166 ANNUAL RE 
‘danger, and therefore, that they 
must not be alermed. ‘The despon- 
dency of his friends, consisted in 
pointing out the.danger, and endea- 
vouring to rouze all the energies of 
the nation, to mect it, The prin- 
cipal fault he found with ministers 
was, not for bringing forward those 
measures now, but for not having 
brought them forward some months 
aco; he therefore considered them 
highly blameable, for having brought 
the country into danger, by their 
negligence and supineness. Go- 
vefnment were also blameable, in 
not having given the country suffici- 
ent information of its danger; but 
came forward at once, with compul- 
‘sory measures, before it had made a 
trial of the voluntary exertion of 
the country. After discussing these 
topics, in the ablest manner, and 
indulging pretty freely his brilliant 
imagination, and peculiar strain 
of wit; he said, he should not op- 
pose this, or any other measure, for 
the defence of the country. 
Lord Hawksbury said, the pre- 
sent bill, united as much as possi- 
-ble, the encouragement duv to the 
volunteer system, with those strong 
Measures of compulsion, which the 
hon. gentleman was an advocate 
for. As Jong as a sufficient number 
of volunteers could be found in any 
district, the bill ceased to operate. 
He concluded, by warmly detend- 
ing the ¢onduct of ministers, from 
the charges brought against them, 
and declared their fixed determi- 
nation to defend, to the last 
extremity, every acre of Bnitish 
soil, 
Sir Prancis Burdett recommend- 
ed, as the best measure of detence, 
to repeal all the oppressive and un- 
comstigtionsl acw of parliament, 
" J 
= 
GISTER,  1903.- 
and conciliate the affections of the 
people! 
Mr, Pitt, spproved of the prin- 
cipal of thé measure proposed, and 
thought that something similar was 
necessary, to place the country on 
a footitig of perfect security. He 
considered it as adequate to any 
danger which might threaten us, 
as strictly constitutional, and agree- 
able to the ancient prerogative of 
the crown, and therefore it was 
necessary that the country should 
know its danger. Tle was convinc+ 
ed his hon. friend (Mr. Windhant), 
had no other view, than to shew 
it its real situation, in using that 
language, which many considered 
as despondent. If the British na- 
-tion was once completely rouzed, 
any force that the enemy could 
send, would operate only as a de- 
tachment acting against a nation in 
arms. He expressed, however, sur- 
prize and concern, that this mea- 
sure was not sooner brought for- 
4vard 3 he now wished that no time 
should be lost in the putting it into 
execution; but, at the same time, 
he wished to try how far the volun- 
tary exertions of the people would 
go, betore compulsory measures 
were resorted to. Ue concluded, 
by declaring his full confidence, 
thet the people of this empire 
united for common defence, must 
be invincible, and by giving his 
cordial support to the bill. 
Ford Castlereagh said, it. wap 
difficult for ministers to answer the 
charges of every individual member ; 
but, as to the present measure, he 
must state, that it was impossible 
that it could have been brought for- 
ward with prepriety, until the other 
measures, the calling out of the 
supplementary mifitia, and theanwy 
of 
