214] 
the strength of that body of’ men, 
who. were evidently the most’con- 
stitutional defence of the kingdom. 
The propriety “of allowing men, 
bred to the sea, to prefer the navy 
to any, other service, was strongly 
urged by lord:Grenville; as of equal 
justice to individuals, and utility to 
the public. The artillery also was 
become of such use and importgnce, 
in the present system of war, that it 
‘required the highest encouragement. 
The numbers that wou!d quit the 
militia, for those two branches. of 
service, would not, however, prove 
so large as might be apprehended, 
when it was recollected, that the 
ivates were mostly labouring men, 
in their several counties, and that 
the proportion wanted, for the ar- 
tillery, was very smali. Other ar- 
guments were used in favour of 
the measure proposed and against it ; 
but it was carried by a great ma- 
jority. 
- An affair of more particular im- 
portance was, at this time, under the 
consideration of the commons. An 
extra allowance, for bread and for 
meat, had been made in the month 
of April, tothe army, without the 
participation of parliament, The 
public was equally surprised and 
alarmed at a measure, which ap- 
peared to the generality unprece: 
dented and unconstitutional. “fhe 
complaints of the soldiery, at the 
scantiness of their pay, and its in. 
sufficiency to sapport them, at a 
time when the dearness of provisions 
was so excessive, had induced go- 
vernment to grant them the allow. 
ances in question: but though the 
humanity of the measure was ins 
disputable, the method of carrying 
it into execution was violently re. 
probated by the generality of peo. 
ple. ‘The fact was, that by virtue 
ANNIDALI RE GISTER, “i79s. 
ofan order from thé’ watr-office, 
countersigned by the secretaty of 
that department, an immense sum 
of money would he levied upon the 
nation. What highly aggravated 
this conduét, ahd rendered it a 
manifest insult to the legislature + it 
took place while parliament was 
actually’ sitting, and ready to’ re. 
ceive favourably, any application 
to that intent. Such a proceeding | 
in ministers could no otherwise be 
accounted for, than from a desire 
to establish a pretedent, authorising 
them to raise money witkout apply. 
ing to parliament. 
impression on thesoldiery,unfavour- 
able to parliament, and to the pub. * 
They would be taught to rely _ 
lic. 
on the generosity of the crown, 
preferably to that of the nation and 
its’ representatives, and would, of 
course, carry their attachment to 
those whom they looked upon as 
their best’ friends and proteétors. 
Such was the language of multi- 
tudes on this occasion. — The oppo- 
sition thought it necessary to espouse 
the cause of a majority, so loudly 
and repeatedly expressed’; and, ot 
the 18th of May, general Macleod 
moved, that a committée should be 
appointed to take the matter ‘into 
consideration. He grounded’ his 
motion on the sentiments of the 
public, enforcing them ‘with addi. 
tional arguments, and proposed that 
the house should formally résolve, 
that it was unconstitutional to aug. 
ment the pay of the army, without 
previously consulting, oraftérwards 
submitting such a measure to, par. 
liament ; and, at'thée-same'time; to 
request the king to order the causes’ 
of ‘the late grants to the military, 
to be laid: before: the-housé; and to 
assure him ef its readiness to con- 
cur. 
It was calcu. ’ 
lated, at the same time, to make an ' 
