The Sun.
London, England, 1810-02-09 00:00:00

FRIDAY FRERTJA.tr 9, 1810.

THE INQUIRY.

-~ - -

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE;
Taken before the Committee of the whole Houae; imiciinted
to conaider of the Policy and Condud of the late-Expedi-
tion to the Scheidt.

FIRST .DAY, FZII. 2.
The Right Hon. Sir DAVID DUNDAS, K. B. Com-
mander in Chief of the Army, was called in.
The Right Hon. Sir IoHN ANL-ley/Hee, Bart. intlic
Chaff.

Examined by the Committee.

At what time were.you first made acquainted by
his Majesty's liVlinsters with their intention of send-
ing an expedition to . the Scheldt ?—lt was on the
22d of March that I Was desired - by Lord Castle-
reagh to attend a Cabinet that was to be held on the
24th at Burlington-house. On the i Bth of March
I had been appointed Commander in Chief. .
What was the nature and substance of the com-
munication made to you by Lord Castlereagh ?—lt
was to attend the Privy Council upon the subject of
a proposed expedition to Walchelen, arid an attack
on the French fleet there; that was the general in-
formation I had, and on that subject I was desired
to attend to be asked a question by the Counc:l.
By- the Privy Council you mean the Cabinet ?
—I do.
Did you in .consequence attend on the 24th ?
I did.
Have the goodness to r' late what passed between
you and his Majesty's Ministers on the 24th with
respect to the expedition ?--I have,a memorandum
to that effect, which I will read, if I may permitted.
Th'e object was the -propriety and Possibility of an
immediate attack on the-Island ofWalcheren, and
particularly on Flushing, and on the French Fleet of
nine or ten. sail of the. line, which was at that time
in the harbour of that place not in a. state to proceed
to sea.. The.attempt was represented as from many
considerations most desirable, tur the Navy had then
a large disposable force,. and also" that it. should be
made within a short limited time, - depending upon
the tidei; for it was to be apprehended that on the
smallest alarm 'the enemy would withdraw their
ships from!. Flushing, 'and carry them up the
Scheldt to Antvticrp. Fifteen .or sixteen thousand
land forces were considered as necessary for this
operation, and I was desired. to state whether such
.a force 'could at that time-be assembled,, This I was
i not then enabled to do in the affirmative.
[The Witness was dire&ed to withdraw.]
The Chairman was directed to repoit progress,
and ask leave to sit again. , :

*hen was the next communication relattile to th e
expedition to• the Scheldt ?—On the Ibth' of May,
Lord Castlereagh requested my sentiments on, the
praEticability of an attempt on the enemy's naval
establishment in the Scheldt, the extent of means
it would require, and the mode by which it could
best be Carried into execution, for the consideration
of his sajesty's Ministers ; on the 3d of June my
answer was transmitted on the aboVe subject to Lord
Castlereagh.
Cati: j,ou state the substance of your answer to
Lord Ckistlerea4l ?-4 have- that answer here, and
also his Lord Ship's letter to me.
[Sir David Dundas delivered in a letter from Lord Castle-
reagh to himself, dated May 29, '8.9.; and his answer,
dated 3i lune, 1809, which were read.]
(Confidential„)—Copy of a Letter from Lord CAST I.EREA Gil

to the Commander in Chief.

SECOND DAY, F Es. S.

" SIR, Downing-street, 29th May, 149.
" The naval establishment which the .enerny has
created in the Scheldt has already led to the con-
struaion of not less than 20 sail of the line in dif-
ferent stages et equipment, and promises to receive
at nu distant period an extension in point of number
of ships, and a. solidity in point of defence,. ,vhion
must render it, as a maritime position, not only.
extremely formidable to the security of Great Bri-
tain, but still more invulnerable to attack. These
considerations have long attraaed the serious atten-
tion of his Majesty's Government, and they feel it
their duty to investigate with the formidable means,
both naval and military, which h's Majesty has at
present at his disposal, how far it is possible to
strike a blow against the enemy's naval resources in
that quarter, including the destruction of their arse-
nal at Antwerp, and the ships stationed in different
parts of the Scheldt between Antwerp and Flush-
ing.
" The extreme importance of this subject
am persuaded, induce you to give it your best atten-
tion, and I have to request that you will favour me
with your sentiments for the consideration of his
Majesty's Ministers upon the practicability of such
.an attempt; upon the extent of means it would re-
quire, and the mode by which it could best be car-
ried into execution.
The ,intelligence received 'from the Northern
parts of France, from Flanders, and frond Holland,
although not such as will,enable me to furnish you
with any precise statement of the enemy's force on
that. line; represents them .as drained as low, if not
lower than at any former period, of regular troops;
and I apprehend it may be- generally assumed, that
we can never expect to.find the enemy more exposed
or more assailable in that quarter ; nor is it probable
that Great Britain,Will ever have a Lager disposable
force applicable to such a service than at the present
moment.. •

The Eight Hon. Sit' DAVID DUNDAS, K.B. cone-
nzander in Chief of the Army was called in.
Examined by the Committee.
, .

•
PRICE SIXPENCE 11A.CYPEIN;Nk

- - •
" I have, &c.
(Signed) " CASTLEREAGH."
The Right lion. the com,nander in Chief, ,

from the situation of his strong., garrisori towns.:
where the sick and wounded must be abandoned
whenever they become so, from
.want of cartiage;
mliere--ifeqessity• would soon induce rapin'e;
der; and gteat loss; where, it 'such an arrnyWai
not sooner', arrested 'in. its p`rOgre,,s, it must !arrive
aft& a march of above 100 miltis, at: its :(.lestinbci

point, and before' a great town (Antwerp), suffi-
cientlY for:ified to require-a .regular siege;. and which
this army could.not carry on,
,unless the exertions
of the fleet, and of another considerable body. of
troops, had opened and ensured a communicationty
the Scheldt. •
" During such a march, had some of the defen-
sible towns even opened their gates,- it is 'evident
such an Army' could not 'diminish its' numbers by
leaving garrisons to occupy them, and thereby at-
temptingto keep up a communication with the
original paint of landing, vihere possibly _a, fortress
(Ostend) may have been secured, but which fortress
is not such a one as can efleCtually corer and secure
the re-embarkation of a considerable corps. Sup-
posing after such a march the main obje(:t .of th
expedition to have been attained in the destruCtion •
of the enemy's fleet, it is evident that the army
could not calculate (from the time and -force thla
enemy must have acquired) on returning by the
same route, but most trust from the previous inea=
sures taken and tts own exertions, to retur❑ (having
accomplished its object) by the Scheldt. •
• €‘ If it therefore appears that the advance throucylt-
Flanders is attended with very great difficulties, and
that at any-rate a return by the Schtid•t is the Most
expedient and eligible; it would follow also that the
attack should be direeted from that side, and be a
combined .naval and land operation, the detail of
which must be well considered and arranged by. both

services.
" In whatever way Antwerp is to be approached
or taken, the service is One of very great risk, and
in which the safe return of the army 'so employed
may be very precarious, from the opposition made;
and the.length of time. cor.sumtd in the operarictn;
which ..enables the enemy to assemble in, a short
time a great:force ' from every part of the Net her=
lands and Holland, and even from Westphalia by
the course.of thellhine, as' well as from tire frontiit
of France.

D. Du DAs."

" 3d June Ito% Horse Guards."

Are you' in possession of the opinions of other
officers given upon the same subjett ?—Yies, I am
in possession of four .opinions I have thetri not
here.
Whose opinions were they ?-0£ the Adjntant-
General, the Quarler-Master*-General, the Deputy -
Quirter-Master-General, and of Colonel Gordon;
who is my Secretary.
Were those opinions in writing ?=-They were in
writing..

Are they in your:offiCe ?-They are in my office.
(Copy.)—Paper transmitted .(tune j(i) to Lord CASTLE..
kiAGH in answer to 'his- late of the 29th of May; 1809. 'Were ihose itlividual,op.inions, or were they the
.
" The object to be attained as stated, is a most result of any militaey consultation?--They s•vere
important and desirable One, but the force we have t opinions that those Gentlemen wrote' by my d:r 'C...
icon; separate opieions ; 'separate papers; and these
to employ must be considered, and the difficulties'
papers • were •,Sent to: the, Settetary of ' Stale along
and risks they have to encounter from the enemy's'
strength and advantages, must be 'well 'weighed. • with my own opinion:, -• • . ; •: . . ~-t. , -
" Our utmost means may be reckoned at about
: What was the next corennunteation-in point of
5 or 30,000 infantry, and sor 6000-cavalry.. time which -yo'u had with his Majesty's Mea;ite'ra
" There appear to be two routesby which such" upon, this subjea ?—On the 18th of June Lord Cas-
an army might' undertake to apProach from the tlereagli transmitted his Majesty's pleasure for hold-
ing in readiness'for imMediate embarkation '35,000
"'lat. From Ostend, or its neighbOurhood, by . infantry and' 1800 avaliyl: on the 22d,- the Com-
a march of above one hundred mile, through the niandet; in Chief transmitted to Lord Castlereagh a
country of Flanders,' and by Alost, Vilvarde, and detailed state of force to proceed on service, with a
Malines ' - Staff, civil ;and Military, the fore..! ailiotinOig to
2d. B;naval and land operations within the 35,400 infantry, and .1800 'cavalry ; also -the force
Scheldt,' and along that river, to Antwerp; first' that would remain in Great Britain, Ireland,and the
occupying the Islands of Walcheren and Sod Be- Islands• in the Channel.
veland, and probablY the opposite banks of ' the . 'Does that number.include the Foot Guards and
Scheldt." . •
calculation , the ,Artillery ?—The Foot Guards bat not the Ara
Every
or prospe of successful at- ti4err;
"infanta'} I call them.
41
,What Was. the force of the Artillery ?—I do not
tick can only be 'foreseen and• made on a know-
ledge Of the relative situation' and Strength of ' the know the .particulars ;1 aPptehend• the- Board of
enemy's country, fortresses, and armed men •that Ordnance can give a detail of them; I cannot. give
can be brought in defence of both.- If the route of it upon recollection, and haVe not' it , marked down
.
meeting.. ,
, the arm•y is therefore to be taken as. in the first here.- - . • •
Do you recollea at any other time since that pe, , ease, through Flanders, the country 'IS knoavii to be ' Was the 22d of June the earliest period at which
riod, .being consulted relative) to the expediency of 1 one of the most intricate in Europe for military 'ope- so large .a force could be collected ?e—Upon. my word
I cannot say eiadly,,they tnight some days sooner
ata.expeditioe to the Scheldt .—I do not, xecollea ' rations, being every were intersePted with deep
upon the expediency, but I had: a great deal of ;running rivers, large canals; and- considerable perhaps ; on the 20th of May there was an atratige.
'
communication of course with the Secretary of State ' ditches and inclosures, at the'same ante that the event of 25,000 men given ; afterwards, bets eon
after that, from that time, till the expedition sailed".; , passes and important points are guarded by' for- that and this last date,,35,000 or more were assem-
I mean th.ti I. never was called to a council or a bled; the -men . were- recovering fast; there' was a
tresses and walled towns; the most intonsiderable
gie„st great increase of inen during that period ; Ido not'
meeting. . , . , of which are capable of Making a resistance a
Was the expedition suspended in consequence.of think such a force as that could have, been well as,,
. . an army scantily provided with siege artillery. Of
the difficulties yoe have stated in procuring a suffi- the first class. near this rOute are NieupOrt, Ostend, sembled before that period which may be called an
rtil. '
-cleat force ?-11pon my word I cannot sad'sad'; it is i Ghent; Oudenarde, Dendermond, Brnisels,-Malines. ay of 40,000 men ; such a number could not
not for me to judge of that. The progress of military operation's in Flanders, have been got sooner. ‘. .. •
When was there any fresh communication upon : Have you any Papers in your Office which wou!d
from the difficulties of advance; are well' known
the. same, eubjed with you ?--Froin the 24th of ,never to have teeen rapid.
• . i ahew what was the largest force which could have
March to the Bth
,of May there appears to have been i " With our state ofprepafation and. numbers, been assembled et different periods previous to the
no pec Ajar communication on the subject of Wal- : an attempt by this first route of a rapid March- 22d of June ?—I think not; it is very difficult to
cheren from his Majesty's Government; I mean through Flanders to arrive ..at :Antwerp, would cer-
ascertain the number atany particular point of time;
official to me as Commander in Chief ; but every tainly be most singular, and perhaps without exam, we had monthly returns, and there were intermediate
exertion continued to be made and urged to the se- returns, and there were returns of, the state of the
, pie. For a veiy considerable fleet and army- must
veral Corps to complete them fur service. sick, and so on ; but I,conld not make a calculation
; arrive and 'anchor on a part of the enemy's coast,
What was the communication made to you the Bth which is at all times flat, dangerous, and:without I for every week ;of the numbers.
of May, and by .whom ?—On the Bth of May Lord , bay or shelter of -any kind; in order to land on the When. were. you next consulted relative to this
Castlereagh applied for the. state of the infantry in open beach .(bettwixt two of the enemy's fortresses) expedition ?—The next official communication was
England, and the date that each battalion might be • about 30,000 men, 7or 800 e horses, and a cottsi- Lord eastiereagh's notification on the 27th of June,
considered as fit for service, arid in a state for em- ' derable artillery, and perhaps other carriages and i of his Majesty's pleasure, that the Frail of Chatham
:
barkation :on the toth of May a return was trans- i horses, ,medical commissariat and baggage, if means should be appointed je the command of the forces
milted to Lord Castlereagh of all the bittalious now 1 and circumstances allow ; to give up all communi-. for foreign service, and that Lieutenant-General
Sir Eyre Coote should be appOieted second in corn-
in England, with the effeaive strength of each : on ' cation with their shipping, and to march imrne- ;
the 20th of May, Lord Castlereagh desired the mode . diately without tents, tor no Means of carrying them 1 wand. . a
in which it would be proposed to brigade two corps, ' could be provided or depended on ; without hospital ; Was that the whole of,that communication l—
one of 25,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, the other equipment, with only a scanty supply of bread for That was the whole of that communication.
a reserve of 10,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry : on a very few days, thropgli an hostile country, most i . What was the next communication of an *official
I
the 21st of May a scheme was transmitted to Lord intricate and difficult in its nature, where the use nature ?—On the 1 sth of July Lord Castlereagh re,
- ca.qlereagh, specifying the battalions as they lay in of the canali could be so easily impeded, where the quested - that another cavalry- regimeat should be
„Oisrrids for an army of 25,000 :infantry and 5,000 , bridge;, which are' numerous, would be destroyed, added; on the 17th Lord Castlereagh was acquaint_
eayahy ; that for the reserve was postponed; I was , where te enemy would immediately be in front, 'ed that the 2d Dragoon Gn irds were under order;.
. not.ertabled to do it then. i reatr, and on both flanks, being chableal so to d;) i . When was the next cornalunioatio_s on this ,sub •
, .

Have the goodness to proceed in stating what
passed between you-and his Majesty's Ministers on t
the 24th, with respea to: the expedition ?—After
every previous inquiry and report which had been
made. from the commanding Officers .at the several
stations of the troops, and from the well-known
shattered situation of the army after the return of so
large a portion of it from Spain, such a force could
then not be provided ; besides the very indifferent
general state of heal}h, there was not one of those
porps. which 'returned froth Spain whose clothing,
larrns, accontremehl;,' and other parts of military
equipment, were not in a most detedive stale, and
required considerable tinie,uncler'every exertion, to
replace and repair. . . ,
Did any thing 'More pass between his Majesty's
Ministers and yourself at that time relative to the
projected expedition to the Scheldt ; and if there
did, state what it was ?—I recollect no debate ,or
diSeussion taking placet or opinion being called foi• ;.
general conversation. might pass while I remained
there. As I considereS.myseif sent for to answer on
a particular suhjed, 1 retired soon after it was done ;
and as I took no notes at that time, .1 have now
no further, reccollettion of what passsed at that