April 10.

The Earl of Suffolk called the attention of the House to the general fate of the defence of the country. His primary object was, to fhew the impracticability of arming the peafantry as had been propofed, when a difficulty is experienced of procuring arms for the Volunteers: he recommended a fpecies of thrp-fhooting militia, fimilar to thefe in America, during the war there; and enforced the propriety of central depôts and martello-towers. He also thought much blame attached to Ministers for neglecting to employ the firit military characters; and added, that though Lord Moira had been appointed to a chief command in Scotland, yet he had merely the pay of a general, and had been 20 years with only the half-pay of a colonel, about 2001. per annum. He concluded by moving for a Com mittee to inquire into the State of the Defence of the Country.

Lord Hawkfbury briefly condemned the obfervations of the Earl, as ill-timed; and the motion was negatived.

Lord Gunville then fuggefted other alterations in the Volunteer Bill, which oc cupied the House till midnight, and were at laft negatived.

In the Commons, the fame day, Admiral Berkeley moved for feveral Accounts GENT MAG. July, 1804.

relative to Barracks. Ordered.

Mr. Yorke moved for a Committee of the whole Houfe on the Irish Militia Volunteer Bl.

Mr. Elliot oppofed it, and entered into fome details relative to the Militia of Ireland, from which he inferred that the Bill was not neceffary, and particularly objected to the offers of the Lith Militia, which he confidered to be thofe of the officers, not of the men.

M Yorke defended the measure. He was follow ed by M. Calcraft, who partially dif approved the Bill, and advifed the 10,000 men to be rafed on a general plan.

Mr. Banks fpoke on the fame fide;-and was incceeded by Col. Hutchinfon,in favour of, and by Col. Vereker, Mr. Windham, and Mr. Canning, in oppofition to, the measure. After which, the Bill went through a Commit

tee.

April 11.

Mr. Yorke, on moving that the Committee on the Irish Militia Bill be refumed, obferved that the charge occafioned by the Bill would not fall exclufively on Ireland.

Col. Crauford expreffed his determined oppofition to the Bill, and particularly objected to the augmentation of the Militia of Ireland; but recommended the raising an equal number of Fencible forces.

Lord A. Hamilton fpoke against the increafe of the Irith Militia; and was followed by Mr. Keene, in praife of the meafure.

Sir F. Wottefley condemned the whole of the meafures of Minifters, and anticipated no good effects from our victories in India, where a fresh drain of regular troops would be wanted, either to fupply the lofs of thofe who have fallen, or to keep the territory we had acquired.

Sir J. Newport was of opinion, that the Militia of either country fhould be applicable to the fervice of the other; but he hoped that the 10,000 difciplined Irish Militia would not be replaced by new levies, to which he had good grounds for a particular objection.

General Maitland fpoke at fome length, to fhew that the regular army could never be raised to a much greater extent than it is at prefent, in confequence of the equal diftribution of the immenfe wealth of the country, which left no inducement to the people to enter as foldiers. Adverting to the remark of Sir J Newport on our European forces in India, he faid it amounted to 22,000, of which only 5,000 had been engaged on the late occafions. He explained the effect of augmenting the Irish Militia to be, that 10,0co of our best troops would be left for oftenfive service.

Mr.

Mr. Fox fignified, that the change in contemplation fhould have been announced by a Meffage from the King, and not furreptitiously, as was attempted to be done. [This remark produced a very loud clamour from both fides. He proceeded, in a fatirical ftrain, to comment on the effects expected from the Union, none of which had yet taken place; and touching on the Govern ment of Ireland, which he defcribed to be completely martial, he faid it was impoffible that that country could be governed by any other means than force, as long as the Lord Chancellor told the people that they could not be good fubjects while they continued faithful to the religion of their forefathers! He faid, the Irish Militia fhould be confined to Ireland, and Fencibles brought in their room. The remainder of his arguments tended to prove that we had been more fuccefsful in the first years of former wars, than in this; and he concluded with declaring the removal of the Irish Militia to be a direct violation of the Union.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a long and able fpeech, replied to the different topics touched on by Mr. Fox, particularly on the legality of the measure in contemplation; and he contended that the number of our forces now in activity exceeeded that of any country of the world. It would appear that the Regulars and Militia in the United Kingdom amounted to 184,000, and the Volunteers to 400,000; all of which were fully provided with arms, except 15 or 20,000, which made in the whole a force of 584,000. To this he added, that our Military force at prefent was within 14,000 of the highest amount of it during the laft war; and he confidered the advantages of the measure fufficient to outweigh all objections.

Some remarks and explanations enfued, between Meflrs. Fox, Francis, Johnstone, Kinnaird, Dr. Laurence, Lords Caftlereagh and De Blaquiere; after which, the Committee went through the Bill.

April 12.

Lord A. Hamilton made fome remarks, tending to condemn the practice of making Irish Treafury payments in this country at par, which he confidered as a violation of the Act which prohibited Commiffioners of the Treasury from increasing their falaries on their own authority. He therefore moved; Ift, that it appeard that payments at par were made in London of falaries chargeable on the Irish Eftablishment; 2dly, that they were made without authority; and, 3dly, that they were unwarrantable.

Lord Caftlereagh briefly explained, by obferving that the Act of Union had transferred to this country the refidence of many Irish Officers; and as they were not brought

to a cheaper place, it was right to relieve them from the tax in the 10 per cent. balance of exchange between Great Britain and Ireland. They were brought here against their will, and had a right to expect that their tarics would not be diminished from the value they would have had in Ireland. But he added, that half-pay officers were not entitled to this advantage, as they had the option of remaining at home. He then cou cluded by moving the order of the day.

Lord Folkflone and Mr. Fox deprecated the defence of the measure, and infifted that officers on half-pay were more entitled to compenfation than men holding great places.

Mr. Windham followed on the fame fide; as did Mr. T. Grenville and Mr. Thornton; after which, the previous queftion was carried.

April 13.

The Bill was brought in for fufpending recruiting for the Army of Referve.

Mr. Yorke alfo obtained leave to bring in a Bill to revive an Act of left Seffion, for the better providing of officers for the militia, by enabling the Lords-lieutenants of Counties to grant commiffions to fubaltern officers not qualified by local property.

In a Committee of Supply, the Chancellor of the Exchequer moved for a fum of 150,0col. for the Secret Services; a fum not exceeding 412,cool. to be paid without deduction to the United States of America, awarded to them for compenfation for Prizes taken during the last war; and the fum neceffary to pay off the out-standing balance of II millions upon Exchequer Bills iffued under votes of the laft Seffion.

In answer to Mr. Fox, who demanded an explanation relative to the Ruffian Mediation, the Chancellor of the Exchequer faid there ftill exifted reafons for not giving any complete explanation.

April 16.

The fecond reading of the Bill for preventing future corruption, &c. at elections for Aylesbury, was debated, and the reading oppofed by a large majority.

Lord Morpeth adverted to the alledged correfpondence of Mr. Drake, by obferving, that the British Governinent had been accused of crimes that ought never to fully the annals of civilized nations; and that although contemptuous filence might be the most prudent way to treat the calumnies of an execrable Tyrant, yet the prefent correfpondence having been published in the Moniteur, and accredited by the Foreign Minifters at Paris, it would be an eternal ftigma upon this country, unless proved to be a grofs fabrication. He then feverely cenfured the anfwer of the American Envoy to the letter of Talleyrand; and concluded with calling upon Ministers to clear themselves

themfelves from the charges, and prove to the world that they had not armed the hand of an affaffin.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer anfwered, that he was happy to have an opportunity of repelling the fouleft and most infamous charge that has ever proceeded from a Government claiming to be confidered as part of the civilized world; though he confidered it to be almoft beneath the dignity of Minifters to attempt to confute it. He should, however,unequivocally declare, that no inftructions had been tranfmitted to Mr. Drake to undertake any thing that was not frictly conformable to the rights of Nations. He added, that he was fully confident, the more that gentleman's conduct was enquired into, the more apparent would be the infamy of the fabrication.

On the motion for the third reading of the Irish Militia Augmentation Bill, fome oppofition was made to it by Mr. Pitt, who particularly objected to fufpending the operation of the Army of Referve Act, which afforded the best means of recruiting the Regular Army.

Lord Cafilereagh faid a few words in favour of the Bill; Meffrs. Bankes, Windham, and Fox, against it; the latter gentleman objected to all the modes of raising men adopted by the prefent Minifters, as interfering with the recruiting for the line; and condemned, in particular, the principle of raifing 10,000 fresh men, without making them difpofeable, at leaft as far as England.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer briefly replied to the objections which had heen urged; and, to refute the charge of neglect, he added, that at this time our regular difpofeable Infantry was greater than at any former period; and our whole difpofeable force, confifting of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, amounted to no less than 70,000

After a few obfervations from Meffrs. Canning and Alexander, Colonels Vereker, Odell, and Craufurd, and Lord de Blaquiere, the Houfe divided; when there were for the third reading of the Bill, r28; against it,

The Irish Linen Bill was read the third time, and paffed.

LORDS.

April 17.

Several additional amendments were propofed in fome claufes of the Volunteer Bill, by the Duke of Montrofe and Lord Grenville, which were negatived.

Lord Auckland propofed a new claufe, that, after the paffing of this Bill, no rules for the regulations of Volunteer Corps fhould be confidered valid, but fuch as fhould be tranfmitted by the Commanding Officer and the Lord Lieutenant of the County to the Secretary of State, and of which his Majefty fhould declare his approbation within 28 days.

This was oppofed by Lords Minto and Grenville, and Earl Fitzwilliam; and defended by Lords Hawkesbury and Auckland; but carried without a divifion.

H. OF

COMMONS.

April 18.

In a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, it was his intention only to move that 11 millions and a half be raised by Exchequer Bills for the difcharge of the Bills which were now out1tanding. He fould fubmit at a future period a motion for the raifing of the remaining fum of 5,000,oco to complete the fum already mentioned. The Bank had agreed to poftpone the payment of the 1,000,000 and a half which they had raised in 1798. He was, in confequence, enabled to propofe, that onlythe fum of 9,000,000 and a hal be raised in the pretent inftance. It was not the intention of Government that any of the debt houid be funded, but that all the amount which he then moved for fhould be kept outstanding. This be purpofed doing by two feparate Bills, the one for 8,000,000, and the other for 1,000,000 and a half.

After fome obfervations from Mr. Johnfone and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the refolutions were agreed to.

H. O F LORDS.

April 19.

The Earl of Carlile moved for Copies of the Ditpatches which were fent to India prior to his Majefty's Meffage of the 2th of March, with the dates of their being fent from this country, and of their arrival in India; and of the difpatches which were fent to India fubfequent to the Meffage.

Lord Hawkesbury objected to the motion, because the Earl had stated no reason for bringing it forward.

The Earl of Carlisle then charged Minifters with remiffnefs, in not fending timely information to Admiral Rainier, in confequence of which Linois' fquadron had efcaped.

Lords Carnarvon and Spencer were in favour of the motion; and on a divifion, there were, Contents 31-Non-contents 30; majority of 1 against Minifters.

Apr 20.

Lord Hobart, on moving the fecond reading of the Irish Militia Augmentation Bill, obferved that the principal inducement of Minifters for bringing it forward was from motives of economy. He reprobated the publishing of the correfpondence between Lords Redefdale and Fingal.

Earl Spencer condemned its principle altogether. It was impolitic to take 10,000 men from the defence of Ireland, and unwife to make fuch an addition for limited fervice only.

Lord Grenville intimated, that himself and many other Peers would difcufs this measure

measure on the third reading of the Bill.

The Lord Chancellor advised Lord G. not to apply abufive epithets to measures which were exactly fimilar to his own in the laft Adminiftration; and he added, that Minifters were fo far from being exhaufted from the fatigues of last night, that they felt themfelves as Giants refreshed, and were ready to meet the difcuffion.

In the Commons, the fame day, Mr. Rofe moved for an account of the produce

INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE Admiralty office, May 29. This Gazette contains Letters from Admiral Duckworth, introductory of the following Dispatches: H. M S Le Pique, ff Jacmee, March 18. Sir, I have the honour to inform you, that, after a chace of five hours this day, we came up with and captured the French National cutter, La Terrear, of 10 guns (fix of which they threw overboard in the chace), and 75 men, commanded by Mons. Collinet, lieut. de vailean, from St. Domingo two days, and had taken nothing.. I am, &.

C. B. H Ross. Stork, off Cape Niecla Mole, March 30. Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you that his Majefty's floop under my command has this day captured, after a chace of fix hours, the French felucca privateer, L'Hirondelle, of three guns (two of which were thrown overboard in the chace), and 44 men. She has been three months from Guadaloupe, but laft from Banacoa, and had taken nothing.I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) GEO. LE GEYTS. Return of veffels captured and destroyed by his Majesty's veffels under the command of Rear-admiral Duckworth, K. B. fince the lift inclosed roth March, 1804.—L'Hirondelle felucca privateer of three guns and 44 men; captured on the 30th March by the Stork. Le Cazar felucca privateer, of one fix-pounder and 46 men: captured on the third of April by the Fortunée; out five days, and had taken nothing.-Jean Baptifte felucca privateer, of 28 men; captured on the 2d of April, by the Racoon. Letter from Rear-admiral Dacres, to W. Marfden, efq. dated on-board the Franchife, at Sea, March 27.

Sir, having directed Capt. Murray to chase a schooner which was difcovered a-head of the convoy yesterday afternoon, you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords' Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that, by half pait fe en o'clock that evening, the was captured by the Franc ife, and proves to be La Petite Harmonie privateer, from Martinique, mounting two four-pound carriage-guns, commanded by Citizen Guerel, and manned with 22 men. I have ordered her to be deftroyed.. I am, &c.

J. R. DACRES

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES. Admiralty-office, June 2. A letter from Sir J. T. Duckworth introduces the following; Snake, Salt Key, March 18.

Sir, This moment has arrived his Majefty's floop Lily, Capt. Lyall, from Bermuda, who has brought with him the Batavian Republic fchooner Draak, commanded by a lieutenant of frigate, captured on the 1st inftant. She mounts four four, and one three-pounders, and fitty men, teven weeks from Curacoa, and had taken nothing. W. ROBERTS.

[Admiral Duckworth, in another letter, da ed April 7, ftates the following captures to have been made between March 10 and April7, by the fquadron under his orders:

French National tranfport L'Argo, of 6 guns, 20 men, and 5c troops, commanded by a lieutenant de vaiffeau, in ballast, from New Orleans; captured by the Racoon, Capt. Gordon, March 16, 1804.-French felucca privateer L'Hirondelle, of 3 guns, and 44 men; captured by the Stork, Capt. Le Geyt, off Cape Nicola Mole, March 30, 1804. French felucca privateer L'Adven-` ture, of 1 gun, 2 fwive's, and 28 men; captured by the Racoon off Great Henage, April 5, 1804, feven days from St. Jago.Felucca privateer Le Cazar, of I gun, 46 men, and 18 tons, from St. Jago de Cuba'; captured by the Fortunée, fame date.-A French privateer 2 gans, and 17 men, deftroyed by his Majesty's fhip Blanche.]

Admiralty-office, June 12. This Gazette announces the capture of two of the enemy's gun-boats of the fecond clafs, each carrying one 18-pounder and 30 men, in the Bay of Hodierne, by the boats of the Doris frigate, Capt. Campheil.

Admiralty-office, June 16. This Gazette Contalus two letters to Vice-admiral Sir A Mitchell, Commander in Chief in North America, from Capt. Bradley, of the Cambrian frigate, communicating the capture of two French privateers; viz. Le Titon, 59 men; and L'Alexandre, 68 men; together alfo with a letter from Capt. Lyall, of the Lily, to Adm. Mitchell, conmunicating the capture of a Batavian fchooner, named Draak, 50 men, after an action of 15 minutes.

June

June 23. Extracts of letters from Sir Charles Green and Commodore Hood, commanding his Majesty's military and naval forces employed in the expedition against Surin m,

Sir Charles Green ftates, in a letter dated Paramaribo, May 13, that the expedition having failed from Barbadoes on the 7th April, anchored on the 25th and 26th following, about ten miles off the mouth of the river Surinam,Ọ the 26th, a corps, confitting of the flank companies of the 16th and 64th regiments, the rifle company of the 2d battalion 60th regiment, made up by detachments from the battalion companies of the 16th, 64th, and 6th West India regiments, to about 600 men, and the tft brigade of Royal Artillery, befides armed temen, was detached in different veffels under convoy of his M-jeity's thip Hippomenes, Capt. Shipley, This corps was commanded by Brigadier General Maitland, who was directed to effect a landing at the Warappa Creek, about to leagues to the Eastward of the Surinam river, where the enemy occupied a polt. The object of this operation was to obtain a water communication with the Commewyne river, to procure plantation boats in fufficient number to transport the troops down that river towards its junajon with the Surinam, and thereby facilitate our approach to take a pofition in the rear or Fort New Amsterdam; and allo with a view to cut off a confide: able detachment of the enemy Rationed at Fort Brandwacht. On the fame day preparations were made for landing a body of troops to take poffeffion of Bram's Point, where there is a battery of feven 18pounders, which defends the entrance of Surinam. Brigadier General Hughes undertook to fuperintend this fervice; the wind proving favourable, his Majetty's thips Emerald, Pandour, (having the 64 h regiment on board), and Drake brig of war, got under weigh to attack the battery; when a fire was opened on the ships, which, however, was foon filenced by few broadfides, and the enemy ftruck their colours. A detachment of troops, under Brig. Gen. Hughes, immediately landed, and took potferfion of Bram's Point, making prifoners a Captain and 44 men. The entrance being thus fecured, the Commodore made signal for the thips to go into the river as foon as poffible; in the courfe of that and the following day, the molt confiderable part of the fleet anchored in the river. The British Commanders fummoned the Dach Governor on the 27th; and on the tollowing morning the answered in the negative" Here," fays Gen. Green, "I mult heg leave to oblerve to your Lordship, that the coast of Surinam is of very difficult approach, thallow, and full of banks;

the river

a

that a landing is only to be attempted at the top of the ide, and at particular points; the coaft is uncleared; and from wood, and the marshy nature of the foil, it is impoffible to penetrate into the interior, except by the rivers and the creeks.The thores on both fides of the river Surinam are equally difficult of accefs, for the fame caufes, until you reach the battery Friderici, with the exception of one frot on the Eaftern fhore, where a plantation, called Refolution, has been lately established. Our points of attack were therefore confined; and the enemy, by means of their forts, thips of war, and other armed vetiels, were completely mafters of the navigation of the river Surinam above Fort Amfterdam.-The defences of the river, after paffing Bram's Point, are Fort Amfterdam, fituated on the confluence of the rivers Surinam and Commewyne: upwards of eighty pieces of ordnance are mounted in this fortress. -Fort Leyden is armed with 12 heavy guns, and fituted on the right bank of Sirinam, where it meets the Commewyne ; is oppofite to, and commanded By, Fort Amfterdam, at the diflance of about 2000 yards.-The battery Friderici is about 200 yards tower down, and armed with 12 heavy guns.

On the left bank of the river, nearly opp fite to Fort Amfterdam, is Fort Pur murent, having 10 guns mounted; its rear and flanks protected by impracti ble marth and woods.-The fire of all these works and batteries interfect in the channel for hips going up the river.The town of Paramaribo is defended towards the water by a battery of about 10 guns, mounted in fort Zandia, a place otherwife of no defence.-The 28th, the fhips of war and other veffels proceeded up the river as faft as the tides would admit. -Lieut. Col. Shipley, Commanding Engineer, having examined the country as to the poffibility of taking Fors Leyden and Friderici in rear, and found that a paffage was practicable through the woods, a detachment of 140 men of the 64th regiment, under the command of the Hon. Lt. Col. Cranfoun, with Major Stirke of the 6th Weft India regiment, ten men of the 6th West India regiment, with fide arms, having telling axes, 20 of the Artificers' Corps provided in the fame manner, and about 30 armed feamen, commanded by Captain Maxwell, Ferris, and Richard'on, of the Navy, the whole un der the command of Brig Gen. Hughes, accompanied by L'eut. Col. Shipley, Lieut. Arnold, of the Royal Engineers, and Mr. Hobbs, Acting Engineer, whofe local knowle ge proved extremely useful on this occafion, anded between ten and eleven at night, at Refolution Plantation, and proceeded through the woods with

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