40 
establishments, as if our rulers had 
been desirous of indulging a specu- 
lative curiosity te contemplate their 
’ subject under every aspect it could 
assume, or had been unable to judge, 
‘without inspection, of the species 
of military force, best adapted for 
the defence of their country and 
annoyance of.its enemies. It is the 
merit of Mr. Windham, to whom 
this departemeut of the public ser- 
vice was committed by the new ad- 
ministration, that, abandoning the 
complex plans and visionary specu- 
Jations of his immediate predecessors, 
-without recurring to the severe and 
odious system. of the former minis- 
try, he trusted to the simple and 
obvious expedient of bettering the 
condition and prospects of the sol- 
diery, for the future increase and 
supply. of the army ; on the sound 
and universally acknowledged prin- 
ciple, that, wherever men are want- 
ed for any occupation in-socicty, 
they, may be obtained for that ser- 
vice, by holding out to them a suita- 
bleencouragement ; and in no other 
way, except by compulsion. If 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
any fault or imperfection were te 
be pointed out in the system re- 
commended by Mr. Windham, and 
adopted by parliament, it would be, 
that the encouragement held out te 
the military profession, was still in- 
suflicient, and inadequate to the ex- 
pectations, which men of the same 
rank in life with the soldiery, may 
look forward te, with reasonable 
confidence, in other occupations. 
We particularly allude to the small- 
ness of the pensions allotted to sol- 
diers disabled by their wounds, or 
having completed their periods of 
service. We think also, that hono. 
rary distictions might have been in- 
troduced, with ~ peculiar effect, 
among the inducements to enter a 
profession, where a sense of honour 
ought to be the predominant feeling. 
But, whatever defects may exist int 
the details and. subordinate provi- 
sions of Mr. Windham’s system, 
we are convinced that the principle 
of it issound, and that he, who shall 
depart from it, ‘ will render a mate- 
rial disservice to his country .* 
The army of reserve bill, the first 
measure 
* On a subject of this nature no argument is so conclusive as the evidence of 
facts. ~We therefore subjoin the following statements, from the adjutant general’s 
returns of the number of recruits raised half yearly (exclusive of foreign and 
colonial corps) during the years 1805, 1806, and 1807. 
Number of -Recruits. 
Ordinary —_ Additional 
Recruiting. Force. Total. 
1805—1st. half year - 6,736 — 4,187 — 10,923 
Quad. - 4,941 — 4,101 -- 9,042 
1806— 1st. - 4,949 — 5,834 — 10,785 
2nd. ~_ - 6,276 — ——~- — 6,276 
1807—1st.- ———_ 11,412 —- ——~ — 11,412 
; and, - 7,734 — — 7,734 . 
Tt is to be observed, that of the number of men raised by ordinary reeruiting 
in the first half of 1805, there were 3089 raised by officers recruiting for rank -in 
the cavalry. It is also tobe recollected, that after midsummer, 1807, the operation 
of Mr, Windham’s system was disturbed by the new ballot for the militia, The 
fiesehalt aay is therefore the period by which we are to judge of its effects, af 
fer it began tobe understood by the country ; and from the preceding returns, 
it Appeatss Uy the number of recruits raised during. that period, by Mr. Wind- 
gee Wee Ba : ; opt (ae ithe ham’s 
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