Star. — London, England, 1809-01-26 00:00:00

which were, ordered to die A; the table , and to be printed. On the motion Of Lbrd Auckland, the Committee of Privileges • were cliieeted to peoteed farther in the Roxburgh Peerage to- morrow se'nsight: RATTLE OF CORUNNA. The girt of LIVERPOOL rose to move the Thanks of the House for the Defeat of the French before eettnuisC The circumstances which led to the embarkation of our troops in Spain, were, his Lordship observed, not now the subject for discussion, hut the' manner in which that embarkation was effect rd, and the victory which preceded it. He had always nderstood, that an attacking army had even with no more than equal numbers a tenfold advantage over tho.a,rmy assailed, the former .having all the benefit of a preconcerted plan of operdtions, and dispositions made to carry that plan into effect. How much more then must the enemy have the advantage in an attack with greatly superior numbers, and at a period when our army had been harassed by a long and fatiguing march. Yet with all thesaisadvantages on our s►de, the valour and. good conduct of British troops deci dedly prevailed, and the enemy were every where re pulsed. The defeat was so complete, that the enemy did not venture to make another attempt to interrupt the embarkation which was effected in the most per- feet manner, not only the troops having been em barked, but also the horses, the sick and wounded, and the prisoners taken in the action. We had to re gret the loss of some valuable Officers in the battle, but we had more particularly to lament the loss of the illustrious Officer who commanded. The whole life of Sir John Moore had been exclusively devoted to the service of his country, and there was scarcely any service of importance in the last two wars in which that gallant officer had not been employed. Sir John Moore had upon every occasion displayed the same zeal and ability, and by his skill and science, and latterly by his experience, had acquired the entire 1 confidence of the officers employed under his corn mind. The fall of such a man was indeed a loss deeply to be lamented, and which he, to whom Sir John Moore was personally known, sensibly felt. It was, however, some consolation that the memory of such a man would remain • that his example, that the example of one whose death was as glorious as his life was honourable, . would have the best effect in leading on others to emulate his conduct, to obtain the same honourable place in public estimation, the same strong hold of the admiration and gratitude of their country. His Lordship observed, that in word ing the motion, the precedent of Egypt, in which the gallant Abercrombie fell, had been followed, and con cluded by moving the thanks of the House to Lieu tenant-General Sir David Baird, second in command of the army in Spain ; Lieutenant-General the Hon. John Hope, who took the command on Sir Moore's receiving the wound, which terminated in his much lamented death, and to the other Officers employed. . The Earl of MOIRA entirely concurred in the mo tion, and in every tribute of praise and gratitude that could be given to the army which had so gallantly achieved a victory after suffering so much fatigue and so many privations. To Sir John Moore every tri bute of gratitude was due for his able, skilful, and gallant conduct, and he deeply lamented his loss.— But in giving this concurrence he could not avoid putting a question to Ministers, and asking, how it happened that so heavy and lamentable a loss should have been sustained, without any one object having been effected, except the embarkation of the army ? What ! did our troops go to Spain only to make their escape ? What was now to become of those great interests, the protection of which was the great est boon that PROVIDENCE could have bestowed on a sinking country. British blood and treasure, and the invaluable lives of British officers and soldiers had been sacrificed to no purpose, and without in the least assisting the great cause which the country had been' pledged to support. Thus were we doomed to wit ness the extinction of our hopes in Spain, and with them we could expect nothing but the extinction of every hope of Continental alliance and co-operation. After the conduct we had displayed towards Sweden and Spain, we could expect nothing but a general confederacy against us. To what but the igno rance and incapacity of Ministers \ ere all these ca lamities to be attributed. The circumstances which had led to them must necessarily become the subject of grave and serious inquiry, but he could not avoid now taking the opportunity of stating his opinion upon the subject, and whilst he concurred most en tirely in the motion of thanks proposed by the Noble Earl, he owed it to his gallant companions in arms to call the attention of the House to that conduct which had placed them in a situation calculated only to pro duce an useless sacrifice of life. Lord MULGRAVE expressed his surprize that any topic should have been introduced into the dis- 1 cession which had no immediate relation to the sub ject under discussion, and which he scarcely thought within the limits of order. He should not now enter into the general question touched upon by the Noble Earl, with respect to the conduct of Ministers,, but should only state, that when the time came for in quiry, Ministers would be ready to meet it, and if they did not satisfy the Noble Earl, he had no doubt that they should satisfy that House and the country. wjth respect to the motion, he could add little to soffat had been said by his Noble Friend, nor with re spect to the lamented loss of Sir John Moore could he add much to what had been said in the very ex cellent dispatch of General Hope, the sentiments contained in which must have come home to the feel- ings of every man in the country. His loss would be deeply felt, but he trusted his example would have the most beneficial effects. He hoped that nothing would be introduced foreign to the immediate subject I of the present motion, and that it would be unanimous• ; Agreed to. Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH thought concur • renee too cold a term to use when stating his agree. m eat with the motion: he viewed with admiration and gratitude the services rendered by the army in Spain, and by its gallant Commander, whose loss we had unfortunately to deplore. Having his warmest feel ings in unison with this motion, he must, however, !reserve to himself the right and the-duty of assisting in the institution of an inquiry by some means or iato the circumstances which bad led to the PARLIAM.ENTARr PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE Of LORDS. JAN. 25. ' Mr. Jou Num , from the Office of Chief Secretary for Ireland, prrseatc.d the the 34th Icdsbh Of ate Cbminissioners of Accounts, and titeltfi-ikerreid i tliiiVebirwraineirer rnii,aty in Ireland, ti r . 1,, ' ;J unfortunate situatioh lrl which onr troops ed. When that inquirii should take place, it would be proved that Onearrny did Lisbon at the worst season of the yea Spain where their serVices could be of He regretted to have heard one expresstk his Noble Friend (Lord Moira) that country. He could not agree that this was a sinking country, nor could it be so whilst we. had sack troops to defend us as those which had achieved the victory, for which they were now properly and justly called upon to vote thanks ; whilst we had troops who had now proved themselves superior to the Trench in in fantry, in cavalry, and artillery, in short, in all the branches of service. Lerd ERSKINE said, that whether the Noble Lord (Earl Mob a) was out of order, in adverting to the misconduct of Ministers in their plans of the cam paign, upon a motion to thank the Officers who had terminated it so much beyond the expectation of the public, was a question he was not particularly quali fied to determine. But of this he was sure, that his observations were inseparable from every honeit or rational feeling on the subject. Was it possible to deplore the loss of friends whom we loved, and of men whose lives were- precious to their country in a most awful crisis, without lamenting in bitterness that they were literally immolated by the ignorance 'and folly of those who now wished to cover their own disgrace, by the just and natural feelings of the pub lic, towards men who had died for their country ? But for their immortal renown it would have been better for them, certainly much better for their coun try, to have shbt them upon the Parade of St. James's Park, than to have sent them, not to suffer the noble risque of soldiers, and in a practicable cause, but to endure insufferable, ignoble, and useless mi sery, in a march to the very centre of Spain, v2-.en they who sent them knew that Bonaparte had -above an hundred thousand men before them, so as to ren der attack not only impracticable, but retreat only possible, by the noble unparalleled exertions they were assembled to commemorate : and what sort of a retreata retreat leaving upon the roads and in the mountains of Spain from 8 to 9000 of our brave men, dying of fatigue, without one act of courage to sweeten the death of a soldier. What could then be a more disgusting and humiliating spectacle than to see the Government of this great Empire, in such a fearful season, in the hands of men who seem not fit to be a vestry in the smallest parish. He felt as much forthefame •fthe immortal officer deceased, as ahy of their Lordships possibly could. He knew him well. He lived in terms of intimacy with his family, and he admired his superior talents. He had another In terest in the fame of the victory. Though the two countries were united so as to have long put an end to all national prejudices, he might be forgiven if• he felt pride and exultation that his smaller country had more than contributed its quota to the glory of the United Empire. He felt pride and exultation that Sir John Moore was a native of Scotland; that Baird was a native of Scotland ; that Hope was a native of Scotland ; that Fraser and M , Kenzie were natives of , Scotland ; that Anstruther was a native of Scotland ; and that Ferguson was a native of Scotland. But this national pride only increased his indignation, to see such men and such sources utterly thrown away and lAst, by the total want of capacity in those who misdirected their efforts. Lord GRENVILI.E also entirely concurred in the motion, and praised in the highest terms the con duct of Sir John Moore. They were called upon, it was true, to vote Thanks for a success, which was followed by a retreat, but the success belonged to the Army and its Commander, the retreat to those who sent them, and whO placed them in such a situation, that a safe retreat could alone be looked to ; for the folly and incapacity which dictated such conduct, Mi nisters must answer to their country. It was, indeed, a sinking country, if such mismanagement was suffered to continue, situated as we were in the midst of perils and difficulties unexampled in the history of the coun try. The hand of PROVIDENCE appeared to be on us ; within three years we had lost two great Statesmen, in whose talents the country reposed the greatest confi dence ; a great Naval Commander who had carried the navy to a pre-eminence which it never before en joyed, and now a great Military Chieftain, whose talents were of the first order, and than whom no one possessed in a greater the skill and science of an able Commander— de A ree etrusted that every tribute of gratitude would be paid to Sir John Moore. The last expression of that excellent Officer was a wish that justice might be done to his memory, and he trusted that that wish would be complied with and i carried into effect, and that his last dispatches would be published in order to do justice to his conduct. The Earl of WESTMORLAND recalled to the recollection of Noble Lords opposite, the Expedi tions to Alexandria, to Constantinople, and South America, and expressed his surprise that they did not at those periods state, that all the blame of unfa vourable military events was to be attributed to Mi nisters. The motion was agreed to nem. Airs. as were also a motion approving of and acknowledging the services of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, a motion of Thanks to Rear-Admirals De Courcy and Sir Samuel Hood, K. B. for their assistance, and another, approving of, and acknowledging the ser vices of the Seamen and Marines upon that occasion. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. Lord AUCKLAND moved for an Account of Exports and imports for three years ending the 10th of October, 1808, and a similar account ending the sth of January, 1809, as soon as they could respec tively be =damp, which, after a short conversation, was ordered. Adjourned till to-morrow (this day). HOUSE OF COMMONS. RELIEF OF DEBTORS. Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY gave notice of a motion, for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the benefit of an Act of the 39A1 Geo. 11. for the relief of debtors, to all persons confined for contempt of Court in equity cases, not having paid money into Court pur suant to order. DEPREDATIONS IN PLYMOUTH DOCL. Mr. LYGON moved, that the House do go into a Committee to consider the best mode of preventing depredations in Plymouth Dock-yard, to-morrow (Thursday) sc'nnight.—Ordered. DEBTORS IN KING'S BENCH PRISON. 1- Sir THOMAS TURTON said, that he held in his hand a Pe tition from persons confined in the King * * Bench Prison (arnoun- I ting in number to 367), for debt. The grievanoes suffered by the petitioners were such as, he feared, were generally felt in the jails throughout the kingdom ; and those grimaces were cot a little of prodisloff• - this matter before the House, 'it ca pp by a Noble Lord _ then brought tigrand ordered 'Afftttlls OF AIX-I \ bll,lN MB -:mkacr COMMISSIONERS. Vont the. Site Chief Secretory et Ire land, presented at the Bar the 34th Report of the Conunlsuoners of Accounts in Ireland; and also the 7th Report of the Commis sioners appointed to inquis..e -into and.EMolumenti certain Offices in Ireland.—Ordered to fie on the table. NEW WRIT FOR P - 00EE, ETC. Mr. Secretary CANNING said, -that, in consequence of the; question put by a Noble Lord yesterday, relative to the appoint; silent of an Honourable Member of that House to the. Cone sul-Generalship of Portugal, he had • endeavoured to mak., himself more competent to satisfy the Noble Lord than either heir or his Right Honourable Friend was yesterday. he appoint,! mcnt had taken place, and he imagined that the . Gentleman in question had, by that time, arrived at his destination. Lord FOLKESTONE then gave notice, that he would to-mor row move for a New Writ for Poole. A New Writ was moved for the 'Borough of Pembroke, in the room of Mr. Barlow, deceased. . NEGOTIATION PAPERS, -ETC. • • . • 1 Mr. WHITBREAD seeing a Right Honourable Gentlematt in his place, wished 'to ask, what was the nature of the overture which it was said Sir James Saunter. z had made, on the part of his Majesty to the Emperor of Russia? Mr. Secretary CANNING replied, that the Paper alluded to was nothing more than a letter wtitten by that gallant Officer to the Emperor, filled with merely general assurances of the pacific inclinations of his Majesty; but containing no direct proposal from his Majesty's Government, nor written under any autho- - rity whatever from that Government. . Mr. HENRY MARTIN asks-d an Honourable Gentleman on , the opposite Bench why certain Papers which he had moved for in the course of last Session had not yet been laid upon the table ? Mr, HUSKISSON replied, that they were in a state of fur- , wardncss, and would be produced as early as possible. CONDUCT OF THE WAR IN OAFS. . Mr. PONSONBY postponed his motion relativ e to the war in Spain, front Thursday se'nnigbt to Monday fortnight. THE BRITISH ARMY IN SPAIN. Lord CASTLEREAGH—" Sir, I rise in pur suance of my notice of yesterday, to all the attention of the House to a subject at once most afflicting, and . most grateful, a subject which must appeal mcst., powerfully to the feelings of the House.—Seldome indeed, has an occasion of any public gratulation oc curred but what it has been mixed with subjects of a contrary nature—seldom have we had to congrAtu late ourselves upon a victory which maintained * or augmented the national glory, but that, at the same time, we have had to lament the loss of, at leAs4. l .l2me of those by whom such glory has been achieved. It is - in this manner that nations participate the com mon lot of humanity, and that in our aggregate, as in our individual capacity, unmixed good, unalloyed prosperity, is not the lot of men. We have now to Umbra an indiiidual, whO united all the qualities which would either elide . .. - man to man, 'or the here to his coantry.—One. coosoiation, however, is not wanting, and this is tiO be found in the spk:.:dour of the victory; in those btil4nt circumstances of liercian and success which accompanied, and, as it were, crowned his fate. It is in the nature of things, Sir, that success is in some degree necessary to human gory, and great as Sir John Moore might have been, 1 g minus as might have been his fall, his glory would h _Ave wanted its radiance, had not Fortune lent her light—had not victory waved her angel wings, and hovered over her dying child. I will not hesitate to . say, that in the long annals of our country from its_ first civilization to the present moment, never has there occurred an action, never has there been a Com mander, to whom the national gratitude was more due. Wounded early in the action, and with the cer tainty of his approaching dissolution, he yet retained , his native magnanimity of tnind,--be yet retained his sense of duty; and like the illustrious Roman on re cord, who dying enrobed himself in his purple, that he might die an Emperor, it may be said of our la mented General, that he died in command—died with no other feelings than those of his duty as Com. mander in Chief. If he were not able to accomplish the deliverance of the country to which he had been sent, let it not be imputed to him _(lkar him ! Ileac 1 him J —l know not what the H(g on. entlemen %Vivor site may intend by these discordant shouts-,discordant I call them, because in such a moment they most cen tainlyjar on my feelings. -But if they intend any implied reflection on his Majesty.% Ministers, I should think ft t would argue in ultra more decorous feelings to defer I such expressions of their sentiments to another time. The life of Sir J. Moore, though short in duration, was ample . enotigh . for his glory ; his country may have cause to lament his early death, but he has lost no thing by it himself. He had filled up the circle of his glory—he had traversed his splendid orbit. I will not 1 diminish the due effect of his splendid actions; Ati s i wearying the House with a detail of them ; hat the:Y ore one or two points to which I feel it my duty to call more peculiar attention. the first point is, that. after a march, the most arduous in history, the most unparalleled in ancient or Modern annals, this illus.: trious General assembled his army at Salamanca, and assembled them in a manner, whether as to dis cipline, to equipment, to the health and spirits of hiri men, which no one, possessed of all the circumstancesq of that march, could have conceived to have been possible. The army, then at Salamanca, to use his own expressions„ more resembled an army on pa rade, than a body of men harassed by a long - mar* through Countries totally unsuited either for the px()= l gress or .subsistence of the army ; and, in justice to others, I must here say, that the preference of thil march to the conveyance by transports belonged to Sir J. Moore himielf, and - was made by him, not from any Want of transports, but from a due confidence in himself and in his men—from a conviction that lie could lead, and that they would 'follow him through ' greater difficulties and obstacles. It was likewise the opinion of that lamented Commander, that the pur pose of the expedition would be forwarded by the march through Portugal, and Ministers herein gave way to his judgment. The second point is the retreat he made, when retreat became necessary, and I will 'most absolutely take upon myself to say, that such it retreat is without parallel. Recall, Sir, to your mind, 1 some of the circumstances its they are given in the 1 official -narrative , an army inferior in numbers, har-J rassed throUgh a long line of march by the overwhel ming squadrons of a . superior enemy, with not a mo ment of respite either from fighting or, marching, the physical strength of our soldiers exhausted, and no thing remaining but their invincible 1 -firmness Of, mind.,-under these circumstances, - Sir, 'imagine our army. to. haie arrived at COrlinna„ have, gained . the point of embarkation , whini. the, .eneiriy l poured down upon them; and dm, compelled them to a convict under every possible cilcumstance • • • sops witre • • • present high price a ''s" -so f lace, lie tru purtunity to bring th i that it4iad not march fro' petition was thi ar to a part 1;171 , t, table. no possible rise. 'PE •ET OF T HE C O M MISSIGNEES. ession Lill from LAND, AND OF FEE AND EN1101.1: at of a sinking Mr. JOHNSON, from the. Difice . . . st the Ttar the 34th Ri of disadvantage, and against an infinite superiority or force, and halt our own army not in a State of battle: —Yet, under all these circumstances, so complete via, 'our triumph, so glorious was our victcry, that not a . wounded man, not a single piece of artillery, was lest behind. I will not press farther upon the attention of the House, but conclude by az . olio& , 6 'nut as humble Address to presented to Ms Majesty, th at he would be graciously pleased to order 'that a .Monument be erected mike C'a:hedrai Church . of St.' Paul's to sir John Moore, viho, after ar. honourable fife in the service of his country, we.r killed by a cannon hall at Coninna, where, by judicious arrarr. rnents and the must resolute courage, h^ repulsed a superi or enemy; and- effected the re-embarkation of the army under command." On the' question being put from the Chair, Lord HENRY PETTY' said :—Thcrc can be "but,one sentiment in ,this House upon the pre sert tnotion ; nor is there,,l am persuaded, an individu a l .within who does not feel - that sentiment full': and forcibly.. All minor' Considerations are t..,r get i v j l in the iniolUnta'ry tribute of national grittitude 1 0 th e cervices that have added 'new - splendour to the na tional charucter is insf when such a subject isbelcre us, it is *ell that ba.feelingarising catt,.of any politi. cal differences be allowed for a moment to inteifele with the noblersxmriathy by which we-are bound, in. common, to 'acknowledge' and .commemorate•distin giiished services rznaered .to' our Cotrition courITV. h'incere as was the.pleasure I felt at hearipg n: o . tion of the - NOble , Lord, t experienced go.less•at;s faction ,ka hearing die spee4 which prefaced it (hear • hear !). 1 was glad to hear the Nolble Ltd do-st.ch jusneelo %Imp - au-was ..{.'s 4.. 1 mneroguNrewriPosees464., _ he-was so well irtclirsvd:ta do that justice. In all his sentiments relatinglo the • merits 'And 41airtis -et the great man we havelost7.4 entirelyconcur, and jpj4 with him - in the strong' terms -in svhi'cli he has expressed them, as terms ncileasjust than emphatic; and if I had had no other collector rising than merely to express my satisfaction at the . speech tot the NOble Lad, I 'Mould have risen to have done.so. But, Sir, I cannot pos. isilslY stop here, in justice to thereat' man who, was 7 thepbjeet pf the tloblelLord'reirtogium. I - trest th.g. t his tentinienti niiy pi foith, that the Üblic liTal twa/ a. * what he and his coliftgues really t otatekri ices we are now calla upon to recom ." , that they may be satisfied that the Government of this country did know how ,to. appreciate the 7 value.of otie'df her greatest Ornament - 14 - akid that they may not be so fir deceived-by the ohtritiive servility of a t enal press'as tb ennetudults - sentinteats on • the merits-okhas...4. noir*le MC& to 'IA - merely the echo of its matters.. 'Mb . WVre 'mow assenlbled, with . one accord; toido jes . . tic; -to the memory g- a'man:*tiose.,loss had thrown a shade upon tithe 'Splginlotor' or liFtory 3 and ;whil e we are so emplbyediihile - ve are papag the .1.1; 1 . pious tribute of our country to the sacred memory of her' depaPted bravesr-hvihilewe rite reating lasting me morials:at once Of our gratitude and onr glery—is it to go abroad that - a part of that venal prep which would sadist itself into the service of _the Ninister, was audsiorlsed to counteract the professionsfif Mini sters themselves, the sense of that House,' and the wishes ofthe country, by assiduously Circulating - slan. den, poisonous to the fair fame of that great charac ter whit& was-now peculiarly our owns and whiehour vote this night Will gb 'to identify with the honour of j the 'country- i -I'would be far from imputinkto the Noble Lord-tOe having given the print in question any • , suchnottitiy;,• r)save a right to ccittchide;at his opinion o the transcendent Merit of the distinguished of kin...hose loss we have so much reason to deplore, is as lith'as atty entertained by any Member of this House—[Herr: Lord Casilereagh signified his assent] —and when r allude to this pitiful attempt of a jour nalist to tear from a gallant soldier's. grave the lan. rels his country's wishes havellanted there for ever, it is merely that the attemptmay be marked and. ei posed to rnerieed reprobation-.-an `attempt which, 1 when once the sentiments avowed by the Noble Lord this night shall be 'lnaielisblic, will never again I be ill:mated :—thi, Editor *ill see - his error, in ilia (false anticipation of the opinions of those he wishes to please, and desist from a repetition of . his calamities. It became vs, however, a,s the guar i dians cif - the public honour{ in vindication of our judgnient „iti discriminating, and our :siaiterity in re '. warding, while 'v were erecting a monument in corn ! mentor:Mon of the great General - Who .was gone, not to- look with indifference at ony base : a/AOa upon that ' less' perishable memorial he has left.ee44.4.character ---liliiret.to him than monuments, and 0 DIOID dura ; ble, 4iiii xnarble.".7.--(Hear, hear, hear'!)-- In sayinz this, Fwould not be understood to : insinuate, tlat 1 tftptith death Canonized great men, it-should yet be vat I *KOz : from misconduct. If there-has been mis- . •, , cOncleCti . trace it to its proper source ; - visit its rouse- ' etuenees 'upon' its proper authors; btitlet every Mile attempt to transfer the blanie from the guilty livirg - to-iile blameless dead ,be seontecl , with a manly and honest indignation.. I atn not for .r_epressin s t u<Pf , .:l • investigation, ,bet for restraining wanton •caluaray and at least until those brave partners in his haidshirs and his glory are landed on oar shores, who are the most competent evidences' to his merit, it is not toa . much to expect, that till then, at least, the voice o f ` .. censure be suspended: The Noble Lord repeated hir, approbation of the motion, and sat down amid cri.:s of Hear, hear ! frem all parts of the. House. • The motion was then put, and passed sum. can. 1 The Thanks of the House were then voted to Lien rer.ant-General Sir DAVID BAuw, second in corn. ( mand ; to Lieutenant General the Honourable Jots" Hoes, who succeeded to the command in the fielc, on the death of Sir JOHN Moons.; to LieutenAnt-Gette 'ral ALEXANDER MACKENZIE FBAZIKA 00 MajOr-GerC ralS BENTINCK, BERESFORD, PAGET, and Limn; to brigadier-Generals DICNEY FAN* Hiu., - and Coon MANNINGuAm. . THANKS TO SIR ARTHIA VitZUSLICY. Lord CASTLEREAGH rose, pursuant to notice, to move the Thanks of the House to Sir ArantrWe lesley, the Officers and Soldiers nutter his onximane , for the brilliant victories‘gained•by them in Portugl. on the 17th and.2lst of August last. In bringing tn,s subject before. the House, lie did not think it neces sary to occupy much-time in the observations he had to make ; it was a subject upon which no oppositia of opiniim could exist either in that iiouse or n 1 ti" country ; the sentiments of the latter had been displayed in a manner • scarcely ever equa;.• 'upon any similar occasion. To attempt further giuni upon the character of the Britith Army w( ue unnecessary, after the Cobervation,' he had alrcat:' I itea to d web , f