead of the funds for it being supplied by the state. He regretted that Mr. Windham's plan, productive in men as it proved to be in the first and only year of its operation should not have been 746 persevered in, but thought it would be better to dismiss the plan altogether, than to mix it with unlimited service, which he thought operated most unfavourably.
The Earl of Liverpoolcontended, with reference to Mr. Windham's plan, that there was no experience of its success, as the number of men produced in the year referred to, was to be attributed to the measure for filling up the second battalions alluded to last night by his noble friend (viscount Sidmouth). With respect to the Bill, he contended, that it was not the fair way of putting the argument that the ballot was to be resorted to for the purpose of supplying the regular army, it being only to operate for the purpose of supplying men for home defence, in the room of those who had voluntarily entered the regular army.
The Marquis of Lansdownecontended, that the success of Mr. Windham's plan was progressive, it having produced in the first quarter at the rate of 10,000 men per annum; on the second quarter at the rate of 13,000; the third, at the rate of 21,600, and the fourth, at the rate of 24,000.
Earl Grosvenorwas of opinion, that if Mr. Windham's plan had been persevered in, it would have prevented the necessity of having recourse to measures like the present.
The Marquis of Lansdownemoved to insert words for the purpose of suspending the operation of the ballot, after the passing of the Act, observing, that the ballot was now going on to complete the militia to 92,000 men, its present number being 84,000, which were negatived.
§ The Earl of Hardwickemoved to leave out the clause imposing penalties in the parishes for not raising the men within the time allotted. The motion was opposed by the earl of Liverpool, and the House divided on the question that the clause stand part of the Bill.
| Contents | 25 | |
| Not Contents | 12 | |
| Majority | — | 13 |
§ The House again divided on a motion of the Marquis of Lansdowne, for inserting words in another part of the Bill for suspending the operation of the ballot.
| Contents | 25 | |
| Not Contents | 12 | |
| Majority | — | 13 |
§ The Bill was then passed.