1276 
The Negroes in St| Domingo ftill con- 
tend for exemption from maffacre againt 
the nation which offers liberty and emanci- 
pation to the ftates of Europe. We fin- 
cerely hope that no fuch difgraceful con- 
telis may tarnith the glory of the Britith 
fo'dier, but that gradual and frm meafures 
of emancipation may teach the Negro to 
-yegard the Enelifhman as his friend, and 
that he may thus receive the bieflings of 
Chriftianity from the fame fource. as its 
doctrines. 
. IRELAND. 
Many of the unfortunate men who were 
taken with arms in their hands during the 
night of the late Rebellion have been 
brought to trialan ‘executed, Since that 
t ne more important arrefts have taken 
place. However we may lament the fate 
of ignorant men, the dupes of artful de- 
magegues or of ardent men, the victims 
of {pcculative opinions carried into prac- 
tice, the inhuman condué& of fome of thefe 
men leaves little room for pity or regret. 
It is juft matter of congratulaticn however, 
to every triend of conititutional freedom, 
that the trials take place in due courfe of 
Jaw, and with all thofe wife forms which 
cannot be deparied from without feeding 
the fire of rebellion with juft argument. 
No plea ought to ftand between an acculed 
man and a jury of his equals. Thefe 
men have experjenced juftice ; and, we 
troft, that mercy, which, while it protects, 
refle’s a fuftaining influence on the fource 
from which it proceeds, which leaves be- 
hind it difpofitions which juftice alone 
canoot create, will thew itfelf in due time, 
and with its unequalled balm heal the 
wounds cf afflicted Ircland, 
ENGLAND. 
Cur country m y now be confidered as 
fully engaged in -a conteft from which 
there is no retreat—from which theie is 
no difpofition to retreat. So much has 
martial ardour outrun all precedent, that 
arms are not to be found fer the men 
who ftand prepared to weild them. In- 
ftead therefore of blamirg mintKers for 
not providing mufquets, we ought to 
praife them for that condvé, which, from 
difiention bas created union; which by mo- 
eration has raiied an ardent fpirit; and 
which, by peace, has recalled the genius 
o; war which now protects our country. 
It is better to"want arms than to want 
men; but though we would not diffuade 
from sny means of defence, ftill we can- 
not bat fuppofe the number of muigque:s 
in the country greatcr than could be re- 
quires to meet any plan of invaficn. 
During the iate adminiftration we heard 
‘ 
State of Public Affairs in September, 1803, 
. 
[Oa a 
no complaint of a want of weapons, not 
furely becaufe there were inen more arms, 
but becaufe there are now more men. 
Are we then to frppole that the mere cir- 
cumftance of difproportion can be a pofi- 
tive caufe of weakoefs, or that a loyal fub- 
ject without a muiquet is wor‘e than no- 
thing. ‘Ihe mufquet and bayonet, though 
probably the bef, are not tie only arms 
to be oppofed to an invading foe. 
Whatever may be the motive with men 
to enter into military aflociations at a time 
when there appears to be hittle chance of 
coming to aétion, nothing but perverfenefs 
can withhold appiauie from thole who have 
fteod forward at the prefent crifis, when 
a general opinion has prevailed of an im- 
mediate attack. No man can fix hmits te 
poffibility; but, it may fafely be afferted, 
that there is no initance of a country, fo 
populous as England, and animated by 
fuch a fpirit, falling a prey to invafion.’ 
Tt has been made a queftion, whether 
troops like the volunteers could be lafely 
committed in a conteft with regular troops. 
Befides natural courage, there is a fpecies 
of habitual military courage which can 
only be acquired in perfection by men wno 
have been accuftomed to actual w rfare. 
Such habits muét be got by the volunteer 
as they were got by the regular foldier. 
Experience cast alone fully teach that the 
event of a battle and cach man’s perfonal 
fecurity depend on each: man’s firmnels. 
Daring a battle a young recruit and an 
oid foldier have different ideas of the 
means of fafety ; the former is apt to ima- 
gine it fafeit to run away, the latter knows 
that it is generally fafeft to itand his 
ground, and not to retire except by com. 
mand. The young recruit has therefore 
much more merit in ftanding his ground 
than an old foldier. Tn cafe of invafion,. 
the voiunteers couid not be confidered as 
eguai to men who have feen a€tual fervice, 
but,they would be better than unexercifed 
men}; and yet even fuch have, by good 
Geaerals,been quickly rendered formidable. 
Men -conip<iled to undertake a military 
life, are found readily to acquire miltrary 
[ptsit, and fixill proportioned to the exam. - 
ples which they fee before (hem; and the 
circuniftance of a voluntary enrollment 
can fearcely be confidered as unfavourable. 
In whatever alpect we contemplate the vo- 
lunteers, they mu be confidered as an 
important additicn to the defeufive part of 
the fervice, asd confequently eventually 
to the offenfive. But befides the volun- 
tcers we have militia and troops of the 
line to double the amount of any army 
which Bonaparte has the means of trani- 
porting, 
