€6 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



have moulded them al! into one clear 

 intclliiiiblo bill. At present, five 

 days drilling only is necessary for 

 the exemption from the militia, but 

 t\vcnty-four days is required for the 

 array of reserve. What was the 

 reason of this difference he could 

 not comprehend. The aft of the 

 42d of the Icing differed most mate- 

 rially from the last act, about the 

 liability of a volunteer, who was 

 drawn by ballot, to serve as soon 

 as he should quit his volunteer 

 corps. The laws were so contra- 

 di6tory, that it was impossible for 

 commanding officers to knowhow to 

 give in their returns ; although he 

 was ready to admit the powerful as- 

 sistance and support that the vo- 

 lunteer system Avould give to there- 

 " gular asmy ; yet he thought many 

 improvements ought to be made iu 

 it: he thought it extremely wrong, 

 that committees and general assem- 

 blies should he allowed to meet for 

 the purpose of debating. It might 

 lead to dreadful consequences. 



Lord Hobart, in reply, stated 

 that it was most certainly in the con- 



templation of his majesty's mini- 

 sters, to ameliorate the system as 

 much as possible, by considering 

 what improvements might be intro- 

 duced. 



Lord Hawkesbury allowed, that 

 the volunteer system still required 

 further improvements. It was, how- 

 over, at present, much more efficient 

 than during the last war; and when 

 the nature of the contest was con- 

 sidered, k would be an additional 

 recommendation to it, that it was 

 one of the cheapest modes of na- 

 tional defence. 



After the duke of Clarence had 

 expressed his sentiments, which Avere 

 perfectly in unison with those of 

 lord Grenvillc, the bill was read a 

 second time ; and was, on the day 

 following, with sonic slight opposi- 

 tion, from earl Fitzwiliiam, (who 

 proposed a re-commitment) read a 

 third time and passed. 



This was the last public business 

 transafted in parliament in 1803; 

 both houses soon after, adjourned 

 till the 1st of February, in die foU 

 lowing year. 



CHAP. 



