The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1809-01-25 00:00:00

iNitra 'ss‘the Most vaitieble part of the ermstitar tion ; if so, they were unfit to sit on such a Coin - utittee ; they would render it 'inspected by the peo ple. He regretted that the appointment of this Committee was taken nut of the hands of a coun try Gentleman to be placed in those of the Right Hon. Secretary ; and represented the consequences now .apparent as the natural result of such a pro ceeding. Mr. BIDDULPH observed that they should em ploy themselves rather in a prospective, than a re tvispective consideration; Cu opinion in which Mr. Broptun concurred, and winch lie suppori ed. Mr. ELLISTON observed that lie went into the Committee, with a mind intent upon the discharge of his duty, mini never saw a set of Gentlemen more inclined to theperforinance of the same, than the different ildeinhers who composed it. Topics were introduced by the lion. Chairman, which went, in his opi;tiou, to affect the prerogative of the Crown. They were appointed to save money to the public, laaws.inold not hold out expectations beyond their i...rer to realize ; it was not their province to ihs. ca.. general questions of policy, moan less to -countenance doctrines, hurtful to the Constitution. Mr. BANKES, iii reply, observed, that as he had tieeo branded with a dangerous attack upon the erpostitution, and an ealleavoiir to propagate WU.. tinients inimical to its spirit, he took this oppor- Unity to defend himself ; he would therefore con t.-ailiet it as flatly as one gentleman could contra dict another, mill assert that the charge was false. Mr. Sit IItPE sni 1, it was peculiarly desirable to Bare the assistailee of the Hon. Gentleman who had formerly acted us Orme:so b for he was sure his conduct deserved none of those iasinuatimis that had been thrown out against it. lie could not help thinking that there were many measures of omission, as well as emnmission, to be looked tie.o and remedied, hat as to these he should after wards state his sentiments at greater length. The CUANCULLOR of the EXCllEintit further observed, that as it was thought great blame at tached as to the delay that took place in investi gating public secomits, it was surely desirable that the Committee should he appointed as soon as posible, in order to expedite that inquiry. Ile, for his part, should be always ready to lend any aid iii his power, in order to produce them in a state tit for the consideration of the House. %Vali respect to what had pawed as to the Bank, au Iluliourable Gentleman seemed to think that mat ter was extremely mismanaged, and he :weir the Honourable Chairmen' did not think it was carried to that extent wh:cls he sii4;;ested; but he could assure the I louae, that Abiesters had applied them selves widi the IlltituA assiduity upon that subject. that greai public gaud was thereby reudered, acid that the ins rit of it was solely owing to the I:,:!zestioa, ;Atha Committee. If the Committee aw Il.rined, a. he proposed, were to be coeuidered as di,ableil from acting, owiug to the variety of opinions which might exist amongst them, it might as well be said that this House itself could not act for the public good, on ace,ot t of the variety of sentiments that prevailed upon most points, slid upon tms very question. Some were of opinion that this Committee should be modelled in one way, some in soothe,, and some seemed disposed to say there should be no Committee at all. As one of the objects he had in view was to aspedite public investigation, it bed struck him as not pryer to bring in persons eutirely new and un acquainted with the business of such Committees. He wisi led to think, that if he appointed it as be. fore, they were more likely to have the assistance of the former Chuirmun; and he therefore hoped, that that Hosourelile Gentleman would take into his consideration the importance of the subject, and ,consider that lie performs a public duty, by again accepting of the office. A Noble Lord opposite had said, that any Committve pro pored bye Chancellor of the Extlequer would be objectionable; lie would wish to ask him if healed his colleagues had any 61101 feeliiig when they were in office? Th. re were several instances of winder appointments in the history of this Committee. Let them compare former lists with that now sug gested, and say whether any of them were better than tilt one mow proposed. He could assure the Hauer, that this we: a fair selection of persons fit ta constitute such a Committee of Inquiry ; and he trusted the House could not say they were such us to accord with his political views, rather than to attend to the public good. He had always thought that the best mode of appoinment was to take per sons of different opinions, as that would be atteud ed with the happiest result. Mr. Emitsrox and Mr. BAPIRES then severally explained, in col Is , Cli111:11C0 of [l:c expressions which the latter Gentleman had used in the color! of the d bate. Mr. Ilankes said, that he only meant t•. state that that Hon. Gent. hail, when a Mt oilier of the fonuer Cominittce, forint-it his opinion upon lake and erroneous priuciples, and he by no menus iit.sint to allude to his personal character. Mr. Ei.t.tsvow expressed himself satisfied with this exp;anation. Lord H. PETTY added. that lie believed the /10111AliC Journals wank! not confirm the [16a4.411011i of t to Chane►llor of the Exchequer. Nlr. Poxsoillir observed, that the Right Hon. Gentleman seemed to have misunderstood his No 'He Friend near him; hr believed that Noble Lord It I I 01:11y meant, tir..t the House were not, in ge neral, disproved to receive lists suggested by any &nixie individual. nod much less one proceeding from a Chancelinr of the Exchequer. With re aswet to former hats, there was this difference be tween them and the present our, thut those on the oppip.its, sale did net think it Koper to objeet to them ; but now the Right Hop. Geutlertian was ',rewriting a list so objettmunhl., as to iodise,. the former Chairman to decline acLeeting the office. Mr. JOHNSTON stated his great concern to Ind tits question stirred as it Irul been : because h: feared its ultimate tenileney must he to lead t to public to an immrirtion. that there was no real desire to curry cm reform for the public good. If the iiiipoiuttnent of the Committee was thus to atop alto4ether, he wits afraid the Members of that Howie would have a lie-ions tusk to answer for the I mission to their Constituents. Mr. W11.111:11Y011CF. thouTht it wmaW he very material that the }lowa shoull have somewhat more time allowed them to cousidtr of this matter. the appointment new proposed was such as to in- duce the Honourable Chairman to refuse again accepting that officw, which he had formerly filled with much advantage to the country and honour to his own character; and therefore he begged the House to pause before they adopted a hue of conduct that would have that ef fect. He could not help regretting, that the parties did not seem more disposed to give way to each other, so as to come to some conclusion beneficial to the character of the House and the Country. As it was. perfectly necessary that some thing should be done, he should propose, " That the House should come this night to a conclusion, only that a Committee be appointed," in order that a subsequent mot' may be made upon it. The Motion, " That a Committee be appoint ed to examine and consider the state of rub- ►ic Expenditure, in order to recommend such re trenchments as may he necessary," was then put from the Chair, and agreed to. DISPATCHES FROM SPAIN. The House were about to proceed to the other Motions for the appointment of the Committee of Finance ; when Mr. WHITBREAD rose and said— ,, Before we proceed to other business, I would wish to put a question to n Noble Lord opposite (alluding to Lord Castlereagh), which the non-formation of a House yesterday prevented sic from proposing mower. I would wish to know why in the public Gezerte there have been no dispatches published us coming directly from the gallant and much-la mented Sir John Moore ? I hope that it is only an omission in the Documents printed, which His Majesty's Ministers mean to reu.edy by a speedy publication of them." toed CASTSBREAO/—" I rather think it is a novel mode of procedure to put questions to His Majesty's Government, as to the line of conduct they should adopt. I can assure the Honourable Gentleunne cud the House, however, that there has been no opinion give's in the dispatches received by Governmeut as to the transactions in Spain, which we will not be happy to communicate. — The dispatch he alludes to was not a dispatch which that gallant and much-lamented Officer con sidered as au official one when he framed it ; al though at the same time lie thought it proper to submit it to Government, to give what parts of it they thought proper. His Majesty's Govern ment have ulways advised His Majesty to make as full communications to the public as possibis, con sistent with the circumstances of the case to be stated. Nothing could have been more lionounible to that pinata officer than the dispatches he had transmitted; awl he belie tell it was consistent with his last wishes, that Government should use their discretion in regard to the publication of them." Mr. WIIITBREAD--. 1 1 certainly think that if that Hon. Officer expressed any wish upon the subject, that ought to have been an additional rea son for a more ample publication of them." Lord CASTLEIVBAGH-••" That Hon. Officer ex pressed no wish for a full publication." General CTEWART-..." As it may appear that the lamented General may have communicated his exact sentiments at the moment these dispatches were written, by their becoming hereafter public, I think it may be necessary to state what he said to me at the time he sent them off. Ile said he was extremely hurried at the time of sending home the dispatches ; and he had not leisure to write so fully as he could have wished ; and therefore as he had endeavoured to do his best in regard to the commu nication he was making, it must be entirely con fidential, leaving it at the same time to Govern ment to publish such parts of them as they might think right. He rather expressed a wish that they should be published, for if it transpired that he had sent home dispatches, and nothing be published, it might appear extraordinary ; at the same time leaving it entirely to Go vernment. Certainly some parts of the dispatches alluded to were of a delicate nature, but, as the greater part of them do so much credit to that great sad lamented character, I am satisfied my Noble Relation would have published them more fully, if be lied been aware of the anxiety of that General himself, and if the hurry of business had pertnitttsl loin to discriminate with accuracy what might be made public without detriment to the public service. I trust, therefore, that the greater part of these dispatches is such as Ministers may approve for publication, as I am satisfied that it will be to the army the greatest gratification they can receive." Lord CAITLEREAGII-•-" I certainly did not un derstaiid that the lion. and lamented Officer had expressed any such anxious wish upon the subject ; if I had thought so, 1 would certainly have en deavoured to discharge, to the utmost, that duty which amours due tat his memory. I can, however, assure the /louse, that Gover 1111 l ent inside such a communication as they, at the time they received these dispatches, deemed expealietit. Since it has been his wish, I certainly shall endeavour to exe cute it to the utmost of my power." COMMITTEE OF FINANCE. The !louse then resumed the proceedings as to the appointment of this (7ssuinsittee. Mr. Wltalt.ll'uttcs: moved, " That the debate be adjourned to Friday next." Mr. W. Furaur.a&t.D spoke against it, as he was. anxious that some uneliure should be immediately adople.l. and thnt it should not be delayed on ac count of the refusal of one individual to do his duty. The. motion of adjournment wig then pat, and a division took plum, when there appeared, tier the Adjournment, Ayes ri; Nees 143 Maijority for Ilirwarre as Strangers were not sigein admitted, but a di vision took place, which we understand was en Mr. Kinkel, briny proposed as Chairman 01 the c o m m itte r , when there appeared. Ayes HI Tu. —....,... Majority.. 64 Three oilier divisions took place, on some other of the Members Imposed. but we understand the ivittiro oarvi as self.' till by the Chancellor of the k;x4.losincr.—Adjouructl at Niue o'Clock. LONDON CilZfiTE EXTRAORDIN.II:Y, TUESDAY, .1 `lll AM •~3. Dotrraing-street, January 24, 1809. The Honourable Captain Hope arrived late last night with a dispatch from lieutenant-General Sir David Baird to Lord Viscount Castlereagh, ore of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is a copy : Nis Majesty's Ship Vile de Paris, at Sea, January 14, 111119._ _ _ Mir Lono—By the much-lamented death of Lieutenaut-General Sir John Moore, who fell in action with the enemy on the pith instant, it has become my duty to acquaint your Lordship, that the French army attacked the British troops in the position they occupied in front of Coronna, at about two o'clock in the afternoon of that day. A severe wound, which compelled Inc to quit the field a short time previous to the fall of Sir John Moore, ohliges me to refer your Lordship for the particulars of the action, which ass lung and oh stiwately contested, to the inclosed Report of Lieu tenant-General Hope, who succeeded to the 170111 tumid of the army, and to whose ability and ex ertions in direction of the ardent zeal and uncon querable valour of His Majesty's troops, is to be attributed, under Providence, the s uceew of the day, which terminated in the complete and entire r. and defeat of the enemy at every point of The Hou. Captain Gordon, my Aid-de-Camp. will h.ve the honour of delivering this dispatch, and will be able to give your Lordship any further information which may be required. 1 Itavc the houour to he, &c. D. BAIRD, Lieut.-Gen. Right lion. Lon! Viscount Castlereagh. 818 dlsksty's ship Audacious, off Corinna, dounary is, lion. _ . _ . Sts—ln compliance with the desire contained in your communication of yesterday, I avail myself of the first moment l have been able to command, to detail to you the occurrences of the action which took place in front of Comma, on the Wilt It will be in your recollection, that about one in the afternoon of that day, the enemy, who had its the morning received reinforcements, and who hail placed some guns in front of the right and left of his line, was observed to he moving troops towards his left dank, and forming various columns of at tack at that extremity of the strong and command ing positiop, which, ou the morning of the 15th, he had taken in our immediate front. This iadication of his intention was immediately succeeded by the rapid and determined attack which he made upon your division, which occupied the right of our position. The events which nu cuffed during that period of the action you are fully acquainted with. The first Atria of the enelasy was met by the Commander of the forces, and by yourself, at the head of the cui Regiment, and the brigade under Major-Generul Lord William ►ieutiuck. The village on your right became an object of obstinate contest. I lament to say, that soon alter the severe wound which deprived the army of your services, Lieut.- General Sir Juhu Moore, who had just directed the most able dispositions, fell by a eanuou-shot. The troops, though not unacquainted with the irrepa rable loss they had sustained, were not dismayed, but by the most determined bravery not only re pelled every attempt of the enemy to gain ground, but actually forced I to retire, although he had brought up fresh troops in support of those origi nally engaged. The enemy, finding himself foiled is every at- tempt to force the right of the position, endeavour ed by numbers to turn it. A judicious and well timed movement, which was made by Major-Gen. Paget, with the reserve, which corps had moved out of it, cantonments to support the right of the army. by a vigorous attack, defeated this intention. The Major-General having pushed forward the 95til (idle corps) and Ist battalion 5241 regiments. drove the enemy berme hiin, and in his rapid and judi cious adtance, threatened the haft of the enemy's position. This circiiinstouce, with the position of lientenunt-General Fraser'.. division, (calculated to give still further security to the right of the line) induced the euewy to relax his rants in that quar ter. . They were however more forcibly directed towards the centre, where they were agniu successfully re 'listed by the brigade under Major-General Man 'gingham, forming the left of your division, and a part of that under Major-Geocral Leith, form ing the right of the division under my orders. Upon the left, the enemy at first coutented himself with an attack upon our picqucts, which however its general maintained their ground. Fiudini !wive% er his efforts unavailing on the right and centre, he accused determined to render the attack upon the left more serious, and had sue.. ceeiltil i.sobtainingpossessionof the villa;e through which the great toad to Madrid pas,es, and which was %I lliate!ti in Gout of that port of the line. N roan Ow+ rest, however, he was .nose CXlid:ed, with 1:10/- titirilible loss, by a gallant attack of some Coin ponies of the ±d Lattahon 14th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonti ; before fire its the evening, we had not only successfully repelled every attack made upon the position, but had gained gmund in almost all point', and occupied _ a more forwird lice thou sit the cilia,ia it of the action, whilst the enemy coutincil Ins operations to a cannonsole, and the the of Itis light troops, with &I View to draw off his other coll.'s. At six the firing entirely ceased. The dull:mid brigades were re-alsembled on the g..ounil thi occupied in the morning, ani the Picquets a n d advanced pmts resuine4l their original stations. Netwitirstanding the decided and nEirked supe riority which at this umniciat the gallantry of the troops had given them over an enemy, who, from his number and the erantnanding advantages of his position, no doubt expertad an easy victory; I did not, on reviewing all circumstance-, conceive that I should be warrantedin departing item a hat I knew was the fixed and previous determination of the late Commander of the forces, to withdraw the army on the evening of the Hith. for the pur- pine of embarkation, the previous arningements for which hart :dready been matte by hi; order. and were, in fast, far advanced at the commence. went, of the onion. The troops quitted their pobitioa about ten at night , with a degree of order that did them credit. The *hole of the ar- tillery that remained nnerabarked hating been withdrawn, the troop* followed in the order pre- scribed. and marched to their respective points of embarkation in the town and neighbourhood of Co runna. The picquets remained at their 1s .t until five on the morning of the 17th, when they were also withdrawn with similar orders, and without the enemy having discovered the movement. By the unremitted exertions of Captains the Hon. ( %um:kw, Gosaelin, Boys, Rainier, Serrett, Digby, Carden, and Mackenzie, of the Royal Navy, who, in purftuance of the orders of hear Admiral de Canrcy, were entrusted %%trig the service of entbat king die to my ; and in cuose quence of the art angeittetitti mode by Commisilouer Bowen, Captains Ilinten anti Shepherd, anti the other agents for Van:lents, tne whole of the :army were enilunke.l %Coil an expedition which has gel- (loin been equalled. With the exception of the brogadeo under Major-Generals 11111 and llere.sford, which were destined to remain no shore, mail the movements of the enemy should become manifest, the whole was afloat before day hest. The brigade of Major-General Benesford, which was alternately to form our rear-guard, occupied the land front of the toau of Ceriuma ; that under Major-General 11111 was stationed it, reserve on the promontory in rear of the town. The enemy pushed his light troops towards the town soon after eight o'clock in the morning of the 17th, and shortly after occupied the heights of St. Lucia, which command the harbour. But notwith standing this circumstance, and the manifold defects of the place. there being no apprehension that the rear-gourd could be forced,and the disposition of the Spaniards appearing to he good, the embarkation of Maj.-Gen. Hill's brigade was commenced and com pleted by 3 in the afternoon ; Maj.-Gen. Beresford, with that zeal and ability which is so well known to yourself and the whole army, having fully explained, to the satisfaction of the Spanish Governor, the nature of our movement, and having made every previous arrangement, withdrew his corps from the land front of the town soon after dark, and was, with all the wounded that had not been previously moved, embarked before one this morning. Circumstances forbid us to indulge the hops:, that the victory with which it has pleased Providence to crown the efforts of the army. can be attended with any very brilliant consequences to Great Bri tain. It is clouded by the loss of one of her best soldiers. It has been achieved at the termination of a long and harassing service. The superior numbers, and advsmegeous position of the enemy. not less than the acmel situation of this army, did not admit of any advantage being reaped from success. It must he however to you, to the army, and to our country, the sweetest reflection, that the lustre of the British ernes has been main tained, amidst many disad va ntugeous circumstances. The army which had entered Spain, amidst the fairest prospects, had no sooner completed its junction, than owing to the multiplied disasters that dispersed the native wailer oreuud us, it war left to its own resources. The advance of the British corps from the Duero. afford el the best hope that the south of Spain might be relieved, but this generous effort to save the unfortunate people, also afforded the enemy the opportunity of directing every effort of his numerous troops, aunt concentrating all his principal resources for the de struction of the only regular force in the North of Spain. Yon ate well aware with wbat diligence this system has been These circumstances produced the necessity of rapid and harassing marches, which had ttt itt ;sh ed the numbers, exhausted the strength, and impair ed the equipment of the army. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, and those more immediately at tached to a defensive position, which the imperious necessity of covering the hat boor of Coruna:A for • time lead rendered indispensalele to immures the native and undaunted valour of fliiti h troops SH4 never snore conspicuous, and must have eNceeded what even your own experience of ►feat itiveluable quality, so inherent in them, may have: tiught you to expect. Wileu every one that had an opportu- nity stem int:, iu tn stances 1 cogagrd Lori Wi I.vith ; General To the mediate General their'bri; ported th Lion fell tstent3, w •26th regi Quarter- t:rueral 41.1:e. I rived In General of isis pc ernixtrice The g yet‘tettlit; am: the mixed of before y loss in hove lieu e.4ti twat.. cercl in hundre4 known, it at new prisoner count of nble. woondo abler! I lone! N; Stanhoi lone! V Iklaxwel 39th re Majors ed. To yi lent 4.0; 1 need hiY cou has dep ex per lei But it it tile blov who by after CI retreat mated a that ha respect immort, an earl) Wolfe, pact of victory renlaiu timed. It rei •oou wil vomits stance 11 31.1 To Lieu LONI Copy of Roar ky IN it Col Sta- to En• etoenti usornes lowds ships under thong Althe l were It thousir route In t prr•sec iNtclAt a eht the 111 •11M'llll I (hire ickeh to LL ht TLS• tt r : ir 1/soitgl •t 4 tit,