Star.
London, England, 1812-12-01 00:00:00

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8-pounders to carry on'the siege of that fortress.—
It ails almost impossible that the place could be car-
ried, except by a routs de main, which unfortunately
'did not succeed ; and again, from its limited means,
he was obliged to retreat. If 'the victory and pos-
isecsion.of Madrid had' caused such sensations of sa-
tisfaction, what would not be felt at the reverse ? IP
the war in the Peninsula was to be considered in the
light of a diversion-in favour of Russia, ought not
every nerve to have been strained to make it as ef-
fectual as possible ? Marmont was soon reinforced,
and the beaten soon again appeared in the field with
fresh reinforcements. But where were Lord Wel-
lington's reinforcements ? On the 24th, after he had
' abandoned Burgos, he was joined by a battalion of
' the Guards. The 91st Regiment had advanced as
far aePenevente, but were obliged to turn back, and
he hoped and trusted they had secured a safe retreat.
' awe regiments more were disembarked at Ccrunna,
and were agaig embarked for Lisbon, from which
place they would probably join at the beginning of
the next camfaaign. His Lordship having adver-
ted to the campaign, contended we ought to have
sent greater reinforcements both of men and money,
Ind, stated as an instance of neglect in the latter case,
that the_ military chest at one time contained but
'20,000 dollars, and that the Marquis of Wellington
was obliged-to use a sum of 37,000 dollars, which
bad been sent for the use of a Spanish army. He
complained likewise that the British Commander had
been deceived by the expectations of co-operation
and assistance from the Sitilian expedition, which
had been sent so tardily and injudiciously, that it
was of no use, and had served only to expose the
Catalonians, without affording them protection.—
His Lordship nest adverted to the transactions be-
tween this country and Sweden, and said it required
explanation why the expedition which was arranged
• to sail from Sweden was so suddenly abandoned af-
ter the negotiation with this country. He also
' thoughtit singular, that, with respect to Ireland, the
Catholic claims were not at ail noticed in the Re.
gent's Speech. It looked very much like what had
been whispered, namely, that Parliament had been
dissolved to get rid of the pledge of the last Sessions
to take their claims into consideration. With respect
to America, he was surprised to hear it said that the
Orders itt Council were the ground of quarrel: he
understood there were other high and important
questions affecting our maritime rights, and he was
' ready to say, that never was quarrel more just than
ours with America.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL rose in reply.—He
observed, the Noble Marquis had contented himself
by observing upon the Address, without moving any
amendment. He had dwelt much on the late re-
verses after our glorious successes; but the man who
should look for a continued career of victory in war,
without any reverses, I.3oked for that which scarcely
by any-possibility could happen. He could agree
with the Noble Lord only in a few topics ; and with
• . respect to the campaign, he would ask any man if
the result, as it now stood, had been stated as an ex-
rectation at the beginning of it, would not the hope
have been treated as chimerical? The Noble Lord
had complained of the limited scale on which the
war on the Peninsula had been supplied; but surely,
in speaking of that supply, he ought to have taken
into his consideration the means of the country; and
; if he had done so, he would have found that they
had exceeded not only what had been done in any
former war, but beyond what a few years back
. would have been thought possible for the country to
accomplish. He could tell the House, that on the
25th of June last, the number of troops in British pay
in the Peninsula amounted to no less than I 27,000
Then ; of 'this 50,000 were British ; and in the course
of last year 20,000 men, and 7000 horses- had' been
vent out to Spain. The Noble Lord had also made
it matter of complaint that there was no battering-
train at Burgos. The fact was, thaethe rapid ad-
e vance of the army prevented their being accompa-
nied by a heavy train; and it did not arise from the
want pf them, for there were two battering-trains
stationed on the frontiers of Spain, and there was a
't third afloat at' Lisbon, ready to be carried to any
part to which the Commander should direct them.—
In shcrt, he could assure the House that there was
no requisition - made by the illustrious. Commander
which had not been complied wi-h ; and in justice to
that Commander, he must say, that he was not in
i t.he habit of requesting from his Government any
• thing bin what they could afford him: The same
observation applied as to the want of specie. The
quantity given must be limited by the means of pro-
. curing its and if it could not be procured by the dis-
count of bills, it followed that the military chest must
be scantily supplied. The Noble Lord had also shortly
alluded to other topics. With respect to the Catho-
lic claims, the Noble Lord had said, for-his part, he
should act in a manly and decided manner, and give
' them his distinct opposition, which he thought would
be tar more honourable than eluding them by a side
wind, and - evading instead of boldly meeting the
question. With respect to the question of America,
be admitted that it involved other matters besides
the Orders in Council, and justified this country in
1 the course she had pursued, saying it was clear that
there was a war faction. in America devoted to the
French; and who were determined at all hazards to
precipitate America into a war with this country.
Lord GRENVILLE entered into the question of
' the Spanish war. He said the Noble Marquis had
reasoned correctly in Ws view of the subject. But
the difficulties which had arisen in his mind clearly
sheaved the impolicy of i ursuing the war in that coun-
ty. He spoke with doubt of the efforts of the Spa-
nish Government, but admitted that the peasantry
possesied a better feeling, bnt that the armies as now
coastttuted were of no avail as allies, and instanced
the conduct of Ballasteros, who had neglected his
day. in the South, of preventing the junction of Su-
ohet and Soult. His Lordship also adverted to the
question' of the American War, and insisted that our
. concession in repealing the Orders in Council came
too late, and that if such concession had been earlier
made, it would have been more effectual. Such was
the case of the American war, which ended' in the
loss of our colonies ; concession was made after con-
cession; but every thing was done too late, and that
which would originally have been received with gra-
Ltitude, was, when offered,. rejected with contempt.—
His Lordship went over the same grouhds as the No-
hie Marquis, and coudeaMled the inOtie which Aliais.