VOL. IV. No. 6.]

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INQUISITOR. Letter VI.

July 30, 1803. DEAR SIR,- -I know not whether, notwithstanding the expressions you have used to me about them, you may not have found my letters so multiplied in number, and so large in size, as to render me rather a fatiguing correspondent. I rely, however, on your kindness, and hope you will excuse my being a little carried away by my subject; particularly as that subject has been nothing less than the defence of these kingdoms against the attacks of jacobin, regicide, France. I was first excited to take up the pen in order to give you some account of the measures adopted by government for the defence of the country, by bringing in the Army of Reserve Bill. My first letter, accordingly,

contained some strictures on that measure; my second, detailed the alterations and improvements which it received as it passed through Parliament. Having thus commenced, I was led on to consider a little the wisdom and policy of the defensive system as now adopted by ministers; and then to detail the plan of offence, which I, in such a case as the present, would recommend to be adopted. Perhaps my subject seems naturally to close at this place. I cannot, however, allow myself, after troubling you so much, to release you without saying a word or two more on the subject of the defensive system adopted by ministers; and, as far as I can judge, ap. proved of by the country, And I do this the rather, as I hear buzzing all around me, exaltations and congratulations at the spirit of the people, now roused and manifested. People every where now tell you, that Englishmen have at last been roused to a sense of their danger, have a full conviction of the hostile designs of the enemy, and a proper hatred and detestation for him; and that, in consequence, they are every where rising in arms; to do what? Why; to resist his at

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tacks, and to defend themselves. I remember having somewhere read a story of a Spartan General distinguished for his courage, who happened to seize a mouse; the little animal by way of resistance, bit the General's finger, who smarting from the pain, opened his hand and released the mouse, observing, "there was no animal, however

"

insignificant, to whom nature had not given the means of defending itself, if it " chose to use them." I really think this little anecdote is a pretty exact prototype of our present situation. By the Spartan General is represented the ruler of jacobin France: by the mouse, the people of this country; who, after having tried every possible shift and contrivance to avoid the hostility of France, when there is no possibility of doing so, and there is an imminent probability of an immediate attack at home, are willing to whet their swords in order to give the invader a smart bite, which will compel him to retreat. The only thing assumed is the success of the plan. For my own part, I do not think it quite so clear, that if we once allow our enemy to reach us, he will be so easily compelled to let go his hold. But granting that point, the instance is correct. The comparative size, power, and unjust invasions of the rights of the mouse on the one hand; on the other, the meekness, timidity, and attempts to avoid and conceal itself, and at length, when nothing else would do, the amazing spirit and courage plucked up, and the tremendous wound inflicted: all this is correct; and I dare say, our spirited heroes, who are so gallantly coming forward for bome defence, are all ready to exclaim, at the atrocious perfidy of this bullying general, and the wonderful and successful spirit of the mouse. I certainly shall be very sorry to impair the sensations of internal satisfaction which these gentlemen may feel at the display of their own courage, as exemplified by this antient sto

y; but for the sake of my country, I must tell them, that neither in the behaviour of themselves, or of their prototype, do I see, any more than the Spartan General did, any great appearance of courage or spirit. I think the story is in Enfield's Extracts, a book which was given me a good many years ago, when I was at school, and, which I have not now by me; but, those of my readers who have it, may refer to the anecdote and see, whether or not I have truly given the exclamation of the wounded general. He did not cry out, (as we are expecting Buonaparté to do) "What a brave "spirited mouse!" No, his exclamation was, "there is no animal, however insignifi"cant, to whom nature has not given the "means of defending itself, if it chose to ઃઃ use them." Thus too, i think our conduct, if successful, may be a good example, that no country, any more than any individual, is left without the means of defending itself; but that is by no means a proof either of spirit or of courage. For after all what is it, nothing more or less than this; we say,

Here is an enemy, in designs most viru"lent against us, in power most formidable, and whose dominion, if he is successful, "will be the most grievous calamity. Not a passing calamity of which we may hope soon to see an end, but an eternal slavery accompanied with every aggravation which can accompany loss of freedom, of "property, and independence. We will do

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our utmost to prevent and avert this hor"rible destruction; we will be well armed,

and well prepared; and, whenever the enemy comes, we will do our best to re“ sist." So did the mouse; it bit the general and escaped. It wished to avoid his destructive grasp, and perhaps, the tortures which were preparing for it; we do the same, we know how horrible those tortures will be; our wives and children ravished and murdered before our eyes, our houses pillaged, our churches ransacked and defiled, our persons exposed to torments and to death, and we naturally must resist the attacks of those who are preparing all these things for us. To neglect doing so, would not show so much a want of courage, as an absolute want of sense, and an imbecility of mind. There is no one so fearful of pain, as not to be willing to submit to have a tooth pulled out, in order to avoid the pains of tooth-ache. There is no coward who will not fight, rather than be put to death at once. On these grounds, though I am very willing to allow those gallant yolunteers for bome defence all the merit of a proper sense of the danger and of the calamities of French

dominion, I cannot admit, that as yet by their conduct, they have made any demonstration of extraordinary courage and spirit. I shal!, doubtless, be asked, in what case I could allow that the country did display these qualities. Why, I should allow it, when I see men upon due consideration of all the calamities which even an unsuccessful invasion by a French army would bring upon the country, of the desirableness of preventing such an attempt, and of a proper horror at the idea of even suffering a French army to put its foot on British land, rising in great numbers, and offering their services to go and destroy the enemy in his own lurking holes. When every parish turns out a company of volunteers for general service, then I shall admit, and no one will be more ready to perceive, or more hap py to admit it, that this country does dis play a spirit worthy of itself, and adequate to its dangers.There is one thing, in which, I think, I may however unwillingly, have the appearance of speaking unfairly of the country; and that is, when I speak of its not making any display of courage or of spirit. Certainly I do not mean to say now, that it does make such a display; but the blame is not, I think, so much to be attributed to the disposition of the country, as to the ru lers of it. I do not exempt it altogether from blame; by no means; but I think, that even if there had been a much greater portion of it in the country, than I believe to exist, the measures of administration have been such, as not only not to call it forth, and to give it activity and vigour, but, actually to weigh it down and to prevent its manifesting itself. That government have a prodigious influence on the popular mind, is, I think, perfectly undeniable, and perfectly proper. A notorious instance of its force was displayed by the great cry raised in favour of the Treaty of Amiens. All that influence

p'e.

has now been exerted to damp the ardour and check the spirit of the people If any one expressed a high sense of the danger, and called on the government and the country to act in consequence, the danger to that ex ent was denied. If any measure was proposed adequate to the emergency, the person so proposing was ridiculed as desponding, and blamed as endesvouring to dispirit the country. The object of all these ticks and manoeuvres will be readily understood after you have read the conclusion of my last letter. The effect has been in the first instance (what was desired) to leave the present ministers in quiet possession of their places, and of their heads; in the second place, to reduce the country

Circular Letter from the Admiralty to the Commander of Fencible districts, &c.

To the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Sus.ex.

Airess from the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex to the Nobity, Gentlemen, and other Inhabitants of the County. In obedience to the directions of the foregoing letter, and of the Act of Parliament therein reterred to, I lose no time in most earnestly recom. ending to the Nobility and Gentlemen of the County of Sussex, to promote offers for raising Volunteer Corps, in all places where they can be formed, upon such conditions as his Majesty shall approve, such arrangement being calculated to Concentrate the force, to promote the convenience of the public, and to render it unnecessary to have recourse to the compulsory clauses of the Act. These Corps furnishing as much as possible their own arms, or such as the zeal and public spirit of their neighbours having in their possession such as may be fit for this purpose, may supply them wath, twenty-five firelocks being considered sufficient by Government, in the first instance, for drilling one hundred men, and as it is deemed inexpedient to establish a voluntary force to the extent now proposed, upon the allowances specified in the printed regulations that were transmitted in the course of this year, it is on the liberality and public spirit of the County that I must, and do, confidently rely, for such offers of service as ! shall have to submit for his Majesty's acceptance.

I am forthwith directed, and request from the zeal of the inhabitants, a return of such arms (fit for Volunteer Corps) as may be in their posseston, in order that, with their consent they may for a time be applied to the service of the country. They will be pleased to send such returns to Mr. William Ellis, at Horsham, the Clerk of the General Meetings of the Lieutenancy. We have every reason to be thankful for this Act, referred to in the above letter, which, with a just attenon to public economy and without taking individuals from their necessary avocations, or subjerting them to further burthens, is so well calcuJated to repel invasion, tho' ever so powerful, by arming the whole people in their own defence, and perfectly sensible, as is expressed in the above letter, that the effect of this Act must in a great degree depend upon the activity and exertion which are applied in carrying the provisions of it into execution. I am persuaded with his Majesty's Government, that, in a conjuncture like the preseat, I shall experience the most zealous co operation and assistance from the gentlemen of this county, as well as from individuals of every description I have only to add, that no effort that I may remain capable of, shall ever he wanting to give effect to the zeal and exertions of this County, or to assist in any way in which I can hope to be useful for its defence, in conformity to those sentiments which have lately been so fully expressed in the dutiful and unanimous address of this county to his Majesty, on the present state of the country.I have the honour to be, &c. &c. RICHMOND, &c.

Whitehall, August 2, 1203.

Admiralty-Office, August 6, 1803. SIR,My Lords Commissioners of the Ad. mitaly being desirous of obtaining the best pos sible information respecting the Coasts of this Kingdom. I have it in command from their Lordskips to signify their direction to you, to proceed along that part of the coast within the limits of the district under your command, and, having made a careful examination thereof, to lose no time in transmitting to me, for their Lordships' information, a particular and circumstantial accoun: of such situations as may appear to you to b: most exposed to the landing of an enemy-the dif ficulty or easiness of access thereto-with your remarks upon the winds which may occasion more or less surf upon that part of the coast-and also, with what winds, and in what place or places, a landing may be effected by boats, with the tide most suitable for that purpose. You are, at the same time, to point out such parts of the coast within your district as may be rendered by nature difficult of approach; and to make such other observations relative to the Creeks and Rivers, within the said limits, as may be necessary for their Lordships' information.

I am. Sir, &c. &c.
Captain Commanding the Fencible
District, Cc. &c.

CIRCULAR.-Downing-Street, Aug. 3, 1803. MY LORD, -In my letter of the oth ult. I signi fied to your grace the opinion of His Majesty's confidential servants, that it would be inexpedient to establish a volunteer force to the extent proposed under the Act of the 430 of the KING, cap. 95, upon the allowances specified in the printed regulations; and although in many instances the persons forming new corps have intimated their intention of putting the government to no expense, it could not be expected, however liberal and public-spirited the disposition of individuals may be, that such an arrangement would become general-I am, therefore, in obedience to His Majesty's commands, to acquaint your grace, that volunteer corps of Infantry, to be established in conformity to the provisions of the before recited act, will be at liberty to draw the following allowances:--Twenty shillings per man for clothing once in every three years, and one shilling per day for twenty days exercise within the year; provided such an allowance be not drawn for any exercise on a Sunday, nor for any man exercising on a week day, who shall not also have been trained on the preceding Sunday, unless prevented by illness, or such other cause as shal be deemed satisfactory by the commanding officer of the corps, and certified accordingly.—In addition to these allowances your grace will observe, that every person belonging to the respective corps raised under the said act, will be entitled, if called out into actual service, to the several sums specified in the 59th and 60th clauses thereof-The necessity of the earliest attention being given to the training and exercise is so generally felt, that I am persuaded your grace's instructions for that purpose will have their due weight, and that they will be framed with a proper regard, as far as is consistent with the urgency of the present conjuncture, to local circumstances, and to the course of industry and cultivation within the county of Sussex. am further to acquaint your grace,

that no allowance will be made for clothing and appointments to any persons who may, from this time, enter into the yeomanry corps; but as by the 31st clause of the act it is provided, that any person who shall repair on horseback, properly mounted, armed and accoutred, at his own expence, may serve in any regiment or corps of cavalry, and shall not be con pelled to serve in any regiment or corps of infantry, I am to signify His Majesty's pleasure, that the corps of yeo. manry already established should be permitted to receive individuals so mounted, armed and accoutred, into their several corps, or that seperate corps of yeomanry may be formed of the persons to willing to serve, provided that no additional charge, under the head of contingencies, is brought upon government beyond that which is au horised by he existing regulations.-I have the honour to be, &c. HOBART.

INTELLIGENCE.

FOREIGN. Early in last February a great battle was fought, in the East, between the army of the King of Cochin China, and that of the King of Tonquin. The action continued for three days, and, after the slaughter of 20,000 men, terminated in favour of the King of Tonquin. The King of Cochin China is supported by the Emperor: and the King of Burmah, having assembled a large force, sent a deputation to Langione to induce the King of Laos to join the league against the Cochin Chinese. Mana Ibrahim, the Turkish robber, whose appearance on the frontiers of Wallachia had spread such terror throughout the province, has been attacked in his rear by Sarpenik Oglou, a rival bandit, and been compelled to retire into Moldavia.-The new French Envoy, Cardinal and Archbishop Fesch, arrived at Rome on the 1st of last month; and a public consistory was held on the 7th, when he took the customary cath as Cardinal, and received, from the hands of the Pope, the symbols of his dignity. A squadron is fitting out, at Venice, to protect the Austrian trade in the Adriatic, against the pirates who infest that sea.-M. Karpoff late secretary of legation to the Russian embassy at the Court of the King of Sardinia, has departed for Naples, where he will reside as Chargé d'Affaires in behalf of the Emperor.-A very general impressment of men, for both the land and sea services, has been made throughout the kingdom of Spain.-The First Consul is now on his return to Paris, where, it is thought, he will remain but short time; and then set out on a tour to Brittany.-It is said that M. Schimmelpenninck, lately ambassador at the Court of London, will hold some very important office in the Batavian Republic.

DOMESTIC. The tumults which lately disturbed Ireland have subsided; and, although the examinations which daily take place, bring to light some new ramifications of the conspiracy, yet there is reason to believe that the measures which government is now enforcing in that country will prevent any immediate rebellion. Military law has been declared, and, in several parts, the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act has been proclaimed, and, the yeomanry ordered on permanent duty. More of the conspirators are constantly apprehended, and a reward of £50 each has been offered for the first hundred persons who may be discovered to have been engaged in the insurrection of the 23d of July. On Sunday last, the inhabitants of Portsmouth and its vicinity were alarmed at the appearance of a strange fleet in the Channel. The most active measures for defence were immediately began the troops hastened to the beach, and the sea fencibles were instantly embarked. But, in the midst of all this zealous preparation, it was discovered that the cause of their terror was a fleet of Coasters and Americans.-On the 8th instant, a motion was brought forward, in the House of Peers, by the Earl of Suffolk, for the appointment of a military council, and, after some discussion, was negatived without a division. On the 10th, after a long debate, the thanks of the House of Commons were voted, on the motion of Mr. Sheridan, to the volunteers who had come forward in defence of the kingdom. The Hon. Mr. Hutchinson brought forward a motion in the House of Commons, on the 11th, for information respecting the late rebellion in Ireland, and the present state of that country; this motion after a long debate was negatived. On the 12th His Majesty went in state, to the House of Peers, and prorogued Parliament to Thursday the sixth of October next.

MILITARY.-On the 3d of July Gen. St. Cyr left Naples, where he had been received with the most distinguished respect, to join that part of the Gallo-Italian army of observation, which is stationed in the province of Apuglia. A large division still remains in the Abruzzos, and an additional force of 80,000 men is on its march.-Gen. Mortier states, in a letter to the minister of war, that the French army in Hanover is in good condition; that 14,000 muskets, 80 pieces of artillery, and 3,868 horses belonging to the Hanoverian troops are in its possession; and that preparations are making on the Elbe and the Weser, for con

to such a state in point of energy and in point of preparation, as to be compelled to look with hope to nothing better than the repulsion of the attacks and the defeat of invading enemies. That the desire of preserving their places, and the still more forcible one of preserving their heads, is the cause of the measures they have adopted, I must think, till I am convinced that they really are so intolerably stupid as not to perceive, that for defence itself a purely defensive system is wholly inadequate, beyond a very few months indeed, that it is necessarily ruinous, and more and more ruinous in proportion as it is complete; and that while it throws you under all these difficulties it gives to the enemy every advantage he can possibly desire. If he is not so impatient for our destruction as not to be able to wait a very few months to effect it, while he is preparing new means of attack, and new instruments of vengeance and cruelty wherewith to torture us, we, lik: able and indefatigable pioneers, are levelling every obstacle that may retard his progress, and making the way to him easy and pleasant. We are exhausting our finances; we are burthening the country with enormous taxes; and these war-taxes too, that is, we are doing every thing to depress the people and make them dissatisfied with the war; we do nothing to enspirit or enliven them, but above all we habituate them to the idea of a French invasion; and some little notion of French dominion too is already growing up, and if the probability of admitting the one, or bearing the other, is but once broached, then are we lost indeed. Of this, however, I will say nothing more at present, but just to ask, what would have been the sensations of the country some 40 or 50 years ago, if it had been told, that with such a probability as now exists of invasion, Englishinen talked of nothing but arming for home defence? And let me just observe too, that a line of policy invariably pursued by the French, and hitherto successfully, has been to prepare the countries marked out as their victims, not only by the secret and hidden workings of their emissaries, but by open and avowed declarations of their schemes and intentions; that thereby these victims, being familiarized to the idea, might have less energy to resist, when the attack is really made.--So much for the wisdom of ministers in adopting the defensive system, and the spirit of the people in falling in with it. With respect to offensive war, that, in my opinion, is clearly necessary for our safety. Of military offensive operations I can say nothing,

but with the enormous military power which France now possesses, I am convinced no military exertins, which this country can mike, will make much impression on her, unless they are aided by offensive operations of another sort, such as I described in my 4th letter. From them, however, aided by military means, I have no scruple to repeat, that I should entertain the most sanguine hopes of success.--I shall now take lease of you, my good friend, concluding with the expression of a most earnest and serious hope, that as we are attacked by a u with the avowed intention of destroying our liberties and independence, joined to a sect whose avowed object is no less than the destruction of the religion of Christ, of virtue, social order, moral principles, and civil society; So we will unite in resistance to these united enemies, every honourable feeling, every virtuous principle, every patriotic sentiment that can belong or ought to belong to a Briton and a Christian; that we will avow as our object, on the one hand, the securing our own independence and safety, on the other, the establishment on a firm basis of the liberties of Europe and mankind, and the upholding that religion, under whose influence alone morality and virtue are established in this world; and the good have a certain prospect of happiness beyond the grave. In sustaining such a cause no means but those of virtue and honour should be employed, and those in the most open and avowed manner, as it would be disgraced f aided by any thing contrary to them, so it ought to be supported by every thing consistent with them, by the labours and the arms of all the brave and loyal, and by the anxious wishes and prayers of the pious and good throughout the world, I am, &c. &c. INQUISITOR.

P. S. In reading over the former part of this letter, it has struck me, that as the mouse, by means of its bite, escaped out of the hands of its captor; so people may argue, that to keep up the comparison this country has a right to expect similar safety. To this I reply, that though I think it probable the comparison may not hold good in that particular; yet, admitting that it does, it by no means follows, that the mouse was not caught the next day, and kept in spite of its teeth. Besides, I dare say, its sides were a little sore from the grasp which it had received in the mean-time. Now it would be a curious speculation to calculate, 1st, the degree of sufferance the mouse underwent on this occasion; and 2dly, by a rule of three, to find out what to this coun

try would be an equal portion. In this