The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-11-04 00:00:00

sad the amisretarkich has been glens tb thorn, rens;
der.; this inF the more necessary. Thiel
is althost tilire= time of my addressing a pnla•
lie assembly, and I therefore only intend to
present a few plain facts, such as my neighboars
ought to know. Neighbours whom lam proud to
acknowledge, and have to hope that their example
will be followed hr the inhabitants of this country.
thrown down and discouraged; as some of them
may be, by the Answer which has been already
given.—(Hear! Hear Hear!)—We are told,
Gentlemen, that Sir Arthur Wellesley, one of the
Consinunders upon the occasion to which we al-
lude, is a person whom Ministers are anxious to
screen. I will not say His Majesty is so ; and I
noloe it will be trudeeitood, that, in speaking of the
answer given, I mean to say it is the answer of his
Ministers. It is evident to the whole nation, that
His Majesty's Ministers are fully determined to
screen Sir Arthur IVelloiley ; and for whys and by
what means ? In the first place. when the news •
arrived of the disgraceful Cooventioo, Ministers.
withheld the communication as long as possible ; .
and when at lest compelled to communicate it to
the abused people of this country, in what manner
did they do it ? Tbst part of the Convention which
was signed by Sir Arthur Wellesley, it is most ma- 4.
terial to know, was inserted in The Gazette in the
Wrench lampuige. My neighboara do not under-
stand French ; Cod forbid they ever should. They
do not understand the meaning of the terms Duc
d'Abrantes, nor Chevalier Dubain. Why did not
Minister* give the whole of this communication
in French? When the reasou of their conduct
is applied to this question, there is, 1 say, proof
of their object to screen that individual. Now
as to their object of preference. Sir Arthur
Wellesley, it is well konan, is allied to a family
the most powerful and the most eniisieut of
any in this country, a family raised to pre-
dominance, not by great and shining talents, nor by
any actions of • sort that can be deer:ad even me-
ritorious. They have beaten the poor Indians, just
as dogs would do a flock of sheep out of a field. 1
wish, Gentlemen, that this commander were here
upon this occasion to hear me ; but although he Ise
not present, I doubt that one of the Ministry of
a country wherein 17 millions of money are annu-
ally distributed. can want friends. Every spot that
Ise places his foot upon will furnish him with friends.
Sir Arthur Wellesley. before he left this cottortry,
joyed a salary of 65tibl. for len% Chief Secretary in
Ireland. Ministerstoke him from that officesud and
him abroad ass General, he still enjoying the emolu-
ments of that office, although it was impossible for
hint to execute the duties of it. By the all-power-
ful intlueoce which that family enjoys in the Howse:
of Common., fe.r it is a fact that they have no 1e.,4
than twelve votes, Ministers find it their interest to
screen him.—(!afar ! Hear ! Hear !)—The par-
tiality of Ministers towards Sir Arthur is SIM/
'hewn by the mann* in which they thought
proper tri allow him to return to this country. --
lie was not in fact .;.mcalled, but lie came
home apowlesura of Alimony. Osmo of the pleas • .
or apologies for the Expedition itself baying
been vet on foot, was, that after they had aseirted
the Portuguese they should go to Spain ; but he,
instead of going there, comes home. upon being
sent for iis an underhand manner, to tell the story
first, in order that some of his colleagues may be
sacrificed for his security. How is the answer al-
ready given to satisfy us, when we find that at the
same levee at a hich the Address was presented, Sir
Arthur Wellesley made his appearance, and was
most cordially received by His Ylejesty ? !fear !
hear! hear !)—Very few so easily obtain such ho-
noursand privileges. There were besides, a Bishop
and a Judge, who were not received before him.
After being thus received by His Majesty, Sir Arthur
is agnin sent to his Office in Ireland, for which he
has all aloniebeen in the receipt of £6,566 a-year.
The other Commanders, Ministers will perhaps also
endeavour to screen, for the sake of screening
They know that if they bring the others to trial
they will probably impeach him. It is for these
reasons Ministers wish to quash all inquiry. (Lined
Applamses.) Gentlemen, we have at this time
a Staff consisting of no less than 291 Generals.
—This is a thing for you to boast of ! !
I The French have not half so many. Six of these
Officers arc called Field-Nlarshals.• There were, I
say, 291 Generals, of whom Sir Arthur Wellesley
was one, and oat of all throe officers, a man could
not I. chosen to send to Portugal, without sending
to Irelaucl, and taking the Chief Secretary, on
whom so much business of that part of the sited
Kingdom rests. Well, toiitlemeo. we find that
he comes beck again, and again peaceably and
quietly resumes his functions. I wish you to hear
in nOnd, that the Wellesley family actually at this
moment receives oust of the resources of this coun-
try the SUIII Of • a 3.760. annustty. This sum you
have to pay out of your pockets., and it is a sum
equal to the poor rates of 11.16411.0. 00 an ay.-
rage of pariehes in England and Wales. It is ids)
a sum that is equal to the amount of the assessed
taxes, raixol for 72 parishes, upon a st tut tar average.
A report, coacerning the money Gosernmen re•
ceii•ed by taxes, was givenin the month of ions last,
and also a stateione at Inez-pendant', from whit!)
i: appears that set that time S.r Arthur's salary 0114
giress to him in his capacity of Chief Secretary in
Ireland, although he was then under pay n a Ge-
neral upon the Szaff grind to Portuvel. Perhie s
it may not be amiss for woo° of you to know what
a Staff Officer is. A Staff Officer is generally a
• Colonel of mime regiment, selected for his atlinio.
1 Mile skill. bearers. and experience. to command
smile.. Now I hire told yea that these Officers
amonot to 2)1 in number, nod what do you think
they cost to, ? Why, they. cost ns anise:4ly,
be-id s their par, as Coltmels of re;risnents. the
so aml 154.7761:3, 10.1. Tire. ia the sum,
tleis:..., h we tiny waist:4lly to Generals t.i atm-
mood ..rmies, and what •-e the fruits or henerfir ial
I effects they produce? It has been a doubt is the