126] ANNUAL Rh LSE: 
was pursued? In 1794, when vo~ 
luntary offers of service were intro- 
duced for the defence of the coun- 
try, this mode was represented as 
repugnant to the constitution. Aud 
now, when men are 
contribyte, their property, and per- 
sonal service to the defence of their 
country, it is discovered to be un- 
just and stigmatized as requisition. 
He admits the necessity+ of precau- 
tion, and yet reprobated every pre- 
ventive measure that was proposed : 
and, while he agreed that it is ne- 
cessary to provide forthe defence of 
the state, heis dissatisfied with the 
means by which sccurity is to be 
obtained. 
Mr. Fox, in reply to Mr. Pitt’s 
argument, in proof of the inconsis- 
tency between his declarations and 
his conduct, observed, that though 
he did not oppose his vote to the 
present resolution, he did aot give 
his unqualified assent to the mea- 
sures proposed, This was by no 
means the stage in which members 
were called on, tes this was. re- 
marked eyen by Mr. Pitt himself, 
this very meht, when he proposed 
his resolutions) to give their seati- 
ments fully on the question before 
them. 
Sir Wiilam Pulteney did not ex- 
pect that any: difference of opiai 
would have arisen on the pre 
question ; a question, in hs mind, 
that embraced so many salutary ob 
jects. He had only one of yet :0n 
toit, and that was, its being a half 
measures’ it ought to be extended, 
to the full point 3 that 
ground } 10 suould the wishes 
ofthe minister with double pleasure, 
Fle should- net apply to 
“ 
7 
and , on 
neet 
Bites 
called on to 
. 
1797. 
for any Ree information on 
the subject. It was evident that the 
French had an inyasion of thiscoun= ~~ 
try in view, andit therefore became 
the executive government to make 
every proper and necessary prepa- 
ration. 1 ‘ 
As this force was to be command-+ 
ed by country gentlemen, it could 
not be called an increase of the 
power of the crown: on the con- 
trary, he should consider it to be an 
increase of the power of the coun- 
try against the crown, . We should 
not wait until an invasion was actu- 
ally to take place. Must not time 
be given for men to be prepared 
and ‘disciplined. ? or, were they to 
march against an invading enemy, 
without the means of fieay or 
ignorant of the use of those arms . 
they might chance to have about 
them ? 
The resolutions proposed by Mr. 
Pitt, respecting the augmentation, 
of our militia and naval force, were 
agreed to, and being thrown-into 
the form of bills, were, after varis 
ons objections and. answers, and 
not a few alterations, amendments, 
and e explanations, passed intoslaws, 
in the month of December, Barly 
in June, a bill was brought into the. 
house ot commons, by the secretary 
of state, Mr. Dundas, for raising 
and embodying a militia in Scot- 
land. . As to the game-keépers bill, 
which formed at first a part of, the 
cavalry-bill, strongobiectionshaving 
becn made by Mr. Sheridan, and 
others, to its unconstitutional prins 
ciples and dangerous; tendency,, it 
was, on the second of December, 
withd:awn*.on,the second. read- 
tg MN 
ing. , { 
