The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1809-01-20 00:00:00

• hihty of thereby enabling them to keep the flail agaiust their powerful enemy. We have had in stances in our history of our being before in it simi lar predicament, The independence of the Ijoited Provinces was effected principally by the assist ance of England. Queen Elizabeth, for heir own safety, u ) raiust the designs of Spain, audited those who revolted against its tyranny Rad oppres sion ; and 1 wish that Ministers ha 4 adverted, in the present instance, to the conduct of that wise Princess, and her wise adnaiuistratiou. None of the preseut Miuiatry can think themselves disgraced by a comparison with Lord Surbigh ; and yet we find that Queen Elizabeth, pretend as she was by the power, the rancour, the persevering hostility of Spain, did not hazard the whole force of her dominion*, nor proceed to send uny uniober of troops shroud, wltheut some assu,..inue of safety iu case of disasters. She, by the advice of her 31i rioters, took care to possess what were called cau tionary towns, owl thereby assured herself of a tq.t.eut, and a sure place to said reinforeements, as well as a secanty to iirr, that tie united pro vw.mis should not ab.indou her in the contest tii r hick they were: engaged. 1 know not wit it has been said betwixt the English and Governments upon that subject ; but, I perceive, that in His Maje.ty's late declaru 'nit, it is stated, that there are certain oblige teiati which are considered a. equally lauding as the most voltam' treaty. From what 1 yet know of the matter, l ....moot agree in the propriety of til:y town sentiment; I should not, however, think of allilltiollittg them in the hour of misfOrtuale ; bat I cannot admit, that we ehalild consider our . preseut obligatiollll in the light cola molenin Treaty ; for What is the nature of suet' an engeteeineut ? It is entered into in u moment of hurry and precipi tatioit ; it has not been laid before us, and, there fore, is, as yet, unauthorised by Parliament ; and, tionsequeetly, Yoe may approve or disapprove, you iney erant or refuse supplies. Upon the whole, thee:fire, I knot not how an eingi 'gement of this sect is to be considered as equally feuding as the i.Ost it:Aetna treaty. But we now undenstand, there tt tOrmal tamps has heel' negociated, which it is intended to lay before the !louse, and . until that he cline I eanuot decide. I dare say the Holism: would naturally , he ineliited to receive, with the fon:test partmlity, every thing apparently tend tag to this nlv,intisge of the Simlitisb cause; hut, tier, the state of rear warfare. udder such eircutu staii as I have already stated, and as Ilia Ma jesty's 'Ministers have directed, is truly 'striate dinery. If the Speniarile preferred that mule of warfare, which was cf a desulterneature, hatted of a continued warfare, then the British army cant] not have been of the least use in Spain; for a Ihrit.,4l 'army; there must necessarily have pursued a plan wholly different from that of the. Spaniards. I ;view not which system of warfare was proper to he adopted ; but I say the two systems are cum p -tely incompatible. The Spaniards, in their own country, anditursatie; a desultory mode of attaiik, have the power of ilispeisime and rallying ague', ot:cosion might requite ; but this was unt the case with e regular army. If you introduce the one amongst the other, you must necessarily de stroy the celerities and efficacy of one of them. We have already seen this exemplified in the Spa pint-Its —we have rem their regular army defeated, and *boost destroyed by the enemy; while in ano ther quarter we have fonnd their irregularforee very onecessfu!, winch spews that the two modes of fighting are perfectly inconsistetet. Now, Sir, let us lee what has been the vigour of Ministers upon this oceasion. By vigour, I presume, is meant a rompt energetic use and application of the public force. Will you tell us of one imitative of such promptitUde and energy . I presume you cannot ray it was displayed iitPortugal, nor in Spain, by Sir John Sioore's toiniug into the field after the Spanish army had been defeated ? It was not then useful, because it was unable to keep the field by itself. It is Cu extraorilinavi circumstance, that the Convention of Portugal is made to rest in a great degree upon the speedy applicability of th a t wrinV in Spain, and yet the General of that army, Str Hew Delrymple, tells you there was no pre paration made for its reception in that country for some considerable time after the Conven t ett was co ..chided. Can it then be said, that the ettlect of tile Convention was carried into effect, or that ally time was gamed by it ? if inch measures deserve the name of being energetic, or useful, I sin at a loss to know what sort of measures world be deemed the contrary. As to that part of the Speech which relates to Sweden, this country is placed in such a situation that I do not see how we eau refuse to give the stipulated supply; but I Cannot h..lp lamenting, that there is not the smallest probability of any yawl arkine., fro.n Sweden con tenting to persevere. We are told that the King afSwedeu deserves oar support the more, because' Is refused the overtures made te' Men at Edited's, relative to excluding the Spaniards frAn the newt 'anon. Perhaps herleservesthe applauseofuisiskistil for his bravery and pt 'severance ; but what gerid, I tray ask, can he thereby render to Spain or Eng land ? When this vote of supply was proposed lust year. I ventured to say that the moat prudent use Sweden could make tee the money. was to procure a peace for herself, as it was t o tally Impossible for ker to resist tier enemies, or tie of the least *chanter to her Allies. 'Nothing can be more hurtful to us it: the eves of the world than rudeavottring to involve the smaller countries in Eutove in hostilities with France. The immense superiority of our Herat power, our commerce, and prodigious wealth, enable as to look to a long (ma tt Mantle of war, perhope with safety ; but what is t sett to the Purees of the Continent ? their re ro.irkes are not great ; they have no means of of fence against France ; 1104 nhat advantage can we derive from the inisfortones cf other countries ? la,trat of being time arbiter and protector of the Cinitinent, we oboultl, by so doing, be holding up ourselves as the cause of their . !levity said that; emelt upon what comes and •r our notice iu the Speech itself, 1 most now take the liberty 'of swag ig an obeervation or two upon what the Silets.:a omits to state—f Mr:Mitt regard to what re lates to tivijiiited States of A inericat. Mi4h cone- Goa tr!eatie has taken place betwixt the teaseriean (lover sod this coo:dry, vs well as between Attriertril and FratOlCe; and we know that a direct overture issii lately made by that power to us. seal Isl to rejected. When dt t last Stirlen of Puha- Went concluded, we left America iu a State of hos tility and alienation, apparently with great pvoba. bility of a connexion with Frame leading her into a state of war with us. The commerce of America has suieredasuch—ber own measure of embargo, (whether Ate or not) was iti itself a prodigious re straint on her trade, and indeed nearly tended to its total annihilation. It was always alleged that we were justified in our " Orders in Council," be cause that neutral power had not taken the neces sary steps to obtain from France a revocation of her decree. The American Government seems to have conducted itself with much activity on this subject. An application was made to France, which 1 think seems to acquit that Government of any wish to favour France more than England, and also to ac quit her of a desire to do any ttriug more than pro tecting her own interest. America now tells us, that she will take off the embargo with regard to England, and enforce it us far as regards France, the latter power being the first transgressor against her commerce, and tliat we shall thereby have all the advantage of her mule confined to us.— The Right Honourable Gentleman opposite, in an answer, assigning his reason for refusing that pro position, states, what I think rash anil uujust &able, that His Majesty cannot avoid hostility with Aine rice, by a concession, not made to America, but to Francf. Now do the facts of the case bear him wit in this assertion ? Did she not enable you, by that offer, to make your own " Orders in Council' . infinitely inure eflearloos than they otherwise could here been ? America suffered in her com merce, you sutured also, cud you formerly said, that America had not applied to France to recal her Decree ; she has now made that appli cation,• and yet you will not accede to her proposition. The Right If mai neable G en tl eman assigns fur his conduct sootlwr reason, which, if he does not review with vigour and energy, must, with deference ro him, .seeiii to imply a degree of levity and intoxication, arisiog from momentary success ; he tells the Americans, that the system of blockade is harmless, and is now broken np into contemptible fragments. If the plan to be adojited with America is to be continued in this way, 1 sin not surprised that His Majesty's Speech should have been silent on the subject. When .the papers shall be laid before the House which have heen piornisetl, I shall then he able to eider more fully into the discussion of the affairs of Spans, • I am anxious that this coutitty *lmola employ it &aeons towards effecting our siernianent interest.— I no desire to disturb the unanimity of the House so this occasion, hut I thought it my duty to state my opinion upon these points of puLlie affairs. as other oppo ties will arise. The par ticulars to winch 1 wish to call the attention of the Hon-c' on a future occasion. are the disgraceful Convetitiou iu 7ortugal. the conduct of Ministers in re. , :tril to the Spanish war, and also their con duct with r•spect to America. With the assist ance of my frieods. I itite:O. as soon as possible. to bring &se matters before l'atliaintot for dis cassion anti Ater this pretious notice of my intent I cannot surely he accused of mak nig r factions opporiticia. in order to disturb the proceedings of 'Ministers, without beuelitiag the otnintry. - Lord CASTLEREAGH began by observing. that as the Right lion. Geutteinaa was willing to con cur in the Address, and had also an intention to propose to the consideration of Parliament an in quiry at a future day, lie wools( forbear from tres passing long upon their tints, and entering into a minute discussion of the plots to which that Gen tleman had called their attention. He would not have thought it necessary to trespass on them now, if the speech were not of a more hostile complexion than the occasion seemed to justify ; but, whatever the opinion of that Gentleman was, as to the con 'duct of the war, and the vi A mir of the present Mi nistry, he felt little apprehension that they would bear a contrast with their predecesaora; and little doubt that the country would derive no consola tion Croon the experiment of a change. It would require no great effort of recollection to carry them back to the period when the Right Hon. Geode man nod his Colleagues were in office, and %ben they evinced their ability by doing nothing. this Lordship (down that the first instance which the Right Hen. Gentleman hit.l given of the vi,zoar of the present Ministry, was one most unfortu tritely selected for the establishment of his censure. He bad stated, as a cha:ge, the circumstance of their having sent a fleet to the Baltic, when the spring admitted naval interference; but so neces sary, and so opportune, was that interference, upon our part, that the Marquis de la Remain acknow ledged it, and represented the delay of another day as fatal to the cause in which we had embark ed. With respect to the propriety of sending a .iiititary force to Sweden, His Majesty's Govern ment had other opinions on the subject than their own; they had opinions from a quarter, which, with all his respect fur the Right flon.Gentleman's judwnent, lie must still consider superior even to his—the opinions of His Swedish Majesty's Govern meat; and he felt no difficulty in stating, that thy troops were seut out at the instigation of We Swe dish Majesty's Minister resident here : that Mi iii,tcr was desirous to tight the battles ef his coun try. he preferred it to the Right Hour. Gentlenieu's adyltle to *ell that countl. With respect to the circumstances attetoluig the abrupt departure of Sir John Moore, he felt confident that the House would not then call upon him for an explanation. Meer I hear It was sufficient for him to state, that their confidture in that meritorious Officer was expressed in the command to which they had since appointed him; a command, the most import ant in its object and consequetices, that ever was comniitted is 1111C4 %Vail respect to die injury of our trade in the Baltic by gun-boats, against which our ships could not act. lie differed from the Right I loneizaible Gentleman as to its extent ; that in calm weather, or near the shore. where our shipi timid not pursue them, they might do ate,- chief to oar merchme alto with inipuniti, was a truth he did not wenn to contradict. Bet he as ked whether the W , .ht Honoundile Gentlemen pre- Mailed to say, that our ships had no influenee upon the Illgt4glllll field ill Ile Baltic ? Tins he could not. Oar tr.ele was not injured. as represented ; on thei.untrary, it was so succeAful, that- the ex tensive end influence which France exer cised veer the rest of the world, was scarcely per its orratiou upon Sr4i6ll commeice. it; Lordship next procectleil to retaatk some genera grounds of reasoniug adopted by the Right Hon. Gentleman, on the application of the forces in this arduoni contest; lie had said, there were two ways of conducting the war, the one irregular, the other by a regular anti systematic force ; he had pro duced as an authority, in favour of the latter me thod, the paper of precautions ruldislied by the Junta of Seville; but he ' , ditties' WO reasons for establishing the weight of that authority ; the fact was, that this paper appeared at. an early period of the war, while it was yet in its first stage, and could only be considered a provincial warfare. Subsequently, however, the plan sus abandoned Ut their practice, and regular armies were adopted ; it was only then they were enabled to make effec tual resibtauce, and reduce the enemy, iii the glo rious battle of Baylen, under their victorious arms. No sooner was Dupont's defeat accomplished, than they saw the advantages of a systematic regular force, and adopted it without any invitation from this country. He contended that the option of a warfare upon such a principle was made by Spain herself, and that it would be a stigma upon tile po licy of this country to refuse its concurrence. It was stated that cautionary towns slietdil have been demanded, but he knew of none that could nrooter any beneficial purpose, with the exception of the fortress of Coati. north of Siiain being the seat of war. was the tiatund theatre to which their operations should he di rected, but he submitted it to the judgment and the tlf line of every one, whether His Majesty's Ministers should have demanded those towns nutter such circumstanes, and delayed the embarlation of the troopountil they were agreed to Lie 'surrendered up ? With respect to the option of Ministers, in sending to Portugal rather than to Spain, in the first iiirtance, there were other reasons beside the fallacy of defending the Passes of the Pyreures. The Honourable Gentleman seemed to think that an army has nothing to do but land, and set off the nest morning, like a ship that meats no interruption. But there was, he said, a wide difference in the progress of an army ; it has numberless obstructions and delays, amid if mili tary excursion must stand still until it can move the next day after lauding, it would he likely tto stand as still as the former Administration, te which the Right Honourable Gentleman belonged. But the Gentleman said, the army had 110 specific object, that it went to seek its fortune. 'lO this his Lordship olsjected, t:tat it had sit object, and went with determinate orders to pursue its course to the 'Paps. His Lordsltio hail no hesitation to admit that Sir Arthur Wellesley bad authority to dispose the force otherwise, if it seemed advis able, for it was impossible that, without it, he could uvail himself of the advantages that might occur in a elate be fluctuating and utwertain.— He appealed to the recollection of Geutlesnen, whether the delay of a single day did woe rouse the impatience and temper of the nation Nos He represented it us a eircuirodance highly pleam ink to his feelings, that the Bight Honourable Gentleman would shortly proceed to investiga tion, and giro him an opportunity of explaining, in detail, to the country, the conduct he had pursued. He could assure the Right Honour- able Genticmau, that Ministers had omitted nothing necessary to the ativencement of the great cause ; and that so far front camplaioing of his charge, he considered it a perronal favour, that he should hare the advantage of his industry on a subject that must nelotind to his advantage.— With respect to His Majesty's disapprobation of the terms of the Convention, which was represented as ineonsist,At with tiring the Tower guns, his Lordship stated, that it was rather an impeach ment of the Right llououraule Getaleinan'a con sistency if he voted for the Address, without seeing something to admire in the Conven tion ; however objectionable, in some parts, there certainly was Cause fur exultation, in hav ing freed an ally of an enemy, and if Govern ment had withheld front the public this general testimony of applause, they would be censured as they Are now for having afforded it. With respect to His Majesty's answer to the city of London, his Lardship expressed his confidence that all the Bight Honourable Gentleman had said would never l ivraita de the City that anv thing d7sreartectful was intended. They had culled upon His Majesty, not to ascertain the crime, but to rue Wish the criminal ; sod in this light it was con sidered theonsisteut with justice and the Cousti tution. Mr. WHIMS/ID Mal, it was not his intention to answer all that the Noble Lord had stated about the glorious Convention of Chant. lie was con vinced every heart it, the country rejoiced in the victory our army had gained at Vimeiru. His Lordship had told them, that His 'Majesty's an swer to the City of I..ointoti was only a gentle re , proof, to prevent an interference; yet they were , called on by His Majesty's Speech to e ns demon the Convention. He was informed, that Sir Arthur Wellesley so far differed from tike Noble Secretary, as to the equipment of the army coder his command, that he purchased horses at Cork, out of his private purse, to be used us artillery horses. Ile could not sit easy and hour him extel the campaign as • glorious this. It was fanciful, and did nut shew much sen sibility, when the largest army the country ever had in a foreign land, was in such a critical and perilous situation as that of Sir John Moore's ; 1 when a Messenger had arrived that day with in formation, that Bonaparte, at the head of his great army, was pressing on the right of that officer. Before the House . might Ilse that night, news might arrive, the thoughts of which made him shud der. There was no man less inclined than he was to depietute what the gloomy result would be, but he believed every person of :my dis cernment partit iputed in his fears. Ile then conankented on the several events in Spain and Portugal, since the close of the last Session of Parliament, in a most com e rehensive ',hooter, and concluded by remarking Lie precariousness n: our situation with America, and his usionialimeht that nn mention hail been made of that nation its His Majesty's speech. - Mr. Secretary Cattsfitt: went into a .:41• fenre of the metal WI lilinisten., and contender!, that Purtimal was the first and best point in which to have commenced the campaign. It wilinpos ethic, he for this country to courdnat to t IC pro pnaltinn hunielly America, throngit Mr. Pinituty while their proclamations forbad our ships of war to enter their harbours, at the saute time t hat the French shipsof war were allowed that privilege; as we might seurl our merchant ships and goods by that proposition, to the United States, &aid the French could hare their verse ' s of war lying at the tuouth of the different hai hoots., to capture them. It was under this impression that be had sent that note, so offensive to the Hon. Gentleman of rite. ' Mr. Tismitmr, in a bow 4 and able speech, took a comprehensive view of the Continent ; and con tended, that the measures of Miiiister/s had heel§ inadequate, and that the resources of the citatory had been squandered, with:Art any advarrusge to ourselves, or those nations which we have been con nected with. He also eantioned Ministers against ...hewing too haughty a mien towards America, and remiarled them of the effects that arose from the same kind of conduct before the commencement of the last Au u •:ican war. Ar. Mr.vEollols EIRNRY ROSE said. that, doting the'tirne he was in America, hi had never lieerii it alleged that the Orders in Connell were the eutise that induced that Government to hiy en t,e burg°. On the contrary, the brut i:itimation ue bad received to that elect. was on his arrival in this country. Some other Gentlemen said a few words in expla natiou, when the motion for the Addresi Att. - put end agfeed to; uutl a Committee appointiM to pi 0. pare and report the same. Lord HENRY PITTY wished to be informed fi'oaa the opposite side of the Ilouse, whether any app.. sition would be made, it', as he intended, lie should move that the minutes of the Court of Inquiry, ape pointed to investigate into the Contention of Ciu :a, be laid before the House .r Lord CasTheiteamit replied, he knew of no pule. lie reason for objecting to emit a motica. Mr. PsTatt Moose meet° Migge,t the propriety, in the present distressed state of the country, of Ministers, before they value to ask for supplies for the current year, to lay before that House an ac count of the manner in which the sums grant, d the last year had been espended. Mr. Huscissoe replied, that such accounts would be regularly laid before Parliament. Lard HENSIr 'PeTTY observed, the question was, when ? for if they were not to la. produced till towards the tibia:: of Parliament, they otiii;lit as well not he produced at all. Mr. tiedßlK4o,l theu said, it was probable they would he laid before them by the ezth of March. Lord ( . 4iTI.V.REAGIi gave notice, that he would, ou Monday titest, move .a Vote of Thanks to ti (Avers commanding at the hattie of Vitneira. The House adjourned at Hulf-past o'Clork. THEATRE-ROYAL, O:MKT-LANE—This F.veniii:. the New Comedy of Atm' .0.113 WIFE; OK, :WOKE tie.- KIM TULIN Use; to which will be added, Koattiow. Cotoor ; ea, IIMILL441:1111 THEATRE ROYAL, HAY-MARY:FT.—This the Trogedy of GAMEYAKIR; wilts HARLMai.I.I% •).0 MoTilleK C~sE; ca, TUB GOLDIN EeC. PILICL OF STOCKS, TC dual. GS ti--4 per Cents., Stik—S THE BIiATISH ;onsols. 05i/- Cent s., Mil _ LON DON, Fratmv, JAI:MARY "20. SS. The Session of Parliament was opened yestcrii day. The attendance in both Houses was greater than was expected. We hive given a full account in our preceding columns. There was no amend ment to the Addre►s moved in either noose. Mi nisters gave notice of a motion for a Vote of Thanks to the Lieucrals who commanded in Portugal. We have received Dutch and Paris Papers to the 7th inst. Their contents are of great importance. They give an accurate account of the movements of Butt aI'ARTE. He left Madrid on the J2d to attar : General Morita, and reached the right wing of tile British army on the 35th. The Meniteur supposes that a battle must have been fought ou the 27th or esti' ; but we know from Sir Juua Monaes &s -prat:hes, which are dated the slat, that notiiiii4 but skirmishing had taken place up to that date.— The Treasury Journal. have coutroded, that, sq, late as the nat. BoNAPriltliE had not, in person. ap proached our army, while tie repeatedly imisert-" . 1. with equal cuididenoe, that Sir Joao Moom.'. dispatches, which state, that the enemy's infautr:i. though not yet come up, was near, rested upon good and accurate information; and we firther seated, that BON•PAIITE was actually is person 4 the head of his army. The Dutch and Fre:: it Papers confirm our account. The force left behind to watch Madrid is Ileacr the command of the Dukes of 11ANTTIC and lir; - Luau, subject to the orders of King Josetrai, now dubbed Boa APART L's Lieutenant. Itegiatera have been opened in Madrid for the signature of than: who are dispose) to profess fealty and ailegiauce to BONArAITE, and their attachment to his per son sad govern.-aent. Thirty . Caousund fathers of tCinilies are represented as having submitted to this act of self-debasement. It was reported votifirlently yesterday, that a par that change is about take phrase in Adininistratreu: Marquis WELLEsLay to succeed to Mai place of First Lord of the Treasury, in the room of tier ' Duke of Poavratata ; Lord MELVILLE to be First Lord of the Admiralty, in place of Lord BILL , uRAVE ; and Earl Motaa to succeed Lord Ca:- TI.MMAGH, in the War Department. Yesterday, the Loan MAYOR. held a Court ci Common Gained, at Cruildball. Such MetosL:s of the Court as are Goveraors, ex-ogieb. of Christ's Hospital, presented a Keporl of the pro ceedings lately had at the Hospital, in respect to the a.hris! , ioto of improper objects auto that Cha r*, wit.eh wars read, and ordered to he entered ou the Joiiroals ; and, after • warm debate, a Com mittee was appointed, on the motion of Mr. WA.TiIInAN, to inquire into the power of the Court, to obtain an inquiry sad a reform of the abuser existing Ur the preseutamin of children into the said Ile pitul. Some other business of *Mum interest was abn disposed of. LONDON ! Pelmet% by (;. D tVIDNON, Did Etosorti-4 inert, Cat ry-atri et, awl polished .t tits tart, No 13, bark of NS. trmeat's Aurrh, rtr%i.d, Ipy J. WHITE, of P4llle piare...4lrorrs, Le. for this Pigott. Seat to the Olitas, wool patil) b bill be duly attended to. 714T71 ".'"V;Sq .. ~~ Ser. $1 s. 0 10 Mil The ton, AI ram Ant'. Rol lir. V Ha Vr. I Lauri 'EI: oast 41[•1 %till 1 ( 11 1, vslll 011 r .. « , r h Co Mr. Mr. 1 Ada Scivi Lege den: Is PI 141 C: aei lhoi Gem —0 Poi - N ...i is - ai - PP tee WI ear far fort. Or' Fall i 'sl. site' VMS •101.4 IMG kis Hp Pal Aim Ma eitt Col 11•00 gi. 4161 th tAi for gni of ell U•l WI PC! In im 17 ti a ii, ii