Star.
London, England, 1809-02-08 00:00:00

was a case. which touched the honour as Oka 4; the
interest and commerce of the Americans; and there
could not, therefore, be any thing more likely to hip-.•
pen. What, then, was likely to be the situation and
state if Ireland, and that immensely important breach
of trade and revenue the Linen Manufactory? 1 the
people of Ireland could net obtain flax seed from
America, and we shouid•also be shut out of the Bal-
tic, the melancholy and dreadful consequence would
follow, that there would be nearly half a million of
people reduced to poverty and ruin; and all this was
likely to happen from the inattention and abandon-
ment of the interests of ,the King of Sweden.. His
Lordship then adverted to.. the universal feeling of
warmth and enthusiasm which the whole of this
country had evinced last Spring in favour of Spain.
Never was any thing known so general, so animated,
and so ardent, as the disposition which then pre-
vailed, and the zeal with which every bosom glowed,
to.render the Spaniards every assistance in the power
of this country to afford. His Majesty's Ministers
had consented to meet the wishes of the people
here, and to comply with the requisition of assist-
ance made .by the Juntas is Spain. They deter-
mined on sending an army to Spain, but in the
plenitude of their wisdom and foresight, dispatched
it first to Portugal. He then mentioned two letters
both dated on the SOth of June last, from the War.
Secretary to Sir Arthur Wellesley, in the first of
which Spain was mentioned as the first object ; but
in the other of the same date, he says, that. since wri-
ting his first of that day, information had been re-
ceived from Sir C. Cotton that there were; only 4000
French troops in Lisbon, and therefore, the. whole of
his attention was to be directed thither, thinking, he
set:posed, that it must fall an easy conquest. He be-
lieved Ministers had been misled by that information,
and had thereby sacrificed the best interests of this
country. His Lordship censured the Ministers for
their mode of sending the army from Portugal into
Spain, and still more the reinforcement seat out un-
der Sir David Baird, which were sent by Ministers,
so as to become a complete shackle on the measures
of Sir John Moore.
Lord HARROWBY said, if the Noble Baron
thought the misconduct of Ministers was so glaring
as to stare every man in the face, he could not sup-
pose a single paper would be necessary, and the fairest
way would be to address his. Majesty to remove his
present Ministers. In the most eventful periods,
Motions similar to the present had been made, but
were uniformly rejected. He expressed his regret
at some expressions which had fallen from his Noble
Friend (Lord Grenville), as to the country being in
a sinking state, which tended to create despondency
in the people.
Lord GRENVILLE begged their Lordships' in-
dulgence, till he made a few. observations on what
had just fallen from his Noble Friend. He believed
he was the last man to be found who would urge the
difficulties of our situation, for the purpose of creating
despair or despondency. He had always done the
direct contrary. He had said, indeed, that we were
at that moment pursuing a system of policy which
was every day leading to direct
.ruin ; but he had
never even hinted, that he had the smallest doubt of
the spirit and patriotism of the country. With re-
spect to the valour, skill, and ability of our Offi.:.
per.arid littataan, our invincibly Army,• if their
efforts were properly directed, no country could stand
on prouder ground. But hitherto our Councils were
directed by a spirit of intemperance which tended to
irritate every country against us with which we had
concern or connection. Ministers acted either without
council or with very bad council, sent out armies,
without plans, and embarked them in such a manner
as to render success impossible—but it would be a
gross calumny on him, if any dike should say he
thought the country sinking, except from the weak-
ness of its councils. He had always held out one sen-
timent en the subject, which was that we had no hope
of safery save that of relying on ourselves ; but that
Ministers were pu suing a system of conduct that had
hitherto produced nothing but disasters, and if per-
sisted in must be attended with ruin.
The questica was then put, and the motion nega-
.vcd without a division.--Adjourned.

HOUSE OP COMMONS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7.

Mr. JEKYL, presuited a petition from certain prisoners for
debt in the King's Bench Prison St. George's Fields, praying re-
lict by an insolvent i3lll.—Orckred to lie on. the table.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE, Chairman of the Donnegal Elec-
tion Committee, reported that Mr. Chute, a 1\ leinirer of that
Consmittee,w:s prevented by illness front attending this day ; in
consequence of which the Committee adjourned without pro-
ceeding to business.
A Medical attendant of Mr. Chute proved at the bar, that the
probable length of his illness was wholly uncertain. He was
therefore excused from fur:her attendance, and the Committee
ordered to proceed without him:
The Sheriffs of London presented at the bar two petitions : the
one praying a bill to carry into effect the intentions of two Acts,
for building Blackfriars bridge, and clearing the passages thereto.
The other for a Bill to enable the Corporation of London to en-
large or remove Smithfield Market. Both were, on the motion
of Alderman PRICE, refe;red to Committees.
Mr. DUNID-0, on the suggestion of Mr. CrecvlYs ip consi-
deration
of the business of fir.: inquiry respecttng the conduct of
his Royal Highness the Duke of York, agreed to put off his mo-
tion respecting the nomination of a Committee on East India Af-
fairs, ripe 14,
Mr. SPURGES BOURNE brought sip the Report of the Com-
mittee of Ways and Means. The Resolutions ware read'and
agreed to, and leave given to bring in Bills pursuant thereto.
Sir SamueLltornilly's,Equity Debtors Relief Bill teas commit-
ted, and ordered to be reported to-morrow.
PO RTUGU ESL PAP.bRS.
Lord HENRY PETTY rose to Move for some fsather ppm
respecting the Portuguese Expedition, to the production of Whirl
he understood there would be no objection. The first related to
the naval part of the Expedition, of whlekthe late Court of lath
quiry at Chelsea had no authority gisren *them to mho carapace.
The second related to the equipment of die expaditloo*so far
as
it related to the government of Ireland. The Noble r...a1l then
moved for Copies or Eitracts of all lastruttlens :rob the lloard
of Admiralty to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, and st all cattle-
pendence between him and them, so far as relates to the Rulsbn
Sect in the Teigi+—Ordered,
, H 4 next motion was for copies of all,lettors witith=i3e•
.tween Sir Arthur Wellesley. and the Government..o . rtr
meeting the equipment of that Expedition.
Lard LIASTLERF-AUtd ausersecd,that every thingetbdivent
,that equipment. wp,s discontekin this co with If. Azglig,
Wellesie,y before h% went to Ireland, aa4R i 111440 rPINIONO.
to be donabot to enibirit the troops. He had 110 thitCtill% lOW'
: ever, to glee any information on the a .
Lord HENY PETTY tbennmmtbis Insdynt bf
for copies of ad correspondence. hotwsielitle, BS ties 1197174
Governments on the subject of the Xpeedithin to. Passulpds,stso
also of a letter to the eorrtmblariOnstiral re4eitket dat Expo.
dition tustier,Sir Arthur Wedesiey
'
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY said ereOry
_tbabll'aoaml6llo
withi=reke-loft this coonertioe .bytlestd to"pork mat
the. ood ortleni wars soot, from Ads soup tr.,
rise theLoid Latitsosnt of lielasidto Odd UM tiodbartilik."=