matter beiag ftill left open and difcretional, at the option of government, whether any, and how far the augmentation fhould take place. Among a multitude of particular opinions, three feemed more prevalent and general. One, for adopting the propofal as it originally flood; the fecond, for a mixed fcheme, which, with a fmaller augmentation of the militia, propofed the raifing of diftin&t volunteer corps, and the third, were against any augmentation of the militia, and would truft to the calling out and arming of the country in cafe of neceffity, and to the fpirit and patriotifm of the nobility and gentry in raifing forces, according to the offers which had been already made. Among the variety of amendments propofed, that by Lord Beauchamp, was the only one of any confequence that was carried through. That was a claufe for the raifing of volunteer companies, which were to be attached to the militia regiments of the county or diftrict to which they belonged; and for this purpofe, the lord-lieutenants of counties, were empowered to grant commiffions to officers, as high as the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in proportion to the number of men they were able to procure.

The committee having 23d. fat till paft midnight upon

this bill, the Houfe was no fooner refumed, than they were furprized by the introduction of a bill of another nature, by the first law officer of the crown. The purpose of this bill was, to take away, for a limited time, the legal exemptions from being preffed to ferve on board the navy, which feveral

defcriptions of men and of apprentices, appertaining to the fea, or fome degree to maritime affairs, had hitherto enjoyed; and alfo for fufpending the right of fuing ont a writ of habeas corpus, for fuch breaches of thofe .exemptions, as had already taken place from the 17th of that month, or as might ftill take place, before the final ratification of the bill.

It can scarcely be imagined, however the neceflity of the time induced an acquiefcence, that a measure of that nature could have paffed without cenfure, and without much and warm difcuffion. The manner of bringing it forward, at fo late an hour, and in a very thin houfe, already fatigued and worn down, by fitting fo many hours to bufinefs, was even more reprobated than the measure. In the Houfe of Commons, it was likened to every thing that was moft odious. The oppofition likewife condemned the measure itself, upon many accounts; but more particularly, for its being a breach of that public faith between the legiflature and the people, which fhould ever be held facred.

The learned mover juftified those circumstances which were fo feverely condemned, by acknowledging that they had been defigned and chofen, for the purposes of fecrecy and dispatch; and to prevent the effect of the bill from being defeated, by the knowledge of its defign, which the public prints would have fpread through the whole nation. He juftified the measure itself upon the ground of that neceffity from which it originated; and obferved, with his ufual acuteneis, that he could not

avoid being aftonished at the horror which was now expreffed with refpect to compulfion, when they were but newly rifen from a committee wherein they had been for ten hours engaged in framing a compulfive law, whereby arms would be forced into the hands of 30,000 men, whether they liked them or not.

The oppofition totally denied the juftnefs of the obfervation; as the one cafe, though exceedingly hard, was clear from any injuftice, whilft the other, with equal hardship, carried the most manifeft injuftice. They lamented the fate of their country, which, being expofed to the most imminent danger from without, had, at the fame time, its constitution torn to pieces within; and all thofe most valuable parts of it, which had hitherto excited the admiration or envy of mankind, were now doing away in the grofs, or mangled and perishing in the detail.

In fact it is much to be doubted, whether there was any advantage to be obtained by this bill, which could fairly warrant fome of the ftronger parts of it. The urgency of the time, however, prevailed over every other confideration, and the indemnity bill (as it was called froms its retrospective effect) was read twice on that night, and committed for the following, or rather the fame day. And on that day, after a good deal of debate, both the indemnity and militia bills, were carried through all the forms and paffed.

Both the bills were combated with great vigour and ability in the other Houle, by the Marquis of Rockingham, and fome other

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A former divifion had taken place upon a question of re-commitment, which was loft, by a majority of 50 to 24.. Fourteen peers entered a proteft relative to that queftion; and another was entered upon the laft, which was figned only by fourteen lords.

In the mean time, various proposals of amendment, modification, and fubftitution, were made with refpect to the militia bill. The Duke of Richmond's knowledge in military affairs, fupported by his uncommon abilities, gave him a fuperiority on this fubject, which he difplayed with great effect. Some of the court lords even acknowledged, that the objections and arguments, on that fide, were fo ftrong, that they could not be anfwered. Nor were the lord-lieutenants of counties, in general, at all fatisfied with the bill.

June 30th.

In this ftate of things, the question being at length put, whether the claufe, empowering his Majefty to order the militia to be augmented to double its prefent number, ftand part of the bill, it was carried in

the

the negative, by a majority of 39

to 22.

It was remarkable, that the lord prefident of the council, and both the fecretaries of ftate, voted against the compulsory principle of this bill. The divifion. was fingular, in placing 22 lords on the one fide, and the whole oppofition on the other, in fituations which they rarely experienced on either. Two of the right reverend bench, undoubtedly through their ignorance in military affairs, were furprized into a minority on this occafion.

Thus disembowelled of all its original fubftance, the skeleton of the militia bill was returned to the Commons, with nothing of efficacy remaining, except the folitary fupplemental claufe added by Lord Beauchamp for the raifing of volunteer companies. And thus the minifter was expofed to the bitter taunts of the oppofition, who obferved, that that spirit of difunion and difcord, which adminiftration had fo induftrioufly and fuccefsfully fpread, through every department of the flate, whether civil or military, and through every part of the empire, had now feized the cabinet, and was equally visible among themselves. The minifter could not conceal his chagrin, nor refrain from complaining of the conduct of his colleagues in the other House.

A new question now arofe, which brought out confiderable debate. For the militia bill being confidered by feveral, as to all intents and purposes a money bill, they infifted, that no amendment of the Lords could be admitted, without a furrender of their own most valuable and peculiar privilege; and that,

therefore, the bill must be totally rejected. The minifter was, however, fo eager, that fomething should be done, that might at least carry an appearance of looking towards the public defence and fecurity, that it was determined, in the prefent inftance, to overlook the point of privilege. Ingenious arguments were accordingly used, and nice lines of diftinction drawn, to fhew that the prefent was not properly a money bill; and these were combated, and attempted to be difproved, with equal ingenuity. The bill was, however, carried upon a divifion, by a majority of 63 to 45.

July 3d.

As the repeated attempts of the oppofition in both Houfes, for obtaining an addrefs to prevent the prorogation of parliament, had failed of fuccefs, that event now took place. In the speech from the throne, the moft cordial thanks were returned, for the many great and effential fervices they had rendered to his Majefty and their country, during the courfe of their long attendance in Parliament. Entire approbation was expreffed, to the zeal which they had manifefted in the fupport of the juft and neceffary war, in which he was engaged, and of the attention which they had paid to the ftate of Ireland. It was obferved, that the events of war had afforded the court of France no reafon to triumph on the confequences of their injuftice and breach of public faith; and it was trufted, that by fpirited and profperous exertions, that ambitions power might be brought to with that they had not, without provocation or caufe of complaint,

intulted

infulted the honour and invaded the rights of the crown. With refpect to Spain, whatever colour might be attempted to be put upon the unjuft proceeding of that court, his Majefty was confcious that he had nothing to reproach himself with; the warmest acknowledgments were made, for thofe clear demonftrations of loyalty and affection to his person and government, which parliament had fhewn upon that occafion; and it was confidered as a happy omen to the fuccefs of his arms, that the increase of difficulties, ferved only to augment the courage and conftancy of the nation. The additional burthens on the people were fincerely regretted. And it was faid, that

fufficient thanks could not be paid to the Commons for the confidence they had reposed in him, and for the chearfulness and public fpirit, with which the large fupplies for the current year had been granted. It was impoffible to fpeak of the continuance of the rebellion in North America without the deepest concern; but they had given (the Crown and Parliament) fuch unquestionable proofs of their fincere difpofition to put an end to thofe troubles, that it was ftill hoped, that the malignant defigns of the enemies of Great-Britain, could not long prevail against the evident intereft of those unhappy provinces.

CHAP.