HISTORY 
of reserve, had been organized and 
in forwardness. These measures 
could only follow each other in 
succession, Government, in the 
mean time had availed themselves 
of as many offers of voluntary ser- 
vice, as they could accept of 
without crippling the army of re- 
serve. THis lordship spoke in very 
high terms of those volunteers, w ith 
whom he was best acquainted, the 
Trish volunteers. He then stated 
the object of the present bill, which 
was to give effect to the undoubted 
prerogative of the crown, The 
crown had now the right to call 
upon every liege subject, in case 
of invasion. The present bill was 
to impose a duty on the people, to 
Teceive such previous instruction 
in the use of arms, as alone could 
render that prerogative of any a- 
yail, 
Mr. Fox, gave his hearty con- 
currence to the measure. Ile had 
hot approved of the present war, 
but being engaged in it, he could 
not oppose those measures which 
the state of war made necessary. 
He could conscientiously support 
this measure, because it was for the 
defence of the country, more than. 
for any project of offensive war. 
Me relied principally on the armed 
mass of the people, to resist inva- 
sion. As to our regular force, he 
wished it to be as great and as good 
as possible ; yet he would no more 
think of placing his entire depen- 
dance on regular forces than on 
our navy ; both might be excellent, 
but yet subject to events; whereas, 
the mass of a great people, instruct- 
ed inthe use of arms, was a solid 
and permanentsecurity, that did not 
“depend on the event of one buat- 
OF EUROPE. 
197 
tle ; nor would, by any untoward 
cjrcumstance, be rendcred ineflica~ 
cious. The invaders might have 
regular armies, as numerous and 
as wall disciplined as our own, but 
they could not bring over that which 
we could command, an armed pea- 
santry, Mr. Fox then expressed, 
very strongly, his opinion, that the 
best mode would be to try whether 
a general armament of this nature, 
might not be obtained voluntarily, 
and without any compulsion what- 
eyer. He allowed notwithstanding, 
that if compulsion was necessary, 
it should be resorted to, 
The chancellor of the exchequer, 
felt the greatest satisfaction, at 
finding there was no opposition to 
the motion. Ile denied, however, 
that ministers had been tardy in 
their preparations, but, on the 
contrary, many most important 
steps had been taken, between the 
the Sth of March, the date of the 
message, and that day. First, the 
militia had been called out; Se- 
condly, the supplementary militia 
was ordered to be embodied; then 
followed the army of reserve; and, 
in addition to those acts, upwards of 
60,000 volunteers had already of- 
feyed ; and it was, after all those 
additions to the public force, that 
the present measure was brought 
forward. He considered this mea- 
sure as singularly adapted to the 
genius ‘and character of the people, 
as it was making a common cause 
with them, in ‘the defence of our 
common country. 
The bill was then read a first and 
second time, committed pro forma, 
and the report was brought up, oa 
the 20th, when 
* Mr. Sheridan ce 
0 3 
spreciated any 
discussion, 
