Star.
London, England, 1809-01-27 00:00:00

hopeless, and that it ought to be abandoned, he, rj,
one, must express a contrary opinion. So long as the
Spaniards continued tree to themselves, so long wool;
Britain continue true to them, and in them, tote
cause of Britain herself. The Spaniards did still cop,
tinue true to themselves, and so long as that was :L-
-ease, he trusted that the humanity, generosity aril
magnanimity, for which the British nation Was di:.
tinguished, would induce therri to lend to the effor.„
of Spain every assistance in their power. It was th,
determination,of his Migesty's present Ministers to ac,
on this principle, and to consider the cause of 4.4,14
though a distant, yet an important point in the de.
fence of these kingdoms. Though they did not Lk.
pute the notion that our navy might be equal ti,.,
defence of these kingdoms, they did not wish to ha.
zard any thing on a conviction of the kind ; neitller
were they willing to indulge in that narrow and selfish
feeling, that we ought to look to ourselves alone, aad
to live within ourselves, there to await the attack -

the enemy. They entertained more enlarged au;
comprehensive views of the subject. They thought
that the most vigorous assistance which we cGusd
possibly lend to the cause of Spain, and of any °the:
country disposed to withstand the common enen.y,
ought to be afforded. That we should not, like otiut
Powers, selfishly lie by till the enemy was ready !.0
attack us, but should endeavour, as tar as in us lay,
to further and promote any more distant cheque whiea
might be militated against him. If Noble Lords cr.
the other side entertained different views of the sub.

ject from those, let them openly and candidly express
them, and let the country judge between the two,
who were most entitled to their confidence, or most
likely to bring the struggle in which we were engag.
ed to a successful and honourable issue. Let the

House also judge between Noble Lords on the other
side, and his Majesty's present Ministers on this poiat,
and if they approved of the opinions and sentiments
of the former in preference to those of the latter, let
them at once address his Majesty to dismiss his pre:cnt
Ministers from his Councils,

Lord AUCKLAND declared, that, however en.
favourably such a sentiment might be received, he
was one of those who believed, that at present, the
cause of Spain was at an end. He thought it by no
means likely that peace could have been obtained
under the overtures made from Erfurth, but still he
was of opinion that such an answer might have been
returned, as, without stipulating for any but our actual
allies, would have kept it open for us to protect the
interests of Spain.
• The Earl of SUFFOLK saw many errors in the
system which had been pursued in our attempt to pro-
tect Spain. The great Duke of Marlborough had
laid it down, that no army entering Spain, and wish-
ing to secure to itself a retreat, should omit to possess
themselves of Barcelona. There was also on the op.
posite coast a fortress, which had been overlooked by
us, but which the French had since occupied, and
rendered almost impregnable. There was another
circumstance which in his opinioe deserved inquiry,
and to which, on some future occasion, he should, in
all probability, call the attention of the House—
naniely, why Colonel Shrapnel's spherical case-shot,
which, it was stated, had contributed greatly to de-
cide the battle of Vimiera, had not been furnished to
our army in Spain.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL wished to assure
Noble Lords who were so profuse of their advice,
that his Majesty's Government had on all occasions
directed the resources of the country in those quarters
where it was likely they would be 13eneficially em.
ployed for the general interests. With respect to the
subject of Spain, if the Noble Baron or the Noble Vis-
count would bring, it forward, his Majesty's Ministers
were prepared to give to them! and to the country, the
most satisfactory answer. It would be a more noble
mode of 'proceeding, if they would at once frame
some motion, so as to include all the topics upon which
they now so obliquely descanted, and when they were
ready, it would be met by him and his colleagues
without dismay,
Lord GRENVILLE said, that thus attacked, he
could not sit silent. He declared sincerely, that
there was not a single measure adopted by Mini-
sters, which, had he been in their situation, he would
have thought he acted right in resorting to ; and
he was equally persuaded there was not one step
he would have recommended, which they would
have adopted. He did not refer to Spain alone—
he alluded to their whole conduct from the time they
were entrusted with the management of affairs.—
He could not, however, consent that he should be
called on to bring forward any motion on the subject.
Much information was still wanting on the subject of
the operations and plans of operation in Spain, which
it was the duty of Ministers themselves to furnish ;
particularly, it was incumbent on them, in the first
place, to put the House in possession of that docu-
ment, transmitted to this country by Sir John Moore,
and which it was the dying wish of that gallant Officer
should be published, that the country might have a
due appreciation of his services. Accounts were daily
received from Officers in our army, his Lordship was
sorry to say, not of a consoling nature, but which
were calculated to grate the ear and'wound the heart.
It was not on him, however, or on any other Noble
Lord that a call lay to make this a subject of inquiry.
It was the incumbent duty of Ministers themselves to
furnish every possible information on a subject in
which the feelings not only of that House, but of the
public, were so peculiarly interested.
Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH, in reply to the ob-
servation of the Noble Secretary of State, coincided
in opinion with his Honourable Friend, that more in-
formation was necessary before any pledge could be
given that the disgraces which Ministers had thrown
upon the country could be fairly brought before the
House. Notwithstanding the lofty tone in which the
Noble Lord had called for inquiry, he had to assure
him, that when the proper time arrived he should not
be found deserting his duty, but should most anzi-
cosi', request it. It was due to the character of the
Country, and to the Army that had been engaged in
so hazardous an enterprise.
The question on the Address was then put
agreed to.—Adjourned.

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