this moment were agents employed by go- your valuable Weekly Register.-In conse- rits. The Hottentots, lately brought to England by the Missionaries, had been invited upon the occasion, and were seated in the reading desk to the left of the pulpit.-The service commenced by singing the 100th Psalm. The curate then read a chapter out of Deuteronomy and Ephesians. The Vo "God save the King! Mr. Hill hen went to prayer; and another hymn was afterwards sung. Mr. Hill then took his text from the 20th Psalm, and 7th and 8th verses.--The Rev. Gentleman commenced his discourse with a very excellent and appropriate panegyric on the patriotic conduct of the Voluateers, in gallantly standing forward in the defence of their country. Under the second head, he spoke in very high terms of the excellence of the government of this country, and then compared this government with that of France. He concluded with obser vations on his text, as applicable to the present times: told the Volunteers of the goodness of their cause, and desired them to trust to God for success.--After the sermon, a hymn was sung to the tune of "Rule Bri"tannia!" the words were by Mr. Hill; they are a parody on those of that admirable song beginning thus: "When Jesus first at Heaven's command." The hymn was sung by about five thousand persons, assembled in the Chapel, accompanied by a very powerful organ, which had a surprising and grand effect. Mr. Sheridan was observed to join in the chorus with peculiar fervency. The heat was so excessive, that several of the Volunteers were obliged to retire from indisposition. An alarm was raised on one of the staircases, that the gallery was falling, when numbers ran out, and had this reached the inside of the chapel the most serious consequences must have ensued.Several thousand Volunteers, as well as others, remained on the outside of the chapel during the whole time of divine service. After the service was over, Mr. Sheridan was conducted to the vestry room, where, together with the Reverend Preacher and the Hottentots, he partook of some refreshments, and continued for some time in close conversation with those interesting strangers. He explained to them, by their interpreter, the nature of the Volunteer system, which met with their cordial approbation. He afterwards put to them some close questions as to their religious experiences, which they answered in a manner much to his satisfaction.--So great was the anxiety of the relations of the Volunteers, to behold the Honourable Senator who had so generously stepped forward to move the thanks of the House of Commons in their behalf, that several thousands remained in the Surrey Road for more than two hours after the chapel was closed; and Mr. Sheridan, understanding that it was their intention to chair him, was at last obliged to borrow the wig and cassock of the Reverend Preacher, by which means he made his way through the populace, without being discovered. I remain, Sir, your humble Servant, JOHN SMITH. Union Street, Dec. 7, 1803. TO THE PUBLIC. The correspondence between his Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, hisRoyal Highness the Duke of York, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having appeared in the other public prints, some surprize may, perhaps, be excited at its not appearing in the Political Register; but, when reflection shall have taken place of curiosity, I trust, that there will be found but very few of my Readers, who will dis approve of the omission. A correspond ence between the Prince and the Minister I should have thought myself at full liberty to publish, and also to comment on; but, from publishing the letters, which are here alluded to, I am with-held by all the notions which I entertain of the Royal character, and by all the principles which have hitherto been the guide of my public conduct. There may, however, be some persons, who will be disappointed at not seeing the correspond. ence in the Political Register, and who will, perhaps,deny,that, after its appearance in every other periodical work, it ought to be excluded from mine. If this opinion should operate to the prejudice of my labours in general, I shall be sorry; if it should injure the cause which I have espoused, I shall still more sorely lament; but, neither this consideration, nor any other, shall induce me, either now or at any future period, to be instrumental in communicating to the world, or in putting upon record, the documents in question; and my further resolution is, never to make, or to admit into my work, any comment on or allusion to them; a resolution which heen dictated by that profound respect and veneration which I entertain tcwards all the Royal Persons concerned, and particularly towards my Sovereign, to whom I am bound by the ties of affection, gratitude, and allegiance, and whose sacred office and person God has commanded me to ho nour. NOTIFICATIONS. Several articles, intended for insertion this week, are unavoidably postponed, till next. Amongst others the article respecting the OXFORD Volun teers, which was omitted last week owing to a mistake arising from the mode of conveyance. The Analytical and Comparative View of the Pamphlets relative to Messrs. Addington and Pitt was too long to be inserted entire in this sheet. That article, therefore, together with some remarks on the conduct of ministers with regard to Ireland, and on the accounts lately presented to parliament, will appear in a double sheet next week. The second No. of Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates is published this day, and is sold by all those persons who sell the Register-Gentlemen who wish to have this work sent to the country, are re spectfully reminded, that it has no stamp, and cannot be sent post free; and that it must be obtain ed in the way as Magazines and Reviews are. Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Bow Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Pall-Mall. London, Saturday, 17th December, 1803. VOL. IV. No. 24.] [Price 10D "I am confounded when I look at the probable consequences of this measure" [Restriction on the Bank]. "It will be dreadful, indeed, if these notes, instead of money, should become assignats; "and i fear it will be so. Paper is only a good thing while we have the means of converting it into "cash. We shall not long be able, after the inundation of paper to which this system gives birth, "to stop Ministers from making Bank Notes a legal tender, and then, adieu to the appearance of "specie at the Bank, and soon afterwards to the real value of the Bank Note!-I may be blamed at "such an awful crisis for speaking so plainly; but plain dealing is now the only method to recover "Public Credit."-MR. SHERIDAN'S SPEECH, MARCH 1, 1797. 833] TO THE EDITOR. Gredington, Dec. 12, 1803. SIR,-Having before troubled you under the signature of Cambricus, on account of the apparently wilful attack on my most honoured father's memory, I think it right to trouble you to insert this, to state my perfect satisfaction at the amends, which, for his own character's sake, and that of the public, I am happy to see a writer of such powers and zeal as Juverna has so handsomely made. On that point alone I will trouble you; and am glad to use the oppo:tunity of signing myself your sincere admirer and humble servant, TO THE EDITOR. ΚΕΝΥΟΝ. Duraveston Street, Dec. 12, 1803. SIR,-As I am well convinced that you have the good of his Majesty's service most sincerely at heart, and that you would not willingly, without cause, wound the feelings of military men, I take the liberty of offering my mice towards rescuing the Inspecting Field Officers of the recruiting service from any ill effects which the remarks of Marcellus might occasion; and I do this with considerable confidence, from having been a constant reader of your opinions from the first introduction of the Political Register. Marcellus must be ignorant, that the Inspecting Field Officers act under the following regulations, viz. Men for the light cavalry must be five feet seven inches, and not more than twenty-five years of age; Boys for the same service must be five feet five, and under eighteen years of age. -It is in the power of every commanding officer of a regiment to reject all recruits under size or above age; in which case the Inspecting Field Officer is liable to the whole charge for bounty and subsistence, should his Royal Highness the Commauder in Chief confirm the opinion of the commanding oficer of the regiment. Marcellus seems pet to be aware, that in [S34 consequence of foreign service, some latitude is allowable in recruiting for the infantry, viz. older men for the West and younger for the East-Indies, which measure has been fully justified by experience; for which reason it sometimes happens, that recruits who have been rejected for the cavalry, as being too old, too young, or under size, are permitted to enlist for general service without quitting the Field Officer's office.As it would be highly improper in me, for very obvious reasons, to urge any thing in answer to Marcellus's assertion, that those Field Officers are, almost without any exception, taken from the infantry; I shall only observe, that the infantry halfpay list is, at least, thirty times greater than that of the cavalry; and as the inspection of recruits for the latter service is so plain, there can be no particular reason why a Cavalry Officer should be placed in the command of a district, in preference to one from the infantry, who, in general pos sess more experience, from greater length and variety of service.There is, at this time, a recruiting party from almost every light cavalry regiment stationed in London. I have no hesitation in referring Marcellus to any one of those officers for information as to the manner in which my duty is performed, and I am confident that my brother Field Officers can, with equal truth, exculpate themselves from any charge of partiality and caprice in the execution of their important duty.I have the honour to subscribe myself, Sir, your obedient humble servant, F. P. ROBINSON, Inspecting Field Officer, London District. TO THE EDITOR. London, Dec. 13, 1803. SIR,I am a constant reader of your Register, and have always perfectly ac quiesced in your remarks and observations on the Volunteers, though I myself have the honour of belonging to such a corps. -The debates of lat night are now before me, and I can with satety corroborate Mr. Windham's assertions respecting the Volunteers, and particularly as far as regards their Committees, which, in too many instances, shew the impolicy and folly of the institution, as far as relates to all mili tary affairs.. How is it possible that hair dressers, taylors, shoe-makers, pastry-cooks, and such people, should be able to judge of the merits or demerits of officers? In some corps, however, the regulation of the seniority of the officers, elected by the corps, has been entirely left to such a committee, who, I may say, have decided by partiality for old customers, or in favour of the purse, instead of fitness for the station. Indeed, from the most undoubted authority, I may further add, that in one corps, which carries its plumes very loftily, and which, from its strength, title and respectability, ought to be ranked among the first, there are several experienced officers, who have served in various situations on foreign stations, for many years, and who are still in their prime, that have, as Volunteers, been placed the juniors of their rank, and this by a Committee; because the heads of the corps were tearful that, by doing their duty, they might offend the weighty gentlemen, or lose their popularity in the corps, which, it is much to be lamented, appears in all matters, a principal consideration.—When the gentlemen privates of the Volunteers exclaim: "let us have none for officers who can't give us good dinners;" how can it be expected that such people can ever become disciplined; and particularly when the corps have chosen their field of ficers by that rule? Men who, in private life, may be respectable merchants, and good members of society (judging alone by their income), but who have not, nor ever can attain a military idea, and who cannot even give the word to fire a volley with propriety. I entirely agree with M. Pitt, that, if any good is to be expected from Volunteer Corps, it must be by giving them a head; a field officer who merits, and will command attention and respect, a man to whom the officers and privates can look up with confidence, as able to conduct them upon all occasions; not one who requires an adjutant or serjeant-major at his ear, before he can even direct the men to shoulder their arms.You, Mr. Cobbett, well know, that it is the commanding officer, on whom every thing chiefly depends; that the best battalion in the service will, by in unlucky change of its head, soon be come the worst; and vice versa. How Merely as literary performances, these pamphlets are by no means entitled to particular attention; but, as developing the party views of the late and of the present minister, as discovering some of those secret wheels on which the interests and honour of the nation are made to turn, they are of great public importance. Such being their nature and use, it is evident, that soine explanation as to their origin ought to precede an examination of the facts and arguments advanced in them. That the Cursory Remarks could not be written without information, received, either directly or indirectly, from Mr. Addington, is pretty certain; because they state the very words of conversations, which took place between Mr. Addington and Mr. Pitt only. The author of this pamphlet is a Mr. Bentley; or, at least, the proof sheets were car ried from the bookseller's to Mr. Bentley, by whom, after their being corrected, they were sent back to the bookseller's. It is said, that Mr. Sarjeant, one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, carried the mate rials from the minister 10 Mr. Bentley: for the truth of this fact, I will not answer: indeed I know nothing at all about it; but, I do know, that, on the 15th of October last, the Treasury had purchased seven hundred and fifty copies of the work, five hundred of which were cut close to the print, in order to render them more convenient for conveyance by post. These facts make Mr. Addington a party to the Cursory Remarks: they do, indeed, make him answerable for every word of that pamphlet, as fully, to all intents and purposes, as if he himself had been the author, with his name inserted in the title-page. 837] DECEMBER 17, 18031 The Plain Answer, as evidently, comes, if not from under the hand, at least, from under the eye, of Mr. Pitt. It is generally attributed to Mr. Long; but some persons give it to a Mr. Hunter, a relation of Lord Mulgrave's. For my own part, I believe it to be Mr. Long's; but, this is a matter of little consequence, seeing that it is next to impossible, that it should have been written, without the consent, and even without the aid, of Mr. Pitt.--Here, then, these two gentlemen are fairly before the public: Mr. Addington the accuser of Mr. l'itt, who appears as the defender of himself, and, in his turn, the accuser of Mr. Addington. To assist the public in making a just decision between them is my principal object, in the course of this view, and to that I should solely have confined myself, had they not introduced other political characters, with respect to whom it will be necessary to make some few remarks, The grounds of the attack, made by the Near Observer, "on Mr. Pitt, Lord Gren 6. ville, and Mr. Windham," are thus stated, by the Accurate Observer: "the time, the manner, and the occasion, of their quitting their official situations; the promise "given and withdrawn, of constant, ac❝tive, and zealous, support; the circum"stances of the negotiation for the return " of Mr. Fitt to office; and the general "conduct of these persons in Parliament.' But these grounds are not fairly stated. The Near Observer does, indeed, attack all three of these gentlemen on the ground of their quitting office, and on that of their pariiamentary conduct since; but Lord Grenville is not implicated in the charge relative to the negotiation for Mr. Pitt's return to of fice, and Mr. Windham is included, neither in that charge, nor in the charge of having given a promise of "constant, active, and zealous support," or, of support of any kind. We shall, however, as we proceed, observe many instances, in which this more Accurate Observer is extremely anxious to place Mr. Fitt in company, wherever he finds that gentleman in circumstances which show him to the least advantage; and, to this anxiety alone must be ascribed his including under one head, the conduct in Parliament of Mr. Pitt, and that of Lord Grenville and Mr. Windham. A more fair, clear, and natural division of the subject would. I think, have been that which I here propose to pursue; to wit: I. The time, the manner, and the occasion, of the late ministry quitting their official situations. II. The promise, said to have been made by Mr. Pitt and Lord Grenville, to give to Mr. Addington their [838 constant, active, and zealous support. III. I. The time, the manner, and the occasion, On this topic, the Near Observer states, that, at the time when the late ministry quitted hss Majesty's council, the nation was fatigued and discouraged by the length and events of the war, and was deserted by every useful ally; that France had subdued the whole of the Continent of Europe, except Austria, Prussia, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden, the three latter of which powers were arming against our maritime rights, and calling on us to wage a new war, while the attitude of our old enemy became every day more formidable to us, even upon our own shores; that the artifices of party, and the unhappy success of so many expensive expeditions had entirely indisposed the country towards offensive operations, and that the mistakes and misfortunes in several instances, but particular in that of the annulling of the treaty of El-Arich had caused the highest distrust and dissatisfaction as to the conduct of the war, and the capacity of the persons entrusted with it; that an expedition was, indeed, prepared for retrieving our error in Egypt, and a fleet to assist our negotiations with the Northern Powers, but that no ministers could have been sanguine enough to expect their success, because that a British fleet had cnce before been sent to Copenhagen to embolden Lord Whitworth to sign a treaty of adjournment, at the expense of some implied and virtual concessions, which, in happier times, could never have been extorted from a British Cabinet, and because, as to Egypt, though it pleased Providence to bless his Majesty's arms with glorious success, it is impossible to deny the total incompetency of that expedition to its object, or to think that it deserved, or could have been crowned with victory according to human computation and probability. "In this complicated predicament," says he, "of evil and despondency, with every part "of Europe hostile to our interests, and preparing to annoy us; without a distinct "end or remaining object in the war; our 66 expeditions hopeless; our enemy flush d "with insolence and success, and galled ty "recent insult and repulse; what hope or "faint speculation of pea e remained, what part of our affairs appeared retric vabe? "I appeal to the memory of all the country |