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HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Tuesday, March 27.

Newhaven Bridge Bill was read a third time and passed.

BRAHAM'S PATENT BILL.

On the Motion being made for the fecond reading of the Bill for encouraging Mr. Braham by a renewal of his patent for a certain kind of locks,

Mr. Burdon obferved, that the manufacturers in his country, and he believed in general throughout the country, were defirous of having an opportunity afforded them of ftating fome very weighty objections which they had to this Bill paffing into a law. He would therefore move that the Bill be read a fecond time this day fen'night.

Sir William Pulteney confidered much encouragement as due to the inventor of a defcription of locks, that afforded to property that fecurity and defence which could only be rendered inefficient by breaking through doors or pulling down walls. To patents, genius had ever been indebted for the moft active ftimulus to exertion in the mechanics; the great Mr. Arkwright owed to this his fame, his merited fuccefs, and the country the benefit of his well directed labours. The perfon now foliciting the encouragement of that House, was, he thought, every way entitled to it, and he therefore hoped the Honourable Gentleman would withdraw his motion.

Mr. Banks was of opinion the manufacturers ought to be allowed the delay moved for. He had no wish to detract from the merit of any man, but the agreeing to his Honourable Friend's Motion was, he thought, neceffary to afford all parties protection and relief. And fo far was he from recommending that the motion might be withdrawn, he wished it to be perfevered in, and would give it his moft hearty fupport. The Houfe divided, for the original motion 38

For Mr. Burdon's

22

Majority, 16

The Bill was read immediately, and, on the motion of Sir William Pulteney, ordered to be committed to a Committec above ftairs, which is to be an open Committee; that is to fay, that all Members have voices who attend that Committee.

A Meffage from the Lords informed the House that their Lordships had agreed to the Bill for increafing the rate of subfiftence to be allowed to innkeepers and others on whom foldiers are quartered.

DEFENCE

DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.

Mr. Secretary Dundas fpoke to the following effect.— "The motion which I fhall fubmit to the Houfe is in fubftance for leave to bring in a Bill to enable his Majefty more effectually to fecure the realm from the danger of invafion, and to indemnify perfons who may fuffer in their property in endeavouring to carry fuch means into execution. Upon that motion I think it neceffary for me to fay a few words. The general defcription of the meafure I have thus fhortly given to you. I am perfectly aware that in moving for a bill of this general defcription, it is natural for any man to fay to himfelf, this is an extraordinary measure;' and then to afk himself, Are we not now in poffeffion of the most powerful navy we ever faw or heard of? Will not the navy fecure us from danger?' I am perfectly ready to admit that in truth thefe questions should be anfwered in the affirmative. I know, and I feel with pride, that we are poffeffed of a navy entitled to this description, and it is a defeription which all mankind is difpofed to give it; but I believe it is the opinion of many men of understanding that the military preparations now making against us, make it prudent for us not to reft entirely fecure upon our naval ftrength, great and fplendid as it is.

"I am ready alfo to admit that we are poffeffed of a land force greater than this country ever poffeffed in any period of its former hiftory. I am ready to admit alfo, that we have great forces ftill in referve, and which may be added to that which is now under command. I admit, in fhort, that our forces by fea and land are at this moment infinitely fuperior to any thing which this country could boaft of in its proudeft period. I am ready further to admit that it is not on these forces alone, great and powerful as they are, that we are wholly to rely; for I believe most firmly, that at no period in the history of the world, did any country poffefs fuch means of producing voluntary corps as we do at this moment. At no period did any country poffefs fuch a general inclination to protect itself as this country does at this hour, which indeed is manifefted by the fifty, or perhaps fixty thousand men who have voluntarily enrolled themselves for their country's defence, and who are now ready to act in case of emergency. All these things I admit as proofs of the general zeal of the inhabitants of this country. But when I ftate these things, and feel the truth of them, and appeal to others to fhew their ardour; for I know there is a burning zeal in the people of this country to defend its interefts, and to come forward for their own fecurity. For myfelf, I can fay, that not a day paffes in which I have not offers from perfons in every quarter defirous of uniting in de4T 2

fence

fence of the country. With all this accumulation of naval and military force, it may be naturally asked, what have we to dread? and what neceffity is there for additional measures of precaution? I am ready to fay, that with fuch a navy, and fuch an army, I fhould have felt difpofed to have ftated to the House, that the country had nothing to fear, and that we might have refted fecure from the attacks of any enemy; but at the fame time that I fel fo convinced of the fufficiency of our strength, I fhould think that neither the Legislative nor the Executive Government of the country would do their duty, if they did not afford the people the means of exerting their zeal to the most advantage, and of coming forward in a manner most likely to be beneficial to the country. This then is the object of the measure which I have the honour to fubmit to the House. I am fatisfied that, in case of emergency, the feeling of the country, and that generous ardour by which the people are actuated, would fufficiently be manifested, if left to its own operation; but, on the other hand, the House will go with me in the opinion that that zeal and spirit which fo much to the honour of the country exift, fhould be reduced to a fyftem, that when the people are called forth to exertions in the cause of the country, they may act with regularity; that in place of that confufion which muft naturally be the confequence of an alarm of an approaching or invading enemy, every man defiring to come forward to repel that enemy may know the part he is called upon to act, that no one may be at a loss as to the fervice which he may individually be required to perform: every one will agree with me, that fuch a direction of the zeal and fpirit of the country would not only tend to produce a much greater armed force, but would add tenfold to its vigour. Such are the grounds of the measure; the House will perceive that it is founded on the general feelings of the people of the country, and the neceffity that their zeal and fpirit should be directed to the utmost advantage, in cafe their exertions are required.

"For fuch a measure there are many reafons which might be urged, but this alone will be fufficient. We are, and the people of this country feel it, fighting for the deepest ftake that was ever at hazard with a nation. From the first moment of the French Revolution, it was ftated by fome, because it was foreseen by them, that the principles of that Revolution were not only hoftile to the happinefs of the people of this country; but alfo inimical to the intereft of every other country in Europe. We foon afterwards faw the fedition it produced in this kingdom, and we faw that fedition triumphantly encouraged at the bar of the National Affembly of France.

This was only a preparatory step to the intended overthrow of the Conftitution of this Country; which was happily fruftrated by timely efforts among ourselves, and the defigns of the enemy in that particular appeared to be abandoned; whether that was putting on an appearance to lull us into a fatal fecurity, in order to take it up at a more favourable opportunity, or they thought it hopeless, is a point on which there may be fome doubt be that as it may, it is not now worth while to examine. I fhall not now take notice of the proceedings which took place in confequence of this fedition both in and out of Parliament, they are remembered by most of us. It is fufficient for my prefent purpose that I am fpeaking the fentiments of mankind in general, when I fay that this country is at this moment contending for its exiftence, and therefore the zeal of which I have been fpeaking is easily accounted for. It is a zeal that is confiftent with the British character, a character diftinguished in hiftory for its courage and firmnefs in the hour of danger, and whofe fortitude rifes in proportion to the emergency of the country.

"Sir, the general purport of the Bill is confined to two or three objects; it does not go further than what has already been adopted in many of the larger counties. In the county of Dorfet, in particular, individuals have come forward in a manner fimilar to what it is propofed they fhould by this Bill. Many meafures of defence against the enemy have been taken. The Sheriff of the County has come forward at the head of the poffe comitatus; but whatever advantage may be derived from fuch bodies of men so called forth in the counties or larger districts, it ftill may be a doubt whether the duties required of a Sheriff at the head of the poffe of a county are not fomewhat unconnected with thofe duties required of him as Sheriff. Many other measures of a fimilar nature have been carried into execution under the authority of Lord Lieutenants of Counties; yet it may alfo admit of a doubt, whether even their powers are fully adequate to embrace all the objects neceffary to attend to, and to which the prefent Bill is meant to extend. The object of the Bill is to have the power of knowing, in cafe of emergency, who are ready to appear in arms, in order to co-operate with the exifting power of the county, and to enable those who are fo inclined, to be put into that fituation which may be most anfwerable to giving effect to their inclinations. It is further intended to give Government legal power to investigate what force is in the country competent to act in the shape of pioneers, drivers of waggons, or to perform the various other services which are connected with the operations of an army. One great provifion of the Bill will be to make compensation to thofe

who

who fhall fuffer by the attempts of the enemy, and the meafures taken to refift them, and in order that no perfon may be induced to withdraw his ftock from the general fervice of the country, or may fuffer from any part of his flock being deftroyed by the enemy, or appropriated by the country; for this purpurpofe the provifions of the Bill go to render indemnification certain, either where property is applied to the fervice of our own country, or is deftroyed in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy.

"It must occur to every one that, in the profpect of an invafion, it will become neceffary, in particular districts, though it is impoffible to point where at prefent, to erect covers for batteries, and to raife works in critical fituations, where the ope rations of the enemy are most likely to be directed; for this purpose it may be found neceffary that pieces of ground fhould be appropriated for fuch erections; but if it is expedient to check the attempts of the enemy by fuch means, it is no less so that it fhould be fully understood that complete indemnification will be made, and that no man will fuffer by any aid which he may contribute to the public fervice.

"There are other circumstances proper to be adverted to by the provisions of the Bill. It may be neceffary to remove the property of the inhabitants of villages, who may be employed in arms for the defence of the county, or as pioneers, and to carry off their stock, in order to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. It may occur that much cruelty and much inhumanity would be exercifed, if at the time the able-bodied men were employed in the field, fome provifion was not made for the infants and aged who would be left unprotected: to thofe cafes the Bill will apply. The general object of it will be to give the Lord Lieutenants of counties every neceffary aid, for enabling them to embody thofe who may be prompted to come forward, as they now have with regard to embodying the general militia of the county. By this means, Sir, I trust that not only the whole fpirit of the country will be animated and invigorated, and be fully equal to any exertions which the enemy may be able to make, by which you will prove, that, while other nations are falling to ruin, you ftand in the middle of the ocean, fearlefs and impregnable; by which you will prove that, amidft the wreck of furrounding nations, there is one fpot upon the face of the globe, which, however affailed, is yet invulnerable.

But to this Bill may be objected the danger of entrusting weapons indifcriminately to all defcriptions of perfons. As to men taking arms in their hands, and afterwards ufing them as they think proper, I am ready to fubfcribe to the opinion, if it appliès

generally;

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