The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. deuce . in the present Administration. Ministers, he trusted, would satisfy-the House that they did not expect the disisters which have happened in Spain, and that these disasters did tot happen from want of foresight. Lord GRENVILLE rose and stated, that there were Man\ things in the Address which he never could consent to. He thought nothing could now justify the sending any more British troops into the interior of Spain. There was a paper pub 'shed In Spain. which in the beginning, signified both well and wisely the species of warfare that ought to be carried on there as most effective against French usurpation. They should reflect, that they are about to send 40,000 to contend with '600,000. If they intend to give important aid to the Spnniards, it- must be by other expeditions. We should have applied the aid of this Country, when the enemy, in a state of sullen inert ness, was encamped on the banks of the Ebro. Two months elapsed after the victory of Vimiera, before a single soldier Leaves • Portugal for Spain ; and two months more pass awe\ before a single British musket is fired at the enemy. They ar rive as the armies of Spain are overthrown, her provinces over run,ther Nobles murdered, and the tyrant triumphs. As to the Armistice and Convention, the sense of the country was so round ly expressed upon these topics, that all he could say respecting them,. would be but echoing the indignant sentiment of the whole nation ; all he would add to these expressions was, that ir Ministersintended to meet the enemy in the plains of Portugal they should. have sent out cavalry ; and if they intended that we should attack them in theirfortifications ' they should have sent out artillery. „But they did neither ; nor had our troops a Com missariat even to support them on the sea coast. The decision, therefore, 'of the Board of Enquiry was right. But hew, 11,• would ask,: does that correspond with the sentiments of disap- probation-expressed in•the Speech, of the terms of part of that Convention? How does the blame cast there accord with the answerfsoin the Throne, that ' sit is not according to the spirit of Britistjustice to condemn withoutsa bearing!" Yet the very termsof the Speech condemned, and no hearing, tto trial of the parties was had.. Therefore, it was not the Generals, but Minis ters dust Were to he blamed. His Lordship then adverted to Ametioa. s-He signified in strong terms his astonishment that Ministers pursued such crooked policy towards that country; His Lordship noticed a difference between the language of Ministers in the Declaration, and that used in the Speech, respecting the. proposals from Brfurth; and concluded with observing, that• if we-seam best officers and our best troops to. Spain; the country would be lost. We could not recruit from consertption ; and, like Austria and Prussia, this Empire would be untioneby such dangerous and hazardous enterprises. The .Earl of Memo° 1, then rose and followed the Noble Baron thiti.ogh the•whole of his exposition. He observed that if .it was wise and politic- io . enter into the glorious cause of bpanistudelivereece, , it would bennwise and impolitic to feel appalled at the particular disasters that had befallen that cause. It• - was the last hope. the Continent could cherish for re 'establishing its independence, and if viewed through a more sel fish medium, and the geographical posit* of the Peninsula of tipain. i wainttended to, it would be found that the possession of its anti* Franceinvolved not only our dearest interests, but the inure:Mate safety of a part of his Majesty's dominions. With regard•to site result of the Pottage' Expedition, and its opera tions, he. was prepared to say, that no neglect ons attributable to -Ministers. But of the Convention itself, whether it was wise or expedient to afford that ca-operation in the interior of Spain, be would admit, a question might hereafter arise, which he and his colleagues were ready to meet. His Lordship next combated the arguments respecting America, and said it was clear the American Government bad not poised the scales of justice equally between England and. France. To the latter they had said, if yon rescind your decree, we shall consider our-. selves at. war with the other Belligerent; but to England, they had said, if. you repeal your 'Orders in Council, we will continue . our li.mbargo only as to France. It was the obvious policy that' England should be at peace with America, provided she could maintain it consistently with' the honour and welfare of the na iiotr at large. His Lordship concluded by pressing upon the Haase the propriety of an unanimous vote. His „Lordship was followed by the Earl of Buckinghamshire, Lord .Sidmouth, Lord Moira, Lord Erskine, the • Clesucellor, Lord hinlgrave, and Lord. Auckland; when the Address wee carried. unanimously. The Earl of Ltvea.POOL gave notice that he should move, a Note _of thanks, os • Moseley nest to General Wellesley and the British Ai its Portugal ; and d on the Tharsda y folleteting lay the enerespoodeace of Estorth bdora that 1401 41 b 1 0 6 • Adjoussed at twelve o'clock. 'AIDA Y I JANUARY Colonel Drinkwater presented tke 7th apd Sth Report of the board of Military Enquiry. The 7th Report related to the inr vestigation of foreign accounts, and to those af the Chaplain Ge neral of the Army 4 and the Bth Report to varioub miscellaneous matter!. They were orderedlo by printed. Lord Liv RR POOl. laid Copies of the. Correspondence between the* Emperors of Russia and of France, and their secretarlys, with Mr. Canning, respecting the. proposals for a negociatioa, as submitted from Erfurth and from Paris: which also were OF* tiered, on the motion of his Lordship, to the petuted.rAdjuutwed. HOUSE OF COMMQNS. ?VERSO* 1f,3 N. 19, 1301 Mr. IZI ARNIE, the Deputy Usher of the Black clod, sum. Mooed the House to attend in the House of Peers. to hear the ' Lords Commissioners deliver a speech by order of his Majesty,. . for opening the Session . of Parliament. THE LORI)" COMMISSIONER' SPEECH• The SPEAKER informed the Honse.that be had been in the House of Peers, n here his Majesty's Commission wit• read for appointing Commissioners for opening the Session. alci that the Lord Chancellor matle a speech accordingly. nod to prevent. mistakes he procureil copy, (far which see the Itaa4i of Lords.) • 7 • • Mr. ROBIN som, rose to move an Address, cs iir eg l ive of th e confidence of the Hour, and its determination to support his Majesty in the present tsar. The leading topic, ht oho ' served, to which the Speech referred, was the state of Spain ; and here surely, whoever looked to the aiaal jPai of Quit coup,. try, and the circumstances which led to a connection with this, would not be indisposed to agree, that the circumstances in which we stood, pointed out the necessity of reducing into prac tical effect the prosecuting of the • war with ,vignur, because vigorous hostilities were oiore likely to procureisnmediate , and permanent peace, than a temporising systPm of warfare. —The cause of. Spain has lost none of the interest whit* it first excited in the breast of his Itilajesty,. and to abandon he; now would be an act of dishonour, and to make peace its pro, posed by relinquishing her cause, would reader toghtod unwor thy and iuestpable of ett i Vying the toiloolk . of a peace, which would at • the best be hot. fidiaeleaa. :MfbiA be heard- of the meeting of Alexander and Bonaparte at giirustli, he. never ca -1 terntined the - least idea WO the interVieW would terroiantela Treace ; and w hen the salutadonment of Spain seas the price, .his Majesty had certainly. .no •other alternative JAIL to reject the proposition... The . Speech alluded to,st treaty of j.eace about to be ratified between his Mqjesty nod the Spanish Goveinment.; but on this 'subject be would notinake, any comment, beCanse the treaty was hot. yetstrbmitreeto Patlitiment. The -Merits of the.action which took place at Vintierit spoke for theinselves„ and tilers not• to be surpassed by any tbqt nes. stenatitied t.4s British terms f That action required no.othereplogy than what, wail 0. milted by the feeling and- entbils'irissn .of tke country,, lkni t h doubtless it experienced ranch disanpuintAant front some of the articles of the Armistices. and the CouveutioU. that followed. — Ile next ad railed to the situation of he. f Sweden, whpse attachment to Great britain, anil:persitte the 'War, drew down upon him the yea...stance of 8 4 neigh IT power, altd he had no doubt but that. the House tvvtild red!f hint Abut nssist once which may be wanted. U.pcia tbe.topie of' the: reventies.of the country, he congratulatedtheltouse ootlte Copiatunication made in the Speech. ,; • • • Mr. LEsnus GTON, sun. . potted the Address.. Mr. PoX SON HY We are told in the Speeds, that ‘.'t with out a vigorous and persevering• exertion, there is no hope of.ler. initiating the war• safely nod honotivably.” - . That I. rutty admit, and I am confident of the _paternal care. which his Majesty per sonally feetsfor the honour of the conntrx :T he history Ihe co au • try, since it acquired a station among powerful whines t ranuo t pro duce m i c hi n ytances o f weakness, negligence, vaci I lat lust, nod n ant of judgment in her councils, as have occurred during site abort pe riod his Majesty's present advisers have conducted the affairs of Government. .According to the Treaty, we here hisund too furnish liweden with auxiliary troops to repel the attacks of the enemy, as well as to furnish a subsidy to stimulate the exertions of that kingdom. A powerful expetlitiOn Was iu conieqUeucr fitted nut from this country,. nod arrived upon the coast dif .iwedett;.hott by spmetmaceountabiemisusuierstanding, chi Commander PO troops ordered . his army to return without landing i Soon l bearing the atietny fire Cskot; whilst he *Motif wos aid, rs:tlit JAN.'.lf. x. • a' a I'•¢~