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done his duty in putting the Houfe fairly to it-it had been too truly faid, that to defire the Houfe to make this provifion for the Prince by a reduction of ufeless places, would be to cheat themfelves: He could not charge them with fuch folly.

The House then divided on the motion to adjourn :

Ayes
Noes

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The Houfe adjourned at two o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Jovis, 28 Die Maii 1795.

PROTEST.

Motion being made and question read, That "a Bill intituled, An Act for augmenting the royal corps of artillery, and providing feafaring men for the fervice of the navy, out of the private men now ferving in the militia, &c. &c." be now read a fecond time;

"DISSENTIENT,

"I. Because the honourable footing upon which the militia was established, and has hitherto fubfifted, is, as far as relates to the augmenting the royal artillery, undermined by this Bill, inafmuch as it makes the militia a fund for the fupply, and a drill for the accommodation of another corps; inasmuch as it reduces this conftitutional force below the numbers covenanted by the country to be always kept complete; and inafmuch as it fupplies the deficiencies it creates, not in the regular and creditable manner by which the militia is conftitutionally to be fupplied, and fupplied to a certainty, but by means, uncertain in their operation, by which it is conftitutionally provided, in exprefs terms, that it fhall not be fupplied.

II. Becaufe upon the allegation of the prefent conjuncture, it eftablishes this meafure without any exprefs period to its duration, and without any claufe against the precedent.

"III. Because at a moment when the temper of the times, and our perfonal knowledge of late events in fome corps, feem particularly to recommend a vigilance in the prefervation of difcipline and fubordination, this Bill, in a most extraordinary and unprecedented manner, relaxes the authority of

the

1

the commanding officers over the objects of it, by fuggefting to the latter a method which at any time, and on any motive, • entitles them to their difcharge.'

"IV. Because the feveral circumftances of disappointment as to the ftrength of their regiments, and of degradation by the involuntary removal of their felected and most instructed men, by the replacing of them in a lefs certain and lefs creditable manner, and by converting the regiments into a recruiting fund for another corps, form an impolitic and undeferved return to fuch militia officers (and it has been admitted in the debates on this Bill that there are many fuch) as have merit with the Public. And

"I conceive it the more neceffary to mark my difapprobation, and exprefs my apprehenfion of the confequences of this innovation, as I know the militia contains a fund for recruiting, not only the artillery, but every other corps in his Majesty's fervice, much too good not to be ardently coveted, and (however the intention be difclaimed at prefent) I fear reforted to (as I am fure it may be upon the fame reafoning), when Parliament fhall have once notified the principle of making the militia fubfervient to the efficiency of other corps.

"RADNOR."

APPEN

APPENDIX.

VOL. III.

3 U

CONTAINING

TREATIES, STATE PAPERS, PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS, AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS, &c.

CONVENTION

Between his Britannic Majefty and the Emperor of Germany. Signed at Vienna, the 4th of May 1795.

L'EMPEREUR, et le Roi de la Grande Bretagne, étant également convaincus de la neceffité d'agir avec vigueur et energie contre l'ennemi commun, afin de procurer à leurs etats refpectifs une paix fûre et honorable, et de préferver l'Europe du danger dont elle eft menacée, leurs Majeftés Imperiale et Britannique ont jugé à-propos de s'entendre entr' elles fur les mefures à adopter pour la campagne prochaine, et de fe concerter à cet effet fur telles ftipulations, qui puiffent le mieux contribuer au but falutaire de leurs intentions ci-deffus mentionnées. C'est dans cette vue, que leurs Majeftés ent nommé leurs Plenipotentiaires respectifs; fçavoir, fa Majesté Imperiale, fon Conseiller intime actuel, et Miniftre des Affaires Etrangeres, Baron de Thugut, Commandeur de l'Ordre de St. Etienne; et fa Majefté Britannique, le Chevalier Mor. ton Eden, Confeiller Privé de fa Majefté, Chevalier de l'Ordre du Bain, Envoyé Extraordinaire et Miniftre Plenipotentiaire de fa dite Majefté auprès de la Cour de Vienne : Lefquels, après s'être communiqués leurs pleinpouvoirs refpectifs, iont convenus des articles fuivans.

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THE Emperor, and the King of

Great Britain, being equally convinced of the neceffity of acting with vigour and energy against the common enemy, in order to procure to their respective dominions a fafe and honourable peace, an to preferve Europe from the danger with which it is threatened, their Imperial and Britannic Majefties have thought proper to concert together upon the measures to be adopted for the next campaign, and to agree, for this purbeft pofe, on fuch ftipulations as may conduce to the falutary object of their intentions already mentioned. With this view, their Majesties have appointed their respective Plenipotentiaries; that is to fay, his Imperial Majesty, his Privy Councillor actual, and Minifter for Foreign Affairs, Baron de Thugut, Commander of the Order of St. Stephen; and his Britannic Majesty, Sir Morton Eden, Knight of the Bath, one of his Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and his Envoy Extraordinary and Minifter Plenipotentiary at the Court of Vienna: Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles.

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