The Statesman. — London, England, 1810-03-31 00:00:00

PI . ~~ . ~ . mitud time of the Expedition itself was preaump. five against its probable extent as a dives:slots. The 1 expectation ought to have be.en that the force -bronglit against it would be the collected [tonna. scent force of the country, and not any returning force, from the Danube. Nur could the Expedi— lion be defended by a reference to the intentions of former Governments, for those intentions were confined to an attack on Fleshing. An attack. on Flushing alone might have been made by a coup. de.vraix, with small expense, with little risk, and with,great probability of success. It was indis pensable that those who planned so great an enter prize, should be possessed of full information.re specting the great object against which it was to be directed. The Expedition failed fur want 9f infer. matiun, with this further feature, thatGovertiment could not • produce a single naval or military autho rity in support of their plan ; for certainly a pro position to military men, on suppositious grounds ao institute a coinparison between two plans, and preference given by them to the one plait over the other, could, by no means, be called an opinion or an authority... The Noble Lord had argued, that as the ulterior object of the Expedition was nester attempted, the policy of it could not be can. Teased. This he denied. Those consulted had spoken_ of the Eipedition as affording little pros pect of success. The Medial Who was to cum. mand, when he had expressed himself to thit effect, win told to go on and be would do very 'well. There never was a case iii which a etinjOlist con.' saltation of both services was wore 'necessary. The plan was deficient ; the Expedition Could, In. deed, hardly be said to have any plan at all. :The Host. Gentleman then took t comprehensive view of the operations of the ulna - meet, from which he ioferred the want of a proper combination for tlre 'attainment of the object in view, which, he was of opinion, could hardly be gained under cir. cumstances the most favourable. Hu then ad. relied to e hat had becu said respecting the West India Islands, which he contended was no jesti. fiCation of the conduct of Government in ex.' 'seising an army 'o the ravages of the climate at Walcheren. • The question was, did the Exitedi.' thin appear justifiable, or did it call for the een_ sure or 'the House ? On that the country expected thorn tntlecido.. .lit: might have to say something more on the second question, as be undetstood au atileodment was to be moved, though he hardly comprehended the nature of it, as it seemed to aim that if the plea rot up for the retention of Walcheren wits douse away, there was no ground On which an aureadment could possibly stand. ' Mi.yEELV. defended Ministers in a very able speech. Ile thought it unn• cessary . to state the grounds on which the Expedition 11411 beeit.sent, as ho• coissidtreit it established that•at the lime the plan was formed, there existed the fairest pros pects of 'success. • It .had 'been laid down .as an axiom by an lion. Member 'oppipite; that Eng. land shuttld hayu .nothing t., do with Continental uperatiank, • bat in cases where nieces, was hardly doubtful. Where we deviated horn the line of conduct dictated. by self l alefence, - . the objects...oi view should certainty, be greet. Bet',were they not greatjn. tke. preeent iestaiteei. lie w, , 01i141 , *ski Helium& he might cutifidentry ask ' *ditty, If at tt time when the cff4ris of Frassire - to.segeste. rate her, nasy.tekee so intinense l t it wa4 :the drity of England to remain .guiet? If' site, sertile .lids isle lluesice of France spread ter . o'V:oat' around, .Mould think herself happy in -not being included among the sufferers, and, glad to lie safe herself, view with apathy the subjugati. s of others ? The P:xpetlition had not been undertaken in con segnence of the Anstrian war. project had been in contemplation for years. Were we to give sip our plans because Austria went to war with France ? , lio should • rather think the contrary. With respect to what had been said as to direct co. opention, 'he Would ask if our interests were so identified with Austria that we should employ for thoessid&tnets in. her service—nay place them completely at her disposal ? While . perseing an object of our own, we had not, however, been unmindful of her interests. When the Comman der in Chief was first consulted un the subject of the Expedition, in March, it was only proposed to - employ 16,000 men, and the reduction of Flushing and Walcheren were 'its objects. In May, however; the Austrian war having broke out, the plan was greatly enlarged, anti its objects extended, that by making a formidabk , the cause of Austria might be assisted. The lion. Gout. thee spoke •at some length on the strength and importance of Antwerp. A period might ar rive at which the Ruler of France mielit possess , the means of attempting to establish his power Oti s the ocean, as he had succeeded its doing MOO* land. He would fur a moment suppose that tint. arris -.1, and suppose that House called upon pr k eistioin to deliberate on the means of averting the intruding danger. At Such a time what would trot the Hon. Gentleman opposite say, whose elo. (*ace 'hid 'been.- so powerfully exerted against these who hail planned the 'Expedition ? Would ire not at such ',crisis blame them for shutting their eyes tothe growing strength of such a place, and would it thou be thought a sufficient excuse for not attempting to check it in its progress, should Mi nisters allege in their defence that the forts of I.il. Iv and Lief kenshoeik were not dismantled, and that the culiuter%clrp of Antwerp had been, fenced with stone? With respect to the Military opinions, it was to be remembered that every one of - them had been given prior to the battle of Aspern.— That battle produced changes of some importance. After that, those who before despaired, began to hope ; and those who hail hoped, exultid in the idea that the charm was broken, and that the dread of Bonaparte's invincibility would he felt no more. All the military opinions to which he had alluded stated, that there were two lines of trite. rations which might be pursued, and that the first was' west daugerous. The • ascend had in emit. guence been preferred, yet it wag said that no at. tention at all had been paid to thorn. Lt expoli. tions of .such a nature there were two points of hazard, the one of. victory, and the °then of de. feat. We had exposed ourselves by this ExPstil doll to the Ward of victory, but not to dint bf defeat, is, at any time we had the mast of se. curtly einbarkirig. We bid taken ti large track martial ma the others, could, or ought to sat viol the country. IN , all their proceelngs there Mar a untrkeil dieregarit for their country, and c ,.., 0 1 e as concern merely fur their own iuterests.; Fe .,. 04 beginning to the end they were all the same ; ill wipeout, presumptuous and imbecile. As to .C o mmander in Chief, he could not help say_ that the result or the inspection of the papers' 9 ., the table was merely wonder how nay man, wi t h the feelings of o Gentleman, could act as he 4 i.. ; how any man, possessed of such conscious coif Id retain his situation. The Noblest' L as very anxious to separate the question of. Medical Board, from thatuf the merits of this Tide he could . not du; it excited In ) 3 i s o the instant recollection of the breve men who kll v i c tims to the disease.. The 1': ureic Lord betray. , fil, indeed, through all his speech a callous insetisi. laity to the miseries ho had caused,trtily shocking ; ,i„, r ted with Ohe deaths Which. he had °tea. Im o, and even presumed to persuade the coon.° ' that its ealainities were honours!. lie dared to covere himself to Chatham, Nelson, St. Yin_ co t, and those heave heroes who hail directed our seer to constant and imperishable glory. ~a s amazed how he dared to meotion the noose. these great men on each 4;1 eccusi ms. ira li Why, this dreadful Expedition had cost o w country, on a serious calculation which ho had pa le three times as.naany lives as all the,glorious nisei eictoties . which ere had gained since Ilia them. reareamet of the war ! • [Mar ! hear I] This was the EePcilition of which the Noble Lord had s le e t e d to speak so indifTerently. • lie sp o ke ofie v , Wail, jest as a girl of thirteen would of a puppy fie wanted language to expresss his indigna.' nos at such couduct. The. Itightil on. Gentleman b e t, indeed, spoken more feelingly• on. the se hjeet, le.t he h ul used some arguments which shocked and sounislnd him. Ile seemed to speak as if he ) 1 . 1 ,1 f o und a shield fur all his disgraces in extritteic ca ses, and even ventured to impute the SOICteIII4I. of the enemy to the despotism by which they were' vente d T. What did he mean to• impute . our: lessee to the freedom of our Constitiiiihn ! It was a onestrous . doctriite refuted by all history, and im b er bely indeed when it was considered that it coercion) a mats who held the reins. of Govern. neat so kit and who was so likely .to resume Ara. Meeitiavel, a . haishud politician, had &tared that the greatness of the Homan • people was founded on their . . freedom. They had Indeed ilottrielted, ats . .l they so fleurished by opposing despotiern With vise Arai* of liberty.—e Sr did Athens-- e —slier eloquence and her free aril, resisted numbers id) • success. If melt a principle bail been the principle of the Minot 11. m. Genflettian's.sotioo, then indeed all lair calamities WUre expi iipetL lilt should now vote heartily for the resolutio**, and the only ee rie:mace whick.he felt wale "at their nut going to rs nopeachnient and Court 'Marital.. When he soi l this, hooever, he declared he saw no good to the reentry from t he'd .sinissa I or inittere, 6sa it was fittlii wed hj a total change of measures. [h=er, heir, hear 1] If we withal° tie retested ff.ool oar present e perilone- • sithetioft, .• we lust lure Itet'orm —Reform a hid, Would refire and b.rodolists the .anttietit fatitlivisental of nut Courstitntiou. Unless this was obtained, lkiifiertinwrfirlnve the eonntry would besatisfied. From.the foIIN qf nut deiriauding this air se all OM' etionitirs. .iertens it arose this Expedititni—this dad of corrupiiiin, expiring by its oWn.iolserent haberitity. All their calamities , 'lll &dr die. pares, were derived from the woof of a fait and espial representatinn.. To that, and . that alone, die people ought to lotik.—it . would . be folly ' to expect relief from any other cause. Ir this watt • obtained,' they would no longtir see Miniele. ;id weakness working an abandoned prostitution. This was their only avenue of cacti,* from . ruin, helium ruin. For himself, he cared not, if that ruin was to r tme, whether it caul(' in the shape of a reeve borough, or an • °eels iron despotism. The present immediate qiiestion he Aortic! now. , decline; he did Rot wish to think of it ; he could ' lot with any temper speak of it. If in private life be saw the catastrophe of men, so brave, so pa. tient, so mart e rid, lie could tall it nothing else than cool, 'deliberate, atrocious murder. ['Mar, hear, head] Though Ministers within twelve hours'sail art Walcheren might have had every in formation, they would not deign to seek it, but sent their soltriers unheedingly to the grave. They now called fur vengeance—the lioneur of the Reuse was pledged to give it ; 'and, for himself,' be would say nothing but instant impeachment and Court Martial should satisfy the nation for the tract effusion of their army's blood. ..Mr. BATH uasT began by observing, that the nen. Baronet had spoken of the the freedom of ancient States as having enabled then, to cope with more powerful despotism. Did the lion. Bironet recollect annther quality beloneing to. those States by which they were eventually subjugated to the Oppre.,Or ? Wag this but the degeneracy of that liberty into licentiousness, and the presence of i,.. dirilnals never wanting in any country to persuade the people that they might enjoy more than their stations qiialified them to enjoy ? It was this spi. sit which reduced Greece to the power of the Ma. telnnian Monarch. And by the help of factious citizens his rival was delivered into the hands of a military despotism. [llear! hearl3 With res. I * " to the subject before the [Luse he should °e— villy but a few moments of their attention. lie conceiv e ) that the Noble Lord and the t Ho. hnurable Gentleman had -not placed the question quite on fair gr.otrids. They had stated it as a di. that heing under an engagement to an ally, and hs . eing a large disposeable force at their come tosil, it eras incumbent on thorn to employ it in the relief of their ally, although there were no Paints of contact by which it could be rendered tn 'inctstly serviceable. lie knew of oar claims of l't'iicy or jes.iee which required such a measure. It was to be regretted that the habits of the House' dill not qualify them tit otter minutely into militia. try °Pe"tiotts' although it was indispensable that they shoelti carefully watch over them. The na. t ure of theC rns,.• • ittiti eon required such a check up. leveriersent. The first point of view in which would consider the Ecpetlitioit was an iitteedetr. 6. 1. 22 . 12_"" . • How was it so to operate? The He ~-. ~-rs ' , • . - - - . . . . . , ~... , -•:, ...- . , . , ~ . . . . • - , - , --m.. • l.'llE STAT &YUAN . . • . .._ _ • - of land, several forti, and many prisoners. The testimony of General Brownrigg showed be hid' been in favour of it, and that of Sir John HO* went to strengthen whit he (General Brownrigg) had advanced. If it had been said an expedition' should be sent to the Tad, on arriving there, should the Tesel be shut, where fßottitl be the.utk lity of such an'experlition ? That might bo urged,' but if before an expedition so seat conk) arrive at the Texel, a storm should arise and prevent the attainment of its object, that was no reason why the armament should not have been fitted out. Sir Home Popham had said, if they were in posses. session of both sides of the Scheldt, they could get up to Antwerp. Had they succeeded'in get. , titig possession of Cadsand, they would have had, both sides of the Scheldt, and the, accomplish. ment of tke ulterior objects of the Expedition might have followed. Sir It. Strachan had stated to them, that the weather wits more than commonly unfavourable for the season of the year. Under all the circumstances, he hoped the House would find no difficulty in agreeing to the gallant Gene ral's resolutions. On the 10th of October it was not known that peace would be concluded between France and Austria. It was not 'till the 30th that peace was actually signed ;' and, on the 9,lth and 27th, Lord Liverpool wrote to general Don, respecting the destruction of the works, and the evacuation of the island. As to the retention of Walcheren for such a period, Tie thought Austria might probably, through that circumstance, have obtained better terms than might otherwise have bbea granted. Another consideration which might justify retentials was we.had reason to believe unhealthy season was about to subside. Dr: Keitia l wrote, that as the frost set in thu sick appeared to get better. The works` of Flushing could not be destroyed earlier than they were, as it wise, neressary the army should be entirely embark.: ed 61'4. He was not insensible to the loss we: had sustained. • He did not undervalue those brace fellows who had lost their lives at Wal. chervn : but lie did not think, with a Noble Lord, " that they were sacrificed to the manes' of Austria's fallen greatness," - nor As .an Hon. Gentleman had said, " that they fell victims to Ministerial weakness." He was surprised at some of the expressions uttered by Gentle Men op posite. Did they think their opponents were nut men ? They could not think so, as they 'meat know them to he anxiously alive to the feelings of humanity. He would say no more, but that he should give the resolution of the gallant General I his cuponrt. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER felt extreme regret that, in' the present exhausted state of argument, he should be obliged to coter into a 1•,n4 discussion, not only at that ed.' vaticed hoar, but after the house' had been ocCu... pied is tlje smile consideration anti debate for five successive night. There was• nothing new to emninand attention ; but he apprehended that the [louse might consider him deficient in respect to it and to himself, if he withheld his,ab•ervations our the uccasion. In the course of-!the d.that.. 4 it had been stated on the OpPu. aka side,..that the Expedition was of such a na. tore, as to bein no sense justifiable ; but when it was in the nett sentence asserted that.this was the sole ground on which the failure stood, he felt the greatest consolation. Few were acquainted with what the real object "of the Expedition was, and ' the magnitude of the importance annexed to it. It was not intended for the destruction of a few ships, bet for a purpose of the most vital int. portaece to the nation and indescribable was the regret be experienced when it was found necessary to give op what had been acquired: As to the manner of the Expedition, it had been much talk. ed of, while its failings were ascribed to the im becility of those who directed it, and to the ince. picky of the Administration. Was it possible, that lie who might come lilt() the war councils in the event of the present Ministers being removed [No, no, from the Oppositions] —Was it possible, lie said, that he should attribute the failure to inca pacity?—When the last Administration were in power, (lid they husband the resources of the country' in the Expedition to Buenos Ayres. [No, no.] The Honourable Gentleman should recollect, that ho was now merely comparing re. spective merit ; [Cries of Hear! and No !] if the Hon. Gentleman changed sides, and-argued on the nature of the expedition, they would consider such a„comparison an object of national importance. —lt had' been said that the observations of his Noble Friend (Lord Castlereagh) were ioap. likable to what concerned the House; but in his opinion whatever in any manner referred to a tittliject of such importance, it behoved that House strictly to examine them. The military opinions .delivered at the Bar should have baen more re. spear(' ; and the authority of General Brownrigg should have as much weight as that of any Gen. tlemati opposite. It seemed to have been quite forgotten by the other side, that when it was de sirable to attack the means or annoyance to this country, even the destruction of the bason at Flushing wet impdrtant. • Such was the opinion of Lord Nelson, Slrfli Popham, and every ex perienced Naval Officer ; and of such importance was the destruction of Antwerp, that Ministers (vetild have 4 P.ceii justifiable, if, for the accom plishment of this and, they ran even' greater risk than they did on the present occasion. The means which were there of building at once nine or ten ships of war—the harbour capable of con,. tanning SO more, it combined to make it an object of „the greatest exertion. He was much surprised when, ho beard the false( syllogism respecting the,, Scheldt. Notwithstanding every imputation, he never had heard any thing so absurd from hie. Noble Friend. When the state of Austria and. France was so critical, when the balance of fat was suspended between the two Powers, the, stuallest,assistance was useful ; then was else time to consider what our means were , an d h ow, we should apply them. If, as it had been recommend- , ettby some, the'Expedition had gone to Germinyi of Spain, every 'attempt •oU thSt kind* would hittel proved abortive. If Lord Wellington's'arnrY l were int-seated, from thu posture of elreirevjr . stead of a, service it o mild have been an injury: s if it had been sent to the North, it wudld hate • -~.~,-- • S . 1 I _ _, !ailed; if to &chi', dertion was there idtpeisiblr. In a word, any expedition, when the time should be protracted, was totally out of the question; fur the resources of the country Would not be compe. tent to supply such an army ,for any levels of time. We werecalled on by our. allies fur lance • and no other mode of effect presented it.. self but that which was pursued. lie acknow. lodged tnat Government, previous to the Klptr . • dition, had been informed of the armistice ; —but he would ask, was, •er was not the necessity of the. object strengthened by this oc•• cerrence 2—However it might be doubted by Gentlemen en the opposite side, it must be ad. milted, that in the state of the war between Ana.. tria and France, they afforded a diversion ,to us, however we ifforded a diversion to tbem,[Hear ! hear !]--The converse of this proposition, cannot be denied—of time and season we had no choice; we were to look only to the period when we could accomplish our ends, ant! it 'must be acknowledged that though the means were insufficient, our object was great. From the evidence adduced can it be stated that the object wu impracticable? We certainly never contemplated it but as one ex. posed to risk ; yet it must be recollected that had not disease spread its malignant ravages, failure, nor any other disaster,- would have succened, ...Bat when It is stated that the.glory of the British arms is for ever tarnished, it •is Imo possible to conceive what the state of that mind is, which makes suck an assertion. [Loud sheering.] No, it is not tarnished, unless by the statement resulting from a quality of oppo. eition • which never fails to rise against the most • salutary 'Measure% "'Witt respect So-lise lesprac: ticability of the measures, it• has bun stated that the wind and weather were adverse; it mast then be taken into consideration, that if it be dc. nominated justice to attach •disgrace and censure tolailtires arising solely from these, we must take leave of all claims to glory, and determine new to go on an expedition again. [4oud cheering.] It has been noticed that on account of those •ele. meats it was necessary to set out before midsam. mer; that when the Expedition arrived, the sea. son was such as ought to have been expected.— This assertion, however, can:tut be maintained ; for, from the statements of iir R. Strachan and Sir R. Keats (to use the expression of the lat. ter), the weather was most unkind sod adverse; it had been observed that the direction of the wind ' was favourable; it is true, the direction Was so, but very good effect win destroyed 17 its violence pear, hear !] —That this cause should be applied to his Mejesty's. Ministers, is not a fair nor just ground- of accusation.— It was the opinion of the Admiral, that pro. 'Med the right bank of the Scheldt was se. cured, it would be easy to conduct the fleet to Satitvliet ; but the Gentlemen pf the oppo. site side had - declared that the opinions of the Ge. nerd! Officers were-totally unfavourable to the pro. ject. Now if we but consider the opinion of the Officer most unfavourable of all, it will be found that he conceived the obtaining the Object would be unattended by any danger ; for it was not of the safety of the approach to Antwerp he was doubtful, hut. of the return from it, - and this through the apprehension that a large force might asslanble and endtitger the retreat. A strong evi. denco ref the force of the country appears front the account ot the 11th of 'Angst, which states that the enemy's force in the neighbonitiond of Antwerp, 'Borgeo.op.Zoom, &c. consisted of 26,000 men, 2000 •of which were two or three regiments of French guards, . 1200• regular troops, the rest of pressed men, &e. This is a satisfac. tory proof of the want of the means _of opposi. lion ; these forces were all divided in the va.; rious towns, yet, it was said, that they were all in Antwerp, not :thinking that Lillo and the other forts were to be supplied from this. It wet mot fair to state things in this manner. The Ho. .nourable Gentleman opposite had asserted that the almoner in which the expedition was conducted was not according to the designed Ohne It is true, it was not ,Sir H. Popham's orders that Flushing.was to be taken; it was a simultaneous movement, and it can be learned from Genacat Brownrigg's opinion, that after the-investment t:M. Flushing every other object could be accomplish. ed. Another difficulty seems to have occurred from the expiession, that when a " sure footing" . was established in Walchcren, Sir J. Hope should then proceed to South Ituveland. The mean. ing of this was simply, that when a !adding, should be effected, thew South Beteland was to have been the next object ; • and this, in point of fact, was accomplished on the 3d of August. It will be perceived, from inspect. ing the orders of the Admiralty, that the invest. ment was to have taken place by sea ; it would have been totally impossible then to threw rein. forcements into Flushing. • It could not be de. claret], that the capture of Cadsand wasno object; but, above alt, itnattst be.. denied that there was any force collected ,in it; for if the wind bad per. mined a lauding to take place on the 30th, there was no garrison to oppose its destruction; and .free passage was opened up the Scheldt. 'lt had been stated that there was a .deidlency of boats, but this was not the case ; there were butte enough, but Irons the • tiolonce of the weather they could not act, of course no fault could be found with that part of the operation ; for if the army had secured the two rides of the river, on. the 30th, they could have passed free, and arrived, in duo time at Bath;; - unhappily, however, an • untoward combination of even ts precluded the el. * pectell success. From the'atidence it appeared, - that the buoying the river alone -would have it. • qulred &week ;• but the opinion of Sir R. Knott', an officer, eiperienced, and who was on the spoto declared that the whole might be a work of three 'days. It is unfair' from mere evidence to declaim the imP*4 4I O.I:4IPI At Majesty's •MiniSten complicbing itieWsiotivro ; tAllt nb. expectation can formgdocsogOot t ikhere is sigier. 116494 P910444404e5e.• Mar 1] .give ttre 9.er4weet) off' ctads' t eels..,entioisvopsg . reinbit lion, and place himself in his situation ; but at the same ti ne he (Mr. Perceval) should be lallowedsonte credit for endeavouring to keep hit* •. out of it [.if laugh]. The Right Hon. G..mtle. •• • . 1 .- , 1 • - • ; ~.:~.. • 4 , ;;