The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER..

circumstances in which our army was placed ; but there was one
circumstance which called for the attention of this House, that
none of the Generals had ever received any communications from
the Noble Lord, impressing on them the necessity of the absolute
reduction of the Freuch force, which ought to have been the
main oluect of the expedition. And hence the country had to
lament that convention, which transferred a French army from
Portugal into Spain, the principal scene of action; which made
that efficient which was actually locked up ; 'whilst the usual
expectations of the country were disappointed, and the honour
of our military character was tarnished, by our agreeing to a
Convention with an army that had been twice beaten, while we
had 30,000 troops in the field. The Noble Lord then addressing
the Speaker, observed, " You, Sir, in one of your eloquent ad-
dresses to the Officers who had distinguished themselves in Por-
tugal, said that their swords had not. been drawn in vain." It
'was true, that they had gained themselves distinguished honour.
" But," said the Noble Lord, " I would ask of the people of
Spain, of the people of Biscay, who have tracked the desolat-
tug footsteps of that very army which you released from Portu-
gal, to send it to the very scene of action, whether the British
sword had been drawn in vain ? I would ask our countrymen,
who lost their last blood at the battle of Corunna, who were the
troops that followed up their retreat, and harrassed their
march ? They would answer, the very army of Junut, which
the Convention had released. I would ask the gallant regiment
who took the only French General that was taken in the battle
of Corunna, and they would tell me they had the misfortutie to
find him a General released by that Convention. I would ask
the people of Portugal, whoa) you are now compelled to aban-
don, or have already abandoned, whether, as to them at least,
the British sword has not been dram' in vain. The Noble Lord
then concluded a very able and brilliant speech by moving, as his
first ResOlution, " Thai the Convention of Cintra had disappointed
the just hopes and expectations of the If nose and of the Country."
Lord CASTLEtt E.t expressed his high satisfaction that the
moment was now arrived when 'his Majesty's Ministers would
have an opportunity of explaining their motives, and justifying
their conduct with respect to the late expedition to Portugal.
It appeared that, small as the force was, under General Sir
Arthur Wellesley, it might be -applied, in the mean time to
some important object, and they therefore did not wait till the
additional ten thousaad troops should be ready to join them;
and he did not believe that the Noble Lord himself would have
advised them to keep the force under Sir Arthur Wellesley,
joined by the troops, as they were to he, from Gibraltar, under
General Spencer, in a state of total inattivity, till this additi-
onal embarkation was ready, when there was such immediate
and pressing demand for assistance, both in Spain and Portu-
gal. In such circumstances it was thought most advisable to
allow the General some discretionary power, who would be
best able to judge where his services might he most useful, from
his vicinity to the scene of operations, and shifting every day,
as that scene necessarily was, though at the same time the 'ob-
ject of the ex pedition was by no means left undefined. Govern-
ment knew well that there was a considerable movement in the
North of Spain and in Portugal, similar movements had also
been expected in the South of Spain, where Sir Arthur 11 el-
lesley might have been equally, if not more useful. In these
expectations, however, they were disappointed, and it re-
mained for his gallant friend to follow up the first object
of the expedition, and to repair immediately to Portu-
gal. The Junta in Spain, instead of asking our assistance
for themselves, in preference to Portugal, approved, on the
contrary, of assisting the latter Power, and had given it as their
opinion, that our force would be able to contribute more to the
general cause by opposing the enemy in Portugal, and driving
'him out of that country,' than by any assistance that could be
given to themselves in the circumstances they then were The
Noble Lord then adverted at great length to the equipment
of the expedition, and contended that in every respect it was
perfectly adequateto the nature of the service for which it vvas
designed. It had provisions for three mouths, besides provi-
sions for other two months on board the transports. The only
difficulty to be experienced, was in procuring the means of car-
rying with them the necessary stores and provisions on landing,
and this, from the very nature of the service, must have been
trusted to the resources of the country that was to become the
scene of their operations. nail horses been provided ..for ail
thew necessary pniposes, anti formed a part of the equipment.
his Lordship provCd, that, for any army of thirty thousand men,
not less than fifteen thousand horses would have been necessary.
The Noble Lord denied that any inconveniency had been expe-
rieuced from the want of heavy artillery, and concluded by

moving the previous question, but stated, that he should after
wards take the sense of the House on the propriety and prin..
ciple of the expedition.
Sir Attrncu W RILE' LEY thought that Administration who
had resolved upon the expedition responsible for their resolution ;
but that the otlicers who conducted it alone were responsible fur
its operations. W hen he landed in
,Spain, (be Junta of Oviedo
declined his services at that time in their own country, but re-
commended to him to go and expel the French from Portugal.
It was his t;pinion, as well as that of officers under his orders,
that the French would endeavour to cross the Tagus, and the
plan of operations he had suggested, would have completely.
counteracted that measure, as, had they been followed up in
lime after fte battle of the '2lst, the project of crossing the river
would have been impractittble. lie stated, that when he left
town, he did not expect to remain long in the chief command,
whatever kindness he might receive from his Noble Friend near
him; but lie hoped Ministers would in future act with more con-
sideration in superseding an officer who may go on an expedition,
in the. middle of his operations (Hear! hear!). Although his
opinion was contrary to that of Sir 11. Burrard, he wished by.
no means to be considered as the accuser of that Officer. (Hear!
hear !). lie was always of opinion that the terms of the Conven-
tion were favourable to this country, and had the British Offseert
not agreed to theta in September, they would have been glad to
grant them in December. As to tin:, Court of Enquiry, before
which he had been called, he trusted that it would be the last
that would ever sit in this country, as its proceedings could never
give satisfaction like a Court Martial.
Mr. W it !THREAD said, that Ministers had received an attack
during the debate which they could not effectually resist whit
all their troops. At one time they had told the puhiic that the
Treaty of (Intro bad disappointed the hopes of the nation, and
they came forward, on cool reflection, to inform the Douse, that
the disapprobation expre.sed against that treaty wits not well
founded. A gallant General on the other side of the Douse had
said, if his opinion had been followed, that the French would
have been expelled front Portugal, yet he would not vote against
the Treaty. The Noble Lord (('astiereegh) had acknowledgof
that the treaty had met the displeasure of the country, and res.
fused to vote against it, because the Noble lord knew that the
blame must fall on 'Ministers. The mistakes and blunders of
Ministers required explanation. The people of England had a
right to be satisfied, and they ought to he satisfied. Ile concluded
a most animated speech by censuring the general conduct of
Ministers.
Against the motion, 203—For the motion 153—Majority be:
—Adjourned.

Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Sir John Newport presented a Petition against the Corn Dis:
tillery Bill.

THE DUKE OF YORK.

- _
hcit
Colonel Hamilton examined by Lord MILTON.—Q. W
did Colonel Hamilton first learn that Captain Bosley Sandi)
had the note produced before this House as the note of his
Royal Ilighoess the Duke of York ? A. Captain H. *uion
ittforioNl me, that such a note was in his possession immediately,
or very shortly after, his arrival at l'ortsmouth.—Q. Did he
give you this information before or after the Inquiry institutea
in this II wise? A. It was after the Inquiry.—Q. Did he then
show you any papers, and amongst them this note ? A. Yes,
he did ; I had no suspicion at that time that it was a forgery.=
Q. Did you, on seeing the note alluded to, desire Captaiu
Sandon nut to destrOy it ? A. I did particularly desire
Q. When was it then that Capt. uxley Sandon first told its}
that the note was destroyed ? A. After I had seen ll r. Adam.
—Q. Did you then converse about the note ? A. Yes; he said,
" Col. Hamilton, I have destroyed the note; l am very sorry
that in so doing," 1 saw him again in Oxford-street, on tht
morning of his examination in this House. lie then told nie
that HE HAD NOT DESTROYED TUE NOTE, but world nut pro-
duce it.---Q. Did he assign uo reason fur this reserve, this keep-
ing bark of the note ?A. None whatever.—Q. Whet' did you first
hear of the note in question? A. The note was stated to me by
Capt. Sandon to be in his poskiession, together with other papers,
on our first eonversaSion at PortsmoufieT-The sum, to lie giiru
-for obtaining the permission to raise the levy .svas to be 6001„
This matter went on for soute.time, but tibrovit ehanue; it
was negotiated, Capt. )e sot,, J tthat it had
been regular asid otlicial, mid Abe ausw
erS were iu the lame way.
Some time after this, tie had
.24 appiicalinti ipaislp to him re,
spectiog,Capt. Thiry) promotiost for* ntakrity, (or ‘V.Liclt he
was to give him SVO guiueis upon being satetteil. (41. To 031;

I

IliC .11151. 111,11CJ dllll L. peLIiLLIIIIIS ill lilt: 11 011!•C inn' tog Inc •_.trussu I
.! •
Lord CAsTLEtt E.t Gut expressed his high satisfaction that the founded. A gallant General on the other side of the House had
moment was now arrived when 'his Majesty's Ministers would said, if his opinion had been followed, that the French would
have an opportunity of explaining their motives, and justifying have been expelled front Portugal, yet he would not vote against
their conduct with respect to the late expedition to Portugal. the Treaty. The Noble Lord (('astleree.gh) had acknovoledgof
It appeared that, small as the force was, under General Sir that the treaty had met the displeasure of the country, and re,
Arthur Wellesley, it might be -applied, in the mean time to fused to vote against it, because the Noble Lord knew that the
tso ne important object, and they therefore did not wait till the blame must fall on Ministers. The mistakes and blunders of f
additional ten thousaad troops should be ready to join them ; Ministers required explanatiou. The people of England had a il
said he did not believe that the Noble Lord himself would have right to be satisfied, and they ought to he satisfied. He concluded
advised them to keep the force under Sir Arthur Wellesley, a most animated speech by censuring the general conduct of
joined by the troops, as they were to he, from Gibraltar, under Ministers. 4
General Spencer, in a state of total inattivity, till this additi-
onal embarkation was ready, when there was such immediate
and pressing demand for assistance, both in Spain and Portu-
gal. In such circumstances it was thought most advisable to Wednesday, Feb. 22.
allow the General some discretionary power, who would be Sir John Newport presented a Petition against the Corn Dig:
best able to judge where his services might he most useful, from
his vicinity to the scene of operations, and shifting every day, Tun DUKE OF YORK.
as that scene necessarily was, though at the same time the 'ob-
ject of the expedition was by no means left undefined. Govern-
did Colonel Hamilton first learn that Captain Huxley Sandi)
ment knew well that there was a considerable movement in the
North of Spain and in Portugal, similar movements had also
been expected in the South of Spain, where Sir Arthur 11. el-
W*ollll 1 me, that such a note was in his possession immediately,
Lesley might have been equally, if not more useful. In these or very shortly after, his arrival at Portsmouth.—Q. Did he
expectations, however, they were disappointed, and it re- ii.AlAegrdyjaoinßusritlaitc.hde. motion, 203—__For file motion 153—Majority be:
Colonel Hamilton exatnined by Lord MILTON .—Q. W Ito
had the nine produced before this House as the note of his
Royal Highness the Duke of York ? A. Caplaiu H. *onion
:4
give you this information before or after the Inquiry instituted ~..,,
.
I.
1
,
1!
' mained for his gallant friend to follow up the first object
of the expedition, and to repair immediately to Portu-
gal. The Junta in Spain, instead of asking our tusistance
for themselves, in preference to Portugal, approved, on the
contrary, of assisting the latter Power, and had given it as their
him.-
-Opinion, that our force would be able to contribute more to the
Eitoieroault ciiotfusteh.lyopposing the enemy in Portugal,
country,' than by any assistance
given to themselves in the circumstances they then were
that could be —Q. Did
Noble Lord then adverted at great length to the equipment
of the expedition, and contended that in every respect
it was
perfectly adequate-to the nature oldie service for which it was
designed. It had provisions for three mouths, besides provi-
sions for other two months on board the transports. The only jug
difficulty to be experienced, was in procuring the means of car-
rying with them the necessary stores and provisions on landing,
and this, from the very nature of the service, Must have been
trusted to the resources of the country that was to become the
scene of their operations. Ilad horses been provided -for ail
these necessary pOrposes„ and formed a part of the equipment.
his Lordship provPd, that, for any army of thirty thousand oleo, ill this llonse? A. It was after the Inquiry.—Q. t)id he then
show you any papers, and amongst them this note? A. Yes,
lie did ; I had no buspi c i o n at that time that it was a forgery.—
(,), Did von, on seeing the note alluded to, desire Captaia 11.
Sandon nut to destroy it ? A. I did particularly desire
Q. When was it then that Capt. Iluxley Sandon first told 'yea
and driving that the note was destroyed ? A. After I had seen Mr. Ad;puila
you then converse about the note ? A. Yes; he said,
The "Col. Hamilton, I have destroyed the note; I am very sorry
that in so doing," 1 saw him again in Oxford-street, on OF
morning of his examination in this House. lie then told me
* that Inn HAD NOT DETROY ED TuE NOTE, but would nut pen-
designed. it.---Q. Did he assign no reason for this Tezerve, this keep-
bark of the note ? A. None whatever.—Q. When did you first
hear of the note in question? A. The note was stated to inc by
Capt. Sandon to he in his powssion, together with other papers,
on our first conversation at Portsmotah,s-,-The sum. to be gioi-eil
-foe obtaining the prrmission to raise ,tie leiey was to be 6001,
This matter went on for s.ouie.time,_ bat iltrottgh Irina ehanuel it
was negotiated, Capt. Saudou.soaid.)le knew sot,, Wiat it Ekad
been regular acid official, and Abe answerS iwere in the pine way, i
~
iA
not less than fifteen thousand horses wonid have been necessary. Some time after this, lie had au apPlicafinn iikslis to hins re,
$
The Noble Lord denied that any inconveniency had been expe- spectiog Capt. Tonyn's promotion for* majoyity, (or vV.hixt" he
. . _.
rimed froth the want of heavy artillery, and concluded hl was to give him SVO guineas upon being foitiettcd. (41. 'fumy -0
;,; ,