The National Register.
London, England, 1809-09-10 00:00:00

VIE NATIONAL REGISTER.

581

tlritis character as to belies e that the expenditure of so
many millions, the iives of so many soldiers, the sacrifice
ol` so much national honeur, the reluctant abandonment of
se many hopes, can be ellected with as little ceremony as
we can put of a g:lett coat or a night-cap ? Is it pos•
Bible that his Lordship can suppose that some ac-
count will not be expected Of what has been doing since
!he 3d of August. What force was there to oppose
the complete execution of these ulterior objects out
that day ?—The order for collecting this force was only
dated the 3,1, and at last what was the force ? The inhabi-
tants of the Maritime Frontiers! What army of veteians,
or even of soldiers, was there at this period ? Bttt we aro•
told forsooth, that at the end of a month there were more
than 35.000 men collected from all quarters.—But this he
expected, certainly, and with th is ex pectation in his thoughts
our troops are permitted to loiter on South Bevelaml, •
doomed to a cursed and fatal inactivity. At length it ill
discovered that they are afflicted with the usual disorders
of that clinrde ! Ami what in the name of God ,Siafr to
encore our soldiers against them. Inactivity is a disorder
of itself, sufficient to destroy an army.—But we are told
that do Noe, who was on his march to Germany to ith
30,000 men, changed his course, and came to the relief of
Antwerp. Thisgrat wtoiis lakehood is not supported even by
the probability of the thing. Read the dispatches of the
indignant officer Szir it. STTI A CITA K. I)oes it appear that our
naval commanders were of opinion the ulterior objects
of the Expedition ought to be abandoned I No such
thing. Sir Rica aro, makea an unqualified .otter of the
assistance of the •vivy ; and would he have done this if it
had net consisted with his opinion that the measure was
practicable APer being. three weeks in Bevelsnd, the
Commander in Chief hint not r made up his mind; so says
the .Admiral. Two dass after he is determined to give up
every thing he was sett to do—and he does not even con-
()tweed to tell ea the reasons that justify this conduct.
The French had collected in great force—true; but why
did you not attack them 'before this force was collected ?
If you had not the means, why not say so ; why leave
your friend 3 to guess at this, and your enemies to anti-.
cipate the futility and absurdity of such an excuse ?
When a great and g!orious service is achieved, we
arc satisfied without examiniug into the details. But
when disgrace and confusion- is brought home to our
doors unexpectedly, we expect some satisfactory account. •
of the causes that have led to this. There is a moment-
ous and important period of three weeks unaccounted for.
What was the army about ? Only 9.3,000 infantry, and
9.000 cavalry able to take the field at the end of a month,
besides the garrison of l lushinr. Is this possible ? %Vat
nothing to he reckoned upon 10 or 15,000 marines and
sadors in a sort of amphibious rencontre ? Was the navy •
averse, or even lu'se-warm ? No such thing. Whatever
diss-race attaches, it is 'to the Military Commander,. and
perhaps a hcaseer responsibility never tested upon the
shoulders of one num. There is not, there cannot be, two
opinions. Much and sincerely as we wish that his Lord-
.ship may ha able to account for his conduct, we. in.st
think it is impoasible to do it with satisfaction to the coun-
try. Much and sincerely as we revere the names of erre
and Cu %Toast, WC fear 41isgrace will tor ever rest upon 4,11 C
of theta, not for what he hes, but for what he has not, done.
We agnin repeat, that the conduct Ministers isnot to be
ledge(' of les the event of the Expedition. The objecissit it •
were legitimete objects. The destruction of the COCllliti
fleet, wool('
_have enereased .he security of the. country.
A diversion wisely phoned. and ably executed might re,
lieve and reeder the disparity' between'the treed'
and British troops iu Spain, les injurious and alarming.
The couriers of Ministers upon this occasion ins not h:ng :4)
do-wiltt the. conduct the Commander; ' Let everts tub rs
upon its orn'hot.tion. if Ministers havemegieeted any skimp.
whielithtl oughtto balm thme, en.vireclurteso, It watt
no doubt; be made to appiabrasitenAtievlthy trial • -
_
rrve4-; _akyrescul, uo such accusatiQpis•eion wiuspareil. •