The Sun.
London, England, 1809-10-21 00:00:00

BRITISH. REVIEW:

We have not roorn sudielent for all that we in-
ten,Jed to extratt irom
_the admirable Crititique on
the N ircati,e of Sir jouN Mowles Campaio,
the Qoarolly Review, but we cannot deny our-
selves the piea*ure of submitting to our Readers the
follov,ing masterly conclusion of its observations.

•' " As to Mr. Frere, the'principal of the intended
sufferers' from this. controversial history,
.the ge-
neral result of Mr. Moore's;pnblication, -oorrea-
ed as it •is by comparison with others of equal
authority, is, in one resped at least,
.pf some
use and importance; since 'the so much agitated
question respecting Sir . John Moore's advance
.from
Salamanca is settled beyond controversy, - The tes-
timony of General. Clinton to thjs pOint is positive
and tinimpeaChed. Whether; if this advance had
beet) made (as was originally .asserted] solely at Mr.'
Frere's instigation, the responsibility would have
been one from which that gentleman need to shrink,
is a question upon Which we could say much : but
one which may well be left. undetermined, when the
bet. upon which alone that question arose,. turns out
to have been assumed erroneously.
" Into an examination of the correspondence be-
tween Sir John Moore and Mr. Frere, we have
professed our 'disinclination to enter; In the pre-
sent state of things it is impossible to judge of it im-
partially. We shall not attempt to apportion the
precise degree of blaMe which may belong tcr one or
to the other party, for the asperity whith ',certainly
marks some parts of the respe6tive‘ cohduet, of the
Minister and the General towards each other. The
death of one of the disputants preclodes.all criticism
so for as he is concerned :'-=-arid it "wonldrhave been
an unfeeling and ungenerous task to aggravate the re-
gret, which, whatever were4he merits of the dis-
pute, must equally be cherished- by the survivor.
Upon the single subjea, however, of the ern-.
ployment of Mr. Charmilly,, .which made so unfa-
vourable, and, as it appears, so unfair an impression
to the prejudice of Mr. ..,Frere, we ;cannot forbear
briefly remarking, that we have, searched Mr.
Moore's narrative in vain 'for a fad which was
stated, and stated without contradietionin the House
'of Commons, viz. that Mr. Charmilly came to Mr.
Frere, .(whether whit any ot,her recomendation we
know not, but certainly), with the recornmendation
-of having been received at a.guest at Sir J: Moore's
table on his way to Madrid.
" But while we abstain from discussing the style of
Me: Frere'S letters, or the merits of his messenger,
if it be intended, as apparently it is, to impute blaMe
of another.sort to- Mr. Frere's conduet on this occa-
sion; and to criminate or to ridicule his atdent at-
tschfuent to the cause of. Spanish intlePeodence and
his'beekwardness to despair of its, Sueeess,.it 'would
be base and .unworthy in us :to ala Stain fromivati-
fying and applauding-sentiments.*Nhich.we claim
with Mr. Prere a full participation.,
4? Ike•adinit' that' in difficult ,enterprizes :tfie
shartest way it always to despond. •It is. a course.
which, .besides, presents many temptations, and al-
lurements. .Despondency exonerates. froni-respon--
sibility ; it 4spenst4 with exertion 3< it:attraets pro-
selytes by the facility of its creed;,- and secures the
reputation of sagacity beyond -the hazard 'of subse-
.

am
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