The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-01-27 00:00:00

NOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Rory gave notice, that he would more for the Report
of the Cummosiouers appointed to improve the .scion from
%Titatiniuster 11.11 to the Treasury.
Sir .1 onS N [wrong brought in a Rill for preventing the
meihersleenent of the public towiley on sceorit oes
Mr. loviumfore tamed fora Report of the datiis open
Promissory Notes, from the atliJatruary, twg, up to the
latest period to which they could he supplied...—f:ranteil.
PRIVATE RILLS.
Mr. • . stated, that, with respect to Private
Bilk, there woold lie a slight alteration in the practice,
this Session. The mottos would be manumit to be given
earlier: be would more, "That the Howse should re 'viva
no petitions wpm privets bill. after the @pill of ftbreary ;
that it shoukf mei.* two privets Bills der the 59th of
klatch ; and nu report not sun l, after the 7th of May."
Mr. Ross thowelit that the strictorsa of the Notice might
operate to the injury of those who lived to • remote part
• of the country, Lorin the effect of taking them by sur-
prise.
311% PERCRI•IL INK that, whenever such soles occurred,
and were properly isplaised, there would of courro be
relaxation la such itmeaoces.—The motion was agreed to.

Mr. Banes porporied his notice fur the j;irpetuation
of the Revenioo 14,11, as the Noble Lord hating the claim
of precedence, nes rrsolvird to bring forward his notice this
night. He- felt, however, some relectswee in rio doing, ma
the Bill expired in six weeks.
Mr. PSIROCV•L reared the Hoe. Centimes, that ewes if
tits Dill should expire before his 'notion was carried, the
Government would take no step to defeat the object of Its
provisions.
LORD GAMBIER'S VOTE OF THANKS.

Lord Cotnitatre observed, Hod, ooderstaaduig it to be
the istetition of Ministers to move fora vote of thanks to
Lord Gambier, he should mote," That the ominous of the
Court !Martial should he laid before the House en Monday
next." He was proceeding to offer sodas comment, upon
the subject, wbee the irauser:a reminded his Lordship
that t►e preseat was not the stage i■ which to discuss the
write of the question.
Mr. Poxson sr hoped, that, a the motion of thanks to
Lord Gambier would come forward before the l'iohk Lord
would have on opportunity of acting upon his satire, he
would he permitted to offer some observatious is the preemie
stage.
PCIICIVAI. was willing to allow the selliellee of the
C.ourt Martial to be produced at once, hut a Notion fur the
minutes was of Ito muc► importance to he discussed without
previous notice. . . .

51r Ts seggrinerl, that the Right Hon. Gentler/MR
e►odd move the thanks to Lord Gambier, until the Noble
Lord (Lied Cochran.) brought forward his motion.
Lord CYC AAAAA was agate proceeding tro oopoorok, bet was
spin iaterrupted by the Jere mrm, who informed ►im, that
Meade) neat, being the day appointed the his motion, *veld
be the time for melting big obwervatione.
SUPPLY.

The Lords Commissioners' speech being read.
Mr. Paac•vsl. moved the House to grant the
supply to His Majesty.
Mr. Castver begged leave to offer • few words
upon some points in the speech, before he gave his
vote for the supply. He observed, upon that part
slit which cougretutated the House upon the pros-
perous and flourishing state of the commerce of
the country. that it was at present conducted
upon a system which must he ruinous in the end ;
he alluded to the system of licenses. With respect to
India. which formed so large a considenttion in
the revenue of this country. the House had not
heard of it for four years, and then it was re-
minded of its existence, by an application for a loan.
He way told that it was shortly again to apply
fors loon of two millions; sod he wished to know
from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. whether
such was really the 'mention ? He had also !nerd
that the Company was shortly to apisly to Polio-
meat for the renrool of its charter. He hoped there
would be no hesitation on the part of Ministers to
make such comtnnulFatioos to the Howie. and that
the House would not regard with apathy a business

so truly interesting. There was an additional rea-
sou for such inquiries now, as the East India Com-
pany charged Lord Wellesley witb much of their'
disasters, and as his Lordship was now, in a cer-
tain degree, a master over them, in his capacity as
Cabinet Minister. • _

Mr. Ross said, that, under the system of licenses,
of which the Hon. Gentleman so much complained,
the exports of the country were greater by millions
thia they had ever been before. He would allow,
that the course of exchange was against us, but he
should not now go into a detail of the causes, as an
important motion was to come cm ; if the time per-
mitted, he had little doubt of proving, to the satis-
faction of the Hous,,that it was not owiug to the state
ofour commerce. He believed hecould relieve, even
the Hod. Gentleman), stall his alarm, either respect-
mg the commerce or the maunfacturesof the country.
As to the abuses to which the system of licenses
might be liable, he could only say. that the Board
entrusted with the direction of that department,
had taken every means to prevent them; and he
had wily heard of one instance, in which a mer-
chant, who had obtained a license for himself, sold
it to another.

Mr. Pear:twat was willing to allow, that, as a
system in tune of peace, licenses would be highly
objectionable; but it was a happy circumstance to
observe, that one of the expedients to which they
were driven, in tinienf war, was encoded with such
happy consequences, that the trade, during the sys-
tem of licenses. flourished more than they hail any
instaliv. of in the history of the world. He could
state, that, exclusive of bullion, the trade had ex-
ceeded, by 7 millions, the product of any former
period, during the most prosperous war ; and by
10 inillions during the most prosperous peace ; yet
this system. under which they had experienced such.
increase, they were called upon to discontinue.
With respect to the East India Company. this was
not the time to enter into any discussion upon that
subjeet ; wod as to the application for a renewal of
the Charter, as that was a matter not in the choice
of Govertimerrt, but at the option of the Company
itself, he could at present give no information upon
it. He was sure, however. that Gentlemen would
not object to pledging the House to supplies, the
amount and extent of which they would have an
opportunity of canvassing at a Future day. He
hoped they would not object to his appointing
Monday.
Mr. ileum' could not help thinking it a disad-
vantage, notwithstanding all he had heard. that a
man could not now import or export as lac chose.
As far as the Orders in Council operated, he was
confident their operation was injurious ; nor did he
see any great cause tir exultation to the Govern-
ment, that the country had recovered itself limn
their °meanies. These was one great leading in-
cooveineam. under the system of licenses, which he
could not help thinking of peat importance ; and
that was. not its hare exposure, but its liability to
abuse and corruption. He could state one fact to the
House, in broader terms than the Right l lon. Gent.
opposite had stated it. A license was actually sold
by our merchant to another. for one thousand
pouuds. He did not mean to insinuate that the
Board cf Trade would he influenced by pecuniary
conaideretions ; but, without touching money, they
might secure votes, and make the political senti-
ments of the applicants for licenses, the criterion
of their claims, and the measure of their mimesis.—

(4 lent front some of the Members as she Treasury
iirmeat). The Right Hon. Gentlemeo must in-
.deed be young in trade, if they did not knew. that
these who had something to give, had something to
• xpect in return. (Hear And altitc.sigh possibly
no merchant, who made application. would inert
with a direct refusal, there was a practice in private
life, of which the Board might avail itself—that of
being oat to him. when he called. Meer .1) He
did nut mean to charge the Government with any
such practices : but when they took,c►edit to them-
selves for more than they were entitled to, he
thought it only fair in him to state what had hap-
pened, that they might see every thing was not the
result of their own cleverness and dexterity.
Mr. PKRCSVAL, in explanation, said, that the
Right lion. Gentleman had so far mistaken what
he said, as to misrepresent bias entirely. lie did
not represent the present system as the best possi-
ble, whether is peace or war ; on the contrary, he
had said that the system was bad, though, happily
for us, successful; neither did he desire to take all
the honour to himself.
Mr. Ross, in explanation, said, that he bad never
represented licenses es the best system, nay more
than his Right Honourable Friend. As to the ob-
jection that license might be granted to persons
professing particular sentiments. to the exclusion of
others, be could say, that he had never made the
slightest difference between gentlemen on such an
account he granted them indiscriminately to all,
and no merchant iu London, he was persuaded,
could say otherwise.
Mr. Ponsonny said, that if he had not heard the
Right Honourable Gentleman's declaration. he
would have supposed that a difference was made.
He would have supposed so. because it was natural ;
and from all he had seen of the present Ministry,
he was not inclined to suppose them exempt from
the frailties of human nature, fled he not heel)
told the contrary. he would hare supposed thst they
would pay great attention to the politics of the sp-
plieants, and more attention to their enemies than
to their friends. Hear.) The success of our trade
was attributable to other causes than the imposition
of licenses, or the wisdom of Administration. The
trade was reduced, not invigorated, by their nisa-
041fPl.

Slr. *zoo gill thought, that the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman exemplified, pretty clearly, the distinction
between wit and memory. He was in the habit of
affording perpetual instances of his wit, but he had
just abeam, that, when he drew upon his memory for
aid, that faculty won not so much at his command.
Ile had hazarded en assertion, that the trade of the
country was reduced by the Orders in Council;
whereas, the fact was, that it had been aligns nt be-
fore the passing of the Orders, but since that pe-
riod had revived and flourished. The Right Him.
Gentleman also ascribed the present aucce.s to a
residsion, to the Walcheren Expedition, and the
Austrian war. Ile was the first who had done en.—
lie stated, that he did not smears! the Bean! of
Trade. fie, he did not incase it ; Ina he uhil what
was leas manly, he insinnided against it *hat would
probably go to the public as eget. Ai to th,-• Ne.

lections that had been 'scribed to them, no. ity
eishlng `state. of- o
our. c,uatmerce prtd th,
.bideri&iir been" steldcßins co-extensits
c,
• resole coiniderciiilintetigt.
t•-• Mr. Poosottox asititrkd the Hon. .Centbra,
that he never meant to ascribe the lIUUCf.4 „i
trade to the Wakkeren expedition. Tht
Gentipman would therefore rev, that thcie %.$
lestaaßaother member in the House as deticieut ,
memory as himself. loughs)
Mr. WHITBREAD concurred in the opiitioat
the Hon. Gentletnan had proved his memory hl
dtfective ; but he had at the same time
imagination to be extremely vigorous, ahm
could force itself into the supposition that ant is,
could have ascribed the success of our trade to t
Walcheren expedition. laugh.) lie so 0,
those who believed that the worst consequencesh
resulted from the Orders in Cosiacil—the trade
kept alive by relacitions and departures from tit.
As to the partiality which the system of beets
admit*, he bad no doubt upon it; but ke traitor,.
to give credit to the desertions of Minitte..,tht,
partiality was observed in the gronting„ol
far above the ordinary weaknesses vf
were they. Perhaps, however, be could stout
stances of the conduct of past tittles, which Aid
proceed upon the some liberal ptinciple. lle,
membered that, in the case of the -restraint api
the importation of lark, the Wasters greeted
license tonne merchant, who wall a kleother dtl
Howse of Commons. at Imo to report saidi.
did not stet« confidently that it waste: hat if
was, what could be sail to Ministers she bd,
conducted themselves? lo the vaatteroluiteci
had heard that it was also applied for. The lb
Gentleman seemed to think that the whole sa
cantile Interests were with them in therm"

He, as father of the Orders in Casual, mg
naturally think so—(Here the liesn.(;ent. Wen
dissent.) lie knew that the child was alcart toed
his door. and he thought he had mime the
in. (A lang.'s). It had formerly been send, tar
whole Body of merchants was with the Date.
Portland's Administration. He could cm, to
ewer. for his part. be without his apprehension,a
der the present system, when he saw it halite to
abused by • corrupt Government; the preseet,l
hoped, would not long exist, incorreptiLle st
might represent itself.
Ir. Rose knew of no such licensees that triii
the Hon. Gentleman had stated.
Mr. WitscairoaLs disapproved of the semi
tions as much as any malt ; but he revenges
that the Government dill Dot peek** to pedal
the exportstton of bark ; they oily provided stec
its being exported exclusively ; they wished to
nee the condition of purchasing other comets
of our trade to the purchase of that. A. ut
posts, bt!ity of invidious selection% it was soo airs&
t• he denied ; and it was a most unhappy ma
stance, which it became the House of COIMPOSI

watch with peculiar jealousy; but at the ease es
there was Ho sound at present to attach theist
tation to the (ioverneattot ; fee how evrihi the lirti
account for the general success of tied', if them
tam of selection mud preference had bees acirdu
It was evident (rout this, that, as vet, it vas ar
perverted to any bad purposes—he slateirleArari
however, regard it with serious jealousy.
Sir Joao Nli4brOal said, that many erilsitete
knowledge, grew out of the system of liaise. A
the merchants in the oat-ports, palmated! 1
of Ireland, found the worst of consequences tea
milt. Fair snide w.is excluded by it, and ttl
gainblong spurn littritillieril 1101041 g the 'Tail
which it should he the ohjectof every country tars
courage. By nieaus of this system the node •
coriGned to the metropolis ; the merchants resides
there had all opportunity of knowing when luta
were to be granted, while those who were mores
mote. were held in ignorance. On the part old
mercantile body, therefore, which lie had the
nour to represent, he made this complaint tat
which he should go into ,sore minutely at
ture day.
Mr. Summit said, that it was the enemy obi
shat the door against our commerce, sod are u
Orders in Council. With respect to partialimi
the merchants made any complaint to that eifie
it would form a heavy charge indeed 'pilot I
Ministers; but if that was not the case, and if i
prosperity of the trade was too extensive la ma
tenarice the suspicion, Government should 01
credit foe their conduct.
Mr. BA at No expressed his regret that seal
system could not be abolished; en rigidly ow I
acted on, that' a weasel could scarcely sail for
country without license. He was surprised to
from the Honourable Gentleman oppesalei
lisps the only Member in the Board of Trade •
knew any thing about trade, that the Order.
Council were the support of the trade. The Ord.
in Council were. in fact, effectually repealed 1,) I
last Act, Aimee which it began to prosper•
could not see how the advantages of the fr'T4
year could be ascribed to that measure. wh.,"
sited the year before lost. They had bee° ron:t.
pealed. to every ce 11111 l erciel purpose, alal.frelt
''
repeal.- out from the enforcement. they ,
dote the success. As to the t:ounirrof melange
the price of belhoo, which were ackeoebe
he against us, they went to dew, that all was
healthy at the butting. (Hear !J Ile would
go any farther into the subject, as so ilepset
debate was to succeed ; but at a time when •
victories were not followed by success, it
unnatural that ,hire should be great
of trade. without auy right fonodation.
Mr. Rosa gave notice, that he would Nisi:.
Monday. for a Committee to 'Noire WI" '
state of the Imports and Experts.
EXPEDITION TO Tin: SCHELDT.
Lord Poeciissraa said, that when. at diet'
of a former inert, lie gars nonce of his moo
was his intention to propose a Committee to .04
int° the t of the whole rainpeign togrite
lint he 11.'11 *once thought it necessary..lB:
prove thetwinit :11% 314,1) "M irra
more distinctly, to 'Merlotti' sb militrate lagsn.
the circomstnners of each canipsegm 11,".ir*
which pun:calm invei.iigation. the priers' "IT
;uu might Le mgde, sod the con•aaNK's
twith
therefore, upon the present Weira..o. 14.410,.
ft ro-ldrratiois to the inipsditio:i t• rhe '"che
lint been stated by. a Noble
cuncerned io them tramsactioisa, t;nti ".e

the failure of the expedition was such as
I:rd for an inquiry ;• and it was ,but justice
thiatiore, tw Vie iiiknisno!,*ol%,l4,l to
country at lajge,, that inquiry shmild brc
~,toted accordingly ;, am!, as mercy, was div-
i3„l, and even proof visitation, tiolitly dial-
vd, the ierutiny ,004,114 not be denied. It
Add, lir imagined, be necevsary for him to :unl-
it, the objections which would, prulial,ly, lie
to his motion, for he never recollected an 111
however plain the facts, or however obvious
principle, to which some objection was not
ca, and which some endeavour was not made to
int, open the part of His Majesty's, Ministers
'Hear! hear .94.4 t way his iinalition, with this
• of inquiry in view, to move fora Committee
whole Howie; and, he trusted, that, at such

doe. and with so loud and just a cell uj on
~,ess by their constituent+, and by the country at
loge, tho would not be told that they ought to
',legate it to a Select and Secret Committee ;-
--(Hear heir!)—he hoped they would not be
'yiard to refer it, when they would proceed upon
s garbled awe, the am of Ministere themselves.—
/ 1 keel hear!) In *Committee of the whole House,
they would have• fair case, and might, if necessary,
oral evidence; but, in a secret commitive,

could not be done; in abort, every object of
inquiry was likely to be defeated. V.'ith respect to
the time, it might be asked, would they go into
committee prematurely ? But this ohjection, if it
was urged, wail shallow, and easily defeated. Ile
lid pot mean to take them by surprise ; he did not
tisk them to go into the question this night ; all he
anent was, first to establish the tribunal, after
which they might give their evidences/Hear! hear!)
He meant that the House should pledge itself to go
isto the inquiry early in the Session, and he was
rinfirleat that every true friend to inquiry, every
individual who did not wish to stifle and prevent it,
would vote for such a pledge. The inquiry, for
which he wished, was one that should put the Mi-
Marrs on their trial ; not an inquiry in which they
shueld try themselves, but iu which they should be
tried by the country. The necessity for this, he
thought sufficiently clear. It was necessary that
we should truce the conduct by which we suf-
fered, to its author, that the author might
he punished. It was necessary to observe the
progress of that conduct, that • we might the
more perfectly ascertain the means of extrication
and relief. li they considered this campaign, con.
meted with the whole, they would find it liable to
the mine objections, and chargeable with the same
imoolicy, which pernided every port of the conduct
sf the sue. If they looked to the whole series of
campaigns, they would hod every operation defi-
cient in judgment; every eflurt deficient in time
and vigour; all serving no other purpose than
to waste our strength, to exhaust our resources,
awl ciliate our character. The lint object to
which he called their attention was the Wel-
chem expedition ; because that failure was
sfellitli in proportion as the 111911,11 s employed in
it were larger than any other. If he could prove
that it was, in every part, a departure from every
military principle bitherto known and acted on ;
surely no tenses could be too strong to apply to
such conduct. Two alternatives presented them-
selves in estimating their conduct, if they had been
uniformly successful in their eccentricities and de-
, Taboos, it might not be improper to consider them
as lamineriess born to 'depart from rule, to shake
prejetlice, and raise the character of Manion nu.
tare; but if, upon the contrary, their era revs-
gamic' were marked with ruin, it was impossible
but to conclude that they were shallow-brained
projectors, meriting contempt, yet entitled by the
calamities they ocmisioued to s mixture of indigna-
tion. (Hear! hoe) 1" e y had indeed set every
pneriple of authority and operation of reason at
defi.wee. Yet was the expedition a mattes of great
Jay. The Sovereign proclaimed the glad tidings
to the people ; and they were called upon to
rrjouw that a basin was blown up, or a Dutch dock
didroyed by our armament.—(Hear! hear !)
Such was the arfilevement, even according to our
011111 account. But what .lid the enemy say of it?
lo what light had they sins presumption to put
those edvantages ? They said, that the mischief
we had done cou!d be repaired in a few months;
but they hesitated to say whether it was the policy
of France to take the trouble to do so.—(Hear !
hear !)—But was not the fall of Austria under the
foot of the conqueror, without an effort upon the
port of this country to avert her fate, sufficiept to
outweigh the advantages arising from the de-
struction of an inferior arsenal, which the enemy
did not think worth the trouble of repairing ?
It would be necessary, in pursuit of the inquiry
which he was recommending, to look to the ob-
jects of thole eccentric Millions the first was,,
to aid Austria; the next to destroy the ship-
ping in the Scheldt. As to the first, it was no-
torious, for a year before the commaucement of
hostilniee, that Austria was making prepense
lions to resist the power of France ; yet, notwith-
standing all her preparations, Ministers acted as if
they were ignorant or the fact, or careless of the
result. Oa the 6th of July, the Conqueror of the
World was obliged to act en the defensive ; but
the battle of Wagram extinguished all the hopes and
expectatios which Europe began to f. On
fedi of July the news or the Rimisticeeet reached.the us.
end on the 18th sailed the expeditions—Here omm,
judgment ; here WAS consideration ; setting ell ex-
perience at defiance, the Rt. Hrei.-Gent. resolved
to administer medicine to the dead. (A lastgA //re
Why did they not• send them while events were
doubtful, and to places where success would be af
fire? It was said, that there was neither moneys
troops, nor transports; hut how could &hey say
they had not, when they sent the expedition to the
Seheldt. As to money, were the inhabitants of
Germany or Italy like so many Jew* ? would no-
thing hut the hard specie content them, while
Holland, according toils liberal notions, gave them
Credit for a while T—IA &ask/. As to the arms ,
they were told that Sir Johu Moore's force was to
form the bisis of the expedition, but they were not
fit for service till the 2eth ofJnly- That very army,
whi,h was represented nut to have lost five thou-
mod niers, which was Said to hive carried away all
its art 01. ry, all its cavalry, all its baggage, that
very arniy, wilS not in a state to renew hostilities for
" "altb. rifler. He was sorry to be obliged to
I:;'e'eri'e• "filtinfiarntik between the conqueror of
tamps aid the Goremaseet of ibis country; for it

was unpleasant to be oblige() to notice his superi-
ority and their,deficiency. Soult, who was said to
have had his army annihilated on the lath of May,
to have lost all his baggage, and every-waggon use
his train, that very General went into a hostile
country, and, after taking the most circuitous
route, had now assembled au army more formid-
able than ever in Plasenciay to contend with
his conqueror. Here was` a decided proof of the
contrast which existed between our government
and that of our foe. It had been stated on a
former night, and justly, that it was a charac-
teristic of William the Third to recover from de-
feat; it was al.° a characteristic of the great Fre-
deric ; but such iiistinices as these only served to
aggravate our feelings, under the sufferings to
which weak and ignorout counsels exposed us. As'
to the transports, it was said they were at Lisbon ;
but how came they to be sir Lisbon ? Why was it
tl ght expedient that they should not return
until the prosperity of Sir A. Wellesley, was ascer-
tained ? Why should they semi expeditions to
such distant places, when nothing could be
done by way of diversion ? Why should Ministers
have neglected to acquaint themselves perfectly
where so great an army was going, mud with what
object, and why did they not adapt the time and
place more happily to the object ? If the support
of Austria was their design, could that be a place
useful to such a purpose, when communication with
those who supported that cause was impossible, and
when it was impossible that a diveision could ex-
tend beyond the first cuap-de-maist? Let them
consider whether it was not conducted in every part
with the same departure from admitted
There were two military principles, which every
one must understand. The first was, that they
should apply their main force to the great object
the second, that they should endeavour to divide
the forces of the enemy as much as possible, and
concentrate mid combine their own. The Antra-
truce of these rules was the secret of the success
of France, the neglect of them accounted equally
for the failure of all the coalitions in which we had
been engaged. (Pear .1. hear .7 Antwerp was one
object of the expedition to the Scheldt, or why bring
cavalry, &Lc.? Why then not proceed immediately
after the attack of Flushing ? He did not know
they would succeed in the attempt, but certainly
they would go more in the way of success, by
promptness than by delay. If they had done so,
the enemy would not, perhaps. have occupied a
situation, where it would employ double the num-
ber of our men to keep them in check. Any
other Ministers would have tried the effect of
decision and surprise, not the surprise upon which
our Ministers speculated, a surprise after a mouth's
notice. B it this wss Out all; any other Ministers
would have known the situation of the country ;
they would have known the hers likely to lie
opposed to them ; in-short, they would have known,
whether Antwerp, a place through which most of
them had travelled, was a fortress or nut, instead
of sending Lord Chatham, with an army of forty
thousand men, to art the part of spies.—(Hear!
hear ! J—He was now d at the most calamitous
topic; he could scarcely call it by airy other
than a deliberate sacrifice of the flower of the army,
knowing, as they must have known, that, at such a
season, of the year. they must inevitably. and in-
gloriously per Mo. Why did they not countermand
their troops while they were entire, irodettri of wait-
ing until after diatom hod depopulated their rants?
Why was WA:herrn kept at spch an expense?
as it that Au 41,41 iniglit be benefited? The works
were to be etre healed. In order to make it a British
position. But could it create (wart there any choice
of its creatmg; such a diversion as would be service-
able to that cause ? would the cirriornstance of our
having a garrison there induce the efierhy tullll4lllloll
Anon's, for the purpose of making an attack. from
the delay of which, for a few weeks longer, no great
inconvenience or injury could result? was it for this
purpose, and with this hope, that we should permit
our army to be con)tumed away.
Where nature sickened, and each gate was death !"
and where there was neither prospect of advantage
deer, nor hope of glory to console us? lie
would now advert to another circumstance, which
he did not consider in the mute criminal point of
view ; that was the choice they had made of a Com.
mender, in Lord Chatham. He did not condemn
such a choice, when he contemplated the kinciof
expedition over which he was set. If it had been
good cause—a rational one, they would have been
bound to select some hardy veteran-
4. Wks Lad in camps and fighting fields bees bred,"
instead of haring spent his days amongst the gaieties
of the nietropol s. But under all the circumstances
of this experlitiof, and with the peculiar and dis-
graceful character of it before their eyes, what offi-
cer of character should they expose to a situation
so degrading? This expedition was their own favour.
ite inading, entitledio their own peculiar care, and
*illy to he entrusted to one of themselves. (A laugh).
There were many other circumstances, upon which
be should not delayl; such as the want of medi-
cines. when the men were perishing. Ile did not
know it to ,be the (act; but it certainly was reported,
aid- nothing but an inquiry before the House of
Commons could ascertain its truth or falsehood.
Quin Would be their toil, though they-should sit up
night after niglitatia,ote stipplib, if it was thus they
were to be squandered,;. if Ministers, who were in-
trusted so liberally and profusely with resources,
should apply them to fill Op the sepulchres of Hot.
torrid with our brave sirldiers. (Hoar/ neer!) They
*ore the likiirelson their brows ; but it was it barren
laurel, doomed,-to blossom, but not to fructify.
Idiom hear!) And when they saw all those
things—when " they saw the eount7 dismayed,
and the last hope of her alliereatinguished, would
they be told that there was no prima fade eau. to
. call for on inquiry: If ever there was a time when
..the voice of the people should be attended to. it
was at the present awful crisis; the country had no
longer any confidence in Ministeri--perlispa they
had less confidence in the House, for hotting borne
with Ministers so long. The House. he was persuad-
ed, would do its duty, and endeavour to recall, o hat
it might have lost, of the affections of the people. The
country was yet possesses) of means and spirit suffi-
cient to protect it from the strength of its enemies.
and the impotence of its rulers. (Hear! hear!)
Let them beware how they involve theinselvei and
their country any -farther. Let them vote for in-
quiry ; in duinemehich, they would vote for the
security of England, and the preservation of that

vital spark. which might hereafter animate an at.
Airing world. His of ject was to bring the question
to this plain issue, would they grant topiary, or
would they not? (Hear! hear!) He would now,
therefore, ask the Right Honuurabh• Gentleman
opposite. at whet period he could lay the papers
before the House ? and, by his answer, would be
regulated. Lim Lordship then moved. " That a
Committee of the wnole House iiheuld be appoint-
ed to inquire into the conduct end policy of the
late expedition to the Scheldt."
Mr. Quart seconded the motion; and accused
the Administration of negligence, in respect to the
Eipaditioo to the Scheldt. They had sent trans-
ports without boats, and committed other blonder.,
by whiub the necessity landing on Cadsand was
prevented. and 3000 of the enemy were enabled to
get from thence into Flushing. He also took •
short view of the military operations, and accused
the General of ignorance ; ar an iosisoce of which,
he noticed, that, in the maps gtveis out by his au*
thority, a fortress was marked several miles welt of
its real scite. The original policy of the Expetli-
' bon embraced two points: first, our own individual
interests ; and, secondly, a diversion in favour of
Amami. The first required the destruction of
Antwerp, the arsenals and basin at Flushing, and
the ships of the hue in the Scheldt. In this we did
not succeed. We had raniacked • few store-
houses, and strewed over a basin; but, as for the
soap-de-Nenin against Antwerp, a place which had
etologi-11 the peculiar cure of lionuparte fur several
year,,, it was nut so ill provided as to be liable to
be injured by any such attempt. The second
object, of co-operation with Austria, could oily
be maul by drawing off the ales inicoded to
act against that power on the Danube. Now, from
the dispotches of Lord Chatham, itappeared, that
Antwerp was completely prepared for defence, and
that an army of 35,000 men was drawn up under
its walls. These men, be would say, were such as
had never fired a musket, or charged a bayonet
against Austria: They were artificers, and part of
the people, !called to arms upon the emergency.
Suit even if we had rucceihol it, our avowed object,
what would have been the consequence? We
should have entered a country bristled with fortress-
es, with the population, directed by one soul and
mind, horde to us. He would enter into no
further detail, and could see no objection to the
motion of his Noble Friend, He had often seen,
from the mode in which papers were produced, that
they did not fu:ly illustrate the point under inquiry,
and, Viertfore, would not trust to any papers for sa-
tisfaction on this important question. If it was ac-
knowledged that inquiry was necessary, Gentlemen
on the other side would perhaps offer it of another
kind from that now proposed. But, surely, the
most full and rigid was necessary, and the Ilonse
were not to be answered, as His Majesty had been
advised to answer the Livery of London, that no
inquiry was considered to be expedient. There
was, prima facie, • greet and deplorable failure,
upon which no miswer would satisfy them, but that
which announced, that a comprehensive and scru-
pulous investigation of the causes of it would take
padre.
TN!' SPEAKER pet the question, and the gallery
was ordered to he cleared ; when

Mr. CROKEa said, he could see no opportunity
for explaining the ground. on which lie would gite
his vote this evening, where he could be less ac-
cused of presumption in addressing them, than now,
when tfity were on the' point of dividing srfelsout
any Gentleman's wishing to offer his oisinion. The
speeches of the Noble Lori and the Hon. Gentle-
man who hurl preceded horn, though various and
dissimilar in their topics, had this iu commou, that,
an • supposition that iturviry bins necessary, and
was refused, they witdied to °inflict a pledge fro.•
the House to go into it. From what they hod said,
it appeared to him, that oratory, like poetry, was
the better for • little fielion—(a laugh).—They
were now told, contrary to what had been asserted
on a former night, that it was not to screen the
General, but to screen Ministers, that Inquiry was
resisted. Was it to screen those no longer in the
Cabinet?—(Cheers fonts the Oppotition.)—lf those
Gentlemen, who cheered, thought that there
was no feeling of this kind, what then became
of their scoffs respecting the union of these
pastier? Ile declined entering jut° detail as to
the reasons why the force employed was not sent
to Italy or Germany. The Noble Lcrd had
acted properly for himself, when he entered into
statements from papers not produced, and called
o• the /louse to decide ow these statements.
He had not an equal confidence in himself, but
would say, that, hsviog seen the papers, and, con-
sequently, being able to give as good ■n account of
them, he could state, that the facts of the Noble
Lord were either exaggerated or fallacious. There
was nothing to rest upon but these assertions of the
Noble Lord, to which he opposed assertion',
entitled to equal credit. This was • good ground
for the House not to vote for either, till, from
the papers, they could judge on which side the
troth lily. The Noble Lord had acted uncials.
didly. in sedulously taking the dates of the bat-
tles of Aspern and Wagrain, and of the sail-
ing of the Espeditioo, when in fairness he ought
t• have taken the date when the Intelligente of
these battles was received in this conutry, and of
the time when the Exifedition was ieady to sail,
though p►evented for a fortnight by the *UM surf
weather. The battle of Aspern, which was Sc.
knowledged to have balanced the fate of Europe,
was known in this country on the 7th of Juste, and,
on the Rh, the Expedition was ordered.—(1-free
hear 1--It might, from the cheer, be asked, why it
was not prepared for before Hear I hear
Because, when Ills Majesty had told them, ill his
speech, that lie deprecated the war entered into by
Anstria—(Hear ! hear ! I—At least that he did
not excite it—(Hear! hear! )—lt would have Leen
monstrous to have hero wasting money, and pro-
viding expeditions which wools, have encuuntged
Austria to undertake a war. lie thought the No-
ble Lord had wandered out of his own plan, whir:.
after profeesing that he would not eo
Waleheren, lie bad proceeded 101411 am- or sue
other quarter, from which Ire could raise a topic for
declamation. It was one of those symptoms ot de-
cay end roiliest disease, tiotteed by a Ht. Hoot. Groh
last night, (t lr. Yorke) that, whether a General
acted with caution or spirit ; whether he tts,k an
anxious rare of his army, or, in a ruble adtiatict
for the accomplishment of a would awl ad, (pate

object, overlooked petty risks and minor considcrae
lions, still he was a subject for obloquy and re-
proach. In good old times. an Officer was upheld
by the spirit of the country, and even his errors
were looked on with an eye of favour. Now there
was a melancholy reverse ; cad yet what Cetera!
ever existed who had not been guilty of errors ?
Here, alluding to some interruption given by Lord
Porcheste r, Mr. Croker said, he had ever thought
attention due to * Member, while delivering his
opinion., end had paid attention to the Noble Lord
while he spoke ; but the Noble Lord had now dis-
informed him from any similar obligation. Tile
Noble Lord, in his Spanish campaign, in tirts.sing
front his great source of information; the Monitertr,
had stifled, that Soult, with his army, were at Pk.
semi*. He merely stated this, to shew the fallacy
of the Noble Lord's information, for the fret oar,
Soult never did reach Plssentia, after being
beaten on the Douro. He was Marshal Commander
of that part of Spain, and the armies under Ney
and Mortier were mentioned as port of his for,:e.—
This, however, was extraneous to the question.—
With respect to Waleheren, the arguments of the
Honourable Seconder were at variance with those
of the Noble Lord, though equally undeserving of
credence. The papers might up wer every thing
either had asserted. Nor could they say thin these
pipers, promised by Hir Majesty, in his Speech,
and considered by him us satisfactory, would not
refute all their assumptions. Besides, the present
motion had already been subrtsfitially negatived,
and the House would vote in contradiction to their
Molar opinion, merely from an alteration in form.
fir did not say inquiry was not necessary, but their
ought first to know the grounds on which they voted
it, that they might at once decide on the proper
mod?. If Ministers were wrong, then a Partici.
mentary inquiry was most fit; and if the General
was wrong, then a Court Martial, and not a Com-
mittee of the /louse, was the proper tribunal to
which to send him for his trial. Of all the circuits.
stances oh which to judge of these things, they
were yet ignorant. nod yet-thry were called on to
choose a 'node of proceeding. not only the most in.
jurions to public business, but the most subversive
of public justice. /Hear! hear!) This, on a late
occasion, he had heard acknowledged by Gentle-
men on both sides of the House. The Noble Lord
had said, in the whole course of his argument., if
they could be called in, which were mere aasemp-
tions, that he prejudged nothing; and this, after
he had spent an hour and a half in lavishing every
topic of censure and abuse that he could bring to-
gether. Yet he had asked the House, by their vote,
to prejtidle, though he would not do so himself ;
and declared those parts of his sentiments in a sub-
dued tune and accent, unlike those he wished to
catch the public car. The speech of the Honour-
able Gentleman behind him was in direct opposi.
lion to the motion he intended to support. The
expedition did not fail from want of boats to land
men at Outland, but from Calll,eo which no Ms-
Mater could controul ; but it was not now the time
to enter upon so premature a discussion. After the
papers had been promised, they could not, without
acting disrespectfully to Ma Majesty, do what
would express a doubt of that promise bring ola.
served. (Loud cries of Order !) It would be unfair
to Minister. and Generale to prejudge their cases ;
and it was nave 'suitable to require • pledge on a
subject which. only 24 hours before, they had, in
another form, negatived and disapproved. He
wished aa be isodatstood as not at all oppoaing in.
quiry. (Hear! from the Opposition) If he had
not been able to make IMuself understood by these
Gentlemen, nothing he could soy further would at-
tain his object; though he trusted there were per-
son. in the House who would judge of his intention.
nut from what he said, b,:t what he meant. (
lewgh.r He concluded by moving the previous
quedinn.
The question being put—
Mr. BATIII.IIIIIT seimadvertail, in painted terms, op 11:2
language and observations of the tut Speaker. He proved,
that, though Ministers might have chosen the best Generale
to lead their expedition., they hail mot chosen the Iwst ora-
tors to defend their caine. The Howourakile Gentlemin bad,
in his opinion, unfairly charged the IN'uble Lard with imking
false statements, and with prelude*: the question. But the
Ho•uurable Gm:gleams had gone farther. He was but a
you're. Member (Atha House, and bed endeavoured to ham.
per their discussions, by using the sacred usurer of His Ma-
jesty—(Near! Hew !) It was the undoubted privilege of
the House, without any char/specs being sheen to His Ma-
jesty, not only to examine the conduct of those to whom Int
entrusted the executive government, Mu, if they thought
fit, respectfully, to call upon His Majesty fur paper. they
&curve' necessary fur their informal toir4iffear! Hear!)—.
The Illoussurable Gentleman bad also observed, that it was
not competent for them to vole for a question which had
Men otherwise derided by a majority tin a fie mar 011.2,•101.1.
He (wild not subscribe to this doctrine ; sod, though he had
been misunderstood by Gentlemen un Loth sides, he consi-
dered Mansell as free to give his vole, this night, as he
had been on the former. He then gave his vole for the
reasons he had stated, which appeared to him to be wised
soul sufficiest. Yet a Geutlemau oat this side (the Opposi-
tion,) had afterwards told him, that his vote was in opposi-
tion to one he had Rivet' in a former session, and that hr wag
not acquainted with Perhconfotery ter!ir.. He did Out
wish to be acquaiated with tiny tar-fee ; he voted nu all urea-
Mons as his conscience Metaled. He voted fur the Address,
but nut against inquiry ; and he opposed the Anseadment,
because it net reify <vetted inquiry, but stated what the re-
sult would be. The only ilitlereuee et opinion now was,
whetbir they should at this moment pledge themselves to ea-
ter into an inquiry, or should wait till the promised papers
should be produced. There wee then an end of all the ob-
jections egotism the spreads of the tioLle Lord, wish h
went to establish pi...a Ade evideuee to prove the
necessity fur monism to &Le resolution no r. ihe No-
ble Lord was plasm' in an aakward predicament ; fee
if lie bad merely stated Me oliject, he .ouH base been
answered, " nu have thew, sit erounsis why we should
come to this decision ;" and alum be ,liti state his grounds,
be was accused by the -flotrourable Gentleman of gang into
unfounded detail. The question, as it really stood, was a
very fair one' and proper for discussion. -Orem was a pre-
cedent is the case of the Spanish pyres, me which seta-
Mau be Lad agreed, that it was rotor to wait fur their pro-
duct ion before they voted inquiry Otoesaary. Bat they were
cot to look for preeedeuts, 1:,(1/!, question Mist stand on its
own ground; and he thought if ever there was a time wheat
iagmq .m called for it was new. (Hew! dear!) The
Noble Lord, instead of bring blamed for overeating, ought
to be thanked fur his csailour. He agreed with the Searle
Lord, that it was not aereseary is press the mode of moony
upon the House, but thsy owed it to the country to give a.
to,dg, rh..t im .por) of som• kiud shored take place. It
timid take plass in we say hot in a Committee, either of the
whois tlimer, ei appointed ; and all that wag asked woe,
that, le the manner ghat it may, the matter should he in.• toed It sae of uo consequence what the papers acre.
as the Coinniit!cv seed Nast go ?either if they were eatisfau-
tery ; Lut, at al! events' it was ilecewsaty to pledge Mess-
ick,'
to the inquiry. It mei evreseary to satisfy the just,
a%d not unreasonable, expettirtion• of the count., 1h•
papers might state whit was ii..uKM proper with rrtp• et is
the boats of debarkatiost um Cadmus', but Adteoulty retinas

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