Star.
London, England, 1809-02-25 00:00:00

owerful, that he ever heard from him ; but in that
property of truth, it was wholly deficient. The Ho-
-1 nurable Gentleman had allowed, in conformity to
the common feelings of all mankind, that in the first
ebullitions of national spirit in Spain, Government
had but one course to pursue ; that of cherishing and
supporting it. But to this admission he coupled a
palpable contradiction ; for he declared that, before
the British Government had enarked in the Spanish
cause, they ought carefully to have ascertained the
nature of the transactions in Spain—that they should
have discovered the disposition of the Jarious ranks of
society—that they should have investigated the precise
object of that popular feeling which burst out simulta-
neously in almost every province in Spain— that they
should have examined into the amount and disposition
of the Spanish force, how marshalled, how directed
—with what spirit animated to march against the
great foe of all freedom political and personal. But
to this the Honourable Gentleman added, that Go-
vernment ought also to have informed themselves of
the wishes and intentions of the Spanish people, with
respect to the abuses which existed in their political
and ecclesiastical institutions, that they ought. to have
been satisfied that the Spaniards were willing to free
themselves from the yoke of a severe despotism, and
to correct the errors of a delusive religion ; and that
they were prepared to abandon antichrist, and to be.
come an enlightened people. To a philosophical
mind such an investigation might have been very
amusing. He had but one objection to the Ho-
nourable Gentleman's system, which was, that there
was no time to execute it. Such disquisitions
would accord with the occupations of learned lei-
sure, but were very unfit for periods when action
was necessary. If the Honourable Gentleman
meant that Great-Britain should never have any
communications of interest with, or be bound by
any ties to a country, the government or religion of
which would not bear such a severe scrutiny; he laid
down a line of separation from any other nation, even
more distinct and impossible than that which the in-
sularity of our situation afforded. For his part, he should
be contented to see the Spaniards fighting
.Bonaparte
with the Grand Inquisitor at the iiead of their army; or
on the onehand,espousing the cause of Ferdinand VII.
and of our Lady of the Pillar ! ( Hear ! hear ! ) The
British Government took every possible means of in-
firming itself with regard to the real dispositions
of the people, and they found that there was
hardly a man in Spain whose name was at all
known to that country or to Europe, who had not
taken a decided part in opposition to the French.—
Ministers saw the various patriotic proclamations,
signed by the names of the most distinguished indivi-
duals of Spain, of Esquiletta, who had been Viceroy of
New Spain ; of Florida Blanca, who, at the advanced
age of 70, displayed the zeal of a patriot ; of Saavedra
and Jovellanos, men'who had distinguished themselves
by the most enlightened political views. On what
were we to form our opinion of the disposition of all
classes of the people, if it was not from the zeal and
energy of such men ? Was it not fair to augur well of
the event, when we saw united in their counsels the
ardour of that young and distinguished warrior Pa-
lafox, with the wisdom of experience and the hoary
head of old agn. A whole host of civil and military
missionaries could not have afforded more useful in-
formation as to the wishes and inclinations of the peo-
ple, than that which these proclamations afforded. It
was his firm opinion, that, in spite of the disasters
which the Spaniards had met with, still much might
be expected from their patience and perseverance, and
even though Bonaparte should be able to subjugate 1
Spain, yet he would still find the country impatient 1
of the yoke, and rather a source of weakness than'
of strength. The continued success which the Ruler
of France had met with, produced a species of
glare that was apt to dazzle the minds of men,
and induce them to regard his general conduct with
more complacency than would otherwise be done.—
But still it might be said, that if the tide of his fortune
was not turned, it yet did not run with that rapidity
which it had done before, and this was to be ascribed
to the efforts of the undisciplined armies of Spain.
He could not consent to join in the strain of despon-
dency which had been used this night with regard to
the affairs of that country. At any rate, he should
ever feel the highest satisfaction from the recollection
that this country had supported a revolution in Spain,
which rejected all that was bad in the French revolu-
tion, and might ultimately produce the most beneficial
consequences ; a revolution which shewed that an
attachment to monarchy and the ancient establish.
ments of the country might be united to the love
of freedom and independence. In the succour this
country had afforded Spain, we had shewn our-
selves disinterested ; in cur course we had looked
neither to the right hand nor to the left for the
golden apples, and this must furnish a source of
gratification of which to could never he deprived.
—The real object of the present Resclution cer-
tainly went to the dismissal of Kiir.stei s ; but he could
hardly believe it would be the pleasure cf the House
that Spain should be abandoned, or that the manage-
ment of affairs should be again committed to those
Ministers who had left us such an inheritance of mili-
tary disaster as they had done. He deprecated the
idea of yielding to the fortune of Bonaparte, as to a
species of inexorable necessity. His good fortune was
still only fortune, it was not fate. Let nut the obser-
vation of the poet apply to us
Te nos facinius, Fortuna, Dram,
Calque locamus.---
Even the new-raised undisciplined armies of Spain
had shewn what could be effected by valour; and lie
trusted even now Bonaparte would not remain mas-
ter of any part of Spain but what he retained by force,
and that the ground on which . his armies were en-
camped would be the only soil that he would com-
mand. _ _ _ . _

[About the middle of the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman's speech, information was conveyed to the
House of the conflagration of Drury-lane Theatre,
which also discovered itself by the strong blaze of
light which even at that distance poured in at the win-
dows of the House. This of course excited considerable
anxiety and bustle in the House, and Mr. Canning
was prevented from proceeding for' a few minutes.]
Mr. CANNING having sat down, Mr. ELLIOT said
a few words, the purport of which we could not dis-
tinctly hear, but we conceived that-they had'a refer-
ence to the melancholy event which had taken plage.,
=I recommended an adjournment of the debate.
Mr. SHERIDAN.--0 Whatever may the extent
of the calamity, with which I have been made ac-

quainted this moment, let not the business of the na-
tion be delayed on that account."
Mr. FON.SONBY was perfectly willing to agree
to such an atjournment, as it was quite evident, from
the state of agitaticth in which the House had been for
some time, that the debate could not be conducted
with that undivided attention which the importance
of the subject required.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
saw no reason for the adjournment, particularly as
there was no occasion for Members to feel any an-
xiety about their relatives, as he understood there had
been no performance at the Theatre that evening.
General MATHEW was surprized at the want of
feeling displayed by the Right Hon. Gentleman, who
seemed determined to debate, even though the one
thir,d of London were in flames.
Mr. HERBERT said, as many of the Members
had been disturbed, and their attention taken from
the debate, the lateness of the hour might induce the
House to agree to the motion. The question was
then put for adjournment on Monday.
WILBERFORCE observed, that he had been
out to look at the blaze, and it appeared very alarm-
ing ; but the House ought to remember that they
were discussing a question of great importance. What
would their constituents say, if they ran-sway from
the business respecting Spain and Portugal, because
they saw a fire. The-Honourable Member conceived
that half past twelve was too early to adjourn.
Mr. W. SMITH expressed a hope that his Ho-
Pourable Friend would withdraw his motion, which
had produced one good effectr-s-it had induced the
Members to return to their seats..
General MATHEW said, he stilDentertained an
opinion that it was proper the House shoirld adjourn.
Several Members exclaimed, Go on ! Go on !-
The motion was then withdrawn.
Mr. WINDH&M rose to renew the debate. He
said it was his intention to express his sentiments on
the subject before the House as closely as possible.
The Right Hon. Gentleman on the opposite side of
the House had pronounced a very elaborate eulogium
on the Spanish People. This panegyric, however,
came now with an ill grace. After the result of the
campaign had proved so disastrous to us, it was ex-
traordinary that an Honourable Gentleman should
stand up in that House and cry to the Spaniards,
" Follow your own hopes, persevere, and vanquish
the enemy." This conduct brought to his recollec-
tion a few lines which he had read in a late work—
He Bed full soon
On the first of June,
• And bid the rest stay tlghting.
When we had left the Spaniards was it a time to read
lectures, and say to them, " Go, fight, my brave fel-
lows, and conquer." The inefficient attempts of Mi-
-1 nisters to resist the power of Bonaparte had been attri-
buted to want of energy on the part of the Spaniards,
but we had been withdrawn from the contest by the
misconduct of those who had destroyed the hopes of
the campaign. Such a hope had never presented itself
before to this country in the struggle with the enemy.
The friends of the Monarchy and the Constitution,
Revolutionists, and all ranks concurred to support
that cause which Ministers had lost. He wished to
ask what plan they had adopted in sending troops to
Spain and Portugal ? When the commotion broke out
in Spain about £he 2d of May, and even at an earlier
period, why was not enquiry made into the means
which the Spaniards bad off throwing off the yoke
imposed on them ? If assistance ought to have
been afforded, why was it not sent earlier ?
When troops were sent in July, it was to drive
the French from Portugal :—but as it was known
that .Tunot was cut off from all.communication, what
object had Ministers in view when they advised Sir
Arthur Wellesley to proceed to Portugal ? It was
generally allowed that Junot could have retreated
across the Tagus, and that it was in his power to pro-
tract the campaign five months. If, then, we had
been generally successful in this expedition, the only
advantage to be gained was the occupation of the
posts of Junot's army. Bonaparte could not have de-
sired more than to have our troops employed in Por-
tugal, and prevented from acting in Spain. The
question was, whether the Ministry had acted right or
wrong in attacking Junot's army at all, under terms
so disadvantageous ? Among the calamities occa-
sioned by sending troops to Spain, was the impression
made in that part of Spain where the army had been
borne down by fatigue and privation. The sufferings
of a retreating army, pressed by want, and he might
say, murder, might not be an article of blame ; but
he would ask whether this danger ought not to
have been considered before orders were
.given for
the junction. The losses and calamities it was im-
possible to think of without horror and trepidation.—
The filling back on Corunna was chance, a mere
shift of wind would have prevented the army from
returning to England. In this instance Ministers had
acted with misconduct. They had impress-d upon
Spain that the best troops of England had retreated in
consequence of a repor tof the approach of the French,
and now they said to them, we expect you, an undisci-
plined body of men, todo whatwecould not do with otir
regular army. He deprecated the opinion, thatthe undis-
ciplined population ofacountry could withstandregular
armies. The unity, ardour, determined hostility towards
the French, and the effect of religion, might indeed
be expected to animate the Spanish people more than
any nation in Europe ; but they must be assisted by
regular troops, able to keep in check the armies of
France, before they could hope for success. If Eng-
land had united her troops with the armies of Spain,
at a proper period, we could have faced France in
that country as well as in any part, but Ministers had
neglected the period of operation—that period was
from. the commencement of the struggles for indepen-
dence in Spain, until the troops of Bonaparte poured
in upon the Spanish nation. At first the French troops
were no more than 40,000. We might at that time
send 30 or 40,000 by sea with Romana, andthese men
conveyed to the banks of the Ebro, might have done
much service. When Ministers sent an army to Spain,
they seemed like a drunken man on a wall, in danger
of falling and dashing out his brains. Unless they
could send an army capable of protecting itself, they
did nothing. The Hon. Member then adverted to
the spirit and energy of the Spanish troops ; he de-
nied that they had shewn a want of energy, and spoke
in terms of disapprobation of an attempt made by Mi-
nisters to cast an odium on the Spaniards, after the
.Dritish army had experienced a reverse in Spain...-
Wore the Spaniards sunk under the French, all our
reports cried up their virtues to the Adis ;but the mo.
• _,