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

PRICE lIX-PENCE.•

frOM this motive, that, by giving a silent vote, the
House might have considered he would act mama
sistently,if lie should, on same future beramon, 'en-
tertain an opinion different from that of other
Noble Lords, relative to any of those subjects :air-
ticularly noticed in the Address ; and, therefo-n, I.e
wished the House clearly to uoderatand, that, tit
concurring with others, he made a reservation of
his ophoion on that part of it which regarded the
alliance entered into by His Majesty with the Go-
vernment of Spain.
Lord GIiENVILLE—" My Lords, I will not Ind.-
far this Address to pass, without raying, that
there is not merely oue point, hut that throe
are many, to which I caduot agree. It is not, how-
ever, my iutentiou in expressing my dissatisfaction
at these poiots, to move an amendment. I ail.
!Maly give way, and wave all opposition, in the lax-
pectation of receiving some explanation on those
topics to which I allude. Dung tl.e whole liege
in which I have had a seat ia Parliretie.ot, never del
I rise to address the .11ouse under fvcltirs of greater
appielienaion and uneasineas, than upon the pre-
bent occasion ; and Ido so, because t sentiments,
which I cutest:sin, and those feelings of imeasioess
are indirect opposition to the language that I bate
heard, and the hopes that have heen held out this
night. You are toid of the brilliant, animated,
and flattering prospects before you, and of the
failure of the means, and the disappointmeut of
the expectations of the enemy to reduce your
strength, or sap the foundations of your powers
may, perhaps, loefere I sit (lowa, pay a few words
moos the solidity of dna aessira-no e, acid whether it
he founded neon gr(outods that justify so flattering
a picture. But I shall refer, in the first inataticc,
to the prominent feature of the Speech which has
been read this night. • When I was in a situation in
which it became my duty to attend to ends things,
my uniform (object ever was to frame the Speech
intended for His Meaty, so as that it should coo-
shot of general Ran:mare., that the House should
be left, as Enoch as possible, frre and unfettered as
to objects not before them, and where they bad not
grounds on which to form an mamma, nor the ne-
cessary means of information. The present Mi-
ni,ters, however, do not seem t heat observed thi;
practice. Upon this, as upon former occasions,
they have preferred the reverse. The Speech that
they have submitted, this night, goes to pledge the
House, that theprineipal measure which it uoticis
has been wise, sound, and well-conducted--aye, I
tniglit say, and successfully too. Now, lam to ask
your Lordships, whether you can, in this stage, ar.
prove ofa business still depending, and upon the me-
rits of which you have not the necessary information
before you ? Following the example of my Noble
Friend who spoke list, I shall apply myself to the
'Moira iu Spain :—lt would be idle to express the
seutiments of horror with which I view the base
and unprincipled attempt of the . Irian who wields
the power of France, to oppress and subjueate
Spain. In his treatment of that country, there is
&degree of atrocity unparalleled in the history of
the world, sod in the generous exertions of the peen
ple, a spirit dirt sommonds our admiration, whiie
their sufferings excite our pity. Every man who
has a heart, must feel for them. Every one 11112 q
syinpathise with a people suffering under such
cruel and unmerited oppression, and ready to make
every sacrifice to resist it. In entertaining these
seutiments and those feelings for the Spanish pem
ple, I claim no merit, nor subject myself to the
charge of siugularity. I only feel in common with
all the rest of the country. But we are nut called
so merely to declare our seal and the interest ssc
feel iii the success of the Spanish cause. We are
called upon to do a great deal more. We are call-
ed on by the Speech and the Address, to say, that it
was not only wise to have sent a British army
to Spain, but still to send fresh troops into
the heart of that country, to tight against
superior numbers. I do not say that a case
might not exist, tot which a Writish force sent to
Spain might not materially affect the cause.; hot
then I think that a good ground ought to be made
out, of the existence of such case. With respect
to the present case, I do not hesitate to assert, that
nothing existed, in the course of last summer, that
could justifytthe sending an army into Spain. Here
I must beg leave to distinguish between a mari-
time expedition, and a large army sent to carry oh
a Continental war against France, strengthened as
she is with all the military power which she harder
rived from the Revolution, and supported by the
great mass of the Contioetit of Europe. Ido not
Loom what propo-ition could have been laid before
Ministers, to make them think that without env
specific object or plan, but the mere general ai-h
to assist Spain, thirty thousand British troops sent
into that country could have a prospect of success,
situata as it was at the time, with the commisnica.
thin perfectly open between Paris and Nlii.frid; the
latter, and most of the principal posts of•the coon-
try, in possession of a powerial cnens, and rho
country unsupported by even one mototary pow. r
iiiso.l the Colitiuetst. Formerly, when you co.nonai
in Continental *ars, you acted Na an auxiinirs to
solar great military power, but here you eater the -
livid ma principal. At the beginning of the pry.
sent contest in Spain, one of the things that 00.
spired confidence, was a letter, piihlialied, I f:in
here, under the satiction of Ministers,. In ti is
letter or addretsi, the Spaniards were told, that
they could not sueceed by regular pitched battles.
face were told not to despair, nor desist, though
unable to controol in a general action, because
history sitz'..s. that a country 100-arses other
!MAIM by which au invading artily way be
successfully resisted. Irregular InnyerUcata, de.
saltooy attack,, form the hest mode of defence.
This apparent (homier reduces itself into oiestem,
mud by adonaing this course the people of Sonic'
would avoid that which at the present moment
amid he madimen-al Pusan, to meet a veteran
army. fl.::-Led with sot:tory, and :overwhelming;
forces its th.. open held. Ths vitalism of tiirt