parte; and that sir W. S. Smith do signify the same to them. 3. That this House doth highly approve of, and acknowledge, the services of the seamen and marines belonging to the ships under the command of captain sir W. S. Smith, in the glorious defence of Saint John D'Acre, against the formidable and desperate attack of the French army under the command of general Buonaparte; and that sir W. S. Smith do signify the same to the crews of the respective ships and do thank them for their good behaviour."

October 4, similar thanks were moved in the House of Lords, and agreed to nem.dis.

Militia Volunteers Bill.] Sept. 26. Mr. Secretary Dundas moved for leave to introduce a bill to enable his majesty to receive himself voluntary services of the militia. As to the principle of the bill, it was by no means novel, for in the course of the last session he had had occasion to state it much more at length than he should feel any necessity for doing upon the present occasion. That principle, as he had then explained it, had, in the opinion of the House, justified a measure, the tendency of which was, not to lessen the force of the country, but to employ the greater part of it, not only for home defence, but for effectual operations abroad. It had been urged, that the government of this country had been too rash in adopting a measure which would have the effect of lessening the military force of the kingdom; but he was yet to learn how it could be lessening the force of the country, to employ the greater part of it beyond the circle of the island: he considered that by so doing he was more effectually securing the safety of the island, than by suffering that force to remain inactive at home; he was yet to learn how employing our forces against an enemy's country, instead of confining them to our own, was lessening our internal security. When he introduced the former bill last session, he did not pretend to point out the particular places against which the efforts of our forces should be directed; but he had no hesitation in saying, that in case the object of the allied powers should be the deliverance of Holland, that it would be for the interest of this country to entrust, to the enterprise and good conduct of a British force, some expedition between the Texel and the Mediterranean. The object of the present bill, though it appeared to be

that of decreasing the militia, as far as related to the internal defence of the country, was, in point of fact, to increase a force which might be effectually em ployed by his majesty, in any part where their services might be necessary in faci litating the cause in which we were engaged. He was so far from being desirous of diminishing any part of the forces of the kingdom, that his sole object was, to enable them to act in such a manner as the wisdom of his majesty's councils might suggest. There was no individual in the House, or in the country, who would wish to lessen that regard which was uni versally felt for the militia. It was a force which had been long established, and its utility had been long recognized by the wisdom of parliament. He meant to leave the militia force of the country equal in point of extent to what it was originally recognized by parliament. That there had existed a period in the course the present war, when it was necessary to increase that force for the internal defence of the kingdom, he admitted. It had been thought necessary to raise that force known by the denomination of the Supplementary Militia; but then it was to be recollected, that that measure had been brought forward at a time when the forces of this country, calculated for of fensive or defensive operations, were exceedingly small, compared with what they were now; that it was at a period too when the country was threatened with invasion by its old and inveterate enemies; but for some time past the necessity of so large a defensive force had been gradually wearing away; particularly by the suc cesses of his majesty's arms by sea and land, and still more so by those meritori ous exertions which the zeal and loyalty of the people of this country had produced in defence of their king, their constitu tion, their laws, and their religion. The force raised by that zeal and loyalty, could only be supposed to have for its more immediate object the protection and defence of the capital of the Bri tish empire. Under these circumstances, therefore, adverting to the internal safety of the country on the one hand, and to the unexampled successes obtained by his majesty's arms on the other, he should conclude with moving T "That leave be given to bring in a bill, for enabling his majesty to accept the services of an additional number of Volunteers from the litia, under certain Restrictions,"

Mi

1. "Because, by this bill, and by the A recited act of the last session, whose powers are by this bill aggravated and extended, the constitutional purposes of the militia establishment are totally and finally subverted.

"

2. Because, all the purposes of procuring men for the army might have been easily obtained by disbanding the supplementary war militia (which by its extraordinary increase had professedly occasioned a scarcity of men) without reducing the permanent militia establishment to a service, in which no gentleman could hereafter hope that his patriotic and disinterested industry would enable him to form his county regiment to a continued state of discipline, at the head of which he might, with credit and honour to himself, answer the purpose of its institution in the defence of his country against inva

sion.

8. Because, by this measure, all that system and arrangement which nourished the zeal of independent country gentlemen is irrecoverably done away in the existing pressure of a formidable and alarming war, and the peace establishment of the militia (if, mangled as it is by this bill, it can survive the war) will necessarily be reduced to a mere standing army of the worst sort; independent of an annual vote of parliament; deprived of all its former constitutional advantages; connected with the people by nothing but the unequal and oppressive burthens it imposes on them; and commanded by such persons as may be procured to be regulating officers to a mere drill of army re

cruits.

4. "Because the landed interest of England and Wales, already so heavily burthened, is most materially affected by this total revolution in the militia system; Inasmuch as the peculiar expenses of a militia originally formed for our unalienable domestic defence and insular garrison, are unjustly continued on the oppressed owners and occupiers of land in England [VOL. XXXI.j

and Wales, when they are by this measure deprived of the advantages which they had purchased, namely, those of security, resulting from a permanent domestic protection for their wives and children, which, under the faith of parliament, was held out to them as the valuable consider. ation for heavy taxes imposed solely on them.

5. Because this bill operates with most unjustifiable partiality: it does not fairly and equally extend to Scotland; Scotland is still protected in the enjoyment of a constitutional militia; neither reduced to the disgraceful condition of a drill for the army, nor liable to be em ployed in the defence of England; from its services (confined and limited solely to the boundaries of Scotland) England and Wales can derive no protection, while the reduced remnants of the militia of England and Wales may be removed from the defence of their own homes to that of the most remote parts of Scotland. (Signed) "CARNARVON

"WENTWORTH FITZWILLIAM "All but the second reason,

"BUCKINGHAMSHIRE."

Thanks of the House of Lords to the Earl of Mornington, Lord Clive, General Harris, &c.] Oct. 4. Lord Grenville rose to make his promised motion. The task he had undertaken to perform was as arduous as it was satisfactory, and he had only to lament his inability to do any thing like justice to the claims of superior merit and unrivalled services, which he had that day to recommend to the attention of their lordships, and to the gratitude of the nation at large. In his endeavours to discharge the duty he had imposed upon himself, he would begin by tracing the origin and progress of a war, which had been embarked in after repeated attempts at amicable negotiation had proved unavailing, and which terminated in the annihilation of a power that had perfidiously planned every measure of hostility against the British interests in India, of which it had meditated the extinction, by combining with our most powerful and inveterate foe to effect our total expulsion from that country. It was also his task to call their lordships attention to the merits of those by whose vigilance these mischiefs were averted, and by whose courage and energy the most glorious triumphs were achieved. He was thoroughly sensible how inade[# G

quate he was to the performance of such a task, and how short every the most forcible expression must fall of the public merits and services which distinguished the exertions of those to whom he intended to move the thanks of their lordships. Nor did he imagine that the great degree of intimacy and friendship in which, without interruption, he had passed his life with the present governor general of Bengal, could in the least tend to weaken the faint tribute of praise which he was anxious to pay to his signal deserts. In attempting the panegyric of that noble lord, he obeyed the call of his public duty, and of the gratitude of the public, full as much as he did any private propensity; for the highest strain of eulogy in which he could indulge would inadequately represent the talents and virtues which he had so long loved and admired. They happily, however, spoke loudly for themselves, in actions, the result of which had proved so glorious to the country. A detail of those actions might be deemed necessary to show the extent and solidity of these services, and the wisdom and honour of those by whom they were performed. On his arrival in India, lord Mornington found the princes of the country at peace with our India company; but that peace was not of long duration. Their lordships were well acquainted with the great efforts that had been made by France to fit out the formidable expedition, which sailed from Toulon; nor was any man here ignorant of its destination; it meditated destruction to the British empire in India, which France aimed at effecting by gaining over some of the native powers. Tippoo Sultaun was the first and the most eager to go every length to derive advantage from that expedition, and to lend it every assistance in his power. For this purpose he sent an embassy to the Isle of France, not with a view to complain of any grievance, or to solicit any redress, but to en. courage the attempts of the French, and embark himself in the design, for our utter expulsion from our India possessions such was his perfidious conduct towards those from whom he had experienced the utmost forbearance, the most unparalleled magnanimity. The motives of this embassy Tippoo did not endeavour to conceal. They were avowedly an attachment to the cause of the French republic, and hostility to the interests of England. His letters, addressed not only to the govern

ment of the Isle of France, but to the Executive Directory of France, openly invited them to conclude an offensive and defensive alliance with him, and offered to subsidize whatever troops France might furnish him with, to enable him to commence hostilities against the British forces. The first notice which lord Mornington received of this proposed alliance, was in June 1798, and coupling it with the information he had likewise received of the naval expedition which sailed from Toulon, he took every measure which prudence could suggest, and activity and decision could enforce. On the 18th June, 1798, the governor-general received an authentic account of the proclamation that had been issued in the Isle of France, and of the design which that proclamation unfolded. He then formed the resolution, not to wait, but to anticipate the attack of the enemy. He accordingly dispatched orders to the governors of Madras and Bombay, to prepare for the event; and so forward were the preparations, that a decisive blow was struck even that year. Great doubts and difficulties, however, arose in assembling the army at Madras, and it was much feared that long before it was in readiness to act, Tippoo's alarms might be excited, which would defeat the measures which the governor-general was concerting. No situation could be, more critical, or more full of perplexing anxiety, than that in which lord Mornington was then placed to await the danger with his eyes open to its approach, would be a fla grant neglect of his duty, to attempt to avert it by a sudden and abrupt attack, seemed to the most experienced military men a measure of very hazardous issue; such was the trying dilemma in which the governor-general was entangled, and whatever side he embraced he felt that he must incur the whole of the responsibility, The co-operation he was to expect from the native powers in alliance with Great Britain, was either doubtful or of little advantage. The Mahrattas were rendered unable to afford any substantial assistance; nor was their good-will to be called in question. The absence of their support arose from real inability. From the operation of the Nizam, little or nothing could be expected; his councils and army were at that period under the indu ence of a French faction, and two French officers were at the head of the sepoys in the nizam's service, and indeed the whole of his military force was at the disposal of

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the French officers. These difficulties created neither despondency nor fear in the heart of the governor-general: he, on the contrary, adopted the most spirited and decisive measures; an armed force was immediately detached into the territories of the nizam; the French army was not only surrounded and made prisoners; but a new treaty was concluded with the nizam, by which the disposal of his forces were put into the hands of the British, and that very army which had been destined to attack them, was immediately turned against the enemy. What could display greater ability than this masterly manoeuvre? But if it was great in ability, how much more useful was it in its consequences, which so powerfully contributed to our subsequent successes, by placing us in a situation to frustrate all the plans that had been meditated against us. Till that was accomplished, nothing was safe: but as soon as it was achieved a negotiation was opened. Lord Mornington was not unmindful that it was the best policy to remain contented with our situation in India; to offend no power by our encroachments, or give umbrage to them by any plan of ambition or aggrandizement; but faithfully and punctually to observe the faith of existing treaties. Such, indeed, was the nature and tendency of the orders under which, as governor-general, he was bound to act. He had, however, ample justification for pursuing an opposite plan; for what more clear and undisguised hostility could there be, than that which he experienced from those who would negociate with our worst enemy for our ruin, and enter into offensive alliance with him for our destruction; who stood forward in military array against our troops; and who assumed, if not the measures of actual hostility, at least the attitude of hostile preparation and menace; who proposed to France that if she would succour them with a military force from Europe, they would favour their landing at Porto-novo; "that they would lead them into the heart of the Dutch territories, into which they were ready to penetrate themselves, and co-operate with the French arms in expelling us from our dominion in India? Nor was it against the British establishments alone that they concerted this hostile attack, but also against those of Portugal, on account of her alliance with Great Britain. In the storming of that capital, where these machinations were

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hatched, and in the fall of that power who acted such a perfidious part against us, not only therefore great military skill and talent have been displayed, "but the most consummate wisdom and firmness. With this crafty and perfidious power lord Mornington had, however, proposed to open a negotiation, even when Tippoo was doing all the mischief in his power, without uttering one word of grievance or complaint. Notwithstanding his flagrant violations of all faith towards the English government, lord Mornington renewed his offers to remove every cause of disaffection, if any really existed. The whole of these pacific offers were received either with sullen silence or studied duplicity, and at last with open preparations of hostile aggression. When Tippoo saw the ruin he was drawing down upon his own head, his inveterate animosity suggested to his wicked imagination that he already saw the gigantic plan of the French republic on the eve of being realized, and that the hour was come for the downfal of the British dominions in India. He was also anxious to gain time, and defer the measures that were taking against him, in order that the season of the year might intervene, and allow time to receive the succours with which he was to cooperate in our overthrow.-But was it not unnecessary to dwell any longer on these details; or on the wisdom, firmness, and sound policy of the measures adopted by the governor-general, who, month after month, had made proposals for negotiation to an enemy, who instead of a sincere desire to establish peace, was secretly endeavouring to destroy us? And if after these repeated provocations, his noble friend had resolved upon offensive operations, it was easy to relieve the governorgeneral from all responsibility for his conduct, a conduct which, when rightly appreciated, would be discovered not only to have averted the formidable perils which hung over our Indian empire, but to have established it on a basis of more permanent security than it ever before enjoyed. There was one point more, to which he would advert, and that was the judicious manner in which the governor - general had proceeded to compose and reconcile all the discordant opinions which formerly prevailed among the servants of the India company. In this he had succeeded by a wise and temperate use of the sole controlling power with which he was invested; and a greater and more refined satisfac