204] 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



Leave was given without a dis- 

 sentient voice. 



On Nov. 15lh, upon the ques- 

 tion being put for going into a 

 committee upon the bill, Mr. 

 Wymie suggested that the plan 

 could not be satisfactorily discussed 

 without consulting the militia co- 

 lonels. Lord Castlereagh objected 

 to the delay, and thought that the 

 bill would be found so simple, that 

 should the House agree to its prin- 

 ciple, little alteration would be 

 necessary in the details. Mr. 

 Wynne then made some remarks 

 on the progressive infringements 

 which had taken place in the ori- 

 ginal system of the militia, and 

 thought that the proposed mea- 

 sure would be its death-blow, 

 which, however, he should not 

 regret for the purpose of increas- 

 ing the disposable force. 



Lord Castlereagh conceived that 

 the service of the militia and the 

 regular army were by no means in- 

 compatible with each other; and 

 he made some further remarks in 

 favour of the proposed plan. The 

 House having resolved itself into a 

 committee, on reading the clause 

 respecting the bounty to militia- 

 men serving abroad and retaining 

 their character, lord Castlereagh 

 substituted eight guineas for ten, 

 and it was amended accordingly. 



The bill being read a third time, 

 Nov. 18, Sir W. Curtis moved by 

 way of rider, the clause " saving the 

 rights and privileges of the city of 

 London," at the same time stating 

 that the Common Council of the 

 city had agreed to propose a bill for 

 allowing the London regiments 

 of militia to go to any part of the 

 kingdom. Lord Castlereagh said 

 he was happy to accept their ser- 

 vices in the way most agreeable to 



themselves. The clause was added, 

 — When the question was put on 

 the preamble, Mr. Whitbread rose 

 to move an amendment of which 

 he had given previous notice. He 

 said that his motives for giving 

 support to the measure proposed 

 had been his confidence that the 

 exertions to be made would con- 

 duce to the restoration of the bless- 

 ings of peace to this country and 

 to Europe. He was not insensible 

 of the burdens which this measure 

 would impose on the people, nor 

 of those which they already sus- 

 tained, and of the cause of com- 

 plaint which it might give to many 

 officers of the line in placing mi- 

 litia officers over their heads. Other 

 measures had been carried this ses- 

 sion, which at another season might 

 have called forth animadversions 

 from him. But these and other 

 things he should pass over in his 

 increased hopes of the sincere dis- 

 position of ministers for peace. In 

 order to have the motives for his 

 conduct recorded on the Journals 

 of the House, he should there- 

 fore propose, as an amendment to 

 the preamble, the insertion of the 

 following words : " For the pur- 

 pose of bringing the present war 

 to a speedy and happy termination, 

 and obtainingthe blessings ofpeace, 

 with reciprocity, security, and ho- 

 nour, to all the belligerent powers." 

 Lord Castlereagh conceived that 

 it would be a dereliction of his 

 duty not to make some observa- 

 tions on the hon. gentleman's 

 statement and motion. He trust- 

 ed that neither the House nor the 

 country would be led into the per- 

 suasion that peace was entirely in 

 the hands of the ministers. The 

 peace to be desired must be one 

 that would hold out some reason- 



