io6 ANNUAL REGISTER, 18038. 
The secretary at war, expressed 
his astonishment, at his lordship’s 
apprehensions ; as the present bill 
was copied, almost verbatim, from 
the act of the last session. 
. Mr. Sheridan strongly supported 
the bill. He had been always a 
friend to the militia system, and 
was a little surprised at the singular 
discovery lately made, that it was 
not constitutional. He lamented 
any innovations made on the sys~ 
tem ; he was sorry to see exccllent 
militia regiments, broken up, for 
the purpose of reinforcing the troops ° 
of the line; and the militia colo- 
nels converted merely into drill 
serjeants. The noble lord had said, 
that if persons unqualified, should 
receive commissions, those who 
were qualified, should resign theirs. 
This was a most extraordinary sen- 
timent, and delivered at an extra- 
ordinary time! This bill, only gave 
the lord lieutenant the power, of 
fillmg up the vacancies in the 
militia, from officers of another 
description, in case that a sufficient 
number of qualified persons were 
not to be found. What else could 
be done? If the country gentle- 
men of England, should ever pre- 
fer their horses and their hounds ; 
their country sports and their 
horse-racing, to the defence of 
their country; was the militia on 
that account, to be laid aside, or 
remain unofticered ? He concluded, 
by expressing his wish, to see the 
militia system restored to its origi- 
nal principle; but conceived the 
present was rather a time for 
prompt decision, and vigorous ac- 
tion, than for speculative discussion, 
and cavilling deliberation, 
The billwas then readasecond time; 
on the question of its gommittal, 
Lord Folkstone thought, that 
when Mr. Sheridan had spoken of 
the backwardness of the young no- 
bility and gentry of the country, hg 
had alluded to him. He assured 
him, that he had already applied 
for a commission inthe militia, but 
had not, hitherto, been fortunate 
enough to obtain it. 
Mr. Sheridan declared, that when 
he spoke of the gentry of England 
at large, he by no means intended 
to allude particularly to his lord- 
ship; but he was very glad to heat 
from his lordship, that he had ap- 
plied for a commission ; as in tha 
case, his example might do more 
good, than his speech could do 
mischief. 
After a few more explanations, 
the bill was ordered to be com 
mitted. 
The earl of Carlisle made hig 
promised motion, on the 21st. 
After several previous observations, 
on the character of the present ad 
ministration, which he conceived 
to be weak, fluctuating, and irreso- 
lute ; and which had given orders to 
arm and disarm, without alleging 
any reasons for its conduct; con- 
cluded by moving, that ‘ the pro» 
per officers should lay before the 
house, a monthly return of the 
number of artificers employed in 
his majesty’s dock-yards, from the 
Ist of May 1802, down to the pre- 
sent time.” 
Lord Hobart thought, the houst 
ought not to agree to such a motion, 
without having adequate grounds 
assigned for its adoption. As ‘to 
the character of the present ad- 
ministration, they rested it upon 
their public conduct, and thought 
the approbation and support they 
met from parliament,was asuflicient 
answer 
