152 
rovided in express terms that it 
shall not be supplied. 
2dly, Because upon the allega- 
tion of the present comjunture, it 
establishes this measure without any 
express period to its duration, and 
without any clause against the pre- 
cedent. 
_ 3dly, Because at a moment when 
the temper of the times, and our 
personal knowledge ot late events 
in some corps, seem particularly to 
recommend a vigilance in the pre- 
servation of discipline and subor- 
dination, this bill in a most extra- 
ordinary and unprecedented man- 
ner, relaxes the authority of the 
commanding officers over the ob- 
jects of it, by suggesting to the 
Jatter a method which at any time, 
&c. on any motive, ‘‘entitles them 
to their discharge.’’ 
4thly, Because the several cir- 
cumstances of disappointment as 
to the strength of their regiments, 
and of degradation by the involun- | 
tary removal of their seleted and 
most instructed men, by the replac- 
ing of them ina less certain and 
less creditable manner, and by con- 
verting the regiments intoa recruit- 
ing fund for another corps, from 
an impolitic and undeserved return 
to such militia officers (and it has 
been admitted in the debates on 
this bill that there are many such) 
as have merit with the public.— And 
I conceive it the more necessary 
to mark my disapprobation, and 
express my apprehensions of the 
consequences of this innovation, as 
T know the militia contains a fund 
for recruiting not only the artillery, 
but every other corps in his ma- 
jesty’s service, much too good not 
to be ardently coveted, and (how- 
ever the intention be disclaimed at 
present) I fear resorted to (as I 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
am sure it may be upon the same 
reasoning), when parliament shall 
have once notified the principle 
of making the militia subservient 
to the efficiency of other corps. 
RapDNoR, 
Protest agaiust the passing of the New 
Treason Bill, 
1st, Because we conceive this 
bill is founded on a false pretence : 
it recites a daring outrage on his 
majesty’s person (which we feel 
with the utmost horror), and pur- 
ports to provide farther remedies 
against such pra¢tices, whilst, in 
reality, it affords no additional se- 
curity whatever to his majesty’s 
person, and leaves us to regret 2 
deep and irreparable injury to the 
Jaws and constitution of our coun- 
try, by making the compassing, 
imagining, inventing and devising 
the levying war a substantive trea- 
son; thereby departing in a most 
dangerous and unjustifiable manner 
from the statute of the twenty-fifth 
of Edward the Third: the salutary 
provisions of which we cannot be 
tempted to abandon, by the exam- 
ple of temporary statues, whose 
deubtful pelicy stands in opposition 
toa law, in which the wisdom of 
our ancestors has been so repeatedly 
recognized by the legisleture, and | 
so strongly confirmed by the per- 
manent experience of its benefits. 
2dly, Because the free discussion 
of the administration of govern- 
ment in all its branches, by writs 
ing, speaking, and meeting for the 
purpose of representing grievances 
to any of the three branches of the 
legislature, has afforded the best 
protection to the liberties of the 
people, and is the undoubted inhe- 
rent 
