Star.
London, England, 1809-02-07 00:00:00

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daunted courage of our ancestors. In neither of these erpecta-
Cons have you disappointed the nation—and. the country wall I
long remember with admiration, the judgment and valour whicb
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you displayed at the battle of Vimiera. For this the House has
thought you worthy of its thanks, which will be received by
you Ito less as a proof of its gratitude for the past, than as.an
earnest of what it expects from you at future periods. I have now
to communicate to you the Thanks of this House, for the distini•
guished valour, judgment, &c. by which you have rendered yotir
own name illustrious, and added to the glory of your country—
( Hear! Hear!) •
General FERGUSON replied,
" Thinking that the approbation of his country is the highest
reward Which a soldier can receive, I cannot but feel the warmest
gratitude, and the most _Lively- ,i;aolsfaction, at the high ho..
nour now conferred upon me. But lam well aware, that little
of this honour is doe to me with such offict.rs and such men,
under my command, and myself under the command of a
Gene-
ral, whose judgment, decision, and valour, secured the fullest
o, c nfidence and the best exertions, of the army--; Hear! Hear!)
If any thing could add to this honour, it wouldbe the very hand.
some, but too flattering manner in which it hue beta conunulal
. cated'by you: Hear! Hear!)
1 The usual drder was then made, that the ;address
I and reply should be entered on the Journals.

FRANKING.
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY rose to move for leave to bring
in a Bill to permit the Archbishops and Bishops of Ireland, who
have not a seat in Parliament, to send and receive letters free of
postage, within their own dioceses—and also to grant a similar
privilege to the Military Secretary. 'He stated that the increased
correspondence rendered this a very expedient measure, of which
not only the Bishops but the Clergy in general, would feel the ad-
vantage.—Leave given.
IRISH MILITIA.
Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY next rose to move for leave to
bring in a Bill to amend and consolidate in :,ne Act the several
Militia Laws of Ireland. The chief object he stated to be, to re=`
move some confusion which had taken place in consequence of a
discordance between the several Acts. Another object was to
remove a doubt which existed, whether by the oath as it stood at
present, the Militia were obliged to serve more than live years.—
Another was to introduce more precision into the making up the
Lists—the mode of raising the men—with other amendments.
Leave given.
PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SPANISH EXPEDITION.
Mr. TAYLOR moved for an Address to his Majesty, praying
that he would order to be laid before the House, Copies or Ex•
tracts of the Instructions to the Commanders in the late Expedi-
tions, together with any Dispatches received from them, as far
1 as it was consistent with the public service.—Agreed to.
THE LATE EXPEDITION TO SPAIN.
Lord TEMPLE, pursuant to notice, brought for-
ward the following motions, which he did not think
it necessary to preface by any observation, as he un-
derstood there was no objection—
That an humble Address be presented to his Ma-
jesty, requesting that he would be pleased to order to
li.id before the House,
ist, R. return of all the Officers, Serjcants, Corporals, Drum-
mers, and Rank and File, of the Infantry embarked for Spain
and'Portugal, from the United Kingdom, or sent from Gibraltar
in the year 1808 ;, together with a return of all. those of the same
description, who had arrived from Spain in-Great Britain or Ire-
land not disabled, &c.
2d, A similar return of the Cavalry, their Horses, &c.
3d, A similar return with respect to the Artillery, Drivers,
Soldiers, Waggons, Draft Horses, Ordnance, &c.
4th, A similar return of the Staff and its Expences.
sth, An Account of the amount of Tonnage of the Tratuipnrta,
contracted for and used in these Expeditions, with the Rates cif
Freights.
6th, An Account of all Money, Ammunition, Stores, &c. sent
to Spain, from the Ist of May, 1808, up to the present time—to-
gether with all the dispatches transmitted from our Officers, ac-
credited Agents, &c. notifying, the receipt of the same.
7th, An Account of ail the Monies raised for the use of the
Spaniards, or the Expedition, on the credit of this.
Bth. An Account of all the Baggage, Stores, &c. iist in these
Expeditions, as far as the same can be made up.—All agreed to.
Mr. HUSKISSON observed, that a very errone-
ous opinion appeared to prevail with respect to the
money lost during the retreat. It could not exceed
30 or 40,0001. and probably it did not amount even
to that.

MOTION S. 1
In consequence of Lord Castkreagh's stating that the papers
relative tOthe Cintra Convention would not be ready for delivery
until Thursday, Lotd H. PETTY postponed his promised motion
upon that subject, from Priday to Monday nezs.
Mr. PONSQPIBY postponed big motion ;among Spain from.
Mondiy tiliVuFsfiay. ,Assd • •
Mr. WHITBREAD postponed the Motkm of 'Which he had
given notice, relative to the Orders in coitucil, fron► Tisurlday
Monday seunight.


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Tug DOKE OP YORE.
• bpo'n the motion of Mr. WARDLE, the follow.
'in' persons were ordered to attend the House as t%it-
tiesses to-morrow, namely, James Comrie, Esq. \V
Stoker, Pierce, Esq. and William Towler.
On the motion of the SOLICITOR GENERA T.,
COcu3o.Lorraine was erdered to 'attend to-muncv.
'the. Cbrinnittee of the whole. House,.for investigating
the't ()Induct of the Commander in Chief.

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alledged and argneteiffitileiairedbr. 'looerted to
the expences of the offii-e`of askf Smithery in Ire-
land.
When he was first appointed Chief Secretary.
it was clearly understood that he should not be pass:,
eluded from any military service that might offer..—
He had been employed on the expeditions to Zealand-
-and Portugal, and finding the office vacant' 'on 'hie
return, had resumed its duties. But it was well un-
derstood at both times that his power over the office
had ceased, and that he would have had no reason to AMBASSADORS.
. complain if another had been appointed ; and the-only 4 Upon the motion of Lord FOLKSTONE, that a
reason he understood for that not having taken place new Writ should issue for Poole in the room of ter
was the assistance which the Lord Lieutenant was Jeffery, who ht been appointed Consul General tt
pleased to say he derived from him, which rendered Portugal,
it an object to -continue him in the office, if he was to Mr. BANKES took occason to observe, that the
be absent no great length of time. The motion went consideration of this subject led his mind to another
to say, that there ought •to be an efficient Govern- .point, with which it had a natural connection. it
'ment in-Ireland. This was true ; but before the : would be recollected, that in the Third Report of the
Bouse came to a vote, it would be worth while to in- Finance Committee, which he had the honour to lay
quire whether there had been any want of efficiency before the House, there was a suggestion with regard
in the Government of Ireland. He would refer to !to the future appointment of persons to reside at
,the gentlemen of Ireland, whether any business had fi reign courts—possibly it was that suggestion, cote.
been delayed. He would 'appeal to the records of bined with other remarks contained in that Report,
this House, and to all the departments of the Go- which prevented his recent 'nomination to than Com.
vernment. The largeness of the salary was owing mittee, without appointing eight or ten guardians cf
both to the nature and extent of the duties, and also the Constitution to watch over him ( Hear ! Hear i
to the circumstance, that it was necessary for the per. upon tla Otpositiw: Bench.) The suggestion to which
son who held the office to maintain an establishment he thought it proper to call the attention of the House
in a country where he did not generally reside. The was this—that persons appointed to the offices alluded
gallant General observed, that the ,Honourable .to should, iv future, be selected from regard to their
Gentleman (Mr. Whitbread) might be assure& that . official experience, and-as much as possible, with a
he would not have accepted • the emoluments if he view to economy, from the list of retired Ambassa. .
had not thought himself entitled to them. He would • dors who are receiving pensions from the country.
much rather have wanted the money than have so - Now it appeared that, notwithstanding this mgr.
much said upon the subject ; but at the same time, as tion, five appointments had since been made, two ot
he considered it as his due, he did not think fit, hay- , which were gazetted on Saturday, not one of whom
ing once received it, to restore it merely for the pur- ! evinced any attention to the recommendation of the
pose of avoiding discussion, I Finance Committee. Of the propriety of such conduct
The CHANCELLOR of the . EXCHEQUER' I the House would be enabled to judge when told that
professed his ability fully to confirm the statement 1 there are at present between forty and fifty per.clis
which had been made by the gallant Officer, if, in the upon the retired list, receiving pensions to the 411101.1 a
opinion of the House or the Country, any confirma- i of :50 and 60,0001. a-year. These pensions, toe, lie
don could be thought necessary. • As a Member of ; observed, were generally given to those other with.
hi Majesty's Governmentthe felt it right to say, that 1 out any regard to duration and service, by which, es
when the gallant Officer accepted the office of Chief ; the Finance Committee suggested, tuch-stants Ought •
Secretary for Ireland, it was understood that such .1 to be regulated. Upon the qualifications,of the Gen.
acceptance should not 'preclude him. from any mili- i tlemeo recently appointed, he did not feel disposed to
'nary appointment thatoshentld afterwards offer. But ! make any invidious remark, but certainly they were
when such an appointment did offer, he was bound ; not recommended by any experience. This his sense'
in justice to add, that the ;gallant Officer's retention i-Viduty impelled him to observe, notwithstanding the
of the Secretaryship for Ireland, 'was by no
.means i personal. respect he entertained for some of those gen-
the consequence of hiiaosdo desire, but of the urgent ; tlemen, who possibly never would have an opportte
desire of the Lord Lieutenant of that country, con-; nity of acting in any diplomatic situation, and yes
curring with the wish of the Government here. There: would become a burden to the country. It was im•
fore, if any blame attached to this retention, that : possible that the public could see with indifference
blame was attributable to hisMajesty'sMinistera., That I new places of this description created at a time wheft
the public business of Ireland had not eufferedlysuch 'we could hardly find a place in which to exercise the
retention, he could appeal to. the. Gentlemen from duty., (Acey of Hear, hear !) These considerations
Ireland—and upon their testimony he could eenttiret pressed so particularly upon his mind; that he hoped
to found an assertion, that at no period had the duties' the House would 'excuse his haying trespassed on its
attached to the; Secretaryship for' that 'country been time in declaring them.
more ably and diligently exercised than since his gal- , Mr. Secretary CANNING, while he thought that
taint Friend had held the office. If any disadvantage there could be no difference of opinion on the present
had been found to result to that office from the ab-
.fleption; for so far as the orders of the House and the
- sense of his gallant' Friend, unquestionably a succes- I practice of Parliament went, he thought there was a
sor would have been appointed, and it was perfectly }vacancy, but in a different sense from that in which
. it was considered by the Noble Lord (Folkstone),
well understood that if such absence could be calcu.
end his Hon. Friend (Mr. Bank-es). As to Mr.
'lated to continue for' any material period, such an I
Jet-
appointment would have become necessary, apcl), frey's appointment to office, he was not now-likely to
would have taken' place. Under theseoonsiderations I derive much benefit from it, and he might have made
.he did not think this case a fair subject of censure, a very wrong choke ; but certainly his appointment
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nor did he see. any "necessitr flor. the adoption of thee' could him no claim whatever upon the public.
Hon. Gentleman's proposition. At the same time, His Hon. Friend had stated no less a number than
however, 'he should not think it proper to give that between forty and fifty pensioners of this description ;
proposition a direct negative, and therefore should he could assure his Hon. Friend that the number la .d
move the preview question. . • not been augmented by him, for. since his coming into
Lord HENRY. PETTY did not consider the ex- .office he had studiously avoided any changes in tho
planation given by the Right Honourable General or diplomatic department, nor was there one instance (i
the Chancellor of the Exchequer as satisfactory. Be- his havinz removed a single individual upon his
cause no inconvenience had arisen from' the absende, coming into office, with the exception of the ivlarqui;
of the Secretary of Iceland, was that an excuse why 41 Douglas, who was 'recalled from St. Petersburgh,
a -post of such importance should be left withoutssisa. because it was highly necessary, under the then exist-
efficient person to execute its duties in such, times•as ing -circumstances, that he should have some person
the present ? Would it be any excuse for the Cliaik..-,, at' that Colin in wlrom there might be *mutual and
cellor of the Exchequer, if he were to cause the re- i unbounded confidence. Ldrd LevesouGower;beiug
gular troops to be drawn from Gibraltar, and to sub- I in his utmost confidence, was seat to St. Fetersburgh
stitute a garrison of invalids in their place, to say of-;in room of the Noble Marquis. With respect to the
terwards that no harm had occurred ? However, as appointmeut of Consul-General to her Most Faithful
the 'Right Honourable General had expressed his in- Majesty, it was not possible that that appointment
tendon to resign his appointment, should he again be was likely to cost the public one farthing.
called abroad, the Noble Lord declared himself sa-. Mr. BANKS, in explanation, referred to the ease
tisfied with that assurance. • of Mr. Grey, who vr'A Secretary of Legation to the
Lord CASTLEREAGH *said 'that the houses and ; Court of Dresden, as one 'of those who received a
establishment of the Chiefs Secretary of Ireland were }pension, besides several Charges des Araires.
highly expensive, which made a most _material dif- I Mr. Secretary CANNING, in explanation, sail
ference between
that this was the only one solitary instance of a Se- ,
ie caseof an Honourable Relative
of his (General. Stewart) Who resigned the emolu-1 cretary of Legation receiving a pension ; but it should ,
ments of his office (that of Under Secretary of State) be recollected, that Mr. Grey was upwards of fifty.,
years of age, had been a long time in theiservice, end
when he went abroad, and that of the Right Hon.
General's under discussion. The Noble Lord said, was old and infirm. He had also been several times
he thought it his duty to urge that no other person Charge d'Affaires.
should be appointed to the office of Chief Secretary Mr. ROSE thought the seat vacated, but could not
consider the.appoinunent as giving the individual a
for Irele.nd.in the-absence 'of the Right Honourable
Generalelsecanse.he felt that the public service suf- claim uPunehe public.- ' • . .
fired netittOneenience from that circumstance, and Mr. PuNSON BY conceived, 'the only question
'his absence was not likely to be of long duration. It before the House at present was, Whether accepting
had occurred before, that men held efficient offices the office vacated the seat ' and this, in his mind,
while absent • and as an instance.of this, the Noble was as clear a proposition as any in the world; bt,t
.Lord cited the Case of Marquis Cornwallis, who held he observed, that in the words of the instrument
the office of Master-General of the Ordnance during the appointment was " Consul-General to a!! tie
the whole time that-he was Lord-Lieutenant of Ire- European dominions of her Faithful Majesty, to re.
land • he could not therefore concur in the Honour- i side at Lisbon, or elsewhere, where his Majesty
able Member's proposition, but must support the mo• I should think fit." He is to have a salary of £igie.
don of his' Right Honourable Friend. `per annum, which by this instrument may be more,
Mr. WHITBREAD replied to the Noble Lord •
that, in the case -of Lord Cornwallis; much as he but never can be less. Now, as the Honourable
I Gentleman could not at the time of making out this
respected that Nobleman, he should have thought it
his duty, had it happened to catch his attention, to i appointment (December last), nor since, have .all.
, sleet prospect of residing at Lisbon, and as part ot
take a similar proceeding to that now before the iHer Faithful Majesty's dominions in Europe an
House. With regard to his.motion, as the gallant . partly continental, and partly insular, if the Honour:
Officer had himself recogn. ieed the jnstice of itsprin. ; able Gentleman (Mr. Jeffrey) was ordered to resider
ciple, by declaring that he would not again accept 1 at one of the islands, he would still have his sal:tryd
a military appointment without suirendering his pre- £l5OO per annum, although the duty must need'sent office, and after what had passed upon the occa-
study be diminished.
sion, he should not think it necessary to press its After 'a few words in explanation by Mr. CO'
adopiion.The motion for the previous question was 1 o'
NING, and some observations from Mr. Attellot°
eccordiogly carried, sir, Mr. JOHNSTONE, and Mr. HusetssoN, the g
I don was putt and carried without a division.
MILITIA inee.
Lord CASTLEREAGHVOLUNTEER moved the Order of d!!
Day, for the House resolving itself into a Coinraitt.
on the Militia Volunteer Bill.
Sir THQMAS TURTON renewed his chje;ti .
to the passing of this Bill, until the Noble Lord gal
an account to the House of the disposable force"111'
it voted last year.

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