HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
county for penalties.” This petition 
was followed (February 18) by 
another from the parish of St. Mary- 
la-bonne in the county of Middle. 
sex, setting forth, ‘* that the num- 
ber of men required to be raised in 
the said parish, under the provi- 
' sion of the said act, amounted to 
225 ; that it had been found impos- 
sible to raise asingle man in the 
manner and upon the terms pre- 
seribed by the act ; that the parish 
had in consequence been assessed in 
the enormous sum of 4,500I. of 
which 2,000l. had been already 
paid to the treasurer of the county 
of Middlesex ; and concluding with 
a prayer, that the said act may be 
repealed, as it had failed in its in- 
tended object in every respect.” 
The change of ministry, which 
followed within a few days after Mr. 
Sheridan’s notice, rendered it un- 
necessary for that gentleman to 
bring forward his motion, as the 
subject naturally devolved on Mr. 
_ Windhan, secretary of state for the 
war department, whose attention 
was known to have been long di- 
rected, in a particular manner, to 
the military branch of the public 
service. 
» Mr. Windham did not resume bis 
seat in the house of commons, after 
he received the seals of secretary of 
state, till the 24th of February, and 
ten days having afterwards elapsed, 
without any motion from him on 
the military establishments of the 
country, the new opposition be. 
came impatient of further delay, 
and on the 5th of March, Mr. 
Long asked Mr. Windham, whom 
he saw in his place, at what time he 
intended to propose to the house 
his plan, respecting the arrangement 
of the military establishment. He 
(Mr. Long) disclaimed any inten. 
43 
tion te produce inconvenience, orto 
embarrass the government by this 
question, but he felt it of high im- 
portance that any alteration intend- 
ed to be made, should be known as 
soon as possible. Mr. Windham 
declared himself ready to give every 
satisfaction in his power, relative to 
the point alluded to. ‘* The right 
honourable gentleman had, how- 
ever, in asking the question, desired 
to know, when he meant to bring 
forward his plan? He did not un. 
derstand what was meant by the 
words ‘ his plan.” He had ne. 
ver talked of any plan, nor had he 
ever heard that any member had 
done so.for him.” Headded, that 
as soon as the business of the mi- 
litary establishment for the present 
year, which had already engaged 
the serious, minute, and attentive 
consideration of ministers, should 
be brought toa state of sufficient 
maturity, both their duty and in- 
clination would lead them to lay it 
.as speedily as possible, before the 
house. To a question from Mr. 
Canning, relative to the additional 
force bill, Mr. Windham replied, 
‘¢ that in the plan of defence now 
in contemplation, that bill certainly 
would not have a place.” 
Two days afterwards (March 7), 
in a committee of the house on the 
army estimates, general Tarleton 
expressed his surprize that the new | 
ministers had not yet brought for- 
ward their plans for the defence of 
the country. ‘* After all the acti- 
vity which the secretary for the 
war department had displayed in 
his speeches, and all the plans which 
he had given grounds to expect; 
nothing had yet been produced.” 
Mr. Windham replied, ‘* that the 
rapidity and decision recommended 
by the honourable general, might 
be 
